Moose Jaw seniors clubs mull options

If the attendance on a stormy Sunday afternoon at a special meeting for seniors organizations is any indication, citizens of Moose Jaw aren’t quite ready to let their seniors clubs close.

A town hall meeting was set up at the Cosmo Centre as people from both that club and the Timothy Eaton Gardens talked about their futures. Lori Friars, co-ordinator of the Timothy Eaton Garden run by the Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association, was happy with the meeting.

“We’ve got a few new ideas and some of the things we’ve already talked about, but to hear other people say the things we’ve already talked about and throw in some more ideas was great,” said Friars.

One of the things that came up frequently at the meeting was the idea of an amalgamation of the clubs to pool resources.

“It’s not to say we haven’t had those discussions,” Friars said. “We are really two separate entities and it is going to take a lot of work for the two of us. Because we have different thoughts on things, it’s going to take a lot of work for that to come together.

“Having said that, we have been working together on this and when we’re trying to plan some of our special events. We talk to each other, which never used to happen, and we plan around each other. I think it’s baby steps, but (amalgamation) is certainly something … that’s out there.”

Those who attended filled out a survey and information will be gathered from it.

“I expect there will be a lot more suggestions on those surveys for us to follow up on,” Friars said. “Hopefully we will get through some of that stuff in the next few days and have a better idea on what people thought.”

By May 27, they aim to get on the agenda of city council and pack the room and share their concerns with council.