Things are hopping at the .

And we鈥檙e not just talking about what鈥檚 happening on the centre鈥檚 recently renovated dance/exercise floor.

Local seniors have been gathering at the 55-year-old building, formerly a Mennonite Church, since the late 1970s.

Recently, it鈥檚 been the focus of a number of upgrades 鈥� and with that comes a jump in membership.

Over the last four years membership has grown from roughly 100 people to, at last count, 479.

Brookswood Senior Citizens president Bonnie Hartup said the centre on 36 Avenue just west of 200 Street is offering more programs than ever before, and this makes it a big draw for longtime members and newcomers alike.

Entirely operated by volunteers who are led by what Hartup describes as a 鈥渄etermined executive,鈥� the centre now boasts line dancing, Zumba, dog dancing, square dancing, Mexican dancing, modern dancing, bridge, chess, cribbage, duplicate bridge, snooker, scrap-booking, quilting, embroidery, and the Meals on Wheels program, entitled Food and Friends.

Guest speakers are invited twice a month to provide information or entertainment during the centre鈥檚 lunch program.

As well, Cedarbrook Bakery provides the food for the luncheons that are organized by volunteer, Marion Dixon. Lydia Franscutti finds the speakers.

A new floor was installed to accommodate the many dance programs offered at the centre. The migrated to the centre and along with them came 150 new memberships.

鈥淭his is a place to move your feet and exercise,鈥� Hartup said.

The list of renovations is a long one.

Hartup said the Rotary Club of 91原创 under Alan Richmond and Dave Truman 鈥渟tepped up鈥� to build a wheelchair accessible ramp, two wheelchair accessible bathrooms, a storage shed, coat room, and new front entry way.

With several Capital Improvement Grants from the Township of 91原创, Hartup said 鈥渁 few highly motivated volunteers were able to restore every room, build new storage sheds, paint the entire interior and replace flooring.鈥�

As well, the Township combined with the federal government and provided funds this past year to overhaul a very dingy dark pool hall with new flooring, walls, windows, lighting and snooker equipment.

The billiards room, pre-reno, was a 鈥渄ilapidated looking place,鈥� Hartup shared.

鈥淚t had bad carpeting, it had no lighting, the windows were all boarded up鈥� so we put in new windows and we put in new flooring and new light fixtures.鈥�

Several volunteers among the members donated funds and expertise to bring the centre back to life, Hartup said.

鈥淢any dancers made donations so that a new dance hall floor could be installed,鈥� she noted.

Hartup said, 鈥減eople are discovering (the centre) is a good place, now, because it鈥檚 been renovated so well.鈥�

She added with a laugh, 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 smell anymore, and it doesn鈥檛 have issues like it used to have.鈥�

Next up is a new kitchen and a daily coffee morning.

There is a call-out for volunteers to help run the morning coffee drop in time. Call the centre at 530-4232.

Hartup said she is constantly amazed by the support in the community from businesses and members.

鈥淎lmost daily, people drop by looking for a place to meet their peers for a social time and a chance to mix with their neighbours,鈥� Hartup said. 鈥淏rookswood is ideally situated in an area of older homes where many seniors live and these seniors need a readily accessible centre to drop in and meet up.鈥