Public opposition to the closure of Abbeyfield House continued on Oct. 5 with a rally held in front of the Courtenay Courthouse.
Roughly 30 Comox Valley residents — most of them senior citizens — attended the event. Many hoisted signs expressing their support for the low-income retirement home.
Abbeyfield House, which opened in the Comox Valley in 1997 and housed 10 semi-independent residents at a time, closed its doors on Sept. 30.
Read More: Abbeyfield House anticipated to close in the fall.
“We fully appreciate that at the time the board made its decision to close its doors, its directors felt they had no other recourse,” reads a document distributed by rally organizers. “However, we are offering an alternative to save Abbeyfield House. It is an offer of help. A group of committed and competent people willing to work collaboratively with the current board and with Abbeyfield Canada to develop a plan to properly establish and reopen the residence.”
Shortly before Abbeyfield House’s closure last week, a grassroots campaign started by five Comox Valley residents emerged in an attempt to save the facility from being closed. The group started a petition to “save Abbeyfield,” which has garnered nearly 1,000 signatures as of Oct. 5.
Read More: Group mobilizes to save low-income retirement home.
“The purpose of today’s rally is a continuing effort to let the public know what is happening and get support,” said Pamela Willis, who MC’d the event. “We’ve had all these people sign petitions —probably 900 people altogether.
“That’s quite a showing of community interest and support. This [rally] was just one more thing we could do.”
Many people spoke at the event, including Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula. A letter of support from Courtenay-Alberni Member of Parliament Gord Johns was also read aloud to the crowd.
“I know there have been some issues that led to the demise, which I think is most unfortunate,” said Jangula. “I think the most important thing to remember is that there are very few low-cost facilities for seniors.”
The facility operated under an independent supportive living model, which meant there was some personal care provided to residents, but registered nurses were not available 24 hours per day.
The Abbeyfield House board’s reasoning for the closure was that the facility was not compliant with the Residential Tenancy Act.
When the board attempted to raise its $1,820/month rental rates last year, an ensuing arbitration over the rate increase highlighted further issues with the facility’s model.
“The challenges of providing seniors housing using the Abbeyfield model are many, and they are not ones that can be successfully addressed without government support including legislative and/or policy changes,” said board member Joan Carson. “The Board has dedicated significant time and energy into this and did not enter into its decision lightly.
“There is a huge disconnect between the ideology of ‘Canadian seniors needing adequate and inclusive housing, a supportive social environment that fosters quality of life, and targeted support’ and the stark reality of delivering that ideal,” Carson continued.
Despite the closure in Courtenay, Abbeyfield House still has facilities across British Columbia and Canada, as well as internationally. There are still four on Vancouver Island.
Some of the attendees of Thursday’s rally were representatives from other Abbeyfield House facilities on Vancouver Island, including Victoria and Duncan.
“Some have gone through problems in the past, sorted them out and figured out how to deal with them,” said Delores Broten, a member of the grassroots campaign. “They’re here to show us [the Abbeyfield model] can be done.”
Willis says Abbeyfield House was a “community treasure” that offered a rare opportunity for seniors in the Valley to maintain some independence.
“It’s served so many families well since 1997,” she said. “Less than three years ago they were looking to expand and now this facility is closed. And it’s closed at a time when there is so little for affordable housing for seniors in Courtenay. And this is affordable independent living.
“We can’t afford to lose this.”