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Friday, June 15, 2012


SOUTHSIDE SENIORS’ CENTRE BURSTING AT SEAMS

  BY HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

  MCLAUGHLIN.HEATHER@DAILYGLEANER.COM

  15 JUNE 2012
Fredericton’s southside senior citizens’ group says it’s getting pressed for space as an aging population increases demand for its programs.

Madeline Gaudet, a board member of the Stepping Stone Senior Centre, presented the group’s five-year plan to the city’s community services committee Wednesday.

The plan urges the city — which owns the Saunders Street building that the seniors use — to work co-operatively to find a bigger, newer facility, or at the least work with seniors to source satellite locations where they can hold their activities and fundraisers.

Mayor Brad Woodside said it shouldn’t come as a surprise that demands are growing among an aging population.

“The city should adjust to this because this is a matter that’s been so predictable for so many years,” he said. “Right now, the largest demographic in the country, if not in North America, is the baby boomers, which are going to require more health services, more housing, all of those things.

“We have a group of seniors who are very committed to wellness, and that’s a good thing. I think that our two facilities have been so popular with the increase of the demographic that they’re getting cramped for space. It’s very smart that council look at the future of these facilities and how we can best provide for the seniors who are such a large group in the city right now.”

Seniors are also organized on the north side of Fredericton at the Johnston Avenue Seniors Centre.

“I think this is something that has the ear of council,” Woodside said. “They’re letting us know they’re running out of space, but they’re not running out of seniors.”

The mayor said knowing that seniors’ concerns will be on the rise, he has formed a new advisory committee specifically to hear concerns and issues facing senior citizens.

“It will keep us on top of any of the issues that could come up in the foreseeable future,” Woodside said.

Provision of good services for seniors can enhance Fredericton as a retirement destination for many retirees.

Gaudet said in 2011, the Stepping Stone centre had 20,000 visitor sign-ins for the 50-plus crowd who are welcome to participate in events.

The seniors’ club has more than 500 members who pay a modest $20 annual fee.

Gaudet said the Stepping Stone centre needs to find more space, figure out ways to prevent volunteer burnout and source better public transit options for its members and visitors.

There’s a demand for evening and weekend programs, but the group is strapped by a lack of funds to pay for staff, although the group does fund the salary of a full-time co-ordinator.

“We’ve expanded our programs, memberships and activities to the point where some of the programs are at capacity while others are on the risk of exceeding capacity,” Gaudet said. “Space limitations is the key barrier right now.”

The cost of renting other facilities hasn’t been feasible, but Gaudet said the seniors are open to talking about satellite locations to offer services or hold fundraising events.

“A vibrant seniors’ centre is going to enhance the city’s ability to attract retirees to the city,” Gaudet said.

Gaudet said they’re open to the idea of a multi-generational facility to find new funding sources to expand.

Coun. Mike O’Brien, chairman of the community services committee, said he appreciates the co-operative, supportive tone of the group’s requests.

“They’re certainly reasonable requests and expectations and demands, so keep pushing us,” O’Brien said.

The Fredericton Task Force on Seniors in 1996 recommended that there be a southside seniors centre. In 2001, the city offered a small room in its recreational building at Wilmot Park on Saunders Street so seniors could meet. In 2004, the seniors were handed the keys to the building and given $40,000 in city funding to renovate and take over all the space in the building.

In 2007, the seniors raised funding for one full-time staff member. In 2011, the Steppping Stone centre celebrated its 10th anniversary

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