Ravi Iyer, the president of Care365.inc, the new owners of Chesterville’s Garden Villa, addressed residents, their families, and staff on March 20,2026 as he officially assumed ownership of the facility. Tinkess Photo

CHESTERVILLE – Spring is a season of rebirth, of hope and optimism, and although snow was falling throughout the morning, that was the feeling throughout Chesterville’s Garden Villa retirement community, as a new ownership group assumed control of the facility.

After being introduced by general manager Darlene Sherrer, Ravi Iyer, president of Care365 Inc. made the formal announcement to staff, residents and their families on the morning of March 20.

“It’s a great honour and a deeply meaningful moment for me to stand before you today as the new owner of this wonderful retirement residence,” said Iyer.  “I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to all of you, the residents, their families, our dedicated staff, and members from the wider community who make this place truly special.

“A home such as this is not defined simply by its buildings, rooms of facilities,” continued Iyer. “It is defined by the people who live here, the people who work here, and the relationships that grow within these walls every single day.”

Iyer went on to tell everyone a bit about who Care365 is. He explained that they operate four other retirement homes. (These are located in Long Sault (Sunset Cove), Smiths Falls (Lombard Manor and Van Horn Retirement Residence), and Brighton, (Applefest).

“It is through those experiences, we have developed a deep understanding of what it truly means to create supportive, respectful, caring, and vibrant living environments for seniors,” said Iyer. “Over the years, we have learned that providing a great retirement community is not only about buildings and facilities, it is also about compassion, listening, and continuously striving to improve the quality of the life of every single resident.”

In addition to Ravi Iyer, his family, and one of his two partners, present were several members of the management team from the other residences they operate. One of these, Janet Sirianni, the general manager or Applefest Retirement Residence in Brighton told the story of how Applefest had gone through many of the same struggles that Garden Villa had and told how their relationship with Iyer and Care365 had been a turning point.

“Ravi embraced his new venture with passion and purpose,” said Sirianni. “And suddenly, there was energy in the building there. Laminate floors replaced carpets. Rooms were refreshed. Our dining room was completely transformed; resident feedback became central. Occupancy grew, but more importantly, pride returned to the facility, and to the team, and to the people who call it home.

“And what drives this is something very simple but powerful,” she continued, “And it’s the question that our partners ask themselves. Like many in our generation, they have supported their own parents through the ageing process. And so, the question that guides everything we do at Care365 is what would we want for our loved ones?

North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser offered congratulations on behalf of the Township of North Dundas, and how, growing up as a child in Chesterville, he often wondered what would someday be in the open field that became home to Garden Villa.

“It would be a hub, it would be a place of care, a place of family, a place of compassion, to serve residents of North Dundas, Chesterville, and beyond,” said Mayor Fraser. “So, we’re very fortunate that Ravi and his team have seen that it’s fitting that they become the new owners, bring new energy, new thoughts, and new care to this building. And to that, I’m very, very happy, very thankful, and I really want to say my appreciation to Ravi  to Darlene, but to Robbie and his team that was brought here to demonstrate their commitment to ensuring that the Garden Villa will continue to offer a top level of service and compassion and warmth to the residents.”

Ravi Iyer spoke again briefly, then opened the floor to questions. There were comments about how wonderful the staff were, and a few questions about deserts and if policing of the smoking area could be increased. One person asked if there would be a change in the fee structure, a question that Iyer said he had expected to be asked sooner. He explained that there were some things that were beyond their control, such as how the war in Iran has led to an increase in fuel costs. “So, there may be some constraints which may come in the future. Maybe a little; we have to cover those expenses. But apart from that, don’t worry. There’s going to be no increases of costs, except the normal yearly inflation increases that you’re familiar with.”

It seemed like a future that was a lot more stable than what existed in 2023.

Garden Villa Retirement Residence Inc. was placed in receivership in the fall on Oct. 26, 2023. The action was initiated by Meridian Credit Union Limited, the primary secured creditor, which was owed in excess of $12 million.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice appointed BDO Canada Limited as receiver under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

At the time of filing, the residence continued operating as an active retirement home with additional unsecured liabilities in addition to the secured debt of $12 million. The receiver’s mandate was to stabilize operations and conduct a sale process, which is successfully did.

Between 2023 and 2025 BDO

  • Oversaw day-to-day operations, including staffing, resident care, and financial management.
  • Maintained revenue streams, primarily through rental income from residents.
  • Managed ongoing expenses such as wages, food services, utilities, and maintenance.

The receiver launched a formal sales process, publicly marketing the property  as a retirement residence investment opportunity with development potential.

On March 5, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court issued an Approval and Vesting Order, authorizing the sale, and a Discharge Order, formally ending the receivership process.

These orders effectively transferred ownership free and clear of prior encumbrances and released the receiver from its duties.

The final hurdle, the issuance of a licence by the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA) was completed and the licence issued on March 18, 2026.

Unfortunately, debt held by unsecured creditors, which totalled $676,522.55 will remain unpaid, which is unfortunate, but not unusual in this type of situation. The process is designed to allow a plan that looks to the future without the encumbrances of the past.

Watching the faces of the employees, some of whom have been a part of Garden Villa for 15 years, and the residents and their families there appeared to be some relief from the fear of what could happen that has been a part of their life for close to two and a half years. In its place it the hope that the place they call home and the people they consider family can get back to living each day to its fullest.