Honorable Jeff Johnson, ladies and gentlemen: My name is Harchand Grewal and I am the president of South Asian Long term Care Foundation. On behalf of the over 200 strong members of this foundation and our board of directors, I want to express my gratitude that the Government of Alberta, through the Minister of Seniors Hon. Jeff Johnson has announced this funding grant to build and operate a home for the seniors in our community. It was a long journey to this milestone and we are very hopeful that the final task of building this facility and operation will be accomplished. We believe that this will be a unique facility where physical, social, moral and spiritual needs of seniors will be met with dignity and grace.
It is in order to mention just a brief history of this project so that those visionaries are recognized who perceived the need for “ageing with grace” in this community and started working in that direction. South Aisan Long Term Care Foundation was registered in August 2008 under Alberta societies act with a mandate to further the cause of Long term Care of Seniors in the community on a non-political and non-sectarian basis. It has a charitable status with Canada Revenue Agency. It took us three years to develop the concepts through several board meetings, developing a business plan, interaction with City of Edmonton officials that an Expression of Interest was prepared and submitted to the City in Nov. 2011. At that time Mayor Mandel, Councilor Sohi and many staff members helped us to provide a focus on the project. The ongoing help, advise and assistance provided by Naresh Bhardwaj, associate minster for disables has been tremendous and it is really appreciated.
We were introduced to Greater Edmonton Foundation’s as potential partner with experience and wisdom of such projects for seniors by Councilor Sohi. Since then Raymond Swonek, Chief Executive Officer with GEF has been a great source of information and wisdom and I am sure our partnership will fruit into completion and operation of this project.
Our foundation members were very active in attending open houses organized by the City of Edmonton and providing input into this project. I cannot forget the day when Edmonton City Council approved the zoning changes needed to use the surplus school lots for this purpose. We were hugging each other and congratulating each other. Today, however brings along a sense of achievement that in this journey of life we would be able to provide a house, a home, a shelter for ‘Ageing in Grace”. Who knows who of us will be there and enjoying the fruits of our efforts and remembering the great work done by all of us, for a dedicated cause.
Again, thank you Hon. Jeff. Johnson for making this commitment and of course announcement of this project. I am grateful to all who spared their time and energy to bring this project close to reality.
Thank you