The Society of Hope recently received a Provincial CFLS (Canadian Forces Liaison Council) Employer Supports Award.  This award is presented every two years, and every Canadian employer is eligible. The award gives Reservists an opportunity to thank and recognise their employers.  As it says in their 'Pacific Connector' Newsletter, "The rewards are intended to recognise the generosity of employers and educators who give the reservists the support and time required for military training and/or deployment."

It was announced on Feb 6, 2019 that the Society of Hope won the "Best Practices in Employer Support – Small Organization" award.  The Headquarters of the 39^th Canadian Brigade Group is the location where the official awards ceremony will be held on February 26^th.  We are honored to sit as winners among so many larger and well known Employers in BC, such as Correctional Services Canada, Costco, and CP Rail.

What to do on a cold, snowy January evening?  Why, go bowling, of course!  Here we see the Society of Hope staff enjoying an invite from the Board of Directors to go Bowling.  Did you know that within the Ziglar Recreation Centre, Apple Valley Senior's site houses a 6 lane, 5 pin bowling alley?  Our Resource Coordinator organized 'Bingo Bowling', a fast paced, all participation, wild and silly bowling game.  Each team takes a lane and gets a bingo card with 25 squares.  Squares may say things like "Strike, spare, head pin only, gutter ball, 10 points, 7 points", etc.  Just pick up a ball and start bowling!  First team to fill every square on their card wins!  BINGO!

It has been a busy and festive season for the Society of Hope.  A great number of our tenants participated in one of our many Christmassy events.  Cedar Court enjoyed seasonal foods at the end of November, followed by Apple Valley's Christmas Mingle on Dec 6th, complete with entertainment and a photo-booth!   A gingerbread house making party was held for the children at our Short Term sites, and goodies were dropped off for our Franklyn Rd. residents.   Woodsdale Place residents in Lake Country were the recipients of some gift baskets, and Providence Meadows enjoyed a party with games and treats.  Pleasantvale enjoyed a banquet style celebration on Dec 13th, and this was closely followed by a holiday meal at our Gordon Drive location on the 20th.   It was wonderful to have so many of our staff and tenants participate.  We greatly appreciate all of the generous donations and helping hands that made these events possible. 

The Society of Hope's 22-year vision of bringing affordable senior's housing to Kelowna has been realized.

To much fanfare, the ribbon was cut on the third phase of Apple Valley, a senior's complex on Benvoulin Court, Thursday morning.

The 47-unit building brings to 199 the number of affordable senior's units in the development.

Society executive director Luke Stack says the vision began with the donation of land in the Landmark Centre area in the late 1990s. The society sold that land, and used the proceeds to purchase what was at the time the Pettit family farm, where Apple Valley now sits.

"It took many, many years to find this site, get it out of the ALR, rezone it, get the roads built. That added quite a few years to the project," said Stack. "But, it turned out to be a great decision because it's so well located now. It's perfect."

Stack says the society is still trying to determine what to do with an additional two acres at the back of the complex.

It's also constructing 21 family townhomes in Glenmore. In all, Stack says the vision is to build another 150 units of affordable housing in Kelowna over the next five years.

Geraldine Barsetti is one of the residents who moved into Apple Valley 3 in October. She said she feels at home, and very safe, and has had no trouble meeting people and making friends.

Total cost of the entire development came in at $38 million, with $15 million of that coming from all three levels of government.