Donations totalling $161,000 will help the Cowichan Lake Elder Care Society continue with its plans for an expansion of the society’s housing facility on a parcel of land adjacent to its existing building in Lake Cowichan.
The three organizations that stepped forward with the funding to purchase the land are the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Cooperative ($60,000), the Cowichan Housing Association ($51,000) and the Providence Village Housing Society ($50,000).
The purchase of the land will provide the necessary space, room for parking and user access to the area to allow the construction of the new seniors’ residence, which will have 26 units, to move forward.
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The Town of Lake Cowichan has already donated two parcels of land to the society for the new facility.
Society president Terry Hale said the next step is to identify grant opportunities to help pay for the approximately $9-million construction project.
“I’m so grateful to see the tremendous community support and financial contributions that are moving this project forward,” he said.
“The vision and hard work of previous members and chairs of the society will now be realized.”
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Lorne Scheffer, a spokesperson for the Cowichan Lake Community Forest Cooperative, said the cooperative’s board is pleased to provide funding towards this much-needed project by the Elder Care Society in the community.
“The funds provided by the CLCFC for this and other community projects are the direct result of our partnership in the Qala:yit Community Forest Agreement,” he said.
Shelley Cook, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, said there is an acute need for affordable seniors’ housing in the Cowichan area, and the association is also pleased to contribute to this important community project.
The Providence Village Housing Society was able to help fund the project thanks to the sale of a land donation from the Sisters of St. Ann, according to society spokeswoman Linda Love.
“We are very pleased that we can contribute and support this important addition to the Elder Care Society’s senior housing in Lake Cowichan,” she said.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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