After decades in their former location, the New Horizons Seniors Club of Yorkton is enjoying its new digs.
Jean Remezoff with the club said accessibility was the biggest issue with the old home, located on First Avenue North. The old home had stairs to climb and no nearby parking.
“The place that we’re renting now has a ground-level entrance and there’s a parking lot,” said Remezoff in an interview with Yorkton This Week and SaskToday.
Maintenance was a lot of work for the seniors’ group’s few volunteers, and expenses were a growing concern. The centre used to rent its next-door area to Dance Innovations, but the studio moved, so they lost that revenue source. Taxes have also gone up in the last three years.
According to Remezoff, New Horizons formed in 1978 and had been in the First Avenue North building since its inception.
Remezoff stressed the organization is still active. It will continue to host weekly Friday night dances at its new home at Yorkton’s Victory Church at 38 Bradbrooke Drive. During their first two dances Aug. 1 and 8, people were happy with the facility, and Remezoff said it seems like the club now has a larger dance floor.
“Our first dance, we had 104 people, which is a pretty good crowd, and then yesterday [Aug. 8] was our second dance,” said Remezoff on Aug. 9.
The dances remain their biggest draw. Remezoff noted New Horizons started with singles’ dances, but now they are for families, with those 16 and under getting in free.
“Last night it was really cute because there were two girls who are maybe 10 years old, and they are quite the dancers. I got a video clip of it, and it’s just heart-warming to see them. It’s obvious that this will continue into the next generation to come.”
New Horizons has been looking for another location for its yoga classes, which were offered twice a week at the old club building, and Remezoff said she thinks she has found one.
“We still will continue some of the things that we did. For example, we offered the facility for the mature driver course, which we still would be able to do, and of course we will explore other things. Because we won’t have the responsibility of the building, we could probably get involved in other things in the community,” said Remezoff.
New Horizons is looking forward to supporting other organizations.
Remezoff said the club has 98 members. Membership dipped during the pandemic, but some have returned.
“With us, it’s only $5, and many have asked what can we offer for $5. The benefits of membership really are supporting the organization, so when I apply for grants, I can state that we have members.”
A free meal is offered to members at the annual general meeting, and their annual Christmas concert with a potluck supper is also free to members.
The Yorkton Boys and Girls Club will be moving its middle years program, for children in kindergarten to age 12, to New Horizons’ old home.
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