Summerland Community Centre’s 50th Birthday Party!

Celebrating 50 Years of Community

The Summerland Community Centre began in the 1960s when Harry and Ida Dracas helped local seniors create a place to gather, socialize, and enjoy activities. With just a $200 grant, the group launched a drop‑in program at the I.O.O.F. Hall, offering dances, carpet bowling, shuffleboard, and Bingo. As membership grew, the need for a permanent home became clear.

In 1975, Summerland Council offered land, and with a provincial grant and energetic fundraising, volunteers built the Seniors Drop‑In Centre themselves. It officially opened on August 5, 1976, and within a year the mortgage was paid off — a remarkable achievement that still reflects the heart and dedication of those early volunteers.

Fast‑forward to 2018, when the Centre was re‑imagined and opened to the wider community. Today, it thrives as a welcoming, family‑friendly hub for all ages.

Now… let’s celebrate!

This year marks our 50th Anniversary, and we’re throwing a full week of festivities from September 18–26. The celebration wraps up on Saturday, September 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a joyful community party featuring special guests and local dignitaries, a free BBQ lunch cooked by the Kiwanis Club, birthday cake, entertainment, and more.  We’re still planning!

Our Golden Anniversary!

It’s a milestone built on volunteer spirit, community pride, and five decades of connection — and we can’t wait to celebrate it together.