Two board members from the non-profit group that operates the Sundre West Country Centre presented council with a request for municipal funding to offset the impact of the carbon tax.
Accompanied by president Ed Wicks, Ray Sharp called the facility a crucial lifeline for Sundre and surrounding area seniors who would otherwise not have as many recreational opportunities to help keep them more physically and emotionally healthy.
“It’s their reason to get up, go out and do some activities,” Sharp said about the centre during the April 9 meeting.
“To be blunt it probably saved my wife’s life — I’m able to take her there for two hours in the afternoon when possible, and she can get involved in a social activity…I’ve seen, in the two years that I’ve been a member, how it’s changed some seniors’ lives.”
For example, members who once were very withdrawn have since broken out of their shells, he said.
“It’s the only thing in my life that I’ve been passionate about. I think that this is the best thing that this town has going for the seniors.”
Over the past few months, he told council he has been reaching out to the provincial government as well as a range of news media, but has to date not had any success.
“Our mission is to have a building for the seniors at low cost,” he said, speaking against a suggestion to increase membership fees.
“That’s completely against our philosophy, our vision, for the seniors.”
Also, the board does not desire to place any additional fundraising burden on the backs of the 120 senior members, who on average are 70-75 years old and have already throughout those years done their share of volunteering, he said.
The carbon tax has increased the facility’s annual operational costs by about $1,200, which is set to increase to closer to $2,000 per year when the levy again goes up in December, he said.
In following up with other senior centres in the region — such as Red Deer, Didsbury, Olds, Innisfail and Rocky Mountain House — Sharp said he learned those facilities are municipally owned.
The West Country Centre is operated by a non-profit organization that has managed to maintain the aging 40-year-old building to keep the doors open for seniors, he said. Aside from membership fees, he said revenue is generated largely by renting the facility to other groups as well as a licensed casino fundraiser that is only available every few years.
The facility is the only one in the community that’s available seven days a week to people more than 50 years of age, he said, adding that roughly half of the centre’s members hail from the surrounding rural area.
“What I am asking is that as the county has forwarded funds to the town to help with recreation, can we access some of those funds?” he said, referring to the recreation and culture agreement between the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County, which is currently being renegotiated.
“We’re servicing the county also,” he said, adding the facility needs a more stable, reliable source of revenue.
Wicks and Sharp requested $6,000 from the municipality.
Coun. Paul Isaac said a definitive answer would not immediately be possible, and that administration might have to be directed to look into potential options “to see if there is something we can or cannot do with no promises whatsoever.”
Isaac said the carbon tax has impacted many organizations and families, and council would require a better, more detailed understanding of what the senior centre is up against before being able to decide one way or another.
Coun. Cheri Funke, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Terry Leslie, seemed to agree with Isaac, and said that while she would like to make a commitment, there are steps that must be followed first.
“We’ll take the proper procedures and we’ll pass it on to administration and then we’ll take a look at it and see what we can do, and meet with you in the near future,” said Funke, who also expressed gratitude for the presentation.
