The Fulfillment of a Dream

On the 13th day of June 1979, the Provincial Government of Alberta issued a Certificate of Incorporation under the Societies Act (# 218763) in the name of SENIORS OUTDOOR CLUB OF CALGARY.

The seeds which led to the formation of this Club were sown and nurtured in Priekuli, Latvia. The following is the story of that journey.

Club Founder

On June 4, 1907 VILIS SKRASTINS was born. In 1950 following a life of considerable hardship both before, during and after the Second World War he made his way to New Jersey, USA. He worked at the YMCA in Brooklyn until 1951 at which time he moved westward to Idaho to work as a ski instructor. In September, 1952 he moved – this time to Red Deer, Alberta. On Nov. 8, 1952, he married Adele, a nurse he had known in Europe.

In May 1953, they came to live in Calgary. Bill, as he was then known, retired from Palm Dairies and began to devote most of his spare time to following his dream of encouraging senior citizens to live an outdoor, healthy and sometimes adventurous lifestyle.

Outdoor Education

As a qualified Physical Education teacher in his native Latvia and also as a qualified ski instructor with an abundance of energy and initiative he set about to build a chain of outdoor clubs for Calgary seniors.

The first club to be formed under this initiative, the SECOND SIXTIES OUTDOOR CLUB, remains strong and vibrant. When the membership of that club reached saturation point Bill again approached City Hall to set in motion plans for a second club.

Seniors Outdoor Beginnings

In the meantime, in the spring of 1978, Edith Gower, who had just retired, contacted City Hall for information with respect to hiking. This resulted in a trip to the mountains on May 9 (Ediths birthday) with Bill, Maureen Motter (bus driver), and Dorothy Doyle. They hiked to Grassi Lakes then Bill treated the small group to birthday cake in Canmore.

From that time on Edith championed the idea of such a program for seniors and at her suggestion the City Parks & Recreation Department placed an advertisement in the Saturday, July 22, 1978, Calgary Herald inviting seniors to join the movement.

A Provincial grant became available sufficient to pay the van driver and Maureen Motter became a valuable and enthusiastic participant in all the trips. Maureen encouraged the group to go farther than anyone of them thought possible. Bill organized classes for those interested in learning the finer points of hiking. He also introduced dryland training in anticipation of the coming skiing season. Jim MCDonald of the City Parks & Recreation Department had been soliciting assistance from various clubs and before 1978 ended the Kiwanis Club had provided a 32 passenger bus to be used for Senior outings of various kinds.

Maureen Motter underwent a crash course in how to handle such a vehicle, received the necessary driving permit and from then on the SENIORS IN MOTION bus led a busy life.

On March 9, 1979, a meeting was held at Shaganappi Ski Club house with 45 persons in attendance. Bill Skrastins and Doris Hornibrook acted as co-chairmen and Blanche Nykulaik volunteered to act as recording secretary. Betty White, a representative from the City, informed the group that the City involvement would consist of the following: (a) Provision of a bus and driver one day a week (b) Meeting room for the group (c) Instructors for activities, if desired (d) Be available for advice.

Answering the call for Directors the following people volunteered:

  • Clara Patterson
  • Fran Hornby
  • Kay Lennox
  • George Stevenson
  • Nick Nykulaik
  • Peggy Orr
  • Wes Orr
  • Blanche Nykulaik
  • Doris Hall
  • Len Penner
  • Ernie Milne
  • Peter Stakinas
  • Beth Norgren

An executive of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary was to be chosen from this group at a further meeting. Suggestions with respect to a name for the new club were made and voted upon with SENIORS OUTDOOR CLUB being chosen by a show of hands. This name was later altered to SENIORS OUTDOOR CLUB OF CALGARY at the request of the Provincial Government agency. Club membership fees were set at $1.00 per year and $39.00 was collected at the close of the meeting.

On March 16, 1979 a meeting of the volunteer directors was held at the Shaganappi premises. Doris Hall withdrew her name Doris Hornibrook replaced her. The following executive was named:

  • President – Blanche Nykulaik
  • First Vice-President – Nick Nykulaiki
  • Second Vice-president-George Stevenson
  • Secretary-Doris Hornibrook
  • Treasurer-Peggy Orr

Vilis Skrastins was appointed Technical Director. It was at this meeting that a motion was passed granting VILIS SKRASTINS a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP in the club as an HONORARY PRESIDENT.

By April 4, 1979 the application for registration under the Societies Act, including By-Laws, had been signed by all Directors and was mailed to Edmonton. On June 28, 1979, during an in-city hike on the south side of Glenmore Dam Winnie Wells took a picture of the newly received Certificate of Registration under the Societies Act. Thus the Seniors Outdoor Club of Calgary was born and developed.

Vilis (Bill) Skrastins passed away on October 7, 1991, at age 84.

End Notes

compiled by D.M. Hornibrook – March 27, 1995.

Sources:

  • Adele Skrastins
  • Edith Gower
  • Winnie Wells
  • Blanche Nykulaik
  • Club Minutes
  • DMH personal journal