The developer of Abbotsford’s tallest building has made a financial commitment to its most high-profile charity project.
Quantum Properties, developers of Mahogany at Mill Lake, will provide $1,000 for each of the 272 units in the condominium project, to be donated to the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Abbotsford.
The $10 million facility will double the capacity of Canuck Place in Vancouver. The local hospice will be part of the new Campus of Care near the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre on Marshall Road. The project also includes Abbotsford Hospice Society’s adult hospice and Matthew’s House, a respite home for children with severe disabilities.
The announcement was made Thursday evening at The Viewpoint, the Mahogany’s showroom on Gladwin Road, at a wine and cheese social.
Quantum Properties CEO Diane Delves said Canuck Place is “an important addition to our growing city and region,” as she presented an oversized check for $272,000 to the program.
“We’re very proud to be able to assist Canuck Place Abbotsford,” she told the crowded showroom.
The two pending projects will be in the same neighbourhood, and Canuck Place CEO Filomena Nalewajek called Mahogany “the best neighbours anyone could want.”
Mayor George Peary said the donation was a proud moment.
“This room is full of generous, supportive people,” he said. “The Campus of Care is going to be yet another thing to set apart the city of Abbotsford.”
With the donation, Canuck Place has agreed to name the great room at the hospice after Quantum Properties. It is a place where families gather, where care teams meet, birthdays are celebrated, and is generally the most well-used room at Canuck Place, said Nalewajek.
Delves told The News that from the time she first met with Canuck Place officials, when they were considering where to put their second hospice facility, she decided to support the project if it came here.
Abbotsford has had a hospice society but no hospice facility. Delves said she was shocked to learn that, and realizes from her own personal experience how valuable the Campus of Care will be.
“We’re a very fortunate community to have that kind of care,” she said.
Nalewajek said she has been impressed with the support in Abbotsford.
“We’re well ahead of schedule – we’re in shock,” she said. “But we’ve still got a way to go.”
The fundraising goal is $9.75 million.
The Mahogany at Mill Lake is a two-phase condo project which includes a 26-storey high-rise building, which is expected to be completed in 2013, and a second, four-storey, low-rise building.