Serving Seniors was founding in February 1987 by a group of seniors concerned with helping other seniors remain independent and preventing social isolation. A Community Resource Coordinator was hired through funding from the Department of Gerontology to begin the task of providing services to assist seniors.

    

In 1989 Discover Choices, a three year Health Promotion Program funded through Health and Welfare Canada, was introduced to Steinbach, R.M. of Hanover; and Landmark. Two staff persons were hired to implement health promotion programs such as: health fairs, self-help support groups and workshops to educate seniors and caregivers. In October 1991, the Board of Serving Seniors assessed the impact of these programs and sought ways to continue the programs. A decision was made to pursue the development of a multi-service Seniors Centre. A steering committee was created to be responsible for researching the process of developing a Seniors Centre.

From this grew the beginning of a Senior Centre for Steinbach.

By the fall of 1991, the board of directors realized that this healthy active living program for the 55 plus needed to continue past the date of 1992. So the research into establishing a senior centre for Steinbach and area began. The board visited other Centres in Winkler, Portage la Prairie and Selkirk Manitoba and proceeded with the concept. A staff person was hired, a membership was implemented and the search for a building to house the centre was started. A small building at 401 Main Street was leased for January 1st,1993.

On May 1st, 1995 the Centre, now known as “Steinbach 55 Plus” moved to198 Chapel Drive, leasing a 5,000 sq. ft. building from the Full Gospel Church. All the while, the board and membership were “on the hunt” for a building they could call their own. In December of 2000, the board was again forced to relocate the Centre as a temporary move until a permanent location could be found. For four years, Steinbach 55 Plus operated from the lower level of 304 Second Street, a building owned by the City of Steinbach. Program and administration quarters were cramped and a sense of urgency to find a permanent home for Steinbach 55 Plus escalated.

In July 2002, Steinbach 55 Plus put in a offer to purchase a 15,000 sq. ft. building (plus a portable attachment) from the Southland Community Church at 10 Chrysler Gate. This building would be well suited for all the programs and activities of Steinbach 55 Plus. The offer was accepted in September 2002 and fundraising for the capital project “Creating a New Centre For Our Community” began immediately. Our goal was $1M which would cover the cost of the building, fundraising expenses and transition expenses.