OSCC Newsletter - Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres

www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712
OSCC Youth Showcase by Carol Mutiger
On April 29 th , an enjoyable Sunday
afternoon was spent at the
John Street Branch. My friend
and I decided to take in the 4 th Annual Youth
Showcase, which is put on by the Special Events
Committee. This is a talent show of youngsters
ranging from six to 16 or
so. The opening number
was a real knockout.
Lauren Melnick performed
an acrobatic delight
to the tune of an
Orange Coloured Sky. I
must admit I was taken
by her poise and confidence
She had a smile
that never stopped. Ballet
and Tap were also on
her agenda and they were performed
flawlessly.
I would be
remiss if I did not
mention all the
other talented children
- Gabriela
Naterer, Ariel Walcott
Robert Goss
and Anthony.
Walcott Jessica
and Lauren Raney led off the first act,
followed by Monika Naterer, Madison
Goss, and Isabel Naterer.
An intermission followed with refreshments
catered by the volunteers of
the Special Events Committee.
There seemed to be a
glow emanating from the
proud parents and
grandparents. They had
every right as these
youngsters were a joy to
watch. Some of these kids will be the stars
of tomorrow.
The second act had some new faces,
Sommer Meirik, Harmony Meirik, Hannah
Vautour, Mary Joie Augustin, Chris and
Amanda Wilkins, Avery Logan, and a very
talented Nolan family.
My companion for the day, Collette, was
asked to take pictures and
she tried to take every act.
Hope you enjoy these pictures.
You can see by the
faces of the audience that
everyone was happily entertained.
Thanks to the families for
bringing out the kids and
showcasing their talents.

The thing about car rallies
is that you have to know
the rules of the game!
You also have to realize
that you may not really
know the region even if
you have lived in the area
all your life! Nothing is certain on this adventure.
Finding yourself in places you never knew existed
is all part of the fun and Friday
May 11 th was no exception.
Along with the most fabulous
spring day you could have asked
for, this year’s event completed
OSCC’s 13 th annual run.
After a wonderful breakfast
at the John Street Branch thirty
contestants in twelve cars revved up
their engines along the road behind
the Oshawa Band Shell. The rally
sponsor Yvonne Brady of Johnson
Insurance, and Debra Prescott,
OSCC Executive Director, flagged
us off at five minute intervals. With
pages of clues (seventy six to be
exact) clutched in the navigator’s
hand, it was eyes peeled. Everything
we passed could be important
to making sure we didn’t miss
the correct answers. If you went off
track your kilometres mounted and
points would also be deducted.
“Who went off-route onto the
35/115? “ We’re not telling!
Kudos to the organizers for
being so patient with the inevitable
“discussion” that ensued - about
whether this answer or that were
correct! If you’ve organized a rally
you will know that nothing ever
goes exactly according to plan. At
one location the flags hadn’t
been hauled up that day because
the rope had snapped
the day before! Some folk
used their ingenuity – they
enquired of the owner! This
was also the case when we
were asked to identify a particular
mailbox shape at a
farmhouse. Was it a milk
CAR RALLY 2012 by Rosemary Spencer
churn, a water tank, a submersible – who knew!
Those that spoke to the farmer were rewarded.
After hanging baskets, silos, a POW
camp in Bowmanville, mailboxes of every shape
and size and identifying business names and
road signs, we were ready to return to the secret
location – Northview Community Centre Branch.
Staff welcomed us to the back patio where refreshments
were laid out and our sheets marked.
As the sun beat down on us
there was animated discussion
on the variation in answers. In
the end congratulations went to
Sharon Bunt and Brian Elliott for
the best score. A plaque on
which their names will be inscribed
was presented along with
Tim Horton’s gift cards. Three
teams tied for third place. The “Hat
Ladies” (often seen at the John
Street Branch selling “Pot-Of-Gold”
tickets) were presented with a prize
for their intrepid first time effort.
Poker cards issued throughout the
rally resulted in the winners being
Lloyd Saunders and Gerry Mitchell
with two pairs.
Many thanks must of course go to
all those that organized and contributed
to a fun day. Many hands
were involved, not least the volunteers
at the John Street Branch
who woke early to serve a delicious
breakfast (also in celebration
of Mother’s Day). The table centerpieces
were a beautiful addition –
very imaginative: high-heeled
shoes filled with flowers. The “route
deciders” spent many hours touring
roads and typing up the long list of
devious questions. Thanks indeed.
