GWSA COVID-19 Pandemic Response Update 8 - April 29
Welcome to the GWSA Email Updates
Life provides us with lessons, and we are provided with each lesson again until we learn it. Then, we receive a new lesson. And, there is an endless supply of lessons. In Canada, we are showing the benefits of remarkable social trust as we make personal sacrifices in order to protect others. As we demonstrate our resilience throughout the coronavirus challenge, we shall learn many new lessons and ultimately emerge into a safer, cleaner, and more caring world.
Most of you are receiving this newsletter as GWSA members, normally about once a month but more recently, and others can join our mailing list at the end. You may unsubscribe at any time—but we hope you will find some of the material reassuring and informative while you remain comfortable in a safe place.
Gratitude
This is a perfect time to celebrate everything we have to be grateful for. While we acknowledge what we can’t do, we can get creative with what we can do! Call a lost acquaintance, decorate a door or mailbox, revive a hobby, revisit a musical instrument, enjoy photo albums, put something nice in a window, plant something, or maybe even bang your pots and pans with neighbours to celebrate healthcare workers!
One way to refocus on what enhances your life is by starting a gratitude journal. It only takes a few minutes a day, but it can give you a lasting mood boost that can take you from feeling “okay” to feeling “great” on a more regular basis. There is amazing power in positive affirmations and self-creation which can change and transform lives for the better!
Benefits of a Gratitude Journal
People notice many benefits while practicing gratitude journaling. It can lower your stress levels, and help you feel calmer, especially at night. Journaling can give you a new perspective on what is important to you and what you truly appreciate in your life. By noting what you are grateful for, you can gain clarity on what you want to have more of in your life, and what you can do without.
Keeping a gratitude journal helps you learn more about yourself and become more self-aware. And, if you ever feel blue, you can read through your gratitude journal to reframe your attitude and remember all of the good things in your life.
Both reflective journaling and expressing of gratitude have a significant, positive impact on well-being, affect, and depression.
Gratitude Affirmations— Over 20,000 free positive messages
Gratitude Journal Templates—Ideas, exercises, and prompts
Gratitude Videos—‘Ted Talks’, and Videos on the Power of Gratitude
GWSA Information
GWSA Memberships - Automatically Extended
Due to the pandemic, the GWSA suspended its face-to-face programs effective March 14 and the City of Guelph closed the Evergreen Centre as one of its recreation facilities. While we look forward to returning when we can do so safely, we want to reassure everyone about how memberships are being handled during this time.
The GWSA has decided to automatically extend all memberships from the day of shutdown until we can return to the full and complete operation of the Evergreen Centre. That date will be determined over time.
Over the next while we will consider what a return to ‘new normal’ will look like, considering the City’s state of emergency, Ontario’s stages for reopening, and how we can safely address any social distancing measures that will be needed. The GWSA’s COVID-19 Response Team will continue to meet as the situation unfolds and will keep members informed.
Cancelled Trip Payments - Refunded
Payments made for cancelled trips for April with the Travel Committee are refunded to people with credit cards on file. Others will have a credit applied to their GWSA accounts, which can be requested as a refund through the City if necessary. Joanne White will be contacting members needing refunds shortly.
The Sentinel - GWSA's Magazine
Many of our members look forward to monthly editions of the Sentinel. While the facility is unavailable, our monthly magazine has moved online as a digital edition only. The Sentinel team has just released the May issue. You can browse past issues here.
GWSA - Donations
The GWSA is a charitable organization, operated by hundreds of volunteers. Right now, we are continuing to conduct business in collaboration with the City of Guelph, while keeping in contact with members, sourcing activities, and sharing information through GWSA Email Updates, the website, the Sentinel, and our information hotline. Community Support Services (CSS) is especially busy supporting our most vulnerable members. It looks like this might go on for a while.
The GWSA gratefully accepts tax-deductible donations from those who wish to give. The organization is ideal for memorial or philanthropic gifts, and bequests. As one of Canada’s largest seniors’ organizations, the GWSA serves over 2800 members in Guelph and Wellington. Donate Here
GWSA Community Support Services
“Greetings from the Community Support Services team of GWSA. We greatly miss all of our members and hope that during this difficult time that you are all feeling supported. As we work through our new normal we have adapted to the needs we have identified in our community. Our team has been busy connecting with our members through our SOS and Outreach programs as well as providing weekly meal and fresh produce delivery through our Eat Well program. Our building may be closed but at CSS we are open for business, so please don't hesitate to give us a call or email us at any time as we are always looking forward to hearing from you.” (Cheri Herdman, Manager, CSS)
GWSA’s Community Support Services is doing remarkable work, focusing on the needs of our most vulnerable members during a pandemic. CSS has been revitalized this past year through the commitment of a new Board of Directors, and a revised agreement with the City of Guelph.
The current health emergency has underscored the essential nature of CSS, without which many seniors would risk being isolated, idle, lonely, and hungry during this time. To address increased demand, the City has hired a second chef so they are operating staggered shifts, and they’ve reworked the menu, and even added extra freezer space to expand capacity to prepare almost 1000 meals per week. Right now, over 150 members are receiving deliveries of freshly prepared frozen meals delivered weekly, supplemented with other necessities as available.
