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Located at the former CFB Rockcliffe Airbase Lands in Ottawa, the Veterans’ House: The Andy Carswell Building, will provide support services designed to meet the needs of the rising number of homeless or precariously housed veterans in the Ottawa area. According to some estimates, nearly 10% of Canada’s homeless population are veterans.
The Veterans’ House will help veterans gain stable housing, and recover from health, mental health and addiction-related issues. The proposed building will comprise three floors of living space, one floor of communal space and a basement for administrative purposes. The project has broken ground and is scheduled to be completed in November 2020.
Having a personal connection with the former Rockcliffe Airbase, President and CIO of Canso Investment Counsel Ltd., John Carswell has made a personal donation to the project in honour of his father, Squadron Leader (ret’d) Andrew Carswell, a veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force who served in the Second World War and was held as a prisoner of war from 1943 to 1945. After the war, SL Carswell was stationed at the CFB Rockcliffe base and went on to receive the Air Force Cross for Search and Rescue missions in British Columbia, presented by Queen Elizabeth.
This project has been spearheaded by the Ottawa charity, Multifaith Housing Initiative, and also has the backing of the Legion, Veterans Affairs, Soldiers Helping Soldiers, True Patriot Love and the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.
As a proud supporter of and donor to the Veterans’ House, we are offering a donation matching program; for every $1 donated, Lysander Funds Limited, our affiliate Canso Investment Counsel Ltd., and the Carswell family will donate an additional $3 (up to $300,000).