A new chapter of care: The Emerald opens

By August 2005, Elim Village had already become a thriving Independent Living community. Now, the village was ready to take an important next step: opening The Emerald and upholding Elim’s mission to provide multiple levels of care in a Christian community. But opening a new building doesn’t always go exactly according to plan.

“The original permit to move residents in was on the 15^th, but they weren’t ready,” Marian Heemskerk, former Director of Community Life, recalls.

Residents had already left their homes and were ready to begin this new chapter. With nowhere to move into yet, temporary accommodations were arranged.

“They were ready to go, ready to move in,” Marian says. “So we had to set them up at the Sheraton Hotel.”

Three days later, residents were able to walk through The Emerald’s doors. Even then, not everything was finished. The kitchen wasn’t ready, so meals were prepared and brought in from local restaurants while a temporary dining room was set up on the third floor.

“The kitchen couldn’t cook, so they would order from a different restaurant and set it all up for everyone,” Marian says.

For the first residents arriving at The Emerald, moving into a brand new building was an exciting beginning.

Judy Aldred’s sister-in-law discovered The Emerald while searching online for new housing. They decided to come and take a look.

“It was just a whole new world for me,” Judy says. “It was a beautiful, beautiful place to come into, brand new. Everything was all brand new. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Gerald den Haan remembers moving in while work was still being completed on the second floor.

“I can feel through it all that God really lead me here. I feel blessed.”

The Emerald’s early days were also defined by a strong sense of community among residents and staff. Hillary Burge was part of the team when the building first opened and remembers that there were only a handful of residents in those early days.

“I really liked that Elim had this more community feel. It wasn’t just an organization or a business. It was more than that. We had really close relationships with our residents and amongst the staff. It was a partnership.”

Lisa Bysterveld was another early member of The Emerald’s team. She initially worked as a care aide while attending school before becoming an LPN. Looking back, she remembers a smaller, more close-knit community.

“The building wasn’t full yet and it wasn’t as complex back then as well so you had a lot more time for gathering and being with residents.”

For Lisa, the decision to join Elim was about more than a job.

“It was just the atmosphere, the background, the faith-based community. The management, the residents, the staff, we just had this deep connection. The atmosphere was beautiful.”

The opening of The Emerald represented more than a new building. It expanded Elim’s housing and care options and introduced new partnerships with Marquise Hospitality and the Fraser Health Authority, along with a dedicated care team.

More than 20 years later, The Emerald remains an important part of Elim’s story—a place where care and community have been at the heart of daily life from the very beginning.