Martensville New Horizons members Ray Wilgenbusch and Ed Nowakowski accept a donation from Martensville Kinsmen Club members Arnie Deschner, James Dietrech andn Ryan Cocks

While it’s best known as a city with many young families; Martensville also has a significant population of people over 55.

“I was kind of surprised how many seniors there are in this community,” said Martensville New Horizons President Ed Nowakowski. “We’ve seen a big increase in our membership recently. In fact, it’s doubled since the Covid restrictions were lifted. We’ve gone from 25 active members to 50; and I’m sure there’s the potential for 50 more.”

The membership fee is $50 per year per person, and that entitles you to attend all the events, he said. In addition to membership fees, the club’s income is generated through grants and donations.

The New Horizons group receives provincial lottery funding administered by the City of Martensville, and regularly applies for other grants. The building and land is owned by the club, which also pays all the maintenance, utilities and other expenses associated with the property. However, the city subsidizes the club by forgoing property taxes.

The club’s goal is to provide activities and a social gathering place for seniors in the community, according to Ray Wilgenbusch, a member of the group responsible for maintenance of the hall. He said the club is currently undertaking extensive renovations to upgrade the building. Three new eight-foot tables and a large high-definition television have so far been purchased, and the club has ordered a new furnace, air conditioning unit and metal furnace covers to be installed later this year or early next year. In addition, a rack for the new folding chairs and six-foot tables is in the works; new LED lighting will replace the current lighting ballasts and bulbs; the lower cabinets in the hall are being rebuilt to allow easier access; and a larger storage shed is planned for next year.

“The furnace we’re replacing is 18 years old,” said Wilgenbusch. “We need to put in air conditioning because there are more rentals of the building in the summer months. The metal furnace covers we’re going to install are stainless steel plates that can be bolted down; because right now the current ones are right in the way and the legs of the chairs get caught in them when we’re trying to put them away after an event.”

Wilegenbusch said the new 75” smart television is a big hit, not only with club regulars, who can now watch curling on the big screen, but also with renters who can hook up the TV to show slide shows.

Recently, the New Horizons club received a $2,500 donation from the Martensville Kinsmen Club to go towards the renovations of the lower kitchen cabinets.

Those tables and chairs are fully-utilized on a regular basis, thanks to the club’s bingo nights every second Thursday. Ed Nowakowski said the first couple bingo nights attracted about 20 to 25 people, but since then there’s been over 50 attendees. “The tables are full,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of success with our bingos,” said Ed’s wife, Rita Nowakowski, who is on the club’s entertainment committee. “The ladies like to play and they enjoy coming out. We also hosted a Kaiser tournament which drew a good turnout, and we’re hosting a Cribbage tournament this month. We also host entertainment evenings where we bring in musicians.”

Ed said as President of the club, he was told calling the bingo was part of his responsibilities. “I don’t play bingo,” he said with a grin. “I’ve had to learn the system. It took a little time, and I made a few mistakes because I like to joke around and I learned that I have to watch what I say, but now it runs pretty smoothly. As we keep putting in more tables, my caller’s table keeps getting pushed further and further back.”

The New Horizons club building is also home these days to some much-younger tenants.

“We were approached last year by the Lutheran Early Learning Centre,” said Ed. “Their place was being renovated and they needed to rent space to put the children, so they approached us and we took them on as a full-time renter. They’re at our building five days a week, from about 6:30 till about 9:00 each morning; and then again from 3:30 till about 6:00 each afternoon. During the summer they’re there full-time. We usually shut down during July and August, so it’s nice to have the childcare centre renting the hall during that time. It provides us with a little extra income.”

Of the club’s most popular events is its weekly Monday night potluck supper.

“All the ladies in the club are really good cooks,” said Wilgenbusch. “You can’t get a better supper than our potlucks.”

Rita added that many of the bachelors in the club are regular attendees at the potlucks. “They usually don’t bring anything, but they pay ten dollars for a plate and they’re more than happy with that deal,” she said.

The club also organizes, and occasionally subsidizes, special outings, such as train excursions on the Wheatland Express between Wakaw and Cudworth; and live theatre events in Saskatoon. Club-sponsored Christmas suppers and summer barbecues are also well-attended, said Rita.

Ed said all seniors are welcome to become members. The club is looking to attract “younger seniors” 55 and over who would be able to take on active roles in the club. He noted that older seniors in the club have contributed much to the community and the organization over the years and they’ve earned the privilege of simply enjoying the activities.