Community Seniors Cooperative Ltd (CSCL) announces the name of its new residence!

Now that their vision of a new community care residence for the O’Leary area is finally becoming a reality, it is with great excitement that they announce its name – The Willows.

CSCL has chosen the name for two reasons. The first reason for choosing the name The Willows is symbolism of the tree. The willow tree is known for its endurance, flexibility, and protection. The wood in a willow tree can absorb shock without splitting but is flexible – used for basket weaving and willow furniture. Willows are also noted to be good for the environment – they can clean contaminated soil, absorb excess water from the soil, and they can stabilize it. The willow tree is also significant for First Nations peoples. Traditionally, willow bark was used as a pain reliever and the wood of the willow is still used in the making of many items.

The second reason is that the late 1800’s O’Leary had a hotel named The Willow Hotel. It was built by James Barclay and his wife, two of O’Leary’s earliest settlers. It got its name from the willow trees on the property that grew from slips that Mrs Barclay brought from her home near Ellerslie*. The willows are now gone but the hotel structure survives today in two parts – the farm home of the late Therin and Shirley Ellis, on the original location, and the other part nearby is the home of Beverley Makin. The new community care residence will overlook part of the Ellis farm.

In future, The Willows community care residence will be a home of caring and flexibility for all who live there. Sally Lockhart, CSCL Board chair, says “We look forward to honouring our past and ensuring our future in this community”. CSCL plans to start construction of the 50-unit affordable residence in 2022. Follow them on Facebook or go to their website www.csclpei.org for updates and how to donate.

*Information about the hotel was from the book, Threads of the Past by The O’Leary Women’s Institute, in association with the New Horizons program, Government of Canada, copyright Canada 1993 printed by Williams and Crue, Summerside PE., page 48.