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Bevy of activities slated for Seniors’ Week in Westlock

Week, which runs June 5-11, is to “honour and recognize seniors for their many contributions to Alberta”
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WESTLOCK – A full slate of activities is on tap in Westlock to celebrate Alberta’s 37th-annual Seniors’ Week and includes a walk and fall prevention clinic, a retiring from the farm information session and a half-day resource fair.

As part of their May 23 regular meeting, councillors voted 6-0 (Coun. Murtaza Jamaly was absent) to proclaim June 5-11 Seniors’ Week — the proclamation from mayor Ralph Leriger highlights the difference seniors make in the community, “from supporting family and friends, to volunteering” and note their value as “priceless as they hold our history, have valuable memories, stories and experiences that help us to look to the future.”

Seniors’ Week has been recognized since 1986 to celebrate and recognize the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta. The week was inspired by the late Alice Modin, who more than 30 years ago began a campaign to start a seniors’ day in Strathcona County that helped pave the way for Seniors’ Week.

The week of local activities, being co-hosted by Westlock Family and Community Support Services and the group Voices for Westlock and District Seniors, starts Monday, June 5, with a “managing medication ‘n more” session from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Westlock Independence Network building at 10164 – 107th Street, while from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, a walk and fall prevention clinic will be held at the Rotary Spirit Centre.

The highlight event is slated for Wednesday, June 7, and focuses on retiring from the farm. Slated to run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the tractor museum, the event will feature advice from an accountant and a lawyer, along with reps from the Agricultural Financial Services Corporation and Alberta Health Services, as well as lunchtime entertainment from the Old Timers Band — this event requires pre-registration via Thressa at 780-349-5246.

“Considering the community that we’re in, this one that will probably provide a lot of pretty valuable pieces of information for the folks moving into town,” said CAO Simone Wiley.

“They’re quite excited and think that there’ll be a good turnout,” added Leriger.

A two-hour session on local day-support programs starts at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 8, at the Westlock Continuing Care Centre, while on Friday, June 9, a “seniors resource fair” to show “what services are being offered in our community” runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westlock Legion.

“We have a full week of events for seniors,” added Wiley.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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