Housing and Municipal Affairs
People in Fruitvale will have access to 31 new, affordable rental homes with the opening of Blizzard Mountain Place.
“A safe, affordable home offers stability, dignity and a foundation for a thriving life,” said Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “For families, seniors and individuals in Fruitvale, these new homes will bring peace of mind and opens the door to opportunity within their community.”
The development at 96 Deadmarsh Ave. features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, seniors and people living with disabilities. The three-storey building is situated near Ella Matteucci Park, a newly opened child care centre and is within a 10-minute walking distance to the village centre, making everyday amenities easily accessible for residents. On-site features include a gazebo and patio area, community garden plots and a children’s natural play area.
“Blizzard Mountain Place is such a meaningful project for the people of Fruitvale, and I've been following and advocating for it since my time as mayor,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee. “These new homes will make a real difference for people in our community, providing stability, affordability and a stronger sense of belonging. I’m proud to see this collaborative effort come to life and support residents in building their future within a vibrant community.”
Blizzard Mountain Place is a result of a partnership between the federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Province, through BC Housing, the Village of Fruitvale, Columbia Basin Trust and the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society (LCAHS).
The homes will be operated by LCAHS, which also manages properties in the West Kootenay communities of Trail and Rossland.
“This is an exciting moment as we finally fulfil a long-held goal to establish affordable housing in Fruitvale,” said Jan Morton, president, LCAHS. “Inspired by the vision of the village for the former middle school land and supported by various generous funders, we are proud to be opening these new homes for families, seniors and adults with diverse abilities.”
People are expected to start moving into the homes in December 2025.
This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has more than 93,600 homes delivered or underway, including nearly 1,300 homes in the Kootenay region.
Quotes:
Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) and MP for Kelowna, on behalf of Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada –
“Every Canadian has a right to a safe, affordable home to call their own. That is why this government is collaborating with provincial and municipal governments to deliver good, quality homes to areas that need them most. This project will provide more safe, affordable homes for residents in Fruitvale. It’s also another step forward in building an economy that serves everyone.”
Wes Startup, mayor of Fruitvale –
“The Village of Fruitvale is thrilled to see this fine project completed. Blizzard Mountain Place provides housing opportunities for our residents and is an asset we can all be proud of. With grit, determination and working together, great things can be accomplished.”
Johnny Strilaeff, president and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust –
“New affordable housing like the homes at Blizzard Mountain Place helps make communities across the basin more livable, vital and inclusive. By creating safe and affordable homes for families, seniors and people with disabilities in the heart of Fruitvale, this project strengthens community connections and supports participation in local life.”
Learn More:
To learn how B.C. is working to deliver more homes for people, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/homesforpeople
A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available here: https://www.bchousing.org/projects-partners/Building-BC/homes-for-BC
To learn how BC Housing is helping to build strong, inclusive communities, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/podcast
A backgrounder follows.
