A steady stream of seasoned Central Albertans visited the more than 40 vendors at the annual Seniors Information Fair at Collicutt Centre on Tuesday morning.
Georgia Major, community and program facilitator with the city, said last year more than 900 people attended the free fair that is geared to people 55 and older, so word of the fair has spread.
"They're interested in finding out what kinds of organizations are there to help them. This is an opportunity for seniors to come around and learn what kind of resources are available to them at no cost or low cost," Major said.
Organized by the local Senior Service Providers Interagency group, the event was held on the International Day of Older Persons.
Stephanie Gramlich, who was at the fair representing the City of Red Deer's parking program, said the new downtown pay parking system went into effect in 2023 just prior to last year's fair, so representatives at the fair last year were inundated with inquiries.
People have since gotten used to the new pay system, but still had some questions on Tuesday, she said.
"A lot of people area still learning the functions of the app, including the refund," Gramlich said about the app that drivers can add to their cellphones that allows them to save money on parking.
One app user told her that parking for a quick visit to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription only cost 18 cents with the refund feature.
"You don't realize how cheap parking is when you only pay for what you use, rather than pay for what you think you're going to be using," Gramlich said.
She added people were also happy to hear that the city is responding to survey feedback and will add more pay stations. Seven more pay stations will be installed this winter or spring in the downtown to make them easier to access.
Currently there are 21 pay stations, of which 19 are located downtown, with two by Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
The Red Deer chapter of the Alberta Federation of Union Retirees (AFUR) also returned this year to set up a table at the fair.
AFUR member Karen Reay said the fair is an opportunity to reach a lot of people and tell them about the issues AFUR supports, like protecting the environment and the expansion of the federal Pharmacare program once it is passed in Parliament.
"We're retired from the job, but not from the fight," Reay said.
"We want universal Pharmacare. There are people who go without food to buy their medications. There are people who go without medications to buy food. That just makes them sick and they end up in the hospital."
