The elevator at Consolation Manor in Melfort is fixed after six months of being out of order. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Lifted spirits

Elevator at Melfort seniors housing unit repaired after being out of order for six months

Apr 16, 2021 | 5:03 PM

The elevator is back in working order in a multi-level seniors housing building in Melfort after being out of commission for six months.

The board of directors at Consolation Manor announced on Tuesday that the elevator was safe for use by tenants.

A family member of an 86-year-old woman who is living in the top floor of the unassisted living unit, said she is beyond happy to know her mother will no longer be bound to her suite.

“I am very relieved that she can go out again without being stressed about walking down and back up the stairs,” Cheryl Messner said.

The elevator had been out of order since November 19, 2020, resulting in few options for outings for some of the elderly residents on the top floors.

Elevate Your Self-Care Game With These Smart Lifestyle Moves

4h ago

Riderville

Shades of 2007

4h ago

Final numbers

Local RM results finalized

Nov 14, 2024

In February, a resident who has mobility issues told northeastNOW she had only left the building twice in the span of three months due to the inoperable elevator and out of fear of walking the stairs too much.

Board chair of Consolation Housing Inc. Ron Olson, who manages the Melfort Housing Authority building, confirmed the elevator has been fully repaired.

“The Consolation Manor Board and the Melfort Housing Authority wish to thank tenants for their patience and understanding as the elevator issues were resolved,” Olson said. “We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused as the process to resolve the issues became lengthy due to many unforeseen issues.”

Management advised the board that the elevator required a complete modernization due to age, obsolete parts and potential failure in November 2019. In January 2020, a professional elevator consultant was approved to assist with the replacement.

The original start date of the project was Sept. 28, 2020 but due to delays in receiving parts due to the pandemic, the timeline was pushed to Nov. 23 with work continuing until Dec. 5.

Upon beginning the project, elevator technicians discovered complications and a different method was formulated that required construction of new parts that would take at least three months to be built and installed.

Work got underway in March once parts for the project arrived and was approved to be safe for use by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan on April 9, 2021.

–

angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser