Branch 93
The name of this Society is:
THE OLD AGE PENSIONERS’ ORGANIZATION BRANCH #93 WILLIAMS LAKE AND DISTRICT SENIORS’ ACTIVITY CENTRE SOCIETY.
One arm of this Society consists of a nine member Board of Directors who handle the logistics of operating the Centre including office management, rentals, building maintenance, kitchen operations, grant applications, activities etc. The other arm is the OAPO Branch #93 of which we have 12 – 15 core members. This group initiates and executes many events throughout the year, deals with the political aspects of seniors’ rights and needs, and works to keep our seniors informed on issues affecting us all.
Much of our fundraising income goes to assisting with the maintenance of our Centre, but we also donate to scholarships and charities, both locally and further afield. The Covid years were difficult for all branches. To help our members through this difficult time, we organized hugely popular safe events like our “parking lot coffee house” during the summer of 2020, and several drive through “dinners out the door” during 2020 and 2021.
Very grateful to be full steam ahead in 2022, we hosted the 2022 BCOAPO annual convention, which was pretty low in attendance but big on enthusiasm. We are looking forward to another great year for 2023.
We would love to hear how your branch has been faring!
Tina Derksen,
President
Branch #126
Originally, we leased the Hall and renamed the building Halbe Hall after Mr. Bill Halbe who had donated the Land. Our OAPO#126 has been maintaining and repairing the hall and provided a Seniors Community Center for 45 plus years.
We were fortunate in November 2020 The Campbell River and District Adult Care Society has been renting our Hall for Adult Day Care. The Adult Day Care seniors are provided with lunch, many activities and is run by Island Health.
Our Member groups started meeting again in September 2021 with Covid restrictions in place. Our Rental groups have been able to return this year in 2022. We are fortunate that several ladies from Cumberland have joined Halbe Hall as members and life members. We are grateful for their help and input.
First Larger Activities since Covid in 2020
1. Birthday Party: We were able to have 95 Birthday Party at Halbe Hall for our Life Member Vicki .
2. First Fund Raiser this July 2022. Some of our senior members had not seen each other since COVID and they enjoyed visiting and selling their 2 years of knitting. Members and friends brought baking, books, white elephant gifts to sell. We had a Raffle
3. Our Art Group had Art Show fund raiser. We wish to thank our Members, their Families and friends for volunteering. Great appreciation of the Black Creek Community for donations of money and products, and great support of our Fund Raiser. We would like to thank the Communities from Campbell River, Black Creek, Courtenay and Cumberland for their continuing support.
4. Fall Start Up Our Member groups Start in September and usually go to end of May.
Our Member Groups are:
a. Craft Tuesday 10 am to 12 pm contact Frances York 250 923-5131.
b. Whist Group Wednesday Evening 7 pm to 9 pm Contact Al Jonsson 250 923-3935.
c. Art Group Thursdays 10:30 am to 2:30 pm (bring lunch) Contact Trudi Garratt 250 337-5037 or email trudigarratt@gmail.com
d. Halbe Hall rentals phone 250 337-5388
Our cost of Membership is $15.00 per Calendar Year.
For Memberships contact President Al Jonsson 250 923-3935 or Secretary Trudi Garratt 250-337-5037 or email trudigarratt@gmail.com
We work with various organizations and community partners to promote the concerns of seniors.
Branch #170
Prior to Covid we had yoga, exercises for seniors, bridge, music nights, carpet bowling, writing class, weekly Blood Pressure and blood sugar clinics, a painters group, and a variety of speakers for our monthly meetings and occasional luncheons that were either catered or pot-luck. We hope to build these activities once again.
Currently we have yoga and carpet bowling, and monthly meetings with refreshments or a meal. We hope to have more lunches this winter and our monthly music night (Old Timers Café) is planning to start again soon. We also rent out our rooms to those needing a space for an event. This October we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary as a member of BCOAPO.
Annual Membership - $15
We have a website with current events www.fulfordseniors.com and we can be contacted through secretary@fulfordseniors.com
You can also contact us by phone: Gladys Campbell at 250 653-4336
Branch #42 Hope
waiting on copy.