This effort has been enhanced with funding through the United Way, Federal and County grants, and the Rotary Club. Linamar is generously helping with delivery. This collective effort continues to be an amazing success story. (GWSA COVID-19 Response Team)
City and Government Information
We appreciate everyone keeping us safe during the pandemic, from health care workers, to caretakers, truck and delivery drivers, emergency workers, growers and grocers, take-out services, educators, and everyone else keeping the planet turning while we self-isolate.
City of Guelph
Closings Now Determined by State of Emergency
Tentative dates are no longer posted. Instead, the City of Guelph administration offices, including City Hall, Provincial Offences Court, recreation centres, libraries, museums, and theatres will now remain closed to the public until after Guelph’s state of emergency is lifted.
“We all want to get out and play in Guelph parks and recreation centres and get back to doing ‘normal’ spring things. But now is not normal; the hard part is not over,” said Scott Stewart, the City of Guelph’s Chief Administrative Officer. “This is still an emergency, and we still need your support and cooperation to keep your families, your neighbours and your community healthy.”
The City will reopen facilities and restore programs and services based on advice from WDG Public Health, and direction from the Province of Ontario.
City Parks and Trails
People can walk through City parks and trails, but they can’t stay and play. The Silvercreek skate park, playgrounds, sports fields and off-leash areas are closed to prevent people from gathering. Parking lots for most parks are closed. Read the full press release here.
Automated Crossing Lights
Out for an essential trip to the grocery store or medical appointment? Pedestrians no longer need to hit a button to cross the road at most Guelph intersections. The City of Guelph announced the change as part of its efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Now, at most traffic signals, the crossing lights are reprogrammed to come on at scheduled intervals.
Government Updates and Services
City of Guelph—Response to the Coronavirus
County of Wellington—Response to the Coronavirus
WDG Public Health - COVID-19
Ontario—COVID-19 Information and Self-Assessment
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)—Health Canada
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility
By partnering with the Ontario Community Support Association (OSCA), our government is helping to provide delivery of meals, medicines and other essential items to those in need during COVID-19.
The program will expand existing Meals on Wheels capacity to reach even more people in need. To support this expansion, the government is partnering with SPARK Ontario (www.sparkontario.ca) to encourage volunteers to assist Meals on Wheels and other programs in need of support. The program will also develop the capacity of community organizations and others to help deliver medication and other essentials.
Seniors, persons with disabilities and people with underlying medical conditions, their families or caregivers can access delivery services by visiting www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca.
Those without internet access, or who require service in a language other than English or French, can contact 211 at any time by dialing 211, 1-877-330-3213 (toll free) or 1-888-340-1001 for TTY service. More—Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility
Inspiration - from the Front Lines of Care
“COVID is the second pandemic that I have thrown myself into, like jumping off a cliff. Two pandemics in one career. I have enough experience from the first pandemic to understand what will happen with the present pandemic.”
“Nothing can beat this kind of human collaboration and generosity. Adversity brings out the best in all of us. It hones our intelligence, our creativity and our ability to innovate. It stirs us to give from our souls...Nothing is impossible.”
“We will be on the other side of COVID 19 in no time flat. We will admire the acts of heroism and generosity and be in awe of all the goodness that exists in each of us.” (from Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik—Facebook)
Face Mask Challenge - Amazing Response
The Twelve Bees group received over 1000 surgical caps in two weeks. They have been processed and distributed to over 500 nurses, who each have two caps—one to wear and one to wash. The next batch will go to hospital employees, cleaners, and such, and after that to the nursing homes. There will be many more caps and masks to come and they will all be welcome. This will not be over for a while.
Apparently there was a mini traffic jam on the street of the woman who offered her porch for the donation of goods and for receiving finished products, especially with social distancing.
More Information—Guelph General Hospital Challenge
Activities for Mind and Body
Here are a few new things to try. Dozens more activities are available through the GWSA’s website page Activities for Mind and Body. Please keep in mind that even though these include free content, the links connect to external sites not associated with the GWSA, each with its own terms, conditions and promotions.
Computer Training
Keyboarding—Learn to Type lessons; hone your typing skills
Games—Online
Mensa Quiz - You don't need to qualify to try this mental workout
Music
Ukelele—learn to strum 37 songs with videos, chords, lyrics
Online Choir—participate in a free online choir, using Zoom
Museums—Canadian
Aga Khan Museum—Museum without Walls—exhibitions, performances
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)—talks, lessons, permanent collection
Canadian History Museum— a virtual museum about heritage
Canadian Human Rights Museum—stories, virtual tours
Montreal Holocaust Museum—amazing stories of survival
Museum of Contemporary Art—home studies, displays, interviews
Textile Museum of Canada—learning, exhibits, even mask-making webinars
Travel
Nature in the City (Guelph) - four virtual discovery walks in May, 2020
Quilting
Quilting—a virtual quilt show now through May 3, 2020
Theatre
Comedy—comedians and pranks from Just for Laughs
Contact Us
GWSA Website: gwsa-guelph.ca
GWSA Information Hotline: 226-699-0731
GWSA Response Team: contact form select “Board of Directors”
GWSA CSS: contact form select “CSS”
GWSA Email Updates: subscribe here
“Keep distance…Stay together”
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