Press Releases and Publicity
2018
2018 08 23 – The Valley Voice – Hike to Housing for grand opening of Slocan City Suites – Submitted by Rita Moir
Time to celebrate! The Slocan City Suites will be fully occupied by the end of the year, so the S
locan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society is giving supporters a sneak peek next month, on September 27, before tenants move in.
Following the theme of the three day Hike or Bike for Housing that raised $40,000 two years ago, this will be a Hike to Housing. Starting at the Legion at 5:30, participants will parade to Slocan City Suites with bagpipes, banners, bandannas, and Betty Windsor in hiking togs and plastic crown. At the suites, they’ll hear a few words from MLA Katrine Conroy (who trekked with her grandchildren on the big hike), major funders BC Housing and Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust) as well as Mayor Jessica Lunn and RDCK director Walter Popoff. Then they’ll tour the suites and head back to the Legion for cake and celebration.
It’s such an exciting time; the culmination of years of work by hundreds of people, and the organizers say it’s time to thank the entire vast community who has made this happen; from the fundraisers and funders to the construction workers, to the village for all its help, and to the people who just never gave up, no matter the stress or grind.
“Making sure seniors have access to secure housing they can afford is a priority for this government,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “The opening of this important project means more seniors have a home to call their own in the Village of Slocan.”
Eric Clough of Winlaw designed the suites, which are built by NDB Construction, with Tamara Smith coordinating the whole project on behalf of the society. The 12 units include eight one-bedroom units with lofts,two studios with lofts, and two two bedroom units. (The society is still looking for a tenant who could use themenities of a disability suite; call 250-226-7115 if you’re interested.)
These 12 affordable suites are built with energy efficiency in mind, as well as being aesthetically pleasing and set in the midst of a beautiful village with many amenities close by.
The seniors’ housing society also built and continues to operate the 10 unit Passmore Lodge, which opened in 1999. While working flat out to make Slocan City Suites a reality, the board and administrator Nora Lilligren have worked to maintain and improve Passmore Lodge, obtaining several grants for energy efficiency, outreach programs, and ongoing work on the grounds.
The society’s AGM will follow the celebration at the Legion, for those who wish to stay. The hard-working board will report on all its activities for the year, and conduct the usual annual election. In order to vote, new members must obtain their $5 membership by August 29. Current members may renew at the meeting. Please visit www.svhousing.ca for membership forms and more information, and visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/svhousing/.
2018 04 05 – The Valley Voice – And the name is … Slocan City Suites! – Submitted by Rita Moir
The seniors’ affordable housing project in Slocan has a great new name. “We considered many good possibilities, but when board member Lynnda Moore suggested Slocan City Suites, well, we thought about it and it put a smile on our faces,” said Rita Moir, president of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society. “There are a lot of names with Slocan in them all up and down the Valley, north and south, but there’s no confusion about where Slocan City is,” said Moir. “Slocan City Suites is a tip of the hat to Slocan’s historic name and is just plain fun to say.”
Are you a senior thinking about applying to rent an affordable suite in beautiful Slocan? Construction is well underway on the seniors’ housing project, and applications for residency are ready for pick-up at the Village office, the library, the entryway of Passmore Lodge and online at svhousing.ca/. Get your application in by May 15 for the first round of interviews and offers of suites.
2018 04 05 – West Kootenay Advertiser – And the name is … Slocan City Suites! – Submitted by Rita Moir
The seniors’ affordable housing project in Slocan has a great new name. “We considered many good possibilities, but when board member Lynnda Moore suggested Slocan City Suites, well, we thought about it and it put a smile on our faces,” said Rita Moir, president of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society. “There are a lot of names with Slocan in them all up and down the Valley, north and south, but there’s no confusion about where Slocan City is,” said Moir. “Slocan City Suites is a tip of the hat to Slocan’s historic name and is just plain fun to say.”
Are you a senior thinking about applying to rent an affordable suite in beautiful Slocan? Construction is well underway on the seniors’ housing project, and applications for residency are ready for pick-up at the Village office, the library, the entryway of Passmore Lodge and online at svhousing.ca/. Get your application in by May 15 for the first round of interviews and offers of suites.
