Attainable Housing and Childcare Project
Council for the Village of Canal Flats (“Village”) has received inquiries regarding the Attainable Housing and Childcare Project, and the role the Village of Canal Flats Attainable Housing and Childcare Society plays in it. We hope to address some of the inquiries and clear up any misconceptions the public may have.
Like most communities in British Columbia, Canal Flats needs more attainable housing. As part of Council’s 2023 strategic plan, the Chief Administrative Officer (“CAO”) was asked to find new and innovative ways of bringing attainable housing to Canal Flats. Council was presented with a CMHC-supported strategy whereby the municipality could apply for funding related to attainable housing and award that funding to a registered society who would then undertake the development and construction of the project. The benefit to this strategy would free the Village from the burden of having to manage a complex construction project but still be able to meet its attainable housing goals (“Attainable Housing Strategy”).
According to the Province of BC’s website, not-for-profit / non-profit organizations are known as societies. Societies are independent, democratic organizations led by an elected board of directors and are required to comply with the Societies Act and their own constitution and bylaws. Societies do not earn any profits for its members. All money is donated to the organization’s cause or goal, which may include using some money to pay for employee salaries and administrative need.
In furthering its Attainable Housing Strategy, the Council for the Village tasked the CAO of the Village with looking into the establishing of a society to receive the Attainable Housing Funds and manage the development and construction process.
On April 3, 2023, the Village of Canal Flats Attainable Housing and Childcare Society (“VCFAHCS”) was formally registered as a society in the Province of British Columbia.
On April 28, 2023, the CAO informed Council for the Village at the Regular Council Meeting that the VCFAHCS had been established.
After the society was formed, the Village, using grant funds, purchased the lands adjacent to the existing daycare and entered into an agreement with the VCFAHCS to transfer ownership of the lands and the daycare to the society. From that time on, the VCFAHCS then began the day-to-day management of the Headwaters Academy.
To date, the Village has entered into the following agreements relating to the Attainable Housing Strategy:
• January 9, 2024 – Agreement between Province of BC and the Village (amended March 31, 2024)
o Funding agreement with ChildCareBC for new day care spaces
• January 31, 2024 – Agreement between the Village and the VCFAHCS
o Funding agreement to provide a total of $2.6M from the Province of BC and Columbia Basin Trust for the design and construction of an expanded childcare facility.
o This agreement included $1.28M for the construction of attainable housing from Columbia Basin Trust.
o The agreement makes the VCFAHCS “responsible for the overall management, including the selection and management of contractors, adherence to timelines, budget control and quality assurance”
• May 31, 2024 – Agreement between the Village and the VCFAHCS
o Agreement that gives operating control of the daycare to the VCFAHCS and ensures that the society respects certain terms and conditions, including, reporting requirements and access to information of the VCFAHCS upon Council for the Village’s request.
• May 31, 2024 – Agreement between the Village and the VCFAHCS (Right of First Refusal)
o Agreement that states if VCFAHCS receives a bona fide offer from an Outside Offeror, the VCFAHCS cannot sell the land/buildings without first offering it to the Village to purchase for $1.00.
If you would like a copy of any of the agreements, please submit a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act application form found on the Village website at www.canalflats.ca or picked up at the Village office.
VCFAHCS Composition
The Village is aware of the VCFAHCS having three board members: Richard Wayken, Ashley Nielsen and Annette Robinson. Please contact an active board member of the society on how to become a member and for information on upcoming board meetings. Recently, the society has changed its name to Arvora Housing and Childcare Society. The board members remain the same. We have used the VCFAHCS in this letter, to avoid confusion.
Project Construction and Development
The extent of the Village’s participation in the attainable housing and daycare project was to provide the funding received from the grants. The VCFAHCS is responsible for the overall management and decision making of the development and construction of the attainable housing and daycare project.
For example, the management and selection of developers and contractors is managed by the VCFAHCS. We understand that job postings were published in the Canal Flats Community Newsletter in July and August 2024, which provided a general call for trades related to this project. Tenders for contractors were also posted at www.bidcentral.ca. The Village also understands that LIWO Developments Inc. (LIWO) was selected by the VCFAHCS to develop the attainable housing and daycare project. All questions regarding the selection of LIWO should be directed to the VCFAHCS. Contact information for LIWO can be found on their website at www.liwocommunitities.com
Once the construction is completed, the project will be owned and managed by the VFAHCS and overseen by CMHC and the Province of BC, per the funding agreements, to maintain its attainable housing status and childcare licensing. Going forward, the housing and childcare facilities will be self-funded and not supported by Village tax dollars.
Status of the CAO
As any employer, all employee matters must remain strictly confidential. Council is not permitted to disclose any employee’s personal situation, or the terms of their arrangements made with the VCF.
Reporting and Communications
Council for the Village of Canal Flats is committed to ensuring the public remains informed about the project by reporting updates at Regular Council meetings and making information available in accordance with provincial privacy law. Inquiries regarding job postings and project management are best addressed to the VCFAHCS.
Conclusion
We trust that this letter provides additional context as to the relationship between the Village and the VCFAHCS, and how this strategy fits with current and past Councils’ strategic plans and what the Village’s role and responsibility is. We also hope that we were able to answer many if not all of your questions at this time.
Council and staff continue to work with our legal and independent professionals to ensure that all business arrangements meet the highest standards of transparency and that there are safeguards implemented to reduce any potential or perceived risks.
Sincerely,
Mayor and Council for the Village of Canal Flats
