Mennonite Senior Housing - Manitou

A family home, with care built in.

MEDA

Climate secure,

age-in-place,

sustainable housing.

On the Lake

  • Lakefront Tranquility: Enjoy breathtaking views and spa amenities without leaving home.

  • Faith and Family Integration: A Mennonite-inspired environment that supports intergenerational connection.

  • Holistic Care: Organic, locally produced meals and unobtrusive, high-quality medical care ensure residents' wellness.

Nestled on the shores of Manitou Lake, our senior living units offer more than just a home; they embody a serene retreat designed for holistic well-being.

This Mennonite-inspired community blends the tranquility of lakeside living with unparalleled care, where residents enjoy access to spa services, organic farm-to-table meals, and multi-generational activities, all while remaining connected to their faith and family values.

Each unit is a sanctuary, thoughtfully designed to honour the dignity of aging while fostering a vibrant community.

Phase 1: 4/26

On the Land

  • Affordable Living: Quality senior care at a more accessible price, without sacrificing community or comfort.

  • Family-Centred Design: Private spaces for family visits and communal areas for building relationships.

  • Essential Care Services: Local, nutritious meals and professional medical support integrated seamlessly.

Our Watrous facility offers a warm, welcoming environment for seniors who seek comfort and care without the luxury price tag.

Designed with Mennonite values in mind, this budget-conscious option provides all the essentials for a fulfilling life—community spaces, locally-sourced meals, and discreet medical care—within an accessible, family-oriented setting.

The facility fosters connection, independence, and faith, making it a place where residents thrive with dignity and support.

Phase 1: 13/60

Creating the conditions for a functional social ecosystem

Community in the Living Space

We advocate for creating senior housing projects that prioritize community integration and foster an environment where seniors can remain connected with their families and the broader community​.

The design includes shared living spaces, private areas for family interaction, and amenities that cater to social, recreational, and health needs, while the medical functions are subtly incorporated to maintain the feel of a non-clinical environment. These facilities feature communal dining areas, gardens, and spaces for multi-generational activities. 

Instead of isolating seniors, these homes are designed to blend into neighbourhoods, allowing residents to stay engaged with nearby families, schools, and local services. Medical care, like nursing support or monitoring, is present but not intrusive, maintaining the home living atmosphere.

This model not only supports aging with dignity, but also promotes intergenerational relationships and functional social systems. 

Functional Senior Care

We are revolutionizing senior care.

With strong partnerships, a family-oriented business model, and integrated care services, we are a national leader in senior living.

By emphasizing community involvement and holistic care, our facilities meet the needs of seniors today, and evolve to address future demographic shifts.

ABOUT MANITOU

Little Manitou Lake, often called the "Dead Sea of Canada," is a natural wonder nestled in the heart of Saskatchewan.

Known for its high mineral content, the lake’s waters have been revered for their therapeutic properties for centuries, attracting visitors from near and far.

The local community around the lake has long embraced this unique resource, creating a vibrant, close-knit hub for wellness, tourism, and culture.

With historic spas, local artisans, and annual festivals, the area blends small-town charm with the rejuvenating spirit of the lake, making it a cherished destination for both residents and visitors.

Mennonite Manitou Meals

You are what you eat!

Fresh Greens

Our facilities proudly serve fresh, organic greens daily, grown in partnership with Swegreen and Sprouting, ensuring residents enjoy nutrient-rich, farm-to-table meals that support their overall health and well-being.

Fresh Baking

We bake with fresh-milled, chemical-free flour produced on-site, ensuring our baking goes straight from flour to table, offering residents the purest, most wholesome nourishment without the need for transport or preservatives.

Fresh Food

Our culinary team, led by award-winning executive chefs, crafts every meal with precision and passion, using the finest local ingredients to deliver a farm-to-table dining experience that combines exceptional taste with balanced nutrition, ensuring residents enjoy both the comfort and excellence of gourmet-quality food.

