The St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club has a new executive director.
The club announced last week that Chantelle Labrecque will now oversee the club’s day-to-day operations.
Labrecque comes to the club after having worked with the Alberta Council on Aging and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Working with seniors again is a thrill, she said.
“I have worked with seniors in the past and I really have a passion for them.”
Labrecque said seniors are often misunderstood and stereotyped and her experience has been that they are eager to be part of the community.
“It has been a really good learning experience. They are very knowledgeable people and there is a lot I can take from just having a working relationship with them.”
Labrecque took over the club in the middle of May and said she has been impressed with the environment at the facility and the commitment members have to the organization.
“There is a lot of volunteer involvement from the members,” she said, noting many often help pick up the slack on tasks that employees can’t get to.
While still getting her feet wet, Labrecque said she wants to see the club continue to reach out both to existing members and potential new recruits.
“I want to focus on reconnecting with the membership and letting them know we are here for them.”
With such a large and growing population of seniors, it is important for them to know the club is there, she said.
“This is a great facility and we have a lot to offer.”
For the past several years the club had been considering the construction of a new facility. While some plans have been in the works, no firm budget, design or timeline exists for the facility.
Labrecque said that is an area she is still trying to get caught up on, but it is definitely something she knows is going to be important for the club.
“That definitely is going to be a focus and a priority.”
The club’s last executive director, Leslie MacEachern, left the group in February.
