Senior Care Foundation gets set to host 2026 jamboree

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Grab your dance shoes and prepare to support local seniors at this year’s Music Jamboree. 

The Fort St. John and Area Senior Care Foundation will be hosting this year’s event, which raises money and awareness for issues faced by seniors in the local community, on April 18th.  

This year’s jamboree will be hosted at the Royal Canadian Legion in Fort St. John. 

Roxanne Chmelyk has been the president of the Senior Care Foundation since 1994. 

Chmelyk says the jamboree is meant to support seniors ‘aging in place,’which means allowing seniors to remain as comfortable as possible as they age. 

“Our mandate is to keep seniors in their own homes for as long as possible. The jamboree is to make the community aware, to keep them in touch with us and with the seniors that are in need.” 

The foundation also offers other services to seniors, such as meals on wheels, light housecleaning, help with mobility and the Reach Out program, which helps keep them in touch with their community.  

According to Chmelyk, the Senior Care Foundation began hosting the jamboree in 2008. At the time, the event was hosted at the Peace Lutheran Care Centre. 

Chmelyk recalled how the jamboree started, giving credit to Terry Price, the leader of the chaplaincy program.

“He [Terry] said, ‘we need to do something special for these residents, because they love to sing, they love music.’ That was the day we decided we were going to do a jamboree.” 

The jamboree will have musicians throughout the day, starting at 9 a.m. 

It will also have a pancake breakfast, including sausages, eggs, berries and coffee. 

At noon, those who attend will be treated to a barbecue 

Entry to the event is free, while meal tickets are available inside for $10 for breakfast, $8 for lunch and $20 for both meals. 

Donations are also accepted in person at the jamboree.

Over 100 people attended last year’s jamboree.