Two of Moose Jaw’s struggling seniors’ organizations may have to amalgamate if they are to survive or receive any type of financial support from the municipality.
That was one idea floated during city council’s May 26 regular meeting, as council discussed ways it could support the Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre (CSCC) and the Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association (MJDSA).
In the end, council unanimously approved a motion to have administration convene a meeting within two weeks with the executives of both groups, members of city administration and councillors, to explore options around the long-term viability of the seniors’ centres in Moose Jaw, with a report to come back to council.
Click here to read about the presentation from both groups to council.
Council discussion
Neither organization has said how much money it would need from council, said Coun. Scott McMann. Residents have also come to him suggesting the seniors’ groups amalgamate and combine operations.
He noted both organizations run similar programs, so council needs to know whether they have made an effort to work together.
“Amalgamation has been discussed, but that is as far as it’s gone,” said Bill Smith, president of Cosmo. He thought Cosmo needed $10,000 per year to survive.
The seniors centre would need $60,000 every year going forward, said Lori Friars, spokeswoman for the seniors’ association. As far as combining both groups, both organizations “are quite far apart.”
“We certainly do things differently and it would be a real big difficulty at this point to amalgamate,” she added. “But down the road, it could change.”
Community support
Friars researched how much funding other seniors’ organizations receive in Saskatchewan. She found:
• Prince Albert, Estevan, Swift Current and Melfort receive nothing
• Weyburn receives $23,800 in provincial funding
• Saskatoon receives $94,106 in federal, provincial and municipal funding
• Regina receives $155,378 in provincial and municipal funding
• Yorkton receives $5,200 in municipal funding
• Nipawin receives $29,415
• North Battleford receives $12,800
Past decisions
Coun. Brian Swanson recalled that he was on city council 30 years ago when it was asked to fund the Eaton’s Centre building. He noted there was no desire between the seniors’ organizations even then to work together.
“I realize it is still a sensitive issue. I do feel there is a role for the city, but I think somehow there has to be some way that there can be synthesis of the organizations, especially where we can show it would save money,” Swanson said.
Cosmo’s utility costs last year were $$14,269, compared to $13,365 the year before. The association’s utilities last year were $55,476, compared to $49,244 the year before.
Last year the seniors’ association received $20,065.30 in municipal funding, while Cosmo received $6,420.90. Swanson pointed out the municipality provides yearly grants to several organizations, such as:
• $393,000 to the art museum
• $376,000 to the cultural centre
• $1.2 million to the library
• $373,000 to the sports grounds
• $108,000 to playgrounds
• $566,000 to Mosaic Place
• $91,000 to Tourism Moose Jaw
• $323,000 to Wakamow Valley Authority
“There seems to be a lack of consistency because we’ll subsidize youth activities, cultural activities, library activates, but with seniors’ centre activities, we drawn the line,” he added.
Co-operation possible
It is possible for both seniors’ organizations to work together since they are both advocating on an issue important to them, said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. Council provides funding to the library and other organizations because they are open to everyone, regardless of age.
“There is some work to be done,” he continued. “I feel we live in a community (where) we have to honour those who have gone before us, and to live in a respectful community, where everyone, young and old, has a part to play in this city.”
The seniors’ association’s agreement is complex, said Coun. Crystal Froese. She thought the way through this problem was for a new agreement to be signed between the association and municipality.
“I think both of these (groups) are incredibly vital,” she added. “It is not about pitting one against another. It is about strengthening the relationship through both of these.”
Council does not have much time to address this concern, said Coun. Dawn Luhning. She worried that this issue would become caught up in bureaucratic red tape; summer is also coming, while the organizations could shut down in a few months. Therefore, council needs to make a decision soon.
“My concern right now is how long is it going to take? We need to start talking about this yesterday,” she added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 10.
