Krystjan Kuczak

With more older adults facing loneliness and declining mental health, Calgary community centres are proving that exercise programs can do more than keep older adults active — they can help create friendship, routine and a sense of belonging. Studies reveal that just 150 minutes of exercise a week and two days of strength maintenance can greatly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults. This can also encourage social interaction when done in a group setting.

Carstairs and Didsbury Family & Community Support Services brought a new perspective on aging to the community with a screening of Silver Screamers at the town’s community hall. Outside the Carstairs Community Hall, as attendees arrive for the screening. PHOTO: KRYSTJAN KUCZAK The Canadian documentary follows a group of seniors as they step outside their comfort zones to make a horror film, pushing back against the idea that aging means slowing down.

Calgary’s Women’s Centre hosted a community movie night featuring Hidden Figures in, inviting women and gender-diverse people to come together for an evening of film and connection. The event took place in the early February, where attendees watched the movie and had the chance to socialize and discuss its themes afterward.