Stewiacke Firm to Build Secure Care Facility in Truro

COMMUNITY SERVICES--Stewiacke Firm to Build Secure Care Facility in Truro

L&R Construction of Stewiacke has been awarded a contract to build Nova Scotia's new secure care facility for the Department of Community Services.

L&R was the low bidder, at $3.4 million. Preliminary site work will begin within the next two to three weeks, with construction of the building to begin in early September.

"Awarding this contract is very exciting because it means the secure care facility is about to become reality," said Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services. "Making this facility a part of the community has been a very important goal, so the fact that a local firm will build it is a big bonus."

The facility will be built on a portion of the provincially owned property currently occupied by the former Nova Scotia Residential Centre in Truro.

"Building this facility means a lot to us," said L&R Construction president Leo Rovers. "We're proud to bring jobs to the area and contribute to the local economy. It's also a great feeling to be working on a project that will mean so much to young people in Nova Scotia."

Building the secure care facility will create approximately 45 construction jobs and 30 indirect jobs in the Truro area. When operational, the facility will employ over 30 staff, most of whom are highly trained specialists in the field of secure care.

Secure care will form part of a range of services for children and youth in government care with emotional and behavioral problems. The program helps to stabilize these children so they can eventually return to their home communities and families.

Information sessions with the local community have been held throughout the design phase of the project.

The secure care facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2002.