Aldergrove’s Old Age Pensioners (OAP) Hall wouldn’t be celebrating its 64th anniversary without the support of its dedicated volunteers and community members.
On May 4, from 1 to 4 p.m., the hall is hosting an afternoon event to celebrate the occasion with cake, music, dance, crafts, snacks, and a 50/50 raffle.
Many volunteers and hall members are helping organize the music sets, tents, tables, decorations, flowers, balloons, and more to create a warm and welcoming afternoon for the anniversary celebration.
The event, which has the theme “celebrating the past, embracing the future,” is also an opportunity for people to learn what the hall does, said Patsy Homan, chair of the OAP Hall.
“Meet our dance groups and learn more about the hall’s history. Various dance groups are volunteering their time to showcase their love of dancing,” she said.
Retired yoga instructor Mary Kydd is one such volunteer who teaches yoga classes at the hall. She will give a gentle chair yoga demonstration at the May 4 event.
People are invited to participate or watch and also ask questions.
Regular yoga classes by Kydd are held Mondays and Fridays at 10 a.m. for $3 per class.
Volunteers also include those from local non-profits or youth programs, businesses and organizations, which have also sponsored the 64th anniversary event.
“Our celebration will be successful largely due to the dedication and kindness of the volunteers, sponsors and support from our community of Aldergrove,” Homan said.
Dave Dahl, vice chair at the hall, commended the work of volunteers of OAP Hall.
“We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the reason for the OAP existence in the first place. It was started around [the 1930s] by a group of concerned citizens that reached the time in their life when they could no longer work,” he said.
After years of advocating to the government, the Old Age Pension was created to support retired working citizens.
“Our goal is to make the hall a viable, enjoyable place for current and future seniors… we are not age restricted and have members ranging in age from their 30s to 90s. We believe healthy aging involves all generations working and playing together,” Dahl said.
The hall hosts events such as card bingo on Sunday nights, the Aldergrove Art Club on Wednesday afternoons, round dancing, a honeybee group, old-time fiddlers, square dancing, a rock and gem club, and others – all thanks to the work of volunteers.
An ongoing community-partnered program with Langley Meals on Wheels will provide lunch for seniors on Thursdays from April to June at local venues, including the Aldergrove Royal Canadian Legion.
The hall is also hosting bread making workshops, and the next is Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon for $60 per person.
Hall 71 is part of the B.C. OAP, which was incorporated in 1937. The OAP is concerned about all aspects of seniors’ lives, including, pensions, taxation, finances, health issues, home support, medicare and Pharmacare, housing and rental issues, social safety, abuse, neglect, fair treatment, and loneliness.
Aldergrove Heritage Hall is located at 3015 273rd St.
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