Abilitas Foundation

Support

The Abilitas Foundation’s vision to develop a fully accessible lodge for people living with disabilities has generated strong support from community members and disability organizations alike.

This support is indicative of the urgent need for a place like the Cold Water Ranch Lodge in BC. For many kids and adults living with a disability, family vacations and much needed respite breaks are unattainable dreams, for reasons of cost and accessibility.

Make a difference and help these families enjoy a few days of the precious family time that you take for granted.

See right-hand navigation column for to more information about our partners, donors, and Abilitas Foundation Friends.

Support for the Cold Water Ranch Lodge

“the BCCPD hopes that this vision can be brought to fruition as soon as possible and encourages other community partners and sponsors to support this important and very worthy initiative.”
— BC Coalition of People with Disabilities      [read letter ]

"Waitlists for government assistance and respite support are forcing individuals and families into crisis, and driving parents into poverty and despair. A respite lodge like this will offer families a glimmer of hope."
— BC Association for Community Living

 “May God bless your efforts, dreams, and visions for this amazing idea. We the community of parents of these heroes, called people with disabilities, applaud you!”
— Gerald and Cherilynne Simard

“We recently learned about your wonderful plan to build a charitable respite lodge for individuals with disabilities … we believe [it] will be vital to the survival of many families.”
— Community Living Society of BC      

“Our daughter is 13 and I am so thrilled that maybe we will be able to vacation with her. She is in a group home now and we have never gone on vacation with her. Thanks, and may God bless your project.”
— Anonymous

"Cold Water Ranch will be an inspirational place for people living with a disability [...] We applaud the Abilitas Foundation in their effort to collaborate with numerous community organizations to bring the Cold Water Ranch Lodge to fruition."
— Power to Be 

“[The lodge] would definitely be an asset to this province”
— Mission Association for Community Living      [read letter ]

“Your vision of creating a place where the entire family can participate in activities [...], a place of tranquility, to rest and renew one's spirit, an opportunity to network with other families providing inspiration and hope is indeed rare and the very sustenance families will need as they make this life-long journey!”
— MSA Society for Community Living

“Therapeutic Recreation Services at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children fully supports the Cold Water Ranch Lodge initiative and eagerly anticipates its development.”
— Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children (Therapeutic Recreation Services)      [read letter ]

“Facilities that offer a natural experience for the disabled community are few… [there is an] absolute need for all people in a caring society to be able to freely enjoy nature.”
— Ross Watson, William Watson Lodge (Kananaskis Country, Alberta)

Read more letters of support:

— MSA Society for Community Living
— Government Caucus of BC: John van Dongen (MLA) and Mike de Jong (MLA)
— Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation
— Cindy Hedrick
— Community Living Society (CLS)
— Kevin Pastoor