Local organizations band together for seniors

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

A lack of organization, collaboration, and scheduling, concerning last year’s Senior’s Week, were active motivators behind the decision of a handful of organizations to work together and create an exciting program-packed, fun-filled week for seniors this year. As a result, seniors will have the opportunity to take part in twice as many programs as before.
Rather than compete with other local groups for space and dates, numerous organizations in Strathmore formed a committee to reach the same goal – celebrating seniors.
Unlike last year, where the plans had to come together quickly, the committee has been hard at work for the past three months, ensuring this year’s event will be even bigger and more successful than before.
“It was kind of thrown on our laps last year, and we had a lot of overlap of too many things going on on a certain day,” said Dahrlyne Knaus, FCSS Programmer, who realized organizing meetings and spreading out the activities would prove more beneficial to seniors.
“I found it a very easy group to work with, because we all had the same common goal. So it was very easy to juggle things. Because we realized last year we didn’t spread it out as much as we wanted to, we all knew that going in and that was our goal. Everybody pitched in and did their part, and it was a very easy collaboration this year.”
Starting on June 1, seniors will have a chance to partake in 20 different programs including a free yoga class, pancake breakfast, and cribbage tournament. The Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games was also approached and will be teaching seniors how to play shuffleboard and bocce ball.
Furthermore, seniors will have the opportunity to learn how to protect themselves against scams, shred confidential documents, and leave their handprint on the generations banner.
Partnering on the project, Hope Bridges and the Strathmore Regional Arts Collective (SRAC) are encouraging families to come out and leave their mark on the banner, that will then be displayed at various downtown locations throughout the week.
“With different colours we are creating generation trees with our handprints,” said Wanda Reinholdt, Hope Bridges Coordinator and vice-chair of SRAC. “Seniors make up a part of the target population that we want to reach. They have families and contacts as well that they can bring. Our involvement is creating this banner so we encourage seniors to bring out their families.”
The art project is one of several anticipated highlights, and is featured for the first time this year. According to Carmen Erison, assistant director to library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library, the collaboration allowed for better advertising, organization, and an increase in programs.
While at least 12 organizations were instrumental in bringing Senior’s Week to fruition, members from Alberta Health Services, Bridging the Gap, Happy Gang, FCSS, Strathmore Municipal Li-brary, Hope Bridges, and Growing Families were active on the committee.
“We always knew that several different organizations wanted to do something to celebrate this week,” said Erison. “There’s a lot of us that are doing programs, and that’s when we thought in-stead of us stepping over each other, fight for space, and everybody having their programs run at the same time, let’s form a committee so we can work together to make the week as great as it can be.”
Senior’s Week runs from June 1-7.