Celebrating 65 Years
This year marks a significant milestone — Our 65th Anniversary!
Since Our founding in 1960, we have remained dedicated to ensuring seniors and vulnerable individuals have access to quality housing and supportive living environments. Each Lodge will be hosting their own event to mark this special occasion. We invite all residents, staff, and community members to join us in celebrating this achievement on April 1st – Today!
For more details on these events, please visit our Facebook.
Expansions, Improvements & Initiatives
Social Housing Support – New Housing Opportunities
Affordable Housing Hinton
The Town of Hinton, in partnership with The Evergreens Foundation, has secured $2.25 million in federal funding through the RHI.
This investment supports the use of innovative construction methods, such as prefabrication and modular housing, to help address homelessness in communities across Canada. With this funding, 10 modular homes were developed in Hinton, including eight (8) one-bedroom units and Two (2) two-bedroom units.
Notably, this Project also created the only two accessible Community Housing Units available in the town of Hinton. This housing opportunity is designed to meet the housing needs of seniors, people with disabilities, women and children, as well as Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness.
This project has been fully operational since August 2023.
RHI – What is it?
RHI stands for Rapid Housing Initiative.
The Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) is a Canadian program designed to develop new permanent affordable housing units for vulnerable populations. It offers funding for constructing new rental housing, acquiring land, and converting or rehabilitating existing buildings into affordable housing.
Kikinow Elders Lodge
There are Six Indigenous settlements around Grande Cache that have faced challenges over several years to find culturally appropriate Seniors Housing for their aging population. The demand for an Indigenous-focused living facility drove The Evergreens Foundation to take on the initiative to provide the much-needed Lodge for the Elders of this region. Victor Lake Cooperative, one of the Six local settlements, donated the land and partnered with EGF to build the Kikinow Elders Lodge.
This Project has secured Grants and Loans through various levels of Governments to help in building this 16,000 sq ft facility in a remote and scenic location outside the town of Grande Cache.
The 12-unit supportive living facility is undergoing construction and is expected to be operational by end of Q2 2025.
Kristen Chambers, CAO – The Evergreens Foundation
Kikinow Elders Lodge – Click Here to Take a Look for Yourself!
Wildwood Seniors Lodge
The Wildwood Seniors Lodge is being developed to serve the large population in eastern Yellowhead County, which is not currently supported by our Lodge in Edson. The farming-based hamlet of Wildwood was selected for its convenient location near the highway and essential services, providing connectivity to northern and western Yellowhead County. The 42-unit supportive living facility has been fully designed and is ready for tender once project funding is secured.
We are currently awaiting evaluation of our funding application through Provincial and Federal programs.
If Approved, construction is expected to begin late 2025.
Wildwood Seniors Lodge – Click Here to Take a Look for Yourself!
Provincial Contributions to RAB Increased
We are pleased to announce that the Provincial contributions to our RAB Program have been increased by a staggering 79%!
This is a significant boost aimed at helping more low-income individuals and families afford market rent. This increase reflects the commitment to addressing housing affordability challenges and ensuring that vulnerable community members have access to stable housing.
RAB – What is it?
RAB stands for Rent Assistance Benefit.
This benefit subsidizes rent for Albertans with low income through funding. This funding comes from the Provincial Government.
AWAH – Pine Valley Community Services Initiative
Supporting Seniors with Nutritious Meals & Essential Services
The Pine Valley Community Services Initiative (funded in part by AWAH) is dedicated to supporting seniors in our community through volunteers from our community.
The Evergreens Foundation recruits, trains and oversees the delivery of these services. Our Meal Delivery Program, prepared in the Pine Valley Lodge Kitchen, allows seniors to choose the frequency of meal deliveries that best suit their needs. We can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies with advance notice, ensuring every meal is both safe and nourishing.
Beyond meals, we offer Transportation Services, Volunteer Drop-offs & Friendly Visitation. For those living alone, our volunteers provide social visits and wellness checks, fostering connection and peace of mind.
Everyday we strive to enhance the well-being and independence of the seniors in our community. Reach out today to learn more about our programs and how we can support you or your loved ones.
The Pine Valley Community Services Initiative is currently only serving the Hinton Community.
AWAH – What is it?
AWAH stands for Age Well at Home.
This program is designed to empower seniors to live within their homes and age-in-place. This funding comes from the Provincial Government.
Employment and Social Development Canada focuses on providing services to low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors with the support of organisations like Evergreens, primarily delivered through volunteers.
ESDC defines anyone above the age of 55 as seniors.
Expanded Wellness Services – LODGES
We offer a variety of Programs at all our Lodges to assist in strengthening our Residents Independence, and enhance their Quality of Life.
Here are some of the Programs you will see on Our Lodge Calendars:
Flexibility
To help Residents gain range of motion through proper stretching techniques that will give them Supportive Flexibility to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Daily stretching aids in one’s activities of daily living. Having proper flexibility within our joints improves one’s overall performance during any type of physical activity / tasks. This helps the joints move through its full potential, enabling the muscles to work more efficiently which increases blood flow throughout the body, including the brain.
Having 2-3 stretching classes a week can aid in posture as it helps with our body’s natural anatomical alignment. This can help prevent injuries, relieve back pain and tension.
