Sudbury's Lily Fielding and her family have donated a tract of land in Little Current to the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands for affordable seniors housing.
The land, located adjacent to Manitoulin Centennial Manor and the Channel View Apartments, will offer the municipality the opportunity to find a private-sector partner who can move forward with the construction of units targeted to the senior market, said a press release.
“This is a great opportunity,” said Mayor Al MacNevin, in the press release. “Lily Fielding has provided us with the tool we need to attract private sector investment into our municipality. We are all aware of the need for seniors housing, and now with this donation, we can encourage the creation of new housing units.”
In committing to the donation, Fielding was quick to point out her faith and confidence in the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and its council.
“Having spent time in NEMI with my family over the years, I am aware of the town’s need for seniors housing and welcome the opportunity to be a part of the solution to that problem,” she said.
“I am not putting any conditions on the donation. We are giving the property to the town and trusting council to make those decisions that are in the best interest of the municipality.”
Fielding also recently made a donation to the City of Greater Sudbury for the creation of Kivi Park in honour of her parents Susanna and John Kivi and all of the Finnish families that originally settled and farmed the Long Lake area.
That donation directly supported active communities, sporting groups, tourism and healthy lifestyles.
“We value the communities we and our families live, work and play in and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to their growth and development,” Fielding said.
“Our family interests including our ownership of La Cloche Island and Fisher Harbour were built on a foundation of community and corporate responsibility, and this donation is one more step in the continuation of that tradition.”
MacNevin expressed his appreciation to Fielding, her late husband Cliff Fielding and their family for their past support of the community, which included generous donations to the local hospital and long-term care facility.
“The donation of the land is greatly appreciated and I would personally like to thank Lily Fielding and her family for their support,” MacNevin said.
“This is an exciting opportunity, and council and I look forward to using it to expand the opportunities for seniors housing in our community,” he said.
