The Bragg Creek Seniors Housing Society (BCSHS) board is hopeful that community stakeholders will aid in the finalization of a ‘comprehensive, high-level, community revitalization conceptual design proposal’ by mid-April.
The board has been advocating for the building of a seniors housing project in the form of ‘affordable and accessible housing options to Bragg Creek seniors’ since the formation of the board by various professionals and community stakeholders in 2008.
Board chair Sharon Bayer, a 24-year hamlet resident and community advocate, said the community has been very supportive of the project.
“That’s the tragedy — it’s when (seniors) are most in need to be in their community and around friends and family and they’re forced to leave because we have no place to put them.”
Bayer is also co-chair of Mountain Woods Health Services board — the non-profit organization that was instrumental in the opening of Bragg Creek’s Care in the Creek Medical Centre, which celebrated its first anniversary last October.
The resulting floodwaters from the June 2013 flood significantly impacted the hamlet — including the three-acre site donated by Bragg Creek landowner, Dick Koetsier.
This delay resulted in the volunteer-run board choosing to withdraw their subdivision application from Rocky View County (RVC) not only to regroup, but also to open up the floor for developers and community stakeholders to come forward.
“Here we are — ready, willing and able to provide support as we can,” said Bayer, adding that the Rocky View Foundation has been “phenomenally supportive” of the so-far grassroots endeavour.
Division 1 councillor Liz Breakey has been involved with the BCSHS board from the beginning.
Breakey said things are looking positive for the Rocky View Foundation to bring the project under its wing as long as “the project meets board requirements”.
Breakey said the foundation is a well-established group who has the capacity to take on such a project — with a mission to ‘be the leading provider to seniors needing affordable, safe accommodations and services in the Rocky View region’.
The foundation currently manages two seniors lodges and three manors (self-contained apartments) in the County and has a board of directors including representatives from the county and its participating municipalities — Airdrie, Beiseker, Cochrane, Crossfield and Irricana.
“As volunteers, we couldn’t take (the project) any further…you need a leg up and to be professionally run and modeled,” explained Breakey, adding that through provincial seniors housing policies, there is an opportunity to get two-thirds of the project funded.
To get in touch with the board, visit bcshs.com.
