The Community
Press Over 115 Years of Telling YOUR Story
Volume 116 Issue 29
www.thecommunitypress.com
Valley Ski Hill opens PAGE 7
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 s
Gagnon’s four goal game lifts Wheat Kings in win over Vegreville
LESLIE CHOLOWSKY PHOTO
The Killam Jr. B Wheat Kings hosted the Vegreville Rangers on Friday night at the Killam Memorial Arena. Above: #7, Jordan Gagnon, scores the Wheaties first goal in the game, assisted by #19 Kyler Bergseth. Gagnon was on fire on Friday, scoring four of Killam’s five goals for the night, a hattrick plus one - quite a haul. See full story Page 26.
‘Long overdue’ seniors lodge review panel launched Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Province announced on Thursday the launch of a new seniors lodge review panel. Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, says, “Seniors lodges play an essential role in our housing system. These facilities are important to our communities and the residents who live there, especially in rural Alberta. The Seniors Lodge Review Panel will work closely with our partners to review the program and ensure that this program is sustainable for the future.” Co-chairing the panel will be Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, who has also acted as Alberta Seniors and Housing Intergovernmental Relations
Policy Coordinator. Lunty also ran as a candidate for the UCP Nomination in Camrose in 2018. Nixon said of Lunty’s appointment, “MLA Lunty worked for my department in the housing division before being elected as an MLA, and when it comes to the work that my department does on this important issue, I can think of no one better in caucus to advocate and to be able to make sure that we end up with the best seniors lodge program for generations to come.” Co-Chair with Lunty will be Arlene Adamson, President of the Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association. She says, “The Seniors Lodge Program is a unique Alberta solution that plays a critical role in supporting seniors to live well in communities, and it will
be even more important as the need for housing affordability and supports increases to serve our aging population well. “I am honoured to co-chair a review of this program, representing ASCHA’s members, to ensure that it meets the needs of seniors, communities, and housing providers today and into the foreseeable future.” The Lodge program was last reviewed in 2015. The Seniors Lodge Program supports 10,850 units in 149 lodges across the Province. The program provides services to residents, including meals, laundry, housekeeping, and recreational programming. Nixon says this review will also provide an opportunity to smooth transitions between lodges and continuing care homes to ensure the needs of sen-
iors will be met when they need to access more care. He calls the review “long overdue,” noting it was drafted in 2015, “and a tremendous amount of things have changed between 2015 and now.” Nixon said the panel will hear from Albertans and consult with a variety of stakeholders, and will take their feedback on what the needs of the lodge program are. He says, “It’s important for our communities. “I want to stress, our communities are better when Grandma and Grandpa are living with us.” Big Knife Villa in Forestburg is classified as a lodge under the program, managed by The Bethany Group since 2011, under the direction of the Flagstaff Regional Housing Group.