On Saint Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2026, Columbus Homes held a grand ribbon-cutting event to officially open Zappone Manor in the Cloverdale community of Surrey, British Columbia. The event included the opening ceremony, a reception at the neighbouring Shannon hall as well as tours of the building that will provide low-income housing for more of the Greater Vancouver’s elderly residents.
The actual ceremony included the singing of Canada’s National Anthem lead by a Cloverdale Catholic School children’s choir – who also signed the words as they sang. The invited dignitaries, who had been provided with Irish green bowler hats and a pair of green-handled scissors, proceeded to cut the ribbon stretched across the whole main entrance to the new five-story building. Among the dignitaries were Members of Parliament, Members for the Provincial Legislature, the Mayor of Surrey, Knights of Columbus State Council Executives, the Columbus Homes Board of Directors and others, including Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski of the Eparchy of New Westminster and Fr. Gilles Simard, O.P. of Precious Blood Parish in Surrey (where, by the way, the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross also holds their Sunday Liturgies).
The President of Columbus Homes, Mike Garisto, hosted the event, exuding a rightful joy and pride in the amazing accomplishment. It was a long and sometimes arduous task that lasted some ten years from the inception of the project to this wonderful day of the grand opening. Besides Columbus Homes, many others also contributed much to realize the project. Government housing and development programs gave a great deal of financial and administrative support toward the project on all levels – federal, provincial and municipal. Organizations were also acknowledged for their getting behind the project over the years, including the Lions, the Elks, the Canadian Legion and, of course, the Knights of Columbus. The host managed to mention every group and individual from major investors to the subcontractors who provided any service toward the completion of the project.
After a series of speakers, who all spoke of their happiness that this project was finally fulfilled, Bishop Michael was asked to give concluding remarks. He too explained how happy he was that the elderly of society were being supported in this way. This project, he said, not only represents giving our elderly a roof over their heads, but a true home where they can live in safety, with dignity and within the warmth of a community that supports them. He also acknowledged the families of those being honoured at the event, including the family of the late Bruno Zappone, the local businessman and community volunteer, for whom the Manor is named. This is an even that highlighted the great contribution to society of both the family and the elderly who deserve our unwavering acknowledgement and support in return.
The Irish theme pervaded the event. It included a toast at the reception made with… in lieu of green beer or a shot of Irish whisky perhaps – a glass of green, mint-favoured Shamrock Shake. The Columbus Homes president explained that the Irish theme was very important to the now famous local housing charity, as their initial funds were gathered in their first years by distributing shamrock pins and stickers around the city for St. Patrick’s Day for donations of small change. Such a humble beginning helped them grow into the large foundation that today works to provided homes like Zappone Manor.