See you - “On the Road Again” -
Page 2 www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712 June 2012 OSCC Newsletter

Our Seniors – No Couch Potatoes Here! by M. Jean Walker
IRENE HAMBIDES – was born in
South Africa. Her husband, who spoke both
Dutch and English, was in the army and
served with the medical corps. Eventually
they moved to England, and later settled in
Canada. They lived in Toronto for
some time, and raised two children.
Irene’s daughter resides in Toronto
and her son lives in Newmarket with
his daughter, Irene’s only grandchild.
Irene’s husband died many years
ago.
Irene was born on March 18 th ,
l913 and turned 99 years young in
March 2012. The years have melded
in her memory, and sometimes she
finds it difficult to remember dates. She lives
at the Kingsway Apartments, and manages
to prepare her own breakfast and lunch. Her
daughter visits her twice weekly, does the
grocery shopping, and cooks dinners for
Irene to heat up through the week.
A member of OSCC for about 16
June 2012 OSCC Newsletter
years, Irene told me she used to play bingo
and shuffleboard. Arthritis has prevented her
from continued participation in some of the
physical activities. While her hip bothers her,
she said the Doctors won’t give her a new
one because of her age. She was a
dressmaker many years ago and did
quite a lot of sewing, including creating
dresses and evening frocks, and
was also employed at a dress shop
doing alterations. Irene’s eyesight is
no longer as sharp and threading a
needle is impossible, so she is unable
to manage sewing anymore.
She still enjoys playing cards and is
keeping herself busy knitting bed
jackets for some of the seniors.
Irene’s advice to other seniors who
want to live a productive life is, “Don’t complain,
just carry on as if you’re young again,
and get out and talk to people!” That sounds
like good advice from someone with her experience!
Trinidad and Tobago – World of Tours by Rosemary Spencer
There’s nothing like spicy West Indian
food. Even more amazing is the variety that
Trinidad and Tobago cuisine offers. As we
entered the OSCC’s Conant Branch on April
19 th the smells emanating throughout the
building were a good indication of what
feasts of dining and entertainment were to
come.
Indra Deen delighted us with displays, a
talk about her life, and videos on Trinidad
and Tobago. She is a Trini (as they say) but
the history of her family totally blew us away.
Her grandmother was kidnapped and smuggled
away from India at the age of eight as
forced labour for Trinidad – this in the early
1900’s!
In fact the ethnicity of the population
reflects the history of conquest and immigration
that includes Amerindian, Indian, European,
Chinese, Syrian and Lebanese along
with the local Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians
- hence the varied cuisine.
Carnival of course plays a major role. Indra’s
daughter, Aleah, came along as technical
support and also modeled her beautiful
feathered Carnival outfit.
Trinidad and Tobago is much more
than just a tourist haven. Thanks for a wonderfully
informative and enjoyable evening.
www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712 Page 3

In keeping with the OSCC desire to share
our diverse backgrounds, the members of the
Newsletter Committee are getting the ball rolling
with some stories of our own ancestry.
Who Do You Think You Are?
By Grace Stevenson
From the time I was quite young my father,
Walter Montgomery, told me we had an
ancestor who killed the King of France. I didn’t
really believe the story until the day I read
the book “Mary Queen of Scots” by Antonia
Fraser. On page 86 it tells of King Henry II’s
love of jousting and of the day he challenged
Jacques de Lorge, count of Montgomery, a
Norman with Scottish blood, to “break a
lance with him”. Montgomery’s lance splintered
when they met, “one splinter went into
the king’s right eye, another into his throat”.
The king died and, although this book doesn’t
say so, my father said Montgomery fled to
Ayrshire, Scotland. Certainly that’s where my
grandfather, also Walter Montgomery, grew
up and from where he emigrated to Kingston,
Ontario, Canada. Eventually he married and
took his wife, Grace Blackaby, and their
three children, the eldest of which was my
father, to Montreal. That’s where Dad met
my mother, married and had me and another
girl and boy.
