OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article about Hillcrest Lodge residents’ financial struggles, published March 6, and an article about Cam Davidson being named Orillia Citizen of the Year, published April 3.
I would like to congratulate Cam Davidson on receiving the Citizen of the Year award. I believe it is well deserved, particularly for his efforts on affordable housing for the vulnerable citizens of Orillia.
You recently published an article on Hillcrest Lodge, which is an affordable housing development for vulnerable citizens. The article said that they had a problem due to their assessment and therefore owed back taxes, which could force them into bankruptcy.
The building became available in 2003, when Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital stepped down from the rental of the building and the homelessness committee of St. Paul’s United Church took over the responsibility of maintaining and putting it to use. It was under this group that the building was restored and made into apartments for seniors at an affordable rate. In June of 2008, after five years of hard work and long hours, Hillcrest opened with all units fully rented.
This facility was incorporated under the United Church of Canada and, as we understood, guaranteed 20 years tax free by the City of Orillia. However, with charity status, and incorporated under the United Church charter, Hillcrest Lodge should be free of taxation as per the Ontario Assessment Act. This building and property are owned by the Toronto United Church Council and I believe that the charter states if Hillcrest Lodge cannot meet all its costs, the church picks up these expenses.
When the home opened, the following were the members who were on the board and the driving force in the creation of Hillcrest Lodge: Susan and Jerry Walma, Pat McMullen, Kevin Gangloff, Ross Ferguson, Jim Saunders, John Menear, Walt Murray, and myself as chair.
Ken McMullen
Orillia
