A new recreation facility for seniors in Pitt Meadows will open its doors on Saturday.
This week, crews added the finishing touches to the 9,500-square-foot seniors’ centre, which will form part of The Wesbrooke development, near the city’s civic centre.
Sandra Caddo, with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, and other seniors were packing boxes Thursday to move from their old home in the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre. The seniors are eager to move into the new facility.
“We are finding stuff we can get rid off and stuff we can sort out to take with us,” said Caddo.
“We’ve been waiting for a while, so now that it’s happening we are getting pretty excited because we are moving.”
The new centre will be managed by seniors through a not-for-profit organization contracting with the Parks and Leisure Services Commission, but will be maintained by the developer and owner of The Wesbrooke, which has a 40-year lease with the city.
The centre will offer space for social activities, a large hall with a stage, arts and crafts room, a lounge, snooker room and administration offices.
“It going to be really nice and it’s a beautiful place,” said Caddo, who is on centre’s steering committee.
The facility will be staffed a minimum four hours a day, five days a week.
But Tony Cotroneo, with parks and leisure services, said the hours of operation will increases once new and existing volunteers are trained to supervise the centre.
The seniors society hopes to start programs within two weeks of opening, sometime in mid-February.
“That’s our goal,” said Cotroneo.
“We will be training volunteers next week and orientating them to the building. The seniors have done such tremendous work and are making sure everything is perfect.”
The centre has $120,000 to purchase new equipment, such as tables, chairs, refrigerators for the centre.
The seniors society also hopes to add more programs in the new space, but also maintain a link with the family recreation centre.
Opening celebration
Celebrate the opening of a new gathering place for seniors in Pitt Meadows from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. The ceremony begins at 1:15 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Silvertones Choir. The Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre is located in the Wesbrooke at 19065 119 B Avenue. Phone: 604-465-2478.