Martinos’ Hamilton care home empire has all but crumbled
Nearly a year and a half to the day a horrific COVID outbreak tore through Hamilton's Rosslyn Retirement Residence, the Martino family's firm grip on area care homes is no more.
Of the 11 care homes once owned and operated by the Martinos - a family with a long and controversial history of poorly running care homes in Ontario - eight have been sold and the rest are soon to be sold, according to the family's lawyer, the City of Hamilton and the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA).
All eight that sold now belong to one new owner.
Laura Philp, a former owner of the Hamilton City Centre shopping complex, purchased six retirement homes - the Rosslyn, Cathmar Manor, Northview Seniors Residence, Montgomery Retirement Home and Dundas Retirement Place, all in Hamilton, and Greycliff Manor in Niagara Falls - and two Hamilton residential care facilities (RCFs), Victoria Manor I and II, according to her lawyer, Michael Woollcombe.
Philp has a licence to operate all retirement homes with the exception of the Rosslyn, where a May 2020 COVID outbreak infected all but two of the 66 residents and left 16 dead. The RHRA stripped the Rosslyn of its licence shortly after and it has remained closed ever since.
Woollcombe told The Spec Philp - who owns about half a dozen residential care facilities in southern and central Ontario - is focused on upgrading the homes that are running before turning her attention to the beleaguered Rosslyn.
As for Victoria Manor I and II, the City of Hamilton confirmed it has received new applications" but final inspections are required before the city will grant business licences.
Woollcombe stressed - as he has in the past - that Philp has no connection to the Martinos.
Indeed, the RHRA is trying to make sure of that. Each of the retirement homes Philp purchased has conditions on licences to operate, including a ban on any past licence holder having decision-making authority regarding the home's operations, finances or other business.
Brothers Aldo Martino and the late John Martino previously owned the Royal Crest Lifecare chain of care homes. The chain collapsed into bankruptcy in 2003, leaving Ontario taxpayers on the hook for $18 million.
Soon, the Martinos' Hamilton empire will be no more.
All homes have been sold, save Sheridan, which is in the process of being sold and should close in December 2021," said Robert Brown, lawyer for the Martino families, in an email. In addition there is Edgemount Manor which was destroyed by fire some years ago which is also in the process of being sold and should close in December 2021."
Edgemount Manor, a city-subsidized residential care facility (RCF) on the Mountain housing 23 people, was the site of a 2019 blaze.
Sheridan Lodge remains operated by licencee Sophi-Anne Martino but is in the process of being sold, the RHRA confirmed. A note on the home's RHRA file states the home's licence will be revoked by Dec. 17, 2021 - an extension of an earlier deadline, granted by the RHRA to accommodate the pending sale.
Emerald Lodge, a home that was also evacuated amid deteriorating" and unsafe" conditions just over a year ago, remains closed. The city confirmed it is not in operation.
Philp has renamed a number of the homes. Cathmar, Northview, Montgomery and Dundas are now Residence on Catharine, Residence on Aikman, Residence on Main Street and Valley Town Residence, respectively.
Rosslyn Retirement Residence, Retirement Home, Hamilton
The Rosslyn was evacuated in May 2020 amid a horrific outbreak and poor living conditions. Of the 66 residents, all but two were infected with COVID and 16 died. The Rosslyn lost its licence shortly after the evacuation. The home has since sold to Philp, but no licence has been granted. It remains closed.
Northview Seniors Residence, Retirement Home, Hamilton
Northview Seniors Residence went into receivership in the winter of 2020-21 after the lender expressed serious concerns about its deteriorating financial state. Philp bought the home and was granted a licence to operate on Sept. 24, 2021. The home will be renamed Residence on Aikman.
Cathmar Manor, Retirement Home, Hamilton
Philp has also purchased Cathmar Manor. The home is being renamed Residence on Catharine.
Dundas Retirement Place, Retirement Home, Hamilton
The Dundas home was among the homes put into receivership last winter. Philp purchased the home on Sept. 24, 2021, renaming it Valley Town Residence.
Montgomery Retirement Home, Retirement Home, Hamilton
Same as Dundas, the Montgomery was put into receivership last winter and was purchased by Philp in September. It is now called Residence on Main Street.
Victoria Manor I and II, RCFs, Hamilton
Philp purchased the two homes. The City of Hamilton says final inspections still need to take place before it will issue business licences.
Emerald Lodge, RCF, Hamilton
Emerald Lodge was placed in receivership in late September 2020. The home has not been in operation since it was evacuated on Oct. 23, 2020. The city says it has received no applications from anyone seeking to run the home.
Edgemount Manor, RCF, Hamilton
The Mountain home was evacuated in 2019 amid a fire. It's been closed ever since and is in the process of being sold.
Sheridan Lodge, Retirement Home, Brantford
Sophi-Anne Martino is listed as the licence holder for the home, but Brown, the Martino family lawyer, says Sheridan is in the process of being sold. A note on the home's RHRA file says the licencee no longer meets the criteria for licensing" and the licence will be revoked Dec. 17, 2021.
Greycliff Manor, Retirement Home, Niagara Falls
Philp has purchased Greycliff and has a licence to operate it.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com