The Blenheim and Community Senior Centre has always tried to cater to its members and that job just got a lot easier with completion of a new $1.1 million facility on Jane Street.
“We’ve just got so much more room now,” said Centre co-ordinator Bobbi-Jo Ferren. “It’s an exciting time because of all the possibilities. If a group of members comes to us with an idea, we try our best to make it work. We’re here to serve the membership.”
Project co-chair Peter Shillington said a few finishing touches need to be done but members have been checking in to see the progress.
“It’s a good thing there is so much interest,” he said. “We needed to move and the membership has been very supportive.”
Work on the facility started last fall and fundraising is nearly completed.
“We received tremendous support from the community, a $150,000 grant from Trillium and the interest free loan from Chatham-Kent helped.”
The 7,500 square foot, two-storey building is more than three times larger than the old facility.
The main floor boasts a state of the art kitchen, a lending library/board room/reading room named for Dr. Howard J. Reese, and a large area which can be used as a dining hall, meeting room or whatever is needed.
“The key for us is that it needed to be flexible in terms of use,” he said. “We can seat 170 people comfortably for dinner, three times larger than what we could at the old place.”
The room is also equipped with technology and a large screen for things such as movies.
“There may times when we show movies or need to use it for presentations,” he said.
The second floor features a large open area with shuffleboard courts on the floor, pool tables, dartboards and more.
The second floor will be accessible by an elevator or stairs.
“People are impressed when they see what’s up here,” Shillington said.
Ferren said the aim of the centre is to provide a wide variety of activities for members 50 years of age and older.
“Whether it’s a physical activity such as dancing or learning skills on the computer, we want our members to be engaged,” she said. “Studies show that people who interact with others and are active are generally much happier and healthier than those who are isolated. There is no reason for anyone to be alone in this community. You can be here every day if that’s what you want.”
Ferren said the $30 annual membership fee provides discounts for all kinds of activities.
“We just had a recent trip to Grand Bend for a show,” she said. “The cost was $103 for non-members and $78 for members. You almost get your membership back with one event.”
She said community involvement is key to keep the centre vibrant.
“We’re here for our members but we’re a part of the community too,” she said. “People come out and support our events like our perch and chicken dinners, things that allow us to operate our programs.”
Shillington said membership was in the 300 range when the idea of a new building was first discussed.
It jumped to about 350 and is now over the 500 mark.
“I think we can grow even more because once the public sees how nice this building is, there will be a real surge.”
Ferren said programs will begin to migrate to the new centre over the next few weeks.
“We will likely have an opening ceremony in September when we have everything up and running,” she said.
