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Clay Tree Society buying property from Nanaimo school district

NANAIMO – Society, which offers programs for people with developmental disabilities, is set to buy Old Victoria Road location.
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Clay Tree Society is looking to purchase the property it has leased from Nanaimo school district for the last 50 years.

On Thursday, the non-profit society, which provides supports for adults with developmental disabilities, and the school district announced an agreement in principle for the purchase of the 838 Old Victoria Rd. property. Public consultation by the district and a vote by the school board will among the necessary items before the deal is complete

According to the memorandum of understanding, the purchase price is $750,000 and Dale Burgos, school district spokesman, said money will go to the district asset management plan.

Glenys Patmore, society executive director, said the purchase is something the society has been eyeing for years and serious negotiations have been taking place for about six months. Following completion of the deal, it will be “business as usual,” with the society continuing to provide programs, which focus on community inclusion and life skills, she said.

“We run seven very busy programs here and have over 120 people with developmental disabilities that come on a daily basis and the need is greater than we can provide at the moment, said Patmore. “So for us, the security of owning the land is just wonderful for those participants.

The school district echoed similar sentiments as the society.

“We’re thrilled,” said Steve Rae, school board chairman. [Clay Tree Society] does amazing work in our community and this is something that they’ve wanted for a long time and we found a way to come together to find some common ground. Something we could both work and live with this is going to preserve a very important piece of our community and keep it intact.”

The society was incorporated in May of 1957 and was established by parents hoping to offer a venue for adults with developmental disabilities.

To learn more, including how to provide feedback, please go to www.sd68.bc.ca/?page_id=10647.

Deadline to provide a comment is March 14.



Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

After interning at Vancouver Metro free daily newspaper, I joined Black Press in 2010.
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