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Elainne Meckler and her husband Richard know the road between Estevan and Regina like the back of their hands.
That’s because they’ve been commuting to the Queen City since 2023 for Elainne to receive cancer treatments.
But thanks to the Regina Cancer Patient Lodge, the pair have found support, community and a home away from home.
The main floor of the lodge is the common area, where people can watch TV, read, play music and mingle with other guests. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
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It’s hard for Elainne to put into words what the changes mean to her.
“There’s no comparison,” she said. “The upgrades are absolutely beautiful.”
She noted that replacing the rugs with hardwood floors and the outdated beds makes a real difference.
The design team wanted to make the facility feel comfortable for patients receiving care. They didn’t want it to feel like a hospital. Each room includes new beds, furniture, artwork and cable TV. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
The facility also has accommodations for patients to bring their loved ones with them for support. For Elainne, that means having Richard by her side.
“It does (help with my healing journey) because he’s there, like I’m not alone the whole time,” she said.
The sports room on the main floor is called “Hoppy’s Hideaway,” in honour of the late Jim Hopson. Hopson’s wife donated memorabilia to the room. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
While the lodge looks a lot different than when Elainne first arrived in 2023, something that hasn’t changed is the affordability.
Guests can stay at the lodge for $40 a night, which includes meals and snacks.
“It’s really cost-saving,” she said. “It’s cheap to stay here and you have all the friendly staff around. It couldn’t be any better.”
Debbie Grass stays with her mother Joy Shaw at the Regina Cancer Patient Lodge while she receives treatment. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Joy Shaw was shocked when she was diagnosed with cancer, but she said the Regina Cancer Patients Lodge has been a great help.
“It’s been a real good experience,” she said. “I suggest anybody that needs it (treatment) come to this place. It’s like a home away from home.”
She stays for five days at a time during her six weeks of treatment.
Luckily, she doesn’t have to do it alone. Shaw’s daughter, Debbie Grass, is by her side.
“I wouldn’t be without her,” Shaw said. “It’s real support.”
Each room features artwork. One of the sunrooms upstairs features stained glass artwork. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Grass is happy to be there to support her mom in whatever way she can.
“I just feel better that she has family support and an extra set of ears to go to the appointments and to make sure that if she misses something or forgets what they said, then there’s a backup person,” Grass said.
When the two aren’t at the hospital, they keep themselves busy at the lodge.
“We’ve done, I think, four jigsaw puzzles,” Shaw said with a laugh. “The meals are excellent. I’ve already gained weight, so (I) couldn’t ask for a better place.”
People staying at the lodge receive three meals a day. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Renovations cost $3 million
Tiffany Hymers is the site manager of the lodge. She said work started on the renovations in June 2023.
Hymers is from rural Saskatchewan and understands how commuting back and forth can take a toll.
“(The lodge) helps them (patients) so much, we offer a sense of community here,” she said.
The total cost of the renovation was $3 million.
The major renovations were made possible through the Cancer Agency’s fundraising partner, the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, which raised more than $1.72 million for the project. The remainder of the project was paid for by the Ministry of Health.
The lodge was originally built and opened in 1985 and provides affordable accommodations for out-of-town patients receiving cancer care at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre.
Each year, the lodge serves more than 500 patients and their loved ones from across the province.
All 18 rooms have been fully renovated and now include new beds, bedding, furniture, artwork, cable TV, vinyl flooring, window shades and blackout blinds, lighting and keycard access.
Upgrades were also made to the private washrooms in each room, with a walk-in shower or bathtub feature. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Prior to the renovations, the lodge could care for 28 guests; now that number is up to 32.
Hymers said the lodge is almost always full, and recommends patients try to book in advance.
“I strongly advise all of our patients, as soon as they have even a close idea when their treatments will begin, to talk to their social work team, or call the lodge directly, and we’ll do our very best to get them in,” she said.
Other major renovations include an updated and barrier-free reception area, upgrades to the kitchen, dining room, TV lounge and game room, a new elevator, a new roof and a new heating and cooling system.
Hymers said the design team wanted the make the lodge comfortable to patients and not feel like a hospital.
“The cancer patients have had their fill of the hospital setting, so we worked really hard to give it a more residential feel,” she said.
Improvements to safety were also important.
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