Our Mission reads as follows: We believe that a diversity of people builds vibrant, healthy and safe communities where residents are proud to live. We contribute to this through the provision of below-market, secure and inclusive housing.
Kiwanis Board 2024/2025
Mehran Avini, Peter Jarvis, Anita Jobs, Gabrielle Loren, Patrick McLaughlin, Sandra McLean, Kim Mech, Eleanor Minish, Ali Pirbhai, Karen Russell, Elaine Wong, Ron Wood
Our commitment to serving seniors began post-war in 1948 with the creation of Kiwanis Village in North Vancouver. Kiwanis North Shore Housing Society (Kiwanis as it was known) was started in 1953 by the Kiwanis Club of West Vancouver to provide non-profit, below-market rental housing for individuals, families, and seniors of low to moderate income and carry out activities that promote health and social engagement.
In 1953, Kiwanis acquired its first development site in West Vancouver, bounded by 21st Street to the east, Gordon Avenue to the south, and 22nd Street to the west. Over the next 70 years, this site was redeveloped in several phases into Kiwanis Garden Village, which includes four rental buildings with 303 apartments and space for an Adult Day Centre operated by Vancouver Coastal Health.
In 2016 Kiwanis West Vancouver and Kiwanis North Vancouver merged to form Kiwanis North Shore Housing Society, becoming the largest provider of below-market rental housing on the North Shore.
In 2019 we began the construction of a 106-unit housing development in Lynn Valley. The new building welcomed its first residents in the summer of 2022.
In 2023, we started construction on a 156-unit family housing project in West Vancouver, expanding Kiwanis Garden Village. The two new buildings will provide below-market suites for families and individuals who work, live and raise children in West Vancouver. It will be ready for occupancy in the Spring of 2026.
Kiwanis, which currently operates 744 apartments in eight buildings on the North Shore, is managed by a volunteer board of directors and a team of professional, caring employees.
Our Society continues to work tirelessly to ensure that all buildings are maintained to the highest standards and our residents are in homes of which they can be proud and that they can afford.
