Twenty years ago, Sylvia Luxton was a self-proclaimed “junior senior” passionate about the need for a seniors centre in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
It did not take long for serendipity to intervene.
After being turned down by the then-mayor Frank Jonkman about a seniors centre due to lack of funds, the Danube Counties German Club decided to shut down and donate its property to the town.
The Danube Seniors Leisure Centre has been around ever since and celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday.
“It is wonderful to be here. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get this place going,” Luxton said.
The town renovated, updated and modernized the building, transforming it into a bright, spacious meeting place where seniors from Bradford and surrounding areas can get together.
Members of the Danube Counties German Club were given lifetime memberships in the new leisure centre, and a seniors association was formed to coordinate the volunteers and operate the centre, offering programs like bridge and skat (a German card game), as well as health seminars, fitness classes, movie nights, and monthly lunches.
Over the years, local businesses helped add a woodworking shop, greenhouse, and paved parking lot. The seniors have held craft fairs, health fairs, seminars, and concerts.
The centre also partnered with Community and Home Assistance To Seniors (CHATS), and has raised money for Southlake Regional Health Centre and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Looking ahead, Luxton said it may be time for the centre to stop relying so heavily on volunteers.
“We always managed with volunteers, but that is changing. The volunteer situation is not what it was,” Luxton said, suggesting the centre could hire more help, such as a chef and instructors, to maintain its programs and traditions.
At the centre’s anniversary party Saturday, Bradford Mayor Rob Keffer said he was thrilled to help celebrate its 20 years in the community.
“It speaks to the community feeling we have here… and we’re always thankful for the volunteers and the organizers who keep the centre going,” he said.
