 Margaret-Ann Hooper a member of the Parkinson Pleasure Painters holds up her water colour painting of Vaseaux Lake in the art room of the new Parkinson Senior Centre on Saturday. Hooper's painting and those of others from the group will have an exhibition of their work on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. |
Hooper, who has been painting with the Pleasure Painters for more than 10 years, says the bright space is ideal for the group that meets every Thursday afternoon.
"It's a very relaxing and welcoming place," she said.
"We had a lot of good years out of the building that was on Water street, but this is a good location too," she said.
Pleasure Painters was one of the dozens of groups that were on hand to showcase what they do at the centre at the open house on Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of people visited the facility and took in performances by barbershop quartet Chordial Invitation, tai chi and zumba demonstrations and a pickle ball game.
The new $4.1-million building has been open since Nov. 22, replacing the Water Street Senior Centre, and the open house was an opportunity to formally welcome the building to the city.
"We want the public to know that there's a new building in the community and there's a lot of activities for people to participate in here," said Carole Bridges, president of the of the Parkinson Senior Society.
Bridges said the society accepts people
50 years of age and older and that more activities will be coming soon.
"We've had a great reception by the community so far, so we've had to increase our fitness classes, and add new bridge groups," she said.
They'll also be starting a scrapbooking class and in September, the Sing For Your Life program will be introduced.
Earlier this week, the centre made news for the cracks developing on the wooden floors in the main activity room. The developing cracks were seen to be a sixteenth of an inch wide and most likely caused by wood shrinkage.
Bridges considered this a minor issue.
"We'll be looking into it in July and closing this room, but it won't affect any of our activities," she said.
She said there would be less activity in the main activity room in July anyways because they want more classes to be outside.
"Everything is being dealt with slowly, but I think we're going to get it to just the way we wanted," she added.
Irene Nadin has never noticed the cracks in the floor when she's dancing at the Parkinson Activity Centre on Thursday nights. Nadin has been a member of the activity centre for more than 10 years and was a regular at the old facility on Water street.
"I'm in here all the time and they weren't an obvious thing for me," she said.
Cracks or no cracks, Nadin is grateful for the facility.
"I think it's fantastic. We're so lucky to have a place like this," she said.
In the meantime, the centre, which already has more than 1,400 members, is looking for more and offered those who checked out the facility on Saturday received free membership until June.
