Public involvement in plans for a future seniors care facility in Lake Cowichan continues to grow following a recent event at which the project’s interim steering committee presented their work to date and asked for input.
Wayne Stinchcomb, the committee’s interim secretary-treasurer, said he was pleased with the turnout of 50 or so people at the March 31 meeting.
“[The energy] was very positive. We were very interested with the quality and the quantity of ideas at the end,” he said. “Most of the information we got from them were suggestions on [existing facilities] to tour.”
Stinchcomb said the steering committee plans to do an online survey to bring in more ideas from the community members unable to or uninterested in attending future planning events but who would still like to provide some input.
Many audience members voiced their support for a future centre.
“I’m getting up there in age now and I feel that somebody needs to take the bull by the horns and get something on paper here,” said Doug Drummond.
Vi Harmon, who came with her daughter, echoed this sentiment.
“We so very badly need seniors housing care in this town,” she said. “The people who… organized this, they always have the right reasons. They really care.”
Ross Fitzgerald, who was facilitating the event, announced the committee proposed leadership slate, which still has to be approved by town council.
In addition to Stinchcomb as secretary-treasurer, the list included: Ted Gamble (chairman), Terry Hale (finance), David Kidd and Barry Waters (facility), Marg McGillis and Beth Kidd (interim care) and David Lowther (communications).