Seniors Keeping Young has plenty of reason to celebrate as they mark three decades of operation and the opening of their new home on Saturday.
The Bowen organization advocates and holds events for seniors (defined as age 55 and up) and has seen a resurgence following the easing of pandemic restrictions. In the last two years membership in Seniors Keeping Young (SKY) has grown from around 30 members to today’s roster of about 140.
“Our mission is the original mission – to improve the mental and physical well being of seniors,” says SKY president Lichen Tilley. “Because there are seniors who are isolated… there are lots of people who need social connection. To make a complete community you need to have seniors involved,” she adds.
Tilley attributes some of the rise in popularity to the wide range of programming SKY has undertaken recently. Weekly events now include speaker sessions, yoga, exercising, musical performances, and walks. There’s also been a pair of social teas at the Museum & Archives which have drawn dozens of visitors from all over the community to enjoy food, music and socializing.
Occasional treks, which Lichen calls the “crown jewel” of SKY events, have also seen day trips to Steveston, Granville Island, Fort Langley, and more. This week the group went to Whistler to visit the village and go to the Audain Art Museum. High demand meant that the planned 38-person bus had to be swapped out for a 52-seater.
Linda Hurlburt, now vice president of SKY, is a long-time resident of the island and originally began coming to Monday sessions which involved a speaker, tea, and yoga all on a Monday morning. “I just thought it was the best deal going,” she says.
In addition to organizing their slate of activities and events, SKY is also involved with advocating for seniors needs in the community. This is what originally inspired Tilley to become involved following a discussion of what accessible parking and transportation options would be available to access the new Community Centre.
“I thought I’m going to make sure that seniors have a presence in this community, and this is what we’ve been trying to do,” says Tilley. “We’re trying to help seniors and advocate for them and provide things that they want. And I think we’re being fairly successful in doing that.”
One of those recent successes is the establishment of a new home in the back of the Blue Cottage on Cardena Drive – residents likely know the front of the building as the street-facing home of Tourism Bowen Island. While the space is small, SKY has been hard at work making it their own and hosting gatherings. The group recently scored a success at council by having the municipality, who own the building, approve a plan to renovate their patio and add a pathway.
“You need a lot of publicity, because we’re doing a lot of things and still some people don’t realize that we’re there and we’re a driving force… we’re going to start having a bit of a non-political, political component,” says Tilley. In addition to more council endeavours, she says this will also include an increased involvement with Bowen’s current Official Community Plan review.
For this weekend though it’s a celebration on Saturday evening, running from 5:30 to 8:30 pm and split between the Blue Cottage and next-door Library Annex. Mayor Andrew Leonard will be present to cut the ribbon, and there will be music and a cash bar. SKY is hoping that in addition to having fun, being able to show off their history and a new home will usher in a new wave of membership.
“We’re getting there. People are saying ‘Oh this is great’ when we have the events like the tea,” says Tilley. “Hopefully at the celebration people will come out and say ‘Oh I haven’t seen you for ages.’ It’s this connection that’s really necessary for everybody on Bowen Island but particularly for seniors.”
