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GWSA COVID-19 Pandemic Response Update - June 8


 

Welcome to the GWSA Email Updates

Change is a natural part of life. Some changes are sudden and unexpected which can be a challenge to accept. It can be stressful at first. Change provides a chance to learn and grow. It gives new perspective and brings new opportunities. It helps us stay flexible, build self-confidence, grow and become stronger. Now, as the economy begins to reopen, we face some more unfamiliar adjustments.  Let’s give ourselves credit for doing the best that we can!

We hope these newsletters help you embrace change, and we’ll offer more connections that can help if things become difficult. 

You can forward this email to a friend here and they can join our mailing list on the website. 

 



WellCan - help for managing change

WellCan offers free well-being resources to help Canadians develop coping strategies and build resilience to help deal with uncertainty, mental health and substance abuse concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article series will help you find the best strategy for coping with change—whether planned, unexpected, difficult, or positive—and learn to focus on what you can control, while letting go of what you can’t.
Coping with Change
Coping with Loneliness
Coping with Income Interruption
More articles 



Ontario - Mental Health, Wellness, and Addiction Supports

The pandemic had placed additional stresses on everyone, and some find themselves more affected than others. Recently, we shared a range of resources the province is supporting to everyone. You can access these services for self-guided learning, cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling, peer support, online learning, and help for mental health and addiction.
Learn more about all of these services here

 



Financial Literacy - free workshops for seniors

The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) is offering a Financial Literacy workshop. The goal is to provide seniors and older adults with a unique experience as outlined in their previous in-person version of Managing Your Money in Canada - A Workshop for Seniors. The workshop outline can be viewed here. Content has been updated for the pandemic, notably changes to OAS, RRIF withdrawals, and changes around benefits, taxation and other COVID-19 related advisories.
 
This free workshop will be done on Zoom Videoconferencing (link provided upon registration) and presented by Kevin Maynard, VP of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE). Select either session.
Register for Thursday, June 11th 11:00am-noon EST  
Register for Thursday, June 11th 3:00pm-4:00pm EST  

 

Alzheimer Society - resources

The Alzheimer Society is responding to continued needs for connection. They are delivering virtual education, support services and social recreation programs to clients and caregivers.  We are invited to explore the opportunities they have made available.
Here’s where to start:
Online learning—courses and webinars 
Program Guide–Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington
Living safely with dementia
Alzheimer Society—Waterloo Wellington

 

Seniors' Month continues

This year’s theme is stay safe, stay in touch. Ontario offers many ways to recognize seniors. You can nominate a senior in your community for an award, help celebrate milestones like special birthdays and anniversaries, and explore programs available. 
Learn more here



Recreation and Parks Month (JPRM)

JRPM celebrates Ontario’s spectacular parks and recreation services and raises awareness for the role they play as a pathway to individual, community, and environmental well-being. With COVID-19 measures in place, they offer several ideas on their website.  However, you can find lots more about our local parks and what facilities are available below:
City of Guelph recreation and parks
Grand River Conservation Authority parks



Ontario - food heroes

It’s time to celebrate local agri-food heroes who have stepped up to ensure the food supply chain remains strong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals, businesses and organizations are highlighted in the 2020 Celebration of Local Food Collaboration. We are seeing the unwavering spirit of our agri-food and beverage sectors carry us through these unprecedented times
Learn more about them here.

 
 
GWSA Computer Mentoring - free to members

The GWSA is fortunate to have some helpful computer expertise available to you. Members who want to learn more, or have questions related to their computer or software, can access free computer mentoring now from home while our computer lab is inaccessible. Help is available for Internet searching, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, photo editing, Zoom, and other areas, depending somewhat on the volunteer you are working with.   
 
There are five computer mentors – Claude, Kate, Ken, Mumtaz and Ross. For PC support, you will be working with Claude, Ken, Mumtaz or Ross. If you have an Apple or a Mac product, you will be working with Kate. You can comment when signing up if you have a preference of mentor or specific issues to address.   
Learn more and sign up here



GWSA Craft Club - volunteers recognized by PIN

The Guelph Wellington Seniors Association Craft Club is a shining example of long-standing active volunteers who connect, build friendships and make an impact in the community. The People and Information Network (PIN) is recognizing some of those volunteers. Over the past 25+ years, Judy, Barbara, Nellie, Betty, Joan and Fran have accumulated over 200,000 hours making items while crafting for the Treasure Chest Craft shop at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre. The Club now has 44 volunteer members. Their items range from knitted hats, mitts, blankets, sweaters, clothes, slippers, baby outfits, quilts to much more. These handmade items go on sale as one of the GWSA’s largest fundraising initiatives.
 
