The Veiner Centre in Medicine Hat has been closed to members and the general public since mid-March, though Mayor Ted Clugston has said an announcement about reopening the seniors facility could be coming this week.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A reopening plan for seniors services at the Veiner Centre could be announced this week, according to Mayor Ted Clugston, as members say they’re ready to return.
The facility was closed along with all city’s public buildings in late March to comply with provincial health orders to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Since then however, most recreation and cultural facilities have reopened, including some in June.
The Veiner Centre, which operates for members who are older than 50, has remained closed to the public while groups have begun to question the timeline.
Clugston said during a radio interview on Wednesday that more information could be coming this week.
“Our goal is to get the Veiner Centre back open,” he told reporters after council’s Oct. 19 meeting.
“I do believe that COVID is very serious for older people … so we have to be very, very, very careful.
“It’s our most vulnerable population, but it won’t be closed permanently; we just built it.”
The city’s community development department also operates Meals on Wheels food preparation and deliveries out of the location.
That program as well caters in part to seniors, and general membership requirements in to be older than 50.
“Staging a reopening is the safer option,” said Michelle Winger, a member who takes part in art groups, plays bridge and has also taken line-dancing lessons at the centre.
She feels that activities such as art, quilting and other programs with little interaction or lower physical exertion could be managed safely and spaced out.
“People in the 50-plus category are at risk of having problems with isolation and that’s only gotten worse with COVID,” said Winger.
Several groups have organized to press the city for answers about timelines for the reopening. Winger said she was encouraged to hear that might be made public soon.
