GWEN SECTER CREATIVE LIVING CENTRE RECEIVES DONATION TO PURCHASE PREMISES

Karen T. Grant, President and The Board of Directors of Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre Inc. (GSCLC), are pleased to announce that GSCLC has reached an agreement with National Council of Jewish Women, Winnipeg Section, to purchase from it the premises located at 1588 Main Street in Winnipeg to maintain the continuity of services to the older adults in the community. The purchase transaction is expected to close by the end of October.

The purchase of the building it has occupied for so many years will ensure the long term viability of GSCLC and enable the continuation of a multi-purpose Centre that promotes the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of older adults in Winnipeg through such programs as kosher meals on wheels, congregate meal programs, kosher hospital meals as well as social, cultural and recreational activities across a broad spectrum of interests.

GSCLC is forever grateful to a special donor for the generosity that will enable GSCLC to continue to be a home away from home for older adults in Winnipeg for years to come.

For more information please call Marilyn Regiec at 339-1701

October 15, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sale of building benefits seniors in the North end

An announcement by the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre that an

anonymous donor’s purchase of the building which is owned by the

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Winnipeg Section will

benefit seniors in the North end.

“The sale of the building will ensure the future of the Centre, which we

founded and supported. It will also enable us to meet our commitments

and new challenges in the community,” said Cynthia Lazar, President of the

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Winnipeg Section.

NCJW programs supported by dedicated volunteers include promoting

organ donation, genetic screening, human trafficking awareness,

sponsoring citizenship court, Books for Kids, women's health, backpacks

for kids, and enhancing addictions services in the community.

The sale of the building had been proposed when the organization was

forced to close its thrift shop and therefore lost its major source of funding.

Winnipeg Section received temporary funding from the Jewish Federation

of Winnipeg for its operations, based on the premise that it would sell the

building and repay the loan.

NCJW has been involved in supporting seniors since 1949 when it opened

the first seniors' drop in centre in Canada, the Golden Age Club which later

became the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre. It moved to various

locations until NCJW purchased the old Firestone building at 1588 Main

Street in 1986. Through various fundraisers and government grants, the

building was renovated and officially opened in May 1989.

For the next 20 years, NCJW paid for all the operating costs, primarily

funded by the thrift store. With lack of funding after the store’s closure, a

new lease was arranged with Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre

assuming operating expenses and maintenance, but continuing to pay no

rent. The lease was extended in 2012, giving the centre four years' notice

of NCJW’s intent to sell the building at the end of the extended lease.

The sale of the building promises a better future for North end seniors and

NCJW’s ongoing engagement in serving the community.

For more information, contact Cindy Lazar, President, NCJWC, Winnipeg

Section at (204) 791-3312.