Sienna Senior Living
Canadian provider of long-term care, retirement living, assisted living, and related seniors’ housing services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Sienna Senior Living Inc. is a Canadian senior-housing and care-services company headquartered in Markham, Ontario. Its operations focus on long-term care homes, retirement residences, assisted-living communities, and related services for older adults. The company operates primarily in Ontario and British Columbia, with its long-term-care portfolio concentrated in Ontario. In Ontario, it became one of the largest long-term-care operators, while its privately paid retirement and assisted-living businesses provide a broader range of accommodation and support services. The business was founded in 1972 under the name Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation. For much of its early history, it concentrated on operating long-term-care facilities. In March 2005, Macquarie Bank acquired Leisureworld for $528 million. At that time, the company operated 19 long-term-care homes and two retirement homes with approximately 3,200 beds. A portion of the business was subsequently transferred to the Macquarie Power Income Fund. Leisureworld completed an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2010, raising $190 million, and the Macquarie entities sold their stake in connection with the offering. Following the IPO, the company pursued a more diversified senior-living strategy. In April 2013, it acquired Specialty Care, a privately held senior-home operator, for $254 million. The transaction expanded the company’s operating platform and resulted in Specialty Care president Lois Cormack becoming president of Leisureworld. The company later broadened its geographic and product footprint through acquisitions in British Columbia and Ontario. It acquired eight British Columbia seniors’ residences in April 2016 for $255 million and purchased ten Ontario retirement residences in January 2018 for $382 million. Sienna was added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index in March 2018. The company adopted the Sienna Senior Living name in 2015. The rebrand was intended to resolve confusion associated with the Leisureworld name and was accompanied by renaming at several residences. The updated identity positioned the organization as a broader senior-living platform rather than solely as a long-term-care operator. Sienna’s long-term-care homes provide extensive nursing and personal care, with operating funding in Ontario supplied through the provincial system; residents generally pay accommodation-related room and board charges. Its retirement and assisted-living residences are primarily privately paid and offer accommodation, hospitality, support, and varying degrees of care, generally with less nursing intensity than long-term-care homes. The COVID-19 pandemic created a major operational and reputational crisis for the company. During 2020, several Ontario long-term-care facilities experienced substantial outbreaks, and more than 290 resident deaths were reported in the reference material. In June 2020, executive vice-president of operations Joanne Dykeman was dismissed, chief executive officer Lois Cormack resigned for personal reasons, and the Province of Ontario assumed management of three Sienna long-term-care homes. Nitin Jain, previously the company’s chief financial officer and chief investment officer, became chief executive officer and described the immediate objective as stabilizing and repositioning the company. Sienna remains an active Canadian senior-living operator.
History
Sienna Senior Living traces its origins to 1972, when it was established as Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation. The company initially built its business around long-term-care operations, serving residents requiring substantial nursing and personal support. Its later portfolio came to include retirement and assisted-living residences, but long-term care remained central to its identity for much of its early development. In March 2005, Macquarie Bank acquired Leisureworld for $528 million. The acquired business operated 19 long-term-care homes and two retirement homes containing approximately 3,200 beds. A 45 percent interest was subsequently transferred to the Macquarie Power Income Fund. The ownership structure changed again when Leisureworld went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2010. The IPO raised $190 million, and the Macquarie entities sold their interest as part of the transaction. After becoming publicly traded, Leisureworld pursued diversification. In April 2013, it acquired Specialty Care, a private senior-home operator, for $254 million. The deal increased the company’s operating scale and helped extend its presence into additional senior-living formats. Specialty Care president Lois Cormack became president of Leisureworld following the acquisition. The company also expanded geographically. In April 2016, it acquired eight seniors’ residences in British Columbia for $255 million. In January 2018, it purchased ten retirement residences in Ontario for $382 million. These transactions increased the importance of retirement living alongside the company’s traditional long-term-care operations. In March 2018, Sienna was added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index. In 2015, Leisureworld changed its name to Sienna Senior Living. The company stated that the former name created confusion, and the rebrand was intended to establish a clearer identity for a broader senior-living organization. The branding work was managed by Bob’s Your Uncle, and several residences also received new names. This included the conversion of Leisureworld Caregiving Centre–Oxford into Secord Trails Care Community in Ingersoll. Sienna’s business model encompasses different funding and care structures. Its Ontario long-term-care facilities receive operating funding from the provincial government, while residents pay room-and-board charges. These homes provide full nursing care and serve residents with significant care needs. Retirement and assisted-living residences are generally paid for privately by residents and offer accommodation, meals, hospitality, social programming, personal support, and varying levels of assistance, usually without the same degree of nursing care provided in long-term-care homes. The company reported a profit of $21.8 million in 2017 and $7.5 million in 2019, according to the cited reference material. The COVID-19 pandemic brought intense operational pressure and public scrutiny. Sienna’s Ontario long-term-care facilities recorded substantial numbers of infections, and more than 290 residents died according to the reference material. In June 2020, executive vice-president of operations Joanne Dykeman was dismissed and chief executive officer Lois Cormack resigned for personal reasons. Ontario assumed management of three Sienna long-term-care homes. Nitin Jain, previously chief financial officer and chief investment officer, became chief executive officer and stated that management’s priority was to stabilize the company and reposition it for future success.
