LSCO looking ahead to the next half-century

By Lethbridge Herald on December 31, 2025.

HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) executive director Kaitlynn Weaver coordinates with volunteers during the 56th Annual Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day. The annual community meal is the last major LSCO for the year. It's been a busy year for Weaver who has been at the helm of the LSCO since March when longtime director Rob Miyashiro stepped down after being elected MLA for Lethbridge-West in the December 24 by election.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Celebrating over 50 years of service in 2025, the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) has become one of Canada’s largest seniors’ organizations; hosting community events and offering resources supporting independence and involvement well-beyond just its membership. 

Its programs help Lethbridge seniors maintain social ties, develop new skills, engage in healthy activities and access supports that enhance their quality of life while fostering a sense of belonging in the broader local community.

For executive director Kaitylnn Weaver it’s been a busy nine months. Weaver took the reins of LSCO in March from longtime director Rob Miyashiro, who stepped down after being elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Lethbridge West in the December 2024 by-election.

“I feel a lot more settled with the team and the processes now that I’ve been at the LSCO for 10 months. It’s been such a great year and I’m looking forward to the new year where we will keep building and growing to be a community focal point of active aging,” says Weaver.

2025 was a milestone year for the LSCO anchored by its 50th anniversary celebration, with a block party and community open house. Beyond that LSCO continued its annual Live Well Showcase, hosted fundraisers like the second Twilight Soirée, seasonal celebrations (Mother’s Day Brunch and Christmas Dinner) plus ongoing community engagement events throughout the year.

“As a new leader, I’ve learned lots of lessons…one is that change takes time. I’ve been really go-go-go since day one, and we’ve made great strides at the LSCO in terms of systems and culture. At the same time change can’t happen overnight. At the end of the day, we just need to be patient and know that our efforts and positive intentions *and) actions will pay off as more and more people get to know the new LSCO,” says Weaver.

In December Weaver managed to take a little time off to join another longtime institution–marriage. She married fiancee Mat Hellawell (owner of Bike Lane in Lethbridge) and returned in time to conclude 2025 by joining staff and volunteers for the LSCO’s 56th annual Christmas Day dinner. 

“We saw over 300 in person patrons at the LSCO for our free Christmas Dinner. We also delivered more than 600 meals to home bound individuals, and on duty police and firefighters! We also fed over 100 meals for our incredible volunteers.”

The free Christmas Day dinner is a long-standing community tradition that is open to everyone, especially seniors and individuals who may be alone or facing barriers during the holidays. Hosted at the LSCO, it offers a home-style turkey dinner in a warm, welcoming environment, supported by staff and volunteers who help create a sense of connection and belonging

“I was so amazed to see how many volunteers wanted to help on Christmas Day! For some of them, they have been volunteering for this event for 10 years. I also really liked to see some younger generations giving back to their community. It was such a lovely day.”

The annual event is designed to ensure no one in the community has to spend Christmas alone, including on-duty first responders and others working on Christmas; reflecting LSCO’s continuous commitment to compassion, inclusion, and community care.

With 2025 under her belt, Weaver is looking forward to 2026 and ensuring that the LSCO continues to effectively serve Lethbridge seniors as a community hub and resource centre well into the future. 

“The biggest challenge for us, and for many non profits, is financial sustainability. It’s been a couple of tough years for the LSCO but we are looking forward to continuing to build this organization, welcome new members, and to keep demonstrating the value and impact of the LSCO, especially to those who are looking for charitable organizations to support.”