The Gleaner

Seniors’ Fair an inter-generational success

le mardi 16 octobre 2018
Modifié à 15 h 31 min le 16 octobre 2018
Par Mario Pitre

mpitre@gravitemedia.com

The second Salon des Aînés du Haut-Saint-Laurent Seniors’ Fair was a resounding success as visitors of all ages streamed into Chateauguay Valley Regional High School on October 6 to take in a number of bilingual conferences and presentations dealing with a range of subjects dedicated to healthy living for seniors from a local perspective. The theme for this year’s Seniors’ Fair was Creating Friendship Across Generations, and in all, over 300 people took part in the day’s activities, which also featured over 50 exhibitors with information on services and recreational activities of interest to senior citizens and their families. “The community seemed to appreciate the information and the social opportunity the day afforded,” said Lorelei Muller, one of the coordinators for the event, who suggested visitors left positive feedback and tended to stay for a long period of time taking in all of the kiosks and activities. “I was just a great chance to see a large variety of what is available to them,” she continued, of the benefit to seniors’ who attended. At the same time, the Seniors’ Fair also represented a good opportunity for families to see what was available in the region for their loved ones as they go through the various stages of ageing. “After all, it’s not like you turn 65 and suddenly you’re a senior,” noted Muller, who suggests instead that we understand ageing as more of a “fluid” transition. The first edition of the Seniors’ Fair took place eight years ago in the Valley. The organizing team behind this most recent edition are hopeful they will be able to stage another event with fewer years in between. “There is definitely room to grow,” said Muller, who noted the organizing committee would be interested in hearing any feedback from the community. Of course, an event of this nature relies heavily on a core team of organizers as well as dedicated volunteers, and this case was no different. Throughout the day, volunteers from the Ormstown Girl Guides, students from both CVR and Arthur-Pigeon High School were on hand, as well as members of Les Aidants Naturels du Haut-Saint-Laurent and the Monteregie West Community Network ensured the Fair went off without a hitch. The event was organized in collaboration between the Aidants Naturels du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the Haut-Saint-Laurent Seniors Committee, and the New Frontiers School Board with financing through the Canadian government’s New Horizons for Seniors program. The Caisse Desjardins du Haut-Saint-Laurent was also present and provided transport to and from the event.