May 2023 issue

The Sentinel - May 2023

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The Sentinel - May 2023 — Vol. 47, No. 9

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The Guelph/Wellington Seniors Association 

A non-profit organization based at the 

Evergreen Seniors Community Centre 

http://www.gwsa-guelph.ca 

Directors & Officers 

Linda Jeffrey — Executive Director 

Pat Gage — President 

Donna Keating — Vice-President 

Art Roelofsen— Treasurer 

Tonie MacInnis — Secretary 

Directors 

Charlie Bishop 

Wenda King 

Sam Montoya 

Janice Robertson 

Elizabeth Steggles 

Yvonne Thomas 

Ellen Webb 

Gordon Webb 

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. 

City Staff 

Adam Rutherford — Program 

Manager 

Jill Hunt — Customer Service Clerk 

Tonie MacInnis — Recreation Program 

Director — Senior Services 

Becky MacDonald — Recreation 

Co-ordinator — Volunteers 

Mark Leeming — Chef 

Drew Steadman — Sous Chef 

Rotating — Facility Maintainer 

Kitchen & Dining Room Staff—Volunteers 


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 

IT IS MAY!! Warmer weather! More flowers! Loud musical 

compositions collectively being created by the bird population! A 

long weekend thanks to Queen Victoria’s May 24 th birthday. 

I urge you to check the Activity Calendars. There is so much 

happening this month! By the time you finish reading this month’s 

Sentinel, you will be amazed! 

I had the pleasure of attending the New Member Reception at the 

Evergreen Seniors Community Centre. Fellow Board Director 

Wenda King, Membership and Marketing Committee, led the 

organization of this amazing, well attended, initiative. GWSA 

President Pat Gage was also in attendance. Program Leaders showed 

up to discuss their Programs, like Ross from the Computer Mentoring 

Team. Attendees were also able to tour and see the Art In The Hall, 

which is a project that celebrates the creativity within our community 

at large by showcasing a diverse selection of art from the GWSA 

members. Many also visited the Library, which I consider such a 

peaceful and beautiful space to visit. 

It was also nice to see a couple of former colleagues from my work 

life many years ago. I am hoping they will join. 

Speaking of activities, I promised Margaret, as there was a date 

change, to mention that the May Dancing At The Evergreen dance 

date is May 20! 

My closing this month is in relation to Federal/Provincial Budget 

information relating to seniors that was released the latter part of 

April which prevented me from including it in last month’s message 

due to appropriate submission deadlines. I want to thank our GWSA 

Executive Director, Linda Jeffrey. for forwarding the following 

Budget Highlights that were set out in the Federal 2023 Budget 

benefiting seniors: 

-Providing $75.9 billion dollars in support to over 7 million seniors 

through critical programs like the Guaranteed Income Supplement 

and Old Age Security. These benefits will continue to be adjusted to 

keep up with the cost of inflation. 

-Increasing the number of low income vulnerable Canadians who 

qualify for automatic tax filing, which will enable more vulnerable 

seniors to access critical supports like the GIS. 

-Cracking down on predatory lending, often done by extending very 

high interest rate loans, which target the most vulnerable in our 

communities, including seniors. 

-Investing $13 billion to create the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which 

will provide Canadians, including seniors, with access to high quality 

dental care. 

-Introducing a new grocery rebate to help with the higher costs of 

grocery bills, which will give seniors on average an additional $225. 

-Expanding access to Registered Disability Savings Plan to a 

qualifying family member or adult sibling to further support the long 

term financial security of persons with disabilities. 

(Continued on page 4) 

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). 


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(Continued from page 3) 

-Introducing a new, refundable Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which will provide up to 

$7,500 in support for constructing a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability, starting in 

2023. 

-Setting aside $117 million for the training of bilingual nurses and personal support care workers. 

-Improving mental health for Canadians, with $100 million to fund projects that offer mental health 

services to vulnerable groups, including seniors. 

https://www.budget.canada.ca/2023/home-accueil-en.html 

Provincial (From Budget Ontario website – link below) 

-Providing financial support to more seniors by proposing changes to expand the Guaranteed Annual 

Income System (GAINS) program, starting in July 2024, to see 100,000 additional seniors eligible for the 

program and the benefit adjusted annually to inflation. 

-Continuing the 2022 Budget commitment to invest $1 billion over three years to get more people 

connected to care in the comfort of their own home and community. The government is now accelerating 

investments to bring funding in 2023–24 up to $569 million, including nearly $300 million to support 

contract rate increases to stabilize the home and community care workforce. This funding will also expand 

home care services and improve the quality of care, making it easier and faster for people to connect to 

care. 

-In addition, other Provincial Highlights will impact positively in supporting seniors; for example, helping 

more Ontario students become doctors. Here is the Budget Ontario website link for further information. 

https://budget.ontario.ca/2023/highlights.html 

Enjoy your May! Till next time! 

Donna Keating 

Vice Chair/Vice President 

Guelph Wellington Seniors Association (GWSA) 

donna.keating@gwsa-guelph.ca 

WANTED 

GWSA EMAIL BLAST PRODUCER 

We are looking for someone WHO HAS COMPUTER 

EXPERIENCE to PROVIDE EMAIL BLASTS to our GWSA 

members monthly. GWSA forwards one email blast a month 

to our members in the second week of the month, but there 

could be an additional blast required, if new important 

information needs to be provided to our members. 

Please contact Wenda King, Chair, Membership & 

Marketing Committee, at wenda.king@gwsa-guelph.ca if you 

are interested in producing our Email Blasts. 


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THE EDITOR’S PAGE 

by Linda Green 

QUEEN VICTORIA - 

THE GRANDMOTHER OF EUROPE 

This month we celebrate Mother’s Day on May 14th 

and Victoria Day on May 22nd. 

Queen Victoria ruled the United Kingdom from 1837- 

1901 and was also Empress of India from 1876. 

Named Alexandrina Victoria but known as 

Victoria, she was the only child of Edward, 

Duke of Kent, and Victoria Saxe-Coburg. She 

was born May 24, 1819, at Kensington Palace. 

Her father died when she was 1 year old and 

her domineering mother kept her away from 

her ‘wicked’ uncles, Kings George and 

William. She had a sheltered upbringing and 

her only companion was her King Charles 

spaniel. 

Victoria came to the throne shortly after her 

18th birthday in 1837 on the death of her 

uncle William IV who had no surviving 

legitimate children. She was at the time 

unmarried and not crowned until June 28, 1838. In 

February 1840, she married her first cousin and love of 

her life, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. 

Victoria and Albert had four sons, five daughters and 

42 grandchildren who were married to royalty across 

Europe making her the ‘Grandmother of Europe’. Her 

daughter, Victoria, was mother of the German Emperor, 

Kaiser Wilhelm II, and her granddaughter Alexandria, 

was the wife of Nicholas II, Emperor and last Tzar of 

Russia. 

The death of Albert from typhoid in 1861 plunged 

Victoria into mourning and she withdrew almost 

completely from public life, spending her time at 

Balmoral Castle in Scotland and Osborne 

House on the Isle of Wight, where she spent 

time with her favourite Scottish servant, John 

Brown. 

However, she kept control of affairs, 

refusing her son Edward, Prince of Wales 

(who became Edward VII), any active role. 

Her golden jubilee in 1887 and diamond 

jubilee in 1897 regained her popular support 

and matriarchal role as Queen of the nation 

and Empire. 

She died at Osborne House on January 22, 

1901, and was buried at Windsor. Her reign 

lasted 63 years and 7 months, which was the 

longest of any British monarch until the late Queen 

Elizabeth II, who ruled for 70 years and 214 days. 

Special Printing For Members 

Do you have a need for printing (i.e., bookmarks, booklets, calendars, 

dinner menus/programs, club bylaws, annual reports), large or small 

quantities, black & white print (10¢ per page) or colour (30¢ per page)? 

If so, please contact Carol Croft or Linda Green, either in the Sentinel 

office (we’re not here all the time, though) or by email at sentinel@gwsaguelph.ca, 

or leave a message at the front desk. You must be a GWSA 

member to take advantage of this. 

We will try to accommodate you with your project as much as we can. 

DONATIONS 

To donate easily, with a credit 

card, visit our website 

www.gwsa-guelph.ca and click 

on the ‘Donate’ button or call: 

519-823-1291 

May 5, 2023, is the deadline for 

submissions for the 

June/July/August 2023 Sentinel. 

Email submissions to: sentinel@gwsa-guelph.ca 

or drop yours off at the Evergreen Front Desk. 

Distribution of the June/July/August issue 

is on May 25, 2023. 

Editor is not responsible for quality of submitted photos 

(but we’ll do our best). 


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Volunteer Corner from Becky MacDonald 

Upcoming Volunteer Awards 

Ontario Volunteer Service Awards 

This award recognizes volunteers for providing 

committed and dedicated service to an organization. 

Adults are recognized by the length of time they’ve 

volunteered with one organization, ranging from five to 65 

years of continuous service. Youth (24 years old and under) 

are recognized for two or more years of continuous service. 

