The annual seniors’ luncheon hosted by Big Lakes County has become a much-anticipated event for older adults in the region, and this year’s gathering in Kinuso marked a new chapter in its evolution.

“This is the second time during my tenure that Kinuso has hosted the seniors’ luncheon,” says Nicole Hanna, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) manager for Big Lakes County.

“The event rotates among different hamlets each year, and we were excited to bring it back to Kinuso.”

This year, they expanded the initiative by incorporating a wellness fair, a move Hanna says was designed to better align with the FCSS mandate.
“Given the strong positive response, we plan to continue offering a combined wellness fair and luncheon moving forward,” Hanna says.

The primary goal of the luncheon is to recognize and celebrate seniors throughout Big Lakes County and the Town of High Prairie.

“We want to honour the contributions of our seniors and provide them with an opportunity to connect with one another,” Hanna says. “The addition of the wellness fair supports increased awareness of services, programs and resources available to seniors across Alberta.”

The event drew 137 seniors, Hanna says this turnout is a clear sign of strong community engagement and interest. “The event was highly successful, with a total of 137 seniors in attendance,” she says.

“We also had participation from eight partner organizations, which really added to the day.”

“While planning any event of this scale presents logistical considerations, the addition of the wellness fair required additional coordination with partner organizations and service providers,” Hanna says. “Overall, these elements were successfully managed, resulting in a well-executed event.”

Hanna emphasizes that the event goes beyond a traditional luncheon.

“This event creates meaningful opportunities for seniors to connect with one another while also accessing valuable information about programs and services available to support their well-being,” she says.

Building on this year’s success, Hanna says organizers are already looking ahead.

“In the future, we aim to continue building on the success of this event by expanding partnerships, increasing attendance and further enhancing the wellness fair component to provide even greater value to seniors in our communities,” she says. The feedback from attendees and partners was overwhelmingly positive.

“The event was very well received, with positive feedback from attendees and partners alike,” Hanna says.

She added that the success of this year’s luncheon and wellness fair demonstrates the importance of providing inclusive, engaging opportunities for seniors. “It also highlights the value of collaboration with community partners in delivering meaningful programming that supports the health and well-being of older adults,” Hanna says.

As Big Lakes County looks to the future, Hanna says the hope is to continue growing the event and its impact. “We want to ensure that our seniors feel valued and supported, and that they have access to the resources they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives,” she says.

Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader