LAC LA BICHE – Seniors from the Lac La Biche area were able to enjoy a couple of hours in the great outdoors while socializing during a coffee and wiener roast held at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park on July 8.
The event was put on through the ‘Coffee and Connections’ program, which is run by Lac La Biche County FCSS for seniors over the age of 55 years old. During the visit to the provincial park, those who attended roasted wieners over a campfire.
Officials with Alberta Parks were on hand to show the participants furs of animals that live in Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park.
According to Kristen Shewchuk, the senior, adult, and volunteer outreach worker for Lac La Biche County FCSS, the purpose of the Coffee and Connections program is to get seniors out and socializing and occasionally engage in learning opportunities.
“We’ve done tax information, we’ve had doctors come in, we’ve had optometrists, we’ve had lawyers with wills and stuff like that,” Shewchuk said.
Most of the Coffee and Connections sessions take place inside of the Tea Room at McArthur Place. However, for the July 8 event, FCSS workers, after talking with staff from Alberta Parks, came up with the idea to gather seniors outside.
“They love having us out here, so we love coming out here, and socializing, and it’s kind of nice to have a little campfire,” said Shewchuk.
Several local seniors participate in the Coffee and Connections program year-around, including Margaret Kloppenburg and Maris Straus.
Kloppenburg likes the free weekly program as it allows her to socialize with friends from the community.
“It’s all people that I know pretty much,” she said. “So that’s nice to get out, because I don’t get out that much.”
She added, “Everybody needs to get out and get some fresh air."
Maria Straus and her husband, Martin, were at the event socializing with others and checking out the furs on display.
For Straus, being part of the Coffee and Connections group brings plenty of camaraderie, not to mention some great food.
“I think every senior should get out of their house, and just enjoy some good snacks, and good times with other seniors,” she said.
“It’s a lovely day . . . It’s warm out . . . We’re having hot dogs . . . There’s a lot of us here enjoying each other’s company.”
