Pioneer Community Living Association - PCLA

04/20/2026

Growing Connection through Gardening

There’s something powerful about working with your hands, being outdoors, and creating something of your own.

A few weeks ago, residents from across our homes came together for a flower arrangement Art Therapy session led by our PCLA staff. With soil, plants, and a bit of guidance, the space quickly turned into something more than just an activity; it became a place for connection, creativity, and calm.

For many of the individuals we support, traditional forms of therapy can feel challenging. Creative, hands-on experiences like this offer another way to express, engage, and simply be present.

It was a great turnout, with residents from multiple homes participating, sharing conversation, and taking pride in what they created.

Moments like this are a reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in structured settings. Sometimes, it looks like sunshine, flowers, and a group of people creating something meaningful together.

04/15/2026

We’re recruiting Board Members

Pioneer Community Living Association (PCLA) is looking for individuals who want to make a meaningful impact in mental health and supportive housing.

If you have experience in legal, finance, HR, or fundraising and want to contribute at a governance level, we’d love to hear from you.

Start June 2026
Apply info@pclaservices.ca

Please see the full job posting here: https://lnkd.in/gM8jqw_9

02/26/2026

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

Residents from across Pioneer Community Living Association (PCLA) came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year in a vibrant and meaningful way.

Each home contributed dishes inspired by Chinese cuisine, with residents actively participating in both the preparation and sharing of the meal. The celebration featured wonton soup, fried rice, chow mein, and spring rolls, along with a traditional “togetherness tray,” where each item carries symbolic significance for the Lunar New Year.

Throughout the gathering, residents explored traditions within Chinese culture, discussed Zodiac signs, and learned about the Year of the Horse. The celebration was filled with learning, connection, and shared joy.

At PCLA, supportive housing is about more than providing a safe place to live — it is about fostering belonging, cultural appreciation, and opportunities for residents to build community.

02/24/2026

Advancing Accessibility Through Community Partnership

We are deeply grateful to the Y.P. Heung Foundation for their generous $150,000 contribution toward accessibility upgrades across Pioneer Community Living Association residences.

Thanks to this support, PCLA has completed important improvements across multiple sites, enhancing safety, comfort, and independence for residents living with moderate to severe mental health challenges. The upgrades included accessible washrooms, ramps, automatic doors, and improved layouts designed to support mobility and dignity in everyday living.

For many residents, mental health challenges are accompanied by physical disabilities, making accessibility essential to their safety and independence. These upgrades ensure that residents can navigate their homes comfortably and continue their recovery journeys with confidence.

“This investment shows what’s possible when community partners come together to remove barriers and create homes that truly support the people who live in them.”
— Scott Roberts, Board President, PCLA

We are proud to partner with the Y.P. Heung Foundation to create living environments that foster dignity, stability, and healing. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the people we serve.

Pictured (left to right): Michael Kierszenblat, Executive Director; Scott Roberts, Board Chair; Elsie Heung, Executive Director, Y.P. Heung Foundation; and Raymond Heung, Founder and Director, Y.P. Heung Foundation.

01/21/2026

Recently, residents from multiple PCLA locations took part in a group Art Therapy session at the Burnaby Art Gallery, exploring the theme of an Artist Garden. Each participant created a personal art piece using mixed media techniques, including collage, pastel colouring, and ink prints.

The session offered residents a chance to experiment creatively, express themselves in new ways, and enjoy making art together in a welcoming community setting. The response was overwhelmingly positive: residents were engaged, proud of their work, and excited to share the experience with others - many residents have already asked about returning in the future!

Moments like these highlight the value of creative spaces in supporting connection, confidence, and well-being. Thank you to everyone who helped make this session such a success - we look forward to more creative outings ahead 🎨

01/14/2026

We’ve launched a new page on our website that explains how PCLA supports long-term recovery for people living with severe and persistent mental illness.

At PCLA, recovery is about living a meaningful, self-directed life - with the right supports in place.

Our work is guided by five recovery dimensions:
🏠 Housing Stability
🤝 Belonging
🎯 Purpose
❤️ Health
🧭 Autonomy

These dimensions shape how we design programs, build partnerships, and support people in their everyday lives. If you’re a family member, partner, funder, or policymaker interested in what recovery-oriented housing really looks like, we invite you to learn more.

https://www.pclaservices.ca/ourapproach

12/31/2025

Last week, residents and staff from PCLA took part in a holiday outing to FlyOver Canada at Canada Place, experiencing the Christmas-themed “Soar with Santa” flight ride. This immersive experience uses motion seating, a multi-storey spherical screen, and sensory effects like wind, mist, and scent to create the feeling of flying across Canada and onward to Santa’s North Pole.