Deadline: November 1. 

June Callwood Outstanding Achievement 

Award for Voluntarism 

This award recognizes people and groups who 

have made outstanding contributions as 

volunteers in their communities. 

There are two categories: 

Outstanding Volunteer Award: recognizes an individual 

or group for their commitment to volunteering and 

longstanding service to their community. Up to 20 

individuals and/or groups receive this award each year. 

Excellence in Volunteer Management Award: recognizes 

an individual or group from an organization that is 

incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation or registered as a 

charity for their achievement in encouraging people to 

volunteer in their communities. Up to five individuals and/or 

groups receive this award each year. 

Deadline: November 25. 

If you are interested in nominating a fellow volunteer, please 

speak to Becky in the main office on Mondays or 

Wednesdays, or email becky.macdonald@guelph.ca. 

Orientation and Training 

All volunteers will be required to complete the mandatory 

Orientation & Training. The training can be completed from 

the comfort of your home online. For those who do not have 

access to a computer, training dates will be set up for you to 

attend in the near future. 

Please contact Becky MacDonald for more information at 

becky.macdonald@guelph.ca and if you have any questions. 

Experience in governance with a not-for-profit organization, 

and comfort working with documents or willingness to learn, 

would be assets. 

Membership & Marketing 

Meet on the 4 th Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am. The 

committee reports to the Board for all membership and 

marketing initiatives, focusing on the maximum interest of 

members and advancement of the Board’s Strategic 

Plan. The Committee provides content and messaging advice 

to the webmaster for the website and social media accounts 

and prepares monthly GWSA Email Updates. Marketing and 

recruitment experience would definitely be assets, but are 

not required. 

Special Events 

Looking for a team of volunteers to assist with planning, 

organizing and running special events (e.g., Remembrance 

Day ceremonies) throughout the year for the members and 

community. 

Travel Committee 

Our committee leader needs members who want to join 

others in the group to help brainstorm, organize, plan 

and possibly escort trips, travel, and tours for those seniors 

who love to go places! Come join in, meet new friends, and 

have fun! 

Welcoming & Information Desk 

Looking for energetic, friendly, outgoing individuals to 

assist with greeting, providing tours, and answering 

questions about the centre during the week, Monday to 

Friday. Two shifts available, morning and afternoon in the 

main lobby. 

Cycling Club 

Looking for another volunteer to assist with leading the 

group on local and out of town rides. 

Bistro 683 

Dishwasher: Volunteer in the kitchen assisting with washing 

dishes using the industrial dishwasher and completing other 

tasks during the shift. 

Sentinel 

Drivers needed. Once a month, you will have a specific 

route in Guelph to deliver Sentinels to members. 

GWSA COMMITTEES 

Openings for a Secretary 

If you like to take minutes and are looking to give back to 

your seniors association in the morning once or twice a 

month, two committees (Travel and Governance Succession 

and the Board of Directors) are in need of a secretary to 

record minutes during the monthly meetings. 

Governance Committee 

Assists the Board of Directors with the development and 

review of bylaws, policies, and procedures for the 

Association. Morning meetings 4-6 times per year. 

How to get involved? 

First, complete an online application form: https://gwsaguelph.ca/1749-2/. 

No computer? Pick up a paper 

application at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre 

front desk. Second, you will be contacted to set up an 

interview followed with training. 

If you are a current volunteer, you are more than welcome to 

take on more than one position. Follow up with Becky for 

more details. 

For more information about a particular position or about 

volunteering in general, contact: Becky MacDonald by 

phone 519-822-1260 X 2096 or email: 

becky.macdonald@guelph.ca. 


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10 

GWSA Group & Activity Reports 

ALL Activity Groups require that you MUST have an up-to-date GWSA Membership to participate. 

Art in the Hall 

All of the art groups and artisans will 

have an opportunity to show off their 

wares and offer items for sale if they 

wish. A portion of the cost will go towards 

the GWSA, and staff at the cash 

will be familiar with how to process 

these payments and ensure artists receive 

their funds, again, if they wish to 

sell their creations. 

A contract will be sent out to all 

groups to review; it outlines how the 

shows will run. I intend to change the 

art monthly and to be present the second 

Monday of each month to put up a 

new show. Some shows will run longer 

and we may have special presentations. 

I plan on going through the list of 

groups alphabetically as presented in 

the Sentinel. Please start to think about 

the piece you would like to hang, present 

and showcase. 

Further information will be forwarded 

to all groups. 

Badminton 

After a busy year, including regular 

playtimes, tournaments, clinics, and 

social activities, the program year is 

drawing to a close. Our year is ending 

with some specific skill-based micro 

clinics open to all members who want 

to improve their skills. The clinics are 

popular and we are very fortunate to 

have several skilled in-house members 

who volunteer to share their expertise 

with everyone. 

Book Club 1 

Our group meets in the Board Room 

on the last Friday of each month from 

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For May, our 

selection is “Gray Ghost” by Clive 

Cussler. Our June selection is “Lost 

Hills” by Lee Goldberg. Monthly fee 

is $3.00. At present, we have a waiting 

list. 

Bridge 

GWSA welcomes all Bridge players 

with a basic knowledge of the game to 

enjoy playing bridge in a friendly and 

comfortable environment. We offer 

both Recreational and Duplicate 

Bridge. No partner? No problem! We 

The Sentinel - May 2023 — Vol. 47, No. 9 

mix and mingle with a room full of 

eager players so that everyone has a 

partner for any of our regularly scheduled 

games. 

Bridge-Recreational 

Join us for recreational bridge in the 

afternoon or evening. 

Tuesdays 6:30-9:00 pm Evergreen 

Room 3 

Thursdays 12:30-3:30 pm Evergreen 

Room 3 

Bridge-Duplicate 

This group is for individuals who have 

already taken bridge lessons and 

would like to work on improving their 

game. Volunteers are on hand to coach 

you. 

We request you know the Bidding 

Basics. We will make you comfortable 

playing Duplicate Bridge with Duplicate 

Boards and using Bidding Boxes. 

Fridays 9:00-11:30 am, Evergreen 

Room 3. 

Bunka 

Bunka embroidery is created by using 

a unique combination of punch needle 

and special silk-like rayon thread. 

When completed, many pictures resemble 

delicately shaded paintings. In 

fact, the needle is held and operates in 

much the same manner as an artist’s 

brush or pencil. We do not teach classes 

or have an instructor, so you 

should have some experience in the 

craft, and members are required to 

purchase their own supplies. Every 

Wednesday from 9:15 a.m. to noon in 

Room 3. Currently there is a wait list. 

See Bunkawithflair.com. 

Canasta 

Come out and join our friendly group 

for a game of Canasta. We welcome 

all levels of players. If you are new to 

the game, we will be glad to teach you. 

Join us on Fridays from 9:00 to 11:30 

a.m. in Room 3. Contact canastagwsa 

@gmail.com for more information. 

Chess 

Do you enjoy the game of chess? 

Come out and make friends! Our club 

is open to players of all levels. We are 

primarily amateur players simply out 

for the joy of casual chess, although 

with enough interest, we could organize 

small tournaments. We meet on the 

second and fourth Friday of each 

month in the Evergreen Board Room 

from 10 a.m. to noon and we ask for 

$2 per person each time for the 

GWSA. And don’t worry if you don’t 

have a chess set - we have three sets as 

well as a digital clock for those interested 

in a time control! 

Computer Club 

Here are the topics we learned about at 

our last meeting: Gmail, Windows 11 

22H2 (File explorer with tabs, Windows 

11 clipboard, User interface 

changes), The “oops” key, how to permanently 

delete files/folders (vs Recycle 

bin), Antivirus packages for Windows, 

and ChatGPT. 

Computer Mentoring 

There are two mentors available every 

Monday from 1-3 p.m. to answer your 

questions. We can help with Windows 

PCs and Android smartphones and 

tablets. And now we are able to assist 

iPad and iPhone users! 

If you are using a laptop computer, 

please bring it with you. The fee is $3 

for members of the GWSA and $5 for 

non-members. Please register at the 

front desk for each class before joining 

us in the Computer Room. 

Craft Group 

The ladies of the Craft Club are very 

busy making beautiful articles for our 

store. We continue to make hats, mitts 

and scarves to donate to the needy. We 

have had a few of the GWSA members 

also donating these items so we 

can reach as many as possible. We 

need wool donations of all types. 

Come see our NEW Treasure Chest, 

finally rebuilt, opened April 12. 

Guelph Wood Carving Club 

est. Circa 1986 

A well-established wood carving club 

of mostly seniors (both men and women) 

has operated in the Guelph area for 

(Continued on page 11)


decades. 

We do carving in the round, like cartoon 

characters, birds and wildlife, 

spoons, bowls, etc. 

Other carving techniques include 

relief carving, marquetry, and pyrography. 

Training is available. 

Meets Monday evening 6:00 pm- 

9:00 pm in Evergreen Room 2. 

