With many decades of history behind us, Brightside has had the privilege of working with a great number of people and organizations over the years to get us to where we are today. With 26 buildings throughout Vancouver owned and operated by Brightside, we continue to build on the legacy of affordable homes as we continue to increase the number of affordable rental homes for Vancouver seniors, families, and people with disabilities.

The following is a timeline snapshot of our work since 1951.

1951

1951

The Community Chest (now the United Way), and Council of Vancouver chaired by Dr. Gordon S. Fahrni, obtains commitments from various levels of government to assist with funding low-cost housing for senior citizens in the City of Vancouver.

Cropped image of Certificate of Incorporation of British Columbia Housing Foundation

1952

The British Columbia Housing Foundation is incorporated as a provincial non-profit organization whose purpose is to plan, design, construct and manage low-cost housing for seniors.

Black and white photo of Lions View apartment from 1953

1953

The Coordinating Council of Lions Clubs and the Central Lions Club raise and donate $18,000 to the Foundation to purchase 3 acres of land and provide the capital for the first project. Two buildings were erected and the project was named Lions View.

Black and white photo of Lions View from 1956

1960

Completion of 12 additional buildings at Lions View.

1960

1960

Lions Clubs donates seed money to purchase land to build Edward Byers House.

Front entrance photo of Edward Byers building

1962

Edward Byers House opens.

Old black and white photo of Wallace Wilson

1965

Wallace Wilson House opens thanks to funding from an anonymous donor.

1967

1967

With the donation of land from the Burrard Lions Club, Burrard Manor is developed and opens.

Old black and white photo of Barclay Manor

1969

Our first high rise, in the West End, opens and is named after the Housing Foundation’s founder, Gordon Fahrni House.

Site of Loyal Orange with a sign with message "Site of Senior Citizen's Home sponsored by Loyal Orange Associations"

1971

The Ladies of the Loyal Orange Lodge initiated the development of the Loyal Orange Manor.

1971

1971

A joint venture between the Soroptomist Club and the Lions Club resulted in the construction of the Soroptimist Lions Manor.

1973

1973

A project for the Western Institute of the Deaf, with support and initial funding by the King’s Daughters group, led to the opening of King’s Daughters Manor.

1974

1974

Moreland Kennedy House is built with seed money and land from the Kitsilano United Church.

Photo of Alice Saunders building

1977

Alice Saunders House opens.

1987

1987

Negotiations begin with the municipal, provincial and federal governments to redevelop the original, and aging, Lions View buildings

1992

1992

The partnership with the B.C. and federal governments sees the development of Wilson Heights Manor on land leased from the Wilson Heights United Church and an expansion of the Foundation’s mandate to include families and people with disabilities.

Bridgeview Place

1993

A partnership with Concord Pacific facilitated the development of Bridgeview Place, accommodating both seniors and families.

View of Lions View 1 front entrance from pathway

1993

Lions View Building I opens.

Front entrance of Lions View 2

1994

Lions View Building II opens.

1994

1994

The First Lutheran Church donated land to build a family housing project and daycare space called the First Lutheran Court.

Exterior photo of LIons View 3

1995

Lions View Building III opens. Using partial proceeds from the sale of part of the three-acre Lions View land, this building is developed without government support so the property can house seniors who do not qualify for low-income government subsidized housing. Lower income seniors can access the SAFER grant.

1997

1997

The Housing Foundation of BC (HFBC) pays out all of the CMHC mortgages on its original properties built between 1962 and 1977, allowing the Foundation to move tenants to a rent-geared-to-income rent structure that created a surplus operating balance. This was used to create and to maintain the New Sites and Redevelopment Fund.

1998

1998

Land leased from the City of Vancouver allows the development of Muir Manor, a family housing project.

1999

1999

The Foundation purchased a market rental building, Harwood Manor with its own New Sites and Redevelopment Fund and a $1.7 million mortgage. As tenants moved out, units were converted to rent-geared-to-income suites for seniors.

1999

1999

Coleopy Park was redeveloped in 1993 by its original owners, the BC Corp of Commissionaires. As this was their only housing project and not their core business, ownership was transferred to HFBC.

2000

2000

Florence Manor was purchased by the Foundation with funds from its New Sites and Redevelopment Fund and converted units to rent-controlled suites for seniors as the market tenants moved out.

2001

2001

Glynn Manor was opened on land leased from the City of Vancouver to provide housing to younger people with barriers to employment.

HFBC Logo

2002

British Columbia Housing Foundation changes name to HFBC Housing Foundation in January, 2002.

2005

2005

Arbutus Court was purchased with funds from the New Sites and Redevelopment Fund and a mortgage. The building has been converted to rent-controlled housing as market tenants move out

Front exterior of Ken Wright Manor

2006

Ken Wright Manor was purchased with funds from the New Sites and Redevelopment Fund and a mortgage. The building has been converted to rent-controlled housing as market tenants move out.

2006

2006

Magnolo Manor was purchased with funds from the New Sites and Redevelopment Fund and a mortgage. The building has been converted to rent-controlled housing as market tenants move out.

2008

2008

Londonderry was purchased with funds from the New Sites and Redevelopment Fund, a mortgage was acquired and grants totaling $250,000 were received from the City of Vancouver and the Province.

Photo of MacLeod Manor

2013

The Foundation purchased a 46-unit apartment building. The Board of Directors agreed that the building would be named MacLeod Manor in honour of then Executive Director, Barbara (MacLeod) Bacon.

Exterior photo of Mount Pleasant

2013

HFBC was asked to manage the Mount Pleasant apartments, previously owned by the Mount Pleasant Housing Society and operated by the Mount Pleasant Lions Club.

Photo of Collingwood Tower

2013

Collingwood Tower, a 78-unit high rise built in 1977, was previously operated as affordable housing by the J.W. Smith Foundation until it was transferred to HFBC in 2013. Located on leased land owned by the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation, HFBC was able to purchase the land as well.

Brightside print logo in colour version 2

2017

With the same mandate but much larger community impact, including families and people with disabilities, the organization rebranded as Brightside Community Homes Foundation to better reflect its mission.

Photo of Loyal Orange and Edward Beyers scale model

2020

Brightside receives unanimous approval from Vancouver City Council for rezoning application at 1425/1451 East 12th Avenue.

Side-by-side artist renderings of Alice Saunders and Mount Pleasant redevelopment buildings

2020

Brightside receives unanimous approval at Public Hearing for the redevelopment proposal at 2924 Venables in Hastings-Sunrise, followed  by another approval for the 349 E 6th Ave development proposal in Mount Pleasant.

Artist rendering of northeast corner of MacLeod redevelopment building

2021

Brightside receives unanimous approval for 8725 French Street in Marpole – the fourth of four approvals at public hearings in under 12 months.

Brightside logo commemorating 70 year anniversary. Tagline states "70+ Years of Building Community"

2022

Brightside commemorates 70 years of providing affordable homes.

2024

Casa Mia, a 56-home apartment building in Burnaby, purchased in March by Brightside through the Rental Protection Fund.