Our Story

Established in 2004, initially, the Society was formed as the Smithers & Area Recycling Society with the purpose of providing job opportunities, affordable housing, community inclusion and support services for individuals with developmental disabilities and physical challenges. This was necessary and timely as Community Living B.C. had just been formed and they were in discussion with our local group that exceeded over sixty members consisting of family and friends in need of services. It was decided that one group would pursue the administration function and the other accommodations and employment .

A Charitable Society was formed and the following was accomplished.

Employment

In a donated space in the VanKam/Clark Warehouse there was an upright bailer that a board member donated, another board member donated a bobcat and Waste Management agreed to dump their cardboard off, free of charge. A recycling program commenced and operated for a number of years.

A franchised bottle depot was located in this building and ran into financial difficulties. We purchased same and expanded the business to the point where we again had to relocate because of cramped conditions. Land was purchased and a new building constructed.

We out-grew our recycling facility space in the VanKam/Clark Building and relocated to the Vihar Building where we developed a fully equipped recycling facility that consisted of a new horizontal bailer complete with an infeed conveyor, three vertical bailers, two forklifts, one bobcat, a large industrial chipper for hard plastics and a styrofoam densifyer for melting the styrofoam into small blocks for shipping and reuse. A fire destroyed the building and all the equipment was lost. Zoning would not allow a recycling facility to be re-established in the community. Insurance proceeds were used for other recycling and employment needs.

A new Bottle Depot was established and an upright baler and shredding machine were installed that allowed some recycling activities to continue for the special needs individuals. In fact, it was and remains a key component in present recycling activities. We have one individual who has spent eighteen years and another twelve years providing shredding services for the society.

Our society purchased a building on Fulton Ave and renovated same to accommodate all High Roads staffing, a board room, a separate space for special needs individuals to socialize, I-Kitchen (a large fully equipped facility that prepares and sells meals to the community). In addition there are five other business rentals and one hundred percent occupancy. A second building involving a large warehouse and two apartments was constructed and we have one hundred percent occupancy and no mortgage.

Our Society is also involved in local housing initiatives and is the direction we will move forward with in the future. Thus the change in name to “Smithers & Area Housing Society”. To this end we purchased lots at 16th Ave and Main Street and after discussion with B.C. Housing, they agreed to buy the property develop same.

It was a great move as a nineteen unit, beautiful, energy efficient, three story building with affordable rent adjacent to the park now exists. The building is known as “Harding Heights”, managed by Dik Tiy Housing Society. Two members of our board are directors on this society.

We also purchased the old Hilltop Hotel and property immediately across the street from the above property. The building was removed and a proposal was made to B.C. Housing for a forty-one unit complex on this site. The Town of Smithers requires $460,000 upgrade of services to the property which put the project on hold. The property is mortgage free and ready for development.

We recently bought four lots on Princess Ave in Smithers and are currently constructing four duplexes at a cost of 1.6 Million and will be for Seniors. These units are also located one block from Ranger Park and one block away from our other properties.

Our society has a proven track record with assets exceeding $3M and this does not include the duplexes. We have shown our ability to handle adversity and want to assist and direct our efforts to the housing needs of this community.