Cribbage 

Come on out on a Tuesday afternoon 

for a friendly game of Cribbage in 

Room 3 of the Evergreen Centre. The 

room is open at 12:30 pm and we start 

playing at 1:00 pm. Everyone is welcome, 

and we play 8 games, with prizes 

at the end of the afternoon. If you 

are not sure how to play, we have instructors 

to help. 

Line Dancing 

Evergreen Auditorium 

Phyllis (519-836-9415) 

Donna (519-831-0943) 

Line dancing is exercise not only for 

the body, but the mind as well. It’s an 

excuse to get out, meet new friends, 

enjoy good music, and no partner is 

required. If you have never line 

danced before or need a refresher, the 

Introduction to Line Dancing is where 

to start. Here you will learn the basic 

steps and easier dances to slower music. 

The Line Dance Step Tutorial is 

an opportunity to learn and practise 

steps not taught in the Introduction to 

Line Dancing class and will help prepare 

you for the Beyond the Basics 

classes which are the next step up 

from the Introduction to Line Dancing. 

The Intermediate class is for experienced 

line dancers looking for a challenge. 

Monday Line Dance Classes 

9:15-9:30 am Line Dance Step 

Tutorial 

9:30-10:30 am Beyond the Basics 

10:45-11:45 am Intermediate 

Thursday Line Dance Classes 

1:00-2:00 pm Introduction to Line 

Dancing 

2:15-3:15 pm Beyond the Basics 

The first 3 visits are free. After that, 

in addition to providing us proof of a 

GWSA membership, it’s $2.00 each 

time you come. 

Mah Jongg 

Mah Jongg has started up again in 

Room 4 on Mondays from 2:30-4:30 

p.m. except the last Monday of the 

month when it will be in the Dining 

Room. It is a game played with tiles, 

similar to Dominoes. Instruction is 

available for those who don’t know 

how to play. 

Peer Learning 

Peer Learning is for seniors who like 

to have a good discussion with a small, 

friendly group. This year, two very 

successful topics have been World 

Leaders Who Made Their Mark in 

the Fall term and Russia and Eastern 

Europe in the Winter term. It’s a 

great way to meet new people and 

have fun while learning. Check your 

Sentinel in September for new topics 

and times. 

Into Focus Photography 

We are a friendly group of amateur 

photographers with equipment ranging 

from mobile phones and point-andshoot 

cameras to fancy DSLR models. 

We share a common interest in photography 

as a hobby and we learn from 

each other. New members are always 

welcome. Our regular meetings are on 

the last Monday of every month in 

Room 4. 

If you are interested in joining, contact 

Stu McCannell 

(smccannell@rogers.com). 

Pickleball 

Pickleball is a sport in which four 

players use solid paddles made of 

wood or composite materials to hit a 

perforated polymer ball over a net. 

The sport shares features of other racquet 

sports: the dimensions and layout 

of a badminton court and a net and 

rules similar to tennis, with a few 

modifications. 

This sport is for people of all 

ages who are looking for some fun, 

laughter, socialization and exercise. 

It’s easy to learn, but can be challenging 

for those with a competitive nature. 

All levels of skill invited. Pickleball 

equipment is provided. 

Shuffleboard 

Come on out and join our group. Enjoy 

some gentle exercise, friendship 

and fun. Membership is available to all 

paid-up GWSA members for a $10 fee 

every six months. Register the first 

time you play. Beginners are welcome 

and instruction is available. The group 

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plays Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 

1 to 3 p.m. 

Silver Strummers 

The ukulele orchestra is an unqualified 

success story! There are now 30 individuals 

who have joined the Silver 

Strummers. We welcome ALL skill 

levels, beginner through advanced. We 

will provide you with all the information 

you will need to get started. If 

you would like to try the universally 

accessible and friendly instrument of 

the ukulele, please contact Eva Quan 

519-820-1032. 

Silvertones 

The Silvertones members practise 

weekly in Room 3 on Fridays from 2 

to 3 p.m. We do have a few openings 

so please contact Doreen Muir @ 519- 

831-8323 if you would like to join our 

choir or would like more information. 

Rug Hooking 

We have been gathering as a group of 

rug hookers at the Evergreen Centre 

since February 2022. Traditional rug 

hooking is both art and a craft. Many 

beautiful and unique items are made 

by pulling loops of fabric or yarn 

through a stiff, woven base such as 

burlap or linen. It is enjoyable, fun and 

a very social hobby. Beginners are 

welcome and we will help you get 

started. The Rug Hooking Group 

meets on Tuesday afternoon, 12-4, in 

Room 2. 

Contact: Kathy McCallum, 226- 

821-1331. Email: 

kamccallum28@gmail.com. 

Skiing 

For the 2023 ski season, it costs 

$10.00 plus HST to join the Ski Club. 

You register and pay for the Downhill 

Ski Club at the front desk of the Evergreen 

Centre. It helps to own a 5-7 

Pass purchased from Blue Mountain 

well before the start of the ski season. 

Every Monday, we carpool by meeting 

at the lower Evergreen Parking Lot by 

the Enabling Garden at 8:00 am, drive 

to Blue Mountain, and return to 

Guelph by 6:00 pm. Contact Bob 

Shearer 519-831-4093 for Ski Club 

information. 

Evergreen Snooker Club 

The Evergreen Snooker Club is composed 

of a group of active, friendly 

players with skill levels covering the 



12 


full spectrum from learner/beginner to 

accomplished player. If you are interested 

in learning the game, or have 

played in the past and want to get back 

into it, please drop by the Snooker 

Room. You will be assured a warm 

welcome and a place to try your hand 

at one of our three tables. The Snooker 

Room is open weekdays between 9:00 

am and 4:00 pm and any other time the 

Evergreen Centre may be open. 

The primary focus of the club is to 

have fun, build friendships and socialize. 

Your snooker skill level is irrelevant, 

so don’t feel intimidated if you 

are a beginner. Prospective members 

may visit the club room up to three 

times without charge to help with their 

decision on whether to join. While 

most of the current members are men, 

there is a small group of women who 

play regularly (typically on Tuesday 

mornings), so ladies, don’t be shy, 

give it a try. 

Membership is available to all paidup 

members of the GWSA on payment 

of the prescribed annual snooker activity 

fee. The current fee of $70 (plus 

tax) buys you access to the Snooker 

Room any time it is open and to all the 

snooker you care to play. 

Texas Hold ’Em 

Why not come out and have fun with 

us? We are averaging about 16 players 

a week. We are situated in the Dining 

Room. We charge $2 per week and 

pretty well all of that goes back to the 

GWSA. We play Tuesdays & Fridays 

from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. 

Each player starts off with $500 in 

real casino chips, and, as we do not 

play for money, we work on a point 

system. The one with the most points 

each week is the winner. We play until 

there is only one player left or 8:30 pm 

comes, whichever is first. 

We will gladly teach anyone who is 

interested in playing. Just follow the 

laughter to find us. We welcome everyone 

who wants to play and enjoys 

company. We have quite a few ladies 

playing at present and would always 

welcome more. We do not want to 

become a men’s club! Remember, you 

have to be a member of the GWSA to 

play. 

Seniors Mixed Volleyball 

Thursday mornings at the West End 

from 10:30 a.m. - noon. 


$60 for the season, September to 

June. 

Must have some mobility and hand/ 

eye co-ordination. 

Any questions or concerns, please 

contact: Co-ordinator Johanna 

van Boxtel, 416-579-7143 

Johannavanboxtel60@gmail.com. 

Walking Club 

Do you like to walk during the spring, 

summer and fall? Do you like to have 

company when you walk? 

If so, joining the Walking Club is a 

great way to exercise with lots of fresh 

air, enjoy nature and beautiful scenery 

and make new friends while discovering 

the trails in the area. 

You can register for the Walking 

Club’s 2023 walking season online 

through RecEnroll or at the front desk 

of the Evergreen Centre. The annual 

fee is $10 and you must be an active 

member of the GWSA. 

We meet in Riverside Park on Thursday 

mornings from 8:45 am to register 

and collect any entrance fees. Then we 

depart at 9:00 am sharp. Walks are 

on…rain or shine. 

Walks start at Riverside Park OR we 

drive to one of the many wonderful 

Guelph Walking Trails or nearby Conservation 

Areas. Walks are at your 

own pace and you must arrange 

your own transportation to the Trail 

Head. 

If you are interested in helping with 

this group or would like any additional 

information, please contact: 

walkingclubgwsa@gmail.com. 

Watercolour Painters 

The Evergreen Watercolour Painters 

provides an opportunity for watercolour 

painters to practise their hobby 

along with others sharing the same 

interest, while encouraging one another 

and receiving information, ideas and 

inspiration. While we do not offer 

classes or lessons, we welcome accomplished 

watercolour painters. 

There is a small annual membership 

fee and membership with the GWSA 

is required. We meet in Room 2 from 

12:30 to 4 p.m. on the 1st and 5th 

Wednesday of the month, and from 9 

a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday. 

