Abilitas Foundation

Abilitas Foundation Breaks Ground
at Cold Water Ranch in Merritt BC

On Saturday October 17^th, the day had finally arrived: the Abilitas Foundation was starting to build the lodge!

With our building permit and  shovel in hand, braving the downpours, we made our way up to the lodge building site, where Kevin Pastoor did the honours and used the golden shovel to officially launch the construction of the Cold Water Ranch Lodge.

The celebratory BBQ and hot drinks that followed provided a great opportunity to let the magnitude of this milestone sink in. "Only a short year ago, we stood before you to launch this amazing initiative," said John Glazema, Director of the Abilitas Foundation, and now we are actually building this lodge, so that it can start operating this summer. We have come a long way! Thank you, everybody, for your help and support."

The day offered one more reason to celebrate: MSA Society for Community Living presented Abilitas with a cheque for the proceeds of their benefit dance . "It has been amazing to see the partnerships that have developed with the respite lodge initiative," says Rachel Dekker, the Abilitas Foundation's Development & Operations Manager. "And to see a community group like MSA Society  take the initiative to organize a fundraising event for our benefit, that speaks volumes about the depth of the community support for the Abilitas Foundation and the urgent need for the Cold Water Ranch Lodge."

It was a big day for Abilitas and a huge leap forward for the Cold Water Ranch Lodge! The lodge foundation has since been poured. Construction will recommence in the early spring of 2010.