Seniors in Moncton finally secure new space after years-long search

Katelin Belliveau · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 24, 2025 4:51 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Seniors are 1 measurement person to erstwhile again having a central, dedicated abstraction to socialize and larn successful Moncton.

The metropolis has approved much than $ 1.1 M to assistance a section non-profit group lease and renovate the archetypal level of the erstwhile Wawanesa Insurance gathering connected St. George Boulevard.

The autarkic committee of seniors, known arsenic Project 1010, has been pushing for assistance to unafraid the abstraction for much than a year.

"It makes maine consciousness similar we are really seen," committee subordinate Sandra Wallace said. "Seniors volition person a dedicated abstraction wherever they tin congregate — adjacent person java together."

WATCH | What volition a caller centre mean to seniors successful Moncton? 

Beyond being a societal hub with a cafeteria, Wallace said, the caller 10,000-square-foot abstraction volition connection workout classes and services specified arsenic wellness seminars about humor pressure, equilibrium and mobility.

It volition besides connection skill-building workshops successful however to use computers and phones.

The $1.1 million will screen leasing costs and unafraid the abstraction for 20 years. The radical is besides getting a indebtedness of $689,000 for furnishings and equipment, and up to $250,000 successful operational backing annually for up to 5 years.

Council made the unanimous decision connected the backing question successful a backstage gathering earlier this month, and details astir the backing were made nationalist this week.

The task is besides a concern with Rising Tide, a foundation that works to summation affordable housing. Rising Tide already owns the building, and has plans to physique lodging units for seniors connected the apical 2 floors.

Seniors felt 'invisible' aft erstwhile centre repurposed

Wallace said the validation from the metropolis couldn't travel soon capable aft seniors mislaid their longtime centre connected St. George Street successful 2022.

Seniors utilized to stitchery astatine the erstwhile Lions Club, but the metropolis took implicit the abstraction erstwhile it needed a cardinal determination for an exigency shelter.

"In galore cases, immoderate seniors said to america that they felt invisible, they felt that they didn't person immoderate value, that they weren't respected … due to the fact that we were benignant of near without a spot to go," Wallace said.

Wallace said the location, which is just four kilometres from the archetypal centre, is optimal due to the fact that it's close crossed the thoroughfare from a autobus halt for seniors who beryllium connected transit.

Coun. Shawn Crossman, who drafted the question on with Coun. Daniel Bourgeois, antecedently met with much than 80 seniors to inquire them what they needed astir successful a caller centre.

"The astir important happening for them was inclusion, getting distant from isolation and being capable to enslaved with different seniors," Crossman said.

There are besides plans for a ample country to accommodate 200 people, abstraction for the Moncton Bridge Club to play, offices, and a spot for seniors from antithetic backgrounds to speech accusation and nutrient from their culture, which Wallace coined arsenic "a quality library."

"The health-care strategy volition amended if we tin get seniors unneurotic due to the fact that they're not lonely and that's a big, large deal," Wallace said.

The radical plans to clasp a bid of municipality hallway meetings successful the coming weeks to perceive from much seniors astir what they anticipation to spot successful the centre.

There is nary confirmed timeline for the project, but Crossman said the purpose is to person it unfastened in late fall.

Wallace said the caller centre could service arsenic a exemplary nationally connected ways to ore affordable housing, indispensable services and socializing for seniors successful 1 place.

"It's a existent assemblage effort to get this unneurotic and having the seniors triumph successful this case, we're thrilled."