An organization that aims to reduce senior isolation and connect generations in the community officially has their own office space. 

Age Friendly Shaunavon held their grand opening on Friday, inviting local and provincial figures to join the community in snacks, tours, and a ribbon cutting.  

Vanessa Cruthers, Senior Resource Coordinator for the organization, said they were fortunate to have Minister Everett Hindley, MLA Doug Steel and Town Mayor Kyle Bennett come out.  

“Our goals are to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible and to be a community connector,” she explained. “Getting seniors out in the community, meeting their needs, and keeping them in their home and out of the healthcare system.” 

According to Hindley, Shaunavon is one of 13 communities in the province that is a recipient of the Facilitating Independence of Older Adults in the Community granting program. 

“Based on feedback that I was hearing as the Minister for seniors and as an MLA and conversations I was having with fellow colleagues like Doug Steele here in Cypress Hills, talking about the need for trying to find ways we as a regional government can support seniors to remain at home longer,” he added. “Yes, it's important that we invest in things like long term care, hospital services and the very valuable staff we need to run those services, but also to be able to—and I would hear this consistently—find ways that we can support seniors so they can stay at home as long as possible. I would speak about just the leadership shown here in the community of Shaunavon, by the elected leadership and those within the community: seniors and older adults and businesses and organizations that have wanted to help out.” 

Steele commended Hindley’s comments on the efforts being done by the folks in Shaunavon to ensure that the gaps in generations are bridged and the community is a safe, inclusive place for everyone to call home.  

When asked about how it feels to see this big step being taken, he said, "It's great. It’s showing volunteerism and cooperating and working together from a provincial level right down to the local level. These are the types of situations that can really add quality of life to our seniors as they get older; to be able to stay in their communities where they worked and raised families and not rushing off to some facility, sometimes alone. It's right here with a little assistance to be able to stay here. It’s just awesome. It’s been an honour to be here today."