Fresh Drinks

Our house brands offer a premium selection of locally roasted coffee, craft spirits, beer, lager, whiskey, vodka, and fresh fruit juices, all curated to perfection. Paired with Vital Waters' pH-balanced pure source water, each beverage reflects our commitment to quality, ensuring residents enjoy exceptional, locally sourced drinks crafted for both taste and wellness.

Nutrition drives our commitment to purposeful wellness.

Dignified transitions

Age-In-Place

Our age-in-place philosophy ensures that residents can gracefully transition through the stages of aging without ever leaving the comfort and familiarity of their community.

With personalized care services seamlessly integrated into daily life, residents maintain their independence and dignity while receiving the support they need as their needs evolve.

From independent living to more specialized care, our facilities are designed to adapt to each individual, fostering a secure, nurturing environment that allows seniors to stay connected with family, friends, and their community throughout their entire journey.

Senior Living Innovation

  • Smart home technology for safety and convenience

  • Sustainable and eco-friendly design

  • Intergenerational spaces that connect seniors with younger community members

  • Wellness-focused amenities like fitness centres, spas, and healthy dining options

  • Opportunities for lifelong learning and skill development

  • Access to nature and outdoor spaces

OWNER BENEFITS

Ownership in our senior living community offers residents not just a place to live, but a lasting investment in a supportive and vibrant environment.

By owning their unit, residents gain the stability of having a home that’s truly theirs, along with the flexibility to customize their living space to reflect personal preferences.

Ownership also provides a sense of security, knowing that they’re part of a community designed for long-term, age-in-place living with built-in care services.

Equity Building: Ownership allows residents to build equity in their property, creating a valuable asset for themselves or their families.

Customizable Living Spaces: Owners have the freedom to personalize their units, making it truly feel like home.

Long-Term Stability: Ownership ensures a secure, permanent place within a caring community, designed for aging with dignity.

Apply now! We need more of you.

Considering a career in senior wellness?

We value our team as much as we do our clients. We all live, work, and play in the same community. We all live here, together.

We offer a career path from training to certification to employment. Our senior care communities are focused training facilities for a range of senior and memory care technicians and care providers.

We provide housing and living support for any student in the health services path.

Sponsored year round student housing.

Scholarships cover tuition and living.

Employment upon certification.

Become a part of a transformative senior living community that prioritizes faith, family, and long-term care.

By joining Mennonite Senior Housing - Manitou, you contribute to a vision of dignified aging that seamlessly blends modern wellness amenities with traditional Mennonite values.

As an owner, investor, or partner, you’ll help foster intergenerational connections, support sustainable business practices, and create meaningful social impact.

Together, we are building more than a community—we are setting a new standard for senior care that thrives on collaboration, respect, and holistic well-being.

Building the Future

Read the Book on Senior Housing in Canada

This is the book that guides our planning and execution.

"Building the Future: A Comprehensive Guide to Senior Housing in Canada" is more than just a book—it’s the definitive playbook for anyone navigating the complexities of age-friendly housing development in Canada.

Tailored to meet the specific demands of the Canadian market, this guide covers everything from regulations and innovative design to financing models and operational best practices.

Whether you’re an industry newcomer or a seasoned developer looking to expand, this resource provides the essential tools, insights, and strategies to succeed in planning and managing senior housing projects that not only meet market demands but improve the quality of life for residents.

The result? Facilities that foster independence, community, and sustainability while fulfilling the evolving needs of Canada’s aging population.

This is the only guide of its kind that integrates the full lifecycle of senior housing—covering both the technical frameworks and human-centred practices that drive success.

With practical case studies, actionable strategies, and a vision that prioritizes community impact, "Building the Future" empowers developers, policymakers, and investors alike to create spaces that aren’t just places to live, but homes where seniors thrive.

Executive Summary

Project Name: Mennonite Senior Housing - Manitou

Location: Watrous, Saskatchewan - Site TBD

Business Concept: A Mennonite family-style senior housing facility with integrated care services. The facility will operate as a community-centred home, where residents live in a family-oriented environment, with medical and nursing care seamlessly integrated into daily life.

Mission: To provide a nurturing, faith-based, and community-integrated living environment for seniors, fostering relationships and holistic care rooted in Mennonite traditions.

