Continuing in its growth, the Eagle Valley Senior Citizens Housing Society welcomes the development of a new facility.
At a fundraiser held Saturday, the society’s president Regina Forry announced plans to build a fourth facility along Gordon Mackie Lane on two undeveloped acres along Highway 97A.
“I hope this is the first step to a lot of good things to come,” Forry told the crowd.
The society currently has three facilities, The Lodge offering supported independent living, the Eagle Valley Manor providing assisted living and the Eagle Valley Haven offering independent living.
“It is natural progression... We are just following on the original society’s dream of aging in place,” said Forry, noting Sicamous’ aging population is growing and the society wants to accommodate that growth.
Although the project is only in the planning stage, Forry says she’s confident it will be a mixed-care facility and hopes it will offer complex care, which is currently not available in Sicamous.
“What you see is that when you take people out of the community where they have lived for 50 years, they don’t last that long because they’re away from their family – it’s the emotional end of it,” she said.
Forry says she would also like to see two-bedroom units made available to couples, particularly those where a loved one is battling Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Other options the society is considering include a pool, gym and respite area.
Working alongside development consultant Alan Campbell from Cansita Consulting, the society will look at demographics to establish what the needs are.
As for funding, Forry says the society will work with BC Housing and Interior Health.
“There are lots of places we will hopefully be able to approach for funding,” she said. “The fact we already own the land is bonus.”
Approximately 100 people from the community attended Saturday’s fundraiser that included live music, a 50/50 draw and a BBQ by donation. Bruce Krahn won the 50/50, only to donate his half back to the project.
Member of parliament Colin Mayes, Sicamous Mayor Malcolm MacLeod, members of Sicamous council and Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) Area E director Rhona Martin all showed their support for the project by attending the event.
Forry says she will be speaking to council in mid-July, and that more fundraisers will be held for the project.
The Eagle Valley Senior Citizens Housing Society is a non-profit corporation offering low-cost housing to seniors and people with disabilities.