A staff report will come before Council on Sep 29, 2020. This is what district staff recommends:
“THAT the District of Squamish enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Squamish Senior Citizen Home Society to pursue a licence agreement and development of a Seniors Wellness Hub at the Westwinds, located at 38275 Third Avenue [now under construction – anticipated opening late 2021].”
The Seniors Advisory Committee i.e. Board of the Squamish Seniors Centre Society, duly established as the Advisory Committee to Parks and Recreation staff by Mayor Ian Sutherland in his letter of November 28, 2008, first learned of this proposed policy in a PowerPoint presentation by staff at a Zoom meeting on September 9, 2020, notwithstanding that we had been asking to meet with the CAO to discuss seniors’ issues since early 2020. We would like to point to a 1999 Canadian Supreme Court decision, that staff ought to be aware of: “consultation is meaningless if accommodation is excluded from the outset”.
The essence of this presentation was that they propose to recommend to Council on September 29 the adoption of their report to Council which will provide for the establishment of a Seniors Hub at the Westwinds building and repurposing the 55 as a Neighbourhood community centre.
In a follow up meeting requested by us we emphasized the history of the 55, its creation and the deep involvement of Squamish Seniors with that space — “if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going”. When mayor Greg Gardner cut the ribbon at the 55 on Sep 16, 2009 in front of a gathering of seniors, he declared, “This is your home.”
We emphasized that seniors would like to remain in the 55, continuing operations, as it always has, as the 55 Seniors Centre. We rate the Westwind facility, which was created without any input from the Advisory Committee, as inadequate to seniors’ needs.
Some of our observations:
Inadequate residential-type kitchen to serve our many social functions.
No BBQ facility and patio space for our social functions.
No art room with the required sinks and storage cabinets.
No sprung floor in the exercise room — essential if we are to avoid broken hips!
Lack of storage for the items needed for carpet bowling.
We responded to staff that the simultaneous maintenance of seniors’ programming in three facilities (the 55, Seniors Hub, Brennan Park) as they now propose is not workable in the long run and likely not financially feasible, quickly resulting in failure.
We see this current situation as the result of a disconnect between recreation staff and the Advisory Committee. It appears that staff has lost sight of history and the attachment Seniors have to the 55.
The 55 was built as a Seniors Centre using land in trade and considerable funds, both set aside by Council in the 1990’s for the construction of a Seniors Centre. The seniors contributed about $80,000 and countless volunteer hours providing design input into the 55 and in its operation.
Because the Seniors Activity Centre was deemed “underutilized”, a revitalisation effort spearheaded by staff resulted in Council’s policy adopted on July 11, 2017 – LINK:
Seniors (55+) only from 9 to 4.
Adults only (19+) at other times
And a name change to the ‘55 Activity Centre’
Unfortunately, staff continued to ignore our requests for programs such as Tai Chi, languages and photo club, only to introduce tots and preschoolers — but not as intergenerational programs, and culminating with a policy of turning the 55 into a Youth Hub after 3 pm against the strong objections of the Seniors Advisory Committee.
Volunteer leaders were discouraged by a new policy requiring police background checks and lengthy application forms when in fact the Ottawa H.Q. of the RCMP advised in writing that this is a matter of local policy and not a Federal Government requirement.
It seems to us that the 2017 revitalization effort was designed to fail in order to get us to the present juncture of taking over the 55 for use as a Neighbourhood Centre.
We wish to stay in the 55 Seniors facility continuing as we always have “under One Roof”, especially considering the 55’s history and the fact that there has not been a comprehensive dialogue with the seniors’ community prior to developing and signing this MOU or suggesting this model.
As a result, we respectfully suggest that a decision on the current staff policy proposal be deferred; funds not expended on continuing with a memorandum of understanding with the Westwinds management; and that instead a SENIORS STRATEGY be included in the current budget with its policy coming forward before Westwinds opens.
Terms of reference of this strategy shall be determined by a meaningful dialogue between the District and The Seniors Advisory Committee.
As an alternative to deferring the development of the MOU, council may remove any specific language related to seniors’ services from the MOU and simply have language that permits the exploration of any DOS potential partnership in the new facility, thus leaving open other possibilities e.g. a child care centre and leaving the function of the 55 as originally intended. Also include a SENIORS STRATEGY in the current budget.
To be displaced from a facility that was hard-won, for another space under someone else’s roof, is a step backwards. It is also a negation of the decades of working and planning and fundraising that were undertaken to achieve the dream of one day having a seniors’ centre in the town of Squamish.