I don’t know much about my maternal
ancestors. My mother’s maiden name was
Darbyson. Her father was perfectly bilingual
and was noted for his terrible temper. Her
mother was Clara Chamberlain and came
from Chelsea, Quebec. My mother was the
second of ten children in that family.
By Fred Tan
My grandparents were all born in
China which, before the onset of the Second
World War, was in a state of abject poverty.
Looking for a way to support his family, my
Grandfather Tan moved to the Straits Settlement
(later called Singapore) by himself,
leaving his wife and three children (my father
included) in China. He became a street food
vendor. Later Grandmother Tan took my Father,
who was only thirteen years old, and
travelled to Singapore to find grandfather.
They located him and decided to stay and
make their home in Singapore. Grandfather
Tan died before I was born. Grandmother
Tan decided to return to China when I was
five years old.
My maternal grandfather Ang along
with his wife, their three sons, my Mom
sailed to settle in Singapore. He too became
a street food vendor. Later, two uncles and
my aunt were born in Singapore. My aunt
would get up at 2 a.m. daily and using a
stone, grind rice into powder which was further
processed to make rice cakes for
Grandfather Ang to sell at sunrise. These
were fried and served with various sauces.
Leftovers were brought home for the family.
They were absolutely yummy! Grandma Ang
was a homemaker. When we were hungry
after school, she would cook anything for us
while reminding us that we’d also better eat
our dinner or Mother might be annoyed.
Grandfather Ang died at the age of 96, a
month after Grandma Ang passed away.
My father became a tailor by trade, and
opened his own shop. He met my mother in
Singapore. They sewed for the Japanese
army during the occupation. They raised four
boys and four girls. I was the fourth child.
Due to the impoverishment in China,
my father continuously sent necessities
home not only for our relatives, but to help
the neighbourhood. We rendered pork fat,
dried pork skins, and packed them in cans to
send, together with whatever clothing we
were able to collect.
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www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712
June 2012 OSCC Newsletter

June 2012 OSCC Newsletter
Conant Idol by Carol Wilson
On April 23 rd OSCC Conant Branch
held its first “Conant Idol” competition. The
seats filled quickly and each member of the
audience, ballots in hand, sat ready to vote
for their favourite competitor. Andrew Goss
again slid easily into the role as emcee for
the evening and before we knew it, had us
laughing and totally into the spirit of the
event.
The Legends Cloggers
took the stage and tirelessly
performed three dance numbers
that had us tapping and
clapping along with them. I
was up next but was only
halfway through my song
when a power blip caused the
music machine to stop! Oh,
no! While Andrew fixed the
problem, I decided to complete
my performance a cappella
- the show must go on!
And go on it did. Marg
Mallory’s fingers seemed to
fly across the keyboard as
she played some great ragtime
songs reminiscent of the
Honky Tonks of the Old
West. Bob Edgar slowed the
pace down a bit by playing
the beautiful “Amazing
Grace” on his harmonica.
Several members of the audience
showed their enjoyment by humming
along to the familiar melody. Glen Stewart
sang “It’s Only Make Believe” and hit the
high notes that made Conway Twitty famous
– not an easy task!
Then came Holly Kosta and her mandolin
to wow us with her singing and playing.
She invited everyone to sing along to “Those
Were The Days” and “Never On Sunday”
and her performance ended the competition
on a very upbeat note indeed!
While we were enjoying refreshments
and waiting for the audience votes to be tallied,
Andrew offered the microphone to anyone
who wanted to sing simply for the sheer
enjoyment of it. Dave Chown sang a very
professional rendition of “For The Good
Times” and Diane Flynn really “socked it” to
the “Harper Valley PTA”! Lynda O’Connor,
who did a great job of conducting an entertaining
and enjoyable evening, introduced
the winner. Congratulations to Holly Kosta –
Conant Idol 2012!
Did you know?
The word posh
was coined at
the time of the
British Empire’s
rule in India. It
has to do with
the observation that, when sailing from England
to India, the best ship’s cabins were to
be had on the port side, but on the return
journey one would want to be in a cabin on
the starboard side.
Thus – Port Out Starboard Home – POSH.
www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712 Page 5

Update On OSCC John Street Branch Revitalization by Nancy Bone
It is hard to believe a year has gone by
since the focus groups were held to gather information
on the revitalizing of the John Street
Branch. I am sure some of you have been wondering
what has been happening in the year. As I
was part of all the plans during this time and
aware of what was happening behind the scene,
I have been asked to bring members up to date.
