The Ponoka Drop-in Centre at 5015-46 Avenue is a bright and comfortable place where 55 plus seniors from town and county have gathered for the past three decades to enjoy countless casual social and recreational activities. To celebrate their gala 30th anniversary and to join in with Ponoka Family and Community Support Services in marking Seniors’ Week, members, guests, and visitors are invited to pop in to the drop-in centre on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 for an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A long and colourful history of hospitality
Keen hospitality and family friendships have always been a grand tradition in and around our town and districts since the early settlements over a century ago, with countless social and recreational activities being organized for all age groups by clubs, organizations and community to gather together and have some fun while supporting all sorts of very good causes. While many of our old-timers will fondly remember the longstanding Ponoka Ladies’ Restroom on 51 Avenue, it would be in 1974 that the Ponoka Community Men’s Club and the Senior Citizens’ Friendship Club would unite to form the Ponoka Senior Citizens’ Drop-in Centre.
The very active new club hosted their activities for many years in the former Ponoka Armories Building, and then in December 1985 a milestone for local seniors came with the construction of the present Ponoka Drop-in Centre, which became a reality with a great deal of community promotion and support. The grand opening was held on April 10, 1986 and the spacious fully equipped facility has hosted a busy year round program of activities and community events to the present day. Over the years, the membership of the Ponoka Drop-in Centre has been over 300, and along the way, many new unique and exciting activities have been added for the enjoyment of the members, who pay a membership fee of just $10 a year.
The Ponoka Drop-in Centre elects a full slate of executive members on a regular basis, and for 2016, the present board includes President George Stewart, VP Gail Pugh, second VP Isabel Odgaard, Treasurer Ella Thomas, Asst. Treasurer Dennis Ensminger, Secretary Mary Jones, Asst. Secretary Dorothy Houghton, Past President Bill Jones, and Directors George MacKenzie, Linda Schmautz, Carol Merkel, Trudy Elllsworth, Helen Minde, Glenda Johnson, and Sandra Bingeman. A general meeting and potluck meal is held on the last Friday of every month. The current delightful weekly beehive of casual and invigorating activities at the drop-in centre include billiards at 1 p.m., daytime bridge on Mondays and Thursdays at 1p.m., Monday Whist at 1 p.m., yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., exercises for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday Canasta at 1 p.m., Tuesday Shuffleboard at 7 p.m., piano lessons for seniors on Wednesday mornings, sewing guild on Wednesdays at 9 a.m., Wednesday Crib at 1 p.m., the very popular pickleball on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Centennial Centre, floor curling on Thursdays at 1 p.m., duplicate bridge on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursday Weaving at 1p.m., Art Club Drop with lessons available on Thursday afternoons, Friday ‘500’ sessions at 1 p.m., and summertime horseshoes out back in the pits. Members are welcome to take part in as many events as they wish, and are also encouraged to offer their ideas for new programs and games.
Weekends at your Ponoka Drop-in Centre is also full of musical fun, praise, and camaraderie, with the very popular Jam Sessions every Saturday at 1 p.m. and the presentation of local and visiting gospel groups every third Sunday. The various rooms in the drop-in centre are available for rentals, with bookings and information available by contacting Dorothy Houghton at 403-783-3027 or George McKenzie at 403-783-3514. New members are always welcome to drop in during the week and bring along a friend or phone 403-783-5012 for more information about this great ‘seniors’ experience’ in our home town.