PAGE 6
News Advertiser insider
NOVEMBER 2, 2016
www.
NewsAdvertiser
.com
Vegreville Sunshine Club, recipient of huge award
RosanneFortier
Vegreville Senior Sunshine Club
Center is renowned for being an inno-
vative place that involves and welcomes
the whole community to its center. On
September 28, the 2016 Minister’s
Seniors Service Awards was presented
to Vegreville Senior Citizens Sunshine
Club by Honorable Lori Sigurdson
Minister of seniors and Housing for
Outstanding Commitment to Alberta’s
seniors at Government House in
Edmonton.
Nick Chrapko, President of Sunshine
Club said this award is a really good rec-
ognition from the Alberta Government.
There were Sigurdson and the President at
the ceremony was our local, MLA Jessica
Littlewood. “It was a real honor and
delight to be called in for this award
because Fred Olsen, President of Alberta
Council on Aging was there and he said,
it is quite a prestigious award and out of 70
nominations in Alberta, we were one of
the three seniors’ organizations to receive
it. At the ceremony, eight awards were
given out; five to individuals and three to
organizations. We’re also very proud that
we are advertising Vegreville to the
Minister of Housing and seniors because it
puts a face to Vegreville and gets them to
know who they are talking to when they
visit Vegreville,” Chrapko said.
“It was nice to be recognized for what
we do at the center. We think nothing
of doing it but other people seem to
think we are doing great and that is the
main thing. That helps people want to
continue. Then it was nice to have
Nick, and Jocelan Wagner with myself
at the ceremony,” Hlady added.
Chrapko believes the center was cho-
sen because of the volunteer work they
do and the participation that they do in
the community and in association with
the Alberta Council on Aging where
Dwayne is a Director of, they are doing
the intergenerational programs that the
government and other organizations
really recognize. “It stems from the
M.O.D.E.L Project and all the other
programs that come from that project.
Then we are willing to go to all demo-
cratic of people which make us unique
and are good for the seniors too. The
Alberta Review and Selection
Committee that chose us recognized
that. Then maybe because Dwayne and
I received the Minister’s Seniors Award
as individuals the past two years could
have had an influence.
Hlady said they believe they received
it because they aren’t scared to go out-
side the bound and think outside-the-
box. “We had a young girl come over
here that said she couldn’t wait to be a
senior and play floor curling. She’s
happy that she can do it now with the
intergenerational programs. He agreed
with Chrapko that since he received the
award in 2015 and Chrapko received it
in 2014, it showed what type of people
there are in Vegreville and could have
had an influence on the center receiv-
ing this recognition.
Chrapko said it is really important to
have a valuable seniors’ center in
Vegreville because it is a place where
seniors can go to not only for recreation
and socializing but it is an information
center for seniors; especially in regards
to transportation, housing and other
concerns they may have. Then it’s neat
the way that all generations come in the
center, which they do because they are
curious about what the center is about
now. And everyone socializes and they
are happy that we do mentoring of
young people.
“We participate so much in the whole
community that we changed the peo-
ple’s perception of the centre. They
used to think it was just for old folks but
now they are putting a face to it. We are
turning it more into a community cen-
ter and are getting everyone to come in
and enjoy it. This is really good for
seniors and our youth. The other day
we had a birthday party for a one-year-
old in one area and a 90-year-old in
another area and everyone was going to
each other and socializing; even if they
didn’t know each other. All the organi-
zations like the building and the ser-
vices we provide and they come in and
have programs and seminars here,”
Hlady said.
Chrapko wants to give credit for this
award to all the members of the
Vegreville Sunshine Club for their time,
Dwayne Hlady-Treasurer and Jocelyn
Wagner, Secretary and all their board
and members of the Sunshine Club and
their dedication to the center and the
community for their support.
Nick Chrapko, President of Sunshine Club and Dwayne Hlady, Treasurer hold up the 2016 Minister’s
Seniors Service Awards that the Sunshine Club Senior Citizens Centre received on September 30.
(RosanneFortier/photo)
DwayneHlady,Treasurer,JocelanWagner,Secretary,LoriSigurdson,HonorableMinisterofSeniorsand
Housing, MLA, Jessica Littlewood and Nick Chrapko, President of Sunshine Club Center receive the
2016 Minister’s Seniors Service Awards for the Sunshine Club Senior Citizens Centre at Government
House inEdmontononSeptember 30.(Photo/submitted)
