Two new senior housing projects, in Fort St. James and Telkwa, were officially opened this afternoon (Aug. 29) , adding a total of 48 affordable rental homes to the area. 

These developments are an attempt to address the senior housing shortage in the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, particularly in Fort St. James and Telkwa, where there has been a significant gap in options for seniors looking to downsize, the the provincial housing ministry said in an Aug. 29 statement. 

鈥淢ore affordable homes for independent seniors means more people can age gracefully and stay connected to local family and friends,鈥� Ravi Kahlon, B.C.'s Minister of Housing said. 

In Fort St. James, the new three-storey building, named 鈥楴eghuni Ghunli-un鈥� 鈥� which translates to 'knowledge keepers' in Dakelh 鈥� features 36 one-bedroom units, including 33 adaptable and three fully accessible units. Located at 305 Pineridge Rd., adjacent to Stuart Lake Hospital, Neghuni Ghunli-un offers monthly rents between $500 and $900, depending on tenant income. Connexus Community Resource Society will operate the building.

The Telkwa project, Aldermere House, is a single-storey, 12-unit building designed for full accessibility. Each one-bedroom unit includes a bathroom, living and dining areas, a kitchen, and in-suite laundry, with monthly rents ranging from $375 to $851. Telkwa Seniors Housing Society (TSHS) will manage Aldermere House.

Funding for these projects comes from various sources. Both projects are part of B.C.'s broader $19-billion housing investment initiative. The province, through BC Housing, contributed $4.7 million from the Community Housing Fund for Fort St. James, along with approximately $492,000 in annual operating funding. The federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), added $3 million from the Affordable Housing Fund and $16,000 in seed funding.

For Aldermere House, the province provided around $1.3 million from the Community Housing Fund and about $61,000 in annual operating funding. Additionally, Aldermere House received $1.5 million in joint funding through the Canada Community Housing Initiative, under the Canada 鈥� British Columbia Bilateral Agreement as part of the National Housing Strategy.