Janice Erickson, left, works on a project in the arts room on Monday. (Photo Courtesy Derek Brade)

By Chris Brown

Veiner Centre reopened

‘There’s nothing better’: The wait is finally over for Veiner Centre users

Jul 12, 2021 | 5:29 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The snooker balls are being struck and the laughter and good times are back at the Veiner Centre.

After long months of waiting, people were back in the building on Monday.

“Been waiting for this facility to open for probably a year and it’s fantastic,” says Norm Wilson. “You just have to look around and see what kind of a facility this is, this is just beautiful. It doesn’t get any better than this, I don’t think.”

For many ages 50 and over, the Veiner Centre is more than just a place to play snooker, work on a quilt, play cards or grab a bite.

It’s a community and a home away from home. It being closed for nearly a year took a toll on many regulars.

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“My wife is at home and we have a card evening and we have friends come over and with this COVID thing, it’s been less and less. To meet people, to be with people … aren’t we a social animal?” Wilson says. “For someone who has perhaps lost a partner, and this is the serious part, where they’ve lost a partner, who do they talk to, where do they go? You want to feel a part of the living, do you not?”

READ MORE: Veiner Centre to reopen on Monday

Quilter Janice Erickson says she badly missed the socialization aspect of coming to the Veiner Centre.

“I kind of like myself but not now, not after eight months. I don’t want to be by myself anymore. I want to be out in the community,” she says.

“The conversation the socialization and the being able to see what people are doing, being able to see what you can do, learning things from people, it’s awesome, there’s nothing better,” _{Janice Erickson}

She was ecstatic to get back to the Veiner Centre, saying it’s just not the same sewing at home by yourself or with a couple of friends.

“The conversation the socialization and the being able to see what people are doing, being able to see what you can do, learning things from people, it’s awesome, there’s nothing better,” she says.

Wilson missed racking up the balls and knocking them down. He also missed getting a bite to eat at the Veiner Centre, which he says offers a meal that can’t be beaten for quality and cost.

He also missed the gentle ribbing, the camaraderie and the small talk around the tables – gaming or eating.

“It’s just great to be back. You can catch up on some of the happenings that’s going on, family, grandchildren and so on and so forth,” he says.

Players dropped in for snooker on the first day of the Veiner Centre’s reopening. (Photo Courtesy Derek Brade)

Wilson hopes to see plenty of former users return to the Veiner Centre and new faces as well.

“I wish more seniors would say look, let’s get back to this,” he says. “So it costs a few dollars or fees whatever; let’s do it. Let’s keep it alive.”

Erickson echoes that.

“My fear is if we don’t use it we’ll lose it,” she says.

The Veiner Centre is operating on reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and lunch is not being served at this time.

You can see an interim summer schedule here.