'Somebody has to do something': Efforts made to keep the doors open at long-time Brandon senior centre
An employee at a long-time Brandon seniors’ centre is doing whatever she can to try to keep the centre from closing its doors this month.
Prairie Oasis Senior Centre has been operating in Brandon for over 40 years, offering activities such as card games, bingo, and exercise classes. But last week, its board of directors decided to close the centre.
“From my understanding, there’s just not enough funding to keep the place open,” said Elizabeth Morrow, Prairie Oasis’ activities coordinator. “It’s a very unfortunate thing, and I’m trying to find ways to work around that and save this place.”
With the small window of time she has left, Morrow is working hard to try and bring in enough money to keep the centre running.
“I’ve applied for a petition, so I’m just waiting for that to be approved, and then I’m going to get that out within the community,” she says. “I’m reaching out to a bunch of different non-profits to see how they can help, I want to try and get a hold of the mayor. Just make some waves, make some noise, and see what I can do.”
Prairie Oasis also runs the Meals on Wheels program, which delivers low-cost meals mainly to those in the community with low income, disabilities, or mobility issues.
“I didn’t have any answers either, we hadn’t gotten any knowledge that this was going to stop,” says Sheila Shearer, a driver for Meals on Wheels that spoke with several meal recipients that were upset and confused about the short notice. “I felt very uncomfortable talking to them, but I tried to reassure them that there would be something.”
That “something” is Brandon Seniors for Seniors, the only other seniors centre in the city. Both centres have similar programs, including a meal delivery service. The Seniors for Seniors program is called Dinner is Served.
“We met with them before they made the official announcement, and we talked about how we could somehow combine, or at least take the burden off some of their meal program,” says Rob Lavin, the executive director of Brandon Seniors for Seniors. “We do have a little bit of a different program than they have, so we had to talk about how that would work and what the model would look like.”
Despite the fast-approaching deadline, Morrow isn’t giving up. “I don’t have a lot of pull, but somebody has to do something,” she says.
Prairie Oasis and Meals on Wheels will be operating until July 15.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
TSB concludes investigation into cause of London, Ont. freight train fire
More than two weeks after a freight train with several railcars ablaze rolled through the heart of the Forest City, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has concluded its investigation.