Your 50+ Board of Directors

President: Carmen Grosse

Treasurer: John Pyl

Secretary: Lorraine Buck

Covid-19 Response: Anne Lusby

Activities Director: (vacant)

Newsletter: Rosalie Morris-Spencer

Office Manager: (vacant)

Member-at-Large #1:John Dickie

Member-at-Large #2:Julie Daxon

Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season 

to all our members!  

Website: http://fiftyplusbrockville.ca  Email: fiftyplus@myhighspeed.ca

Office Address: 5 Wall St Church, Brockville                          Phone: 613-345-2412

Carmen Grosse

As I write this, there is snow on the ground, and it seems like there are more decorations than ever before. So, it is definitely starting to look like Christmas. This means an end to our fall semester and the anticipation of the new starting in January.

I would like to thank all the leaders who went way beyond the call of duty to make their classes interesting and exciting for all their participants. It is especially difficult for the language classes to try to learn a language with a mask on. Hopefully one day soon that will be history. In the meantime, I would again ask all to be vigilant. We are not out of the woods yet.

Thank you to everyone for all the donations to the food bank of gloves, mitts, socks, and toques. You all really did step up to the plate for a worthy cause. I would like to especially thank Pat Long who must have knitted more than 100 pairs of mitts and many toques – and in all sizes. You are truly a gem in the community. The act of giving is truly the spirit of Christmas.

There is not much else to say except that I have enjoyed going around to the classes and meeting folks who are participating in our many activities. Then I meet them again a week later and don’t recognize them because the mask is different! Even so I have really enjoyed this semester and I hope you did too.

Take this month off to recharge the battery, meet with friends and family and enjoy the festivities whatever you are celebrating. Do it safely and come back in January healthy and refreshed. And finally, I must say, if you are eligible for the 3^rd booster shot – get it!

Season’s Greetings to all,

Treasurer's Report

John Pyl

As you probably know, Brockville 50+ Activity Centre is a registered charity, and gives income tax receipts. If you would like to donate to the Activity Centre and have it count toward the 2021 tax year, we need to deposit the donation before 31 December. Any donations will be greatly appreciated!

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Covid 19 Report

Anne Lusby

COVID-19 numbers will have an impact on next semester. Right now our cases are increasing and with a new variant, who knows what is ahead?

The most important thing that you have done to protect yourself and others, is to be vaccinated. Please get your booster shot if you are eligible. Wear a mask and follow all the COVID-19 protocols. Be patient and be kind.

Onward we go!  Enjoy a Merry Christmas with a small group of fully vaccinated family members and friends!

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Activities Report

Thank you all (300+) for taking part in our activities this semester. Hopefully you all had fun.

We have lined up the new semester and have even added some new classes. Descriptions of all activities can be found on the www.fiftyplusbrockville.ca website under the Activity Tab. Welcome and thank you to new leaders for joining the Brockville 50+ Activity Centre family! I am also excited to say that the Wednesday Intermediate Line Dancing Class may be moving to the Legion in the new year, which will allow us to double the numbers of participants. Great news for such a popular class. A continuing beginner class will also be offered. This will allow newbies to start out and those that took the beginner class last year to progress. It is scheduled for Monday afternoons at the Salvation Army. A great big thank you to Janet Rose and Holly Welch.

We are updating all the information as quickly as possible to help you decide on your courses for the upcoming winter semester, and the final schedule will be posted once it is approved by all the venues. We are planning a January 17th start date, being a few weeks later than usual, in hopes that conditions will be safer by then. The registration day will be on Wednesday, January 12 from 9 AM to noon. Please mark your calendars. Registration forms are already available on the website. An email will be sent out early in the new year to explain the process, schedule and venues.

In response to the questionnaire regarding activities in the last newsletter, we had many responses for joining groups, but no leaders. The classes with the most interest were Choir (5 responses), American Sign Language (7) and Philosophical Discussion (2). We will take another look at new classes at a later time when people are more comfortable with volunteering to be leaders.

Carmen Grosse

Acting Activity Director

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In our group we create independently with help from our peers . Dog portraits are still popular, with one member on her third portrait and another member having a really great start on hers. Birds are another subject that currently four members are working on. Two participants are trying new mediums and having fun with it!  We have three oil painters, seven acrylic artists, and four watercolourists, many who switch back and forth and are very proficient at many mediums. 

We had to end our session this past week, Dec 7th as the Salvation Army needed our space for their Christmas campaigns.  This session has really gone by so quickly!  Each of our members will be back with us in January!

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Being the new kids in the 50+ Club, we didn't know the drill for Christmas giving. So, before we found out about the Club's drive for mittens and hats, we had already gone ahead and decided to help our hosts, the Salvation Army, with their gift bags for community seniors.

Now, our dancers are a very generous bunch. In addition to contributing a fine array of warm hats, gloves and mittens, they also put together 30 seniors gift bags. Each bag contained: soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, emery boards, tissues, lip balm and, of course, candy. One of our intermediate dancers, Marian Dobson, also provided a beautiful hand-made card for each package, as well as for the remaining 15 seniors on the Salvation Army's list.

As for our classes – we've had a blast and finished off our last week by putting our dance steps to some Christmas tunes while decked out in our favourite Christmas attire and accessories.

We wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and look forward to resuming in the New Year.

