Fonds 0669 - Grande Prairie & District Golden Age Centre fonds

The first meeting of the Grande Prairie Golden Age Club was held January 6, 1959. The purpose was to organize a seniors' club which would meet on the lower floor of the Grande Prairie Public Library on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Anyone over the age of 60 was eligible to attend. The first men's representative was Harry Rogers; the women's representative was Dorothy Tarrant.
Attendance at the first meeting was 4 women and 18 men. The organization was reported in the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune on January 9, 1959: "Husbands and their wives, and men and women without spouses, found fun and comradship in the Golden Age Club which opened this week for elderly people by the Recreation Department in the basement of the public library building at the corner of 99th Stree and 101 Avenue. Games ranging from chess to dart throwing, from bridge to checkers are available three afternoons a week--Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2-5 p.m. as well as various hobby crafts." Later that month, on January 23, 1959, there was also a report in the Edmonton Journal that the "official organization of the Golden Age Club took place recently when about 34 men and women of the "over sixty" group gathered at their quarters in the recreation centre, Public Library Building, to set up and make plans for future entertainment. Mrs. Dorothy Tarrant, moving factor in the original campaign to organize recreation for older folk, and Harry Rogers, were named to represent the group. It is their intention to continue the type of entertainment proving so popular with both men and women--bridge, chess, checkers, pinochle, and other games, three afternoons each week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. At least one interesting addition--there will no doubt be others in time--on Wednesday afternoons films will be shown between 2 and 3 p.m."

By 1962, membership in the club was up to 75 members and activities had extended to evening meetings. The club was also putting on monthly entertainment and visiting days for patients confined in the Grande Prairie Auxiliary Hospital. They played Bingo and card games with the patients as well as serving them refreshments.

In 1974, the club began construction of the Golden Age Centre on 101 Avenue and 103 Street. This was done with the help of the Grande Prairie Rotary Club, both as funders and as volunteer labourers. The organization was incorporated March 10, 1975 under the name of the Grande Prairie & District Golden Age Centre. A coordinator was then hired to manage the Centre, assisted by many volunteers who help operate the centre on a daily basis. Funding was through a grant from the City of Grande Prairie, membership dues, and rental of their facility.

In 1979 there were around 200 members on the club's roll. An article in the December 20th Daily Herald reported "Recreation in the form of cards, bingo, indoor carpet bowling, shuffleboard, pool, music, reading, pot luck suppers, dancing, bus tours, and even a birthday party each month complete with cake. In addition members enjoy special speakers from time to time, and entertain seniors from Grande Prairie nursing homes, and welcome visits from seniors from outlying areas." That year they also put on a number of events, including a Fashion Show and Fiddling Contest, a Walk-a-thon, a number of contests during Senior Citzens' Week, and the Annual Christmas party.

In 1981, the organization received Charitable Status from Revenue Canada. The Constitution and By-Laws updated in 1983 show three divisions of authority: the Executive, which consisted of the President, the immediate Past-President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; the Council, which consisted of the Executive and 8 directors from the membership; and the Membership, who attended an Annual General Meeting and voted in the Executive. The Council met monthly to plan the activities of the Centre.

All of the activities initiated plans for an expansion in 1980, and in 1984 an addition was built, again with the assistance of the Rotary Club. This provided a sports room downstairs for billiards, carpet bowling, and shuffleboard; and a dance hall/banquet room upstairs. Activities which involved the members of the Golden Age Club into the 1990s included operating the Tourist Booth with the Pioneer Museum, operating a food booth during the Canada Winter Games, and seniors helping seniors doing Income Tax Returns.

The Grande Prairie Golden Age Centre continues to operate programs and a facility in Grande Prairie in 2017.