IHS 2nd Annual Big Top Event

June 3rd 2010 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm – IHS held our 2nd Annual IHS Big Top Event. The event was a huge success and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who came out to enjoy the fun and especially all our Volunteers who helped make the day a success.

The day included several different games, face painting, carnival food, a petting zoo, yard sale, bake sale, and more! Although we had a bit of rain in the afternoon, we didn’t let a little weather ruin our fun! We quickly moved the fun inside and continued the event. We have heard plenty of positive feedback from IHS Residents, Team Members, and other guests who took part in the event.

We had a special visit from Slush, the Edmonton Rush mascot as well as Louie the Lion, the Edmonton Oil Kings mascot. We also had a special donation of Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen Canada. On behalf of all of Innovative Housing Society, Dave Haut would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped to make the day special and we look forward to next year’s event!

Big Top Event

Dave Haut invites you to come and join us for a day of carnival fun on June 3, 2010 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will be holding our 2nd Annual “IHS Big Top Event,” hosted at our Villa Marguerite Location. All Innovative Housing Society Residents, Team Members, their families, and friends are invited to come and join us.

Those of you who were lucky enough to join us last year can remember the fun in the sun that we all enjoyed. There was an abundance of activities to take in; including a petting zoo, a stilt walker, clowns, games, prizes, entertainment, and more! This year, we are planning for the festivities to be even bigger and better than last year.

We will be holding a bake sale and a yard sale where you can pick up treats and treasures. There will also be an array of Carnival food available for purchase such as cotton candy, popcorn, candy apples, and more.

We look forward to once again putting on an exciting and successful event, and we hope to see you there!

114 Gravelle Renovations

IHS is very excited to present our 114 Gravelle facility which has been newly renovated. The 7-year old Facility underwent a facelift and the results are even better than we could have imagined!

114 Gravelle now boasts: new paint, new lighting, new hallway carpeting, as well as a fresh new look for the hallway baseboards.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our 114 Gravelle Team Members for bearing with the contractors throughout the renovation process. We also want to thank our Maintenance Team for all their hard work in helping to make this renovation a reality.

I encourage you and your friends and family to come by and take a look at the newly renovated 114 Gravelle,” states Innovative Housing Society CEO, Dave Haut.

The facility looks fantastic; it’s amazing what a few small renovations can do! We have been hearing a ton of positive feedback on the building’s new esthetics from both Residents and IHS Team Members.

‘Mind, Body, and Soul’ Health Initiative

It is a high priority for Innovative Housing Society that our Residents remain healthy and happy, and it is our mission to ensure we do everything we can to help them remain so. With that in mind, we are very excited to present our new health focused “Mind, Body, and Soul” Program. We are working closely with Supportive Living to develop this Program and they support IHS 100% in this endeavor. This new ‘ready, set, go’ Program includes recreation activities, exercise opportunities, and education on healthier living. We have also made changes to our daily menu; we have developed, in conjunction with a Dietician, a ‘Heart Healthy’ menu that is based on Canada’s Food Guide. The goal is not to focus on one single area, but to help our Residents develop and maintain a healthier lifestyle overall.

We are excited about the beginning of the ‘Heart Healthy’ menu concept within the ‘Mind, Body, and Soul’ Program. We have heard lots of positive feedback about the new healthier Menu. This just goes to show that being ‘Heart Healthy’ (low sodium, low fat, high fiber) doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste!

Through our Recreation Program we have started a ‘Walk & Roll’ Club for our Residents which has thus far seen much success, there are more participants joining daily! Also, events such as Floor Hockey and Beach Ball Volleyball have helped our Residents get excited about fun fitness opportunities.

We are very pleased with the success that the new Program is already achieving and look forward to developing it further. We believe that what we do within the DAL spectrum is so much more than providing accommodations. Even more so now with the introduction of the new ‘Mind, Body, and Soul’ Program, we are offering our Residents a healthy lifestyle overall.

IHS gets a visit from our local MLA’s

MLA Dr. Raj ShermanOn October 30, 2009 Innovative Housing Society’s 114 Gravelle location in Edmonton-Calder and Innovative Housing Society’s Chief Executive Officer, Dave Haut, were pleased to welcome local MLA Doug Elniski to the facility. Also, more recently on March 4, 2010, we had a visit from local MLA Dr. Raj Sherman at our Villa Marguerite location in Edmonton-Meadowlark.

