News and Events — Sylvan Lake Seniors Association

Fun Fest September 5, 2024. Sylvan Lake Seniors Association was at the Fun Fest.

Sandra Simpson and Bill McLeod at the Senior’s Association booth with a future member.

Formal ceremony signing commenced the first $12,500 in donations made to our endowment fund.

Melisa Vine, our Community Foundation of Central Alberta liaison for our Seniors Association Endowment Fund was on hand to witness the signing by our table officers and Board of Directors. The certificates of recognition include one to the Euchre club which donated $345 recently. The other two certificates were to IDA Pharmacy and the staff at Mr Mikes restaurant and will be delivered in person to their locations.

"Signing" photo left to right: Anson Geddes, Monica Morcom, Ian Oostindie, Patti Parslow, Melissa Vine, Tracie Jones, Bill McLeod.

Press Release

March 30th, 2024

Sylvan Lake Seniors Association raise near $10,000 for endowment with community business

The Sylvan Lake Seniors Association’s new endowment fund is about to become a reality after an amazing 2-month initial donation sprint and first community business fundraiser. Treasurer, Patti Parslow shared that “The membership voted on establishing the endowment fund on January 31st, and the donations have been rolling in every since. Every week, we are updating our total amount received. The generosity of our members is overwhelming. It is great to see.” As of March 26th, the membership had raised $7990 on their own. The association will have to write at least 45 tax receipts to each of these families.

President Oostindie explained that, “The membership decided to start an endowment fund to escape the ups and downs of government grants that the association has relied on for a significant portion of their budget. Most of our revenue is generated by our own fundraising and occasional fees for some activities. Creating an endowment fund is a way of becoming more self-sufficient while operating an expanded service for older adults in the community.”

The association committed to fundraising the first $5000 by themselves, which is the minimum to join the Red Deer and District Community Foundation who handle many endowment funds in our region. The association has met this goal and with the first community donation, have raised nearly $10,000. The next goal is to reach $25,000 in another year.

The staff team in Mr. Mike’s Restaurant in partnership with the IDA pharmacy in Sixty West became the endowment fund’s first community and business donators. Originally these businesses’ staff planned to participate in the Polar Bear Dip but were forced to reorganize when ice conditions shifted the event to the Meltdown Festival. Several staff were still able to participate including Michael Bell, Connor Lyons, and Yash Patel. Joint businesses’ owner Ketul Patel explained that the Mr. Mikes’ team originally chose the Seniors Association as the worthy recipients of the $1625 in donations the jumpers were collecting. Patel explained that “When I spoke to one of my customers who turned out to be a former executive member of the seniors association, I learned about the new endowment fund. I was excited to hear how the staff team could help seniors in Sylvan Lake forever, by donating to an endowment.”

The association serves over 400 members and has dozens of volunteers and one paid part-time program coordinator. The association often has event and services partnerships with the Town of Sylvan Lake’s FCSS staff. They also rely on their own volunteer team and have some contracted facilitators to provide dozens of workshops and activities. Any member of the public can make a tax-deductible donation to either the endowment to help the association reach over $10,000 and continue to their next fundraising target.

Practically all of the Center activities and programs are open to any community member of any age. Adults, at least 55 years old can get information about the $25 membership by contacting the Seniors Centre in the NexSource Multiplex, 4823 49th Ave, at 403-887-5428 or slseniorspc@gmail.com and on the web, www.sylvanlakeseniors.com Membership gives voting rights and includes the monthly newsletters and events calendar.