Now that the young adult families have their swimming pool, it is time for the Town of Cochrane to show some respect to our seniors and move Seniors on the Bow to a much needed seniors’ centre.
We are the only seniors’ complex in Southern Alberta located on the second floor and to make matters worse, we have no direct elevator access into our reception room. Talk about not making our physically challenged and vulnerable seniors feel welcome. Many seniors will not come due to accessibility issues. Who could have thought of a worse location? When do we move?
First of all, I should commend the volunteers, board of directors and staff for all of their hard work in organizing the existing activities and making them happen.
With a ratio of four women to every man, we have a serious gender imbalance, as if the Town of Cochrane and Seniors on the Bow have forgotten our senior men. Are we not part of the community? We senior men built this town and we have paid more taxes and yet we are not feeling any serious commitment from the town to attract more men.
The membership imbalance is primarily due to a serious lack of space. At 27,000 and counting, our town is growing with an aging population. To attract more men, a separate, expanded and permanent senior games room is essential. It will give us privacy in an uncrowded area. Men love games. End of story. Period.
With an election coming up, I sincerely hope our elected officials will give our seniors an expanded centre on the ground floor with a games room. It is our turn.
Bill Gibbons
