A former Sault-area resort will soon become a mental health and addictions treatment centre, following the sale of the Salzberger Hof Lakeshore Resort in November.
Batchewana First Nation confirmed the new use of the facility in a Dec. 18 news release.
The Indigenous community, whose territory spans the Algoma District, said it would “repurpose and operate the facility as an opiates-focussed residential mental health and addictions treatment centre to combat the rampant opiate drug abuse plaguing our communities.”
“Our people and all who reside in our territory deserve a good quality of life. Everyone deserves access to good quality addiction recovery programs in a timely manner,” Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers said in the release.
“This facility will relieve the pressure on the waiting lists for treatment.”
Located roughly 75 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie along the shores of Lake Superior, Salzberger Hof hotel and restaurant was owned and operated by Ann Elsigan for 47 years.
The facility was put up for sale following her death in March 2018.
It had long been known for its German and Austrian food and beautiful views of Batchewana Bay.
With its refreshed purpose, the facility will be able to accommodate up to 24 residents at a time, and the model of recovery will be based on the holistic Ojibwe water teachings of Lake Superior, according to the release.
Batchewana is aiming to have the facility up and running by the summer of 2020.