Storytelling Through Woven Words 

On February 14, the Storytelling 

Through Woven Words Group performed 

through songs and storytelling 

at the Shelldale Centre. 

Do you want to tell a story, but have 

trouble choosing the best words, or 

including ‘drama’ to make it more interesting? 

Pass on stories to your family. 

Impress your friends! From everyday 

conversations to potential stage 

performance, we can help you captivate 

your audience. Mondays 10-11 

a.m. in Room 4. 

Writers Club 

If you enjoy the power of the pen, 

come join the Writers Club. We can 

toss around ideas and topics to get the 

creative juices flowing. Then let’s 

share the resulting written shape for 

constructive comments, while enjoying 

the company of others. Please feel 

welcome to join the journey. We will 

meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the 

month in the Board Room, from 1-3 

p.m. There is a weekly fee of $2 for 

the GWSA. Contact Susan Jackson 

519-265-3246. 

Writing Your Life Story 

This new Activity Group has gotten 

off to a good start with 12+ members. 

All are conscientiously following the 

suggestions of the facilitator, as steps 

towards producing a document that 

can be shared with children, grandchildren, 

and other interested people. Each 

week, there is an assignment to create 

a story relating to your life experience. 

The story is then shared with others in 

the group. We have already learned 

that no one’s life is “boring”! Space is 

limited due to room size, but we can 

accept a few more members. We meet 

on Thursdays at 1:30 pm in the Board 

Room. If you are interested, come and 

check us out! Contact Jennifer Blackie 

at 519-824-7204 or jblackie@bell.net 

for more information. 

Be active. 

Get involved. 

Make

GWSA Groups & Activities Contact Information 

You may be required to show your up-to-date GWSA membership card at any activity. 

For more Program Group information, go to https://gwsa-guelph.ca and go to the 

CONTACT US menu. Click on Program Groups to get in contact with Program Group 

Leaders. Or pick up a print copy of the Sentinel for group contacts. 

13 

Art In The Hall 

ArtInTheHall@gwsa-guelph.ca 

Changes monthly 

Art Studio In 2 

Evergreen Room 2 

Every 2 nd & 4 th Wed. 1-4 pm 

Badminton 


Tues. 7-9:30 pm 

Thurs. & Fri. 10:30 am-1 pm, 

Sun. 1:30-3:30 pm 

Mon. & Wed. 1-4 pm (WECC) 

No play at WECC July & August 

Casual Bicycling 

Various Locations in and 

around Guelph 

Wed. - May 1-Oct. 31 - 9:00 am-noon 

Bid Euchre on Thursdays 


Thursdays 1 pm-4 pm 

Book Club 1 

Board Room 

Last Friday of month - 1-2:30 pm 

Book Club 2 

Board Room 

Second Friday of month - 1-2 pm 

Bridge - Recreational 


Tuesdays - 6:30-9:00 pm 

Thursdays - 12:30-3:30 pm 

Bridge - Duplicate 


Fridays - 9:00-11:30 am 

Bunka Art Group 


Wednesdays - 9:15 am-noon 

Canasta 


Fridays - 9:00-11:30 am 

Canoe Club 

Thursdays 9 am-noon 

Chess Club 

Board Room 

2nd & 4th Fridays – 10 am-12 pm 

Computer Club 

Computer Room 

January, March, May 

2nd Monday - 2-4 pm 

Computer Mentoring 

Computer Lab 

Computer mentoring is a drop-in program. 

No appointment necessary. 

Computer mentoring is offered every 

Monday (except when the Centre is 

closed) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm 

Craft Club 


Fridays - 8:30 am-1:30 pm 



14 


Cribbage 


Tuesdays 12:30 pm-4 pm 

Diabetes Support Group 

Room 3 

2nd Tuesday – 11 am -12 pm 

4th Tuesday – 10 am -12 pm 

Euchre on Monday 


Mondays - 1:00-3:00 pm 

Euchre on Friday 


Fridays - 1:00-4:00 pm 

Golf 

Mondays, May to September 

Into Focus Photography 


Last Monday of every month—2:30-5 pm 

$24.00 a year 

Line Dancing 


Mondays – 9:15 to noon 

Thursdays – 1:00 to 3:15 p.m. 

Mah Jongg 


Mondays - 2:30-4:30 p.m. 

Last Mon. of the month Dining Rm. 

Pickleball 


Monday 12:15 – 3 p.m. 

Tuesday 8:30 am – 12:30 p.m. 

Wednesday 8:30 – 10:00 am 

Thursday 8:30 - 10:30 am 

Friday 8:30 – 10:30 am and 1 – 4 pm 

Sunday 8:30 am - 1:30 pm 

West End Comm. Centre 

Tues. - noon-4:00 pm (advanced play) 

Thurs. - 1:00-5:00 pm (advanced play) 

Quilting 


Mondays - 12:30-4:00 pm 

Rug Hooking 


Tuesdays 12-4 pm 

Shuffleboard 


Tuesdays & Wednesdays - 1-3 pm 

Silver Strummers 

Room 3 

Fridays - Beginners 12-1 pm 

Experienced 1-2 pm 

Silvertones Choir 

Room 3 

Fridays 2-3 pm 

Ski Club 

Evergreen Parking Lot by 

The Enabling Garden 

Mondays from January to the end of 

March 

8:00 am car pool at Evergreen to Blue 

Mountain 

6:00 pm return to Evergreen 

Evergreen Snooker Club 

Evergreen Snooker Room 

Daily - 9:00 am-4:00 pm 

Table Tennis 


Evergreen: 

Monday - 3-6:15 pm 

Wednesday - 10 am-1 pm 

Saturday - 9:00 am-12:00 noon 


15 


West End: Friday - 1:00-4:00 pm 

(WECC - except July/August) 

Texas Hold ’Em Poker 

Bistro 683 

Tuesdays & Fridays - 6:30-8:30 pm 

Seniors Mixed Volleyball 

West End 

Thursday 10:30 a.m. - noon 

$60 for the season, September to June 

Walking Club 

Riverside Park 

April to October 

walkingclubgwsa@gmail.com 

Thursdays - Arrive at 8:45 am 

Departing at 9:00 am sharp! 

Storytelling Through 

Woven Words 

Room 4 

Mondays – 10-11 am 

Writers Club 

Board Room 

1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 

1-3 p.m. 

Writing Your Life Story 

Board Room 

Thursdays 1:30-3:30 pm 

Watercolour Painters Club 


1st and 5th Wednesday of the month - 

12:30-4 pm 

Third Wednesday - 9 am to 4 pm 

Membership $30/yr + hst 

West End Art Group 

Rm 2 West End Comm. Centre 

Tuesdays - 12:30-4:00 pm 

September – June 

Membership $10/yr + hst 

West Hills Art Group 

Rm 2 West End Comm. Centre 

September - June 

Thursdays - noon-4:00 pm 

Membership $25.00 + hst 

Wood Carving Group 


Monday – 6-9 pm 


16 

Solutions on pg. 32 


17 

SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS 

OF NOTE 

“Our Young Seniors” 

‘We’re not over the hill; we’re just 

gaining speed!’ 

Ken Fugler - May 8 (an energetic 80) 

Patricia Paxman - May 14 (97) 

Frank Bard - May 19 (99) 

SPECIAL WEDDING 

ANNIVERSARIES 

If you have a birthday or anniversary 

that you would like to include in the 

Sentinel, please let us know the month 

before. 

This column is NOT done automatically. 

We DON’T have access to your 

personal information. 

“Passages” 

We would like to convey our condolences 

to Association Members and their Families 

Piper, Anne passed away on Sunday, March 19, 

2023, in her 89th year. She volunteered with CSS at 

the Centre. 


18 

Clubs and Drop-In Activities MAY 2023 

R Register W West End Community Centre P Riverside Park Picnic Shelter 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 

1 

9:15-9:30a Line Dance Tuto. 

9:30-10:30a Line Dancing 

Beyond the Basics 

10-11a Woven Words 

10:45-11:45a Intermediate 

Line Dancing 

12:15-3p Pickleball 

12:30-4p Quilting 

1-3p Euchre 

1-4p Badminton W 

2:30-4:30p Mah Jongg 

3-6:15p Table Tennis 

6-9p Carving Club 

2 

8:30a-12:30p Pickleball 

12-4p Pickleball W 

12-4p Rug Hooking 

12:30-4p Cribbage 

12:30-4p West End Arts W 

1-3p Shuffleboard 

6:30-8:30p Texas Hold ’Em Poker 

6:30-9p Rec. Bridge 

7-9:30p Badminton 

3 

8:30-10a Pickleball 

9:15a-12p Bunka 

10a-1p Table Tennis 

12:30-4p Watercolour Painters 


1-3p Writers Club 


1:30p BINGO 

4 

8:30-10:30a Pickleball 

8:45-11:30a Walking Club 

10:30a-12p Volleyball W 

10:30a-1p Badminton 

12-4p West Hills Arts W 

12:30-3:30p Rec. Bridge 

1-2p Intro to Line Dancing 

1-4p Bid Euchre 

1-5p Pickleball (advanced) W 

1:30-3:30p Writing Your Life 

Story 

2:15-3:15p Line Dancing 


5 


8:30a-1:30p Crafts 

9-11:30a Canasta 

9-11:30a Duplicate Bridge 


12-1p Silver Strummers Beg. 

