A 50th anniversary celebration for Mission’s Welton Towers was held on Tuesday, June 6 as part of Seniors Week.
Residents of the tower, dignitaries and politicians gather to mark the occasion and celebrate the recent renovations.
According to a BC government press release, “residents of Welton Towers in Mission are living in safer, more comfortable homes” following renovations to the 61-unit seniors’ apartment building.
“These renovations help ensure a supply of quality, affordable homes for seniors in Mission so they can continue to live in their community,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, who attended the celebration.
“Through our government’s new housing action plan, we will continue to support and respect our seniors by delivering affordable options in communities throughout B.C.”
Located at 33214-2nd Ave., Welton Towers is an eight-storey, concrete apartment building with 60 affordable studio homes for seniors, as well as a two-bedroom caretaker suite. Built in 1973, it required significant upgrades.
“For many years, Welton Towers has provided a central and affordable housing option for our seniors,” said Mission Mayor Paul Horn. “This investment by BC Housing ensures that this vital housing resource will remain a safe and comfortable home for many more. Mission has been working closely with BC Housing to improve our affordable housing options, and this is just one in a series of measures we are taking together.”
Beginning in 2020, the preservation project was completed over two phases and included replacing flooring, bathrooms, appliances, cabinetry, fixtures and doors.
The renovations enhanced the living and safety environment for residents through substantial building upgrades, such as air conditioning in the building’s amenity room and air handling to provide fresh air to all common areas. Improvements to the building’s lighting, security system, and fire-stopping measures were also made. The renovations will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by incorporating energy-conservation measures, such as new baseboard heaters in each room as well as double-glazed windows.
Welton Towers is owned and operated by the Mission and District Senior Citizens Housing Association (MDSCHA), which is a non-profit housing provider.
“The Mission and District Senior Citizens Housing Association is proud of the safe and affordable seniors’ housing Welton Towers has provided for 50 years,” said Sandra Marshall, president, MDSCHA. “We are thankful to BC Housing for funding this major renovation project that will preserve Welton Towers for many more years.”
