The Town of Stonewall is teaming up with JohnQ to seek funding to create affordable housing opportunities for seniors in the community.
Stonewall and other participating communities are working with JohnQ to develop an affordable seniors housing facility to allow seniors to age in place. The town signed a letter of intent to develop the facility, which will be delivered through the JohnQ model.
JohnQ Public Inc., on behalf of JohnQ Home Inc., is taking on the funding applications to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Build Canada Homes to support the initiative.
Founded in 2018, JohnQ Public Inc. is a voluntary municipal participation corporation that aims to support community infrastructure development and economic growth in and around Winnipeg.
This seniors housing initiative follows in the path of JQBuilt’s “Daycare-in-a-Box” delivery model using pre-fabricated construction models. Using a collaborative approach, the project aims to develop and deliver cost-effective one- and two-bedroom housing for seniors in communities across Manitoba.
A seniors housing working group will collaborate with JohnQ to advance the project forward.
“This is an initiative that we’ve been working on with JohnQ,” said CAO Wally Melnyk. “Half a dozen municipalities, maybe more, are interested in pursuing this as an option, so there’s a joint application into FCM for funding to ultimately create seniors housing in our community based on a small house cottage-type model development.”
The Town of Stonewall will provide at least five acres of serviced construction-ready land for the project, and the land will be zoned appropriately for the development of a seniors housing facility delivered through the JohnQ model. The exact location is to be determined. The age-in-place campus is one potential location, and the town also owns some land west of the water treatment plant site.
“This is very similar to the requirements and conditions that were placed on the community when we did the daycare program. We had to allocate some land and we had to be part of the process. At the end of the day we ended up with a 70-plus space daycare,” Melnyk said.
“This will be very similar to that. We’ll see where it goes. It may be that the initiative doesn’t get funding, and in that case it won’t be able to move forward.”
Mayor Sandra Stonewall agreed that the JohnQ daycare program has been very successful.
“We have benefited from that,” she said, “and I think this is another opportunity like that.”
In addition, the Town of Stonewall is applying for funding from FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative for the affordable seniors housing project. The lifetime contribution from this initiative won’t exceed $10 million for tree planting in the municipality, which would include $1 million for infrastructure activity costs.
JohnQ Public Inc., on behalf of JohnQ Home Inc., is also taking on the funding applications to FCM for tree planting for the seniors housing project.
“The community’s tree canopy is a significant asset and something the town has identified as a priority. The current three-to-one replacement program is an example of that commitment,” Melnyk said.
“Initiatives that we can access that provide additional resources toward tree planting are always of interest to the town.”
In other council news:
• Council tabled a vote on the proposed plan to upgrade the north section of Provincial Road 236 and Provincial Trunk Highway 67 as submitted by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure. Council heard from many local business owners and property owners that could be affected by the potential impacts of the planned changes. The decision will be considered at a future meeting to allow council enough time to consider new information.
• The town will buy a 2026 Ford F-250 XL extended cab pickup truck from Steeltown Ford for $67,936.19 plus tax for the works and operations department.
• The town will enter into a building purchase agreement with the Stonewall and Area Mobility Services (SAMS).
“A portion of the costs associated with new building currently under construction for SAMS is being paid for a by grant from the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF). One of the conditions of the RTSF funding is that the building must remain in the name of the town for at least five years,” Melnyk said.
“The purchase agreement allows SAMS to purchase the building from the town upon expiration of the RTSF condition and to use the building at no cost in the interim.”
Council passed second and third readings to establish a rate for urban services for 2026, excluding the annexed lands. Council hosted a public hearing and gave first reading on Nov. 19, 2025.
On Jan. 1, 2024 five quarter-sections of land came under the control of the Town of Stonewall after a six-year process with the RM of Rockwood. The town and RM have a formal agreement that outlines how taxes and services are addressed between the two municipalities after the annexation.
For properties in the annexed area, the town committed to not raise taxes for services that aren’t provided. The town’s at-large “catch-all” mill rate would reflect the RM’s at-large mill rate as best as possible. The town’s urban services levy would offset the cost of some of the services that aren’t being provided to the annexed lands or are being funded outside of taxation, such as street lighting, snow removal and parks and arena services.
The difference between the two municipalities is about $478,500, which will be moved from the town’s at-large mill rate to the urban special services levy. As a result, the urban services levy will based on the current projected 2026 assessment of 1.083 mills.
There are two additional line items on tax notices, but there is no financial impact.
• Council passed first reading to amend a zoning bylaw by establishing the residential mixed-use zone and rezoning applicable lands.
The proposed mixed-use zone is being proposed for the lands east of 4th Street E in Stonewall. The change in zoning means that land on the town’s eastern edge will be changed from residential multiple and development reserve to residential mixed use (RMU).
“The proposed amendments will enable the Town of Stonewall to develop its aging-in-place campus, which is expected to provide a variety of housing and care options including independent living, assisted living, supportive housing and long-term care. The development aims to ensure continuity of care, promote independence and foster a strong sense of belonging as residents age. The campus will be an integrated part of a broader community,” Melnyk said.
“In addition, the lands proposed to be rezoned RMU will provide flexibility for future esidential, commercial and institutional development, ensuring the area can evolve in response to long-term community needs.”
• Council passed first reading to open a public road. The road will run from 4th Street through the aging-in-place campus and then north to connect with the new road access for the Whiteland development on Highway 67.
“This is an opportunity for the town to establish a corridor for the installation of infrastructure,” Melnyk said. “We can do the road opening and then we can move forward with installing sewer and water and roadworks that need to be done.”
• Council is authorized to attend the council orientation bootcamp from Nov. 18 to 20 in St. Andrews, and costs will be covered.
• The town will buy an eighth-page ad for $419 in the Courageous Companions Canada magazine Courageous K9 to support their efforts to train and certify service dogs for veterans across the country.
• Kinsmen Lake family passes are on sale until May 29. Each family membership includes five passes. Passes can be purchased online at stonewall.ca/m/stonewall-quarry-park/kinsmen-lake- or in person at the town office or Heritage Arts Centre.
• The Town of Stonewall will present its proposed 2026 financial plan at a public hearing on Tuesday, April 28. The hearing will start at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers. An option is also available to attend virtually.
• The Town of Stonewall’s emergency measures office will host a free open house event on Monday, May 4 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Heritage Arts Centre. Attendees will have the chance to create a take-home personal identification kit, visit information booths, explore emergency vehicles, meet local emergency responders and learn safety tips. The family-friendly event will also feature a free barbecue.
