WATCH: West Kelowna Senior’s home opens doors to evacuees

It’s a brand new senior’s home but it’s already making its mark in the community.

Construction of the Heritage Retirement Residence on Brown Road in West Kelowna was just recently completed.

With only two of the 145 rooms occupied, management at the new facility decided to open up the empty rooms to those in need.

“It made sense. Charmaine, the GM, and I looked at each other and that made total sense. It was a no brainer,” says assistant general manager Monica Giesbrecht.

With many of the rooms still unfurnished, local businesses stepped up to help.

“We started calling for supplies so we called Walmart. They said fill your buggies up and we did that and home depot supplied us with water and bedding and air mattresses,” says Giesbrecht.

About 40 evacuees stayed at the senior’s home last night and many more were trickling in today, a gesture greatly appreciated by the people who have been displaced.

“It is great to know that when something like this happens you can turn to the community for help and that they won’t close their doors but they will open their doors to you,” says 17 year old evacuee Julia Emmond.

The facility plans to put up the evacuees for as long as necessary,