A townhall meeting featuring British Columbia’s new seniors advocate is just one of the events taking place in New West during Seniors Week.
The city has proclaimed June 2 to 8 as Seniors Week in New Westminster.
“BC Seniors Week is a time to celebrate seniors and their many contributions providing an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the integral part seniors play in communities across British Columbia,” said the proclamation. “The City of New Westminster values, appreciates and recognizes the contributions that seniors provide to this community.”
Anne Ladouceur, president of the Century House Association, said the centre’s Time For Change committee is partnering with the City of New Westminster to host a townhall meeting on the current affordable housing crisis, as it relates to seniors in New West.
“Per the 2021 census, 24 per cent of New West seniors, both renters and owners, live in unaffordable housing,” she told council at its May 27 meeting.
The Town Hall on Housing and Community Meal is on Thursday, June 6 from 4:45 to 8 p.m. at Century House. In addition to the event’s community meal and a resource fair, the townhall includes several guests who will be speaking, listening to suggestions, and taking questions: Dan Levitt, B.C.’s new seniors advocate (he replaces longtime advocate Isobel Mackenzie, who retired in March); New Westminster MLA Jennifer Whiteside; and John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning.
Doors will open at 4:45 p.m., with the community meal taking place at 5:30 p.m. and the townhall running from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Preregistration is required and space is limited. Register in advance by contacting the front desk at Century House, either in person or by calling 604-519-1066.
Other events taking place in New Westminster during Seniors Week include:
- Seniors in the City with Mayor Johnstone. It’s on Tuesday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to noon at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre.
- Queensborough Neighbourhood Walk and Talk. It’s happening at the Queensborough Community Centre on Wednesday, June 5 from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Music in the Lounge: It’s on Thursday, June 6 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Century House.
- Creative Technology Workshop: It’s on Friday, June 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Anvil Centre.
Registration is open and full details about these events can be found online.
“The Seniors Week events are free of charge,” Ladouceur said.
