Ground was broken for a 56-bed supportive housing project in Hope on March 5, 15 years after the project’s inception.
Dignitaries from both the District of Hope and Chawathil First Nation (CFN) attended a groundbreaking ceremony at 1275 7th Avenue, next to the Fraser Hope Lodge and Fraser Canyon Hospital (FCH).
Speakers at the brief morning ceremony shared stories about the long journey taken to reach this point in the project’s creation. Chawathil Chief Norm Florence thanked the people behind the project for working with them and taking the proper steps to ensure that the ceremony took place.
“I really want to thank everybody for taking the time to come up and witness some of this important work that’s being done with the supportive housing,” Florence said. “It’s really encouraging to see. This will provide some support for our people, as well as the residents in the town of Hope. Just to have that proper support for the residents to utilize, it’s important.
“It’s a good day. And I look forward to the completion of this building, with all involved.”
During his speech, Florence thanked Cedar Strong Prevention & Intervention Society (CSPIS), the district, and Fraser Health Authority. He also thanked and acknowledged the other Indigenous communities in the area, which included Yale First Nation, Union Bar First Nation, Skawahlook First Nation, Seabird Island First Nation, Peters Band, and Shxw’ow’hamel First Nation.
The land is on Chawathil’s traditional territory and a blessing was done at the site earlier in the year, by a Stó:lō elder, to ensure that the project was being done with respect to the community’s ancestry and history.
After Florence spoke, he joined seven other dignitaries to be blanketed and invited to officially break ground at the site. They were Chawathil Elder Patricia John, Hope Mayor Victor Smith, Hope Coun. Scott Medlock, BC Housing Senior Manager Aliya Tejani, CSPIS Executive Director Geraldine “Gerry” Dyble, Fraser Health Authority Director of Clinical Services Catherine Wiebe, and Petra Pardy, the Fraser Health Authority executive director for Chilliwack, Agassiz, and Hope.
Following the ceremony, the crowd headed to the Hope Golf Club for lunch and to hear speeches from members of Cedar Strong, the district, Chawathil, BC Housing, and Fraser Health. This included speeches from Florence, Dyble, Wiebe, Smith, Pardy, Tejani, John, and Chawathil Grand Chief Ron John.
“Today marks a milestone for Cedar Strong, the town of Hope, and the people that we serve,” Dyble said. “This project has had its share of roadblocks and its challenges. However, behind every ‘no,’ there is a ‘yes,’ and as a result of the ‘no’s’, we are seeing a larger facility. And (we are using) this beautiful land to bring healing and wellness. To offer support for trauma, substance abuse, and mental health challenges.
“Thank you to those community partners, and members of the community, who rallied and supported this project. And for those of you who were opposed, we’ve heard your concerns. And these concerns will go into the development of support programs to assist people in making changes in their lives.”
A member from Shxw’ow’hamel, Justin Kelly, also spoke during this time, to give thanks to Chawathil First Nation and everyone else involved in bringing the project into fruition.
The project is being championed by Cedar Strong, in partnership with BC Housing and Fraser Health. It involves the creation of a 56-bed supportive housing unit, on Fraser Health’s land at the hospital, with 15 shelter beds and involves a 20-year land lease. The three-storey building would include two floors of apartment units, with lounge spaces, medical beds, offices, kitchens and the shelter beds on the main floor.
Each unit would have a kitchenette, sleeping area, dining area and full-sized washroom, and residents will pay rent. There will also be a meal program to ensure food security.
