A celebration hosted by KC Charities June 19, 2025 marked the official opening of Columbian Village in southeast Saskatoon, which adds 133 affordable seniors housing units to the community.
The project is the fifth phase of a seniors housing vision that began some 40 years ago with fund-raising by Knights of Columbus members in a local bingo hall – a vision which expanded and grew with support from three levels of government. KC Charities now offers 337 affordable units in three buildings at two locations, including apartments, assisted living suites and services, and accommodation for those with mobility issues.
At a ribbon cutting ceremony, KC Charities President Ron Martens stressed the contributions of honorary life member and co-founder Bob Jeanneau who has played a key role in launching the organization and its vision for seniors housing.
“He has been hands on,” said Martens, acknowledging with emotion the vision, passion and expertise of Jeanneau, who received a standing ovation at the opening celebration. “He has been the driving force for over 40 years.”
Earlier in the day, after the daily celebration of Mass in the new Divine Mercy Chapel – which links the established Columbian Manor and the new Columbian Village buildings on the Louise Street site – Fr. Denis Phaneuf blessed a plaque unveiled at the entrance, acknowledging the contributions of Jeanneau, Les and Irene Dubé and other donors.
Special guests at the afternoon ribbon-cutting celebration reflected the contributions of three levels of government – both to the new project and the previous phases of the KC Charities vision. Among those in attendance were MLA Terry Jenson, Minister of Saskatchewan Social Services, responsible for the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation; Saskatoon Eastview MLA Matt Love; Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block; Ward 9 City Councillor Bev Dubois; and Saskatoon South MP Kevin Waugh.
Program MC Adrien Piché welcomed the dignitaries, KC Charities directors, residents, staff, and guests to begin the program held in the new Divine Mercy Chapel.
Saskatchewan Social Services Minister Terry Jenson provided a Treaty acknowledgement, and congratulated all those involved in the Columbian Village project, which the government of Saskatchewan supported with a $990,000 investment.
“I am just going to highlight the word homes,” said Jenson, pointing to the lives that are directly improved by the project, with dignity and peace of mind preserved. “This move represents a safe, affordable home, a place to age in independence, supported by meal assistance, wellness checks, and opportunities for social interaction which is incredibly important. These homes will provide stability and comfort, but they will also something even more important: connection to neighbours, support services, and to a community that truly does care.”
Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block said the much-needed project “could not have come at a better time” given the importance of finding housing solutions in Saskatoon.
She noted that each phase of the KC Charities housing vision has been built upon the same values. “How do we make sure that we are building homes that are affordable, that are appropriate, and that are rooted in faith?” challenged Block. “Not every senior is going to have the opportunity to have that piece: but it is needed for the people who live here. And I think that speaks to how we build housing. It is not good enough to have four walls and a door, but we have to think about what does it mean for people to feel that they belong.”
Block also noted the legacy of those who supported the life of the KC Charities projects along the way, including local city councillor Dubois, and Don Atchison, former Saskatoon mayor who was also present at the celebration.
In his presentation, KC Charities President Ron Martens acknowledged the work of KC Charities Executive Director Norma Denis and staff.
Martens also noted that plans for the next phase of the Columbian Village / Columbian Manor site call for the eventual construction of an adjacent personal care home building, to further the vision of seniors being able to “age in place.”
“The hallway would go from apartments and assisted living to personal care,” he said.
Together KC Charities co-o under Jeanneau and MLA Terry Jenson, Minister of Saskatchewan Social Services officially “cut the ribbon” for the new facility, along with President Martens, Executive Director Norma Denis, Mayor Cynthia Block, Ward 9 Councillor Bev Dubois, and Saskatoon South MP Kevin Waugh.
An afternoon reception was also part of the program, with tours of the building, and refreshments served in both the Columbian Village Dining Room and the Columbian Manor Peter Harvey Room.
KC Charities current communities:
- Columbian Manor, 2940 Louise Street, Saskatoon
- Columbian Place, 1407-20th Street West, Saskatoon
- Columbian Village, 3012 Louise Street, Saskatoon
Chronology of Development:
- 1997 – Phase 1: 62 rental apartments opened at Columbian Manor
- 2000 – Phase 2: 16 rental apartments added to Columbian Manor
- 2008 – Phase 3: 51 suites in the Bob Jeanneau Assisted Living Centre added to Columbian Manor
- 2012 – Phase 4: 75 rental apartments opened at Columbian Place
- 2025 – Phase 5: 133 rental apartments and assisted living suites opened at Columbian Village
- Next steps – Phase 6: A personal care/long-term care facility addition planned at Columbian Village
Features:
Apartments and suites include one and two-bedroom units, ranging in size from 680 to 1006-square feet, offering “aging in place,” where meals and housekeeping services are available when that becomes needed. There are 94 assisted living suites, and plans for an addition that would provide long-term care, to continue the vision of a continuum of care in one place. All of the units are offered at below-market rates.
For more information, contact (306) 373-8160 or visit the website at kccharitieshousing.com (which includes a virtual tour.)
KC Charities history and background
As a not-for-profit senior housing organization established by Knights of Columbus members in 1984, KC Charities now owns and operates 337 affordable seniors housing rental units – including the 133 in the newly constructed Columbian Village adjacent to Columbian Manor on Louise Street in Saskatoon’s Eastview neighbourhood.
KC Charities is governed by one director from each council of the Knights of Columbus in Saskatoon. The present board of directors includes President Ron Martens, Co-founder Bob Jeanneau, and Bill Beeler, Ernest Boyko, Greg Bunko, Brian Chartier, Jerome Engele, Ivan Kowalski, Keith Kratchmer, Roland LaFleche, Denys LeBrun, Ian Merced, Adrien Piché, Steve Pisio, Andy Praksas, Donald Prefontaine, John Reshny, Ronald Ritz, Shawn Scherr, and Stan Schroeder.
To begin with, the organization focused on fund-raising: from 1984 to 2006 the organization raised some $25 million for charities in Saskatoon and surrounding arias.
“Volunteerism became a way of life for many of the Knights in the city who donated their time to work in our bingo hall,” wrote Jeanneau in a history about the organization. “They gave of themselves and took an active role in the fund-raising activities. It also promoted community between the councils.”
The great need for seniors housing was identified by the new organization. “There was a void that existed in rental accommodations for Saskatoon seniors who wished to live independently,” wrote Jeanneau. Those unable to purchase condominiums were “falling through the cracks.”
A foundation was therefore established in 1988 with $550,000 to pursue the goal of building affordable housing for seniors.
“Our breakthrough came in November 1995, when KC Charities purchased a 1.8-acre parcel of land from the city of Saskatoon and constructed a 62-suite seniors’ residence that would be affordable. Completion of that project, namely Columbian Manor, was in June 1997,” wrote Jeanneau.
Recognizing a need for enriched housing with more supports for seniors striving to live independently, KC Charities next completed a 51-unit Assisted Living Centre at the Columbian Manor site in 2007, with funding from federal, provincial, and municipal governments.
Offered a 1.2-acre parcel of land across the street from St. Mary Catholic Church on Avenue O and 20th Street, KC Charities next constructed Columbian Place, a 75-unit seniors’ residence on 20th Street, again with funding from all levels of government.
Affordability for seniors was always the goal, stresses Jeanneau. “Our aim was to keep our rental fees below the market value, while covering our services sufficiently and maintaining an adequate reserve.”
Activities and many faith-based connections help foster community at the facilities, he said, noting that while the facilities have strong faith-based Catholic roots, residency is not restricted to Catholics, but is open to people of many faiths, denominations and backgrounds.
