The following is a quote from our Founding Board of Directors President, Mr. Peter Isaak:

“Recently I learned that for an organization to grow and thrive it needs to learn, to innovate, to do research and to experiment. I like to think that this describes our Senior Centres. We want to celebrate this and learn together and innovate and do research and experiment.”

The concept of a Multi-purpose Senior Centre has existed within our province for a number of years.  Age & Opportunity was established in 1957, the Brandon Civic Senior Citizens Prairie Oasis Senior Centre in 1967, the Gordon Howard Senior Centre twenty-five years ago, and the Dauphin Multi-purpose Senior Centre are almost twenty years old.  Today there are 20 recognized multi-purpose senior centres throughout the province.

The idea of a formal organization like MAMSC surfaced in the mid 1990’s and the concept was presented at five locations throughout the province:

• June 4, 1996 in Portage
• October 1, 1996 in Brandon
• January 16, 1997 in Winnipeg
• June 12, 1997 in Steinbach
• October 9, 1997 in Morden where a steering committee was struck to establish a draft constitution

Members of the steering committee were:

• Wilf Hudson – Dauphin
• Cheryl Barker – Portage la Prairie
• Hilda Hildebrand – Winnipeg
• Peter Isaak – Winnipeg
• Irene Muzyka, Supervisor – Services to Seniors – Winnipeg
• Hilda Giesbrecht - Steinbach

There were lively discussions and concerns were raised as to whether or not this new organization would act as a governing body or as a support. It is obvious now that the intent was to enhance communication among senior centres and to promote and support their efforts.

On April 29^th, 1998, at a meeting at Good Neighbours Senior Centre in Winnipeg, our Founding Board of Directors was elected and a Constitution adopted.

The members of the Founding Board of Directors were as follows:

• President – Peter Isaak, Good Neighbours Senior Centre,
• Vice President – Wilf Hudson, Dauphin Multi-Purpose Senior Centre,
• Secretary – Dianna White, Steinbach 55 Plus Centre,
• Treasurer – Jack Richmond, Age & Opportunity Centre,
• Program – Dorothy Froman, St. James Assiniboia Senior Centre
• and Cheryl Barker, Herman Prior Senior Services Centre, Portage.

 Mission Statement:

The Association will provide a forum to facilitate communication, sharing and planning among multi-purpose Senior Centres as they provide services to Manitoba’s aging population.  The Association will provide a provincial focus for multi-purpose senior centres and raise their profile.

The first major goal identified for the new organization was to offer workshops both spring and fall to provide an opportunity for networking, sharing of ideas and learning. MAMSC has been successful in maintaining this objective and each year one workshop is offered at a member centre outside of Winnipeg and one within Winnipeg. In response to our members’ requests, last year we began offering a Staff Development Day. This training opportunity was repeated again each year and is proving to be a very valuable and much appreciated workshop.

 MAMSC fulfills numerous other roles on behalf of its members. MAMSC continues to be very active as a participant, representing seniors’ interests, in numerous forums and committees throughout the year that address the issues of Health Care, Community Living and Security. Most of these partnerships have a provincial focus such as the Seniors Transportation Working Group in which this upcoming year, rural transportation issues will be explored.

 Through such representation on our members’ behalf, the development of resource packages, and our training workshops/conferences, MAMSC endeavors to introduce new programs and services in a manner that does not tax already limited resources.

 In 2005, a policy manual was developed for Centres to use as a guideline in establishing their own bylaws and operating structure.  The resource is available electronically.  As well, a video of approximately eight minutes was developed to assist Centres in promoting themselves and to introduce the concept of a centre to others by giving them an inside look at the programs and activities that could be offered.

 In 2006, MAMSC conducted a survey amongst its member centre to determine the salary range and employee benefits throughout the province.

 In 2007, MAMSC conducted a survey of member centres to gather information with respect to size, funding sources and programs/supports

 MAMSC is a member of the Senior and Elders Day Planning Committee which organizes the celebrations on October 1^st of each year.

 The provincial Elder Abuse Awareness strategy began was established in 2002.  MAMSC continues to be actively involved.

 Several years ago, transportation concerns by older adults/seniors in our province were studied by the Seniors Transportation Working Group.  Today those concerns are being studied and monitored by the Transportation Options Network for Seniors (T.O.N.S.).  MAMSC continues to be an active member of (T.O.N.S.).

 The Spring Conference/AGM 2008 was of particular importance as we celebrated our 10^th year anniversary and began the process of developing a critical path for our organization.  The focus of our conference that year was to review our mandate, determine our relevance and identify goals for our organization as we looked ahead.  By the end of that day’s session, there was a renewed sense of purpose among the membership and the strengths and accomplishments were clearly identified.  Our barriers, for both our members and the organization itself were also recognized and the process of overcoming these barriers was begun.

 At the 2009 Spring conference/AGM, we proceeded along our critical path and specific goals were identified for the following three years.  The board will be working with the members to accomplish these goals in a timely manner.

 2009 – 2010 is a significant year for MAMSC.  We have the opportunity to increase our community profile and establish ourselves as primary deliverers of programs and services that enrich the lives of our older adults, helping them to stay healthy, active and living independently and thus contributing to the well-being of the community at large.

 In 2009, MAMSC received a major grant of $25,000 from New Horizons which was enhanced by an additional $6,000 from the Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat.  The funds provided resources and training to senior serving organizations throughout the province to offer the “Police Academy:  Older Adult Division” safety program.  The program was first offered on a trial basis in two locations in Winnipeg and was very successful and our members have already expressed a great deal of interest in offering the program at their centres.

 Again in 2009, the Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat demonstrated its confidence in MAMSC by providing a grant in the amount of $70,000 for which MAMSC will provide the leadership in promoting and developing the Age Friendly Communities Initiative throughout the province.  MAMSC is the most appropriate organization to accept this responsibility as our members have demonstrated that they share the same goal of this initiative in keeping the older populations healthy, active and involved within their communities and helping to identify and overcome barriers.

 May 2010 our name was changed to Manitoba Association of Senior Centres (MASC).

 The Seniors Secretariat continues to support MASC and the work it is doing in connecting Centres throughout Manitoba.

 April 2011 MASC received a contract from the Secretariat to develop a program that encourages and supports intergenerational connections.

Prepared by K. Pirnie, May 2009

Updated by C. Newman, January 2010

Updated by C. Newman, June 2011