A history shared with Victoria seniors
S aint Francis Manor by the Sea, at 1128 Dallas Rd., was built on Victoria’s history … starting with a Hudson Bay surveyor who purchased the Fairfield waterfront view lot between Cook and Moss Street in 1909. In the late ’70s another owner zoned the property and expanded the building to become one of the Health Authorities designated Personal Care Homes for senior housing.
In 2000, new Victoria City and Health Authority standard housing requirements were met by extensively renovating this character home. This included creating individualized accommodation for twelve residents in private locking units with ensuite washrooms. And thus continues Saint Francis Manor’s legacy of sharing the spectacular ocean and mountain views with Victoria’s seniors.
History was marked again when Saint Francis Manor by the Sea, in partnership with the Greater Victoria Health Authorities opened in July 2001 as the Pilot Project of Subsidized Supportive Living.
Since that time, Saint Francis Manor by the Sea has celebrated 15 years operating as a Private Seniors’ Home while continuing a partnership between Gerard and Carol Ann Sullivan. The home maintains a history of caring for seniors in their own home by providing a special quality of community within a home atmosphere, rather than just housing.
Originally, the home was purchased by the Sullivans in response to an observable need in the community. They heard the courage in many seniors’ voices as they told their stories of meeting life challenges. The Sullivans became acutely aware of the daily struggles seniors endured – just going about the duties of living; eg., buying groceries, making meals, doing laundry, cleaning house and taking showers – and were witnesses to each task that was an overwhelming ordeal of survival for each senior as they developed age-associated disabilities. Despite these challenges, many seniors hesitate to enter supportive living accommodations, leaving the decision to seek help until they find themselves in an emotional, physical, or financial crisis.
Before that time comes, Gerard and Carol Ann want seniors, who have given so much to their communities, homes, children and churches to be fully supported during a precious time in their lives. Their philosophy upholds this tradition: that every senior deserves the right to experience a home environment, while maintaining individual integrity and providing a safe place to reflect on life’s moments of history with its past challenges and accomplishment.