1-2p Silver Strummers Exp. 

1-4p Euchre 

1-4p Pickleball 

1-4p Table Tennis W 

2-3p Silvertones 


8 






Line Dancing 



1-3p Euchre 





9 


11a-12p Diabetes Support 






6:30-8:30p Texas Hold 

’Em Poker 



10 





1-4p Art Studio in 2 


1:30p BINGO 

11 











Story 



12 





10a-12p Chess 



1-2p Book Club 2 


1-4p Euchre 





15 






Line Dancing 

16 







17 


9a-4p Watercolour Painters 



18 








19 








19 



1-3p Euchre 





22 

CLOSED 

29 





10:45-11:45a Int. Line Dancing 



1-3p Euchre 



2:30-5p Into Focus 

Photography 




’Em Poker 



23 


10a-12p Diabetes Support 







’Em Poker 



30 








’Em Poker 




1-3p Writers Club 


1:30p BINGO 

24 





1-4p Art Studio in 2 


1:30p BINGO 

31 




12:30-4p Watercolour Painters 



1:30p BINGO 




Story 



25 











Story 



Weekend Activities 

Saturday 


Sunday 


1:30-3:30p Badminton 

DANCE MAY 20 


1-4p Euchre 





26 





10a-12p Chess 




1-2:30p Book Club 1 

1-4p Euchre 





Everyday Activities 

Snooker—9a-4p 

Library — 

Mon-Fri – 10a-4p 


20 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full & Partial Dentures 

Implant Retained Dentures 

Hypoallergenic Options / Metal-free Clear Partial 

Frameworks 

Most Repairs while you wait, same day relines 

Mobile Services to offer our patients access to 

care 

Digital Impressions 

Wellington Foot Clinic 

Professional Footcare & Custom Foot Orthotics 

Jessica K. Mann 

Registered Chiropodist / Foot Specialist 

Professional, Safe Treatment of a Variety of Foot Conditions 

- Nail Disorders, Corns, Callus, Warts, Ingrown Toenails & much more 

- Custom Foot Orthotics 

- Covered by most extended health insurance providers 

- No referral needed!!! Free parking 

- Morning, Evening and Saturday Appointments Available 

3 – 245 Edinburgh Rd S. (enter off Municipal or Edinburgh) 

519-546-3737 wellfoot@outlook.com 


21 

The Elliott Community is Guelph’s 

only not-for-profit organization to 

offer 4 lifestyle choices for Seniors. 

 

 

 

 

Life Leases 

Supportive Living 

Assisted Living 

Long Term Care 


22 


A Message from the GWSA Travel Committee 

We want to start by thanking all of our seniors for your continued support of the Guelph Wellington 

Seniors Association. We are committed to planning trips that allow you to enjoy a day out and have fun. 

We always try to keep our costs down for every outing, but, regrettably, costs have dramatically increased 

for the venues and for coaches, resulting in higher ticket prices. We appreciate your understanding and, 

once again, thank you for participating and joining us on these trips. 

Looking forward to seeing you throughout 2023. 

Sincerely, 

Joanne, Yvonne, Joan and Diane 

THE TRAVEL TEAM 

NOTICE FROM BOARD OF 

DIRECTORS 

Your Board of Directors is looking for individuals to 

sit on the Board. The Guelph Wellington Seniors 

Association is one of the largest seniors’ organizations 

of its kind in Canada, providing diverse programs, 

activities and services to the Guelph and Wellington 

County. Our mission is to enable older adults to be 

active, get involved, make new friends and age with 

dignity. In addition to supporting increased access for seniors to City facilities and 

programming, the GWSA supports the City’s goal of creating an Age-Friendly City. 

If you are interested in helping to shape the future of the Guelph Wellington Seniors 

Association, then we want you. 

Please send your contact information to Linda Jeffrey, Executive Director, 

(linda.jeffrey@gwsa-guelph.ca), or Pat Gage, Chair of the Board of Directors, 

(pat.gage@gwsa-guelph.ca).

23 

Dancing 

at the 

Evergreen 


683 Woolwich St., Guelph 

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023 

(Upcoming Dances: June 24, July 29 & August 19) 

7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. 

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. 

Dance to the music of DJ Rob Martine 

Tickets are $15.00 each (non-refundable) 

Tickets may be purchased at the door. Tickets may also be purchased in advance 

by phoning 519-837-5699 or in person at any City of Guelph Recreational 

Facility, such as: Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, Victoria Road 

Recreational Centre, West End Community Centre. 

For more information or to reserve a group table, call Margaret at 519-836-8534 

Or email me at dances@gwsa-guelph.ca 

See website: https://gwsa-guelph.ca/Dancing-at-the-Evergreen/ 


24 


25 


26 

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED AS AN ELDER? 

by Susan Jackson 

Writers’ Club 

I have learned that the relationship with your children 

changes. There is a final letting go of the feeling that you 

must direct or advise them on how they live their life. 

When you are in your sixties, you are still working, 

balancing all the balls in your life, and helping children, 

grown up as they are, to ease into their lives as workers 

and often as parents trying to find their way through some 

of the minefields of life. When you retire, and have more 

time, you may find yourself fully in charge of daycare for 

their offspring. Why not? You are healthy and available. 

But as time passes, their lives become more formed, and 

suddenly, they somehow become your middle-aged 

children, fully in charge of their own lives. 

The roles have switched while you weren’t watching. 

You are no longer a caregiver, which has been a main 

role in your life. They are the caregivers now, of their 

own families, and you are freed of that weight on your 

shoulders. You may still listen to their issues, but they are 

not yours to solve. They know how to find their own 

solutions. 

There aren’t as many occasions where you actually get 

together with them. They are very busy with their own 

lives, and phone calls are often the only contact. 

This pattern has become more reinforced by the last two 

years of living with the COVID epidemic. Elders, and 

those with underlying health issues, were most at risk of 

serious complications from the virus. Their best 

protection was to live in isolation. That meant that phone 

calls became the norm. Family and friends were unable to 

congregate. The best thing they could do to protect their 

older friends and family was to simply stay away from 

them. 

At the same time, we have lost friends to death in the 

natural course of events. I knew from textbooks that 

elders are more likely to bear loneliness, but it is a 

different thing to experience it. Friends from childhood 

have died, friends from middle age have died, your 

parents and the elders of your extended family have left 

this Earth, and often, your partner has died. Your circle 

grows ever smaller. 

There is a continual need to make new friends to have 

someone share the dilemmas of diminished health, and 

some of the roadblocks in the ability for independent 

living. 

I have learned that you must reach out for other things 

that give meaning to your life. If you have hobbies, you 

have more time to invest in their enjoyment. Sometimes 

your pastimes have to be adjusted. For instance, I had a 

good friend who loved to go for long morning walks. 

Then he had health issues and long walks were no longer 

feasible. He took up fishing again. 


If it is company that you crave, you join groups of likeminded 

people. This could require some effort, and 

expense. Sometimes it involves spending money on 

programs, and the limitations of your pension have to be 

considered. Where do we find these groups? 

People used to belong to religious groups where there 

were always social activities going on. This is no longer 

true in the majority of our lives. StatsCan census of 2019 

says 53% of Canadians have no participation in a 

religious group. When they break it down by ages, people 

aged 64 to 83, the elders of our society, are churchgoers 

in 85% of that age group. When we look at our younger 

population, with ages from 24 to 43, churchgoers are 

down to 32% of the population. 

That information bears out in my three children. I 

believe they could count on their right hand the number 

of times they visited a church. I doubt my grandchildren 

have ever been in a church. They might ask, “what is 

religion”? History books may soon have to explain it to 

them. 

Loneliness and isolation are key issues for elders, and 

presumably they will increase as religious affiliations 

decrease across the land. Connection is an antidote. So 

where do we look for community? We are lucky to have a 

seniors centre in Guelph. Hats off to the core group that 

worked on its inception. I would like to know who led the 

way. 

Honestly, I feel like this is a blurb for 10 good reasons 

to join the seniors centre, but in my view, it is the best we 

have going for us at the moment. There are such a variety 

of programs. I see people coming out of a morning 

workout in the gym, still limber and fit, while at the other 

end of the hall, I see a group of quieter, white-haired 

ladies bent over their quilting project, and enjoying their 

time together. People have lunch together, play cards 

together, meet at the book club, go to the evening dances, 

laugh and sing together. This is what staves off 

loneliness. 

My daughter lives three hours north of Guelph by car, 

and she recently asked me to consider moving closer to 

her. The first thing I did was to see if there was a 

community centre in her nearby city. There was not. 

