Shovels are in the ground for the official groundbreaking of a new low-income dwelling in Prince Albert. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Low-Income Housing

Ground broken on new low-income housing unit in Prince Albert

Jun 15, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The shovels are officially in the ground and work is set to begin on a new low-income housing unit in Prince Albert’s Westview area. It’s now less than a year away from being open.

Prince Albert Community Housing Society Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony for a five-unit dwelling on 15^th Street West Thursday morning. MLA Alana Ross and city Councilor Don Cody were also in attendance.

“It’s so exciting,” said Cathi Wilson, incoming general manager of Prince Albert Community Housing Society Inc. “What the project is about is for young families, just starting out in life. To give them an opportunity for a great place to start with security, safety, and a sense of community is just incredible to be a part of it.”

Demand for such places is steady, and according to Wilson, there are already people calling to ask about the five new units. Some of them are people wanting to transfer in from other units.

“The demand is tremendous, it’s larger than we could simply accommodate in one building,” Wilson said. “But building by building, we are making a difference. Our list is long, so we’d like to continue to do projects in partnership with all of our government partners for sure.”

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Of the five units, four will be for young families with one child. The fifth is intended for an elder, possibly someone who is related to one of the young families in the rest of the dwelling.

“We need to branch out and get into some of the transitional housing and the other types of housing we might be able to provide,” Wilson said. “There are certainly many challenges ahead, but we’re going forward, that’s the main thing.”

The project also marked something of a changing of the guard. After 32 years, longtime general manager Linda Boyer is moving on and leaving Wilson in her place. This marked a strong final project for her.

“It takes a couple of years to get a project together and it takes a good staff and a good board in order to be able to do that,” said Boyer. “We all work together and support one another.”

“It’s my last sod-turning ceremony, but I will be here for the grand opening next year,” Boyer added. “We also have another project, an 11-unit senior home, that’s being constructed as we speak.”

Boyer added they have another multi-unit dwelling for young families that has worked out very well so far. This project is expected to be finished in the spring of 2024.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP