Communitynow Happy 55 Gang bowls for community and friendship

The Happy 55 Gang is a Burnaby-based bowling league of more than 60 bowlers aged 55 and up League president Jeanette Keller said the league is a community of friends from all over MetroVancouver.

The gang moved to Revs Bowling Entertainment Centre in Burnaby in 2002 when the lanes atWestVancouver’s Park Royal closed.

The bowlers rave about how the sport combines physical activity with community.

“It’s the camaraderie more than anything,” Keller said. “People don’t hesitate to give everybody a hug,” she added

Jessie Smith, a Burnaby resident, said bowling is a great activity to get people, especially seniors, out of the house and to spend time with friends

Born and raised Burnaby resident Barry Hodge, wearing a hat declaring “I’d rather be bowling,” said bowling for him is both stress relief and an action-packed game.

Revs, recently purchased for redevelopment, will be open for at least a year, but after that, the Happy 55 bowlers are unsure of what’s next.

Judith Jensen of New Westminster, who’s been with the league about 25 years, said she’d like to see a new bowling alley come to Burnaby in the future.