The Yellowknife Seniors Society, based at the Baker Centre, has been around since 1992 and is an organization which provides programs for seniors in the city and around.
There’s something going on almost every day of the week, said Wendy Bisaro, the society’s president.
“Not everything is run by the society, but it offers a gateway for people to come and find out what’s going on,” she said.
A typical week will feature a walk exercise program on three mornings, morning coffee clubs and strength classes. There is drop-in curling at the Yellowknife Curling Centre every Monday afternoon, lane bowling every Wednesday afternoon at the Kingpin Bowling Centre and Dancing Buddies on Friday evenings. Tai Chi is also taught a couple of days a week.
You can even do yoga, attend the Book Club or if Scottish country dancing is your thing, there’s that as well on Monday evenings.
You’ll be reminded that it isn’t Scottish highland dancing — no swords or shields to be danced around.
But perhaps the most popular — and certainly the longest-running — event of the week is Lunch with a Bunch on Fridays at 12 p.m. Each lunch is sponsored by a group or by individuals and that sponsorship is what helps pay for everything that is put out for people to enjoy.
“We try to provide an outlet for people who need it,” said Bisaro. “You may see different people, but it’s a network for people who don’t have one and it makes a difference.”
That network is vital to seniors as they grow older, she added.
“Loneliness has an impact on peoples’ lives and if you’re not able to go out and be social, your quality of life will go down,” she said. “You have no one to be with and that’s extremely tough. Those who have mobility issues can find things even tougher, so being around others is vitally important.”
The society also acts as a resource for people who may have questions about programs offered by either the GNWT or the city.
There’s also an advocacy committee, which works to get better benefits and services for seniors by lobbying various levels of government.
You can get more details at the society’s website, though Bisaro did say that the website will be getting a revamp in due time.