An update on Carly's house

Posted by Morgan Carey

Updated on December 6th, 2025

We're making progress on Carly's House!

Our first project - Exterior Upgrade.

Here is a side-by-side of the current house and the proposed updated house 

What you'll see above is a potential vision for the exterior upgrade of Carly's House. What we want for our patients is for them to pull up to the house and see a beautiful, warm, and welcoming environment. They're going through a lot, and making sure they feel like they have a special place to come to and rest is critically important.

But this upgrade is not just about aesthetics. It is about patient health, safety, and dignity.

Protection for Vulnerable Guests: Many of our residents will be immunocompromised — sealing drafts, replacing aging materials, and tightening the structure reduces exposure to pollutants, allergens, and moisture that can make people sicker.

Temperature Control: Temperature control isn’t cosmetic — it is comfort medicine. With proper insulation and sealed windows, our HVAC systems can maintain consistent warmth without cold spots or drafts, helping people whose bodies are already fighting hard.

Healthy Air Quality: Modern air purification only works when the house keeps contaminants out. The exterior envelope and the HVAC system function as one — one is ineffective without the other.

Sustainability & Efficiency: A tighter envelope reduces heat loss, lowers energy costs, and keeps equipment running efficiently, allowing us to support families for years, not just months.

Long-Term Durability: Upgrading siding, roofing, drainage, and window systems means fewer failures, fewer disruptions, and a safer long-term environment for the people we serve.

Emotional Wellbeing: Feeling safe, protected, and genuinely cared for is deeply therapeutic. When someone battling illness steps into a space that feels like sanctuary, their nervous system responds — and that matters.

Prepared for Medical-Grade Purification: HEPA filtration, fresh-air exchange, and advanced air scrubbing require a sealed exterior in order to function properly — this is how we protect patient lungs and immune systems.

Dignity & Message of Care: This transformation says: you deserve excellence. Not “good enough,” not donated leftovers — but a home built intentionally for comfort, recovery, and dignity.

The takeaway: Yes, it will be beautiful. But the beauty is not the goal — it is the result of creating a space that keeps people warm, safe, healthy, and respected.

Donors and Partners

This project is not possible without the help of some amazing donors and partners. We already have some AMAZING offers to help from some truly amazing people, but we still need your help to make this happen.

What do we need? Funding, donated equipment, & Labour. 

The initial round of planned upgrades (both inside and out) will be between $300,000-$400,000

We're planning on getting this cost down as much as possible by asking our local vendor partners if they can help. 

Here are some great examples: We're building a dream team!

Barney Ellis-Perry: CEO of the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation and a dear friend to Carly and I.. Barney is helping us with the fundraising side of the equation and has also been invaluable in advising us on how to pull off such an ambitious project. We're also working towards having the NHF as a full sponsor/partner in Carly's house, assisting us with ongoing running, maintenance, funding, and operations. We could not do this without them. Very soon, we'll be able to start accepting donations directly to NHF. 

Donna Hais, Bob Wall Contracting: Whatever you need, I'm there (no charge), she said. Having Donna help us with the planning and contracting goes a long way towards efficiency, cost savings, and of course, ensures the highest quality renovations. She's the best in the business.  

Brett Lamontagne: He's my long-time friend and landscaper. He's offered to do much of the landscaping work for free. He's a class act and does great work. 

Malcolm Rush / Dave Rush, Norms Plumbing: Have offered to donate some plumbing and heating services. I've known Dave for decades, and use Norm's as often as I can. They are a great plumbing partner and wonderful people. 

Susan Shultz:  Owner of IamMillwork, has offered her excellent woodworking/millwork services for the bathroom renovations. I used Susan's company at the REW Building at 223 Commercial Street and her work has stood the test of time. She is also an AspenGrove parent (Ariyah's school prior to UVIC). 

How You Can Help Make Carly’s House a Reality

To provide a safe, warm, dignified space for patients and families, we are seeking both financial support and in-kind donations of materials and skilled labor.
If you or your company can assist in any of the areas below, we would love to connect with you.

Exterior Needs

• Skilled labor for any portion of the exterior renovation
• Window supply and installation
• Siding supply and installation
• Roofing materials and installation
• Exterior lighting and electrical
• Landscaping and grounds improvement
• Exterior doors, decks, railings, accessibility features, and any other surface or structural upgrades

Interior Needs

• Flooring materials and installation
• Painting and finishing services
• Carpentry services (trim, cabinetry, repairs, framing, etc.)
• Appliances (kitchen, laundry, small appliances where needed)
• Furniture suitable for patient and family comfort
• Lighting fixtures, switch gear, electrical supplies
• Plumbing fixtures and related materials
• Home comfort systems (HVAC units, heat pumps, thermostats)
• Décor, bedding, linens, and household essentials

Financial Donations

If you are not able to contribute materials or labor, financial support is deeply impactful — it allows us to fill gaps, purchase remaining supplies, and keep construction moving forward.

We are operating Carly’s House as 100% not-for-profit. However, the paperwork and filings required for charitable status will take some time.

If you do not require a tax receipt, you can contribute funds directly by reaching out to me.

If you do require a receipt, I am able to provide consulting services and invoice you for whatever amount you wish to support (so that your business can donate and get a write-off). My time is fully donated to this project, which means 100% of consulting fees received go directly to Carly’s House.

In time, we will also be able to issue tax receipts through the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation — but we need support now to keep construction moving.

So if you don’t require a receipt, or if you could use my consulting services, please reach out — your support will be gratefully received and immediately put to work.