It’s been more than a month since the Boswyk Seniors Activity Centre in Mission had to stop its programs and close its doors, as part of the provincially mandated COVID-19 protocols. However, board members are planning to re-open the facility on Feb. 1.
Iris Todd-Lewis, vice-president on the board of directors, said the facility has been closed since Christmas, but is now ready to re-open.
“We had to take a step back and make some changes to how we operate. There is more limitations than we had before closing. We have to reinforce the distancing, which means when people arrive here it has to be one-at-a-time,” she explained.
Signing into the centre is as simple as swiping your membership card, but now the distancing will slow down entry, said Todd-Lewis.
Gordon Dainard, director at the Mission Senior’s Centre Association for the Boswyk Seniors Activity Centre, explained the current plan is to have a partial or soft-opening.
“Each activity has to be looked at individually to review each on its own merit,” said Dainard, adding it is about getting the protocols in place.
“It’s more writing everything down so everybody knows what the rules are. As we go through activity by activity, 90 per cent of them are in compliance already. Just dealing with some little things,” he said.
And that last 10 per cent should be in compliance by Feb. 1.
Some of the changes are quite minor. As an example, Dainard said currently the signs at the centre say “Masks must be worn at all times.” Now the new signs will read “Masks must be worn properly at all times.”
Having the protocols in writing will help with any confusion. Another example is if you are eating at a table, you can take mask off. But if you are playing cards at a table, you have to keep the masks on.
Todd-Lewis said they will have to enforce all the rules even more than before, but all activities will resume that were running before the Christmas shut down.
“We just won’t be adding anything new for awhile.”
Carpet bowling, floor curling, billiards, line dancing, the exercise program, health and wellness workshops, library and more should be back at the beginning of the month.
The centre has seen a diminished number of people coming out to activities, about half the number, from before. Todd-Lewis says it’s understandable.
“A lot of it is fear on the part of the public, especially seniors. A lot of them are not sure they want to come out to a group situation, due to COVID-19.”
While attendance may be down, support and new memberships have been constantly improving.
“We have 500 paid members now, only about 150 coming out to activities at the centre, but lots of support,” she said.
Dainard said the numbers have gone way above expectations.
“From the time we opened in September, then had to close in December, the participation in the activities and the interest has been steadily increasing. We were just getting that momentum and now we are back where we were. It has given us a chance to re-evaluate all the programs,” he said, adding he’s hoping to regain the momentum.
Todd-Lewis agreed, adding the plan was to extend the hours in the spring, but called the closure a “huge hiccup” in their plans.
One program that will not return immediately is the centre’s kitchen.
“We are looking at hiring a new coordinator which will really help us with the food service,” said Todd-Lewis. “The kitchen has always been popular for seniors who come in for coffee or a nice lunch.”
Membership to the seniors centre is $15 for the year. You can join by visiting the Mission Leisure Centre and acquiring a photo ID card. Anyone age 55 and older can join.
“Our mission is to provide an activity centre that offers social, physical and mental health. Social interaction is very important for seniors and this is one of the things that COVID-19 is destroying for a lot of us,” said Todd-Lewis.
The centre is run almost exclusively by volunteers and more are always needed, especially now with the need to monitor that all safety protocols are being followed.
Todd-Lewis said it’s important for the centre to open back up.
“It’s a depressing situation for too many people who are alone, don’t have a partner anymore and don’t have many opportunity to see family friends or peers. It’s important to sit and talk to people.”