In the fall of 2018 and 2019 Community Care held Annual Active Living Fairs at the Wellington and District Community Centre.
For 2020 the pandemic made it impossible to hold a fair and everybody was disappointed. With over a year of holding successful webinars for seniors, Community Care has announced that there will be a Active Living Fair in 2021 and it will all be online. For the Fair we held in 2019 there was an incredible response by organizations, local firms assisting seniors and residents of The County.
Over 50 exhibitors provided information about their services, including 30 non-profit organizations representing health, fire, police, and nutrition. Three health clinics were offered including Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose monitoring and Public Health provided flu shots at the location on the same day which created added value to the event. In addition to the exhibitors, in 2019, seniors were welcome to attend seven fitness demonstrations including Pole Walking, Fitness Break, and Walking Track Tours. There were 12 presentations ranging in topics from Nature Appreciation to Lung Health to Legal Issues.
A ukulele band and string quartet entertained the attendees, and several draw prizes contained gifts from exhibitors. Transportation to the event was provided at no cost, a critical issue in this largely rural community. A free lunch was provided for seniors to sit in the middle of the activity, allowing them to participate in all of the offerings of the day. The owner of the local Tim Hortons donated 1,600 Timbits! We’re planning to hold an in-person Active Living Fair in the fall of 2022. For this year, however, the Fair will be online and many exhibitors have already started signing up to provide webinars.
There will be “swag bags” for those seniors who participate in webinars. Some presenters are donating “door prizes” to be won at their webinar. Watch for more information coming soon in this column and on our website at www.communitycareforseniors.org
Community Care’s Tag Day goes virtual
Another tradition has been modified to meet today’s requirements in the 37th year that Community Care has organized Tag Day. We’re holding a “virtual” tag day and have moved the event online. Instead of a 2 day event, the Virtual Tag Day will be held for the entire month of August 2021. For more information and to make a donation www.communitycareforseniors.org .
-Debbie MacDonald Moynes