Legion Veterans Village Project takes a major step forward

SURREY, BC, Nov. 2, 2016 /CNW/ - A major step towards building the new Legion Veterans Village (LVV) project was announced today by the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command (BC/Yukon Command) in conjunction with the Whalley Legion Branch 229.  As the result of a competitive process, the BC/Yukon Command is pleased to announce that the Lark Group has been selected as the Developer to finalize an agreement with to develop this inspiring new facility in Surrey, B.C.

"Today we have reached an important milestone in the delivery of the LVV project, a first of its kind in Canada designed to support our Veterans, soldiers and first responders," said President Marc Tremblay, BC/Yukon Command. "This centre of excellence will deliver health care programs and services to tackle some of the most challenging issues facing our Veterans and first responders today, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social housing for Veterans and seniors in the local community."

To be constructed on the existing Whalley Legion Branch site, the multi-purpose facility will be designed as a centre of excellence in clinical and rehabilitation services for Veterans and first responders, as well as offer a mixture of social and affordable housing.  Key priority areas will include the research and delivery of health care programs, services and trauma counselling to address issues like PTSD.

It will also provide clinical spaces to advance evidence-based services and programming in health, science and engineering, including innovations in robotics, assistive devices and exoskeletons for injured Veterans and first responders.

"There is a critical shortage of services here at home and across Canada to support and address the health care needs and reintegration of our Veterans who return home to their families with requirements for urgent clinical care, both physical rehabilitation and PTSD," said Sandy Reiser, Executive Director, Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command. "This flagship project will be the first in Canada and we are excited to see the project moving forward so quickly."

The next stage in the process is for the BCYC Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Royal BC/Yukon Command, to work with the Lark Group to finalize the scope of the project. It is expected that site preparations and construction will be well underway by spring 2017.

"We've built our success and reputation on maintaining strong long-term relationships and partnerships with all stakeholders including government, health authorities, municipalities and institutions on many public and private sector projects. We achieve this through collaborative processes and providing design-building, design-assisting solutions focused on patient-centered care," says Larry Fisher, President of Lark Group. "We are proud to be working with the Royal Canadian Legion on this highly anticipated project to provide much needed health care programs and services, as well as affordable housing for Veterans, first responders and seniors in our local community."

ABOUT THE LEGION
Established in 1926, the Legion is the largest Veterans service organization in Canada with more than 320,000 members. Its mission is to serve all Veterans including serving Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police members and their families, to promote Remembrance and to serve our communities and our country.

The Legion's service Bureau Network provides assistance and representation to all Veterans including serving CF and RCMP members, and their families regarding their disability claims, benefits and services from Veterans Affairs Canada and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. In communities across Canada, it is the Legion that perpetuates Remembrance through the Poppy Campaign and Remembrance Day ceremonies. With more than 1,450 branches, The Legion supports programs for seniors, Veterans housing, Long Term Care, youth leadership, education, sports, Cadets, Guides and Scouts. We will Remember Them.

A NEW ERA OF CARE FOR VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND CANADIAN SENIORS

Nearly a year ago, on September 16, 2015, The Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command together with numerous stakeholders announced the unveiling of a remarkable new multi-use facility known as the LEGION VETERANS VILLAGE.

In the words of Marc Tremblay, President of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, "This new facility will transform the way health care is delivered to Canadian Veterans and seniors all across the country. This project is an innovative prototype offering services to its surrounding communities and meeting Veterans' needs, today and into the future."

BCYC DEVELOPOMENT CORPORATION

The Legion Veterans Village (LVV) Project is led by the BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, together with Legion Whalley Branch 229 in Surrey B.C. It is envisioned to be the first of many such projects across Canada.  

The BC/Yukon Command has created its own development entity—the BCYC Development Corporation—to manage the overall planning and delivery of the LVV Project.  BC/Yukon Command is a non-profit organisation, within the umbrella of the Royal Canadian Legion, consisting of provincial and territorial commands, 149 Branches, 80 Ladies' Auxiliaries and nearly 55,800 members. 

The Royal Canadian Legion, including the organisations within its umbrella, is one of the most respected community service organizations in Canada serving Veterans, ex-service personnel, seniors and youth and many aspects of community life. 

THE LARK GROUP
Since 1972, the Lark Group has developed, built and managed substantial industrial, commercial, medical, hospitality and institutional real estate.

Based in Surrey, British Columbia, the esteemed family-run Lark Group delivers award-winning new healthcare projects by synthesizing the best evidence-based design and patient-centered care while delivering the services and features that clinicians need to succeed. They have also spearheaded Surrey's Health and Technology District, a sector modeled after some of the world's most successful technology centres like Silicon Valley, that is designed and built to foster infinite imagination, vision, and global competition with world leading healthcare innovation companies.

Lark is a market leader not just in public private partnership projects, but also in design-build and other innovative delivery methods. With a construction volume of more than $100 million annually, Lark is one of the leading providers of institutional construction in BC. Lark develops innovative solutions to construct infrastructure, including office towers, ice arenas, hospitals, patient-care centres, and water/wastewater treatment plants. Lark has approximately 3,500 institutional beds complete or under construction and has been successful on a number of public private partnerships.

Lark won the Best International Project at the 2010 Public Private Finance Awards for the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre, a state-of-the-art, 500-bed care facility, as well as the Silver Award for Project Financing from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. www.larkgroup.com.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command

For further information: Media contacts: Sandy Reiser, Executive Director, Royal Canadian Legion, BC/Yukon Command, Tele: [phone], Email: [e-mail]; Yvonne Chiang, Lark Group, Publicist, Tele: [phone], Email: [e-mail]