Seniors centres must evolve to keep up with the times

By Lethbridge Herald on November 21, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Seniors centres such as the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) are as important now as they’ve ever been in providing a vital community hub for older adults, fostering social connections, promoting health and wellness and offering essential support services. 

These centres remain crucial in addressing the evolving needs of the senior population by combating social isolation and offering programs that enhance quality of life and independence. 

The ongoing challenges they face include maintaining funding, volunteerism and continuously evolving to remain relevant to the communities they serve. 

“The LSCO is a one-stop shop for seniors…a resource hub where we do all sorts of different things,” says executive director Kaitlynn Weaver. “We have memberships for seniors 55 plus, as well as adults 35 plus. It is one of the biggest senior centers in western Canada at 56,000 square feet.” 

The LSCO has numerous programs and services including fitness and recreation classes, a fitness centre and a support services department which includes Meals on Wheels, the Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network and volunteer services programs. 

There’s also a diner, which is open to the public.

Because the LSCO is vital to the community, one of the tricky challenges is (not) trying to be the hub of everything, because being everything for everybody can result in being “kind of nothing for nobody” according to Weaver.

Another challenge is the changing definition of a “senior.” The phrase “70 is the new 60” reflects how older adults today are experiencing improved physical and mental health, leading to a reevaluation of the term senior, which traditionally starts at age 65. 

This generational shift highlights that many older adults today are more cognitively and physically fit than previous generations at the same age, which requires new ways to define and categorize older age.

“And why is that? You know, more years of education, people are learning more, they’re keeping their brains healthy; improved medical care is a big one; less smoking is huge…people smoke less, so they age slower,” says Weaver.

In response, the LSCO and other seniors centres are adapting their programs and services to cater to this more active, independent and tech-savvy demographic, focusing on holistic wellness, social connection, and lifelong learning.

“There is (also) a larger diversity of seniors than there was in the past, mostly due to immigration and things like that. And then also people moving from big cities…we have a lot of folks from Ontario and Toronto who are downsizing and coming to Lethbridge, for example. And so there’s more diversity in race, culture, class…” says Weaver.

Weaver is pleased that the LSCO has evolved to being a one-stop resource hub of senior support services and beyond a place to socialize and have coffee with friends (although that remains a really important piece); a model other seniors centres are now emulating.

“I’ve been pretty pleased that lots of folks who are building new senior centers, for example in Strathcona County, have contacted me to ask: ‘What are you guys doing over there? Because we want to replicate that in our new seniors centre.’”

As with almost all not-for-profit organizations, seniors centres live or die on the continual challenges of funding and volunteerism especially in smaller communities. Weaver says the LSCO and a lot of seniors centres rely on volunteers as much as funding to continue operating. 

“We need to be proactive instead of reactive on what 5, 10, 15 years from now looks like for our aging generation. What’s on the horizon for the LSCO to ensure it’s relevant and sustainable?” 

Since assuming the helm of the LSCO nine months ago, Weaver has spent a lot of time observing, listening and connecting with members to ask what they need. What does the community want? What do they feel the LSCO is or isn’t? Where do they want the LSCO to go next? 

“A huge, huge piece of the puzzle is making sure this place is sustainable, and also just making LSCO a great place to visit, volunteer, work and be a part of. Not only is this a place for seniors in the community, but it’s also a place for staff and volunteers,” she says.