By Steve Hubrecht
In recent weeks several Canal Flats residents have pressed village council with questions about Village of Canal Flats Attainable Housing and Childcare Society (VCFAHCS).
The village vowed to send written responses to those citizens, and made its response letter public last week by including it on the agenda of the Monday, April 14 council meeting.
The response letter outlined that the society was created in 2023 so that the village could apply for affordable housing funding but (by then awarding that funding to a nonprofit society) not be stuck managing a complicated construction project.
The society (which was recently renamed Arvora Housing and Childcare Society) is comprised of former Canal Flats chief administrative officer Richard Wayken (who has been on leave for several months), and local residents Ashley Nielsen and Annette Robinson. It manages the daily operations of the Headwaters Academy daycare and is the leading entity behind the village’s proposed attainable housing-medical technology hub development (which includes expanding the daycare).
Through its biggest funding agreement with the village, the society has $2.6 million for the proposed project, with the money coming from the provincial government and the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT).
Under another agreement — a right of first refusal agreement – the society cannot sell the land or building for the project without first offering it back to the village for $1.
“The management and selection of developers and contractors is managed by the VCFAHCS,” reads the response letter, adding that from what village staff understand, job postings for the project were published in the Canal Flats community newsletter in July and August 2024, and 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,” reads the response letter.
It outlined that going forward, the housing and daycare facilities will be self-funded and not paid for by Canal Flats taxpayers.
On the topic of Wayken’s role in the project and his current absence on leave, the letter indicated the village was not allowed to divulge much information, noting that “as (with) any employer, all employee matters must remain strictly confidential.
Council is not permitted to disclose any employee’s personal situation, or their arrangements made with the Village of Canal Flats.”
At the council meeting local residents in the audience asked more questions.
Former councillor Marie Delorme asked why Canal Flats formed its own housing society when there was already a Columbia Valley Housing Society (CVHS).
Canal Flats mayor Mark Doherty said when village officials talked with CVHS it became apparent the CVHS “didn’t want to start here (in Canal Flats). They wanted to start up in Invermere with their plan … so we (Canal Flats) would have been put on the back burner.”
Delorme said the VCFAHCS board should include more people with more diverse backgrounds.
“I agree,” replied Doherty, adding he had suggested just that to the society several times.
Local resident Dave Rae asked for Doherty’s support to join the VCFAHCS board.
Canal Flats interim chief administrative officer Sylvie Hoobanoff explained that “the village — we don’t have any further authority over that society or any other society in the Village of Canal Flats. We really don’t. They can pick and choose who they want independently.”
Doherty echoed Hoobanoff’s comments, but said he was happy to give a personal recommendation for Rae to the society’s board.
“Whether or not they take my recommendation will be up to them, but yes, I’ll make that recommendation. I support you,” the mayor clearly stated.
