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Senior Centre upgrade approved

The Seniors Friendship Centre in Vanderhoof will benefit from a much-needed upgrade sometime soon.
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Ellen Randall says the new bathroom upgrade in the Senior Friendship Centre will increase accessibility and sanitation.

The Vanderhoof Seniors Friendship Centre’s awfully outdated bathrooms will soon receive a facelift thanks to the Nechako Kitimat Development Fund.

Ellen Randall, secretary for the senior centre, says the renovation will increase accessibility and sanitation.

“The seniors are living longer but by doing that were getting older and many use aids to get around,” said Ms. Randall. “Were going to widen the doors, completely gut the stalls, get new flooring and install sinks that are censored to be more sanitary.”

The Seniors Friendship Centre is one of seven economic-development projects newly approved by the NKDF. The District of Vanderhoof will receive $30,000 to renovate the building’s bathrooms that have not been redone since the building was built in 1979. All seven projects combined bring the NKDF fiscal year-to-date total donations to $122,065 across the investment area.

Wayne Salewski, chair of the NKDF,  is happy that the senior centre was able to benefit from funding this year.

“We are always pleased to support senior citizens. It has always been a priority for the board, for we realize it’s a place we are all going. We’re pleased to be able to facilitate requests by them and hope to be able to continue in the future,” said Mr. Salewski.

The Seniors Friendship Centre is used mainly for senior activity but each year the building hosts an array of community group gatherings including weddings, funerals and Christmas work parties. Upcoming events include a Health Day on Nov. 5 where participants can get flu shots and health advice and the Nov.11 Cadets gathering for Remembrance Day. Since the centre slows down with less functions in January, the hope is to have a contractor start the bathroom renovations in the new year.

“We break a little better than even but we’re not getting rich,” said Ms. Randall. “It’s a nice building but without the upgrades it won’t stay nice for long and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without the outside funding.”

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad was happy with the diversification of funding.

“The NKDF’s investments will help further cultivate community development here in the Nechako region. Investments like these strengthen our regional economy and make like better for all our citizens.”