The doors are always open at Century House – for members and non-members alike.
The president and vice-president of the Century House Association recently appeared before city council to discuss Seniors Week 2024 and the centre’s offerings.
“Century House is a leading-edge facility providing opportunities for adults 50-plus to explore a wide variety of activities, education, wellness, fitness programs, as well as social connections, and much more. All within a welcoming, supportive and stimulating community of peers,” said Bill Harper, the association’s vice-president. “Century House Association has more than 1,400 members who come to Century House for a meaningful engagement in more than 45 activity groups and support groups that are entirely run by volunteer members. This number does not include various committees and informal groups our members have created.”
Harper said the Century House Association’s offerings also include live performances and a popular monthly newsletter, the Clarion.
Along with the activities overseen by volunteers, association president Anne Ladouceur said City of New Westminster staff also lead many programs at the centre.
“The City of New Westminster has undertaken policies designed to reduce isolation in New Westminster, and the Century House Association is playing an important role in meeting those objectives by providing seniors in our community with opportunities for meaningful engagement at Century House,” she said. “Just having a space or a building to go to does not necessarily reduce isolation. It's what opportunities are offered within that venue that bring people together to connect.”
At the June 27 council meeting, Coun. Ruby Campbell noted that people do not need to be members of Century House to visit the building at 620 Eighth St. in Moody Park.
“If you're participating in some of the activity groups that are run by the Century House Association, you do have to be a member,” Ladouceur said. “But if you're participating in some of the classes that are offered by the city, you do not have to be a member necessarily.”
The Connections Café, operated by the City of New Westminster, is open to all community members. Open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., it serves snacks and lunch.
“We have lunch menu every day, Monday to Friday, and you do not have to be a member to come in and partake of the lunch,” Ladouceur said. “You can go for a coffee. You can come in and just sit. You can come and talk with your friends; that can be a meeting place for people to get together, which it often is. You can come in, read the newspaper. For all of those things, the doors are open, and you can come into Century House without being a member.”
During Seniors Week, which is June 2 to 8, several free events are taking place in New Westminster:
- 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.
- Town Hall on Housing and Community Meal. Doors open at 4:45 at which time a resource fair begins. A community meal is at 5:30 p.m. and a townhall on seniors housing issues is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It’s taking place at Century House.
- 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. Register in advance by contacting the front desk at Century House, either in person or by calling 604-519-1066.
