Rendering of Crimson Villas. (Bridges Community Living)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Anticipated Spring Opening

Name chosen for Red Deer’s newest seniors lodge

Jan 23, 2021 | 3:18 PM

A name has now been chosen for Red Deer’s newest seniors lodge.

Crimson Villas, located on the former Red Deer Nursing Home site at 4736 – 30 Street, is anticipated to open its doors this spring for residents from Piper Creek Lodge and Twilight Cottages.

According to officials with Bridges Community Living, which will manage Crimson Villas, the name comes from Red Deer’s official flower, the Crimson Star Columbine. As noted on the City of Red Deer website, this flower is said to represent the city’s heritage, environmental character, beauty, and colour.

Bridges Community Living chose the name after consulting with staff and residents. The Board of Directors is said to have considered several options before choosing the name.

As Chair Rob Elliot notes, Crimson Villas was a name the board felt would keep them rooted in the Red Deer community.

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”It will be a home that will embrace a community for anyone who chooses to live here,” explains Elliot, in a press release. “The Columbine is a perfect flower that brings in pollinators to create a fresh, new atmosphere. We hope this building provides an environment so that the residents have a fresh new environment to develop their community.”

Crimson Villas still under construction at 4736 – 30 Street in Red Deer. The new seniors lodge is hoped to open to residents in spring 2021. (Bridges Community Living)

While Piper Creek Lodge (originally Twilight Lodge) is said to have represented a new and innovative model for providing housing to seniors that was adopted by the Province of Alberta, Crimson Villas is expected to do the same.

The new facility is described as both a lodge and apartment building, with spaces for 65 lodge residents and 25 self-contained apartment units. All suites are identical one-bedroom suites with full kitchens and barrier-free bathrooms. Officials say the one-bedroom configuration is felt to be a new and innovative approach to lodge-style living, replacing the small bachelor suites from the past.

The Government of Alberta has invested $28.3 million in the project.

“The beauty of the Crimson Star Columbine flower as Red Deer’s official flower will be reflected in the completion of this new senior’s lodge that will address the needs of seniors to live in their chosen community,” adds Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing. “I commend Bridge Community Living for the thoughtfulness behind the name selection of Crimson Villas.”