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Summer 1973 The impetus to start planning for an intermediate care facility in Creston came from a letter to the Creston and District Chamber of Commerce from numerous concerned community ladies. It pointed out that local residents requiring intermediate care had to seek that care in other communities, as there was no such local facility.
September 1973 The Chamber, under the presidency of Gordon Leversage, called a public meeting to discuss this need at the Royal Canadian Legion hall. It drew a standing-room only audience. There was strong support for proceeding to plan for such a development.
Volunteers came forward to participate on a planning committee, which subsequently organized under the Provincial Society Act as the Creston and District Health Society, with Gordon Leversage as President and Rev. Harry Haberstock as vice-president. When Leversage moved from Creston, Haberstock assumed the Presidency
1974-1978 The Society had several preliminary issues to address: A constitution and accompanying bylaws were prepared and approved by the ministry administering the Society Act. Arrangements for financing the construction and operation of a 40 bed intermediate care home were investigated. There had been government construction grants available prior to this time, but they had been withdrawn. The Ministry of Health gave assurance that operational costs would be guaranteed. A mortgage was arranged with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which would cover 100% of the construction costs to a maximum of $1 million over a period of thirty-five years. The project completed under budget.
August 1978 After an extensive search, the board finalized the purchase of a site slightly under two acres on Ash Street for $60 thousand. An architect, Ron Sawyer of Nelson, was selected to prepare the drawings for the 40 bed facility.
March 1979 A fund raising committee was appointed, since it was realized there would be costs that were not covered by the CMHC. A minimum target of $25 thousand was suggested by the CMHC as an indication there was strong community support for the project. The committee aspired for a higher target and, with strong support from individuals, businesses and organizations, more than $60 thousand was raised.
June 1980 Encouraged by one of the Board members, a Pioneer Villa auxiliary was organized, and continues to this day. Its activities and the enthusiasm of its members add greatly to the comfort of the residents and the home-like atmosphere of the Villa.
October 1980 The board appointed the facility's first administrator, Gordon Holgate, who commenced his duties October 23. Following the appointment of an administrator, senior personnel were hired and recruitment for other staff members continued to complete the staff. The Ministry of Health appointed Father James Morrelli as its first representative to the Board.
December 1980 A two week staff orientation period for all selected employees was conducted during December. In the last week of that month, the contractor, Nick Plotnikoff, turned the building over to the Creston and District Health Society Board.
January 1981 On January 2nd, the Board, with the assistance of the auxiliary, hosted an open house to give the community the opportunity to view Pioneer Villa. (The Community had been invited to select a name for the facility, and the late Mae Scott's suggestion was chosen.) There were more than 600 visitors to the Villa for the open house.
On January 7th the first residents were admitted to the Villa and admissions continued throughout the month.
On January 30th the Board arranged for the official opening ceremony with minister James Nielsen in attendance to cut the ribbon. A bronze plaque in the main entrance of the Villa commemorates the milestone.
May 1981 At the Annual General Meeting of the Society,Haberstock announced he was stepping down as president. That concluded his term in office, after seven busy years of helping the community bring the project to its successful conclusion.
May 1993 On May 8th, the Rosalie Harris Wing was officially opened to provide accommodation for 10 residents with dementia. The Board acknowledged the strong support it had received from Pat Sinclair, the Provincial Long-term Care Coordinator based in Cranbrook for the project and throughout the years for the development of the Villa.
1994 Over the years, many Creston Valley citizens served as volunteer officers and Board members, as members of the auxiliary and as volunteers of Pioneer Villa. It has truly been a community project.
In June, Pioneer Villa, along with Creston Valley Hospital, home support and Swan Valley Lodge, were amalgamated under the jurisdiction of the Creston and District Health Council.
Note this quotation from the President's report to the Pioneer Villa AGM in May 1979: "A society will not be judged by how well it takes care of its strong and powerful people, but by how it sensitively deals with the weak and needy in its midst." Life goes in cycles
November 2001 The PCSS was filled to capacity with concerned citizens. Our community once again addressed the serious issue of sending our seniors out of town to receive adequate care. A Pioneer Villa Committee began to meet to explore new options.
February 2002 The Interior Health Authority announced the imminent closure of Pioneer Villa. Along with the Save Our Community Coalition, the Save Pioneer Villa Committee, chaired by Alex Nilsson, met regularly to address the serious implications of the IHA closure.
June 2003 Convinced that a critical need exists for continued intermediate care, respite beds, along with "assisted living" units proposed by the Interior Health Authority, our Creston Valley is experiencing mounting solidarity in its desire to have a non-profit community care society again assume ownership and operation of Pioneer Villa without major reservations.
The people of the Creston area have proven their wisdom and vision for providing good care for our seniors in the past. We will not give up until we are satisfied that "the excellent care Pioneer Villa demonstrated over the years will continue." "The Spirit of Creston is alive and well!"
Provided for the Save Our Community Coalition, PO Box 992, Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 from the text by Ms. Jean Tronningsdal
The Villa is now empty of residents. Interior health has been leasing it from BCHousing since 2003 and the Home and Community Care Programs are still located there. It is likely that these will be moved to the Creston Valley Hospital once the renovations to the Hillcrest Unit are complete.
Likely the Villa will then be returned to BCHousing. There is talk about the Villa eventually being used for low cost assisted living, but that outcome is quite uncertain as yet. The Creston Valley Housing Society now exists with the remit of clarifying the need for affordable housing in the Creston Valley. Alex Nilsson and Bob Benvie are co-presidents; Rita Scott is secretary; Cindy Kozak Campbell is treasurer. For further information you may contact them at:
824 Regina Street,IHA is still using the Villa but will be out by the end of September, I think -- the date keeps changing. Then B.C. Housing, which owns the building, is prepared to lease it on a long-term basis, but the latest news is that B.C. Housing is not prepared to put up any money towards its renovation at the moment. Meanwhile, a sub-committee of our society has been visiting Grand Forks and Fernie, where similar facilities have been converted to affordable housing units to get an idea about costs, number of units, etc. The committee reported enthusiastically about Grand Forks but we won't hear about Fernie until our meeting next week.