Avalon Gardens 'a place of healing'
The latest seniors’ development in Langley, Avalon Gardens, was officially opened on Saturday.
The new facility on 48 Avenue was built on the site of the Avalon Medical Clinic, and clinic partner Dr. Tom Parsons, who was a special guest at the opening, recalled how the name came about.
“When we were getting ready to open the clinic, my father Harry Parsons (who was also present Saturday), who lived on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundalnd, asked me to call it Avalon. He said the name means a place of physical and spiritual healing, where in medieval times the Knights of the Round Table, including King Arthur, would go after being injured in battle to be nursed back to health.
“My father reinforced the passion I always had that as physicians, we need to treat the whole person, not just the body. Please pass on the the legacy of Avalon, and continue caring for residents.”
Avalon Gardens contains 126 units, 76 which will be owned by residents and another 50 for rental. It is a supportive living facility, and offers a meal plan for residents so that they can enjoy some meals in the dining area. They will prepare many of their meals in their own suites.
It has many other amenities, including recreation programs, an exercise room, a spacious home theatre area and regular contact with staff members.
It is located within an easy walk of the main shopping centre in Murrayville, and is also close to the Blair Pool and Langley Memorial Hospital.
The suites are roomy and contain full kitchens.
The services to residents are offered by Connecting Care, an Edmonton-based company, and Patricia Chase is the general manager of the facility.
Partners Terry Collier, Harold Westerlund and David Martens were present for the opening, and Collier told the audience how Westerlund, who owned an adjacent commercial property, had a vision of developing a seniors’ residence in Murrayville.
The opening ceremony was dedicated to Westerlund’s son Ronald, who died in 1988, and was attended by other members of the Westerlund family.
Patsor Gary Johnson was invited to give the blessing at the opening ceremony, and Housing Minister Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, Langley Township Mayor Rick Green and Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender were also on hand to cut the ribbon.
Guests were treated to culinary concoctions from the facility’s kitchen after the official ceremonies.
The new facility has just opened in the past month, and the partners plan to build several other similar facilities. They have purchased land in Langley City for another one, and there are also plans to open one in Edmonton.
Residents who have already moved into the facility are enjoying the elegant surroundings and the ability to spend more time with other people.
This connection with people was mentioned by Johnson in his blessing. He noted that it is important for all people to feel connected with one another, and for there to be a sense of caring — something he says Avalon Gardens will offer to residents.
He noted how life for seniors has changed — in 1957, when his grandfather died, his grandmother “lived out a a suitcase” as she made the rounds visiting her eight children, and not having a home of her own.
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