Hand Strength
Our hands are an essential part of our body that allows us to keep our independence longer. Hand Grip Strength is used as a general measure of overall muscle strength (and weakness), which reflects overall fitness, coordination, and health. The hands can be seen as extensions of the neck, shoulders, and spine, with hand grip strength being reflective of one’s posture, the ability for fine motor control, cardiovascular health and potentially, one’s level of body confidence. Grip Strength can also indicate one’s level of mobility, balance and overall postural efficiency.
Naturally, with age, muscle mass declines along with physical activity, predisposing one to lowered hand grip strength. Those with healthier lifestyles tend to have better grip strength for longer and all the anti-aging benefits that accompany it. This program, combined with hand massage, does wonders for arthritis as well.
The more we move our hands, the more blood flow we get to that area which means more oxygen and nutrient delivery to aid in arthritis pain and for recovery.
The more we move our hands, the chances of developing peripheral neuropathy declines. Peripheral neuropathy means the nerves that run down your arm to your hand are damaged. This causes weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease “PWR!Moves” Exercise & Support Class started in 2023 after our Health & Wellness Manager received the certification needed to teach this Program. The unique programming helps with specific symptoms that come with Parkinson’s Disease such as muscle stiffness (rigidity), slow movements (bradykinesia), tremors and postural instability.
PWR!Moves help our Residents mitigate symptoms and rebuild functionality, no matter how they incorporate them into their life. The movements are beneficial in Stand-Alone Group Exercise Class, integrated into Daily Activities and Routines (such as activities of Daily Living & Recreation), and in Exercise Therapy Settings.
Having a Private Class can help aid the Emotional and Mental Wellness aspects, We are there to support one another and share experiences along the way. This Program has been very successful to date and a wonderful addition to Our Health & Wellness Portfolio.
Seniors’ Strength
We have three types of programs using different pieces of equipment: Dumbbells (hand weights), Resistance Bands (long and circular loop bands) and Joint Rotation (soft or weighted physio balls).To help Residents gain strong muscles and effective movements through proper exercise techniques that will enhance their quality of life and inspire a healthy lifestyle, We also offer a mixed class, which uses a combination of equipment & exercises.
Using a variety of equipment, on a weekly basis, provides adequate opportunities for muscular development and proper education about how each joint moves. Having adequate strength throughout our body improves one’s execution during any type of physical activity / tasks. This helps the joints move through their full potential, enabling the muscles to work more efficiently which increases blood flow throughout the body, including the brain.
Standing Balance
Maintaining balance is a complex task that requires coordination from your muscles, tendons, bones, eyes, ears and brain. The vestibular system (inner-ear balance mechanism) works together with the visual system (eyes, muscles, and parts of the brain that coordinate vision). The visual system senses the direction and speed of head motion in relation to the world around you. It also keeps images steady when your head moves. Encouraging our participants to see their eye doctor yearly to monitor their eye health is beneficial as well.
Having good balance helps in preventing injury, and makes daily activities easier to perform.
Some other benefits include: Body Awareness, Reaction Time and Fall Prevention, Increased Muscular Strength, Joint Support, Increased Coordination and More Effective Workouts.
Did you Know?
The Evergreens Foundation collaborates with the University of Alberta’s Rehabilitation Robotics Lab and Jasper Physiotherapy (located in Jasper) to bring an incredible in-house physio program! We use a Robot to mediate communication between the specialist and our residents for assessments and treatments.
EGF also collaborates with the U of A’s Rehabilitation Robotics Lab and Elle Physiotherapy & Pelvic Health (located in Red Deer) to offer on-going pilot project programs for Women’s Pelvic Floor Health via exercise classes with our Regional Health & Wellness Manager. We use a Robot to connect with the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist as well.
The goal is to offer Programs that target all of our Residents Health & Wellness needs. These Programs can help to prevent ailments, regain strength and keep our Seniors mobile for as long as possible.
Upcoming Events and Initiatives
Seniors Week (June 2-8)
During the first full week of June, Albertans can show appreciation for Alberta’s Seniors and all that they contribute to the Province by participating in festivities put on by various Municipalities.
Seniors’ Week – What is it?
Seniors’ Week has been recognized since 1986 to celebrate and recognize the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta.
This was inspired by the vision of the late Alice Modin. Almost 40 years ago, Modin began a campaign to start a Seniors’ Day in Strathcona County that helped pave the way for this annual event.
Visit your local Municipal or Seniors’ Organisation web pages to see what’s happening in your Community. Make sure you celebrate seniors year-round by visiting and volunteering in long-term care homes!
APHAA Spring Conference (May 14-15)
Ready for Anything: Preparing for a Resilient Future – Proactive planning, effective response strategies and facilitating open discussions about successful approaches.
APHAA – What is it?
APHAA stands for Alberta Public Housing Administrators Association.
These conferences serve as an opportunity for professionals involved in social housing programs within housing management bodies to network, connect and be educated on relevant topics they face industry wide.
Sustainability Efforts
Seniors Self Contained Apartments owned by the Provincial Government of Alberta in Edson and Hinton are currently being evaluated for major capital upgrades to improve energy efficiency and performance.
The consultant team appointed by the Province have carried out elaborate building condition assessments and submitted applications to federal government to access funding for major capital upgrades.
Keep an eye out – We will be sharing more information once funding decisions are made!
Thank You for Your Support
None of our work would be possible without the dedication of our Staff, Volunteers, Donors, and Community Partners.
As We celebrate 65 years of impact, We remain committed to our mission of providing housing for those in need.
Thank You for being part of our journey! We look forward to another quarter of growth and change.
