New View Society - News Articles

A new $4.2-million development in Port Coquitlam is not only providing supportive homes for individuals living with mental health challenges, according to the provincial government, but also acting as a community hub for mental wellness.

Iris House, located at 2050 Mary Hill Rd., is a new building owned and operated by the New View Society. It provides 10 beds for adults living with mental health challenges.

It sits on the old site of the Lobb House. In addition, the society fundraised to build amenity space in the building, which includes a community kitchen and a clubhouse for their broader programming requirements, as well as permanent office space.

. The federal government contributed $655,000 towards Iris House through the Homelessness Partnership Strategy and a $10,000 Seed Funding Grant through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

. The province invested $1,622,524 and has pledged to provide an annual operating subsidy of $89,363.

. The New View Society provided the land, valued at approximately $700,000, fundraised equity of approximately $545,722 and will require approximately $715,870 in mortgage financing.

Jill Calder shows the commercial kitchen at the New View Society's news facility in Port Coquitlam.

The chair of New View Society says the opening of a new clubhouse and 10-bed residence for people with mental illness has been “magical” and he can’t wait to welcome people to the community wellness centre at 2050 Mary Hill Rd.

Ted Kuntz said New View’s metamorphosis from a single-purpose building to a multi-purpose facility where people can be together, share experiences, learn job skills and live independently has been bumpy but, ultimately, rewarding.

“It says what a caring community can do when it wants to,” Kuntz said about the a $4.1-million community wellness centre and housing facility that opened recently on the former Lobb House site in Port Coquitlam.

New View Society quietly opened the doors to Iris House and a community wellness centre this summer after getting occupancy approvals, and, while there is still evidence of the recent move, staff say New View members and residents are settling in to the new digs.

New resident Kim Materi moved into Iris House in August and said it was scary at first but now she enjoys her independence. She has her own key and can easily get into the duplex she shares with four other people because it’s wheelchair accessible. The 31-year-old was living with her parents and is now learning how to cook and take care of herself.

“It’s felt really good to get more freedom and independence,” Materi said.

With the recent move, New View is finally able to consolidate programming for 300 clubhouse members who live in the Tri-Cities as well as provide offices for staff who manage New View’s other residential apartments. Materi said having the clubhouse downstairs means she can easily get to programs using the elevator.

Darrell Roemer, New View’s program manager, said it’s a relief to finally have everything all in one location and noted that many new programs have been added, including job skills, computer courses, music nights, stop-smoking programs, drama and creative writing groups, and classes on graphic design and fitness to name a few.

Kuntz said his wish is to be able to invite the community to take part in wellness programs at the new centre and a new commercial kitchen may provide spin-off opportunities such as catering services.

Building the new residential facility and clubhouse took several years; first, the 1912-era Lobb House, named after the former city councillor who built it, was torn down for safety reasons. Then the clubhouse was built below the residential facility to save money. At first, there was no carpeting in the basement until staff and members purchased it with their own money.

Fraser Health and New View fundraising have helped pay for some new furnishings and the new building has all the comforts of home, including an inviting fireplace and patio. Stained glass reclaimed from the Lobb House has also been included in the design.

Iris House 1 provides independent living to five young adults with mental health issues; each has his or her own room and they all share a living room and kitchen. Iris House 2 offers more structured programming for five adults with mental health concerns and substance abuse issues. They have to have committed to taking responsibility for their recovery and both groups can stay at Iris House for 18 months to two years or longer if necessary.

Executive director Jill Calder said Iris House is the first in the Tri-Cities serving young people and adults with concurrent disorders and is a model for other communities trying to meet the needs of diverse groups. “We knew these areas are high need and we are happy to be providing it,” Calder said.

The project as built with $1.6 million from BC Housing, $675,000 from the federal Homelessness Partnership Initiative and Fraser Health operating grants. New View provided the land.

A new species of bird has been sighted in the Tri-Cities but ornithologists who’ve been scratching their heads over the flocking of large numbers of multicoloured flamingos need scratch no more.

The colourful creatures have not blown in on the current of some tropical wind but were placed on prominent Tri-City properties to launch a fundraising campaign for New View Society and raise awareness about Mental Health Week Oct. 3 to 9..... Read Full article

Campaign manager Joan Isaacs said the “flocking” is a fun way to get people thinking about the agency, which provides supports and housing for people with mental illness.

She hopes people will then make a donation to help get a community wellness centre built at a 10-unit housing facility under construction at 2050 Mary Hill Rd. in Port Coquitlam. BC Housing and the federal government are providing $2.2 million for the project.

Isaacs said the response to the “flocking” has been great as people throw their support behind the New View project.

“People are really enthusiastic,” said Isaacs, who said it takes almost two hours to set up the flamingos at the various locations. “I’m sure this will be an annual thing.”

New View needs about $300,000 to reduce the mortgage and finish a commercial kitchen, complete the basement, buy appliances and furnish the suites. The commercial kitchen is expected to be the heart of the building because it will provide 30 meals a day and provide job experience opportunities for New View members in a new catering business enterprise.

“The kitchen would be used for job training, to [help New View members] really gain those necessary skills to get experience that can open doors for future employees,” Isaacs said.

Among the 20 sites where “flocking” will take place this week are Canadian Tire in Port Coquitlam, PoCo Inn and Suites, Coquitlam fire halls, Dr. Charles Best secondary school, PoCo city hall and the offices of local politicians. Coquitlam Centre will also host a “flocking” Thursday and Friday (Oct. 7 and 8), where New View will sell bags of BlenzCares coffee beans for $16.99 each and get half the proceeds.

New View has served the Tri-Cities for more than 37 years by providing housing, recreational activities and job training. It has offices in various locations since a clubhouse building was knocked down to make way for the 10-bed-housing facility but the services will be repatriated when the new building is complete.

• Cheques can be mailed to #205-2248 Elgin St., Port Coquitlam, B.C., V3C 2B2; call 604-941-3222 or visit www.newviewsociety.org.