A new 20-bed community-based residential facility for men opened in downtown Abbotsford on Tuesday by the John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland.
About 300 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Elliott House, named for Dr. Elizabeth Elliott, a longtime resident of Mission.
Elliott was actively involved in prisons and restorative justice for decades, founding the school of restorative justice at Simon Fraser University, and serving as a board member of the John Howard Society of the Fraser Valley.
Tim Veresh, executive director of the John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland, said naming the new facility after Elliott is a honour, as she contributed greatly to the community.
"She was an extremely remarkable person and right up until the point of her death from cancer (in 2011), she was continuing to go into prisons and run a restorative justice group."
The newly renovated halfway house is located at 2411 West Railway St. The facility will provide a home from men who have been released from jail and suffer mental health issues or potentially substance abuse issues.