Abbotsford has butterflies and a three-wheeled bike

By Shirley Lee

Butterflies

Abbotsford was home to 20 painted lady caterpillars, now butterflies. The clients in the Abbotsford Adult Day Program and Luncheon Club have enjoyed watching the caterpillars transform into chrysalises and eventually emerge as butterflies over the course of a few weeks.  Before the butterflies were released, clients had an opportunity to get up close and personal with them. The painted ladies were then released in our patio area, where we hoped they would lay more eggs and produce the next generation of butterflies.

Next month, we will be caring for monarch caterpillars in an effort to increase the monarch butterfly population in Ottawa. To attract butterflies, Abbotsford will be growing butterfly-friendly plants and milkweed.

Three-wheeled electric bike

Rolling soon into Abbotsford House as part of our Cycling Without Age program will be our “Ami Trishaw,” purchased thanks to a grant from New Horizons for Seniors. The trishaw is a special three-wheeled, electric-powered rickshaw designed to give older adults and people with disabilities rides with the help of volunteer pilots. The 500-watt electric motor and gears will allow the rickshaw to ride up steep hills such as overpasses with ease.

Abbotsford House is fortunate to be located steps away from the Rideau Canal bike path with access to Ottawa’s beautiful inner-city lake, Dow’s Lake, and other beautiful vistas along the canal.

We have partnered with RentABike to assemble the Ami Trishaw. Special thanks to Jill Messier, fleet and shop manager at RentABike, and her crew for hearing about this challenge and enthusiastically agreeing to assemble the Ami Trishaw, which was a six- to eight-hour endeavour. RentABike is at 2 Rideau Street under the Plaza Bridge.

Volunteers will be trained throughout the summer and will take older adults and adults with disabilities for rides. Gary Bradshaw is a member of Cycling Without Age, a global initiative, and we are pleased to have him assist with the training.

If you are interested in volunteering as a pilot, contact Bridget MacInnes at 613-238-2727 ext. 353. If you want more information on the Cycling Without Age program, contact Shirley Lee at 613-230-5730 ext. 309.

Abbotsford is your community support centre for adults 55+. We are 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 dropping by 950 Bank Street (the old stone house) Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website at www.glebecentre.ca.

Shirley Lee is a facilitator in community support services at Abbotsford.