Looking Back and Moving Forward

By: Pat Goyeche

Before we shut the door on 2024 and open the window to 2025 I find myself reflecting on where we are and where we are heading. In 2025 Abbotsford Seniors Centre will turn 50 years of age!
Abbotsford Seniors Centre has been serving adults 55 + in community since in1975, when the last of the men who lived in Abbotsford moved into the ‘Tower’, now known as Chartwell Lord Lansdowne.
Abbotsford membership and participation in general recreational programming has more than doubled in the last 10 years. We also support clients through Community Support Services such as provincially regulated Day Programs: Luncheon Club (those at risk of isolation) and Adult Day Program (for people in the early stages of dementia). We also help seniors remain in their own homes through services such as home help, medical drives, friendly visiting and telephone assurance.
The population of seniors in Ottawa is growing, as it is in all of Canada. The baby boomers have bloomed into zoomers and they are looking for interesting, challenging fitness, art and other recreational activities to enjoy. Abbotsford is buzzing with activities, participants and volunteers.
Our membership and programming is flourishing but our government funding, though consistent, is not keeping up with inflation nor the demands of building maintenance. Our mandate is to offer affordable programming, but our challenge is that we are not fully funded and therefore we need to fundraise.
Luckily we have creative staff, volunteers and members who keep coming up with marvelous fundraising ideas such as the Birthday Circle where members and their friends donate their age in money on their birthdays. Other initiatives like the Abbotsford Garden Tour and The WomenSong Collective concert have been well supported by the wider community as well. These new initiatives, along with our traditional annual Holiday Craft Fair and our participation in the Great Glebe Garage Sale, go a long way to keeping Abbotsford on track. We also appreciate the many individuals who donate monthly or annually.
That said we couldn’t keep up our programming and services without the support of the many local businesses who donate goods for our silent auctions and lend a hand to sponsor many of our fundraising events.
We would like to recognize and thank Whole Health Compounding Pharmacy Glebe, Chartwell Lord Lansdowne, Glebe Metro, Amica the Glebe, Jack Uppal Realtors, and David Burns & Associates Brokerage, for their continued sponsorship of events and programming over the years.
As we look toward 2025 we value our community partners, friends, members and volunteers who continue to support Abbotsford’s programs and services.
Abbotsford Seniors Centre has a full menu of fitness programs set for 2025. Yoga, dance and different levels of fitness will keep many healthy, fit and engaged this winter. Some of our fitness classes are held on Zoom.
Are you interested in artistic programming? We have classes in pottery, mixed media and watercolour for our members.
Membership is $50 for the calendar year. Membership is key to our being able to offer so many affordable activities such as our clubs.
We have a retirement club, play reading club, book club, pool/snooker club, ping pong, writing clubs, bridge clubs, hand bell ringing, mah-jong, men’s breakfast, Tai Chi clubs and caregiver clubs.
We also offer language classes in Spanish, French and Italian. If you are looking for music, we have Ukulele and piano classes, and monthly Hootenannies where you are encouraged to join in by playing or singing along.
We hope you walk by and walk into Abbotsford if you haven’t already done so. Our volunteers curate and sell second hand items on the main floor to help Abbotsford thrive. You will find Dorothy’s Boutique (women’s nearly new clothing), a wide variety of books, jewelry, greeting cards and other treasures such as art, household items and décor for sale.
Our weekly Learn & Explore ‘Speakers Series’ is also a great way for non-members to get a taste for Abbotsford Seniors Centre. These talks take place on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 pm. You must register in advance but it is free and open to the public.
We welcome 2025 and all that it brings, we hope you pop in and see us. We would love to show you around the centre.
Abbotsford Seniors Centre is part of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit, organization which includes a 254 bed long term care home. Find out more about our services by dropping by 950 Bank Street (the old stone house) Mon- Fri 9-4 pm, telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca