‘It’s important every senior has a dignified living environment’: New seniors housing coming to Fort St. John 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A new development of senior homes in Fort St. John will be welcoming its first tenants later this year.

Harlequin at City Centre will provide 115 independent seniors living homes to residents.  

Harlequin at City Centre is an innovative Seniors’ Independent Living Community owned and operated by VRS Communities Society, a non-profit organization which works to provide affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. 

According to its website, Harlequin will provide services including meals, casual dining and housekeeping. Residents will also have access to a community bistro, concierge, clubhouse, lounge, games room, fitness room, theatre room and health care centre. These services, including rent, start at $2,500 per month. 

Melissa De Genova, the director of development partnerships at VRS said the housing is about providing for seniors.

“We hear from a lot of seniors that they’re looking to downsize, but want to be in a community where everything’s at their fingertips, where they have the ability to socialize,” said De Genova.

“This is not going to be a seniors’ independent community that is just for those living inside. We want people to feel comfortable welcoming their family and friends. We want this to be a hub in the community,” said Genova.

“We understood there was a desperate need for seniors’ housing in the community that was accessible.” 

Harlequin will be located in downtown Fort St. John, with easy access to transit, banks and shopping.

The new seniors housing will include one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes, as well as studio homes. 

In April 2024, then Peace River MLA Dan Davies, Fort. St John Mayor Lilia Hansen and representatives from VRS communities attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the project. 

VRS will be hosting town hall meetings in Fort St. John to discuss the progress of the development and provide more information to residents. The time and place of these meetings have not yet been released. 

Seniors interested in registering for the new housing can do so on the Harlequin City Centre website.