What quality of life could I envisage, stuck in a new 

environment with nowhere to meet new friends and join 

in activities. I told her it looked bleak. I would have been 

nearer to her, but not happier. I will stay in Guelph. We 

have our own daily paths to lead, much as we love each 

other, and are there for each other. This is what I learned.

27 

$25.00 discount coupon 

with this ad 

Please call 519-821-6683 

COMPUTER MENTORING 

BALL - COME OUT AND PLAY SLOPITCH 

Men and Ladies 55+ are invited to 

Play in a Co-ed SloPitch League 

Just about everyone with a computer runs into 

problems. Don’t struggle when there is help 

available at these weekly mentoring sessions. 

Volunteers from the GWSA Computer Club are 

available to assist you with your specific 

problem areas. 

All computer mentoring sessions are held on 

Monday afternoons from 1-3 pm 

Class length: 2 hours 

Cost: $3.00 for Members 

and $5.00 for Non-Members. 

Participants pay in advance at the front desk 

or register using RecEnroll.ca. 

If you are 55 or older or turning 55 in this year, come out 

and join us!! Our games will be 

Wednesday evenings , 6:30 - 8:30pm, 

at Hugh C. Guthrie Park, 

117 Forest St, Guelph, 

First Game: Wednesday, May 3 rd , and continues to September 

27th. Get your GWSA membership and register 

in person at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, 

West End Community Centre, or go to recenroll.ca. 

Look for Senior activities, then go to GWSAball. 

Meet and Greet was Wed., April 19 th , at 6:30 pm 

Evergreen. Please call Deborah at 226-606-8476 to 

meet or email dwaitson54@gmail.com for further 

details and practice times. 


28 

RECREATION & LEISURE PROGRAMS for SENIORS 55+ 

held at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre unless otherwise indicated — call 519-823-1291. 

Please register in person at our recreation facilities, over the phone by calling 519-837-5699, 

or online at recenroll.ca. 

OUTDOOR FITNESS 

Seniors Disc Golf 

Let’s get outside and get moving! Join us at the Riverside 

Park Disc Golf course to learn the game of disc golf and 

practise with friends. An instructor will guide you through 

the rules of the game and will teach you the skills and 

techniques required for this fun outdoor activity. All 

equipment is provided. Athletic clothing and appropriate 

footwear is required. 

Course ID: 34042 

Class Length: 1 hour (6-7 p.m.) 

Dates: May 4-June 8 (Thursday) 

Location: Riverside Park Disc Golf Course 

Fee: Members: $43.51, Non-Members: $50.06 

FITNESS 

Cardio and Strength Level 2 

This intermediate/advance strength training class focuses 

on a low impact cardio warm-up. This class performs 

functional exercises that include balance, flexibility and 

cardiovascular movements. Exercises are performed 

sitting and standing. A variety of equipment is used 

throughout the classes which may include bands, stability 

balls and weights of your choice. Join us to keep your 

body fit! 

Class Length: 1 hour (9-10 a.m.) 

Dates: April 3-June 26 (Monday) 


Friday: April 14-June 30 


Location: Evergreen Seniors Community Centre 

(Room 4) 

Fees: Members: $79.75, Non-Members: $91.74 

Cardio and Strength Level 3 

Come and challenge your fitness level in this advanced 

strength training class. Focusing on a low impact cardio 

warm-up, this class performs functional exercises that 

include balance, flexibility and cardiovascular 

movements. A variety of equipment is used throughout 

the classes which may include bands, stability balls and 

weights of your choice. Join us to keep your body fit! 




Friday: April 8-June 24 



(Room 4) 



Strength and Balance 

This beginner class will focus on fall prevention, whole 

body movements and balance. It is designed to improve 

general mobility and overall strength to make everyday 

tasks easier. You can expect to see improvement in 

posture. The class presents an excellent opportunity for 

beginners to start exercising with an aerobic, strength and 

flexibility component. 



Dates: April 5-June 28 (Wednesday) 


(Room 4) 

Fees: Members: $87, Non-Members: $100.08 

Meditation and Relaxation 

Learn to develop skills to cultivate a different relationship 

to stress, including stress that can result from managing a 

variety of chronic health conditions. 

Sessions include: variety of meditation practices, gentle 

mindful movement practices, reflective and practical 

exercises, and discussions on stress. 

Examples of mindfulness training: 

Deep breathing 

Meditation 

Gentle movement 

Class Length: 1 hour 

Dates: April 4-June 27 (12-1 p.m.) (Tuesday) 


April 6-June 29 (9-10 a.m.) (Thursday) 



(Room 4) 


Introduction to Strength Training 

What is strength training all about? How do you get 

started? Which exercises are the best ones? What about 

form? Let us show you the answers! You will go from 

learning the theory behind the importance of strength 

training to mastering the technique behind bodyweight, 

free weight and barbell training. Our qualified instructors 

will take you through a progressive training program that 

will help you gain a better understanding of exercise and 

program design, help you increase your strength and, 

most importantly, your confidence in and out of the gym. 

Class Length: 1 hour 

Dates: May 17-June 21 (9-10 a.m.) (Wednesday) 


May 17-June 21 (10-11 a.m.) (Wednesday) 


Location: West End Community Centre 

(Continued on page 29)


(Fitness Room) 

Fees: Member: $43.50, Non-Member: $50.04 

Falling Prevention and Navigation 

In this program, participants will learn practical exercises 

for preventing falls in day-to-day life, as well as tools to 

aid in negotiating a fall, should it occur. We will focus on 

building knowledge of the body to increase confidence in 

movement. It will include: exercises for increasing 

proprioception (for the feet, eyes, and spine) - study of 

walking mechanics to invite mindful movement - practice 

of ramping and spiralling pathways for support in falling - 

explorations of how to use the limbs and body for 

counterbalance 


Class Length: 1 hour (1:30-2:30 p.m.) 



(Room 4) 

Fees: Member: $58, Non-Member: $66.80 

Release Your Hips, Change Your Life! 

Do your hips get fatigued and sore? Come, learn stretches/ 

exercises to help your largest joints work to their potential 

so you can do all the things you love to do! 




Location: Victoria Road Rec Centre (Maple Rm.) 


Total Body Conditioning 

This total body conditioning class will challenge the 

active 55 individual. A cardio warm-up will prepare you 

for a resistance training, balance, flexibility, and core 

strength and floor workout. The benefits of regular 

exercise consisting of these major components will 

improve your mental, physical and emotional health. 

Increase your energy level to be able to carry out daily 

tasks and reduce your chances of osteoporosis. 





(Room 4) 

Fees: Member: $87, Non-Member: $100.08 

TAI CHI 

Tai Chi – Beginner 

This program welcomes those who are new to Tai Chi as 

well as those who are wishing to reinforce the 

foundations. Focusing on the basic vocabulary of the 

stances and co-ordination of the postures, this meditative 

movement practice is accessible to all. 



Dates: April 25-June 27 (Tuesday) 


(Room 4) 


Tai Chi – Intermediate 

Learn the meditative movement practice of Tai Chi 

Chuan. This session focuses on the Yang Style 37-Posture 

Form. It is advised to have previous experience with Tai 

Chi Chuan movements and foundations for this class. 





(Room 4) 


QI GONG 

Qi Gong 

This class is a Chinese blend of exercise, stretching and 

meditation. The program focuses on ‘Eighteen Postures 

for Daily Practice,’ a Qi Gong set that integrates East and 

West in a series of gentle exercises designed to maintain 

and enhance health. Adapting classical Qi Gong forms, 

this style incorporates therapeutic exercise, self-massage 

and meditation. Qi Gong class focuses on the core 

routines. 


Class Length: 1.5 hours (12-1:30 p.m.) 



(Room 4) 



Class Length: 1 hour (11 a.m.-12 p.m.) 



(Room 4) 


YOGA 

Chair Yoga 

Chair yoga offers the same benefits as other yoga 

practices, such as increased flexibility, strengthening, 

proper breathing and increasing range of motion in the 

joints. Simply use a chair to assist with postures. Chair 

yoga is for everyone, especially those who may have 

limited mobility and/or are unable to get up and down on 

a yoga mat. Postures can be modified to meet students’ 

needs. 

Class Length: 1 hour (11 a.m.-12 p.m.) 



April 5-June 28 (Wednesday) 



(Room 4) 


Gentle Yoga 

This program is open to everyone. We will explore this 

29 



30 


centuries old discipline which brings health and vitality to 

the body, peace to the mind and joy to the spirit. Ability 

to move from standing to laying on the floor needed. 




Location: Victoria Road Rec Centre (Maple Room) 


Dates: April 6-June 29 (Thursday) 



(Room 4) 


Class Length: 1 hour (10:15-11:15 a.m.) 

Dates: April 14-June 30 (Friday) 



(Room 4) 


Yoga Nidra 

Nidra actually means sleep. This class will promote 

restorative relaxation by using deep breathing methods, 

guided visualization and progressive relaxation using very 

specific techniques involving 4 senses. Feel rested and 

renewed! 