Target Market: Elderly individuals in Saskatchewan and the western provinces seeking a home-like environment that offers medical care and family-oriented communal living.

Funding: Primary finance by EQ Bank, with support from local community organizations and partnerships.

The most innovative senior living communities incorporate:

Smart home technology for safety and convenience

Sustainable and eco-friendly design

Intergenerational spaces that connect seniors with younger community members

Wellness-focused amenities like fitness centres, spas, and healthy dining options

Opportunities for lifelong learning and skill development

Access to nature and outdoor spaces

The Hogeweyk (Netherlands): This dementia care village allows residents to live in a self-contained community that resembles a typical Dutch town, promoting independence and normalcy.

NewBridge on the Charles (USA): This continuing care retirement community features modern apartments, cultural amenities, and an on-site elementary school for intergenerational interaction.

Taikang Community (China): This large-scale retirement community offers a range of care levels, cutting-edge medical facilities, and extensive recreational options.

Humanitas (Netherlands): Known for its innovative intergenerational living model where university students live among seniors.

These facilities prioritize creating environments that support independence, social connection, and quality of life as residents age, incorporating the latest in design, technology, and care approaches.

I. Company Overview

Vision

To create a family-centred, age-in-place facility where seniors can continue to live in a vibrant community, with care integrated unobtrusively into daily life.

Mission Statement

Mennonite Senior Housing will provide compassionate, personalized care in a family-like setting that preserves dignity, supports independence, and fosters intergenerational relationships.

Business Model

A community-based housing model where seniors can rent or purchase living units in the facility, with care services available as needed.

Services offered: Residential care, nursing support, social and recreational activities, and community engagement. All nutrition is produced in house or from local providers. Meal planning and management by award winning executive chefs, who oversee every aspect of the nutritional delivery process from farm to table. Organic fresh greens are provided daily with our integrated production facility in partnership with https://www.swegreen.com/ and https://sprouting.com/.

Leadership Team

Proconsul: Ben Beveridge

Design Lead: Sandra Epp

Project Manager: Eugene Parks

Partnerships: Local community groups, municipalities, and regional businesses.

II. Market Analysis

Target Market

Primary: Seniors aged 65+ from Watrous, Regina/Yorkton/Saskatoon area, and surrounding regions.

Secondary: Families seeking faith-based, community-oriented care for elderly relatives.

The initial focus is to sell blocks of units to families. The launch of this project was defined by a Mennonite family seeking multi-generational age-in-place long term care for multiple family members, wanting to live and age together.

Market Need

Growing demand for senior housing that offers both independent living and care services, especially in smaller rural communities.

Increasing need for facilities that integrate medical care into a non-institutional, family-oriented setting.

Competitive Landscape

Few local competitors provide adequate care facilities. None that emphasize community living and family engagement.

Nearest competitors include traditional assisted living facilities, but none offer the specific combination of Mennonite values, family-style care, and integrated medical services.

Market Size

Estimated population of seniors in the catchment area: 8,000-10,000.

Mennonite community nationally is cohesive and connected.

Projected growth in senior population by 2030 due to aging demographics in rural Saskatchewan.

* This project is a template and proof, in order to sell the development process, plan, and design/build capacity into other rural and religious communities.

III. Services and Facility Design

Facility Overview

A home-like environment designed by HKS to reflect Mennonite family values, with communal living spaces and individual accommodations for seniors.

Envelope design by Savick will ensure energy efficiency and sustainability.

Interior design by Alt Haus will focus on simplicity, warmth, and comfort, in line with Mennonite traditions.

Medical and Care Services

Nursing care provided in partnership with Carlton Trail College to ensure top-quality healthcare services integrated quietly into the community environment.

Care advisory by Philpott Family Medicine to ensure best practices in family-oriented medical care.

Community and Recreational Spaces

Shared dining rooms, recreational areas, and gardens designed to encourage interaction between residents, family members, and the broader community.

Programs will include faith-based activities, social events, and intergenerational programs to maintain community engagement.

Environmental Sustainability

Innocorps water systems will provide efficient, eco-friendly water management solutions, reducing operational costs and environmental impact, while ensuring drought resilience.

