Seniors gathered on a beautiful parcel of land in Bearspaw July 25 to celebrate Ruth Hunt’s birthday and get an update on the progress of a groundbreaking rural seniors housing project.

Hunt, who turns 92 this week, donated a 40-acre section of agricultural land to the project, which aims to build a 60- to 100-home development for rural seniors who don’t want to move to the city as they age.

“It was just kind of a dream I’ve had for years, to do something like this,” Hunt said in the shade of a tent overlooking her rolling hills. “The opportunity came up, so I jumped in.”

Folks interested in the Bearspaw rural seniors housing project take a stroll up to the future building site on July 25. The development, a first in Canada, aims to build 60 to 100 units for seniors who don’t want to move to the city. (Photo by Alan Mattson)

Supported by local residents and the non-profit Communities Development Society (CDS), the rural seniors housing complex is a first in Canada. It aims to combine the best of rural prairie living with sustainability and amenities seniors need — transportation, housekeeping, recreation, yard work, meal service and a community hall.

Hunt has lived on an acreage since 1946 and, like many rural seniors, doesn’t like the idea of leaving decades of country living behind to move to a retirement home in Calgary.

“There’s a lot of people here that I hope will move in there some day,” Hunt said. “When you’re in the city you can’t see the moon or the stars. (Out here) there’s clean air. No cars.”

A July 25 picnic organized by CDS included a nature walk — a chance for people to check out the plants, wildlife and rare grasses native to the land. Later, after a picnic lunch, locals heard about the project’s progress.

“We’d like to have people moved in by Christmas next year,” said project manager Ben Kawaguchi. A lot depends on the preliminary engineering scheduled for late this summer or early fall. Planners must look at how much earth must be moved, the viability of groundwater wells, a wastewater management system and an energy-neutral plan to heat and power the future development.

Philip Unland, 68, was born and raised on a cow-calf farm and has lived on his own acreage since 1993. He’s giving “serious thought” to moving into the community in a few years.

“Senior rural people, the last thing they ever want to have to do is move into the city,” Unland said. “At a point they have to move somewhere because they get beyond their ability to stay where they’re at.”

The community is very excited about the project — a CDS survey of local residents indicated 83 per cent of the population would consider moving in.

“There are all kinds of advantages,” said Peggy Schmaltz, 77, who lives off Lochend Road. “The scenery, the wild animals, the lack of pollution, and a little bit of seclusion compared to being in Calgary.”

It’s a long road to build something so untested. Kawaguchi believes projects like this are becoming more important as a generation of baby boomers enters retirement age. He would like to see it replicated across North America.

So, while the development is a fully non-profit venture, the units will be sold for about $250,000 to $450,000.

“If we build a project that’s not replicable by the industry we’re wasting our time because they won’t do it. If we can demonstrate this is potentially profitable, then they’re going to get interested and they may want to start doing more of it.”

But what has truly driven this project is support — money and time — from all the surrounding residents.

“What I really like about it is this is a bottom up, grassroots issue,” said Ted Morton, MLA for Foothills-Rocky View and Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.

The plans fit with the province’s environmental guidelines while helping seniors “age with dignity,” Morton said.

Visit  www.theruralway.ca for detailed info.

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