Shepherd's Welcome Centre keeps seniors active

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Doreen Barnes

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Want to be part of the low impact aerobic group? Instructor Kay Carlson has a class with well over 50 participants who listen to her every fitness instruction. For one hour a week, Carlson will put you through an exercise routine which will help with your day-to-day mobility. All the Shepherd's Welcome Centre classes run from January to June.

Doreen Barnes, St. Lawrence EMC

Want to be part of the low impact aerobic group? Instructor Kay Carlson has a class with well over 50 participants who listen to her every fitness instruction. For one hour a week, Carlson will put you through an exercise routine which will help with your day-to-day mobility. All the Shepherd's Welcome Centre classes run from January to June.

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Want to exercise but have issues with your back, knee or other joints? Think about taking Chair Yoga classes with Joanne Hanley at Brockville Collegiate Institute on Wednesday afternoons. Hanley offers quieting the mind and slow exercise movements without putting stress on the body. This class is very popular.

Doreen Barnes, St. Lawrence EMC

Want to exercise but have issues with your back, knee or other joints? Think about taking Chair Yoga classes with Joanne Hanley at Brockville Collegiate Institute on Wednesday afternoons. Hanley offers quieting the mind and slow exercise movements without putting stress on the body. This class is very popular.

EMC News - "There are over 370 registered participants in 29 diverse classes offered through the Shepherd's Welcome Centre at the Wall Street United Church, 5 Wall Street, Brockville," says director of activities, Larry Kowlessar.

The centre's focus is to keep seniors (50 years and older) as active as possible in mind and body.

With a participation fee of $20, seniors are entitled to take any or all of the 29 courses offered during the day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Monday to Friday, January through to June.

Most classes take place at Wall Street United Church with two courses, Introduction to Computers and Chair Yoga held at Brockville Collegiate Institute and the Book Club at the Brockville Public Library.

With a mixture of opportunities, seniors can take any class, make new friends and learn about a recreation of interest.

For those individuals who want to concentrate on mental stimulation, beginner and advanced French and Spanish language classes may tempt you.

To tease the mind and your creativity, classes of tole painting, painting, astronomy, learning a variety of knitting techniques, quilting, photography, table games, board games, euchre and bridge (which began with eight players and has grown exponentially to over 70 registered participants) may be just what you are looking for.

Those individuals who want a spirited physical activity and to maintain good health, aerobics, higher impact exercise classes, badminton along with gentle yoga, Middle Eastern dancing and Tai-Chi (over 100 registered participants) may be your choice.

Socializing is very important as people age and this has not gone unnoticed by the Centre.

Each year, the Centre's committee welcomes new ideas and tries to act upon these suggestions.

"We are constantly attempting to meet the needs of our seniors," states Kowlessar. "This year we offer Music- (jam session), a Book Club, a Sing -Along group and a Chair Yoga which has a class with 40 registered participants, a highly popular class."

Kowlessar indicates there are opportunities for more classes to be introduced to meet the continual requirements of the mature adults, but someone needs to lead the group.

One such course is Money Matters, budgeting, investing, income tax preparation, and so on, but a qualified volunteer is needed to make this happen.

"Brockville offers incentives for seniors and retirees to take up residence here," says Kowlessar, "and since their needs vary widely, our courses are designed with the intent to meet these needs."

Kowlessar is appreciative and very grateful to the many volunteers, including staff, who come forward each year to give their time and expertise to make these programs available. Without their willingness to be of assistance in various capacities, the Centre would not exist.

In addition to offering interesting classes and luncheons, the occasional bus trip has also been planned.

"The needs of seniors are growing," states Kowlessar. "While organizations like the Shepherd's Welcome Centre help to make life enjoyable, the need for help from government sources is becoming acute. It is my fervent hope that this plea will fall on the friendly ears of our politicians both locally and nationally."

Kowlessar says if he had three wishes for the Shepherd Welcome Centre they would be:

- adequate class space at a reasonable rental cost,

- sufficient parking,

- accessibility for all handicap people including those with disabilities that affect our aging population.

The Shepherd's Welcome Centre started in 1998 and is now run by a Board of Directors, non-profit organization (Seniors Helping Seniors), who rents space at Wall Street United Church.

Their office is located on the third floor with office hours Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon and the telephone number is (613) 345-2412 or email swcadmin@ripnet.com.

With more and more people looking at Brockville as their retirement destination, Kowlessar believes we need to provide a means of maintaining ongoing options to stay strong and fit as we grow.

"Our welcome (to Brockville) should include the provision for their healthy life-style," says Kowlessar.