Seniors Lodge celebrated

More than 100 people gathered at the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge on Friday May 1 to celebrate the official opening of the Alpine Summit Senior’s Lodge.

Deputy Mayor Brenda Zinck was at the ceremony and said she was “so pleased to see our residents ... stay home where friends and family are in beautiful surroundings” in a facility that will provide housing and health assistance under one roof for many years to come.

She congratulated the staff of the Alpine Summit Lodge for always ensuring the best for all the seniors.

Her sentiments were reinforced by many of the speakers, including Robin Campbell, MLA, who said the lodge was just one part of the governments commitment to adapting to the needs of the community.

Campbell congratulated Jasper and the Evergreens Foundation for seeing a need and developing a plan to properly meet that need which would see Jasperites “age in the right place... near friends and family.”

Greg Fenton, Jasper National Park superintendent, said he was proud to pass on his congratulations and thought the lodge was a first class facility that highlighted the coming together of the community.

The fundraising committee, which raised $450,000 to purchase everything within the lodge, was also highlighted by Evergreens Chief Administrative Officer, Tina Szegi. 

With many dignitaries, mayors from local communities and prominent figures in Jasper in attendance, one 12 year-old-girl from Hinton, Kaleigh Fennimore, was a very special feature to the ceremony as she won the competition for naming the lodge back in 2007.

She said the general inspiration for the name came from the mountains that surround Jasper.

After official proceedings, community members and dignitaries were invited to take a tour of the facility while celebrating the opening with a decadent cake version of the lodge made by local Kim Stark, from the Other Paw Bakery.

The Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge contains 21 independent living units and 16 daily assisted living rooms.