Senior Citizens Association Branch 49 hosted an open house on September 28 in recognition of National Seniors Day on October 1.
For those attending, there was entertainment, demonstrations and information booths, along with a display of vintage cars on the lawn outside of Cranberry Seniors Centre.
At the open house, seniors association president Carol Hamilton said the event was a chance for people to come and experience what the association has to offer, including its year-round activities and programs. She said it was also an opportunity to attract new members and volunteers, which are always needed.
Hamilton said the open house had been in the planning stages for about three months. This has been an annual event for the past three years.
Those assembled in the large Cranberry Seniors Centre hall were able to listen to choral performances from the Malaspina Ensemble and Viva Voce. Hamilton said the ensemble also comes out and performs for the senior citizens association branch dinners.
“We have a dinner on the last Friday of the month and we usually have 70 to 90 people attend,” said Hamilton. “Then, on the third Tuesday of every month we have our seniors together luncheon, which is sponsored by the city. Those attending registered at the Powell River Recreation Complex and the city then organized a speaker of some interest to seniors.
“Our mandate is better living for all seniors in Powell River and the region. The more seniors we have, the more we can do.”
Currently, the seniors centre has three or four different card games each week, plus carpet bowing, tai chi and the SIT class, or seniors in training.
“That’s a really nice, relaxed group that participates in a semi-yoga stretch class,” said Hamilton. “That happens every Friday.”
The seniors centre also coordinates the frozen meal program, which is important for qathet region seniors who are in need, according to Hamilton; she coordinates the program. She said a group of active volunteers help assure success of the program.
“When you go out and do the deliveries, you can really understand the need for the program,” said Hamilton. “You see it firsthand. They may be seniors who can’t stand at the stove or have other issues, but they still want to stay in their homes. Or, maybe it is a senior who has just had an operation and needs temporary help with meals.
“We’ve been doing this for years. It was started by Gene Jameson when meals on wheels shut down. She did it from her home, which was more convenient for her. We’re now putting out more than 100 meals each day we operate the program and it’s getting more difficult to keep up. We are keeping meals affordable – we charge $6 a meal. Others have to charge more because they have to pay for staff and overhead, so it is totally understandable.”
One of the perceptions Hamilton wanted to dispel is that the senior citizens association is an organization for people older than 65.
“You can join at 19 if you want,” said Hamilton. “You just have to be 50 to have a vote.”
People interested in finding out more about the senior citizens association can go online at powellriverseniors.ca. Hamilton said all the association’s activities are listed there, as well as the frozen meal menu.
“There’s pretty much all the information you need there,” added Hamilton.
For those who prefer to use the telephone to find out more information, the phone number is 604.414.9456.
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