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Silvera for Seniors is celebrating 60 years as a trusted leader in providing a diverse selection of safe, affordable housing and services for independent seniors. But the story goes back even further: In the 1950s, citizens seeking to address the need for low-cost rental retirement homes formed the Bow Valley Lodges Foundation and opened their first facility.
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The name was changed in 1962 to Fundación Metropolitana and in its 50the anniversary became Silvera (Silver-Era), ushering in a new generation of residences to help seniors live healthier, more engaged lives.
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On Wednesday, Silvera will celebrate the grand opening of its new supportive housing community, Gilchrist Commons, in the northeast community of Pineridge.
It will provide 115 barrier-free, air-conditioned apartments adjacent to the two established Silvera buildings that are now seamlessly connected into one space, allowing all residents to enjoy the many amenities and become a larger neighborhood.
Funding for Gilchrist Commons was provided 100 percent by the Alberta government, and the city of Calgary helped transfer residents from the closed Confederation Lodge, which was built in the 1960s but became obsolete due to too many constraints. infrastructure.
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Forty-nine residents of that old location have now moved into the new facility, which CEO Arlene Adamson refers to as a best-in-class design by Abugov Kaspar Architecture and built by Dawson Wallace Construction.
“We have a deep commitment to providing seniors with an environment where they can be stronger, healthier, have new learning experiences and be more engaged with others, rather than sitting at home watching TV and not receiving proper nutrition,” says Adamson. .
Gilchrist Commons features a bright and airy dining room with a high vaulted ceiling, a corner store, a take-out bistro, a hair salon, multiple outdoor balconies, a rooftop patio, and a landscaped outdoor patio area. Chef-inspired daily meals provide healthy food, while snacks and beverages are also available 24/7.
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Another big plus is the location of Gilchrist Commons – nearby amenities include the Village Square Leisure Center, Calgary Public Library and grocery stores, plus restaurants and shops, and a great neighbor at Robert McClure United Church.
As a connected community under one roof, the campus now brings together residents of 225 apartments to share all the comforts and benefits of participating in active aging programs to support their physical, social, and mental well-being.
Adamson, in his 12the year as CEO of Silvera for Seniors, he is also president of the Alberta Seniors and Communities Housing Association (ASCHA), demonstrating a deep commitment to ensuring seniors have every opportunity to maintain their health, embrace life with new adventures, and thrive in a safe environment. ambient.
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Silvera currently has buildings in 28 communities in all four quadrants of the city, serving more than 1,700 tenants who are served every day by a dedicated and caring staff of 400 people.
The number of Canadians over the age of 65 is rising rapidly, and many on fixed incomes will need to be housed where there are no barriers to living full lives.
Silvera has proven to be a successful manager of supported living and independent living in affordable housing. She is already in the final stages of planning for a new facility in the Livingston community north of Stoney Trail, while further expansion is also planned at her Glamorgan campus and another new residence further south within the city.
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Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, will be the keynote speaker at the first annual interactive Women’s Leadership Forum, to be held at the BMO Center on November 9. Brought to you by Axis Connects, a Calgary non-profit organization established to connect, collaborate, advocate and provide professional development resources for gender-diverse professionals – its mandate is to unite over 100 organizations focused on women’s initiatives in Calgary . Axis reports that 45 per cent of employees at Canada’s largest companies are women, but female representation declines sharply up the leadership ladder. “The advancement of women towards key decision-making roles has been slow, therefore our main objective of the forum is to accelerate progress, break down barriers and create opportunities for women to assume leadership roles”, says the president of the board, Heather Culbert.
David Parker appears regularly in the Herald. Read online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622 or via email at [email protected].