When John first stepped onto the sundeck of the Surrey Home he had just been hired to manage eleven years ago, he remembers thinking, This place has so much potential. The double lot stretched out before him, fir trees standing tall, the old house aging, but still well-cared for. The home had been standing for more than forty years by then — sturdy, well-worn, and full of history. But John sensed that the property could hold even more.
It turns out, the Bethesda board of directors had been envisioning a new future for the home as well. Early conversations about rebuilding were already taking shape, not because the house was falling apart, but because Bethesda has long believed that people are created to live in spaces that help them thrive. For us, that belief is rooted in how God sees people, with value, dignity, and delight. And when God delights in us, His image-bearers, we believe it’s right to reflect that same delight in tangible ways toward others.
In the meantime, John got to work meeting and getting to know his staff team and the people living in the home: Henry, Herman, Cathy and Oliver. John is warm, quick-witted, and naturally relational. His bond with Oliver, especially through their shared love of woodworking, became one of the joys of life in the home. “We’ve always got a project on the go,” John laughs. “And if we’re not, Oliver will make sure we find one.”
In 2021, the board approved the rebuild of a new Surrey Home, located on the property in front of the existing home. John, the staff team and the people living in the home couldn’t have been more excited. They just didn’t foresee it would take another five years for the city to issue the permit. After a few false starts and disappointments, it’s finally come together. The long wait is behind them, shovels are in the ground and construction has begun.
A Home Shaped for Life Together
Today, years of planning have taken shape in the detailed blueprints spread across the coffee table. The renderings show a west‑coast modern home, filled with natural light and designed to fit in with the changing neighbourhood. Cathy, Herman, and Oliver lean in as John walks them through the plans: three levels connected by an elevator, two large suites on the main floor, three bedrooms upstairs, wide hallways, accessible bathrooms, and plenty of natural light. Looking at them, he smiles and says, “It’s gonna be beautiful. It’s gonna be a nice house.”
The back exterior will feature a large, covered deck perfect for gatherings, and a south‑facing front patio will have ample room for rocking chairs—perfect for people‑watching—which Cathy approves of enthusiastically.
These features aren’t just practical. They say something deeper: You are valued. Your life matters. We want you to thrive here.
For Henry, the new home will be especially meaningful. Stairs have kept him limited to his suite in the lower floor of the current house. In the new home, he’ll be able to move freely and rejoin the daily rhythm of shared life. “It’s going to change his world,” John says. “He’ll be part of everything again.”
And when the group talks about the backyard workshop, Oliver becomes animated. “It’s gonna be nice,” he affirms. The new shop will be fully equipped — a place he can work safely and confidently, grow his skills, and take pride in what he creates.
Breaking Ground on a Hope Filled Future
Staff, board members, families, and leaders gathered to witness this special moment. John led the ceremony, in turn introducing Tori Dalair (CEO), Paula Tolton (Director of Services), Walter Nordeman (Chief Assets and Development Officer). Tori Dalair, shared her gratitude — for the grace that has guided the project, for the board members who envisioned this future, for Walter’s steady leadership, and for the families who have partnered with us all along so faithfully, loving and supporting their loved ones alongside our staff. Paula thanked everyone present for sharing in the special occasion and reaffirmed the ideals and values for which the new home will stand. It will “provide them with a new living environment that will not only meet their care needs, their personal goals and their aspirations, but will also offer them the amenities that will allow them to gracefully age in place.”
John, manager of Surrey Home, welcomes members of the Bethesda community to the groundbreaking of the Surrey Home rebuild project.
And then Herman, Cathy, Oliver and Henry stepped forward, gripped a shovel, and turned over the first scoops of earth. It was simple, but profound: a visible sign of the hope, care, and intentionality behind the project.
The ground‑breaking wasn’t just about construction. It was a celebration of dignity, belonging, and the commitment to build spaces where people can flourish — and a reminder that when we delight in others’ thriving, we mirror the intent of the One who delights in us all.
As the Surrey Home takes shape, we invite you to pray for Henry, Herman, Cathy, Oliver, John, and the entire staff team as they prepare for this new chapter. May God continue to bless the people who live and work there, and may this new home be filled with joy, belonging, and countless opportunities to flourish.