Herbert Vesely is a director of the Squamish Seniors‘ Centre Society
Patricia Marini says
Why can’t they leave us elderly people alone? Come on council you will be 80 someday, let us have the space we built and our taxes paid for! Patricia
Moira Biggin-Pound says
In addition to the above article – as an 80yr old senior who does utilise our Seniors Centre -may I point out that the seniors of Squamish have contributed to community facilities and sports for ALL age groups by volunteering , fund raising ,donating and, last but not least, through our taxes for many years . We have now reached the age when the community can give back to us and support our Seniors Centre. Thank you, Moira Biggin – Pound
Vickie Nickel says
The 55+ Centre is a vital component in Seniors accessability to services in Squamish. There are no residences within easy walking distance to the Brennan Park Recreation Centre (for seniors), nor is there simple, safe access for physically challenged seniors with wheel chairs and walking aids. If we are trying to make a more ‘walkable’ community with ease of seniors accessability the facility will need to be down town,where the senior housing is. Otherwise we will need to provide seniors with transportation to gain access to the senior activities provided. If we are talking about sustainable services, and keeping seniors mobile the 55 + activity centre is in the right location.
Anne says
Shameful ignorance toward the aging community and the Eaglewind Community in general, many of whom moved into Eaglewind due to the proximity of the 55+. DOS has failed the aging community in many ways, and this is just another example.
Since it’s been closed, the parking spaces in front have been a free for all. Despite requests to the DOS to manage the spaces, they insist it is not theirs to manage (even though all of the signs have been erected by DOS stating “2 hour parking for 55+ Centre only”. If they intend to create a Neighbourhood Centre, inadequate parking, and management of parking, needs to be highlighted. It’s a very busy “calming” area in front and countless near-miss accidents occur daily.
If DOS is planning for a Neighbourhood Centre in this spot, traffic and parking needs to be addressed in this area and if it is not, that is yet another failure.
Ingrid Kaminski says
It is inconceivable that the DOS shows such little respect for its older population. Many of us moved into the area to be closer to our children and grandchildren and specifically to the downtown area to live within walking distance of all amenities. This includes the Senior Centre now known as the 55. Rather than including some of the activities requested in previous years, more and more restrictions have been placed on the facility for senior use. The “new” facility, by all accounts, also seems to be inadequate to accommodate seniors desired activities. We are taxpayers like the rest of the community and we expect to be treated with equal respect and fairness.
Linda Fenton says
I too am disheartened by the DOS proposal. The 55 was fought hard for by the seniors back when it was built, even contributing to the cost & volunteering. To now decide this isn’t feasible for them they want to re-purpose it. That’s a travesty. Since being renamed the 55 & including youth etc it no longer had the feel for a Senior Centre. We deserve this. I agree moving to a Sr Hub in Westwinds isn’t going to work. There are plenty of spaces for the youth & young children that are under utilized. School gyms, church spaces etc. Has this even been looked in to. Most of the youth do not live downtown so why gave the Hub there. DOS is planning an addition to the Rec Centre. Make space there for these programs. Don’t force us to have to commute to the Rec Centre when there is the 55.
My son & daughter-in-law have lived in Squamish for many years, they are shocked to hear of the proposal by the DOS.
Joy Boulier says
The DOS will get their way unless we all take a stand. I encourage everyone to write to their Mayor and councilors etc. before it is too late. They are planning on passing an MOU at the Council meeting tomorrow at 12:30 and I encourage everyone to join in the virtual meeting. Taken from the DOS site:
Electronic Participation as follows:
Meetings continue to be held virtually using the Webex platform.
WebEx can be accessed through a computer or the WebEx mobile phone app.
Option 1: Live Stream Viewing:
To view the live stream visit squamish.ca/live-meetings.
Option 2: Join via WebEx:
To join the meeting, please click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser. ….to follow soon
They have been trying for years now to slowly get rid of the seniors out of the building without consultation with the seniors. They have gone against everything we have ever proposed. It is under utilized because they are not offering the programs that everyone is wanting. Not everyone that is a senior is in their 80’s, but some are 55 and older and still working. Don’t you think it would be nice for them to be able to have some classes to attend in the evening?
W. ( Bill ) Berg says
For Years I have enjoyed the English Comedy Show ” Yes Mr. Prime minister “.
A Show satirizing how the Staff tries and succeeds in manipulating the Government.
I am not laughing any more and have not for Years, seeing how the same thing is happening in little Old Squamish.
People please speak up.
Nelson Winterburn says
I am having significant difficulty trying to keep up with the changing stories coming out of the Seniors Center fiasco. The galling thing is that the tax paying seniors have paid the wages of the youngsters that are making big salaries to put the shaft to the seniors. I always felt that the town treated people fairly, but that certainly is not the case now.
What is the problem? Did we seniors not treat the younger population with respect and provide same with good facilities in which to grow?
Ellen says
Squamish is being run by hipsters who have come from big cities and just see dollar signs for themselves. Please understand that the council and the mayor DO NOT care for seniors in Squamish, voting them out of office is the only way!