Arnprior Coun. Dan Lynch.
Sign up for the Seniors Games in Arnprior by May 23, urges town councillor Dan Lynch.
With the Senior Games slated for Arnprior for the first time in almost a decade, organizers are worried too few locals have signed on to participate.
“At this point in time our seniors must have all gone to the cemetery,” Coun. Dan Lynch said at the May 14 council meeting.
The Renfrew County Senior Games provide a venue for all seniors, 55 years of age and older, in the county and the Hastings Highlands/Bancroft area to compete in a variety of activities.
Every eight years Arnprior hosts the games, with this year’s taking place on June 6 and 7 in conjunction with the town’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Competitions take place at a variety of venues throughout town. Darts and cards are at the legion, bridge at the Christian Education Centre and Nordic walking at the airport. Other events include horseshoes and golf; Arnprior is permanent home to the carpet bowling competitions.
About 300 to 400 seniors typically participate. But as of this week, only 80 have signed up. The hour-long drive from Pembroke could be a factor. Two years ago only eight seniors from town were willing to travel to Petawawa for the games.
Aside from the games themselves, other activities are planned, including a closing banquet where gold, silver and bronze medals are presented to the winners of the various sports and games.
Gold medal winners are eligible to participate in Actifest - the provincial level Games, which are held every second year in even numbered years and in the Eastern Divisional Summer Games. The district finals this year for gold medal winners is in Brockville.
Lynch is one of the Senior Games’ main organizers and is hopeful, although there is less than a week to deadline, that many more will sign up on the last day.
“Seniors are notorious for getting them (registration forms) in for the last day,” he said. “It keeps the mind active and you get to meet new friends.”
Registration forms are available at Nick Smith Centre or at renfrewcountyseniorgames.ca.
The cost is $15. The deadline is Wednesday, May 23.