In a commendable gesture, members of the Fiji Canada Business Association (FCBA) presented a cheque amounting to $12,025.25 to the upcoming PICS Guru Nanak Diversity Village project, set to become the largest government-subsidized long-term care facility in North America. This forthcoming long-term senior care facility is expected to have its construction initiated in early 2024. This generous contribution is part of the ongoing efforts by the Fijian Canadian Community to raise funds for the GNDV project.
The substantial sum of over $12,000 was collected during a successful fundraising event held on October 14 at a Surrey Banquet Hall, coinciding with the Fiji Independence Day celebration. With this recent contribution, the FCBA has reached a total of $82,000 towards its $100,000 target to support the construction of this new long-term care facility in Cloverdale by the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS).
Kavin Chand, President of FCBA, expressed optimism about nearing the fundraising goal and said “We are very close to collecting the targeted amount for this new facility. We will have one of the many hallways inside the new facility named after some “Fijian Landmark” said Kavin Chand, President of FCBA. He added: “There’s an urgent need for facility expansion as our Fijian population in the Metro Vancouver and Surrey are aging rapidly.”
Satbir Cheema, CEO of Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society, conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the Fijian community for their continuous support over the years. Highlighting the significance of the Guru Nanak Diversity Village project for the entire South Asian Community, Cheema acknowledged the vital role it will play in providing a safe space for elders.
Members of the Fiji Canada Business Association present a cheque to Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS).
Currently, more than 55 percent of the 200 full-time residents at the PICS care facility are of Fijian ethnicity, many of whom immigrated to Canada in the 70s and 80s and are now in urgent need of long-term care.