Since 1986, Seniors’ Week has been used to recognize the achievements and contributions of seniors in the province of Alberta.

Each year organizations host activities to celebrate seniors in their municipality.

Melissa Masse Community Support Coordinator with Strathmore FCSS explained that

“Senior’s Week 2022 is June 6th to 12th this year, and celebrates and recognizes the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta.”

She said, “Community organizations have partnered to plan a full week of events, celebrations, learning opportunities, and fun throughout the week to show our support for seniors.”

‘We’re thankful for the ability to plan in-person events once again this year. Isolation over the last two years has impacted the lives of many, especially seniors and it’s important to offer opportunities to reconnect with each other, as well as community organizations and services,” said Masse.

Some of those activities include a carnival hosted by Wheatland Lodge, soapstone carving workshop, information session with Strathmore RCMP on fraud protection strategies, a downsizing workshop, and a ice cream social.

We spoke with Christi Shworak, Resident Manager with Wheatland Housing Management Body about the carnival.

She explained that this year unlike previously due to the pandemic, they can invite seniors from the community and family members to participate.

Each year they’ve added new activities and made the carnival bigger and better. In the past they’ve done activities like scooter demos and races with the local ‘Scooter Gang’ There’s been face painting and raffles and snacks with a carnival theme and games.

This year they’ve invited the community to get involved, there will be a food truck on hand, with carnival food, ice cream and mini donuts as well as a petting zoo, and an accordion player and games like chicken bingo.

“The biggest thing of having in-person events is when we started back just here in Mother's Day and we did our Spring Tea as well. What we've seen from those two events alone is just the happiness of the residents. There is more normalcy to life again, inviting their family and friends to participate in the lodge activities,” she said.

There’s a great improvement for the overall well-being of the residents she explained. “And for mental health that we've seen because it's not like our people and residents weren't coming and going from the lodge throughout the last two years. They absolutely were but we weren't able to openly invite the community into the building and that's changed at this time.”

Shworak also noted that tomorrow is Intergenerational Day and it will be an opportunity for residents of the lodge to interact with students from Sacred Heart Academy.

“They are always good at sending little things like cards to let them know how special they are to them,” she said of the children.

“Our seniors love having the kids come by and do things with them and to talk about their stories,” she said.

 

 

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