55-plus group finds new home

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This article was published 03/09/2021 (1681 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After years of searching, Pembina Active Living 55-plus has finally found a location to call its own.

The group will be moving into the Whyte Ridge Community Centre, located at 170 Fleetwood Rd., in the coming months after extensive renovations are completed on the space.

“As as a senior, it gives you something to do,” Bob Newman, 74, said.

Newman has been involved with Pembina Active Living since its inception and is the current vice-president. He said his favourite part of the organization is the sense of camaraderie he has with other members.

“I like getting together and talking,” he said. “With the new space, we’ll be able to set it up the way we want.”

Pembina Active Living 55-plus was founded in 2009 but didn’t pick up speed until the following year after it put out a call-out for community members interested in starting a seniors’ club. The information session, held at Richmond Kings Community Centre in Fort Richmond, was packed.

“I was just retiring and so were a bunch of my friends,” Bernadette McCann, a longtime member of Pembina Active Living, said. “The whole idea was that, when you’re newly retired, you still have the energy and enthusiasm to do things and meet new people.”

Pembina Active Living serves seniors in South Winnipeg and is committed to enhancing their lives. It’s a “home away from home” where older adults can feel a sense of community, inclusion and well-being through programming and leisure groups, including biking, gardening, bowling, tai chi and weight training.

Before finding a permanent space, the organization rented out community clubs. It has had as many as 600 members at a time, but COVID-19 has lowered that number in the past two years.

McCann said Pembina Active Living will be renovating the Whyte Ridge Community Centre to have a board room, office and an exercise space that can also be used for larger meetings.

“I love mixing with people,” McCann said. “I was doing the exercises online in spring and summer due to COVID but I’ve missed seeing people.

“I’ve made lots of new friends through PAL. I’ve missed them.”

Sandra Sukhan, president of Pembina Active Living, said one of her priorities since joining the organization’s board has always been to move into a permanent facility.

“My vision for the space is that it would be a hub for seniors in the south end of the city,” Sukhan said. “We started the discussion in 2019 and Whyte Ridge Community Centre seemed like a good fit for Pembina Active Living.

“This is the first time we’re going to have a facility we can call home.”

Aside from the drop-in centre, Sukahn hopes Pembina Active Living will eventually include cultural outreach and hybrid programming. She also wants to collaborate with other 55-plus groups throughout Winnipeg and potentially raise money to expand the building.

“Currently, we’re offering three days a week. We want to see how that goes and if things go well with COVID we can offer four or five days a week and maybe evening programming,” Sukhan said.

A membership with Pembina Active Living 55-plus costs $25 yearly. More information can be found at www.pal55plus.ca