In celebration of Seniors鈥� Week, the 51暗网 sat down with prominent seniors in the community to talk about some of the achievements and ongoing challenges they鈥檝e faced over the past year.
At the top of the list was the community鈥檚 support of the seniors鈥� bus, which recently received a $17,000 cash infusion from the province鈥檚 Community Initiatives Program.
鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely appreciative of the community鈥檚 support,鈥� said Glenda Cornforth, president of the Jasper Seniors Society.
In November 2014, the society announced that its reserve funds were running low, throwing into question whether it would be able to keep the bus on the road.
At that time it applied for a grant with the Community Initiatives Program and also issued a plea for help, asking the community to pitch in, either by offering donations or by taking over the operation of the bus all together, and shortly after, cheques started to roll in.
Fast-forward to today and the society estimates it has enough money to keep the bus operating for another three or four years.
The bus鈥搘hich is the only vehicle in town with a wheelchair lift鈥揳llows seniors to run errands in town, visit the doctor鈥檚 office each Friday and even takes seniors to Hinton once a month for medical appointments.
It鈥檚 also used by the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge for group outings, like picnics and afternoon tea at Marmot Basin.
鈥淲e even on occasion pick up people from the train station that need that service so they can get around the community as well,鈥� said Cornforth.
She also took the time to praise Sundog Tours for taking seniors to Edmonton at a discounted rate so they can attend medical appointments in the city.
She said the company arranges a taxi to pick seniors up at the West Edmonton Mall鈥搘here passengers are dropped off鈥搕o take them to their appointments and then makes sure there is a taxi to pick them up after their appointment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very much appreciated. I鈥檝e done it and will continue to do it for a long time,鈥� said Cornforth, adding the bus also stops in Hinton and Edson for the same purpose.
Other programs that have also been well attended this year include the Aqua Fit program offered at the Jasper Fitness and Aquatic Centre three times a week.
She also said the walking program hosted by the Jasper Physiotherapy and Health Centre and the walking program offered by the physiotherapy staff at the hospital have also been very successful. Both programs are offered twice a week.
鈥淜eeping your independence is just so important,鈥� said Cornforth, praising both programs for keeping seniors active.
One of the biggest challenges facing seniors in the community continues to be the generational gap between older and younger Jasperites.
鈥淭he generation gap is getting bigger and bigger all the time,鈥� said Dong Han, more popularly known as grandpa.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking to each other. The young people don鈥檛 know our heritage and we don鈥檛 understand young people about what鈥檚 going on, that鈥檚 my biggest concern.鈥�
On a positive note, he said the community dinners offered during the winter, are an opportunity for younger and older people to mingle and get to know one another, although people still tend to stick to their own social circles during dinner.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
