December 2, 2023 (Soroptimist International of Vancouver)
A group of women from seven Soroptimist clubs in Western Canada, representatives from three levels of government, BC Housing, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the project development company gathered at the site of 550 West 13th Avenue (formerly 465 West 13th Avenue) on Friday, December 1st, 2023. They were there to cheer and celebrate the groundbreaking event for the first-ever women-designed and developed affordable housing project in North America.
Since 1926, Soroptimist International of Vancouver has served local community to support and improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
“Back in the day, when women could not have a mortgage, SIV members found a way. They fundraised, they bought land, they built a building – to house women. In 1926, when Soroptimist Vancouver club was chartered, it immediately recognized that there was a housing crisis. Look how long it has been, and there is still a housing crisis. Yes, we are on our way, and we have a lot of work to do. Those women made it possible for us to redevelop this building by owning it in the first place. So in the spirit or with the spirits of all the past members who participated in this project along the life time of this building, I give them my thanks,” spoken by Carla Busnardo, the President of Soroptimist International of Vancouver and the head of SI Vancouver’s Housing Committee.
The project will bring 135 affordable housing units for working women, female elders, and female-led families, and is scheduled to be completed in late 2026. The construction site is located near the Vancouver City Hall Canadaline Station and is also part of the City of Vancouver’s Broadway Plan, which aims to provide affordable housing with convenient commuting.
For details about the ‘Housing for Women by Women’ project, visit: https://www.soroptimistvancouver.org/housing-for-women-by-women/
To join us and learn more about Soroptimist International of Vancouver, read About Us here.
News on Groundbreaking Ceremony:
- BC Business: https://www.bcbusiness.ca/South-Cambie-development-is-Canadas-first-real-estate-development-exclusively-for-and-by-women
- Cision: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/135-new-affordable-homes-for-women-being-built-in-vancouver-804445617.html
- Sing Tao: https://www.singtao.ca/6471761/2023-12-01/news-%E5%8C%97%E7%BE%8E%E9%A6%96%E8%A6%8B%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E7%82%BA%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E6%89%93%E9%80%A0%E7%B6%93%E6%BF%9F%E9%81%A9%E7%94%A8%E6%88%BF%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC%E9%A0%85%E7%9B%AE%E6%BA%AB%E5%B8%82%E7%A0%B4%E5%9C%9F-st-topic/?variant=zh-hk
