Care village rises in Cloverdale
More than a year after the sod-turning ceremony, Cloverdale Guru Nanak Diversity Village is clearly taking shape. The three-storey long-term care home sits at 6471 175A Street, on a road given the honorary name “Guru Nanak Village Way.”
Satbir Cheema, president and CEO of Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS), says crews remain on schedule. He expects construction to wrap by October 2026, with residents moving in early 2027.
Culturally sensitive care at the centre
Cheema describes Guru Nanak Diversity Village as a place of belonging, open to seniors from every background but grounded in South Asian cultural values. Staff will be able to speak multiple languages and understand the customs that shape residents’ daily lives.
He points to three key needs that inspired the project: language, food and culture. Many elders in the South Asian community do not speak English, which can leave them isolated in mainstream care homes. Others struggle when long‑familiar foods disappear from their plates or when staff misunderstand religious practices.
Stories that shaped the vision
Cheema recalls a case where a Sikh elder in long-term care could not eat comfortably because of his beard. A nurse shaved it off, not realizing its spiritual significance. The man became deeply distressed and died soon afterward.
He says stories like this convinced PICS that seniors must be able to live out their final years with their traditions intact. At Guru Nanak Diversity Village, residents will keep following their faith, diet and daily rituals, supported by staff who recognize their meaning.
Neighbourhood-style design
The new facility will offer 125 long-term care beds in a modern, neighbourhood-style layout. Each small “neighbourhood” will include nine to 24 single rooms, each with its own bathroom.
These clusters will share home-like spaces such as a living room, dining room, kitchen and outdoor areas. The goal is to create a familiar, family-scale environment instead of a large institutional feel, while still providing 24/7 care.
Big investment and community partners
Funding for Cloverdale Guru Nanak Diversity Village comes through a partnership between PICS, the Ministry of Health, Fraser Health and BC Housing. The project budget includes $5 million from PICS and about $118 million from provincial sources through low-cost construction financing.
Once complete, PICS will own and operate the building, adding a new level of care to its existing independent and assisted living programs. For Cheema, every new floor and hallway signals the same promise: that seniors can age with dignity, in a place that understands their language, their culture and their lives.
Stay updated instantly — follow us on Instagram | Facebook | X
Leave a comment