2018 02 08 – The Valley Voice – Slocan seniors’ housing taking applications for tenancy – Submitted by Rita Moir
The Slocan Suites under construction
Are you a senior thinking about applying to rent an affordable suite in beautiful Slocan? Construction is well underway on the seniors’ housing project, and applications for residency are ready for pick-up at the Village office, the library, the entryway of Passmore Lodge and online at svhousing.ca/. Get your application in by May 15 for the first round of interviews and offers of suites. Read more here
2017
2017 09 22 CBC Daybreak South – Kootenay Housing – Interview of Rita Moir by Chris Walker
(Radio interview starts at 32:10 and runs to 34:17)
2017 09 21 – Submitted – Valley Voice
“It’s been a very long haul,” said Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society president Rita Moir, “but we are really pleased to announce final funding has been approved for affordable seniors’ rental housing in the Village of Slocan.” BC Housing, Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust), the Village of Slocan, Slocan Valley Economic Development Commission, RDCK, Slocan Valley Community Legacy Society, Heritage Credit Union, Slocan Legion Branch #276, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, local housing and trades professionals and the entire local community have contributed funds, land, and many thousands of volunteer hours toward making the $1.9 million project a reality.
Slocan seniors’ housing to break ground this fall
Construction will start this fall on eight affordable housing units for seniors in Slocan.
“It’s been a very long haul,” said Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society president Rita Moir, “but we are really pleased to announce final funding has been approved.”
Along with the good news, there is still one hurdle: the twelve-suite project in the heart of Slocan has been downsized to eight units due to sharp increases in construction materials and additional requirements since initial budgeting two years ago. BC Housing is encouraging the Society to pursue the additional four units when a future program becomes available.
“We’ll think of these eight units as phase one,” said Moir. “We’re so glad to get going with these eight beautiful suites, and construction will include the infrastructure to get those final four done as soon as possible.” The four-plexes, directly behind the Slocan Library and Wellness Centre, will include six one-bedroom suites with lofts and two two-bedroom suites.
2017 09 15 – My Nelson Now – Greg Nesteroff,
The Slocan Valley Housing Society will break ground this fall on a seniors housing project in Slocan City. But president Rita Moir says it won’t be as large as they originally hoped. BC housing is providing $831,000 plus a low-interest mortgage, while the Columbia Basin Trust is putting up $269,000. The community raised more than $45,000 in last year’s Hike and Bike for Housing event and has also provided free materials and pro bono services.
To hear the full Radio Interview with Rita Moir, click here.
2017 Sep. 15 – SVSHS Press Release
“It’s been a very long haul,” said Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society president Rita Moir, “but we are really pleased to announce final funding has been approved for affordable seniors’ rental housing in the Village of Slocan.”
The Passmore Lodge will do some energy upgrades thanks to $6,400 from the Columbia Basin Trust.
Administrator Nora Lilligren says they were one of the recipients of the recently-announced grants. Lilligren says they’re switching from incandescent and fluorescent lamps to LED. They’re hoping to do the work this fall and the grant will pay for about half the total cost. The lodge has 10 units and is operated by the Slocan Valley Seniors Housing Society.
To hear Nora on the Radio click here. ( Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.)
2016
by Kim Pemberton – Vancouver Sun – Published on: December 4, 2016 | Last Updated: December 4, 2016 4:26 PM PDT
The backlog of low-income seniors in B.C. needing social-housing will not be met, despite a recent announcement by the provincial government to increase the number of subsidized housing units through B.C. Housing.
B.C. Housing has awarded $6,300,300 in funding to a Nelson CARES project that will build 48 units of affordable housing. ( The corporation chose to fund three other projects in the Kootenays: A dozen seniors units in Slocan through the Slocan Valley Seniors Housing Society.)
B.C. Housing has awarded $6,300,300 in funding to a Nelson CARES project that will build 48 units of affordable housing. It was one of three dozen projects funded around the province amounting to a total of a half billion dollars.
Submitted – “We’re over the moon” about the success of the Hike orBike for Seniors’ Housing, said Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society President Rita Moir after the weekend’s fundraising adventure on the valley’s rail trail. “I don’t think in our wildest dreams we expected to raise more than $35,000. It shows complete commitment to the seniors’ housing project in Slocan on behalf of our entire community.”
