Seniors gathered at the Legacy Centre for an information session aimed at connecting them with local services and supports.
The event was held on March 14 in collaboration with the City of Lloydminster and the Lloydminster Learning Council Association. It brought together 25 service organizations to make vital information easily accessible to seniors.
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“We do education to make lifelong learning available to everyone,” said Kimberly Englot, program director at the Lloydminster Learning Council Association. “We try to inspire people to learn at any age from zero up to 99 and beyond.”
The City of Lloydminster’s Marie-Pierre Cote emphasized the need for a centralized event.
“We wanted to create a one-stop shop for people to collect all supports and resources they need ,” she said. “There’s no other event that provides this opportunity.”
Attendees had access to information on health, housing, recreation and wellness. The event also featured breakout rooms and interactive sessions.
“Everyone has been very pleased and happy to have everything in one place,” said Englot. “The breakout rooms have also been very well received, especially Summit Performance’s session on wellness for seniors.”
One participant raised concerns about driving and reaction time. Englot was able to direct them to an on-site seminar on the topic.
“That’s what we’re hoping they take away—new information or a contact to a resource they couldn’t get before,” she said. “It avoids phone tag. The person they need to talk to is right here.”
Despite challenging weather conditions, the event saw strong participation.
“We know the senior population is growing,” Cote said. “We want to show we care about them and provide them with information.”
She added the event also helps city officials understand seniors’ needs.
“It’s to make sure we fulfill these needs by them coming here,” she said.
Organizers hope the event fosters stronger connections between seniors and the services available to them.
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