The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Mayor Dennis Ballard is hoping for more progress in the area of seniors housing in 2004. There are currently two seniors housing projects in the works Ñ one to rebuild the Hemlock Drive apartments, the other for a new three-storey complex at Rotary Court. "We've got to get sorted out on the seniors housing," Mayor Ballard said. "Neither one of them seems to be going anywhere, and we've got to get that sorted out." The Manitoba Housing Authority has said it will rebuild the Hemlock seniors complex, which was destroyed by fire in June of 2002. At last report, no date for construction had been set. See 'Facilities' P.# Con't from P.# Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Flin Flon continues to spearhead the development of a three-storey seniors housing complex to be built on the same property as Rotary Court. Nazir Ahmad, chairman of the Rotary Housing Committee, said his club is disappointed with government delays surrounding the project. However, he said he remains optimistic and looks forward to continuing to work with the government. Mayor Ballard has no doubt that such facilities are needed in the community. "I'm sure we don't have enough seniors housing right now, or at least the right type," he said. "It's one of those issues that you don't hear about a lot, but you know it's there. The seniors aren't usually a group that clamours, so you have to look out for their interests." The mayor sees this issue having added importance in the future, saying that many people who retire are choosing to remain in the Flin Flin area. "People are not retiring and then leaving automatically, as they once did," he said. "Most of them, I suspect, are staying here, and that translates into an older community, and you need different facilities for an older community." The mayor also sees the development of the potential recreational complex, to be located near the Phantom Lake Golf Course, as an important way to serve the older population.