Eighteen years ago an epic 233 km walk-a-thon raised $25,000 to help build Passmore Lodge. Now residents plan to do the same for seniors’ housing in Slocan. For three days, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, they’ll hike or bike on the Slocan Valley Heritage Rail Trail with all funds going to help build 12 units of affordable rental seniors’ housing in the heart of the village.
For three days, from September 30 through October 2, volunteers will hike or bike on the Slocan Valley Heritage Rail Trail with all funds going to help build 12 units of affordable rental seniors’ housing in the heart of the village. At least one of the original hikers, Lydia Kania, who was 72 then and 91 now, is already in training with the help of a walking stick carved by Don Munro, another of the early trekkers.
“We’ve moved so far on the Slocan roject. We’re shovel ready if funds come through, and now the community is preparing to hike or bike to help raise money for the new housing,” said society president Rita Moir. “We are proud to run Passmore Lodge and its success punctuates the need for more seniors’ housing. There are only 20 units in the Slocan Valley, where half the population is over 50 years old.”
Webmaster’s note: Don Munro, is actually the one coming from Oliver for the hike, Susan Harder our new director continues to reside in our area.
2015
posted Mar 21, 2015 at 12:00 PM— updated Mar 25, 2015 at 3:04 PM
“Please complete your Seniors’ Housing Survey!”
That’s the message the board of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society wants to get out to past and present valley residents this month.
The society has its eye on an attractive piece of ground in Slocan for seniors’ independent living. It’s been offered to the group on a 40-year lease for a dollar a year.
Slocan Valley seniors have shown solid support for affordable seniors’ housing in Slocan.
A recent survey came back in large numbers, with 411 responses from senior households, representing at least 628 seniors. It asked questions about housing and support needs and preferences of senior households in the valley.
“This is a very high response rate,” said Rita Moir, president of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society. “The data from the survey, along with interviews of key individuals throughout the valley and region, meetings with the public and seniors’ groups, as well as village and regional data, are giving us a good grasp on what people want and need.”
The latest draft designs, a fundraising plan, results of a need and demand study, a social and election of board members highlight the Wednesday, Sept. 23 annual meeting of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society.
“With the community’s support and a dedicated board, we’ve come a long way in this last year,” said society president Rita Moir. “Passmore Lodge is on a good even keel, and we’ve progressed steadily with plans for the Slocan affordable housing project.”
All 12 board members elected last year are willing, ready and able to stay on, providing stability and continuity as the board enters major fundraising for Slocan and continues with improvements at Passmore. Board members continuing their terms or up for their second term are Lydia Kania, Ruth Hackett, Penny Tees, Paul Wilkinson, Don Currie, Mabel Kabatoff, Eric Clough, Lynnda Moore, Wilf Rimmer, Willie Harasemow, Sally Mackenzie and Rita Moir.
BC seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie spoke to a packed house at the Best Western in Nelson last week, explaining to those gathered the objectives of her newly created office and outlining how she plans to address seniors’ concerns in the Kootenays.
“When I first took this job — and I have traveled outside cities, but that was as a vacation — it was my first time going out and talking to people about their experiences in the communities where they live,” Mackenzie said.
“It’s simply gobsmacking to see the modest expectations people who live in rural BC have, and our lack of an ability to even meet those expectations.”
The Slocan Valley Economic Development Commission has chosen four organizations to receive a combined $251,000 over two years from the Slocan Valley Community Directed Fund. The fund is a partnership between the Regional District of Central Kootenay and Columbia Basin Trust, who provided the money.
“We believe that funding these organizations will result in long term and widespread benefits to the Slocan Valley community,”said Leah Main, chair of the commission. “The commission engaged with the community extensively to determine how valley residents wanted this funding used for their economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being.”
The commission allocated $40,000 to the seniors’ housing society project which plans to build long-term housing for elders in Slocan City. The society’s committee will share its knowledge and designs with other groups that may wish to develop similar housing projects in other parts of the valley.
2014
Council met with the Slocan Valley Seniors Housing Society to revisit the idea of a seniors and affordable housing complex in Slocan.