LSCO celebrates 50 years of service with a good old-fashioned block party

By Lethbridge Herald on July 29, 2025.

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) CEO Kaitlyn Weaver hands out water to guests partaking of the free community barbecue, during the LSCO's 50th Anniversary Block Party at Civic Centre Track Saturday.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

To celebrate its 50 years of service to Lethbridge seniors and the community at large in grand style, the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) threw a 50th Anniversary Block Party at the Civic Centre Track, behind the LSCO facility Saturday.

“It feels really good to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary, especially so new to the job,” said LSCO executive director Kaitlyn Weaver, who’s been at the helm for six months. “I feel like it creates this momentum of having new leadership, and to get to celebrate the last 50 years of how things have been. And then we get to look towards the future, to see what it’s gonna be like and what the next 50 years holds.”

Hundreds of Lethbridge residents showed up to celebrate, including members of other not-for-profit organizations and local officials. The all-day family- and pet-friendly event featured live music, a free community barbecue, family games and activities, a blacksmithing demonstration and more. 

Founded on the concept of “a service to seniors by seniors,” the LSCO was established as a society in July 1975, with the mission of being a community focal point offering services, activities, and social opportunities for older adults. City council member and former mayor Rajko Dodic has been coming to the LSCO for years.  

“LSCO over the years has done a fantastic job,” said Dodic. “My connection with them goes back to around 2010. I started coming every Friday with a group of friends to the LCSO and that’s continued to this date. So for 15 years, every Friday I come to enjoy the companionship that LSCO offers. But of course they have other services.

“It’s pretty well open to anyone. My wife herself goes and does some programming here. You’ve got swimming, you’ve got pickleball…there’s a host of activities and services available to the community. I would encourage everyone to at the very least, come in, walk around and have lunch.”

Rob Miyashiro, Lethbridge West MLA and former executive director of the LSCO, was on hand to celebrate and to present a certificate acknowledging the LSCO’s milestone. Miyashiro served the LSCO for 17 years before stepping down after winning the Lethbridge-West by-election in December.

“I spent about 27 per cent of my life and about 40 per cent of my working life at LSCO,” he told the crowd. “Seeing an event like this with all the community engaged with the people here brings me great pleasure. Greetings and congratulations to the Board of Directors, the members and especially the staff who are here today, who certainly made my job as executive director so much easier. Thank you for all the work you have done.”

The LSCO’s multipurpose, 56,200 square foot facility is centrally located just behind the Sterndale Bennett Theatre. Lethbridge’s oldest swimming pool, Fritz Sick Pool, is a part of the facility and offers open swims, aqua-fit and senior programs; programs that are especially important to members of the LSCO.

The LSCO’s history is marked by growth and expansion since its inception; and the organization has become one of the largest senior organizations in Canada.

“I’m so grateful that we’ve got the opportunity to be here today,” said Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “To everybody, the volunteers and all of those have put this together …thank you very much for everything you do for our community, making it more vibrant.”

Like almost all not-for-profit organizations, the LSCO depends on two things to continue its mission; the continual help from its volunteers and the continuous quest for funding. LSCO is working with Community Futures build an endowment fund.

After MP Rachael Thomas, Miyashiro and Hyggen all finished speaking, LSCO board president John Usher was invited to have the last word. 

“All those of you who saw me in the fashion show, know that I’m not just another pretty face…

so I guess after all that we’ve heard so far, I guess what I would really like to know is…is everyone having a good time?” Usher asked. Applause and cheers rose from around the field. ”All right, and that’s all I need to know. Thank you!”