Free transportation planned for 55+ Games in Stratford

The 55+ Games Society will be offering free transportation to the winter event in Stratford, P.E.I., this year thanks to a $6,500 grant from the Rotary Club ofCharlottetown.

"We are hoping that we can bring some people who haven't been able to participate in the past, or who haveparticipatedand now a few years have gone by and we are hoping to bring them back," said ValerieVuillemot,executive director of the 55+ Games Society.

"Particularlyin the winter when maybe people don't want to drive or if they are not sure what the weather is going to be like, they may not sign up."

Transportation to the games was identified to the organizing committee as a possible barrier for attendeesin a survey of members takentwo years ago.

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20 years of competition

Up to 600 people attend the winter gamesto competein sports rangingfrom hockey and curling to cards andcrokinole.

Vuillemot said that the age of competitors start at 55 and can go all the way up to 95 years old.

It's the camaraderie of all seniors from across the Island and the only time we get to see each other is usually during those games. RalphMacDonald

Borden-Carleton Seniors' Club member Ralph MacDonaldhas been going to the event since it started 20 years ago.

"It's the camaraderie of all seniors from across the Island and the only time we get to see each other is usually during those games," MacDonaldsaid.

Usually his seniors' groupcarpools tothe games, but he said it sometimes doesn't quite work out.

MacDonald was pleased to hear that free transportationwill be available to those who may need it this year.

"I think it is a wonderful, wonderful plan," hesaid.

"We are a large club and we have a large contingentof card players so they take up a lot of cars."

How the transportation will work hasn't been worked out yet for the week-long event, which starts in late February.

But organizers are looking at the possibility of a minivan heading from the east and one from the west into Stratford, with stops along the way.

Vuillemotsays they hope adding transportation will increase the number of participants especially for some of the more active winter events like hockey and curling.

The pilot project details are still being worked on for the event that runs fromFeb. 26 toMarch 3.

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