February 2022 issue

The Guelph/Wellington Seniors Association
A non-profit organization based at the
Evergreen Seniors Community Centre
http://www.gwsa-guelph.ca
Ross Knechtel - Webmaster
Directors & Officers
Linda Jeffrey — Executive Director
Brian Smith — President
tba — Vice-President
Roger Stevens — Treasurer
Directors
Pat Gage Ken Fugler
Wenda King Charlie Bishop
Teresa McKeeman Janice Robertson
Ross Knechtel
Adam Rutherford
The Sentinel Team
Carol Croft — Adminstrator, Printer
Linda Green — Editor, Printer
George Hughes — Printer
Bill Shephard, Ray Miller — Part-time
Assistants
All of the above GWSA members
are Volunteers.
GWSA Community Support Services Staff
Audrey Bishop — Administrative Assistant
Margaret Iutzi — Move Well Co-ordinator
Molly Roberts — Eat Well Co-ordinator
Paula Frappier — Outreach Co-ordinator
All others working for CSS
are GWSA Volunteers
City Staff
Adam Rutherford — Program
Manager
Sheri-Lyn Roy — Customer Service Clerk
Brooke Gibbons — Recreation Program
Director — Senior Services
Becky MacDonald — Recreation
Co-ordinator — Volunteers
Jocelynn Desroches — Chef
Brian Treleaven — Assistant Cook
Don Harris — Facility Maintainer
Lorne Wollis — Cleaner
Lynne Briggs — Manager of Recreation
Services
Evergreen Seniors Community Centre
A City of Guelph Recreation Facility run in
partnership with the Community Services Department
of the City of Guelph and the Guelph/
Wellington Seniors Association
683 Woolwich St., Guelph, ON, N1H 3Y8
Tel.: 519-823-1291 / Fax: 519-823-8972
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm M-F
(closed Statutory Holidays)
Read The Sentinel on our website,
www.gwsa-guelph.ca
ISSN: 0383 817X
A MESSAGE FROM THE GWSA
BOARD
For a short month that is hard to pronounce, this one sure has a
lot going on! The Roman month Februarius was named after the
Latin term februum, which means “purification”. That sounds
appropriate for this year. February 1 celebrates Chinese New
Year. February 2 is the midpoint of our winter, but celebrated by
many as Groundhog Day, so we can learn whether winter will
last six more weeks or call it quits early. February 14 is always
Valentine’s Day, and the 21 st is Family Day. We could add
others.
After our recent ‘pause’, we look forward to GWSA activities
resuming on February 1. For now, room capacity is limited to
50%, until the next phase. Proof of vaccination using a QR Code
is required. By public health order, the wearing of masks is
required at all times except during eating or drinking or while
engaged in physically demanding activities. Full details and
updates are provided on our website.
Members will be pleased to see that the Program Committee’s
new online Activity Calendar has launched. Many activities are
happening, several have wait lists, and a few just need leaders to
get them going. The Travel Committee is planning more trips,
including Cirque du Soleil on April 24 and another mystery trip
for April.
You might want to mark your calendar for an upcoming
Seniors Showtime fundraiser at the Evergreen on June 10. While
home, you could check out some online Activities for Mind and
Body through our website - you can even go on livestreamed
tours. If you wish a menu change, our amazing chef has Bistro
683 offering frozen meals, along with the hot options available at
the Evergreen during normal times.
Our new Executive Director, Linda Jeffrey, enjoyed one day at
the Evergreen before we shut down, and is learning about what
we do, and is working towards a plethora of grant deadlines.
While member fees support most activities, the GWSA relies
heavily each year on grants received from the United Way and
other agencies, including city, provincial and federal sources,
and donors. For those, we are greatly appreciative.
The GWSA Community Support Services relies almost
exclusively on grants. We need to sing the praises of CSS widely
as the staff and volunteers have faithfully been meeting the needs
of our community’s most vulnerable seniors, even during a
pandemic. Whether through the community markets across
Guelph, or delivering meals, the Eat Well Program addresses
food insecurity. The Move Well Program promotes physical
activity through gentle exercise. The Outreach Program invites
NOTE: Disclaimer—The Sentinel and the GWSA do not necessarily agree
with or support statements in the Sentinel made by advertisers, or submissions
by writers (no political or religious topics please).
The Sentinel - February 2022
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