Decorated with festive displays and guided by a short pre-show featuring Santa’s elves, the outing offered both entertainment and a shared experience grounded in tradition, joy, and belonging. We have been fortunate to make this trip several years in a row, and it continues to be something residents look forward to each holiday season.

12/22/2025

A wonderful evening at PCLA last week 🎶
We were proud to host the Beata Choir for a night of live music, shared treats, and community connection. The choir shared that PCLA is one of their favourite places to perform, thanks to our welcoming residents and staff. Moments like these build belonging and well-being. 💛

12/22/2025

Grateful to for donating new women’s pajamas to PCLA residents this holiday season 💛 These simple gifts bring comfort, dignity, and warmth to our residents.

Thank you to our staff for coordinating distribution and to La Vie en Rose for helping brighten the season. We will post pics on Christmas Day!

12/17/2025

Yesterday, PCLA residents and staff came together at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for PCLA’s most recent homeless outreach project.

This outreach began with two residents who simply felt they wanted to give back. Today, it continues 2–3 times each year, with residents and staff volunteering their time to prepare food, collect warm clothing and blankets, and connect with people in the community who are living without stable housing.

This week, the group shared food, clothing, and 75 handmade scarves and toques generously donated by a 90-year-old community member who wanted to help keep others warm. The gratitude and kindness exchanged during the afternoon left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

One resident shared:
“Giving back to people who don’t have enough food and warm clothing really makes me think, wow - I am doing a good job at giving back, as I used to live like that.”
Another reflected:
“I feel lucky that I have a nice home at PCLA, good food, support, and friends.”

These moments matter. They build purpose, connection, and compassion, both for those giving and those receiving. We’re proud of our residents and staff who continue to lead this meaningful work in the community.

12/03/2025

This Giving Tuesday, the need is unmistakable, and so is the impact.

At PCLA, over 350 individuals living with moderate to severe mental illness rely on our housing, care, and recovery-focused programs every year. Yet mental illness remains one of the leading drivers of housing instability in BC, with 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness annually and over 25% facing homelessness due to limited supports.

Our model works because it’s comprehensive:
• Eight residential programs that span crisis response to supported independent living
• Life Skills, Vocational Training, and Recreational Therapy that build independence
• Partnerships with UBC Dentistry, BCIT Nursing, and PureTone Hearing that create pathways to health and stability.

This year alone, residents have achieved:
• 87% engaged in recreational, volunteering, employment, and educational opportunities.
• 100% satisfaction with free on-site dental care
• 90% feeling safe and respected in their homes
These outcomes only happen because the basics are in place: stable housing, consistent support, and programs that meet people where they’re at.

Your Giving Tuesday donation directly strengthens that foundation.
Whether it’s upgrading essential accessibility features, expanding life-skills training, or sustaining employment supports, every contribution helps residents move toward independence, dignity, and community connection.

https://www.pclaservices.ca/donate-now

If you’re looking to create meaningful, measurable impact this Giving Tuesday, this is it.

  giving opportunities“no one can do everything, but everyone can do something”       We welcome financial support from the community.Supporting PCLA will give us essential resources that allow us to expand services in the community and contribute to important capital expenditures. donateEv...

12/01/2025

A Creative Afternoon at PCLA 🌸

Last week, residents from across PCLA’s homes came together for a floral arranging workshop as part of our Art Therapy initiative. What started as a simple holiday activity quickly turned into a joyful afternoon of creativity, connection, and pride.

Residents worked together, shared ideas, and filled the house with beautiful arrangements they were excited to show off. For some, the activity was calming and grounding; for others, it sparked confidence and a chance to try something new.

Our staff felt the impact too:
✨ “It really was a lovely afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by all.” — Leah
✨ “Beautiful and heartwarming that our residents and staff get to experience such joy and connectedness, learning new hobbies.” — Michelle

We’re already planning a follow-up session in February for Valentine’s Day, and residents are excited to keep exploring new creative projects.

These moments matter. They help build community, support wellness, and create a sense of home for the individuals we serve every day at PCLA.

🌼 Thanks to everyone who helped make this afternoon so special!