Gordon Nott, board chair of the Medicine Hat Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Foundation, poses for a photo in the Medicine Hat College Cultural Centre on Monday.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
An offshoot association of the now defunct Medicine Hat Senior Citizens Advisory Committee is looking for more members and support as members work to enhance the lives of seniors in Medicine Hat.
The committee was initially formed in 2002 and was focused on providing financial backing for the Veiner Centre.
After the city dissolved the committee, the Medicine Hat Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Foundation founded as a nonprofit in 2021 to raise funds to improve the quality of life for local seniors.
“Way back when, we provided all the funding for the fitness equipment in the Veiner Centre,” says board chair Gordon Nott. “We have provided financial assistance to the senior men’s slow pitch and to seniors pickleball. Numerous projects like that.”
A major source of the foundation’s funding comes from doing volunteer-run casinos at the Medicine Hat College Cultural Centre. Those funds are used to support capital projects and actives for local seniors organization, like purchasing a computer for the bridge club or music for the seniors choir.
“It might sound like small stuff,” says Nott. “But it’s a way of giving some help to senior activities and organizations.”
Nott says seniors are more busy and active today than in the past.
“Demographics of seniors are changing. Seniors in today’s world are very busy and active, and so their needs are changing,” explains Nott. “There’s going to be great opportunities for us to help out funding wise.”
However, board members say they are having difficulties drumming up interest from the community to help bring those opportunities to fruition.
Nott is hopeful the foundation can attract some new faces to the upcoming annual general meeting, as well as volunteers to sit on the board.
“We are just passionate about what seniors are doing,” says Nott. “And if we can help out in some small way then we’d love to do that. But they have to know that we do exist and we’ve got something to offer them.”
In particular, Nott is interested in welcoming individuals who have just recently entered their senior years. He says the foundation can benefit from new ideas for future funding ventures.
“In bringing new people to the scene, they’re bringing new ideas also,” says Nott. “Anybody that’s at all interested, get a hold of me.”
The Medicine Hat Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Foundation is hosting its AGM on March 26 at 2 p.m. in the craft room at the Veiner Centre. Anyone interested in applying to be a board member has to March 20 to complete an application.
“We want to get out there and spread our wings, if you like, to help as many seniors enjoy the great benefits of life,” says Nott.
For more information contact Nott at 403-504-8533.
