Texada Island is a sparsely populated northern Gulf Island in qathet Regional District (Area D) with an aging population.
Currently many seniors are living on low incomes and considered to be living in a rural setting, which is not necessarily senior friendly. Meaning, most housing is spread out, many live alone and in trailers, with no housing alternatives on the island.
Texada Island Non-profit Seniors Housing Society (TINSHS) president Cathy Brown has been working hard along with other board members to address this issue. In 2022, the non-profit conducted an island-wide housing-needs survey, and came out with the Texada Islands Seniors Housing Needs Report, indicating that Texada seniors want an “inclusive, affordable, safe, comfortable and independent living housing community.”
Using the information collected by TINSHS, Michael Green Architecture (MGA) created a project vision document called Texada Island Seniors Housing Vision Document.
“Selkirk Mountain Forest Ltd. has been very kind to offer us [TINSHS] an eight-acre parcel of land between the [Texada Island Health Centre] and Gillies Bay Road," said Brown. “They are offering us 80 per cent of the assessed value as a donation, which leaves us with a very reasonable amount of money to fund raise on the balance.”
Although $142,000 has been pledged by Selkirk Mountain Forest by the value of the land to TINSHS, and some private donations have come in, going toward the housing project, Brown said TINSHS is aiming high when it comes to fundraising.
“The utility connections are going to be expensive [for the housing project] and so our goal for this upcoming fundraising campaign is $250,000,” said Brown.
On October 14, TINSHS will hold its third community engagement session. "We hope to present a visual of what the housing will look like," said Brown.
However, at the moment Brown is focused on finalizing the land acquisition.
"The first step is acquiring that land; you cannot get Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) funding or help from BC Housing [without land title], and this is a first key step forward in getting our name on the land title,” said Brown.
Selkirk Mountain Forest is the largest private landowner for logging on Texada and bought the Texada Island forest reserve, with the owners based in Germany. The company has employees on Texada.
"They are lovely and we couldn’t have asked for a kinder donation,” said Brown. “They are not doing it for money. What we will pay them will cover the subdivision costs.”
Brown indicated that the company saw a need for housing in the community and wanted to leave a legacy. However, TINSHS still needs to raise the balance for the land acquisition plus other costs.
That's why the Fall Frolic fundraiser takes place on Saturday, November 4, from 7 to 11 pm, at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, located at 2099 Legion Road in Van Anda. The fundraiser promises to be rewarding for those participating, not only because the money raised goes toward a $250,000 funding goal for seniors housing, but because there are some high value prizes.
“We have excavator work, firewood delivery, garden mulch, stays at local bed and breakfasts on Texada, Powell River accommodations, activities, dining, artwork from local artists, and so much more,” said Brown. “Soon we will also have a ticket raffle which will extend to December 15, with first prize being a beautiful limited-edition print donated by a Powell River resident.”
Brown said the second prize for the ticket raffle is $500 in groceries locally on Texada; third prize is BC Ferries passes. There will be 2,500 raffle tickets available, at $2 each and at some point, “TINSHS may be selling them at Town Centre mall,” said Brown.
The basis for the TINSHS housing project is to build affordable housing for seniors; it’s also a requirement in the society's constitution.
“That will be the basis, we have many seniors living below the poverty line on Texada,” said Brown.
The housing project Brown hopes will see seniors, who are now living in trailers or unsuitable housing, move into the new units, freeing up some housing stock for others in need.
“It’s financially impossible to create housing strictly for low income people now, so we are doing a mix; there will be some at market value and some below,” said Brown.
The long range plan is to build 40 units, built in stages.
“At this time it is a housing project for seniors, and we are hoping for a roll-out effect,” said Brown.
The units will be single level bungalow style housing, perfect for those living with mobility issues.
Chris Knight, from MGA, is helping with the design in partnership with BC Passive Housing.
"They are based out of Pemberton and prefabricate highly energy efficient housing units,” said Brown.
Once the project gets started and people start moving in, the longer term vision is to make the seniors complex a community hub, with a garden to grow food and walking paths.
Another piece of the housing puzzle came together recently from qathet Regional District (qRD) directors, who supported a request for an application to the Agricultural Land Commision (ALC) to exclude the Texada Island property (from the ALC), in order for the TINSHS senior housing development to move forward.
The Fall Frolic on November 4 will include a silent and live auction with donated prizes from local businesses. Silent and live auction items will be posted on the Texada message board so folks can see what is available before the big night on November 4. Tickets are $20 (no tickets at the door).
"We can’t sell tickets at the door so contact [email protected], [email protected] or call 604.414.4485,” said Brown.
To acquire tickets to the fundraiser or to donate online, go to texadaseniorshousing.ca/fall-frolic.
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