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Bequest from Bolhuis estate building bridges in Ladner Harbour

A project more than a decade in the making will finally be completed thanks to the generosity of a beloved Ladnerite.

A project more than a decade in the making will finally be completed thanks to the generosity of a beloved Ladnerite.

More than $600,000 has been bequest to the City of Delta from the estate of Shirley Ann Bolhuis to complete the footpath around Ladner Harbour lagoon and a pair of pedestrian bridges.

The trail and metal bridges will be wheelchair accessible and a plaque will be erected to recognize her gift to the people of Ladner.

Bolhuis, formerly of Westminster Avenue, passed away in 2004.

In addition to the lagoon works, which are estimated to cost $400,000, there will also be a wheelchair accessible plaza created in Lions Park at the edge of Chilukthan Slough adjacent to the bridge on Westminster Avenue. This is estimated to cost $80,000.

The Lions Park plaza will be dedicated to the memory of Shirley's late brother “Big John” Bolhuis who passed away in 2017. A plaque will also be erected to recognize “Big John.”

“Friends used to push Shirley in her wheelchair from her home over to the lagoon and around the lagoon, which was back in the day when both of the bridges existed,” said friend and executor of the estate Les Blaney.

“She absolutely loved that trip. Her will stipulated that her brother John would stay in the original family home, but there were no other assets besides the family home, so when John passed away, I worked with two of the other trustees who live in Richmond and came up with the idea on how we wanted these funds to be utilized. I then approached the City of Delta.”

Blaney said the projects would have made Shirley proud.

“We wanted something in Ladner and I thought what better place than right on the corner of Westminster Avenue, a block from the family home, near Lions Park and the slough to have this plaza and for people to access views of the river,” Blaney said.

“The other two trustees absolutely agreed because the bequest is being kept in the community and many people will now enjoy this area. This was very important to Shirley that a project would be completed to improve the life of others in wheelchairs.”

The project has been on the City of Delta’s books since 2009 when the province decommissioned the western pedestrian bridge due to its poor condition. The bridge removal limited trail use and despite Delta’s requests, the province was not prepared to reinstate the western bridge, citing that funding was unavailable.

In 2014, Delta entered into a licence of occupation with the province for the lagoon for the purpose of maintenance of the trail, including the remaining eastern pedestrian bridge.

Initial efforts for the replacement of the western bridge included work in association with the Kiwanis Club of Ladner/Tsawwassen, but the club has since disbanded and other service clubs are pursuing other initiatives.

In 2017, Delta engaged a consultant to design and estimate costs to replace the western bridge.

With the bequest approved, parks and recreation director Ken Kuntz said the tender process will begin immediately in the hopes of starting construction as soon as possible.

By way of motion, Delta council has asked staff to contact the province to extend the license of occupation to 20 years.

“If we are investing on behalf of this great citizen and her family almost $500,000, then we should get a longer time on our investment,” said Mayor George Harvie.