An alcohol treatment centre, an alternative school, and a shelter for seniors at risk of homelessness may all get a big a tax break.
District of North Vancouver voted unanimously Oct. 3 to consider three-year tax exemptions on three properties, which will save the societies a total of $45,375 over the next three years.
The three societies were recognized for their contribution to the “well-being of the citizens of the municipality,” according to a staff report.
The tax break is being weighed for Turning Point Recovery Society – located on district-owned property on Burr Place – as it prepares to open a nine-bed recovery centre for men struggling with addiction. Turning Point opened a women-only recovery centre on Lloyd Avenue in 2014.
Windsor House is an alternative school being run out of the former Capilano United Church on 2260 Philip Ave. while the school scours East Vancouver for a new, permanent location.
Windsor would ordinarily be in line for a statutory tax exemption, but because the Gulf Islands school is operating outside of the Gulf Islands School District, the GISD applied to the district for the tax break. The school generally eschews letter grades and encourages children from five to 18 to create their own curriculum.
Hollyburn Family Services Society, located at 1543 Hunter St., is also in line for a tax exemption for their work housing seniors older than 55 facing homelessness.
The assessed value of the three properties totals approximately $4.35 million.
In 2015, council approved tax exemptions for 35 agencies. Council is scheduled to vote on the tax exemption bylaws on Oct. 24.
Mayor Richard Walton did not attend the meeting.
– Jeremy Shepherd
