Serving the Eastern Townships English-speaking Community since 1979.
All is Blooming in Magog for Seniors’ Day 2010
April 28, 2010
As the traditional proverb goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Come this May, flowers won’t be the only ones blooming. On May 12, Townshippers’ Association invites all those 50 and over to Seniors’ Day 2010 at the Magog Arena on St. Alphonse St. This year’s theme is “Life Long Learning - In your golden years keep on blooming.” The 2010 Seniors’ Day promises a vibrant bouquet of timely information and inspiring activities.
Townshippers’ Association will have a booth at the all-day event organized by the Memphrémagog CSSS. Townships Expressions will also be there with a unique selection of books, music, postcards, prints and quality items for sale, including Taproot IV, the fourth volume in an anthology of masterful poetry, prose, and images showcasing some the Eastern Townships’ finest writers and visual artists.
New to Seniors’ Day this year will be the unveiling of a massive mural comprised of a hundred mandala paintings from recent intergenerational art workshops organized by Eric Akbar Manolson of the Association’s “With Respect to Our Elders” project. Manolson explains that these intergenerational art workshops can be an “empowering experience” for all involved. He invites Seniors’ Day participants to come join arts animator Shannon Brown, who will be on hand to facilitate two intergenerational painting workshops with help from local students. Here’s your chance to contribute to this beautiful ongoing collective art project.
The goal of Seniors’ Day, according to coordinator Valérie Labelle, is “to provide a place for exchange, for sharing of resources and for entertainment all aimed at improving the quality of life of seniors.” This year’s Seniors’ Day, with its varied and dynamic program, provides fertile soil for exploration, discovery and learning.
As in years past, Seniors’ Day will be divided into two parts. The morning will focus more on presentations and sharing of valuable information. The afternoon programs features entertainment including a sing-along and a dance presentation.
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome, along with coffee and snacks. Next, participants will have an opportunity to visit with close to 35 exhibitors. In addition to the Townshippers' Association and Townships Expressions, you will find a host of community and volunteer groups offering valuable information to seniors.
The day’s presentations will be preceded by a tribute to Mrs. Muriel Duckworth. Mrs. Duckworth was a founding member of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, social activist and life-long advocate for the poor. Mrs. Sheila Goldbloom will be the Seniors’ Day featured speaker. Her presentation, “Why older men need hockey time and other fascinating facts about Quebec seniors” will definitely sow some seeds for thought. Mrs. Goldbloom, along with minister Marguerite Blais, was a co-chairperson of the 2007 province-wide commission looking into conditions of Quebec seniors.
Seniors’ Day is organized by the Council of Seniors of the MRC Memphrémagog. It started in 1999 and took its inspiration from the United Nations designation of that same year as the “International Year of Older Persons.” Initially a bilingual event on one day, it has expanded to two days, with one in English and one in French. Since that time, the event has grown in popularity. This year’s Senior’s Day is expected to draw close to 500 people from not only the MRC of Memphrémagog, but also from towns across the Eastern Townships.
Tickets for Seniors’ Day are $7 per person and include coffee, snacks and buffet. They are on sale at the reception desk of CSSSM (Magog Hospital), 50 St-Patrice St. East in Magog, and at Townshippers' Association, Volunteer Centres, Golden Age Clubs, and AQDR. Please Note: Tickets must be purchased prior to noon, May 7. Without a pre-purchased ticket, there will be no admission at the door. For more information, call Valerie Labelle at 819-993-1683.
Photo credit: Townshippers’ Association
Cutline: Flowers bloom under the brushstrokes of two artists at a recent intergenerational art workshop.