IV. Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

Building and Development

BowCrow as building advisory and MEDA as project management firm ensure smooth execution of all development phases.

Local and Regional Partnerships

Collaboration with the Watrous Manitou Marketing Group, Town of Watrous, Village of Manitou Beach, Village of Young, and RM of Morris to foster community involvement and integration.

V. Marketing Strategy

Branding and Positioning

Positioning as a family-centred, faith-based senior living option with medical care, targeting seniors and their families who value Mennonite traditions and community involvement.

Community Outreach

Leverage relationships with local churches, community groups, and healthcare providers to build awareness of the facility.

Engage in community events and partner with local businesses to create strong community ties and brand loyalty.

Digital Marketing

Website and social media management through partnerships with local marketing firms to ensure broad visibility in rural Saskatchewan and beyond.

VI. Operations Plan

Management Structure

Daily operations managed by a professional team led by the Project Manager, with nursing staff from Carlton Trail College and administrative support from MEDA.

Staffing and Training

Comprehensive training programs for care staff, focusing on family-style care and health service integration.

Regular evaluations and continuous professional development for all employees.

* The long-term plan is to develop a pipeline of service and care professionals, purposefully crafted to provide staff with training and experience in the facilities that will employ them, through an education system designed to serve that need. This pipeline then allows us to staff the facilities we build in future growth plans.

Care Management

Holistic care approach that integrates medical support unobtrusively into daily life.

Close coordination with Philpott Family Medicine for ongoing advisory and medical protocols.

VII. Financial Plan

Funding Sources

Primary financing from EQ Bank.

Additional funding through local community investment programs, government grants, and partnership support.

* a presale deposit of $10,000 ensures unit selection. Unit selection is in order by date of deposit. Funds are held in trust. If the project does not proceed, funds are returned in full. If the project proceeds, funds can be put towards the initial deposit, or if the client no longer wishes to purchase, the unit selection preference may be sold to another buyer.

Revenue Model

Revenue generated through rent, care services, retail, service, and community partnerships.

Potential for additional revenue streams from community engagement events and local sponsorships.

Financial Projections

Occupancy is expected to exceed 50% in presales, and be sold out before opening.

Financial objectives are designed for sustainable, profitable growth, to serve as an example for other communities.

Cost Structure

Initial development costs covered by a mix of financing, with operational expenses funded through revenue from housing and care services.

VIII. Conclusion and Future Vision

Mennonite Senior Housing - Manitou aims to revolutionize senior care by blending faith, family, and community within a high-quality, sustainable facility. With strong partnerships, a family-oriented business model, and integrated care services, the project is poised to become a regional leader in senior living.

By emphasizing community involvement and holistic care, the facility will not only meet the needs of seniors today, but will evolve to address future demographic shifts in rural Saskatchewan.

Organization:

Building Advisory: BowCrow https://www.bowcrow.com/

Care Advisory: Philpott https://familymedicine.queensu.ca/

Architecture Design: HKS https://www.hksinc.com/

Interior Design: Alt Haus https://www.althaus.ca/

Project Management: MEDA https://www.manitou.agency/

Envelope: Savick https://www.savick.ca/

Accounting: HNG and Munodi https://munodi.ca/

Primary Finance: EQ Bank https://www.eqbank.ca/

Nursing Care: Carlton Trail College https://www.carltontrailcollege.com/

Water Systems: Innocorps and Vital Waters https://innovationsask.ca/success-stories/innocorps https://vitalwaters.ca/

Food Production: https://yellowhousefarm.ca/

Nutrition: Swegreen and Mumms https://www.swegreen.com/ and https://sprouting.com/
Wellness Programs: Embark Integrative Health https://www.embarkwellbeing.ca/

Delivery Manager: Eugene Parks

Design Lead: Sandra Epp

Proconsul: Ben Beveridge

Partners:

Watrous Manitou Marketing Group

Town of Watrous

Village of Manitou Beach

Village of Young

RM of Morris

Prairie Sun Brewery

Grantwright Canada

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Manitou Economic Development Agency

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