Just days after the approval of the 2013 budget contractors removed a concrete block wall in the Innisfail Senior Drop-In Centre, ending months of uncertainty about where the group would meet.
The seniors association felt their current digs had been too cramped, but were unwilling to move into the new multi-million dollar library building.
“It's more welcoming I think,” said Jack Layton, treasurer of the Innisfail Senior Drop-In Society. “It's gonna give us a lot more space.”
With support from the town in place after the town's fiscal plans for the coming year were approved Dec. 10, J. M. & Sons did the general construction work on the renovation, while Amp'd Electric handled the wiring.
The expansion extends the meeting space to include the hallway on the other side of the wall.
“We'll be able to entertain other seniors' groups,” Layton said, noting there will now be room for three carpet bowling and three floor curling courts. “You see, we'll have the greater space.”
Seniors may now have adequate space for the pool table that was relegated to the corner and the shuffleboard table that was along the western wall.
After working hand in hand with town staff for months looking at options, the seniors made a presentation at town budget deliberations Nov. 27. In less than two weeks they had secured the funding they hoped for.
“We've got a renovation to the old fire hall,” said Director of Community and Protective Services Terry Welsh at the budget presentation Dec. 10. “We've also got accommodation in that project for a storage space for the seniors on a temporary basis. As well we've got a contribution to the seniors' association for the removal of the wall that we've been hearing about for the last little while within the seniors' centre.”
At the same meeting $5,000 in FCSS funding for the drop-in centre was approved.
While this just marks the beginning of renovations that will be needed to accommodate a growing senior population in Innisfail, having the town get behind them is significant, Layton says.
“It's great,” he said. “It gives us some assurances for the future.”