MLA Doug ElniskiThe MLA visits provided Innovative Housing Society Residents with an excellent opportunity to bring forward any provincial concerns they had and have their questions answered openly by the Government officials. We believe that it is important for all citizens to be able to communicate their thoughts to the local Government and were truly grateful to be able to give our Residents the chance to do so from the comfort of their homes. IHS Residents received open and honest responses to concerns regarding AISH, rent and accommodation rates, Alberta Hospital, and more. The MLA’s also informed Residents that if they have any further concerns that they would prefer to discuss in private they are always welcome to book an appointment and speak with the MLA’s personally on an individual basis.

Dave Haut and the rest of Innovative Housing Society would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to both Doug Elniski and Dr. Raj Sherman for taking the time out of their busy schedules to come to IHS’ facilities. We look forward to welcoming them to our facilities in the future.

Alberta Seniors Licensing Renewal

This March Villa Marguerite went through its third Alberta Seniors Licensing Renewal, while 114 Gravelle went through their initial Licensing process with Alberta Seniors. Both sites also went through the annual Alberta Health Services, Supportive Living Designated Assisted Living Site Review.

Both processes went through seamlessly and both sites were awarded their “License under the Provisions of Sections 4 and 6 of the Social Care Facilities Act.”

The representative from Alberta Seniors Licensing had very positive comments on both facilities and stated that all was in compliance with their Standards. She commented that Villa Marguerite was a beautiful facility with an excellent atmosphere and that Resident’s at 114 Gravelle seem very happy.

We at Innovative Housing Society take great pride in our Facilities and the quality of our services and we’re thrilled to have our efforts affirmed by the Alberta Seniors and Supportive Living representatives.

Thank you to Innovative Housing

We would like to express our deep appreciation to Innovative Housing for providing us with accessible and affordable housing during these past 9 years. Innovative Housing made an enormous difference in our lives. Finding housing for those who use wheelchairs and other mobility equipment is very difficult in Edmonton. We are grateful to Innovative for what they have done for us and many other families. Innovative Housing provided us with the opportunity to purchase the home that we have been renting, so that now we can feel secure in knowing we have permanent housing. Without Innovative Housing, we would never have had this opportunity. For this we are very grateful.

Thank You!
Sincerely, Erin
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Report of the Auditor General - Monarch Place

Society operated within and grant conditions

We found no evidence that the Society operated outside the terms and conditions of the affordable housing grant. The Society experienced difficulties upon opening Monarch Place. With no available solution, the Society sold the property through a real estate agent to a third party, not affiliated with the society. The sale triggered a repayment process under the funding agreement, which is currently underway. Read Entire Report....

Grey Nuns Centre sold for $8.7M

Aging nuns sell 1967 building to be renovated into a residence for those in need.

Due to aging and low numbers, the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, better known as the Grey Nuns, recently sold the 175,000-square-foot facility they built in 1967 for $8.7 million to the Innovative Housing Society of Canada (IHSC), an Edmonton-based organization that provides accessible housing to people in need.

Nestled in the city's west end, the 10-acre Grey Nuns Regional Centre will be renovated to provide 190 homes for about 250 seniors, persons with disabilities, and women and children in need. Read More....

McCauley and Glenwood benefit with affordable housing

Two new housing projects recently opened their doors in the city, adding a much-needed supply of new, affordable low-cost housing units for low-income individuals.

Stollery Place, constructed by the Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation, provides for 18 bachelor units in the city’s downtown core in the McCauley neighbourhood at 105 Ave and 96 Street.

Named in honour of the Stollery family of Edmonton, the facility is designed to accommodate individuals at risk of becoming homeless and for some individuals who may be exhibiting signs of minor mental health issues.

The two-and-half story, $1.3 million project was financed with a contribution from the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund, funding from the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Partnership Initiative and the City of Edmonton. The on-going financial contributions of the Stollery Charitable Foundation are also recognized in the realization of this project. Rent is $400 and includes all ulitities.

The first phase (85 units) of a unique 300-unit housing complex designed for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities opened in the west end of the city in Glenwood on Sept. 13, 2006. The facility is being renovated by the Innovative Housing Society.

Villa Marguerite, the former site of the Grey Nuns Regional Centre owned and operated by the Sisters of Charity, is located at 98 Avenue and 165 Street and was named after St. Marguerite d’Youville, mother of universal charity and the founder of the Grey Nuns. The Edmonton Housing Trust found provided a contribution of $910,000 for renovations to 13 of the 85 units in the first phase of the project.

One of the unique features of this facility is that it will provide family units designed for disabled children and their parents. In addition, the parents of adult children can live in a suite across the hall so that the family remains intact and close.

The $22 million project will eventually house 400 people when all three phases are completed. All the units are universally-designed and rents start at $350 per month, including all utilities and laundry.