The Hart Pioneer Centre will be hosting the B.C. Provincial Carpet Bowlers Association playoffs from Monday, May 7 through to Friday, May 11. The public is more than welcome to come out and watch the event as carpet bowlers from throughout BC compete in the various categories for teams of quartets, trios and pairs.
Here is a brief history of the Hart Pioneer Centre as related to their present president, Lorraine Prouse from many of their senior members.
In the late 1970s, a progressive senior's group of about twenty in the Hart community started meeting in the library of the Austin Road elementary school. In due time, they registered as Branch #111 of the Senior Citizen Association of B.C.
In 1980, to accommodate the growing numbers of seniors, the headquarters of Branch #111 relocated in the basement of the Eagles Hall on the Hart. The membership fee at that time was $5 per year.
Within a few years and with determination and membership drives, approximately 200 members were participating in a variety of activities and social events at their new location at the Eagles Hall.
As their membership continued to grow so did their goals of owning a building of their own. This progressive group of seniors had dreams and envisioned a recreational and residential complex in the Hart area that would meet the growing needs of the seniors in the immediate Hart community. The complex was planned as an essential service to the existing scope of their local resources. The small but determined and energetic association accrued money from bingos, volunteer fund raising events and grants from the Province of B.C.
By 1985 the group's phase-one plan was realized in a 5,800 square foot new location at what is now the Hart Pioneer Centre, 6986 Hart Highway situated on a small portion of a two and a quarter acre land site. The extra land was acquired in anticipation of future senior housing developments.
The original Branch #111 was formally registered as the Hart Pioneer Centre Association in June 1985. The centre provided a new lifestyle for many senior citizens and created an environment in which many said that retirement was the 'Heart of the Hart.'
A huge addition was completed at the back of the existing structure in the early 1990s. The extra space was required to house the growing number of members, activities and interests.
The Hart Pioneer Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Membership is available to anyone who is 50 years of age or older for a fee of $20 per year.
An informative monthly newsletter provides up-to-date in-house activities and a full calendar of planned events.
This is the only senior centre in Prince George that is owned and maintained by its members. Besides receiving a yearly gaming grant from the provincial government, the centre raises funds in a variety of ways that include bi-monthly dances, Christmas dinner, a New Year's dance, teas, pancake breakfasts, crib tournaments, roast beef dinners, weekly bingo, a yearly garage sale, craft fairs and bake sales just to name a few. The centre is also rented out to the community for many various functions throughout the year.
The Hart Pioneer Centre provides affordable and nutritious meals for seniors and those with disabilities five days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Meals on Wheels service is available upon request and served daily.
A variety of the Centre's activities occur on a scheduled daily basis throughout the week. Activities include Tai Chi, line dancing, carpet bowling, cards, crafts, pool, crib, floor curling, puzzles and canasta.
The Hart Pioneer Centre Association was one of the seven original organizations to initiate the founding of the Prince George Council of Seniors. The directors and the membership recognized the need for a collaborative voice advocating for the needs of seniors in Prince George as well as the Province of British Columbia. The Hart Pioneer Centre continues as an active participant in the programs and services provided by the PGCOS.
The Hart Pioneer Centre has a vibrant, energetic volunteer board of ten directors. The 2018 - 2019 board of directors are: President Lorraine Prouse, 1st Vice-President Debra Pfefferle, 2nd Vice-President Judy Johnson, Treasurer Reg Pointer, Secretary Brenda Beaulieu and the five directors are Dave Erickson, Pearl Hiebert, Linda Parkinson, Ginny Parsons and Carmand Wagner.
They have three paid staff members that include the secretary, the cook and a custodian.
Vi Pfefferle who is now 92 and one of the founding charter members in 1985 is still active and participates in general meetings, annual general meetings and fund-raising activities.
We consider ourselves fortunate to have the non-profit Hart Pioneer Centre in our part of the city. We want to share our centre so we invite you to join our centre and enjoy your senior years.
Our goal is to help our seniors remain healthy, active, independent and contributing members of the community through fellowship, entertainment, recreational activities and a place to socialize and participate in activities with other people. There is something for everyone at our centre. If you are interested in joining just drop in to see us at the centre at 6986 Hart Highway or phone us at 250-962-6712.
In the meantime, you are invited to come and watch as the Hart Pioneer Centre hosts the BC Provincial Carpet Bowlers Association playoffs. Lunch will be available for spectators at a reasonable cost.
There will be a banquet at 6 p.m. followed by a dance on Wednesday, May 9; tickets are $18 per person and are available in advance at the office.
The Hart Pioneer Centre is grateful for the financial assistance received from the City of Prince George through their SportsPG Hosting Grant which is part of their joint initiative 10-year Sport Tourism Strategy.
***
The line dancing group at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, 1692 Tenth Ave. will be holding their giant annual garage, craft and bake sale on Saturday, May 5th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with all proceeds going to Centre operations.
Hot food and snacks will be available at the concession stand. Donations to the garage sale will be gratefully accepted on Friday, May 4th. If you have any questions phone Lisa at 250-561-9381.
