Off the Grid and the Judith Fisher Centre
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Lasqueti Island is located in the middle of Georgia Strait, between the Sunshine coast on the mainland and Vancouver Island. Transportation to our island is via a walk-on ferry running between French Creek on Vancouver Island to False Bay on Lasqueti Island. Our community is completely off the electric grid. Each community member is responsible for his or her own electricity through the use of solar panels, micro-hydro or wind power.
The 2011 census reports 426 full time residents, with new families arriving and new children being born. |
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We all need increased access to medical and wellness services. At the Judith Fisher Centre, we have a permanent facility for weekly nursing services, telehealth consultations, a variety of health professionals, and a protected place for First Responders to wait for the Coast Guard or Air Ambulance. The telehealth unit has already allowed some Lasqueti residents to consult with their doctors in Victoria without ever leaving the island! As many of us know firsthand, Lasqueti residents discharged from the hospital must rely on volunteer support to assist prolonged stays "on the other side". The health centre's respite suite offers a supportive on-island facility for assisted recovery and temporary care. |
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Elderly or health-compromised members of our community have faced relying upon volunteer community support or leaving the island, once they are unable to maintain their homes. We designed our Elder Cottages to provide a home or temporary housing, close to medical services and transportation. Thanks to a generous donation the first cottage - The Alan Green Cottage - was built in 2014. It is now occupied full time, and we are continuing our capital campaign for more residential elder housing units. In 2020, we are excited to be close to our goal to complete our planned duplex, which will accommodate two local singles or couples, with a full-accessible layout.
Now that the Judith Fisher Centre is operational, we need to continue fundraising to keep it running. Everyone who uses these facilities needs heat, water and electricity. We pay for these through a community supported local tax requisition, service grants, society memberships, modest usage fees and, most importantly, donations.
The continuing support of our donors have always been our vital life-blood, and make it possible to continue on our path towards completing our elder cottage housing village, and supporting well-rounded health-without-stress for all Lasquetians. All donations of $25 or more receive a charitable tax receipt.
The continuing support of our donors have always been our vital life-blood, and make it possible to continue on our path towards completing our elder cottage housing village, and supporting well-rounded health-without-stress for all Lasquetians. All donations of $25 or more receive a charitable tax receipt.
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Meet the Lasqueti Last Resort Society (LLRS):
The Lasqueti Last Resort Society (LLRS) is registered charity, powered by a dedicated "rotating cast" who have tirelessly worked to bring the Judith Fisher Centre to fruition. Founded in 2002, the Lasqueti Last Resort Society promotes health and the prevention of illness to the residents of Lasqueti and surrounding islands. Over the years, a huge percentage of Lasqueti residents and seasonal visitors have contributed time, money, and love to make this a reality. |
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The Lasqueti Last Resort Society (LLRS) has been actively pursuing its mandate for 16 years. Initially LLRS wanted to provide seniors with an alternative to leaving the Island when the daily demands of living on a semi-remote island became too difficult. The initial "elder cottage", generously endowed by Barbara Green, one of our local patron saints, is now happily inhabited, with another duplex cottage on the immediate horizon. In June 2016, we completed an ambitious construction project for a modern, well-equipped health centre, as well as the accessory infrastructure necessary to provide electricity, domestic water and waste water disposal for the entire Judith Fisher Centre.
It was a big challenge to run a health centre meeting current standards in an off-grid location, where we had to provide all our own utilities! We couldn't have done it without endless donated hours from just about every "local expert" on the island, as well as the willing hands to complete both the humblest and most rarified jobs. This place belongs to all Lasquetians, and we hope they are all as proud of it as we are.
Current Board of Directors
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Marilyn Darwin, President
Sandy Morrison, Treasurer Gwen Bigsby, Secretary Victor Downard, Director Tim Peterson, Director Ron Abrahams, Director Tom Carter, Liaison Director Pia Lironi, Director Mary Hurlburt, Director Andrew Van der Meer, Director |
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