About Us
Okanagan Mission Seniors at Sarsons is dedicated to providing a valuable resource for the community. Our goal is to help Kelowna residents who are 50+ find programs and activities to connect, stay active, and socialize. We aim to increase membership and ensure all seniors have a place to belong through gatherings, activities, and events.
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Connecting the Mission Community for over 50 years
In 1969, a group of seniors banded together to create a society that would bring seniors together for activities and fun. For the first five years, they met at St. Andrews Parish Hall and the Okanagan Mission Hall. Due to an increase in membership, the group quickly needed to find more spacious accommodations. ​
Luckily, Art Dawe was seeking to sell his house on the lake, originally built in 1949. The growing society asked the City of Kelowna to buy the property for use as a Seniors Activity Centre, and were successful. Mr. Dawe provided a discount provided the society was used for seniors and the property was sold to the City in 1973 for $80,000.
Some renovations were undertaken and the Stanton family acted as caretakers in the original years. They lived at the rear of the house and the remaining space was used for seniors activities. Peter Stanton helped to care for the building including cleaning and installing storm windows, raking leaves and shoveling snow.
Popular seniors activities of the day were quilting, crafts, slide presentations, sing-a-longs to Roy Kerr's piano playing and weekly potluck dinners on Saturday nights. Many of these activities remain popular today!
The seniors would hold fundraising events and donate the money back to the community such as building a therapeutic pool at Cottonwoods.
In 1989, once the caretakers had moved out and retired, the Mission Seniors' Executive requested renovations with the society proposing to cover the financial costs. The City agreed and the interior was opened up and renovated to the configuration of the space today. The City took over maintenance duties of the house and surrounding property.
Today the Okanagan Mission Seniors Society at Sarsons Beach Park has over 300 members and enjoy activities year round including painting, singing, bridge, fitness, crafts and more! The seniors use the space during the week and is rentable over the weekends through the City's rental program.
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Members value this intimate and unique space - in particular it's beautiful setting nestled among mature trees, gracious lawns and a stunning view of the lake. In 2019, the society celebrated it's 50th Anniversary.
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