Hula hoopers, handbell ringers, amateur artists, actors and community advocates all share a home base in downtown Red Deer called The Hub on Ross.
The community centre offers afternoon drop-in sessions for a diverse array of interests — whether it’s yoga, dance or drumming.
And when most downtown businesses shut down for the night,
The Hub’s Ross Street storefront remains a whirlwind of activity, bringing the community together for a common purpose.
Folks can try a new healing exercise program that mixes various body-mind disciplines, or attend popular Friday night concerts featuring performers, such as Amos Garrett, that attract audiences of 60-plus people.
One recent Tuesday evening, participants were having fun while exercising at the Hula Hoop Jam.
Jodie Seymour, who runs her own hooping business, volunteers to informally facilitate hula hooping at The Hub, saying it’s a great place for novices and experienced hoopers to get together and do their thing.
“It’s a chance for us to meet informally,” said Seymour, who’s own philosophy aligns with The Hub’s goals of building community through shared experiences.
The adult-sized hoops that Seymour brings in make it easy to keep them circling your waist, and “it’s something fun to do,” said Lindsey Geisbrecht, a 28-year-old office worker, who dropped in for the jam for the first time recently with a friend.
“I didn’t know anything about The Hub, so I was pleasantly surprised to see all the things there are going on,” said Elly Hunter, 23, a support worker for the disabled who also attended for the first time.
For many years, The Hub was The Centre Shop, a store that sold hand-crafted wooden items created by mentally disabled residents of Michener Centre.
It has evolved since 2005 into more of a welcoming community centre that integrates those with disabilities with the community at large.
Bev Randers, one of two staff members, said all kinds of people now use the centre, which is still funded by the Persons With Developmental Disabilities Board through the provincial Human Services Department.
Each week, easily 200 people walk through the doors, said Randers.
“Everybody loves the place. It’s a huge success story.”
Randers feels The Hub’s role is to help people make connections through cultural programming.
The centre’s other staffer, Twyla Joy Lapointe, said The Hub often partners with other non-profits to jointly offer activities.
For example, a group such as the Central Alberta Refugee Effort might bring its own facilitator to offer a program such as the Culture Café at The Hub, so there’s a sharing of resources.
“We bring culture to the community 12 hours a day and everybody’s a part of it,” said Lapointe, who believes that culture makes up the fabric of community — and requires a real communal effort.
But the reason so many people buy into what The Hub has to offer, she added, is that “people feel accepted here and everybody brings their best self forward.”
Blair Charters, a 24-year-old restaurant worker, is a regular participant in programs at The Hub because he enjoys the laid-back vibe, which he feels takes the edge off some of the “intensity” of his job.
“What I most enjoy about it is meeting new people and making friends,” Charters added.
“Everybody is equal here,” said Lucinda Sheardown, who facilitates one of the more popular programs offered at The Hub — the PASTA Players acting group.
Sheardown sees acting as a collaborative experience, so everyone’s idea for scenes is considered fair game — and if somebody likes to sing, the group is encouraged to write it into a scene. “Every play is something we can relate to,” said Charters.
In recognition of the Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards being given out in Red Deer in June, the players are writing original scenes that will be performed for the public on the Ross Street Patio.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com