Bring in the young, keep the eldest and get out the best kept secret in town. That’s the philosophy of Val Niblock, who was just appointed the new executive director of the St. Albert 50+ Club.
Bring in the young, keep the eldest and get out the best kept secret in town.
That’s the philosophy of Val Niblock, who was just appointed the new executive director of the St. Albert 50+ Club.
“I believe this club is a gathering place for all of the seniors in St. Albert,” she said.
“There are a lot of seniors who don’t know about our services and who don’t know that they can come down and participate in the club in many different ways.”
Niblock first started working with the club in 2010, when she was hired to perform its bookkeeping services. Previously, she had volunteered there with her husband.
She retired from the position in June 2012 and went on vacation. When she returned from her trip, administration asked her to take on the new role.
“I felt honoured. I’m glad the board thought they could take advantage of my previous professional expertise and they felt I could help the club grow,” she said.
Lesley Hogan, the club’s president, said Niblock always went above and beyond in her work for the club, which was a big reason for administration to select her for the position.
“She relates very well with our members and she knows the club extremely well,” she said.
Niblock said St. Albert’s demographics are on a constant shift to an older population. Only recently the club changed its name from St. Albert’s Senior Citizen Club to the St. Albert 50+ Club.
It now counts 550 members and Niblock hopes to attract people both old and young. Careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings, she added that there is great pride in the elder club members.
“We operate a full kitchen where people can drop in for soup and sandwiches at lunch and we are a great gathering place,” she said.
“We plan to do more of those activities where people can drop in and become members and part of the volunteers.”
