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Minister of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing |
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NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOME HELPS THE AGING AND
ENVIRONMENT |
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CHILLIWACK – Topaz Place, a new 12-bed residential facility designed to meet the changing physical and mental health needs of aging residents, opened in Chilliwack today, with both adaptive levels of medical care and an environmentally friendly building design.
“Our government is committed to ensuring British Columbians have the opportunity to access the mental health services they need, while also living in their own communities,” said the Honourable John Les, Minister of Public Safety, Solicitor General and MLA for Chilliwack-Sumas. “Topaz Place delivers on this commitment and demonstrates the practical benefits of living in a ‘green building’.”
Topaz Place is the first community mental health facility in the Fraser Health region designed to meet aging residents’ changing needs, and it is also the first to incorporate “green building technology”. The facility is the result of partnerships between the provincial government, Fraser Health, the City of Chilliwack and MCC Supportive Care Services.
“Topaz Place will offer modern services and top-notch support to assist the physical and mental health needs of its clients and is a great example of what is made possible by effective partnerships,” said the Honourable Barry Penner, Minister of Environment and MLA for Chilliwack-Kent. “I’m particularly pleased with the eco-design of this facility which will offer residents comfortable surroundings while reducing energy and water consumption at the same time. This is the way of the future.”
Ministers
Les and Penner were joined by Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames, community leaders,
the project’s architects and others at the opening. “Topaz
Place will benefit not only the Chilliwack community, but also the whole Fraser
region by providing needed services to those we know and care about,
while allowing them to live with dignity close to family and friends,” Mayor Hames said.
MCC Supportive Care Services will provide the care to the residents of the 12-bed facility through a contract with Fraser Health’s Mental Health and Addiction Services.
“A
strong network of mental health and addiction services is one of the keys to
ensuring we address specific needs across the full spectrum of health,” said Keith
Anderson, interim president and chief executive officer for Fraser Health. “Topaz Place is a good example of Fraser Health’s goal to
build a more responsive, effective continuum of services.”
“The mission of our organization is to be a provider, advocate and resource for persons living and dealing with mental, physical and/or emotional disabilities,” said MCC Supportive Care Services CEO Steve Thiessen. “Topaz Place is yet another opportunity for us to reach our goal of serving these individuals in our community with dignity and respect.”
Topaz Place was built to incorporate “green building technology” principles from the LEED Green Building Rating System, to create a building that attempts to have the least impact on the surrounding environment, while improving the quality of the interior environment for tenants and offering operational cost savings through the efficient use of existing resources. Under this innovative building process, the building was designed to minimize energy use, reduce water use, improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort, reduce site impacts and incorporate resource-efficient materials.
The building uses a water source heat pump, an efficient process whereby the temperature of the groundwater is used to heat the building. A heat recovery ventilation system heats air coming into the building. Walls, ceilings and windows also have higher insulation levels, designed to “R2000” standards. Special consideration was given to reducing environmental impact in the choice of flooring, paints and glues, and site impacts were reduced by preserving existing oak trees and park pathways on the site and providing easy access to public transportation.
The provincial government, through
BC Housing, contributed a grant to offset the green components of the project. Fraser Health contributed a grant to offset development
costs and will support the entire debt servicing as well as ongoing operating
costs for the group home, while the City of Chilliwack granted a reduction of
levies.
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contact: |
BC Housing 604 439-8583 604 805-4960 (cell)
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604 450-7881
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Director of Corporate Services City of Chilliwack 604 793-2986
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MCC Supportive Care Services 604 850-6608
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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