Happy 30th anniversary, Kotitalo (photo)

NEWS RELEASE

THE ONTARIO FINNISH RESTHOME ASSOCIATION

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SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (September 25, 2012) - Today, residents and staff at The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association are reminiscing and enjoying cake and coffee as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their assisted living facility Kotitalo.

The Finnish translation for Kotitalo is house or home, which is literally what it is – a home for seniors who require some level of assistance with their daily living activities. 

Although June 5, 1982, was the date the first residents of Kotitalo moved in, OFRA chose September 25th as the day of celebration, to coincide with Kotitalo’s Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, held 30 years ago today.

Olavi Eklund, Frank Spadafora, Wieslaw “Wes” Szafranski and Gary Lee are four of Kotitalo’s 102 residents who enjoy the daily support services the assisted living facility offers. 

“We come down to the dining room for our lunch and dinner meals and they also offer coffee and snacks twice a day. They also do our laundry and clean our home once a week,” says Wes. 

“Gary moved in first,” notes Olavi, “and then a time came when I needed some support, for health reasons, so I moved in on December 15, 2005.”

Frank notes he moved in eight months after Olavi, on September 8, 2006. 

Wes, the “newcomer” to the coffee group, moved into Kotitalo with his wife Martha in 2009. 

Even though they four of the gentlemen worked at the steel plant until their retirement, none of them knew each other prior to moving into the assisted living facility. 

Over the years, the four have developed a close friendship. 

“We meet in the dining room every day at 2 pm.  We have coffee and solve the problems of the world,” laughs Wes. 

In reference to the staff, he goes on to say “we get extra good service, they try hard to please.”

About The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association

The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association, a non-profit charitable organization, is a seniors’ residential community comprised of three sites: an assisted living facility for seniors who require some support with their daily living activities; an independent living facility for seniors; and a nursing home that provides 24 hour access to healthcare services.

The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association is currently conducting a $3 million capital fundraising campaign to build a new seniors independent living apartment building. 

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