Location: Victoria Road Rec Centre (Maple Room) 


Yoga for Concussions 

This course brings together ancient Indian yogic practices 

of movement, breath and meditation along with new pain 

research, the latest strength and mobility training, and 

best practices in yoga for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 

and trauma. It uses repetition of concepts and actions. The 

pace, format and tone of this course is especially designed 

for people with mild brain injuries, those living with Post 

Concussion Syndrome and stroke survivors 





(Room 4) 


VISUAL ARTS 

(Board Room) 


Acrylic Painting 

Join us for informative lessons in painting with acrylics. 

Stroke types, techniques and form will be the focus of this 

hands-on class. Be inspired, have an open mind, and 

create your masterpiece with this form of art. 


Class Length: 3 hours (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) 

Dates: May 11-June 15 (Thursday) 

Location: Victoria Road Rec Centre (Cedar Room) 


Sketching 

Sketching is a good way to learn or improve your drawing 

skills. This course suits all levels of students who want to 

know how to draw quick and accurate sketches. Whether 

you want to prepare for a big project or draw the world 

around us, sketching is a great way to express yourself. 



Dates: May 9-June 13 (Tuesday) 

Location: Victoria Road Rec Centre (Cedar Room) 


Watercolours 

This watercolours class is for all levels of painters. The 

instructor will work with participants on an individual 

basis or in small groups of similar interest or skill. 





(Room 2) 


LIFESTYLE 

Spanish 

Learn Spanish by beginning with basic conversation, 

grammar and vocabulary skills. Whether you are just 

starting out or brushing up your skills, you are welcome 

to join us. 





(Board Room) 


Latin American Cinema 

Join us as we view and analyze Latin American film 

directors, from the 1980s to the present. We will socialize 

interpretations and comments about the films through 

discussion and activities. 


Class Length: 1 hour (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) 

Dates: April 6-June 1 (Thursday) 


Mother’s Day Arrangement 

Learn to make a beautiful fresh Mother’s Day 

arrangement. Surprise your mom or do it for yourself. 

Using assorted seasonal florals and lush foliages, Karen 

will teach you to create a beautiful table arrangement and 

the right way to use oasis and the proper care and 

handling of your florals. In this class, you will learn to 

bring your arrangement to the next level with floral accent 



31 


tips and tricks to make your creation unique. You will be 

designing in a keepsake container, so after the flowers are 

done you will have a beautiful keepsake to arrange in 

again and again. Do the class yourself or gift it to your 

mom. 


Class Length: 2 hours (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) 

Dates: May 11 (Thursday) 


(Room 2) 

Fees: Member: $100, Non-Member: $115 

create a beautiful artificial floral door piece for your 

home. This class will teach you some of the principles of 

design, like how to create balance with colour and 

harmony. Learning these tricks will help you to continue 

to create beautiful floral designs. Your door will be 

admired for years to come. 


Course Length: 2 hours (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) 

Date: May 25 (Thursday) 


(Room 2) 

Fee: Members: $120, Non-Members: $138 

Spring Door Piece 

“Dress your door to perfection”. It’s time to dress up that 

door for spring! Join us in this fun-filled floral design 

class. You will be guided and helped along the way so 

don’t worry, Karen will bring the designer out of you. 

Creating with artificial flowers is totally different than 

working with real flowers. Karen will teach you how to 

The Art Gallery of Guelph’s Appraisal Event 

Presented by the AGG Volunteer Association 

Saturday, June 3 - 12 – 4 pm 

In person at the Art Gallery of Guelph 

358 Gordon Street 

Tickets are $15 per object for appraisal 

To purchase tickets, visit artgalleryofguelph.ca 

The AGG Volunteer Association is pleased to host five knowledgeable 

appraisers to assess and evaluate your prized possessions or unusual finds. 

Bring your treasures and heirlooms to the Art Gallery of Guelph for an 

Antiques Roadshow-style event! 

Get on-the-spot verbal appraisals for jewelry, art, Inuit objects, textiles, and 

small furniture from the region’s experts. 

Tickets are $15 per item, with each ticket representing one item for appraisal. 

Each person is welcome to bring multiple items in different categories. 

For more information about the AGG Volunteer Association fundraiser and to 

purchase tickets, visit artgalleryofguelph.ca/event/agg-appraisal-event. 


32 

See Puzzles on pgs. 16 & 17 


33 

EVERGREEN MARKET 

‘For Sale’ ads will be left in for 3 issues from first insertion 

(i.e., in Sept. issue - removed from Dec. issue); if you wish 

it to remain in longer, please contact The Sentinel office 

and/or leave us a message. If your item sells, please let us 

know so that we can remove it. NO ‘Accommodation’ or 

‘Vehicle’ ads will be included in the Evergreen Market. 

Such ads will be treated as advertising inserted within these 

pages at the current Sentinel advertising rates plus HST. 

Thank you, Sentinel Administrator. 

FOR SALE 

Ladies’ golf clubs: 3 Lady Cobras woods 1, 2, 3 

with head covers, Cobra 7 wood, ball retriever, 

pitching wedge, sand wedge, 5-8 irons, 1 putter, 

rain cover & bag - asking $60. Men’s golf clubs: 

3 woods with head covers, Snake Eyes, Viper 5- 

9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge - asking 

$50. Maxi Fly irons 3-9, asking $20. One dart 

board in cabinet with 2 sets of darts, asking $20. 

Call 519-824-6364. 

Danby portable air conditioner, excellent condition, 

10,000 BTUs, 24 hour timer. Asking $400. 

Call 519-835-6625. 

works very well. Email facookson@shaw.ca or 

call Anne at 548-988-1362. 

Red electric scooter for sale. Works well, including 

light and horn. Big enough for a man to use. 

$800 or best offer. Call 519-265-6331. 

Tunturi Model M50 Power Treadmill. 58” x 20” 

running surface. $800 firm. Call Ken at 519-767- 

0145. 

WANTED 

Wanting to purchase a compact fridge for a condo. 

Call 519-829-4119. 

Free advertising for GWSA members ONLY. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE 

YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER 

WITH YOUR ITEM(S). 

New 2 Grace faux leather adjustable height 

(24.5” -33”) bar stools. White square stitched upholstery, 

chrome pedestal base with footrest. 

Comfortable seat with mid-back. Selling as a set 

for $100, bought them for $180 in August. Lunaglow 

Nano 3-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner - wet dry 

vacuum - cordless mop vacuum combo for tile 

and hardwood. Paid $282, selling for $75. It 

Waking 

By Karen Morrissey 

The snow has quickly melted. 

The river’s running high. 

The robins are returning. 

You can hear Spring’s early cry. 

The roaring of the water 

As it rushes o’er the weir 

Is pushing forth new life. 

It’s music to my ear. 

The squirrels do rush about 

Finding all the nuts put by. 

The song birds lilting tunes, 

Sending music through the sky. 

The ducks and geese, they gather 

By the river’s flowing shore 

Looking for a home to build, 

While the seagulls dip and soar. 

Spring wakes up our senses 

After winter’s sleepy hold. 

It hints of summer’s beauty 

A new story to be told. 


34 

Upcoming FREE Wellness Workshops, 

presented by the Guelph Family Health 

Team: 

Let’s Talk About Panic 

Date: Thursday, May 11 

Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm EST 

Location: Suite 500 – 649 Scottsdale Drive, 

Guelph 

*IN-PERSON workshop only 

Learn more/register online by clicking HERE or 

call us at 519-837-0099 

Let’s Talk About Mild Cognitive Impairment 

Date: Friday, June 2 

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST 

Location: Suite 500 – 649 Scottsdale Drive, 

Guelph 



call us at 519-837-0099 

Let’s Talk About Medications in Diabetes 

Date: Tuesday, June 6 

Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST 

Location: Evergreen Seniors Centre (Room 2), 

683 Woolwich St., Guelph 



call us at 519-837-0099 

Sleep Well (3 sessions) 

Date: Wednesday, June 7, 14, 21 

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm EST 

*VIRTUAL webinar only 


call us at 519-837-0099 

View all our FREE Wellness Workshops 

online at www.guelphfht.com/wellnessworkshops-and-programs/ 


35 

OUR EVERGREEN LIBRARY 

We are open 

Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

What do Sandra Brown, Michael Crichton, Clive Cussler, Janet Evanovich, Lisa Gardner and 

Stuart Woods have in common? They are popular authors of books recently purchased for 

the library, using funds generated from book sales. 

What do David Baldacci, Lee Child, Patricia Cornwell, Tina Fey, Debbie Macomber and 

James Patterson have in common? They are prominent authors of books recently donated to 

the library and added to our collection. 

What do people who sit at the table in front of the library windows have in common? They 

enjoy the challenge of assembling the current jigsaw puzzle on the table. 

What do Jane, Barb, Louisa, Sue G, Sue L, Joan, Donna, Lilia, Dean, Sharron, Jude and Lisa 

have in common? They are valued members of our volunteer team that serve you in the 

library. 

