Golden Age Centre to remain closed until September

By Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

The Golden Age Centre board met last week and the decision was to keep the building closed tentatively until Sept. 1.

“It’ll open if it’s possible,” said Joyce Olsen, the Centre’s president.

“You can’t see into the future what’s going to happen. It was pretty well unanimous. Everybody feels you shouldn’t be taking chances with the seniors’ health. It wasn’t a tough decision.”

The main reason for the decision was events that could be held with social distancing are not held in the summer.

“That’s the main reason. The card playing usually goes on a bit during the summer. But you can’t social distance and play cards,” she said.

The annual Friday Market is one the bigger events held at the Centre that has been cancelled for this summer.

Rentals will also not be a possibility over the summer months as well.

Other activities that may not be a go for a while include pool, shuffleboard and bingo.

“It’s going to hurt the budget pretty bad because you still have to pay your utilities,”

said Olsen, on not opening the Centre during the summer months.

The building’s utilities are running $780 a month and insurance is over $5,000.

“We have some money in the account,” said Olsen.

“It’s just not very good to be losing it all.”

The seniors’ presence at the Golden Age Centre will be missed quite a bit.

“They don’t want to jeopardize their health over it,” she said.

Olsen anticipates the board will meet again sometime over the summer to discuss how they will open again.

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