The Craft Club volunteers have donated many of their items to community projects. Warm scarves knitted for ARCH’s – Red Scarf Project raises awareness to help reduce HIV/AIDS stigma in our community. Tree of Angels receives hats, mittens and scarves. Proceeds of sales have been donated to the Fee Assistance in Recreation Program (FAIR) program through the City of Guelph which provides funding for children and youth the opportunity to participate in recreation programs. The Craft Club has organized and led the annual Evergreen Centre Bazaar for over 20 years.  

Members of the Craft Club are looking forward to re-connecting over their shared leisure pursuit which helps to reduce isolation and builds positive connections with the community.
Read full PIN article here



GWSA - All Things Silver:  The New Gold Standard

Musical activity remains one of the most powerful tools to combat the effects of aging, memory loss and isolation. Here’s an inspiring update on how the Silvertones, Silver Strummers, and Lullaby Grannies are staying connected.

The 55 members of the Silvertones choir should be celebrating their 40th Anniversary this June, but COVID-19 precluded anything like a concert, a dinner or a party. The choir’s 2019-2020 season abruptly ended in March. Every organization faced a similar thing and everybody shared worries, fears and doubts. How should we deal with the remainder of our season? Will we ever sing or gather again? Our brand new ukulele group of 27 members also had the same questions and more. Our small ensemble of 7 voices called the Lullaby Grannies was also feeling the challenges of continuing to meet and sing. We needed a workable plan to keep our musical “family” functioning.  

Ann Sneyd, the Director of the groups, has been sending a weekly newsletter to all the members every Friday. After it became clear that the shutdown would be longer than expected, an Executive meeting met on Zoom, to determine next steps. Each Executive member phoned five members to make sure they were OK, find out about any issues, and provide help or answers when possible. Everyone appreciated that phone call more than they could express. So simple, yet so effective!
 
The Silver Strummers met on Zoom, and reviewed the things our teacher Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy had taught us. We amazed ourselves, and any family members listening! The Lullaby Grannies decided to give a Zoom rehearsal a try, and they are learning to accompany themselves on ukuleles!

And so it will continue with the newsletter, the phone call tree, the Executive meetings and the Zoom rehearsals—for as long as circumstances require. The Silvertones have set the gold standard of maintaining contact with our members!  We hope we can finally celebrate our 40th Anniversary, together, in 2021.

We extend sincere thanks to Ross Knechtel, without whom none of the Zoom meetings would have been possible. Keep up the good work, Ross!



GWSA Line Dancing

Co-chairs Phyllis Carnochan and Donna Holmes have been encouraging their members to keep safe and keep line dancing 3-4 times each week.  Now, they are providing some new challenges for their group, with help from the instructors, and “demo” and “teach” components. The first screen that opens each time provides the “instructions” dance, and if you want to learn the dancing terminology you can print those off to follow. This is an invitation for all members to give line dancing a try, and maybe even join the group!    
 
Walking In the Sunshine
Carol has a dance that is guaranteed to make you happy and get you moving.  The first DEMO or the TEACH are the best to follow. Happy dancing!
 
A Pink Carnation
Kathy reminds everyone to stay healthy and follow the DEMO. 
 
Stealing The Best
Betty hopes that you love this dance. If it is new to you, scroll down to the TEACH video at the bottom of the list.  Otherwise the first DEMO will get you dancing.  
 
Beginner Waltz
Janet has picked a waltz for you and the first DEMO will get you started.  Remember, a waltz is 1-2-3, 1-2-3.
 
Start To Sway
For beginners, scroll down to the fifth TEACH video for a walk through.  The first DEMO is good to dance to.  Patty hopes everyone is doing well and hopes to see you soon.
 
Champagne Promise
Ellie has a new dance for you to practice and suggests that you select the first TEACH video (single lady with pink top).  She hopes to get back and see everyone soon. 
 
Could I Have This Dance
Margaret has a change of pace with an easy waltz. Try the fourth DEMO. 
 
Lean On Me
To learn, try the second TEACH.  If you are ready to dance, try the third DEMO.  Jill would like you to know that this song was a fund-raiser for the Canadian Red Cross. 

Donna reminds everyone that “tough times never last but tough people do.” Stay strong, reach out to your friends, and keep on dancing! 
 


GWSA - Annual General Meeting

Mark your calendar for GWSA’s Annual General Meeting to be held virtually through Zoom on September 15 at 1:30pm. More details will be shared later.  

GWSA - June fundraising challenge

To help charities like GWSA survive and continue to offer valuable services, Canada Helps has launched the annual Great Canadian Giving Challenge and doubled the grand prize to $20,000. Every $1 donated in June automatically enters the charity to win the prize, with the draw on July first.  Receipts are generated for gifts over $20. If you would like to support our campaign you can donate here.       

