The legacy of Alice and Alex Hood lives on in the Brookswood Seniors Centre, which is about to mark its 50th anniversary. 
A 1974 article in the 91原创 Advance said the Hoods called a meeting of seniors in Brookswood to form a group for activities and socializing. 
鈥淢rs. Hood explained that although there is a large new centre of population in the Brookswood district, the nearest place for the senior citizens to meet one another is in 91原创 City which is too many miles away for elderly people who do not have a car at their disposal,鈥� the article said. 
The original building was a former Mennonite church that the seniors of Brookswood, who had been meeting in a civic centre, had lobbied the Township to purchase. The group formed in 1974 and had a building within a couple of years. While membership has waxed and waned over the decades, the centre is still going. 
Over the years, there鈥檚 been fundraising campaigns to finance expansions of the building to accommodate more users. 
There鈥檚 special events planned for the anniversary, specifically a celebration on Saturday, June 22. 
鈥淎s part of our celebration our fabric arts group are contributing hand made quilts for a raffle, our square dance, line dance and Zumba groups are demonstrating their talents,鈥� said past president Bonnie Hartup. 鈥淥ur seniors drumming group, a craft group and Mexican dance duo are demonstrating their skills. Volunteers from various groups are helping with the decor, food preparation and set up and clean up. The mayor and councillors have been invited.鈥� 
The quilts by the Quiltaholics group are being hung around the centre for viewing and are also viewable online. People can find out about the celebration on the centre website, www.brookswood.ca. 
In addition to all the regular challenges of keeping up a building, there鈥檚 been extra challenges, most recently, the pandemic. 
鈥淔ollowing COVID shut down the centre has bounced back, and we are now serving close to 500 seniors on a monthly basis,鈥� Hartup said. 
She is one of the dedicated volunteers who help keep the centre running so that it can reach milestones such as the 50th anniversary. 
鈥淚 am the organizer for the 50th anniversary celebration. I organized the 40th 10 years ago as president of Brookswood Seniors, and now I am organizing the 50th celebration for June 22, as past president.鈥� 
The centre at 19899 36 Ave. has a full calendar of activities and user groups 鈥� drop-in games and cards, pool, chess, singalongs, toning, Zumba, fencing, line dancing, square dancing, Mexican dancing, crafts, and more. 
鈥淔or many years the seniors met twice a week with the occasional celebration or craft fair on a weekend,鈥� she explained. 鈥淲e now offer programs every day and most evenings. As long as we can attract volunteers to run for the executive positions we will hopefully carry on for another 50 years.鈥� 
And those many users all rely on having a comfortable centre in which to gather. 
鈥淔rom the senior centre鈥檚 inception in 1974, the seniors have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to refurbish and make additions to the original small church,鈥� Hartup said. 
鈥淲e rely on seniors鈥� grants and community grants as well as funds from our own members to continue to improve the facility. This year we are adding air conditioning to the main hall.鈥