Sigurdson Family donation climbs to $31,500
Gimli’s Stefanson Hus Assisted Living Facility is accepting applications for tenants and getting closer to reaching its fundraising goal of $2.9 million.
Betel Heritage Foundation (BHF), which built the Waterfront Centre (housing) on First Avenue, is building a seven-storey facility on a lot next door at a cost of about $20 million. It will provide housing and services to seniors to help keep them in the community.
Members of the Sigurdson Family, led by Alma and Raymond Sigurdson, made a large donation in May when BHF launched a fundraising campaign. The family made another donation this month to honour Alma and Raymond’s 70th wedding anniversary and to pay tribute to their dedication to helping the community.
“We are honoured to carry on Alma and Ray’s tradition of supporting the Gimli community. We don’t all live in Gimli anymore, but we do share ties to the community that gave us a start in life,” said Marlene Lock in a statement. “Stefanson Hus assisted living building will provide much needed support to seniors like our parents and grandparents to enable them to continue to live in the community that they helped to build.”
Waterfront Centre and Betel Heritage Foundation manager Tristin Tergesen said the donation from the Sigurdson family now stands at $31,500, up from the $30,750 they had contributed in May.
In addition to Alma and Raymond, the Sigurdson family are Marlene Lock, Doreen Sigurdson, Sandra Sigurdson and Don Gaudry, Lenore Kersey and Wayne Janz, Eric Zaporzan, Stefan Zaporzan, Julie Lock and Matthew Lazaruk, Evan Lock and Kaitlin Ramsay, and Ingrid and Neil Stevenson.
Barrie and Ardith Sigurdson had made a significant donation of $100,000 in May for the facility.
The Betel Heritage Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that began in 1998 to support the Betel Personal Care Home. The foundation owns Landmark Apartments (subsidized housing) and the Waterfront Centre’s 55-plus apartments. It began constructing the assisted living facility in 2024 to complete an aging-in-place campus for Gimli.
BHF receives no government funding and it launched a fundraising campaign in May for Stefanson Hus, which was named after Ernest Stefanson, who along with his partner Claire Gillis, donated $2 million to the facility.
When completed Stefanson Hus will consist of 40 units consisting of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Ten of the suites will have specialized accessibility features and 25 will be designated as affordable units. The facility will provide meals, housekeeping and recreational activities for residents. The seventh floor will have a dining room, a residents’ lounge/multipurpose room and a balcony that will overlook Lake Winnipeg.
Tergesen said the foundation has now raised $2.6 million. Another $300,000 is left to raise to reach their goal of $2.9 million. In the meantime, applications are being accepted.
“Construction is nearing completion and applications for residency are open,” she said. “Interest is high and suites are filling up quickly.”
For more information about Stefanson Hus or how to make a donation, visit www.stefansonhus.com
