The St. Albert Seniors Association hopes local businesses will sign on to a discount card to help the elderly make ends meet.
The association launched its new Silver Savers Card in late June. The card, which is free to association members (membership costs $110 a year) offers seniors discounts at various St. Albert businesses.
Linda Ensley, the association’s executive director, said the association launched this card to help seniors manage the rising costs of food, taxes, and home upkeep.
“We know that aging in place is so much better for seniors,” she said, and that seniors fare better when they’re not forced to move out of their homes or communities.
“If everyone steps up and gives seniors a little bit of a discount, it will give them a little relief.”
The card itself has a shiny sticker on the back to prevent counterfeits, Ensley said. Cardholders can present it at participating businesses for various discounts.
About 14 St. Albert food, health, and sports businesses supported the card as of July 4. Ensley said she hopes to add more businesses in the months ahead, especially ones with practical services such as plumbing, home repair, and insurance.
Ensley said companies that offer discounts through the card will get free promotion from the association and potential new customers.
“I’ve got 1,700 seniors and members that will come and frequent your business,” Ensley said.
Central Social Hall general manager Taylor Medak said he signed up to support the card to thank the community and hopefully draw in some new customers, as discount cards such as the Gazette’s Dine St. Albert card have done.
While most of her customers are under 40, card supporter Valerie Alvarez of Fusion World Rentals (which rents kayaks, paddle boards, and snow-skates) said she often gets groups of seniors that paddle around Cardiff Lake in Sturgeon County in kayaks.
“I want all the seniors to explore the river and the lake,” she said.
Times can be tough financially for seniors, and any bit of support helps, Medak said. He encourages other St. Albert businesses to support this card.
“It’s good to help everyone out in the community.”
The Silver Saver Card is available at Red Willow Place (7 Tache St.). Questions on it should go to the association at 780-459-0433.
