Airdrie’s 50+ Club continues to contend with a need for additional space, and president Myrtle Brewster hopes the community will rally around the club to see that need met.
“We do not have the space to develop our programming,” Brewster said. “What I mean by that is, we have cards in the evening, cards in the daytime, carpet bowling and physical activity throughout the week in the daytime. To do anything more than that, we do not have the room.”
The club currently meets at the Town and Country Centre, a space it has held for 40 years. Brewster said the building’s single open space no longer accommodates the growing club, which has seen membership increase steadily – 25 per cent, without advertising, since January. The club currently boasts approximately 310 members, according to Brewster, which includes not only Airdronians but people from Rocky View County, Crossfield and Calgary.
The age of the building has also caused some difficulty, Brewster said, and the building is not accessible to wheelchairs.
The club serves an important function in the community, she added. As Airdrie grows, many seniors relocate to be closer to family. Moving to a new city can be isolating, Brewster said, especially for an age group that is already underserved by social programs. The club provides an opportunity for seniors to create bonds within the community.
“A lot of people, including myself, we are alone, and we go there for fellowship and to stave off loneliness,” she said.
The club has reached out to the City of Airdrie to raise awareness and find a solution to their space needs, and presented to City council Aug. 21, 2017. Brewster said a business plan was presented to the City in April outlining the group’s role and its specific needs.
“They did call us into a meeting, and that was in August of this year,” Brewster said. “[They] said to us they accept our proposal and they were going to assign us a consultant for September.”
Brewster said the City recently sent notice it was short of staff and would not be able to assign a consultant until January. While she continues to work with the City, Brewster now hopes to find support among the community – possibly from a local developer – to solve the club’s space requirements.
According to Brewster, the wish list for a new facility includes kitchen space and a gymnasium. Brewster acknowledges that such a facility does not currently exist in Airdrie.
“We have identified with the City that we don’t want a standalone building again, because it’s too expensive,” Brewster said. “We want to share a building with another entity, where bills are shared [and] administration is shared.”
Brewster emphasized relations between the City and the Club remain positive, and the Club will take any help it can get.
“[The City] sees the need, but they have a lot of other projects in front of them, but have not said no,” she said.
