This fall, Hill and others in her community are welcome to join Abbotsford activities offered at one of three new hubs. The closest to her is the Mauril Belanger Social Innovation Workshop at 95 Clegg St, on the campus of Saint Paul University.
“We certainly support the Old Ottawa East pilot at the Saint Paul venue,” said Hill. The workshop is accessible and I’ve been spreading the word to seniors around here.”
Abbotsford was recently awarded a $22,000 grant from the Ottawa Community Foundation to set up satellite classes and services in the Hunt Club Riverside area, Old Ottawa South, and Old Ottawa East, according to David O’Neill Director of community programs at Abbotsford.
The Glebe Centre is also providing in-kind support, he said.
“I looked around and realized we have such great programs here, but not everyone can get to us. So we’re breaking down those barriers,” said O’Neill. “We’re really excited it’s come to fruition,”
On offer are six weeks of workshops that include: line dancing, technology, art, Nordic pole walking and a speaker series. All these activities are on Tuesdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and they include a social component for participants to chat and mingle.
Hunt Club Riverside residents can attend these programs at the Riverside United Church and Old Ottawa South seniors can attend at Trinity Anglican Church on Bank St.
“It’s easier to reach out to members of the community in settings like this,” said O’Neill.
He sought out some help from Abbotsford members living in these neighbourhoods, including Mary Lou Kelley and Judy Charles who live in the condo towers in Grey Stone Village.
“We’re like key informants,” said Kelley. “And we drew in other residents we knew to provide input and help David promote it through our network.”
Both women are already active in their building, organizing social connections and providing support to neighbours.
“In terms of bringing programming to the residents, our aim was to have something for everyone. We knew people were interested in speakers, interested in tech workshops.
It’s a pilot, but I expect it will be very well received and hope to see it expanded,” said Charles.
The satellite programs are open to anyone 55 plus and they don’t have to be an Abbotsford member.
“There’s a pent up interest in meeting one another and making connections and socializing,” said Kelley, referring to a post-COVID dynamic in her relatively new condominium. “We didn’t know each other and moved in as COVID restrictions were lifting.”
If you are looking for more information for what is on offer, please call Abbotsford at 613-230-5730 and check out the posters in each location.
While there hasn’t been the same interest in Old Ottawa South as Hunt Club Riverside and Old Ottawa East, O’Neill said he’ll work on increasing awareness between the Bank Street and Billings Bridges.
He hopes there’s enough interest that the program can run on a cost recovery system.
“At the end of the pilot we will review how it all went,” said O’Neill.
Abbotsford is your seniors active living centre for adults 55+. It houses the community programs and services 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) Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., phoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities, community programs and services on our website at www.glebecentre.ca.
