The Center for Seniors Information in Kamloops says its hoping to be able to open a new seniors drop-in center on the north shore sometime in the next few weeks.

Announced as part of the Build Kamloops Initiative put out by city hall, CSI Kamloops is due to take over operation of the existing North Shore Community Conference Center, attached to Cottonwood Manor, as a seniors drop-in facility, with the opening sometime in early August.

CSI Kamloops Executive Director Brandi Allen notes Cottonwood comes with 21,000 square feet of space, meaning a lot more opportunity for multiple activities.

“There are multiple rooms which will be so much better than the Brock Activity Center, because we could really only have one or two things happening at the same time,” noted Allen in an interview with Radio NL.

Allen says the extra space should also allow them to expand their roster of activities.

“I think we’re going to take a lot of stuff that was happening at Cottonwood, a lot of the stuff that was happening at Brock, and there’s going to be a lot of new stuff also,” said Allen.  “Because the City is coming in, they’re going to have some specific programming that they have in mind, which is going to be fantastic.”

Allen notes there is a lot more available parking space at Cottonwood, while access to transit is also there.

But she notes they’re also looking beyond buses and HandyDART as modes of transportation too and from the Cottonwood site.

“We are working on other options when it comes to transportation, as well as shuttles too and from other locations for specific events and things like that.”

Leased by the City, the Cottonwood facility is due to replace the Brock Activity Center, which the Center for Seniors Information walked away from last summer.