Oct. 1 is Canada's inaugural National Seniors Day: For more
information about this event visit www.seniors.gc.ca.
Did you know one in seven Canadians is 65 years of age or older?
Or that, in just 25 years, nearly one in four Canadians will be a
senior?
Seniors have helped build this country and we are a vital part of Canadian society.
On Saturday, Sept. 29 the Elder Citizens Recreation Association (ECRA) will be having a dance to celebrate their 20-year
anniversary.
On Feb. 12, 1992 the centre was officially incorporated.
At that time the constitution and a set of by-laws were adopted and we are still in business today. I wanted more information about senior centres in Prince George, so I looked online.
In 1997 an article was published by UNBC entitled Report on the Quality of Life in Prince George / 1997, authored by Anita Hubley, PhD, Toni Fletcher, B. Commerce student and Dawn Hemingway, M.Sc. student.
Check it out at: http://web.unbc.ca/isre/1997/20.pdf
The article states that according to the 1991 census, there were 8,275 seniors (55 years or older), nearly 12 per cent of the
population, in the city of Prince George.
ECRA had 270 members back in 1997 and today the
membership stands at 715.
This was made possible by ECRA's expansion project that started in 2002.
Under the leadership of president Larry Crooks followed by Dr. Jack McKenzie the project was completed in 2006.
Dr. Jack McKenzie was retired and needed a challenge so he took over the Long Term Planning Committee with the idea to expand the centre, and chaired the Ways and Means Committee to secure
financing for the project.
Many ECRA members and friends of ECRA donated cash in support.
The names are posted on the donor wall at the centre.
The donations were greatly appreciated, but larger sums were needed.
Dr. Jack gathered up his committee and arranged a meeting with MLA Shirley Bond to see about a provincial grant.
Shirley laughingly greeted us and said to Dr. Jack, "Dr. Jack, you brought me and my children into this world so I suppose you could take me out as well.
What is it that I can do for you today and I will see what I can do to help you."
With that, nearly a year later ECRA was able to meet all the requirements to secure a $780,000 grant from the provincial government to expand the senior centre to what it is today.
Larry Crooks is now 81 and Dr. Jack is 94. Both have recently
suffered ill health.
Dance tickets are $10,
everyone 19 and older is
welcome. Enjoy music by the Old Time Fiddlers, great food, 50/50 draw and a silent auction. See you there.
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