Keeping Fit, Keeping Busy at Abbotsford Seniors Centre
By: Pat Goyeche
Abbotsford hosted a Seniors Active Living Fair on Friday, January 5, 2024, funded by the provincial government through the Older Adults Centre’s Association of Ontario network. MPP Joel Harden and Glebe Centre’s Executive Director Emma Tibbo offered words of welcome to the participants and a letter was read from Minister Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility. 210 older adults took part in free activities throughout the day: fitness classes, hearing tests, water colour painting, needle-felting art, a talk about alerting seniors to frauds and scams, and another talk about the benefits of exercise as we age with Heartwise instructor, Lisa Guadamuz.
Participants enjoyed a tasty lasagna and Caesar salad lunch prepared by the Glebe Centre food services staff. In the afternoon, we held a trade fair with many businesses and organizations that serve seniors and are invested in keeping seniors living in the community. The entire event was skillfully planned and led by Program Facilitator Kirsten O’Brien. It was a delightfully successful event that showcased many of Abbotsford’s activities and services.
What a great way to start 2024! Abbotsford is in full swing now with a full roster of Wednesday afternoon lectures, different levels and types of fitness regimes, yoga, Zumba Gold, Tai Chi, and dance classes, as well as art, pottery, bridge, Mahjong, memoir-writing, play-reading, poetry, piano, ukulele, snooker/pool, ping pong, Spanish and French classes and various clubs. There is also ample music and entertainment as members get together to jam and sing at the Hootenannies!
Abbotsford has a lot on offer for members, all at affordable prices. Your $50 annual membership fee, due in January each year, gives you access to these classes and clubs, discounts in the neighbourhood and free initiatives such as weekly dance/ballet classes over video from Canada’s National Ballet and monthly bingo sponsored by the Jack Uppal Team at Royal LePage.
Membership also gives you access to services such as our footcare clinic, massage therapy and acupuncture. Membership has many perks, not the least of which is access to a community of other folks (members, volunteers and staff) who enjoy camaraderie and come together to make Abbotsford a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for everyone.
Looking for a gift item, a greeting card, puzzles, women’s gently-used clothing, jewelry or books? Look no further! Abbotsford is a not for profit centre with programs and services that are not fully funded. We rely on sales of donated items to help balance our budget. You can find these reasonably priced items in our Atrium and nearly new shop throughout the year, on regular business days. Drop by (950 Bank Street, the old stone house) and get a sense of what we might have on offer for you, whether that be items for sale or programming. Abbotsford is part of your community.
Abbotsford Seniors Centre is for Adults 55+. It houses 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 telephoning 613-230-5730 during regular business hours or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca See Abbotsford Seniors Centre’s drop down menu for a comprehensive overview of our services and our current program guide.
