Alberni Valley Senior Citizens Homes Society

The Alberni Valley Senior Citizens Homes Society is one of the oldest non-profit societies in the Alberni Valley. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide safe – affordable housing for independent seniors in the low to moderate income range.

The volunteer-led Board of Directors started out with their first President, Bill Buckingham and Secretary John Squire, who were responsible for the construction of the original Pioneer Cottages (known locally as “the Cottages”) located on the corner of 10^th Avenue and Wallace Street.   The construction of Pioneer Towers later followed in the early 1970s.

In 2010, the Board of Directors of the day which included Ernie Bigelow who volunteered for the Society for more than 35 years, now retired; and, Nancy Czigany, who still sits on the board, decided that the old cottages were no longer sustainable and a plan to build a new Pioneer Cottages was put in place.

The society was able to see this project from conception to completion with no grants or provincial government assistance.  Pioneer Cottages officially re-opened in 2011.

In late 2015, the Society was advised by the City of Port Alberni that the new Pioneer Cottages, no longer qualified for the Permissive Tax Exemption and was hit with a $40,000.00 property tax bill.

In 2017, the Board of Directors working under the Residential Tenancy Act were able to have rents increased while remaining affordable and received a one-time $25,000.00 reduction in taxes from the City of Port Alberni while the Society transitioned to a new mortgage provider.

Today, Pioneer Cottages and Pioneer Towers are self sustaining.

Pioneer Towers rents range from $500 to $700 per month and include heat, hot water, and hydro.

Pioneer Cottages rents range from $650.00 to $900.00 per month depending on tenant income.