January 28, 2005

Image courtesy OTTAWA SENATORS FOUNDATION/Edmundson Matthews

A rendering of the east view of the planned Roger’s House, to be constructed in Ottawa.

Palliative care home to be built with donations

Ottawa construction industry gets behind 'Roger's House'

By Patricia Williams

staff writer

Ottawa’s construction industry has thrown its support behind plans to build a $3.5-million pediatric palliative care home with donations of expertise, materials and services.

“It’s just phenomenal how the industry has responded,” said retired contractor Glen Morley, who is acting as the project’s volunteer construction manager. “So many firms have stepped up to the plate.”

Created in memory of the former Ottawa Senators’ coach and Hockey Hall of Famer, Roger Neilson, Roger’s House will be built on the grounds of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

Morley said the interior design is currently being finalized. An application has been made for a building permit. Construction could get underway in mid to late March.

The project team includes architects Edmundson Matthews, structural engineers Cleland Jardine Engineering Ltd. and mechanical-electrical engineers R.J. McKee Engineering Ltd. The architects and consultants have donated their services in full, Morley said.

Key subtrades include Paul Ziebarth Electrical Contractors Ltd., Dilfo Mechanical Ltd., S & R Mechanical, Form-All Construction and Capital Tile & Flooring Ltd. These firms have donated some or all of their services or products.

“We intend to try to get the services of a site superintendent donated or partially donated,” said Morley, who founded Morley Construction with his son Brad.

Morley said the overall goal is to get the equivalent of 50 per cent of the project’s cost covered by donations of time and materials.

To date, more than 50 trades have pledged their support.

Roger’s House will be modeled after Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver which provides specialized pediatric care for children living with progressive life-limiting illnesses.

The driving forces behind the project are the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Corporate sponsors have been enlisted as well.

Last week, Direct Energy pledged its support as the sixth founding sponsor. The company is donating and installing the energy management system for the project, enabling the hospital’s engineers to control heat, light and other energy functions from their offices on the hospital grounds.

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