Kevin Swayze, Record Staff
Web Edition
CAMBRIDGE — A single, central seniors centre won’t be part of the city’s 20-year recreation plan, but an “older adults” facility could be included in a new community centre  the city is thinking about building.
 
That isn’t enough for Coun. Linda Whetham, who sits on a city seniors committee.  She wants the city to add a central seniors complex as an option in the long-term recreation plan.

Councillors debated the seniors-centre issue Monday night. Cambridge currently has three senior centres — one each in its Hespeler, Preston and Galt communities.
 
“If the city can afford to spend $6 million on Drayton and who knows how much on the Biennale, surely we can provide for our seniors in a dignified manner,” Whetham said.
 
“Let’s not waste the years that they have left.  Let’s give them what they deserve.”
 
Coun. Ben Tucci said it was “divisive” to compare a seniors centre to building a community theatre complex or bringing a world-class architecture show to town every other year.
 
If the city decides to build a big, multiplex facility, a seniors facility could be part of that project, he said.
 
“Institutionalization of seniors” by putting them in separate buildings troubles Tucci, who says many seniors like mingling with younger people.

“It’s the wrong approach, the wrong way to go for many reasons,” he said.
 
Only Coun. Rick Cowsill joined Whetham in voting against a recreation plan that ruled out a new central seniors complex.
 
The city conducting a review of a 20-year recreation plan approved in 2002.  Seniors programs is one part of the wide-ranging review, which will take another year or so to complete.
 
Making an older-adults facility part of a bigger pool-arena complex wasn’t what the One City, One Centre seniors organization wanted. 

The group is incorporating, and asked the city to donate 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres) of land at Bishop Street and Conestoga Boulevard as the site for a seniors complex the committee would help build and run.

“We will raise money . . . We want to work with you, not against you,” said committee chair Peter van de Water.
 
There is no business case to support a central seniors facility, said Jim King, city community services commissioner. 
 
Hundreds of seniors signed a petition against closing their local seniors buildings. And the city’s budget can’t afford keeping the three seniors centres open while building and running a big, central one, he said.

link to story

http://news.therecord.com/article/442583