About us
We care about our people, our properties and the communities we call home.
Our mission
Our principles
Our volunteer Board of Directors, employees and volunteers provide housing and supports for over 700 households throughout Southern Alberta. We are focused on meeting the need for safe and affordable retirement living and public housing programs within the Foothills Region.
Our values
Respect – we cultivate inclusive environments where every person is valued, personal choice is embraced, and independence is respected.
Accountability – we are accountable to our clients, stakeholders, employees, and communities. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in every decision we make and how we manage our resources.
Service Excellence – we are professional in all that we do and work hard to exceed expectations. We take time to do the little things that brighten peoples’ days and are committed to improving the way community members live.
Safety – we are committed to the safety of our clients, employees, and stakeholders. We follow protocols and take responsibility for ourselves and those around us.
Innovation – we foster a culture of continuous improvement; developing creative solutions that deliver on our mission and meet the emerging needs of our communities.
Community – we strive to build and sustain community in the places where we live, work, and grow. We are mindful of how our decisions affect our families, friends, neighbours and the Foothills Region.
Our history
Westwinds Communities is a not for profit organization that provides quality housing and supportive services for seniors, as well as subsidized housing and services for individuals and families.
We strive to provide housing options that ensure the safety, dignity and choices for more than 700 client households annually. Our organization works hard to provide housing for these individuals in rural and urban communities, especially where no other options may exist.
Since 1960, Westwinds Communities has been a provincially legislated housing management body responsible for providing retirement living and public housing programs within the Foothills Region. The rental assistance benefit program extends outside the Foothills Region to also include the Counties of Vulcan, MD of Silver Willow, and towns of Nanton and Claresholm.
Westwinds Communities partners with individuals, municipalities and the Government of Alberta to provide safe, affordable housing opportunities and services.
Focused on the future
What makes us so unique is our focus on the future. We seek to be proactive – to meet the future needs of the communities we serve. We conduct research to identify emerging needs and changing lifestyles of residents, and actively work to develop solutions.
Using our strategic planning process, we identify evolving and future needs and work with community, Government and other partners to seek funding and other support for local seniors and affordable housing initiatives.
Affordable housing & needs assessment
In partnership with the Town of the High River, Town of Diamond Valley, and Habitat for Humanity’s Foothills Chapter, we lead Resilience Planning to analyze the need for affordable housing for each of the communities.
Working closely with community members in 2021 and 2022, the analysis includes valuable information collected through interviews with key community members, workshops with non-profit housing providers and municipal staff, municipal council members and Chief Administrative Officers, developers and builders, as well as surveys for residents, the public, and developers.
The reports detail the affordable housing needs for the Towns of High River and Diamond Valley.
The High River Housing & Needs Assessment can be viewed here. The Diamond Valley Housing & Needs Assessment can be viewed here.
Okotoks affordable housing
We are pleased to have partnered with the Town of Okotoks in two affordable housing projects.
The Drake Towns, a ten unit townhouse development was completed in Summer 2023 in the community of Drake Landing in partnership with the Town of Okotoks, the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services, CMHC and local developer Partners Development Group.
The D’Arcy project was officially launched in September, 2021 – and will be built in the newly developed D’Arcy neighborhood. The development will add 38 purpose-built affordable rental units in Okotoks, filling a gap that has existed for years. The additional affordable and diverse housing options in our community will fit our residents’ needs at every age and stage of their lives.
You can read more about this important project here.
Ongoing planning
Our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan focuses on strengthening the organization and its services while exploring options to meet community need and provide education.
Our 2024-2026 Business Plan focuses on maintaining strong relationships, an open dialogue and regular communication to support qualified seniors, families and individuals in accessing our services.
The 2023 Westwinds Communities Annual Report outlines the continued challenges with developing and accessing quality affordable housing.
Municipal requisition
Since 1960, we have been one of over 100 provincially legislated management bodies providing subsidized seniors housing in coordination with local municipalities and the provincial government.
To support this, we requisition Foothills County, the Towns of Diamond Valley, High River and Okotoks, and the Village of Longview for operating shortfalls and the funds necessary to maintain a modest reserve for capital replacements. The individual municipalities collect the funds through property tax billings and forward to us.
The funds collected support the operations of High Country Lodge in Diamond Valley, Sandstone Lodge in Okotoks and Medicine Tree Manor in High River. These communities provide studio, one and two-bedroom accommodations and many supportive services for its residents.
Further information regarding the municipal requisition can be found here.
Our board
Member at Large Don Herring, Chairperson
Town of High River Kelly Smit
Town of Diamond Valley Brendan Kelly
Member At Large Gary Adolphe
Foothills Country Alan Alger
Member At Large Kathryn Robson, Vice-Chair
Town of Okotoks Gord Lang
Village of Longview Rose Klassen
