Letter: Continued Senior Neglect Unacceptable In Mission

Dear Editor. Responding to the rallying call of Seniors, to band together, “Unity in Challenging Times”, has sparked formation of a pro-active, private owned, advocacy group dedicated to achieving Seniors Rights, starting with their own Seniors Activity Centre.

The Elder Citizens Action Coalition is constituted to represent the 10,000+, 50+ years old seniors of Mission, to give them a strong united voice, as procrastination for 5 years now, bafflegab by MSCA President Frank Sleigh, still witnesses Seniors without their own Seniors Activity Center.

Seniors need a renaissance, a vision, pro-active progressive leadership that is now available. Indeed, a Community or for our purposes, Seniors progress, is only stymied by the lack of vision & leadership of our leaders.

To place objectives & goals in context, I will use “pro-active” to describe The Elder Citizen Action Coalition, thus, this new private advocacy group, is a “pro-active” body of Seniors demanding Mission Council designate the Mission Community Activity Centre & as recommended by the retained (Consultant), to Seniors full time use now!

The Elder Citizens Action Coalition, advocate no extra costs, to purchase lands & build, instead we say give Seniors sole use of the District owned (paid by Seniors taxes) Community Activity Centre, as a “Seniors Activity Centre”, apply existing operating costs, as a “fee-for-service” to Seniors, for their governance.

We observe a “build and they will come” approach, thus a 7 day/24 hour schedule will permit control of all scheduling of (Senior user groups). It will encourage new members, most of whom want a facility that is ‘up and running’ with many & varied services, to visit, at any time they want, not just at certain scheduled times, like present. As well, a generous Community stands ready to (donate) needed furniture, equipment, games and so forth. Existing Seniors organizations can facilitate a governance committee to schedule use.

Seniors must start to gain an actualization of their needs & lives, a start to eliminating loneliness & creating a new spirit of camaraderie that a central governed facility can realize. The Elder Citizen Action Coalitions rallying call to all Senior’s is, “Unity in Challenging Times” one strong united voice for Seniors. View our web.site http://claw.interactivephp.com/ while work is in progress or June 15, 2011 www.thecouncilclaw.ca Witness pictures of Maple-Ridge Seniors Center to appreciate what a Seniors Activity Centre actually looks like, a statement of our objectives/goals & an idea of some activities & services to be offered.

Future needs of an approx. 20,000 sq ft ground level seniors centre (ie; Maple Ridge concept) on 2 acres adjacent land, owned by the District of Mission (no additional cost to taxpayers) with an entrance covered walkway into the Leisure Centre. A high-rise (height to be determined) low cost & market Seniors housing, adjoining below & above ground parking garage. Ironically, land & current facility was paid by Senior taxpayers dollars over their lifetime & community volunteering that continues into their golden years, so why shouldn’t they have their own Activity Centre?

This is an election year, Saturday November 19, 2011, so Seniors will be looking for Candidates willing to respond to Seniors needs.

Yours truly,

George F. Evens