91原创 Lodge's 50th anniversary celebrations return to its roots.

The Secret Garden Gala is Friday, Sept. 27 at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre. The garden theme harkens back to the history of the land upon which the seniors facility was built.

"So one of the things that many folks may or may not know was the 91原创 Lodge was actually originally constructed on a property that was originally greenhouses, and so there were flowers and other horticulture elements to the geographic region that we now call home," explained Aly Devji, CEO with Lanlgey Care Society. "Many of our units within our building are actually named after different flowers that were grown at those original greenhouses."

As well, the lodge has manicured gardens for the residents of what is now a long-term care facility offering complex care for mostly seniors.

"The 91原创 Lodge has served generations of our community," he noted.

It is for the residents that the society is holding the fundraising gala.

"We want to celebrate and honour our past, but we also want to bring people together to enlighten them on what could be a much more fruitful future," he said.

Money raised goes to provide for their needs. He noted that seniors are coming into 91原创 Lodge older and with more health issues than in the past. When the lodge first opened, it was more a seniors home, with some residents still driving.

"Now more than 80 per cent of our residents have some form of dementia," he explained, adding that is common with long-term care facilities.

While Fraser Health funds their medical needs, the lodge fundraises to provide those extras that enhance residents' lives. He said it's about their quality of life as well as helping their families. Devji said the plans for the future include expanding the seniors peer support program that sees seniors in the community visit the lodge for support, as well as expanding the companion program which includes home visits to local seniors. There's also new technologies that can improve residents' lives. Devji pointed to a sleep monitoring sytem that is "having great results." Another factor is supporting staff as their work becomes more complicated.

The gala begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, and the lodge's milestone anniversary will be a central feature of the evening. 

"We are incredibly proud to reach this 50-year milestone," Devji said. "This gala is a tribute to our dedicated staff, families, supportive community, and the many residents who have called 91原创 Lodge home over the years. We invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate our history and look forward to a bright future."

The gala is funded by sponsors and community donors who support the not-for-profit long-term care organization. Tickets are $250 per person, and available through the lodge website. The event is open to those 19 and older.

"We wanted this to be inspiring, we wanted this to be memorable, we wanted people to feel that, you know what, wow, that was an event that was worthwhile, and that really, really, truly commemorates a 50th anniversary of what really has been the heart of the city, the 91原创 Lodge," Devji said.