Mayor Gerald Aalbers believes the new Recreation Access Program will help residents with financial and physical limitations keep active. RAP was created by the city a couple of months ago to give low-income families and those with Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability the opportunity to receive discounts to recreation facilities.
City Council decided this week to amend the policy to allow Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped recipients to receive discounts as well. The change in policy is due to AISH support exceeding the annual low-income cut-off threshold that was originally set for the policy. Mayor Gerald Aalbers believes social assistance is a large cost to everyone, and the RAP will relieve some of the pressure on those involved.
“I think the physical and mental conditions of people are so important and I think we need to give people that opportunity, the facilities are there, and they may be limited and if the City can help that I think it’s an improvement to everyone in the city.”
Facilities involved in the RAP include the Servus Sports Centre, the Bioclean Aquatic Centre, the Lloydminster Cultural and Science Centre and the Lloydminster Outdoor Pool. Aalbers believes the decision to create the program and make the policy change was not a difficult one after hearing from residents. He says the new recreation program has already received positive feedback from the community.
“We have done a lot of work in the last couple years with the council and working with the administration. We look at the social needs assessment, that was identified in the social needs assessment that was done some time ago, so I think this is just part and parcel with the work that has been going for the past two years, so we want to continue to enhance it.”
Information on RAP applications and eligibility criteria is online at www.lloydminster.ca/rap. Forms may also be requested at any City of Lloydminster recreation facility. For more information call (780) 875-6184 extension 2909 or 2919, or email [email protected].
