If you’re retired, nearing retirement, or just looking for a group of like-minded seniors, joining a PROBUS club could be for you.
The Comox Valley is home to four different PROBUS clubs, each offering a wide variety of physical, entertainment and special interest activities to keep members busy. Just about any interest is covered, from walking, golf and snowshoeing, to bridge, “pub club,” gardening and singing.
“The benefits of such are for people who are retiring, particularly those who have come from outside the area and maybe have very few or no contacts at all,” said Glacier PROBUS president Tony Nicol. “PROBUS is an extremely good way of meeting people who are retired or semi-retired and who are looking to widen their social contacts.”
Each club holds a monthly meeting where, on top of discussing club matters, different speakers are invited to present on a variety of topics. And of course, there is also plenty of time to socialize with other members.
Marie Knowles joined the Orca PROBUS club with her husband, not long after moving to the Valley in 2009. Since then, she has held various executive positions and is now the president.
“I love it because there are lots of activities, and there’s a lot of things that do interest my husband and I,” she said. “It’s very social and you can pick and choose what you want to do. Nobody forces you to do anything.”
PROBUS is an international organization, with around 300,000 members worldwide. In the Valley, there are around 750 PROBUS club members between the four clubs.
March is PROBUS month and each club in the Valley is hoping to register new members. To learn more about each club, the activities they offer and to join, visit their websites: orcaprobus.ca, glacierprobusclub.com, comoxvalleyprobus.org and comoxstrathconaprobusclub.com