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SENIOR CITIZEN CENTRE 1971 to 2005
The concept of a Seniors Centre was brought about by a group of church women from the Garneau area, including Garneau United Church, Metropolitan United Church, and St. George’s Anglican Church. The initial aim was to provide housing for south-west Edmonton seniors.
It was considered that a Senior Citizen Service and Recreation Centre would be a good initial goal, to be followed by a Seniors’ residence. Intense lobbying was carried out with this in mind. On May 19, 1970 a letter was received from the City of Edmonton’s Chief Commissioner advising that St. John’s Anglican Church had been acquired by the City and asked the Group to look into the probability and suitability of this as a Senior Centre.
The building had been unoccupied for some time and had degenerated considerably. An estimate of the conversion costs to the structure was $40,000. Service Clubs, Churches, Community Leagues and other groups were contacted and a good support was found.
After a meeting with the City, a basic concept was arrived at as follows:
- A society to maintain, control and operate a centre that should be formed.
- The City would look after the renovation work , but not supply the renovation costs.
The South Edmonton Lions Club and the Southgate Lions Club offered to look after the renovation costs up to $44,000 at a meeting in October 1970.
Bruce Graham, representing the Rotary Club of Edmonton South, offered to provide $16,000 for furnishings at a March 1971 meeting.
Mr. Hugh Knowles, an architect, offered to design the landscaping and a donation of $3,000 was received from a private citizen for the courtyard and outside furnishings.
The Rotary Club of Edmonton South agreed to provide a further $10,000 for floors and kitchen renovations. Donations continued to come in from various outside sources.
At this stage only a small cafeteria kitchen was affordable from current funds. In March 1972 the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire ( I.O.D.E.) offered a donation of $18,000 for a proper kitchen, being $12,000 for alterations and $6,000 for equipment.
Construction proceeded and the official opening of the Centre was held on October 31, 1971. Included on the initial Board of Directors were full voting representatives of the South Edmonton Lions Club, the I.O.D.E., and the Rotary Club of Edmonton South. They are presently still so represented.
Lobbying continued with the City and the Province for some kind of Seniors’ Residence. It was successful with tendering by Alberta Housing for a high rise residence in 1975 with the first residents occupying in 1977. The Residence was managed by a volunteer Committee formed from Strathcona Place Society members and public at large, who managed the Residence for Alberta Housing until 1996. At that time a new volunteer organization was formed with representatives of Strathcona Place Society, Knox Metropolitan Housing Society, and somewhat later, Trinity Hall Foundation, all who now jointly manage these three senior residences in south Edmonton.
The new organization, named the Strathcona Management Agency, continues to successfully operate the residences. It should be noted that although the residences are managed by the representatives appointed by the tri-group, there is no financial connection with Strathcona Place Senior Centre.
The lobbying for a Seniors’ lodge was carried on to provide homes for seniors not able to care for themselves in our current accommodation. This was successful with the opening of Queen Alexandra Lodge immediately to the south of the Centre being a result. The three services now complement each other. Again, there is no financial connection to Strathcona Place Senior Citizen Centre as the lodge is operated by the Greater Edmonton Foundation.
The activities of the Centre increased tremendously and there became a need to expand and renovate to make the Centre more up-to-date and have a greater capacity to serve the community of seniors. In 1982 a donation of $147,000 was received from the Estate of Mrs. Burke. This provided the seed money for a building fund to meet the $650,000 cost in 1983-84 to rebuild the north and centre wings of the old church structure. Strathcona Place Society contributed about $400,000 from community donations and fund raising and interest, with the balance coming from a matching Provincial grant.
The South Edmonton Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Edmonton South have jointly sponsored, in the amount of approximately $1,200 each for many years, the Annual Volunteer Recognition Night. This features a free barbecue dinner to over 400 volunteers and their paying guests. Without these loyal and hard working volunteers, it would be impossible to operate the centre. It is appropriate that they should be recognized.
The South Edmonton Lions Club committed thirty percent (30%) of the proceeds of their 1999 Casino to the operational expenses of the Society, in the order of $8,700 contributed in the 2000 year. For 2001 the Club members committed forty percent (40%) of their casino towards the operational expenses of Strathcona Place Senior Citizen Centre. This donation was in the amount of approximately $23,000 to assist the centre operating costs in 2002 and 2003.
The Society is most grateful for the generosity of the Service Clubs, and other organizations and individuals for their support which have made the Senior Centre possible. This is particularly so by the efforts of the I.O.D.E, the Rotary Club of Edmonton South and the South Edmonton Lions Club. We trust that we can maintain this close co-operative relationship.
There are only 6 ½ paid positions in the Centre and over 380 volunteers enabled by that staff complement to provide over 40 different service and recreation programs a month in the Centre.
It is known that over 1,350 different individual seniors are assisted by the Centre programming and the participation activity is very impressive. There is excellent value derived from the community and government financial support given to Strathcona Place Senior Citizen Centre now, in the past, and hopefully in the future.
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