Changes for patient boarding homes

The boarding homes for patients from the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot are due for some changes.

Nunavut’s department of health and social services is looking for an individual or company to bid on the operation of the Lena Pederson Boarding Home in Yellowknife, which serves patients from the Kitikmeot region.

Yellowknife businessman Tony Chang currently has the contract to manage the home.

Patients from the Kivalliq, who receive medical care in Winnipeg, are slated to receive a new boarding home.

The Winnipeg facility, an older building in a decaying part of town, has been serving patients from the Kivalliq for more than 30 years. Earlier this year the home’s mice infestation was raised in Nunavut legislative assembly’s sitting.

A request for proposals has asked for a provider of a 40-50 bed residential facility as well as program delivery in the new facility.

The Winnipeg boarding home is currently managed by a joint venture between Chang and Inuit-owned companies.