I was fortunate to be part of the Focus
Groups. Collette Forrest and I assisted Rob
Lockhart, Consultant, Rethink Group to gather
information to help define our future pathway.
One of the things members of the Focus
Groups told us was the John Street Branch had
to remain in the downtown area. As a result, extensive
research was conducted
to review all available
buildings and lots for sale. At
this time, there is no property
available that would suit our
needs and in our price range.
The Focus Groups also
told us what they would like
inside the John Street building.
All ideas were coordinated and categorized
according to the number of times the idea was
expressed.
It was clear there is a strong passion for
this Branch and its current location in the downtown
core.
Once the Consultant’s report was completed,
the Future Needs and Property Committee
met to review the recommendations and in
turn presented their recommendations to the
Board of Directors to make the final decision.
The recommendations for the building and
what was wanted on the inside were sent to AE-
COM Canada Architects Limited’s Architect, Ted
Wilson, who created four possible functional
drawings. These drawings showed the space
the buildings needed but were not final architectural
drawings. These drawings gave an overview
of each building design.
These drawings were presented to the Future
Needs & Property Committee and the Board
of Directors. There was much discussion and
many questions. It was recommended the members
present take the four plans away to study
and think about the ones they would recommend
and why.
While these plans were being considered,
many improvements were made at the John
Street Branch. New carpet was laid in the program
rooms, lobby area and on the ramp, painting
was done in many areas and the lighting was
updated in the lobby area and billiards room.
Some members thought why spend the
money, but these improvements were needed
now for safety reasons and for the enjoyment of
seniors utilizing the space as it will be years before
this project will be completed.
At a recent Board of Directors meeting a
vote was taken and it was a unanimous decision
to accept the recommended Hybrid option. This
option would mean the building would remain on
its present site and the inside would change to
accommodate many of the needs
and ideas as expressed at the Focus
Groups.
Many will think, on reading
this, OK, things will happen now
but no matter what option was
adopted, the bottom line is it has to
be financed. Fundraising will be
the next step for the committee,
Board and organization as a whole.
I know members have a desire for this project
to be started and completed soon. The reality
is that a project of this size and scope will take
a long time and be done a step at a time according
to priority and finances available. Some of the
work to be done, like the upgrading of the heating
and cooling systems, won’t be seen but
should be felt. Patience will be needed by everyone.
An incredible amount of work and effort
has been undertaken by staff, participants, stakeholders,
committee members, board members
and consultants to arrive at this very important
turning point for the John Street Branch. The vision
for the future has become clearer during the
study phase of the project. Let’s recognize our
combined success to date and feel the excitement
begin to grow as we enter the next phase
of the project.
I hope I have successfully brought you up
to date and questions are welcome.
On behalf of the Future Needs and Property
Committee, thank you for your input, support
and patience. Stay tuned!!
(Nancy is currently on the Future Needs & Property
Committee of the OSCC Board.)
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June 2012 OSCC Newsletter

June 2012 OSCC Newsletter
Canada Day At Lakeview Park by Julie Timms
If you want to see pride at its finest,
come along with me to Lakeview Park in Oshawa,
on Canada day. I like to arrive early in
the afternoon, before it becomes too
crowded, and stake out a spot for my lawn
chair under one of the big shade trees that
line the shore of Lake Ontario. Some folks
like to sit facing the lake, but I prefer to place
myself with my back to the water and my
face towards the pathway that meanders
along the waterfront. That allows me the best
view of Canada’s proudest as they stroll by.
Red and white are the colours of the
day. Red Maple leaves appear on all sorts of
tee shirts, hats and stick pins. Some even
have them painted on their cheeks and tattooed
on their arms. The Canadian flag also
shows up on many garments, tote bags and
lawn chairs. There are some amid the crowd
who wear our flag around their shoulders like
a cape, and proudly strut their stuff, Bat Man
style. Every one of them came to the Canada
Day celebrations for the same reason, to display
their pride in our country.
The little children run about chasing
seagulls and waving flags. They are happy to
dance to the music being played on the
make shift stage, or romp about the playground,
toss stones into the lake or climb
upon the rocks along the water’s edge.
