Working with winter, thinking about spring

By Pat Goyeche

Snow and Snow Moles

It has been such a snowy winter to date, with accumulations in January alone surpassing most of our expectations! There are many benefits in all the snow, such as brightening the landscape, softening city noises, snowshoeing and skiing. But it can be a hazard as well.

With the snow comes slippery, unplowed sidewalks and dangerous conditions for walking. That is where the “Snow Moles,” led by The Council on Aging, come in, auditing the pathways and pointing out the problems.

Councillor Shawn Menard joined a group of intrepid senior auditors this year to see for himself the barriers that many seniors face in their daily activities. Unplowed crosswalks, bus stops with mounds of snow between the sidewalk and the door of the bus and slippery pathways make for dangerous conditions for everyone, but they can be insurmountable for seniors.

Thank you to the Snow Moles for dropping by Abbotsford for a warm drink and good cheer on their quest to audit conditions in early February. Your work will help ensure the City of Ottawa is aware of the dangers and does something to improve areas known to pose particular barriers to seniors.

Retirement

The executive director of the Glebe Centre, Lawrence Grant, retired in late January after 15 years of service. The Glebe Centre long-term care home held a party to celebrate his accomplishments and wish him well.

The search is now on for a new executive director who will continue to oversee both the long-term care home at the Glebe Centre and the community programs and services provided through Abbotsford Seniors Centre. Susan Zorz, director of operations for the Glebe Centre, will serve as acting director in the interim.

Spring programming through Abbotsford

Spring weather brings new programing at Abbotsford Seniors Centre. As the snow slowly melts and we eagerly await crocuses and snowdrops, it is time to renew plans to join in the varied activities offered through Abbotsford.

The spring guide will be in circulation by mid-March. Make sure you check out all that is on offer by looking at the website glebecentre.ca under Abbotsford Programs & Services and Current Guide.

The spring Learn & Explore Speaker’s Series will have a special three-part series on seniors housing in late May in conjunction with volunteers with the SWOOS (Seniors Watch Old Ottawa South) Housing Project Team, who are interested in sharing models of housing for seniors, home adaptations with an eye to aging in place and exploring the Abbeyfield model of housing. Other topics, dates and speakers will be available in the spring guide, which can be accessed online or picked up in person at Abbotsford later this month. Everyone is encouraged to attend lectures (which will be held in person and on Zoom simultaneously). Registration for either format is essential.

Abbotsford is your seniors active living centre for adults 55+. It houses 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 telephoning 613-230-5730 during regular business hours or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca.

Pat Goyeche is coordinator of community programs at Abbotsford.