 



Inspiration from the Front Lines of Care

Community healthcare leader, Dr. Anne Marie Zajdlik will join business philanthropist, Jim Estill and Mental Health expert, Helen Fishburn for a virtual roundtable discussion on how to move forward in the midst of Covid-19 on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 7 PM EST.  The educational and fundraising event supports Bracelet of Hope and programs of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
 
We have been sharing lots of positive messages from Dr. Anne Marie Zajdlik, recipient of the Order of Ontario, founder of Bracelet of Hope, and prominent front-line health care worker in Guelph. She will talk about her experience as a physician doing ground-breaking work in Africa dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and how that compares to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in our community.
 
Jim Estill, President of Danby Appliances sponsored 150 Syrian refugees. In addition to being named to the Order of Canada, he has invested in over 150 business start-ups. Jim will talk about his motivation and the recent pivot to manufacturing ventilators.  
 
Helen Fishburn, is Executive Director of CMHA in Waterloo-Wellington. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field and a unique perspective to issues around COVID-19.
 
The workshop is free. Any donations will go towards Bracelet of Hope’s mobile-clinic-COVID response project for remote communities in Lesotho, Africa, aimed at preventing more orphans through COVID mitigation activities in its six foster homes. Integrated Youth Service Network Funds will support virtual care services assisting youth in isolation, including B-Together Talk Series, and youth engagement workshops.  
 
Workshop sign-up
 
“Believe it or not, there is a lot more ‘good’ in the world than ‘bad’. Wouldn't it be great if COVID-19 led to the greatest pivot shift of them all—a shift in the way we think? Could it really be the great equalizer? Stand proud. We are succeeding. Let's use this momentum and what we have learned while under adversity to truly make this world better.” – Dr. Zajdlik
 
Read full postings on Anne-Marie Zajdlik’s blog

 

COVID-19 - latest information


Ontario Government
-Effective June 5, short term rentals including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes, condominiums and B&B’s are allowed to resume operations.
-Effective June 12, the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from 5 to 10 people across the province, and places of worship can open with distancing to 30 per cent capacity.
-Effective Friday, June 12 Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph is included in the staged reopenings for Phase 2 with safety measures in place, including dine-in restaurants and bars; many personal care services including barber shops, hair salons, beauty salons; shopping malls (with restrictions and  take-out or outdoor dining only for their food services); tour and guide services including wineries, breweries, distilleries;  water recreational activities including pools; beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks; camping at private campgrounds; various drive-in and drive-through venues; and weddings and funerals (with social gatherings limited to 10). 
Please read the official news releases for all details and the latest information:
Ontario government—details and news releases


The City of Guelph
-Starting June 8, Guelph Transit will allow more than 10 people to ride each bus and ask all riders to wear a non-medical mask or face covering.
-Free 30-minute Guelph Transit service will continue for the rest of June.
City of Guelph—newsroom
City of Guelph—response to the coronavirus
 

GRCA
-The GRCA will continue to reopen its properties in stages, and information will be updated on their site as it becomes available.
Get all the details here.
 

Other Useful Information
County of Wellington—Response to the Coronavirus
WDG Public Health—COVID-19
Ontario—COVID-19 Information and Self-Assessment
Canada Public Health—Coronavirus Awareness Resources
Canada Public Health- Coronavirus

 

Free Shopping Service - free is fabulous!

Try this free shopping and delivery service for seniors needing help with groceries 
  • Available to seniors who live in Guelph, pay on delivery night with a valid credit card
  • Shopping and deliveries are from Zehrs Eramosa; Monday & Tuesday evenings
  • Email info@unitedwayguelph.com to confirm a night and email list by noon day prior
  • Thanks to generous volunteers, there is no charge for delivery!   
Get all the details here
 

Activities for Mind and Body

You can check out GWSA’s growing page Activities for Mind and Body. 
Please keep in mind that these include free content, but connect to external sites not associated with the GWSA, each with its own terms, conditions and promotions.
 

Performances
When you are not outside enjoying the sunshine, you might enjoy some online performances, including  choirs with up to 2000 voices together. Here’s a start.
Bolero Julliard—over 100 performers
Never Walk Alone—15 countries and 300 people  
The Swan—24 cellists around the world
Waltzing Matilda—Melbourne
You are in Quarantine—Dancing Queen parody
One World—Together at Home finale 
You've Got a Friend—275 voices
We are the World—various artists 
Sleep—incredible choir of over 2000 voices

 

GWSA - contact us

GWSA website                                            gwsa-guelph.ca 
GWSA contacts                                           contact form    
GWSA email updates                                  subscribe here
GWSA donations:                                        donate online      

    
"Keep distance...Stay together"

 
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