Cloudy skies and a stiff breeze didn’t stop residents from coming out for a community barbecue at the Rennie Hall Plaza to celebrate Seniors’ Week in Slave Lake.

The provincial initiative, which runs from June 1 to 7, is dedicated to highlighting the civic and social contributions of older adults. Ahead of the week, the Town of Slave Lake released a statement thanking older adults for their knowledge, resilience and leadership, noting they have fundamentally helped shape local families and the community.

The Rotary Club of Slave Lake hosted the free BBQ to put that appreciation into action. Guided by the organization’s long-standing motto of “Service Above Self,” Ellen Criss, vice-president of the club, says the goal for the afternoon was simply to build connection.
“Our hope is that everyone leaves with a sense of community and an appreciation for the Rotary Club and for seniors,” Criss says. “It’s just great to see the smiling faces when they come by. They’re very appreciative.”

The club prepared 200 meals for the afternoon, matching the number they handed out at last year’s gathering. While tied to Seniors’ Week, the event was open to anyone in town who wanted to drop by.

Criss says local businesses helped get the event off the ground. Falcon Rentals supplied tables and chairs, while ATCO provided the barbecue trailer.

For the seniors who attended, the free BBQ was a welcome excuse to get out of the house and catch up with neighbours. Bryce Gillard was among the attendees who braved the windy weather.

“It’s nice that they put this on for us older folks,” Gillard says.

Despite the overcast conditions — which eventually cleared up later in the afternoon — Gillard took a practical view of the grey sky.

“The weather’s off, but well, we need more rain,” he says. “The best thing about this is sometimes you run into people you don’t usually see.”
As the event wrapped up, Criss kept her final thoughts brief.

“Thank you to the community for supporting Rotary,” she says.

Armaan Khanna
Local Journalism Initiative
Reporter