The Canuck Place Dave Lede House in Abbotsford provides specialized care and support for children and teenagers with progressive life-threatening illnesses and helping children and their families cope with medical and emotional challenges. The project is located on a 1.9 acre Campus of Care site with two other special-needs residential facilities – Holmberg House and Matthew’s House.
The 3-storey structure is nestled amongst several large trees and configured in plan to wrap a stand of majestic Douglas firs forming a south courtyard for children’s play. The common amenities: lounge, dining, kitchen, activity games room, and play therapy area are located on the main floor. Ten children’s bedrooms, medical support and therapy programs are located on the second level, and five family suites on the upper floor.
The project is evocative of an Arts & Crafts manor house with a steeply pitched roof, broad gables and shed dormers, square-sided bay windows, continuous shingle siding with painted wood trims, granite stone chimneys, and a wrap-around porch supported by stout square columns. The roof form sweeps down to form a gatehouse porch, at the main entrance.