( Tiffany Goodwein/ CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Veiner Centre Action Group focused on future of facility

Oct 25, 2020 | 5:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Organizers of a protest against the continued closure of the Veiner centre at city hall are now focusing their attention on the future of the facility. This comes after Mayor Ted Clugston told CHAT NEWS at the Monday Oct. 19 council meeting that the Veiner centre will not close.

“I was really pleased to hear that. I had not been able to get anyone from City administration to commit to the future of the Veiner centre so it was a huge relief to hear after city council him stating that in fact, they would be reopening the Veiner centre,” said Michele Winger of the Veiner Centre Action group.

With the mayor’s assurance on Monday, Winger said the group is now looking long-term.

“My biggest concern about reopening is having it stay as a seniors centre. Now that we know that it is going to be open now it is a question of, will it be a seniors centre or will it be opened up to a broader age band? As it is, we are focusing on people 50 plus, which is 37 per cent of our population. So we have a lot of people that could use it just as a seniors centre.” Winger said.

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As for the official reopening date. Winger said she has not been given a firm date by the city but believes it could reopen sometime in early 2021.

Once the facility does open its doors Winger says precautions will be taken.

“I toured the facility with Aaron Nelson (Manager of Community Connections) and he showed me all the various precautions that they have already ready for reopening. There is a lot of plexi-glass shields going on, social distancing. So the city has done what they can on that part,” she said.

But with card games like Bridge played frequently, concerns still lie as to how to bring the activities back come reopening.

“I think the members would have to take a look at, should we be wearing masks? And how often will we be cleaning our hands? Some activities will be safer than others will, like with painting we are able to distance from each other, and quilting as well,” Winger said.

Winger added that when the facility does reopen she is hopeful that the city will have a stronger operating plan. The same goes for when a new operator is chosen to run the facility. A request for proposals went out in the summer, and it has closed for submissions.

A link to the Veiner Centre Action Group Facebook page can be found here.