The Moose Jaw & District Senior Citizens Association (MJDSCA) offers a great venue for local adults over the age of 50 to socialize, meet friends, and everyone is invited to come and go as they please.
Founded in 1989, the MJDSCA operates with the goal of improving the lives of seniors in the community.
The association aims to promote the mental, physical, and social well-being of its members and guests. Studies show that regular socializing and participation in a group setting greatly improves both physical and mental health, and can be the best medicine for depression, anxiety, and helps alleviate many chronic conditions.
The MJDSCA is working hard to move away from the image of being a senior’s home or an exclusive venue that is off-limits to the public. Instead, the association works to provide our seniors with a multitude of activities to improve the quality of their lives. As the association’s administrator Tanya Legare stated, the aim is to keep our seniors active.
The association is always looking for new ideas and your input is valued. Members of the MJDSCA are invited to voice their suggestions for new activities, and these are frequently implemented.
If you visit the Timothy Eaton Gardens on Main Street North, you’ll find a long list of activities that you’re welcome to attend.
Activities are scheduled Monday to Friday each week, and time slots remain consistent. Scheduled events take place in the morning and afternoon, and from Monday to Thursday, the doors are open until 8:00 p.m.
A small sample of activities includes line dancing, table tennis, ping-pong, and arts and crafts in their fully stocked craft room.
For members, the facility has a walking track and gym available. This is an ideal place to stay fit over the winter months when walking outside isn’t an option. If you’re looking for fitness classes, Forever in Motion offers a guided class in the XYZ Hall.
Currently available games include Mah Jong, nickel Bingo, floor shuffleboard, and billiards.
Floor shuffleboard is a very popular event and takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. In the game, rocks are propelled forward by use of cue-sticks. For anyone interested in the game, drop in and hear about the exciting account of a local member who beat an international legend from the U.S.
Billiards take place every morning at 8:00 a.m. and cost a reasonable $0.65 per game.
The association hosts an assortment of card games as well, which range from Texas hold ‘em to Cribbage to Kaiser. Friendly competitions are held regularly, and winners are announced on the Moose Jaw & District Seniors Association Facebook page. You can contact the association to inquire about the upcoming Military Whist card games being planned.
The Timothy Eaton Gardens building has a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch daily, and the public is welcome to stop by and enjoy a delicious meal for a reasonable price. There’s a sizable lunch hall that can accommodate a fair crowd. For members, meals are available at a discounted rate.
Senior’s Week is celebrated with a week of activities. From last year’s event, the association held a pancake breakfast to kick off the week, Moose Jaw Police members came in to talk about scams directed toward seniors, and a senior gentleman gave an inspirational presentation about how he manages to cope with a disability and stay positive.
For anyone who needs to book a hall for special events, consider booking through the MJDSCA first. Proceeds help support the association in their quest to improve the lives of those in our community. The XYZ Hall can accommodate 200 people, and the Card Room can accommodate 70.
Becoming a member with the MJDSCA is an easy process. Basic membership is $40 per year, and advanced membership including use of indoor fitness facilities is only $60 per year. Members also receive discounts with hall rentals and catering. A fee of $2 is charged for each activity, but this does not include use of the walking track and exercise equipment.
Take note that membership rates are increasing as of January 1, 2024. The new membership rates will be $50 for a basic membership and $75 for an advanced membership.
The association operates out of the Timothy Eaton Gardens building located at 510 Main Street North. To contact MJDSCA for membership inquiries or for upcoming programming, call 306-694-4223.
The association is launching a new website, MooseJawSeniors.ca. Once operational the site will feature upcoming programming, information on services, their monthly restaurant menu, and more.