We look forward to assisting you. Please come down to the end of the hall to see us. You can 

view some fabulous art on the wall along the way. 

Joe Freamo 

Librarian 


36 


Sunday, June 18, 2023 

Cirque De Soleil - Kooza 

Total cost: $150.00 members only (non-refundable) Code - 36398 

Registration starts on Thursday, March 30, 2023 

Booking Deadline is Friday, May 12, 2023 

Depart: Evergreen Centre at 10:30 am Carousel at 10:40 am Return: 5 pm 

A Traditional Circus Homage - Kooza is a show that blends, almost to perfection, its subcontinental 

sounds, its stunning lighting & costumes with theatrical ingenuity & acrobatic wonder. (The Independent 

London) 

A return to our origins, Kooza combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning while exploring 

fear, identity and power. The innocent’s journey brings him into contact with comic characters from an 

electrifying world full of surprises, thrills, audacity & total involvement. 

Lunch will not be provided so please bring lunch or a snack aboard the bus to be eaten while in 

transit. No outside food or beverages are permitted on site. 

Price includes ticket for the show, transportation by coach, tips and all taxes. 

Refund Policy: This trip is NON-REFUNDABLE; doctor’s certificates will not be accepted. Should 

there be a mandatory provincial shutdown due to COVID-19 or GWSA cancels the trip due to lack of 

participation, all participants will receive a full refund to their method of payment. Don’t Wait! That means 

booking your trip before the trip must be cancelled due to low participation. 

Accessibility: Unfortunately there is no wheelchair accessibility on this trip. Travellers who can transfer to 

a coach seat may have their collapsible, manual wheelchair or walker stored in the cargo area of the coach. 

Parking: Please do NOT park your vehicles in the Evergreen parking lot while you are on a day trip. 

Vehicles must be left at the Carousel parking area in Riverside Park where you will board the bus. This 

allows for other members to have a place to park when they come throughout the day. 

PROCEDURES FOR BOOKING THIS TRIP: All participants will be required to have a current 

GWSA membership. If your membership needs renewal, please see the front desk staff at the Centre. 

Please bring the completed contact list available on the GWSA website located on the Trips, Travel and 

Tours page. If you are unable to print this form, copies will be available from a Travel Committee member 

the day of the trip. 

Registration will be available until the trip is fully booked, or booking is closed on Friday, May 12, 2023. 

Register online (preferred): Sign up for a RecEnroll account with the City of Guelph. MasterCard, 

Visa, Amex or Visa Debit are accepted for online booking, https://cityofguelph.perfectmind.com/ 

SocialSite/MemberRegistration/MemberSignIn 

Register by telephone: By contacting Customer Service at the Evergreen Seniors Centre at 519-823- 

1291. 

As of January 1, 2023, credit card information is no longer accepted over the telephone. If you wish to 

make a telephone payment, you must first save your credit card on your RecEnroll account. Customers can 

also pre-purchase a City Card or an account credit in-person at any of our recreation facilities to be used 

towards future purchases by telephone. 

Register at the front desk at the Evergreen until the trip is fully booked, or booking is closed on Friday, 

May 12, 2023. 

ALSO PUT THE DATE OF THE TRIP ON YOUR CALENDAR WITH THE TIME TO BOARD 

AND PLEASE BE ON TIME FOR THE TRIP.

37 

Saturday Sept 2, 2023 

Port Dover Lighthouse Theatre 

Total cost: $150.00 - members only (non-refundable) Code - 37222 

Registration starts on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 

Booking deadline: Friday, July 12, 2023 

Departure from Evergreen: 9:15 am Carousel: 9:25 am Return: 6:30 pm 

Join us for a relaxing day in Port Dover. We will enjoy a fish dinner with all the trimmings at the Erie 

Beach Hotel. You will then have a little free time to browse the shops in the town, followed by the World 

Premiere of Norm Foster’s theatre show: “A Pack of Thieves”. Robert & Keff are middle-class 

suburbanites who figure they can use a little extra cash to improve their troubled lives. No problem. They 

devise a plan whereby they will steal a thoroughbred racehorse and hold it for ransom. What can go wrong? 

Just abut everything in a Pack of Thieves. 

Cost of $150.00 includes coach transportation, hot lunch, theatre admission and all taxes and gratuities - as 

well as a tip for the driver. 

Refund Policy: This trip is NON-REFUNDABLE; doctor’s certificates will not be accepted. Should 

there be a mandatory provincial shutdown due to COVID-19 or GWSA cancels the trip due to lack of 

participation, all participants will receive a full refund to their method of payment. Don’t Wait! That means 

booking your trip before the trip must be cancelled due to low participation. 

Accessibility: Unfortunately there is no wheelchair accessibility on this trip. Travellers who can transfer to 

a coach seat may have their collapsible, manual wheelchair or walker stored in the cargo area of the coach 

Parking: Please do NOT park your vehicles in the Evergreen parking lot while you are on a day trip. 

Vehicles must be left at the Carousel parking area in Riverside Park where you will board the bus. This 

allows for other members to have a place to park when they come throughout the day. 

PROCEDURES FOR BOOKING THIS TRIP: All participants will be required to have a current 

GWSA membership. If your membership needs renewal, please see the front desk staff at the Centre. Please 

bring the completed contact list available on the GWSA website located on the Trips, Travel and Tours 

page. If you are unable to print this form, copies will be available from a Travel Committee member the 

day of the trip. 

Registration will be available until the trip is fully booked, or booking is closed on Friday, July 12, 2023. 

Register online (preferred): Sign up for a RecEnroll account with the City of Guelph. MasterCard, 

Visa, Amex or Visa Debit are accepted for online booking https://cityofguelph.perfectmind.com/SocialSite/ 

MemberRegistration/MemberSignIn 

Register by telephone: By contacting Customer Service at the Evergreen Seniors Centre at 519-823- 

1291. 

As of January 1, 2023, credit card information is no longer accepted over the telephone. If you wish to 

make a telephone payment, you must first save your credit card on your RecEnroll account. Customers can 

also pre-purchase a City Card or an account credit in-person at any of our recreation facilities to be used 

towards future purchases by telephone. 

Register at the front desk at the Evergreen until the trip is fully booked, or booking is closed on Friday, July 

12, 2023. 

ALSO PUT THE DATE OF THE TRIP ON YOUR CALENDAR WITH THE TIME TO BOARD 

AND PLEASE BE ON TIME FOR THE TRIP. 


38 

Bistro 683 - May 2023 

The Evergreen Restaurant is open to the public 

and serves a large variety of menu items that are 

available from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to 

Friday (except holidays): 

Breakfast Foods which include full breakfast, 

breakfast sandwich or French toast 

Sandwiches 

Homemade Soups 

Bakery Items 

Salads 

Beverages 

Breakfast is served from 9:30 am to 11 am. The 

daily featured Lunch is served from 11 am to 1 pm 

Monday to Friday and the menu is below. 

Take-out is available for your convenience. 

Featured Hot Lunch 

$7.50 + tax 

Each hot lunch is served with 2 sides to ensure a 

balanced, nutritional meal. 

Catering 

Catering is available by special order: Hot/cold 

drinks, sweet trays, sandwiches, etc. Please have 

your order to the customer service clerk in the 

office at least 48 hours prior to your event. This 

allows staff to ensure that your catering needs will 

be met. Thank you for your co-operation in this 

matter. 

Our goal is to provide balanced, nutritious meals. 

We provide great quality, while keeping costs 

reasonable. The tremendous support of volunteers 

in the restaurant helps us achieve this goal. 

BREAKFAST served 9:30 am to 11 am 

FEATURED LUNCH served 11 am to 1:00 pm 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Garden 

Vegetable Baked 

Pasta *Vegetarian 

Meat Pie 

Burrito Rice Bowl 

*Vegetarian Available 

Turkey Dinner 

Sweet & Sour 

Chicken Stir Fry 

w/ Noodles 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

Butter Paneer 

Curry w/ Rice & 

Naan *Vegetarian 

Baked Ham Dinner 

Panko Crusted 

Chicken Thighs 

Vegetable Lasgna 

*Vegetarian 

Braised Pork 

Shoulder w/ 

Creamy Polenta 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

Eggplant 

Parmesan w/ 

Pasta *Vegetarian 

Liver & Onions 

Dumplings w/ 

Vegetable Stir Fry 


Seared Rainbow 

Trout w/ Vegetable 

Ragout 

Pork Cabbage 

Rolls 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

CLOSED 

VICTORIA DAY 

29 

Perogies w/ 

Sausage & 

Braised Cabbage 


House-made Burger 

or Veggie Burger 


30 

Beef Stew 

Chicken Pot Pie 

31 

Spaghetti Bolognese 

or Garlic Mushroom 

Sauce 


Chana Masala w/ 

Rice & Naan 

*Vegetarian 

Cobb Salad 

*Vegetarian 

Available

May 2023 issue

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