Grand Opening of the New ACW Place

On Saturday, September 9, from 11am-2pm, a large cohort of diocesan ACW members with family and friends attended the Grand Opening of the new ACW Place located in the Hyland Square light industrial park, #3-6678 152nd Street in Surrey’s East Newton neighbourhood.

Since the 2011 sale of WA Memorial House located on 14th Avenue in Vancouver’s VGH/City Hall neighbourhood, the Anglican Church Women of the Diocese of New Westminster have headquartered their ministry at the first ACW Place in Burnaby, southeast of Metrotown.  By the spring of 2023, unable to continue in that facility with an expired lease reverting to a month-to-month tenancy, ACW leadership went looking for a new home and they found a great one at the Hyland Square location to continue their ministry, specifically collecting donations of clothing, bedding, shoes, baby furniture and more to send in bales to those in need in the northern parts of Canada. The new ACW Place is quite similar in construction to the Burnaby location, with a separate gathering space (in a loft this time), small kitchen with laundry, office space and a warehouse for storage and the assembly of the bales. In fact, the two facilities have the exact same square footage. The Hyland Square location is near new, bright, and cheery with a large parking lot and easy access both by car and by transit.

The Grand Opening consisted of a welcome offered by diocesan ACW president, Kelly Bowman of St. Cuthbert, Delta which was followed by a blessing by ACW Chaplain, the Reverend Miranda Sutherland, Vicar of Holy Spirit, Whonnock and St. Matthew’s, Abbotsford. Mother Miranda’s blessing liturgy is linked here and below. Diocesan ACW director, Beth Fortin of St. Cuthbert, Delta performed a smudging ritual. There was a delicious potluck lunch buffet (the Spring Rolls were topnotch) and a celebratory sheet cake, with the first cake cut performed by Mother Miranda and served by the president. Bishop John Stephens was unable to attend but he was well represented by the Venerable Luisito Engnan, Archdeacon of Fraser and Vicar of St. Michael’s and Christ the Redeemer, Surrey.

Diocesan ACW vice-president, Amelia Foster, ODNW of St. Hilda’s, Sechelt had this to say:

“What a great turnout! We were blessed with beautiful weather and so much positive feedback from all who attended. More women want to volunteer. Everyone was happy. We are off to a great start in our new ACW  Place. We will thrive by God's grace and continue this ministry for many years to come opening the doors for the younger generation. What a wonderful team.

IMAGES

• The Reverend Miranda Sutherland cuts the cake with Archdeacon Engnan on the left and Beth Fortin and Kelly Bowman on the right
• The entrance to #3-6678 152nd Street
• A screen grab image of Hyland Square
• Past-president of the diocesan ACW, Gail Revitt, ODNW of St. Cuthbert, Delta at the welcome table with the guestbook. Elizabeth Murray, ODNW of St. David, Tsawwassen (and a St. James' emeritus member) is signing the guestbook.
• The Reverend Miranda Sutherland leads the blessing of the new facility Photo Amelia Foster
  
• Vice-President, Amelia Foster staffs the hot drinks station
• A view from the loft of the north side of the warehouse section of ACW Place.
• A view from the loft of the south side of the warehouse segment of the space.
• The communications officer of the diocese wasn't the only Synod staff person present. Deirdre Thornton, Screening in Faith Coordinator and Administrator for the diocese and Warden at St. Alban the Martyr, Burnaby was on hand. Here we see some bags of donated items ready for sorting and bundling.
• Boxes of donated items to be shipped to those in need located on the warehouse hi-lo shelves.
• The loft gathering and meeting space.
• Enjoying lunch outside
• On the left, long time diocesan ACW leader and recent past-president, Sheila Puls, ODNW, St. George, Fort Langley. Centre, Ann Blue, ODNW, St. Laurence, Coquitlam. And on the right National ACW Board Secretary, Margaret (Marni) Crossley from the Diocese of Ottawa. Mari went to nursing school with one of the long term diocesan ACW members, was here for a reunion and dropped by the grand opening.
• President Bowman serves the cake
• Members of the ACW chapter at St. Michael's, Vancouver (Multicultural) except for Judith Carling who was washing dishes
• Members of the diocesan ACW and a couple of guests pose for a group shot.

IMAGE IN THE TEXT: Beth, Mother Miranda and Kelly

All photos except where noted: Randy Murray