Our Senior's Gift Bag Organizing Team:

L-R: Marian Dobson, Charyl Trussell, Kathy Gorrie, Janet Rose, Holly Welch

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Mosaics is the decorative art of creating pictures and designs on a surface, by setting small coloured pieces of glass, china, stone or other materials in a bed of adhesive. Participants learn how to create mosaic art projects of their choice, from simple trivets to tabletops, to garden art to wall hangings, etc. The optons are endless. A list of needed tools and supplies is provided at registration. Lots of instruction is provided weekly to those very new to this art form, and help from fellow classmates every week is also invaluable. We are a supportive and fun group, and welcome new members.    

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Drop in from 9:00-12:00 on Wednesdays at the Salvation Army for some Table Tennis fun. Even if you haven't played in weeks, years, decades or have never played that doesn't matter. Whatever your skill level you'll feel comfortable playing at the gold, silver or bronze tables. Going forward if there is enough interest we'd like to encourage chair Table Tennis and recently we've played a social distancing version of doubles we call doubledouble. Guaranteed, you'll be surprised at how quickly your game elevates after just a few sessions. The only requirement is that you are coming for a good time.  Join us for some laughs and maybe a super TSN moment smash!

For more info call 613-498-7884.  

Pic on the left, below, L-R:  Mike, Barbara, Martin, Doug, Rietta, Peter

Pic on right, L-R: Virginia, Pat, Joan, Peter, Mike, Catherine, Doug, Ping, Elizabeth

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Beginner Tai Chi 

Leader: Carmen Grosse

Beginner Tai Chi is back in the hands of Bob McDougall. No one is more relieved than me. It has been a real challenge for me to reach his high level of performance. He has recovered from his surgery like a coppertop battery! It is typical Bob though. Did you hear that he and Orma won the Community Caring Award for 2021? It was presented to them by the Volunteer Bureau and with congratulations from Steve Clark MPP. We are very fortunate to have this couple dedicating so much time to the Brockville 50+ Activity Centre. Thank you from all your students.

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Tai Chi Boost 

Leader: Carmen Grosse

This is a small group of very serious Tai Chi'ers. They are almost finished learning all 108 steps and some are ready to make the move into the intermediate class next semester. This is my 3rd year leading this class and it is so inspirational. All the members are so keen to learn. It is an absolute must for anyone signing up for beginner Tai Chi classes. Even if you have been doing Tai Chi for a while and want to improve your form, come and join us next semester. You won't regret it.

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Music Jam - Monday 1pm 

Leader: Brenda Kelly

Couldn’t get a group picture as we had to keep our 6 feet distance therefore Brenda took a picture of the Monday jam participants separately. Here are four of this group, and watch for more pics in future newsletters!  One participant Mike Mitchell made the following comment: “Having lots of fun, enjoying the opportunity to sing and play with like-minded people in a friendly atmosphere”

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Tole Painting 

Leader: Marilyn Wallace

Tole painting is a friendly happy group who are looking forward to our new venue at the Salvation Army, Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30.   We managed to get three pictures done this past semester and look forward to the spring. 

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Digitally Engaging Seniors Workshops - Tues & Thursdays

Leader: Laura Webb

Join this 4 week program, January 25-Feb 27^th, on Tuesday OR Thursday afternoons (2:45 or 4pm, for 1 hr) at Wall St. Church.

Boost confidence in using your device, so you can better connect with each other and expand your digital literacy.

Each week we will explore commonly asked questions as well as help with your specific device questions. Explore what The Cloud is and how you can create files and folders to organize documents and photos. Learn to use a Zoom, Facebook or Instagram Account, how to make the font easier to read on your device or how to use voice to text feature. How about how to access music on your phone or make a play list on Spotify or YouTube. Also covered will be tips for searching the internet and effectively and safely using Online Banking, and understanding how to keep your device secure. Questions can also be answered about Zoom, Facebook and Instagram, as well as other phone apps including your vaccination passport.

There is no cost for this course; nor will it count as one of the “3 for $30” 50+ courses. Stay tuned for more info in early January, on registration process.

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No special 50+ events are planned for now, but we are hopeful that our classes will carry on in January.  Watch for special events in 2022!!  

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Stay tuned in January.  Well....sooooon!!

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 Friends of Brockville 50+ Activity Centre

In this section, we will highlight some of the many Friends of Brockville 50+ Activity Centre. 

We are very fortunate to have great organizations in our community that focus on caring for community members, and enriching our community with activities and opportunities for seniors.  We are also fortunate to have great leaders for all our 50+ activities.  They truly are best Friends of 50+.  Some leaders have an expertise which also provides a business opportunity for them, while still volunteering their time and skills to the 50+ community.  We hope that given an opportunity, you will remember to support these organizations and businesses.  

Halotherapy and Reflexology Center

and Mint Wellness

In addition to leading very popular Self-Reflexology class with 50+, Arlene Laberge is also the proprietor of the Halotherapy and Reflexology Center. and, Mint Wellness.  Arlene would like you to think of her services as “Bringing Back a Natural Way of Healing”. Halotherapy is a Dry Salt Therapy process.

For more information check out The Halotherapy and Reflexology Center facebook page or contact Arlene at 613-498-5263 or via labergelavenderlane@outlook.com

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BrockvilleandPrescottHalotherapyCentre/videos/

Subramanya Yoga Centre

Ross Thomson is the leader of Chair Yoga, and also teaches at Subramanya Yoga Centre, which offers traditional yoga, chair yoga, therapeutic yoga and more.  Check out their website, stop by or talk to owner Dan Deluis or Ross for more information.  http://www.subramanyayoga.com 

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