- 2020
COVID-19 operational crisis
[1]The company faced severe outbreaks in Ontario long-term-care homes, leadership changes, and provincial management intervention at three facilities.
- 2018
Ontario retirement-residence acquisition
[1]Sienna purchased ten Ontario retirement residences for $382 million.
- 2018
S&P/TSX Composite Index inclusion
[1]Sienna was added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
- 2016
British Columbia expansion
[1]Sienna acquired eight seniors’ residences in British Columbia for $255 million.
- 2015
Corporate rebrand to Sienna Senior Living
[1]Leisureworld adopted the Sienna Senior Living name and renamed several residences.
- 2013
Specialty Care acquisition
[1]The company acquired Specialty Care for $254 million and appointed its president, Lois Cormack, as president of Leisureworld.
- 2010
Initial public offering
[1]Leisureworld listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange through an IPO that raised $190 million.
- 2005
Macquarie Bank acquisition
[1]Macquarie Bank acquired Leisureworld for $528 million when the company operated 21 homes and approximately 3,200 beds.
- 1972
Company founded as Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation
[1]The organization that later became Sienna Senior Living was established and began developing a senior-care operating business.
Products and positioning
A Canadian multi-segment senior-living platform combining publicly funded long-term care with privately paid retirement and assisted-living accommodation.
Institutional senior care
Long-term care
Sienna’s long-term-care homes provide 24-hour nursing, personal care, accommodation, meals, and support for older adults with significant or continuing care needs. In Ontario, these operations are part of the province’s publicly funded long-term-care system, while residents pay room-and-board charges. The company’s long-term-care portfolio has historically been concentrated in Ontario.
Senior housing
Retirement living
Retirement residences provide privately paid accommodation for older adults who generally require less intensive care than long-term-care residents. Services may include meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation, and optional personal support. Sienna expanded this segment through acquisitions, including the purchase of ten Ontario retirement residences in 2018.
Supported senior living
Assisted living
Assisted-living communities combine residential accommodation with support services tailored to residents’ daily needs. Depending on the community and resident’s service plan, support can include personal assistance, meals, medication-related coordination, housekeeping, and social programming. The model is generally privately paid and offers less intensive nursing care than a long-term-care home.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Sienna Senior Living rebrand
Canada
The company replaced the Leisureworld identity with Sienna Senior Living to reduce confusion and present a unified identity for its expanding mix of long-term-care, retirement, and assisted-living operations. Several individual residences were renamed at the same time.
Outcome. The corporate brand shifted from a primarily long-term-care identity to a broader senior-living positioning.
Brand decisions
2020
Stabilize the company during the COVID-19 crisisStrategyBackground
Severe outbreaks in Ontario long-term-care homes led to resident deaths, executive departures, and provincial intervention at three facilities.
Action taken
Nitin Jain became chief executive officer after previously serving as chief financial officer and chief investment officer, with management prioritizing stabilization and repositioning.
Aftermath
The leadership transition occurred alongside Ontario’s assumption of management at three Sienna homes.
2018
Acquire ten Ontario retirement residencesM&ABackground
Sienna continued diversifying toward privately paid retirement living.
Action taken
The company purchased ten retirement residences in Ontario for $382 million.
Aftermath
The purchase increased the scale of Sienna’s Ontario retirement-living business.
Acquisition price. $382 million (January 2018)
2016
Expand into British ColumbiaM&ABackground
Sienna pursued geographic expansion beyond its Ontario-centered portfolio.
Action taken
The company acquired eight seniors’ residences in British Columbia for $255 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition established a larger operating presence in British Columbia.
Acquisition price. $255 million (April 2016)
2015
Adopt the Sienna Senior Living identityStrategyBackground
The Leisureworld name was associated with confusion and no longer clearly represented the company’s wider senior-living activities.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Sienna Senior Living and renamed multiple residences.
Aftermath
The rebrand established a single identity across the company’s care and housing portfolio.
2013
Acquire Specialty CareM&ABackground
Leisureworld sought to diversify beyond its traditional concentration in long-term-care facilities.
Action taken
The company purchased Specialty Care, a private senior-home operator, for $254 million.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened the operating platform, and Specialty Care president Lois Cormack became president of Leisureworld.
Acquisition price. $254 million (April 2013)
Recent events
Sienna completes acquisition of Stonemont On the Park[2]
Reported:
Sienna Senior Living completed its previously disclosed $170.7 million acquisition of Stonemont On the Park, a 305-suite retirement residence in Ottawa, Ontario. The transaction includes an additional $10.0 million earnout contingent upon exceeding certain financial targets.
Sienna announces acquisition of 50% interest in retirement portfolio[3]
Reported:
Sienna announced an agreement to acquire a 50% ownership interest in an 11-asset seniors' living portfolio in Ontario and Saskatchewan alongside Sabra, which will acquire the other 50%. Sienna will manage the portfolio, and the sellers are Extendicare Inc.
Sources3 sources
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