The Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization is opening its doors Sept. 18 and 19 for Senior Discovery Days, giving residents a chance to tour the centre, sample programs and connect with its clubs and members.
The two-day event runs Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LSCO facility.
LSCO executive director Kaitlynn Weaver said the weekend is an opportunity for people who may not normally be able to visit during the week to see what the organization offers.
“It’s on a weekend too on Saturday, so folks who aren’t able to normally come during the week can pop in on Saturday and check it out,” Weaver said.
The event will include facility tours and free demonstrations of programs including line dancing, chair exercises, yoga and woodworking. LSCO groups and hobby clubs will also be set up throughout the building, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about activities and meet other members.
On Saturday, there will be a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $12, attendees will get a burger or foot-long hot dog, potato salad, pasta salad, corn on the cob, coffee, juice or water, provided by the LSCO Diner.
The weekend will also highlight a developing partnership between LSCO and the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association. LTRA will showcase the association’s adaptive riding cart, which is designed to provide people who use wheelchairs or are unable to mount a horse with the opportunity to experience a ride.
Senior Discovery Days will provide an opportunity to introduce LSCO members to the program and gather feedback, Weaver said. Access to the program will be free for participants who go through the senior centre.
Weaver said these are examples of LSCO’s broader effort to collaborate with other organizations in the community.
“It also allows for people to experience other organizations that they maybe wouldn’t have known about otherwise.”
She said the partnerships allow organizations to introduce their services to new audiences while working together to serve Lethbridge residents.
“We get to feature what they do to our members and then they’re also coming to us to feature what we do and vice versa,” Weaver said. “So it’s just a really good way to just showcase everything that Lethbridge has to offer.”
Visitors can also check out the LSCO Diner, which will be open Friday as usual and is open to the public throughout the week. Weaver said the diner offers affordable meals including burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas and taco salads, as well as a daily $11 lunch special.
LSCO’s boutique will also be open during the event, offering handmade items.
Weaver said Senior Discovery Days are intended for more than just current LSCO members.
“It’s for, you know, your family members who want to check it out, seniors themselves, future seniors, it’s open to everybody,” she said. “So come on down.”
The event is being supported through funding from the City of Lethbridge.
