Good Shepherd Square blessed from above

By Kevin Werner, News Staff

Its an oasis for seniors, a secure environment for women have domestic troubles, and security for children in need of help.

This has solved my housing problems, so Im able to shine, Cass Henry, 32, told the assembled politicians, religious officials, and city staff as they gathered under cloudy skies Sept 14 to open the Good Shepherd Square on King Street.

Along with her daughter, Kayla, 8, who has moved 15 times in her short life, Henry has battled bed bugs, oppressive landlords, and moldy apartments, in her search for a proper place to live. Kayla, says Henry, calls her new home forever home.

Its the perfect location, said Henry, who moved in July 1. It is life-changing. Now we are filled up with hope and promise.

The $15.5 million, 156-unit project, located between Pearl and Ray streets, contains a compact courtyard with benches, trees, and grass, with an elegant archway from theKing Streetentrance. It is surrounded by the 84-unit Bishop Tonnos Seniors Apartments, the 72-unit Nora Vos Apartments, the Wentges Family Centre for Women and Children, the 20-bed womens emergency shelter Marys Place, and the 40-unit Martha House.

This is a wonderful place to build something better for the community, said Brother Richard MacPhee, executive director of Good Shepherd.

The project had been 10 years in the making, that spanned four mayors and two bishops, said Mayor Bob Bratina.

A lot of things had to happen, said Bratina, noting the project had originally been targeted for the King and Wellington. Its absolutely brilliant how it came about.

Yes we have poverty, yes we have needs. But we are addressing them, he said.

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Good Shepherd Square blessed from above