Medicine Hat seniors enjoy a barbecue lunch at the Venier Centre's bistro Tuesday as part of Seniors' Week festivities.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Veiner Centre staff are excited to celebrate community members aged 50 plus throughout Seniors’ Week, which runs from June 6-12.
Beginning in 1986, Seniors’ Week aims to recognize seniors and their contributions to communities across Alberta.
“In a community which has approximately 12,000 seniors, it becomes really important we are focusing that a larger portion of our population, to make sure they know how much they’re appreciated,” Veiner Centre director Cori Fischer told the News. “I think, quite often, we forget just how much our seniors are giving back to the community.
“I think what we’re really trying to do is to make sure they know we are thankful for them.”
Fischer and her staff have several special events planned throughout the week for seniors to enjoy.
The festivities kicked off Monday, as the centre partnered with Redcliff Bakery to launch a limited-edition, Veiner Centre-themed sugar cookie. The cookies will be available at the centre throughout the week, with $1 from every cookie sale going back into the centre’s programming.
Tuesday’s events showcased what the Veiner Centre is all about, as individuals across Medicine Hat came together to take part in wellness activities and a $5 community barbecue, sponsored by Alberta Health Services.
“Tuesday is really exciting,” said Fischer. “As we are putting on the Spring Into Action resource fair, and we’re focusing on staying active.
“We have a generation of seniors coming in and fitness and health are really important to them. So, this is an opportunity for us to have a variety of individuals and resources come into the Veiner Centre, to showcase all kinds of different activities (which promote wellness).”
Physical, social and emotional wellness continues to be a theme throughout the week, as seniors are invited to take part in a Wednesday morning fitness class; listen in on a Thursday night live music session, while enjoying an $8 community supper and Medicine Hat Brewing Company beer tasting; join in a Friday afternoon healthy-eating class; among others.
Larry Mathieson, CEO of the Kerby Centre – which oversees Veiner Centre operations – was excited to be at Veiner Centre on Tuesday and hear from a few of the centre’s 950 members.
“Our centres are all about keeping that wellness, that activity level and that connection to the community,” Mathieson said. “There’s a lot of things going on at the Veiner Centre and we want to welcome people out to celebrate that.”
Not only does Mathieson hope to celebrate the centre’s members and programming, he, and other Veiner Centre staff also hope to recognize centre volunteers, many of whom are seniors.
“We have approximately 100 volunteers here at the Veiner Centre, and the majority of them are seniors,” said Fischer. “They’re looking to give back in any way they can. So, I think it’s really important we do give them the time and say, ‘Hey, you’re amazing.’
“We just want our community to come down and enjoy time with us at the Veiner Centre.”
For more information about the centre, its programming or upcoming Seniors’ Week events, call 409-529-8307.
