The new Ronald McDonald House in Halifax will be greener and more inclusive after an investment of $2.95 million from the federal government.
This was announced by Minister Sean Fraser, MP Andy Fillmore, and Lori Barker, Chief Executive Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic.
The new Ronald McDonald House, which broke ground in 2022 and is still under construction, has added green and accessibility components to their building plan. With this funding, the building will add geothermal and solar systems with the goal of becoming the first net-zero carbon Ronald McDonald House. It will also seek accessibility certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation, a national rating system that measures and certifies the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites.
The new building will replace the current Ronald McDonald House at 1133 Tower Road, increasing the number of families with sick children that can be supported annually from 600 to 1,200. The expansion will also increase the number of support programs offered to families during their stay including meals and family programming, as well as provide more support for equity-deserving groups.
Ronald McDonald House welcomes all families with a sick child (18 years of age or younger) who must travel to Halifax to receive care. Currently, families traveling further than 40 kms from the IWK Health Centre are eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
The federal government recognizes the importance of building safe, healthy communities that are vibrant, green and inclusive, and is committing an additional $500 million to support more projects through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.
As outlined in Budget 2024, the federal government is taking measures to build more affordable homes, grow our economy and provide fairness for every generation. This includes our commitment to building safer, healthier communities like that of the new Ronald McDonald House in Halifax.
