Thrift store beside evacuated Langford high-rise moves to temporary new location

Posted: May 15, 2023 3:56PM

CHEK News

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island's Langford location is next door to the evacuated RidgeView Place building.

With the original location sitting in the shadows of the evacuated RidgeView Place building, the City of Langford has offered a new temporary home for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island‘s thrift store.

The Langford thrift store has re-opened at 101-877 Goldstream Ave. after two weeks of closures.

“I am very grateful that the City of Langford has helped provide this space for us to continue our store operations. It is more than just a thrift store, it is a community hub for providing low cost clothing and household items, community connections for those that pop in to visit or grab a loaf of bread,” said Derek Pace, executive director of Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island in a news release.

“We also have longtime, dedicated employees who have been unable to work, so this is a huge relief.”

The thrift store is one of the sources of revenue for the society and supports programs like the Choices Food Pantry, affordable housing, Rosalie’s Village women and children’s housing, and the Ozanam Centre.

“I am very pleased that City staff were able to quickly find a temporary location for the St. Vincent de Paul to continue to operate their much valued and appreciated service in the City of Langford,” said Mayor Scott Goodmanson in a news release.

After the evacuation of the 11-story RidgeView Place building due to structural safety concerns, the thrift store, along with neighbouring businesses that include a daycare, followed suit and vacated the premises as well.

Though tenants of the building have been offered assistance from the property developer Centurion and the City of Langford, many have felt frustrated during the life-upending process of leaving their homes, saying there has not been enough communication or aid with some adding they didn’t know where else to go.