Lacombe’s Kozy Korner holds plenty to enrich the lives of Lacombe and Central Alberta seniors
There is also a full slate of events and activities planned to celebrate Seniors Week - June 4th-9th.
“It was about 27 years ago or so that a whole bunch of folk got together and this hall was built by volunteers,” said Jack Friesen, treasurer at Kozy Korner.
“Quite a few of them were farmers and were very handy, so they’d come out here with work bees and they would just hammer together the boards, plaster the walls and did everything to make this place what it is today.
The Kozy Korner’s official opening was on Sept. 14th, 1979.
“Since then it’s been continuously used — the purpose was and is to provide a meeting place.”
There is walk-in coffee time every morning from 9 a.m. to noon and billiards runs those same hours as well downstairs.
Other regular events through the week include Sunday music from 1:30 to 4 p.m.; carpet bowling and bridge on Mondays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and dinner on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
There is choir on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and also on Wednesdays are crafts and crib from 7 to 9 p.m. and church from 7 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy cards on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. and round dancing from 7 to 10 p.m. On Fridays there is floor curling from 1 to 4 p.m. and church services run again on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We have over 200 members,” said Friesen, who along with his wife Trudy Friesen both attend functions at the Kozy Korner and volunteer their time as well.
At to community events running through Seniors Week, kicking things off on June 4th, Lacombe FCSS is hosting an ‘Afternoon at the Movies’ at Lacombe City Cinema.
Also on Monday from 8 to 9 a.m. is a free water fitness class at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre and a free low impact water fitness class from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
On June 5th, a fun fitness session runs at Burman University from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a light snack served as well.
An ice cream social is also set to run from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Lacombe Hospital Extended Care.
A free water fitness class runs June 6th from 8 to 9 a.m. and a low impact water fitness class runs from 11:15 a.m. to noon as well at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre.
A Kozy Korner Strawberry Tea runs June 6th as well from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
On June 7th, enjoy a bus tour of local murals at 10 a.m. — meet at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. There is also a Lacombe Legion Tea & Entertainment Gospel set to run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
On June 8th, there’s a Come & Go Coffee with the Lacombe Writers Group at the Lacombe Memorial Centre and a fashion show from 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by the Lacombe Foundation at the Seniors Lodge.
Art in the Garden runs June 9th at the Michener House from 10 a.m. to noon.
Meanwhile, there is always room for more folks at the Kozy Korner, both in terms of just being a part of things but also in several volunteer roles. The Friesens say it’s a great place to make new friends as well, particularly for those new to the community.
“Come down, have a look and see what we are doing,” said Trudy.
“Every Tuesday we have the dinner, so if someone feels like they want to work in the kitchen with us for example, they can come and see what we are doing and pitch in where every they want to.”
Jack adds that he always enjoys dropping by for coffee.
“And it’s at a senior price,” he added with a laugh.
For more about the Lacombe Kozy Korner Community Centre, call 403-782-6216. For more about Seniors Week activities around town, call 403-782-6637.