Hundreds of people over the age of 55 gathered at the Collicutt Centre for the annual Seniors Information Fair.
The event was hosted by the City of Red Deer in conjunction with Seniors Service Providers Interagency on Thursday, with at least 600 people coming through the doors to gather information from 40-plus vendors.
“Today is an opportunity to bring different service providers and organizations that offer service to older adults under on roof,” said Georgia Major, community and program facilitator with the City of Red Deer.
“The seniors will be able to meet with the different vendors to see what services they offer and to learn what’s happening in the community.”
Some of the fair vendors include the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, Primary Care Network, Alberta Health Services, Parkland Funeral Home, Cycling Without Age and Alzheimer Society.
There were also opportunities for seniors to try out ice skating, wall climbing, pickleball and samples of fitness classes, such as spin bikes.
“The Seniors Information Fair is kind of like a one-stop shop to get information for seniors,” said Major.
“We want seniors to stay healthy and wellness is a big component. We’re showcasing services that can help them stay fit. We have organizations here that offer recreational services, such as the City of Red Deer, as well as Red Deer County and YMCA.”
The City of Red Deer’s Transit Action Bus was on-site at the fair – attendees were able to learn how to enter and exit the bus safely. Attendees were also given the opportunity to learn about the new parking infrastructure improvement project, which uses the HotSpot mobile app.
The Seniors Information Fair was not held for a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned last year, with more than 300 people in attendance. Major said it was exciting to see double the number of attendees at this year’s fair.
“Seniors are wanting to find out what’s available for them, wanting to stay well and wanting to stay connected to the community. This is a great place for them to grab that information,” Major said.
Oct. 1 is recognized as the International Day of Older Persons.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter