Let’s head back to May 16, 1980 for the official opening ceremony of the new Kinsmen Retirement Centre in Tsawwassen.
Premier Bill Bennett had just announced $850,000 in additional government funding for the project, which officially opened its first two phases: a $2.3 million intermediate care centre and a $683,000 recreation facility.
A 110-unit apartment complex for local seniors was to open that fall.
Project chairman Bill Mosier he had been receiving at least six calls a day from local seniors asking when they could move into the apartment complex.
Proud of seeing six years of work come to fruition, Mosier added, “It’s been great. It’s become a total community project.”
Before opening the centre, Bennett told the large crowd, “The response of the government wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for the support of the entire community.”
MP Tom Sidden said that when the sod of earth was first turned over on the site the year prior, he never envisioned how splendid a facility would be built.
“The Kinsmen should be congratulated their vision, effort and dedication in making this project an reality,” he said.
Plans for the centre, located at the northwest corner of Winskill Park, began six years earlier when the Kinsmen Club of Ladner-Tsawwassen agreed to take on the three-phase project.
The province initially agreed to pay the $2.5 million cost of the care centre and one-third the cost of the recreation centre.
The remaining cost was to be paid by the city and the Kinsmen.
Fast forward to August 2023 and an official groundbreaking took place for a new 152-unit seniors’ affordable rental housing complex at KinVillage. The project that will have with a mix of rents geared to income where residents pay 30 per cent of their income for rent, market rates and deep-subsidy rates for people receiving income assistance.
Current residents of North Court at KinVillage will have the option to relocate to the new development. The existing North Court building will be eventually demolished.
