Calgary's Golden Age Club shutting down after 64 years

For some seniors living in downtown Calgary, it's the end of the Golden Age.

"It came as a real shock to people. Many, many distraught seniors," said Wendy Lees, who runs a creative writing and art program at the Golden Age Club.

On May 31, the East Village establishment — which has been a gathering place for seniors since 1951 — will be shutting its doors.

"It's a hub of the East Village community where seniors come to enjoy coffee, to play bingo, to just gather and talk with friends," said Lees.

'Complicated' reasons for closure

Golden Age Club Society lawyer Loran Halyn said the decision to close the senior centre was the result of a series of "complicated" events dating back to 1984.

That's when the club moved into the East Village Place building on Eighth Avenue and Fifth Street southeast.

The Golden Age Club Society has 20 per cent ownership of the building and occupies the first two floors.

The remaining floors and 80 per cent of the building is owned and managed by the Calgary East Village Housing Society, which also controls the condominium board. The two societies have been embroiled in a dispute.

"That dispute eventually developed into a lawsuit where the condominium association was suing the Golden Age Club, claiming they were not paying the full amount of the common expenses of the condominium," said Halyn.

It's a hub of the East Village community where seniors come to enjoy coffee, to play bingo to just gather and talk with friends.- Wendy Lees

In addition to the ongoing lawsuit, Halyn says the Calgary East Village Housing Society made a decision to replace the brick exterior of East Place Village — which is designated common property.

As a result, the Golden Age Club was expected to contribute 20 per cent of the $5 million project, says Halyn.

The club only charges $5 to $15 per year to members, to make it accessible to low-income seniors.

It also receives funding from the city, but Halyn says the city pulled it this year because of the legal problems the Golden Age Club is facing.

He adds that the society's annual revenue is "certainly less than a million dollars." 

"So financially, they just found themselves in an impossible position where they just did not have the money and could not reasonably pay that cost," he said.

Future of the Golden Age Club

Lees believes the club will be able to find a new place to run the program in the East Village.

"I don't believe it will be the end," she said.

"I would really love to see steps being taken to have the current building kept open during renovations."