The Yellowknife Seniors Society, based at the Baker Centre, has been around since 1992 and is an organization which provides programs for seniors in the city and around.
There鈥檚 something going on almost every day of the week, said Wendy Bisaro, the society鈥檚 president.
鈥淣ot everything is run by the society, but it offers a gateway for people to come and find out what鈥檚 going on,鈥� she said.
A typical week will feature a walk exercise program on three mornings, morning coffee clubs and strength classes. There is drop-in curling at the Yellowknife Curling Centre every Monday afternoon, lane bowling every Wednesday afternoon at the Kingpin Bowling Centre and Dancing Buddies on Friday evenings. Tai Chi is also taught a couple of days a week.
You can even do yoga, attend the Book Club or if Scottish country dancing is your thing, there鈥檚 that as well on Monday evenings.
You鈥檒l be reminded that it isn鈥檛 Scottish highland dancing 鈥� no swords or shields to be danced around.
But perhaps the most popular 鈥� and certainly the longest-running 鈥� event of the week is Lunch with a Bunch on Fridays at 12 p.m. Each lunch is sponsored by a group or by individuals and that sponsorship is what helps pay for everything that is put out for people to enjoy.
鈥淲e try to provide an outlet for people who need it,鈥� said Bisaro. 鈥淵ou may see different people, but it鈥檚 a network for people who don鈥檛 have one and it makes a difference.鈥�
That network is vital to seniors as they grow older, she added.
鈥淟oneliness has an impact on peoples鈥� lives and if you鈥檙e not able to go out and be social, your quality of life will go down,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have no one to be with and that鈥檚 extremely tough. Those who have mobility issues can find things even tougher, so being around others is vitally important.鈥�
The society also acts as a resource for people who may have questions about programs offered by either the GNWT or the city.
There鈥檚 also an advocacy committee, which works to get better benefits and services for seniors by lobbying various levels of government.
You can get more details at the society鈥檚 website, though Bisaro did say that the website will be getting a revamp in due time.
