Valemount Seniors Housing complex celebrates grand opening

Agnes Blanchette was the first resident to move into the Valemount Senior Citizen’s Housing Complex, located on Ash Street beside Valemount Senior Secondary School. /Spencer Hall

By Spencer Hall

Valemount’s Ash Street seniors housing complex celebrated its grand opening on September 11th.

Located next to the Valemount Secondary School, the single-level complex includes 16 one-bedroom homes and two two-bedroom homes. Each unit includes a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and access to a private outdoor garden patio space. The homes are designed to be fully accessible to those with mobility issues, which allows local seniors to remain in Valemount.

Rents on the units range from $445 to $1,220, depending on unit size and the income of residents.

As of September 11th, six of the 18 units have been filled.

At the ceremony, chair of the Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society, Donnie MacLean told attendees about the special features of the building, which includes a full commercial kitchen near the common area, a state of the art generator, and a guest suite for out of town family members to stay in while visiting their loved ones at the complex.

MacLean says this project is the first time the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and BC Housing have collaborated on a project this large.

The building is also the first net-zero commercial building in northern B.C. The roof of the complex is home to 388 solar panels, designed to exceed the energy needs of the building, according to a release from BC Housing.

Upon walking into the building, one is struck by how warm the atmosphere is. Large ficus plants donated by Valemount resident Dee McEachern adorn the common areas. Brown leather chairs and wooden tables are also placed along the wall in the main hall of the complex and in alcoves near the suites themselves to allow for a comfortable place to sit and have coffee with other residents or visitors.

“This is independent living,” MacLean said.

She added the community will get a chance to tour the facility on the same day as the Christmas Craft Fair, held at VSS.

The project, which began construction in May 2023, is a collaboration between the Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society and BC Housing. The Province, through BC Housing, provided about $3.2 million towards the project. Funding also came from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Columbia Basin Trust, and the Valemount Community Forest. The Village of Valemount provided the land, valued at $333K, as well as $270K in municipal upgrades.

View photos of the housing complex below.

Related Posts: