There were balloons, ice cream sundaes and – yes, that is a cake in the shape of Country Lane. The residence in Chatsworth was celebrating its 50th birthday.
Opened in 1968 as the Chatsworth Nursing Home to serve the needs of the community, Country Lane Long-Term Care added an addition in the 70s and is now home to thirty-four residents.

The dignitaries were there – including Chatsworth mayor Bob Pringle with memories of family doctor Allan McDougall who was the home's doctor for 45 years. Past and present directors and staff were honoured by MPP Bill Walker, who said he had asked for the long-term care portfolio out of respect for those who built our region, and those who care for them. Some long-time residents were acknowledged, including one man has who made Country Lane his home for twenty years.

Keith McIntosh, President of Southbridge Care Homes came to bring greetings from the home's owners, but also to talk about the history and future of the company's commitment to rural Ontario.
He, like all the dignitaries and family members, spoke of the compassionate care given to the residents who make Country Lane their home. It was these caregivers, speaking about their work, MacIntosh said, that made him want to invest.

Southbridge has a new long-term care home in the planning stage for Owen Sound – combining Country Lane, Georgian Heights, Mapleview and Chesley's Parkview Manor into one class A regional facility. In a one-on-one conversation, McIntosh expressed hope that the permitting will be expedited by the new PC government, and spoke highly of the commitment of MPP Bill Walker.

MacIntosh reiterated the Southbridge commitment to the communities now served by their homes, saying the properties would continue to be used as residences. "The province has retirement homes that many people cannot afford, and long-term care for complex needs, but almost nothing for the majority in between," MacIntosh said. "We would like to provide that."

Cake credit: Stacy Routenburg Sugar Rush Custom Cakes