Abbeyfield seniors' project gets a boost from firm

The Abbeyfield seniors' housing project slated to be built in Caledon East is a lot closer to reality thanks to recent local newspaper coverage of Bel Air Lumber president Domenic Virgilio announcing his company's support for the project.

"I had been thinking about helping the Abbeyfield people with their fund-raising for a while, but when I read about the Bel Air Lumber donation in the local papers, it spurred me to action," said Mr. Errill O'Hara, general sales manager, northern region, Hanson Brick Ltd. His company will donate the clay brick required to build the 12-person residence, adding Hanson Brick to the growing list of corporate partners throwing their support behind the Abbeyfield project.

A Caledon resident, O'Hara has first-hand experience with the Abbeyfield concept of senior's housing.

"My mother was very well cared for in an Abbeyfield facility in England, so when I learned that this type of seniors' residence was planned for Caledon East, I was happy to give it all the support I could," O'Hara added.

There are 1,100 Abbeyfield houses worldwide, with 32 in Canada. Residents in the Caledon East house will have their own generously sized en-suite room, and be able to enjoy common areas for recreation and communal dining. A live-in housekeeper will provide two meals a day and facilitate activities for the house, which is designed for active, independent seniors.

"It is important that our Caledon seniors have choices when it comes time for them to downsize. Abbeyfield houses initially require community support, and Hanson Brick is happy to join other major Caledon corporations to get this project under way," added O'Hara.

Jim Galloway, president of the local Abbeyfield society, applauds the generous nature of Hanson Brick's donation and is hopeful that when the time comes, local brick masons will come forward and lend their support to this community project.

"Skilled Caledon workers can make a significant contribution to our building. We are counting on local tradespeople to step forward to help us with the actual construction at the Caledon East site," Galloway said.

For more information, contact Gail Grant gailgrant@rogers.com.