Celebrating Community at Parry Place

Parry Place residents Mona and Pat in front of a painting by James Bay artist, Betty Meyers. The painting was presented to Parry Place on July 12, 2011 in memory of Bill Burrill, Frank Gascoyne and Howie Leach on behalf of the James Bay Community agencies who worked hard to make affordable and supportive housing a reality in James Bay.

By Joan McHardy

Everyone had a great time when neighbours and residents of 408 Parry Place celebrated community together on July 12^th with tea and a very tasty chocolate cake. Parry Place has now been home for over three years to twenty-one residents and, as you can see from the smiles of Mona and Pat, it is a great place to live.

It is a wonderful building. Each apartment has its own bathroom and large windows. Meals are provided. The location is ideal. Many residents enjoy the activities at James Bay New Horizons, walking in the neighbourhood - looking at gardens they do not have to weed - and strolling along Dallas Road.

About eleven years ago, Howie Leach of James Bay New Horizons recognized that there was a need for affordable, supportive housing for seniors in James Bay. Others agreed, and before long there was a group of committed people who were working together to accomplish this goal.

Dorothie Lindquist, President of the Supportive Housing Action Plan for Seniors (SHAPE), Jan Robertson, then executive director of Beckley Farm Lodge, Kim Dixon, executive director of James Bay New Horizons, and Bill Burrill and Joan McHardy of Birdcages Housing Society, all attended meeting after meeting to work with City of Victoria councillor Chris Coleman, then-executive director of the Capital Region Housing Corporation Henry Kamphof, and so many others to reach the goal of affordable and supportive housing. Community members who attended these meetings also deserve credit, including Frank Gascoyne and Alwyn Wason. Finally, after nine years, we were ready to work with the architect Franc D'Ambrosio.

 "You have to admire the determination and commitment of these people when you think of all the meetings they attended over nine years," Kim Dixon said. "They worked to get the money and negotiate agreements needed to build Parry Place. They were thrilled when five years ago they saw the building finally taking shape. And now they are celebrating wonderful supportive affordable housing in James Bay."

In the photo from left to right, Jan RObertson, Janice Gascoyne, Joan McHardy, Dorothie Lindquist, Kim Dixon.

We were really pleased that Chris Coleman and Henry Kamphof, now senior manager of the Housing Secretariat at the Capital Regional District, came to the party. Henry said that "Parry Place is a facility that has integrated into the James Bay community extremely well." He and Chris both gave thanks to the various individuals and groups that made Parry Place a quality accommodation that residents can call home with great pride.

The SHAPE committee has worked hard to raise money to support the development of Parry Place. We gave free chocolate chip cookies to passersby so we could talk to them about the need for seniors' housing. Jan Robertson painted individual rocks a golden colour to sell as a fundraiser. And people bought them for $20 each! SHAPE had some money left over from its fundraising. On July 12^th SHAPE donated a painting to Parry Place. The painting is by a well-known local artist, Betty Meyers, who has shown her work in various national venues, including the Art Gallery of Victoria. Betty painted a beautiful landscape of the sea meeting the sky, which will be enjoyed by all at Parry Place.

SHAPE hosted the Parry Place Dedication in remembrance of Howie Leach, Frank Gascoyne and Bill Burrill, who worked hard on this project with so many community members. The plaque on the painting will commemorate their efforts on behalf of so many who will enjoy living at Parry Place.

Parry Place is truly a community effort that took a lot of work over a long time, effort that resulted in a wonderful place to live for so many in our neighbourhood.