Qualico & LEDCOR Partnership Donates $1 Million for New Facility to Serve Edmonton’s Homeless

Edmonton, AB – Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) has achieved 75% of its fundraising goal for a new facility that will support the city’s homeless, in part due to a $ 1 million donation provided by Station Lands, a partnership between Qualico and LEDCOR.

The new centre will allow BSCS to better serve the more than 12,000 people they serve annually. The $28.5 million state-of-the-art centre will replace the organization’s existing aging facility.

Named ‘Okimaw Peyesew Kamik’, which translates to King Thunderbird Centre, the centre will facilitate a better approach to supporting Edmontonians who are experiencing chronic homelessness and ensure their basic needs are met. The new facility will also enable BSCS to address the root causes of chronic homelessness more proactively while providing for the immediate needs of those that rely on the organization’s support.

Jordan Reiniger, Executive Director of Boyle Street Community Services, said that the organization is humbled by the support of its community partners.

“This is a true act of reconciliation and will allow us to provide culturally appropriate services to the vulnerable populations we serve,” Jordan said.

Mike Saunders, Senior Vice-President, Qualico Properties, speaking at a ceremony at Rogers Place to celebrate the funding milestone, spoke about the values that BSCS and Qualico share in addressing homelessness in our communities.

“One of Qualico’s core mandates is to break the cycle of poverty and we are excited at the opportunity that this new facility brings to Edmonton. Community at its essence is about connectivity, relationships, engagement and looking out for one another,” Mike said. “This new facility will provide much-needed services that address mental and physical illness, serious substance abuse and social and spiritual challenges.”

Commitment is needed to ensure Edmonton’s downtown is a safe healthy place for everyone, Mike added.“We believe that neighbourliness is demonstrated through concern, care and acting collectively when needed. These values are also fully understood by Boyle Street.”

The joint donation from Qualico and LEDCOR marks another significant milestone in the partnership the two companies have shared over many decades. Both have worked side-by-side on development projects, most recently on the development of Station Lands. The first master-planned community in downtown Edmonton, Station Lands will be a mixed-use development that will serve as a residential and commercial hub for the area.

Other community partners that have contributed to the Boyle Street campaign include the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Capital Power, The Brick, Pat and Diana Priestner, The Stollery Charitable Foundation, and a  number of other organizations and individuals.