Santa's Angels hopes to buy $2.2-million property in Alexandra, P.E.I.

ALEXANDRA, P.E.I. — The co-founder of the charity group Santa’s Angels has big plans for the Serene View Ranch in Alexandra. Kenny Zakem needs to fundraise $2.2 million this summer to buy the 125-acre property. The idea is to make it the permanent home of Santa’s Angels and open it up as a retreat for [...]

ALEXANDRA, P.E.I. — The co-founder of the charity group Santa’s Angels has big plans for the Serene View Ranch in Alexandra. Kenny Zakem needs to fundraise $2.2 million this summer to buy the 125-acre property. Previous experience Zakem, a religious man, has been looking for a better location for the organization after operating the charity out of the food court at the Royalty Crossing mall in Charlottetown.

He recruited France Young as a volunteer for the organization and discovered she had vast experience working with people with mental health and addiction issues. Young is a former outreach counsellor and youth case manager. “That’s when God told me Fran was going to help me with my dream to get this whole place together, help get people off the streets,” Zakem said in an interview July 8 at the ranch.

Young bought in to Zakem’s dream. The pair then recruited Gregg McCardle, a licensed addiction counsellor. “We’re just trying to tackle a problem that’s out there.

We have to do it.” ‘The perfect place’ The main building at the Serene View Ranch is 7,000 square feet with a large warehouse. If Santa’s Angels is successful in purchasing the property, the idea is to put a concrete floor down in the arena which was used for horse therapy.

The arena features three large bay doors and would be used to store toys. “We needed a bigger place (for Santa’s Angels) and this is just the perfect place for that. It’s everything we want to do here.

Because I am also a chef, I want to (also) build a restaurant and bakery.” Young, who would serve Angel’s Crossing as the executive director of housing, mental health and programming, said she has spent more than a year doing research, making sure that Angel’s Crossing did not duplicate what is already being done in addictions and mental health. “There are so many great organizations but we’re still seeing increases in homelessness, increases in addictions and more challenges for youth,” Young said.

Young said Serene View Ranch has built-in infrastructure, so nothing has to be built. “If we are able to acquire it, we’ve got the rooms and the counselling spaces,” Young said, adding that people could spend up to a year or two at the ranch. Young said the property also features a relaxing labyrinth walking trail.

About Santa’s Angels - Santa’s Angels started in 2004 by Father Stephen Allen, Kenny Zakem and Don Wright. - The three found themselves with a handful of leftover toys from past donations. - They set out on Christmas morning in 2004 with a sleigh to play Santa and distribute gifts in Charlottetown.

- That went so well, Santa’s Angels became a tradition and now involves hundreds of volunteers. - In 2025, Santa’s Angels helped more than 900 families across the entire province. Addictions and mental health After meeting with community partners and agencies, Young saw a gap that Angel’s Crossing could cover – working with the 16 to 30 demographic, such as those aging out of foster care or the province’s Strength program, which offers a range of programming (residential and day treatment) and supports for youth 15-24 years of age who require more intensive support for substance misuse and mental health issues.

McCardle, who would serve as director of addiction and peer support at Angel’s Crossing, said there is a real need to take care of the 16-30 age gap. “The group homes and foster care are not developing skills, so when they age out of that, they have nowhere to go,” McCardle said. “They can’t just go out and get a job or get an apartment.

They haven’t got any (job) skills.” McCardle said Angel’s Crossing would change that. “We will teach them employment skills, be it carpentry, gardening, landscaping, cooking, serving (or) prep work for food, get them their certificate for food handling (and) get them apprenticeships through the P.E.I. Construction Association to become carpenters or contractors and so on,” McCardle said.

“We also need to give them the tools they need mentally to deal with any mental challenges that may come up (such as) depression ... so that they are better equipped to manage the pressures of society ... and if there is an addiction to drugs or alcohol then we can give them the tools to manage cravings, to live a clean and healthy life and keep them off the streets.” McCardle said statistics show that one in 10 Canadian hospital beds are the direct result of substance use so the Angel’s Crossing model is one that will save government money.

Community partners Holland College and UPEI are on board as are a variety of businesses, none of whom Young wants to identify yet. Governments and local businesses have so far pledged support, although Zakem, Young or McCardle will not say how much money has been raised. Zakem said he figures it would cost an additional $3 million to build a restaurant and bakery on top of the property cost.

There have also been two community meetings and the group says most nearby residents are in favour of the concept. Zakem has a conditional sale for the property meaning he has exclusive rights to negotiate up until July 31 and thinks they will be able to extend the deadline. Zakem said their program will also utilize veterans, seniors and the Indigenous community.

He said members of the P.E.I. Women’s Institute could come in and teach pickling and it could be sold in the restaurant. “People won’t want to leave here,” Zakem said. Rural property McCardle said choosing a property in rural P.E.I. was on purpose.

“I believe in not being in an urban centre for a model like this,” McCardle said, explaining that he once worked on a 45-acre farm just outside Toronto that was very therapeutic and the success rate was “phenomenal. Being in a rural environment is much better and alleviates the temptation and negative influences.” McCardle stresses people will not be using needles at Angel’s Crossing and there will be around-the-clock supervision.

“This (could be) a healthy alternative for people struggling,” Young said.