Five years in the making, Veiner Centre ready to go

By Gillian Slade on July 7, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

After a long sleep, the Veiner Centre awakens looking better than ever before.

An official celebration and grand re-opening takes place July 24 from 2:30-4:30 p.m., with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by self-guided tours and refreshments.

The first full day of operations at the Veiner Centre (seniors’ centre) will be July 25. In preparation for the transition, Strathcona Centre will close from July 16.

Five years ago, the Veiner Centre on Woodman Avenue was so damaged by flood that it stood empty since. Debate ensued about whether it could be refurbished or if a new building should be constructed at a different location.

In February 2016, council approved a budget of $11.6 million for a refurbishment and expansion of the Veiner Centre, and in the spring of 2017 work commenced. There was another $350,000 in the capital budget for planning and design, bringing the grand total to $11.95 million.

New hours of service and fees, established after consultation with the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee and the clubs that use the Veiner and Strathcona facilities, come into effect July 24, with existing memberships honoured until they expire.

A regular membership will be $100 annually. A fitness membership will be $200 annually plus a fitness centre access card one-time fee of $10 (refundable upon return of the card). A personal fitness program design will cost $50, and a full fitness assessment $100.

Currently the cost of a membership is $40 a year. If you want to access the fitness centre and/or play billiards the cost is $150 a year, according to the city’s website.

The new hours of operation at the Veiner Centre are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and on Sundays noon to 4 p.m.

Since the summer of 2013 seniors have congregated at the nearby Strathcona Centre. With the Veiner Centre reopening, the Strathcona Centre will be used for physically active programming, including a fitness room.

“We know our seniors community is excited to get into the new space,” said Howard Snodgrass, general manager of community development. “The building renovation and construction provides for flexible, multi-use space, which will allow us to maximize opportunities for programming and services at the Veiner and Strathcona Centres for existing and future generations.”

The Strathcona Centre will close July 16 to finalize the transition to the Veiner Centre, and then remain closed until construction improvements are complete on that building. During this period, club activities will be accommodated in other facilities, and the Fitness Centre at Crestwood will remain open.

When renovations are complete at Strathcona Centre, the cost of which are part of the $11.95 million, it will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursday it will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.

Facilities at the Veiner Centre include: multi-purpose rooms for cards and table games, games rooms for darts, shuffle board and billiards, a crafts room, club, dining room, commercial kitchen, club storage area and meeting rooms.

At Strathcona Centre there will be exercise classes, dancing, table tennis, pickle ball, floor curling, bocci, 50+ club and indoor lawn bowling.

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