The Gardens celebrates completion of renos

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After two years, major renovations at The Manor are complete.

The Gardens on Tenth in Altona marked the occasion recently by installing a donor plaque to thank everyone who made it possible for them to raise $434,000 to pay for the work to improve accessibility in 18 units.

The renovations made The Manor apartment’s more accessible, including in the bathrooms
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The renovations made The Manor apartment’s more accessible, including in the bathrooms

It’s a significant milestone for the facility, shares managing director Lisa Smiley, and it couldn’t have happened without the community’s support.

“Their generosity has absolutely made a lasting difference in the lives of tenants and has helped ensure that The Manor remains a safe, accessible, and affordable place to live,” she said, noting the funds raised ensured the board of directors did not have to raise rents to pay for these necessary upgrades.

The renovations to the 53-year-old building included  widening doorways, adding walk-in showers, raising toilets,  removing carpeting, making cupboards and countertops wheelchair-accessible, and removing walls to make for more open spaces.

Tenants who have transitioned into the renovated apartments have expressed great satisfaction with both the updated appearance and the improved functionality, particularly those who rely on mobility aids.

“They love the new suites,” Smiley said. “Our tenants are very, very pleased with the changes … they’re finding it just amazing for the accessibility.”

The donor plaque was the finishing touch, and a necessary one.

“The town of Altona is very giving, and they have certainly supported The Gardens on Tenth very well throughout the years,” Smiley said. “I don’t think we’d be where we are with out the support from the community.”

Ashleigh Viveiros
Ashleigh Viveiros
Editor, Winkler Morden Voice and Altona Rhineland Voice. Ashleigh has been covering the goings-on in the Pembina Valley since 2000, starting as cub reporter on the high school news beat for the former Winkler Times and working her way up to the editor’s chair at the Winkler Morden Voice (2010) and Altona Rhineland Voice (2022). Ashleigh has a passion for community journalism, sharing the stories that really matter to people and helping to shine a spotlight on some of the amazing individuals, organizations, programs, and events that together create the wonderful mosaic that is this community. Under her leadership, the Voice has received numerous awards from the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association, including Best All-Around Newspaper, Best in Class, and Best Layout and Design. Ashleigh herself has been honoured with multiple writing awards in various categories—tourism, arts and culture, education, history, health, and news, among others—and received a second-place nod for the Reporter of the Year Award in 2022. She has also received top-three finishes multiple times in the Better Communities Story of the Year category, which recognizes the best article with a focus on outstanding local leadership and citizenship, volunteerism, and/or non-profit efforts deemed innovative or of overall benefit to community living.  It’s these stories that Ashleigh most loves to pursue, as they truly depict the heart and soul of the community. In her spare time, Ashleigh has been involved as a volunteer with United Way Pembina Valley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley, and the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.

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