Campbell River seniors may have finally found the perfect home – at least for now.
The Seniors Society is proposing to set up a seniors’ centre split between two locations – the Sportsplex and the Community Centre.
Both are city-owned buildings and representatives from the society were at the Aug. 13 council meeting to ask permission to use the facilities.
“The Campbell River Seniors’ Centre Society would like to request that the council allow the society to use space in city-owned buildings rent free to facilitate the establishment of a seniors’ centre in Campbell River with the partnership of the city,” said Bruno Fornika, chair of the building committee which has spent several months trying to find a place for the seniors’ centre.
The centre was operating out of the Campbell River Common Mall rent-free but the seniors were forced to move when the landlord needed the space.
Since June, the seniors have been located at Radiant Life church, behind the downtown fire hall and next to Coast Realty, but hours are limited and it’s only a temporary shelter.
Fornika said the seniors have been assured by city staff that the Sportsplex is available Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Mondays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Community Centre is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. but it’s one room and a smaller space with no access to a kitchen.
The Sportsplex on the other hand has two rooms available and a kitchen with a community dishwasher.
Coun. Andy Adams said he was pleased to see city staff work with the seniors society, which has searched high and low for a suitable building, to try and find a solution.
“I want to applaud your society in its collaboration with city staff in finding an interim solution until you’re able to obtain the desired long-term goal,” Adams said.
Adams made a motion, which was approved by council, to have staff report back on the ramifications of allowing the seniors rent-free use of the two city facilities.
Coun. Claire Moglove, before voting in favour of the motion, wanted to ensure the report could come back to council within two weeks so it would not hold up the seniors.
“I absolutely applaud the concept, I just need to know, as a councillor, what the ramifications are,” Moglove said. “Whether there’s revenue lost, or what that means. I wouldn’t want to postpone it. The sooner we can get this done, the better.”
City staff said they would be able to have the report back to council by its next meeting which is this Tuesday, Aug. 27.
