St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre hosted its first Annual Active Living Fair on Saturday, October 4, 2008. Hundreds of older adults, seniors and caregivers attended the event which featured over 20 exhibitors from diverse fields and was sponsored by the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat and the Older Adults Centres’ Association of Ontario.
The OACAO and the Seniors’ Secretariat arrange several fairs throughout Ontario with the goals to raise awareness about programs and services that are available to seniors, and increase knowledge of healthy aging and active lifestyles and recognition of seniors' contributions.
Larry Burke, Executive Director of St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre, explains that events like this can provide vital information to seniors to continue living independently. Burke states, “Seniors want and deserve to continue to live in their community with wellness and dignity. St. Paul's and its many partners participating in this Active Living Fair continue to work at making this desire a reality. The information and resources available at the fair support this goal.”
St. Paul’s Active Living Fair included representatives from the fields of social services, financial planning, health and nutrition, education, environment and leisure. Toronto Parks and Recreation staff and St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre Recreation instructors presented chair yoga, tai chi and gentle fitness demonstrations throughout the day and health care professionals gave talks on heart health in English, Tamil, Cantonese and Mandarin.
St. Paul’s resident and volunteer, John Stapley stated that informational fairs fill in the gaps of what is missing for many older adults and seniors. Stapley said, “These fairs are important because they bring information to seniors on what is available for us. I wish I had more time to visit but the information was very useful and helpful, like the exhibit on diabetes from West Hill Community Services and the Toronto Public Library.”
A partial list of exhibitors included the Toronto Vegetarian Association, Centennial College, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Service Canada, Sun Life Financial, Ontario Securities Commission, Scarborough Arts Council, Toronto Public Library, Toronto Master Gardeners and Osteoporosis Society among many others.
If you would like to be involved in next year’s Active Living Fair as an exhibitor, contact Michele Cauch, Community and Corporate Development Officer 416-493-3333 ext 271.
St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre is a non-profit, non-denominational organization providing community services and housing to seniors in Scarborough, Ontario and serves approximately 6,000 people a year.
For more information on St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre’s programs and services, please contact 416-493-3333.
