For more than 50 years, Fiddicks Nursing Home has provided a safe, caring and enriching home to all who we have had the honor to care for.
The birth of Fiddicks Nursing and Retirement Home began in Strathroy ON, in 1964, after Mike Fiddicks maternal grandmother (Maxine Fiddicks mother), Daisy Dodge, fell ill and required full time nursing care. Without realizing, Mike began his informal education at a very young age, for what would later become his greatest passion and life work, the care of our most vulnerable population.
In June of 1981 Mike graduated from the Funeral Directing Program at Humber College. At the same time, Maxine was growing and expanding her care for the aged and medically fragile in Petrolia, Ontario. Having moved Fiddicks Nursing Home from Strathroy to the location on Princess Street, Petrolia in 1968, then to First Ave, Petrolia, in 1978.
As business began to evolve and the need to care for the most vulnerable grew, Mike was faced with the decision to return to University and join his mother in the care and management of Fiddicks Nursing Home. The decision was made, and Mike enrolled in the Canadian Hospital Association, Long Term Care Management Program at the University of Ottawa. He completed his studies in 1987.
For 36 years, Mike and his beloved mother Maxine, worked side by side, building and running what some would see as a business but in fact what has been their life’s work. What began as a 60 bed facility in 1978, quickly evolved over time, into a 165 bed facility with more than 155 staff members.
In 1993, a new 36 bed Retirement Home was attached to the existing facility.
In 2002, a new 32 bed Long-Term Care unit facilitating private rooms were added.
In 2013, a 2 level building housing 60 Long-Term Care beds and 2 respite beds were added.
In 2014, the oldest original building hosting 61 beds was retrofitted down to a 37 bed unit which is compliant with current Ministry of Health facility standards and regulations.
Each expansion was a direct result of Mike and Maxine’s determination and vision. The building went through many transformations over the years but the partnership between Mike and his Mother remained strong as did their goals: “provide a safe, happy and caring home for all that they would have the privilege to offer a home to. Love and care is given freely, residents come first”.
