Sophie Demers
Published in the Pontiac Journal on January 28, 2026.
SHAWVILLE – The Shawville Apartments Inc, a non-profit organization with the goal of providing affordable housing in the converted school located at 200 Victoria Avenue, has officially raised enough funds to repair and restore their elevator.
This achievement is the first step in the organization’s larger goal to revitalize the Shawville Apartments to create welcoming and accessible space for residents.
“The elevator repair is extremely important to our tenants’ mobility, independence, and safety. When operational, they will use it for their daily activities such as getting to appointments, getting groceries, and going to social events,” said Lyssa McDonald, the President of the Board of Directors for Shawville Apartments Inc.
The organization has been raising money through their GoFundMe page, community, donations, as well as draws on their social media. So far, they’ve raised a total of nearly $31,000. McDonald says that the work is made possible by the community. André Fortin’s office, Benefaction, and the Rotary Club have made generous donations to the project as well as many others in the community who have donated money, time, or resources.
The building has seen little in the way of repairs or modernization. As an affordable housing project, the rental income covers the buildings’ basic operating costs but is not enough to cover upgrades. “Shawville Apartments Inc. is proud to be a long-standing part of our community as a school and now apartments and a steward of a historic building that has provided affordable housing for generations. Today, the apartment building provides a home & affordable living to 13 residents in the heart of Shawville and will continue to do so as long as it can,” said McDonald.
There is still more work to be done; the non-profit’s goal is to raise $500,000 for other essential renovations. These renovations include the hot water tank replacement, accessibility ramp reconstruction, flooring and carpet replacements, adding accessible and secure doors, foundation repairs, window replacements, and apartment upgrades. “While we have worked with local contractors and relied on limited surplus funds, local and government donations, the growing needs of the building require broader community support, which is why we are reaching out through GoFundMe to protect this historic property and support our tenants,” said the board President, emphasizing the importance of supporting local residents with safe and stable housing.
Individuals wanting to contribute to the Shawville Apartments renovation project can do so through their GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-preserve-shawville-apartments-inc
