Abbotsford Has Butterflies and 3-Wheeled Passenger Bike
By Shirley Lee
Abbotsford has been the home of 20 painted lady caterpillars and now butterflies. The clients in the Abbotsford Adult Day Program and Luncheon Club have enjoyed watching the caterpillars transform into chrysalises and eventual emerge as butterflies of the course of a few weeks. Just before the painted lady butterflies were release, the clients had an opportunity to get up close and personal with the butterflies. The butterflies will be released into our patio area where we hope that they will lay more eggs and produce the next generation of butterflies for all to enjoy.
Next month we will be caring for Monarch caterpillars in an effort to increase the Monarch butterfly population in Ottawa. As part of the effort to attract butterflies, Abbotsford will be growing butterfly friendly plants and milkweed.
Rolling soon into Abbotsford House will be our Ami Trishaw as part of our Cycling Without Age program. Thanks to a grant from New Horizons for Seniors, Abbotsford House has purchased a special Trishaw, a 3-wheeled electric powered rickshaw, designed to give older adults and people with disabilities rides piloted by volunteer pilots. The 500-watt electric motor and gears will allow volunteer pilots to ride up steep hills such as the overpasses with ease.
Abbotsford House is fortunate to be located steps away from the Rideau Canal bike path with access to Ottawa’s beautiful inner-city lake, Dow’s Lake, and other beautiful vistas along the canal.
We have partnered with a business called RentABike to assemble the Ami Trishaw. Special thanks to Jill Messier, Fleet and Shop Manager at RentABike, and her crew for hearing about this challenge and enthusiastically agreeing to assemble the Ami Trishaw which was a 6-8 hour endeavour. RentABike is located at 2 Rideau Street, under the Plaza Bridge downtown.
Volunteers will be trained throughout the summer and depending on their availability they will take older adults and adults with disabilities for rides. Gary Bradshaw is a member of Cycling Without Age, a global initiative, and we are pleased to have him assist with the training.
If you are interested in volunteering as a pilot contact Bridget MacInnes at 613 238 2727 ext 353. If you want more information on the Cycling Without Age program contact Shirley Lee at 613 230 5730 ext 309.
Abbotsford is your community support centre for Adults 55+. We are the community programs 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
