NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE Betty Morin and Donna Steele take a look at one of the feedback boards at the seniors consultation that took place at the Veiner Centre on Thursday afternoon.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Many seniors at a city consultation on Thursday said it was more than just the building that has changed since the 2013 flood.
“Previously the Veiner Centre was better. Now it’s all bureaucracy. The city has killed this place. They’ve priced themselves out,” said Melvin Oerlemans, who has been a member for 20 years.
“It’s not surprising it’s not working without a manager,” said Paul Nederveen, noting the model before the flood worked well.
The format used to solicit feedback through a series of boards that posed questions. People could place a “dot” indicating how strongly they felt or add sticky notes with further comments.
Betty Morin and Donna Steele think the membership fee increase, from $40 to $100 without the use of exercise equipment, was too much.
Steele suggests calling the members from before the flood and asking why they are no longer members. She also believes asking people about $175 for an exercise workshop plus a membership without even knowing if they would like the class, is not working. She wonders if perhaps members could be given a couple of one-day passes that can be handed to friends to try it out.
“I keep hoping it will be different – that somebody will actually listen,” said Steele.
John Beaven considers the consultation process moot and believes a decision has already been made.
“I think it is a push to go private – take it off city books,” said Beaven.
Oerlemans, first vice president of Redcliff Seniors Centre, thinks that may be a good idea.
“We run the centre. We took it over from the town of Redcliff,” he said.
The membership fee is $15 a year. They have events to generate operating revenue.
Sue Higgins remembers nostalgically the days when the Veiner Centre arranged coach day trips and held “Wheels to Meals” bringing more than 100 seniors to the centre for lunch.
Another public consultation will take place on Tuesday at Medicine Hat Public Library from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
City staff will evaluate feedback and explore alternative operating models before making a recommendation to council in the spring.
