SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025 | Active Aging Week 3
STEINBACH ROLLS OUT THE WELCOME MAT T he Steinbach community is ready to roll out the welcome mat for athletes, volunteers and visitors for the upcoming 55+ Games. By Jennifer McFee
city has become over the years.” Graham enjoyed the opportunity to meet other Manitobans as a participant in the Games.
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Camaraderie is as important as competition at the Games.
THE COMMUNITY GROWTH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHIER LIVING AND A GREAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT.” Audrey Harder, co-chair, Host Committee, 55+ Games
part of the Games this year in partnership with Cornhole Manitoba. Brown is excited for this addition, as she notes this easy-to-play game is an great way for anyone to get involved. “The only requirement is that you must be 55 or over,” Brown says. “The neat thing about cornhole is it’s really grown in popularity over the last few years, and part of it is because it’s so accessible. You could be using a walker; you could also be in a wheelchair and play. So, it really has opened it up to a lot of people, and it’s such a great social activity.” The Active Aging in Manitoba website, activeagingmb.ca, has all the information you need to plan your visit to the games, whether you are participating, volunteering, or spectating. Under the ‘events’ tab, you will find the schedule and location of events and a list of accommodations, including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and even nearby campgrounds. As the Games expect around 1200 participants, the organizers encourage folks to make reservations as soon as possible. One of the highlights of the Games is the
Audrey Harder and Doug Graham are tackling the task of co-chairing the host committee. For them, it’s easy to promote a community with so much to offer. “Steinbach is a city with a small- town attitude. Having people across the province come to visit will be a great opportunity to show how welcoming we are,” Harder says. “Steinbach is diverse, growing and has so much more to offer than anyone would believe.” Likewise, Graham shared similar enthusiasm for the upcoming event. “Although Steinbach is the third largest city in Manitoba, I think there is limited knowledge of what this beautiful city has to offer to the general population of Manitoba, let alone the specific demographics of the 55-plus age group,” he says. “Through this great opportunity to host the Games, Steinbach and the surrounding area can promote the multicultural vibrancy of what this
Swimming is a great way to get a low impact workout.
celebration banquet that is open to the public on Wednesday evening. While events are free to attend during the games, the banquet requires a ticket available for purchase online or by calling Active Aging in Manitoba at 204–632-3947 or toll-free: 1-866-202-6663. “We’ll be celebrating the Games and the people participating in the Games with an evening of dinner and entertainment. And that’s where we will announce the next host community for 2026,” says Brown.
When he had the chance to get involved in the hosting committee, he jumped at the chance. “I’m a board member of the Pat Porter Active Living Centre. When it was decided to submit a bid to host the Games, I decided that I needed to experience the overall backdrop Continued on page 4
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