Senior Sector Spotlight: Central Lions Seniors Association

Written by: Breanne Harrison 

When a lion’s mane begins thinning away and their physical abilities start to deteriorate, they may find themselves feeling isolated from their pride. But the older lions have the loudest roar, and when that roar requests a community to improve their mental and physical health, the Central Lions Seniors Association (CLSA) listens. 

CLSA provides a welcoming and supportive environment for persons 55 years of age and older to participate in exercise, art, music, and educational classes that enrich body, mind, and spirit to enhance longevity and quality of life. They provide seniors with a community, and they ensure that no lion must deal with social isolation. 

Conceptualized on May 11th, 1964, the previously named Lions Recreation Centre was “the first project of its kind on the continent”, as noted in Dr. Walter B. Hoover’s book ‘A Million Dollars Later: A Saga of Forty Years of Lionism.” With the funds of the Central Lions Club of Edmonton in their back pocket, the center’s development began, and the Bill of Rights for Elderly People was proposed and introduced on March 7, 1966. 

Two months later, the Seniors Citizens Association was incorporated in Edmonton; the very first Seniors Association in the city. The Center began operations that same year, and the association had amassed over one thousand members in mere months. In the first year of operation, the facilities provided by the center attracted 17,000 people (about the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden). These activities included birthday parties, bingo games, game tournaments, concerts, sing-alongs, holiday celebrations, special dances, Friday night weekly dances with the Senior Citizens Orchestra, art classes, lawn bowling, and bridge. 

The 1st pancake breakfast hosted by the Edmonton Host Lions Club was the kickoff event for the first proclaimed Senior Citizens week on Monday, May 25th of 1969.  

Ten years later in 1979, the Central Lions Senior Citizens Association (CLSCA) was incorporated with its new name and became the organization we know today. CLSCA partnered with the City of Edmonton Community Services to access grants and provide all daytime recreational and social programs at the Central Lions Seniors Recreation Center. CLSCA was amended to the Central Lions Seniors Association (CLSA) in August of 1993, and the Board hired its first Executive Director in 2017, paving the way for its transition from an operations board to a governance board.  

I had the privilege of conversing with Janice Pearson, the current Executive Director of CLSA, and learning about her experiences and goals within the organization. 

Pearson was swayed to become CLSA’s Executive Director because of her mother’s indirect influence. Pearson states: “I accepted the position because it felt right, and it felt good to be helping people stay active. My mom was a very active member of her senior’s association, and I heard all the fun things she was doing. It just felt right to be a part of all that.” 

Pearson has been family oriented since the beginning of her position; the reason every older lion who joins the pride of CLSA feels included and welcomed. 

The values of the Central Lions Seniors Association ensure that every member of the organization can thrive within their community, these values being empathy, care and compassion, life experience, inclusiveness, creativity and humour, accountability and transparency, adaptability, resiliency, and sustainability. Each value is upheld in their programming that accommodates a variety of interests; the particulars of which Pearson described to me in an email exchange. She writes: 

“We try and provide programming for all elderly adults, all who have a wide variety of interests and hobbies. Our focus is on mental and physical health in a social environment. CLSA offers between 200 – 250 activities each season. The activities range from art, drama, music, crafts, cards, to fitness and sports to languages, special interest talks, and dance.” 

One must be tempted by the diversity within CLSA’s activity catalogue, for there is quite literally an activity for every interest imaginable. It is easy to feel included in the community, with Pearson stating that “we focus all of our energy on making the best possible experiences for our members, whether it is providing the best instructors, organizing social events, and listening to what our members want. We are the largest organization for elderly people in Edmonton and our members are very loyal to the organization.” 

CLSA strives to make a genuine difference in the lives of elderly adults by actively listening to the needs of seniors in the Edmonton community. The organization loves to collaborate with others and “bring the richness of each partner to the table so we can truly make a difference” as Pearson states. Most recently, CLSA partnered with the Alberta Deaf 55+ Games Club by providing them with the space they needed to carry out their activities. They, in turn, brought “a richness to CLSA as [they] work to create an inclusive community for the deaf and hard of hearing.” 

Pearson does not just want to listen to her members, rather she wants to know them. To understand them. To have fun with the people who take pride in their involvement with CLSA. Once a month, Pearson comes out of her office—stacked with papers and to-do lists—and breathes in the smell of pigment ink as the seniors daub their bingo cards to colour each number she calls out. Yes, Pearson herself is the bingo caller for the organization’s monthly bingo game, and she details the specifics of her experience in an email exchange. She writes: 

“[o]nce a month, we have a fun bingo and I am the caller. There is no cost and winners get very sought after (not really) prizes such as socks, pens, pop, or chocolate bars. We also do a draw at the end for a bigger prize, such as tickets to an event or an Oilers jersey. I love the fun we have as a group. I have my regulars who are always there, people who have never played bingo before, the competitive ones that I get to gently heckle, and the talkative ones. They drink coffee, snack on cookies, and generally have a great time. This is one time each month where I come out of the office, have some great laughs, and get to know my members. When my job feels overwhelming, bingo reminds me why I work here and why I love it.” 

The members’ devotion to CLSA’s values and programs is blatantly apparent, as one member states that the organization “fosters a sense of ‘belonging’ and facilitates authentic engagement with others. Members come from diverse backgrounds and various parts of the Greater Edmonton area to participate in ‘their’ activities... and many members, like me, have developed important friendships through their involvement at Central Lions. My activities and CLSA and the people I have met there continue to play a very significant role in my life.” 

To find out more information and to stay updated about upcoming CLSA events, visit the Central Lions Seniors Association website and/or subscribe to their newsletter! 

Website: www.centrallions.org 

Newsletter: https://www.centrallions.org/newsletter-1  

Come for the programs, stay for the people!