But Anne Pearson and George Fox are pleased with how far they’ve come since the goal of building a precedent-setting new home for intellectually challenged adults who depend on their parents was announced in 2008. The long-term needs of their children, when the parents can no longer care for them, are coming into clearer focus.

“We were nowhere two years ago, and now we’re on the move,” Fox said.

Now a non-profit corporation, Dundas Living Centre has acquired land in front of St. Mark’s United Church at Governor’s Road and Creighton Drive; developed an extensive business plan; developed a site plan; met with local federal and provincial politicians; had discussions with planners and social housing experts; started a website; and developed a glossy package of information to share with potential donors.

The group’s first public fundraising event was a dance and silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Lions Memorial Hall on Market Street in Dundas.

That event raised close to $17,000 – far from the millions still needed, but Pearson and Fox said the benefits of the first public event go far beyond those early dollars.

Site plan drawings and information packages were available for the 340 people who attended.

“People finally had a visual. That was a big plus for a lot of people,” Pearson said.

And several of the future tenants of the Dundas Living Centre, many of whom participate at the Dundas Learning Centre on Baldwin Street in Dundas, the same intellectually challenged adults whose aging parents want to see their future home in place soon, actually attended the event. Prospective donors and supporters got a chance to meet them.

“(They) saw future residents having fun,” Fox said. “They were up dancing and having a ball. Several people commented on that to us. That’s important.”

Pearson said those future residents are already excited about the home they are playing a part in developing, where they will live with people they know in a community they are comfortable, and just down the street from the Dundas Learning Centre.

Pearson said they are already talking about interior colours, and picking up countertop samples from Home Depot.

Some of the bigger items donated by local businesses for the silent auction will make up the second planned public fundraising event. The board is applying for a lottery license

in order to sell raffle tickets.

Pursuit of government funding and local donations will continue. Fox said the project can be shovel-ready by March.

“We’re following all leads,” Pearson said. “We need to know our children are taken care of. It’s important to parents their children are not just placed somewhere. We’re being proactive, not reactive, so when the inevitable happens they’re already established.”

Much more information can be found at the website www.dundaslivingcentre.ca or by calling Anne Pearson at 905-627-2678.