Amid much outcry, council opted to sign a non-binding memorandum of understanding that may pave the way for changes in seniors’ recreational programming.
On Sept. 29, council voted 6-1 in favour of entering into an agreement with the Squamish Senior Citizens Home Society to pursue a licence agreement and develop a new seniors hub at the Westwinds.
Coun. Chris Pettingill was the sole dissenting vote.
The Westwinds, at 38275 Third Avenue, is a new Squamish Senior Citizens Home Society housing project in downtown Squamish. The 232-unit building is expected to open in 2022.
Before council’s vote, there was much discussion about the controversy surrounding the future of The 55 Activity Centre.
In recent weeks, some seniors have come to believe that their dedicated space is being taken away. This was acknowledged by Mayor Karen Elliott.
“We’ve been getting letters about the intent to displace seniors and to turn [The 55] into a youth hub, and that’s not what I see from this proposal at all, but rather to protect a seniors hub, bring it to seniors in the Westwinds, and then still enable seniors to have programming and space in Brennan park, at Westwinds, at The 55, and, potentially, in other neighbourhood hubs we create,” Elliott said. “So, to me, this is about creating more space.”
She noted, however, things will likely have to change at The 55, and this would probably affect the future of the Seniors Centre Society, which was established as an advisory committee to the municipality’s parks and recreation department in 2008.
“I think going forward we have to acknowledge the governance now has to shift if this is approved,” said Elliott. “The 55 will likely get renamed, and, so, what is the role of this board that’s worked so hard to advocate for seniors?”
Prior to the council meeting, there was much public critiquing of the District’s plan.
“The [District of Squamish] staff have been on a mission to deny the seniors of their previously dedicated space and, without consultation, have attempted to relocate the seniors to an as-yet unbuilt facility in a different location,” wrote Nelson Winterburn, a director with the Seniors Centre Society, in a widely-circulated public letter shared with The Chief.
“This is totally unacceptable and anathema to the health and well-being of the Squamish seniors’ population. It is a slap in the face of the ladies and gentlemen of this town to be treated in such an underhanded manner — especially considering many of this town’s seniors have contributed tirelessly to sponsoring youth sports as coaches, referees, and sponsors.”
Winterburn called on council to collaborate on a seniors strategy.
“Seniors have earned a place of their own. This is now in danger of it being taken away from them,” wrote Thea Reardon in a letter she sent to The Chief.
“Also, do the good people of Squamish know how much effort by seniors, physical work as well as money, was spent to get the centre started? Dear seniors of Squamish, let’s not sit back and just let this injustice happen to us. Protest any way you can.”
While seniors have been sounding the alarm, District staff say The 55 will remain available for seniors, albeit it may become shared with other age groups.
Staff also say that the proposed Westwinds facility would then become the new dedicated seniors’ space.
That building is being built about 100 metres down the block from The 55.
Disputes over The 55 have been happening for the last few months.
Many seniors were under the impression The 55 was created with the intention of being a dedicated seniors-only space, but, this past spring, the District said it planned on making some youth programming available there, raising the ire of a number of seniors.
This was the result of the youth facility closure in March. It was shut with the intention of being relocated to the Buckley Avenue affordable housing project, which is expected to be built by sometime in 2022. The idea was to have youth use The 55 during the afternoons and evenings as a stop-gap in the meantime.
However, COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the seniors centre, and youth did not end up holding their activities there.
The 55 remains closed, but staff say that once it reopens, the plans made prior to its closure will still stand. Seniors will still have access to it, but the facility will become open to youth and the general public in the afternoons and evenings.
Staff say this arrangement has become more needed in recent times, as they say that it is the sole municipal facility operating under capacity.
As a result, making The 55 available to the general public could alleviate crowding at Brennan Park.
“The existing model from prior to the closure will continue. After 4 p.m., [there will be] some mixed-use in the space,” said Natasha Golbeck, the municipality’s general manager of community services.
“But the understanding from some members of the community that The 55 will become the youth centre is not accurate. It will be a multi-use space in the afternoons and evenings until the Westwinds opens.”
Once the Westwinds opens, The 55 will have offerings for seniors, but it will not be a seniors-only space, she said.
Should a dedicated seniors space at the Westwinds become a reality, staff predict the lease will cost the District $50,000 a year for the first five years due to amortized capital improvements. This would pay for design specifications the District gives to the owner as the building is being built.
After that period, it will have a $30,000 price tag annually afterward. Maintenance and janitorial services won’t be a cost to the District.
It will initially cost $25,000 during its first year, as the Westwinds is expected to open mid-2021.
The District has to move quickly on striking a deal, otherwise, the municipality may lose the chance to provide input into the space’s construction, Golbeck said.
She also acknowledged that perhaps there appeared to be some issues with the Squamish Seniors Centre Society, though she added there are good intentions on all sides.
“We have had some relationship breakdown over the years,” she said.
During council’s vote, Pettingill expressed discomfort with signing the Westwinds memorandum.
He said that he wanted the agreement to address access beyond 2 p.m.
The current draft of the memorandum says the Westwind seniors centre will be usable from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday.
“Somehow I feel that needs to be addressed a little more. I do have a concern that this may sit empty or unused,” Pettingill said.
One solution, he said, would have the municipality seek some sort of commitment from Westwinds to hold their own seniors activities and programming after 2 p.m.
***Please note this story has been updated as of Oct. 6. Previously, the District said that youth programming had been held in The 55 earlier this year. However, The Chief has since found municipal staff were mistaken. In fact, the District only planned on holding youth programming there. It wound up not occurring because of COVID-19 closures. The District intends to follow through on holding youth programming at The 55 once the facility opens.
***Please note this story has been updated as of Oct. 5. Initially, the District of Squamish said that the Westwinds project was slated to open in mid-2021. The municipality has since told The Chief that District staff were incorrect. In fact, the Westwinds are expected to open in 2022.
