City steps in to assist four seniors’ centres

City council has agreed to take over maintenance and capital upgrade costs for four struggling seniors centres — a major relief to some stressed program managers.

“It’s amazing,” said Kim Buehler, executive director for the South East Edmonton Seniors Association.

The Monday decision by the community services committee means she can stop fundraising to cover the $178,000 roof repair that looms in the centre’s future and get back to planning the daily services her association offers 1,300 seniors. The roof was just the beginning. The seniors association in Holyrood is facing $3.7 million in capital maintenance costs over the next 10 years.

Strathcona Place 55+ Centre is facing $267,000. Unlike many other seniors centres, they both signed leases that make them responsible for capital maintenance on the city-owned buildings.

Two other centres — the Calder Seniors Centre and Senior Citizens Opportunity Neighbourhood Association in Old Strathcona — have leases that make them responsible for all maintenance.

City officials will begin the process of renegotiating the leases. That means program managers can focus on the seniors, and city staff — who have more experience managing buildings — can worry about the rest.

“We become family to a lot of people who are by themselves,” said Buehler. “It’s where they come to get a hug and pat on the back, which is really important.”

“It keeps you mentally active and lets seniors stay in their homes,” said Eric Solash, president of the association and a senior himself.

The centre runs mentoring programs to teach online skills, physical fitness activities, shuffleboard, ping pong and card games. “We help them enjoy life.”

Pascale Ladouceur, the city’s director of engineering and life cycle planning, said Edmonton is taking a larger look all of the contracts it has with not-for-profit organizations.

A larger discussion on how the city partners with not-for-profits is due back at committee next spring.

We become family to a lot of people who are by themselves It’s where they come to get a hug and pat on the back.