There are lots of vendors in the park to entice
their parents to buy them food, treats or
pops. There is also an amusement park with
rides, but the children’s games and the entertainment
is free, thanks to the City of Oshawa
and the Oshawa businesses who help
put this event on.
Young parents pushing strollers and
pulling wagons find an empty spot on the
bank to spread their blankets. The shuttle
buses continue to bring people to the event
and the groups along the grassy bank begin
to tighten up as twilight arrives. More and
more people attempt to share the limited
space along the shore in order to have a
front row seat for the amazing fireworks display.
Even though I enjoy watching the fireworks
explode in glorious cascades of colour
above the calm water of Lake Ontario, I think
I enjoy even more, watching the parade of
people who gather at Lakeview Park on Canada
Day. Everyone there is truly proud to
Canadians and so am I.
Roving Reporter
OSCC Outdoor Pickle Ball Kick-off
OSCC Northview Branch
Gardening
www.oscc.ca (905) 576-6712 Page 7

Ellen Oliver is retiring at the end of
June after 34 years at a job she says was
“always fresh, interesting, and enjoyable”.
Ellen was born and grew up in Port
Hope in the house where her 90-year-old
mother still lives. After her school years
there, she commuted to Peterborough to attend
Sir Stanford Fleming College and then
went to work for the YMCA in Cobourg.
When an ad for someone to plan courses for
seniors appeared in the paper, it
attracted her attention. She applied
for the job, had several interviews,
was hired, and moved to
Oshawa.
Ellen’s first two weeks at
OSCC were spent looking after
the Day Program while the staff in
charge went on holiday. “We used
taxis to bring people to John
Street at that time and instead of
learning names I knew the participants
by their address as I allocated
them to the taxis,” Ellen says.
The first program guide she produced
was on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper, folded in half
and decorated with patterns she created on
the typewriter. Some of the courses were
macramé, fitness, and dance and, since the
school board sponsored them, the cost was
only $1 each. (The only teacher who was
there at the time and is still producing excellent
programs at OSCC is Donna Davidson.)
When the schools withdrew senior funding
because of the children’s needs, Ellen was
able to plan courses that recovered the cost
through payments by those who enrolled.
This is still the case today.
When the age of admittance to membership
dropped to 55, courses had to be
added to encompass a variety of ages and
abilities. The decision to add branches in
north and south Oshawa also made changes
to the Activity Guide mandatory giving Ellen
more challenges and requiring more of her
time. With style and grace she managed to
meet every challenge.
Ellen Oliver by Grace Stevenson
Ellen has seen many changes to the
John Street building over the years she has
worked here. The elevator was an important
addition, as was the improvement of the
lower floor from “just a basement” to usable
rooms. For 20 years Ellen shared a small office
downstairs with Lynn Muir, a very special
staff member who died far too young. Seniors
who loved Lynn contributed the cost of
the stained glass window over the ramp to
the basement in her memory.
There were only 6 people on the
staff when Ellen joined OSCC. Today
the staff numbers 36 and
membership has risen to over
6000. During these later years
Ellen has counted among her seniors
the daughters and sons of the
members she met when she first
arrived.
After June 30 th , Ellen will
have more time to indulge her gardening
and photography interests.
She’s also taken up dragon boating and bid
euchre recently and enjoys playing bridge.
She and her husband of over 30 years hope
to visit his family in various parts of the Maritimes
soon and plan other fascinating travels
in the future. (They have already been to Japan
and north of the Arctic Circle.) Fred is a
marathon runner and that will take them to
many places. Ellen power walks while he
does his running.
We wish Ellen all the best in the future.
She will be greatly missed at OSCC but has
wisely chosen to enjoy some leisure time
with Fred in the years to come.
HAPPY RETIREMENT, ELLEN!
OSCC Newsletter Committee:
Grace Stevenson - Editor, Fred Tan - Publisher,
Colleen Zavrel - staff.
Writers: Jean Walker, Carol Wilson, Zelda Armstrong,
Rosemary Spencer.
Contributors: Carol Mutiger, Julie Timms, Nancy Bone
We welcome suggestions and comments.
Contact Colleen at (905) 576-6712 ext. 2834
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June 2012 OSCC Newsletter