Jennifer Blyth
Oak Bay News
Carlton House marked a decade on The Avenue Tuesday with a grand celebration for residents and neighbours.
“I’m so excited to be part of the success of this building,” said Terez Payette, executive director, Carlton House of Oak Bay, in welcoming guests and dignitaries to the event.
“It’s been a beautiful experience with wonderful owners and wonderful staff and residents.”
In recalling all who worked together to make the dream of a seniors’ residence in the village a reality, “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years,” said Rod Prewett, Director of Carlton House.
“I can’t imagine not having Carlton House here; it seems like it’s always been here.”
Prewett recalled for guests how the idea for the residence was born.
“The idea of Carleton House started on June 27, the year 2000 and it was a long road ... but now here we are with Carlton House taking its place in the community,” he said, recognizing the hard work of the many who were instrumental in the process, including Dr. Brian Carr-Smith and wife Sara, architects Bas Smith and Joe Newell, and community members including long-time municipal council members including Mayor Nils Jensen, former mayor Christopher Causton and former councillor Peter Bunn.
“It’s part of the community and it’s as if it has always been here,” Nils Jensen told the assembled crowd, which included residents Grace Telford and Murray and Merrill Cook, who have called Carlton House home for the full 10 years.
Inviting guests to raise a glass, “it’s a toast to the visionaries ... it’s a toast to the incredible staff and the third part of the toast is to the wonderful residents,” Jensen said.
When plans were first underway for the building, Sara Carr-Harris stipulated that the two plum trees her mother had planted on the property be retained.
Unfortunately one succumbed this year, so the celebration concluded with a tree-planting ceremony with Carr-Harris, Prewett, Jensen and Causton, who helped plant a new plum tree on the corner of Oak Bay Avenue and Elgin Road.