PETERBOROUGH-Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield is hosting a Walk to Support affordable seniors housing this coming Saturday, Sept. 23. The walk will start at Lakefield Marina at 10:00 a.m., registration at 9:30 a.m. Walkers will travel one kilometre to the site of Lakefield’s future Abbeyfield House on Ermatinger Street and then back to the Marina for refreshments. Conceptual drawings of the future 19-unit family-style seniors’ house will be on display at the Ermatinger site.
“We appreciate the support of our community and look forward to joining our neighbours on our walk on September 23. The process to make the Abbeyfield Lakefield house a reality is moving ahead and we appreciate the support our walkers will provide to help us with that process,” says Ron Black, President of Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield and Deputy Mayor of Selwyn Township. “And, it will be a fun way to get together and support seniors housing in Lakefield.”
The Abbeyfield Concept is to “create a warm, family-style volunteer-run house that enables healthy seniors to live independently in a safe and social setting”. Abbeyfield houses are meant to offer an affordable, family-style home, balancing privacy and companionship with security and independence according to officials. Each resident has their own bedroom and ensuite with shared common spaces and meals to foster a sense of family and community. A House Co-ordinator looks after residents’ needs. There are over 20 Abbeyfield Houses in Canada and 800 internationally.
Abbeyfield Lakefield officials say they recently had Zoning & Official Plan Amendments approved by Selwyn and Peterborough County Councils. Work now begins on getting the site plan developed and approved. The volunteer-run registered charity hopes to have construction started on its Abbeyfield house by this time next year.
Walkers are asked to contribute $20 each which will help to fund the site plan development. Walkers are also invited to raise additional sponsorship funds for their walk. Tax receipts will be issued for any donation over $20.
The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 24.
For more information and to register for the walk please visit the website: www.abbeyfieldlakefield.ca
