ESTEVAN — The Estevan 60 and Over Club, located at the leisure centre, is back to its regular operations, and they are looking for new members.
Gary St. Onge, the club secretary, said they lost quite a few members over the pandemic years. Some people returned after restrictions were lifted, but some have not. The interest is slowly growing, but they still would like to have more people join them for their activities.
"I think we've got about 45 or 47 members. At one time before the pandemic, we used to have at least 75 or so. And when I first joined, we had about 100. So, we're always looking for new members," St. Onge said. "We've gotten some new members, but not as many as we'd like."
Members of the club get together on afternoons during the week to play cards or shuffleboard. Canasta gets them to come in three times a week. Tuesday is the shuffleboard day, Wednesday is the day of bridge, and Thursday is cribbage. They are also trying to bring in whist.
"We're back working, we're back doing different activities we do … It's basically card games [and] the shuffleboard," St. Onge noted, adding that if people don't know how to play members are glad to teach.
Games are followed by coffee. There is a small fee per game, and members also usually run a 50/50 when they get together.
They also have other activities throughout the year, such as a club Christmas supper, which will take place at the Beefeater this year.
"We have a lot of fun together. There is a lot of joking and laughing while we're playing cards," St. Onge shared. "And our president is also very good at decorating our hall for the holidays."
Some people come more often, and others just come to play a particular game they like. Most days they meet at about 1 p.m. and are usually done before 4 p.m.
While the club is called 60 and Over, St. Onge said he was a bit younger when he joined, as his friend became a member at that time, and he's been a part of the group for about 18 years now.
The club's hall is also available for rent. A few years ago, they applied for a grant and replaced the floor, and now the hall is in good shape.
"It's a good place and it's a fair size. So people sometimes rent it for anniversaries or things like that, and then they can use the kitchen that works well too," St. Onge said.
The club membership for the year is $20. For more information on the club or to rent their hall, please contact Darlene Sylvester at 306-421-7820, St. Onge at 306-421-6113, or Elizabeth Olson at 306-421-5822.
