KENILWORTH – Wellington North council has once again approved a $10,000 grant to support the Seniors’ Centre for Excellence.
“This is something you have done for . . . previous years, and we really appreciate it,” Seniors’ Centre program coordinator Helen Edwards told council.
Edwards along with Wellington North resident Kay Ayers, who Edwards described as her “cheerleader and partner,” attended the Feb. 10 council meeting to formally request the funding.
Edwards said the centre receives funding from Ontario Health, but additional funding through a New Horizons grant several years ago allowed it to hire an ACE coordinator – standing for active, connected and engaged.
“That’s what we feel is the key to healthy aging,” Edwards said.
During the pandemic, the coordinator kept programs running, and kept people connected via Zoom, and there continues to be an audience for the online programming, she said.
“What we had found is that post-pandemic we still have a significant amount of people who enjoy the opportunity to participate in Zoom sessions,” Edwards said.
But she said funding from Ontario Health does not cover The ACE coordinator who facilitates those sessions.
“We have been piecing money together each year to continue her position, and it’s just so hard to overrate how important her position is to the seniors’ centre,” Edwards said.
She went on to say the coordinator is responsible not just for organizing Zoom sessions, but also editing and creating the Heart and Soul newsletter and updating social media, “which we use to keep people connected and informed about activities.”
Attending the council meeting online, Ayres offered her perspective on the value of the programs, saying “I am personally very grateful for the Zoom meetings, because without learning how to do that, I wouldn’t be able to talk to you today.”
Ayre said she participated in a committee that created a calendar for seniors that gave her a chance “to meet people that were outside of my comfort zone.”
She also highlighted a wellness fair hosted by the centre, and monthly speaker events at the Legion that cover a wide range of interesting topics.
“I personally think it’s important that the council support programs for us,” Ayres said.
She then got lots of laughs from council as she described how supporting seniors is a bargain for the township.
“I think we’re the cheapest group of people that you’ve got,” said Ayres.
As evidence, she said seniors hardly ever get disorderly, so don’t require excess policing costs, they don’t drive too fast, and they get a pension every month that they spend locally.
“We keep our economy alive,” she said.
Stifling his laughter, councillor Steve McCabe spoke up to say he would be willing to support the grant again.
“You can count on our support,” echoed Mayor Andy Lennox.
A motion to grant the funding was drafted, and it received unanimous support of all four members of council present.
