Golden years are looking to gleam brighter in Penetanguishene’s future, according to a recent council decision.
Council hastily approved a request to ask the province for operation of a seniors active living centre within the town during the recent regular meeting, committing over $50,000 for in-kind contributions and putting related costs onto the upcoming 2025 budget.
The cause for the rushed decision was due to the mid-September deadline for application proposals the day after council convened. Following a committee of the whole recommendation from August, a resolution from council was required to confirm the annual contribution to the centre within the application.
Provincially, 316 senior active living centres receive annual funding through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility for up to 80 per cent of a centre’s operating cost to a maximum of $50,000, with the municipality providing a minimum of 20 per cent. Up to $15 million has been invested by the province this fiscal year towards the centres.
The Askennonia Senior Centre in Midland, Georgian Shores Swinging Seniors in Tiny Township, and Bayshore Senior Citizens Association in Elmvale received funding in July for their centres.
Within the August staff report, it was noted that Penetanguishene was “currently considered an underserviced area based on the SALC program.” Recommendations for an in-town senior active living centre was noted in the 2021 arena and recreation centre study as well as the 2021 age-friendly plan.
Programming was anticipated to be held at the Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre when available, and noted the proposed multi-use recreation centre in the recommendation considerations.
Approved by council was a commitment for $51,000 of in-kind contributions to its operation, a $10,000 addition to the upcoming budget for start up and operation as well as a $3,000 addition to the 2026 operating budget. Also, an annual commitment for a 20 per cent contribution was approved, along with a direction that staff review the access to affordable recreation policy and explore waiving membership fees for eligible seniors.
“We've heard from seniors that they feel at times they are not being supported or have the necessary services in the town,” Mayor Doug Rawson told MidlandToday.
Rawson praised staff for identifying the proposal and need within the community.
“It’s a relatively small investment in our budget to be able to support seniors by having an active living and seniors support centre,” said Rawson, “so I think that's tremendous and something we should all be proud of; trying to provide more service for everybody in the community.”
The seniors active living centre proposal report can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.
Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53 when available, or on the Rogers TV website.
Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
