Guelph Wellington Seniors Association Opposes Proposed Closure of Evergreen Seniors Centre Dining Room

GUELPH, Ontario, November 25, 2009 - Today the City announced that City Council will be considering a long list of cost cutting alternatives to whittle down a projected budgetary deficit of $8.5 million. One cost cutting measure being considered is the possible closure of the dining room facility at the Evergreen Seniors Centre. This facility is currently operated by one permanent city staff member supported on a monthly basis by approximately 40 volunteers from the Association. The Board of Directors of the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association (GWSA) is opposed to this because:

...The Dining Room has a rich tradition of providing nutritional and affordable meals to hundreds of seniors monthly. Delivery service is also available to local shut in seniors.

...The Dining Room also has a rich tradition of providing special dinners at Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. These dinners are generally attended by seniors who may not otherwise have these dinners. They are so popular that there are generally 3 sittings.

...The Dining Room also has a long tradition of providing meals for hundreds of socially isolated seniors who participate in the many outreach programs run by the GWSA. These seniors would not generally have access to such meals.

...The Dining Room provides a wonderful opportunity for GWSA members to volunteer by doing food preparation, food service, dishwashing, clean up, etc. This also helps to keep the cost of the meals down.

The Evergreen Seniors Centre is considered to be one of the best centres in Southwestern Ontario. The closure of the Dining Room would be a big step backwards - not exactly a good decision to take in the year when the City will be hosting the annual meeting of the Older Adult Centre’s Association of Ontario.


Finally, the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association does not believe that the closure of the Dining Room at the Evergreen Seniors Centre would be an action that would be taken by a City that wants to make a difference. Further, the cost savings as estimated by the City, are inconsequential when measured against the value of the rich traditions and benefits outlined above.

Should you wish to comment on this please send a message to GWSA webmaster Ken Russell at gwsainfo@gmail.com or leave a message at 519-823-1291


Media Contact for more information:

Pierre Desmarais, Guelph Wellington Seniors Association President 519-823-1291

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McCrae House marks Remembrance Week with return of Guelph Amateur Radio Club

Mike from the Guelph Amateur Radio Club works the radio with a young visitor.

Remembrance traditions continue at McCrae House with the return of the Guelph Amateur Radio Club. Now in its 21st season, the group will again be sending and receiving remembrance messages at the birthplace of John McCrae from Monday, November 2 to Wednesday, November 11.

Members of the Radio Club look forward to contacting, via the airwaves, ham radio enthusiasts around the world. This is their opportunity to acknowledge Remembrance Day and exchange thoughts on its significance. The Club also assists the Museum in educating children and adult groups taking part in Remembrance programs offered throughout the week. Students, as well as the general public, are invited to share their thoughts and reacquaint themselves with John McCrae.

Join us on Wednesday, November 11th beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a short flag ceremony organized by the Col. John McCrae Legion in the McCrae Memorial Garden. John McCrae Public School will be holding their Remembrance Day Assembly in the Memorial Garden beginning at 10:40 a.m. All are welcome to attend both gatherings. Admission to McCrae House on Remembrance Day is by donation and McCrae House is open until 5:00 p.m.

McCrae House is located at 108 Water Street in Guelph, Ontario Canada. Open daily 1-5 p.m. leading up to Remembrance Day and open Remembrance Day 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Regular admission to the museum is: Adults- $4.00, Seniors & Students - $3.00, Families $10.00. Please contact Guelph Museums at 836-1221, ext. 2773 for more information.

Tell us where it hurts - National Pain Awareness Week Nov. 1-7, 2009

A global year against musculoskeletal pain


TORONTO, November 2, 2009 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, all across Canada, someone's brother, mother or child is waking up with pain. It is estimated that one in five Canadians live with chronic pain that interferes with every aspect of their life. National Pain Awareness Week is a public awareness effort to address a public health crisis. A collaborative physician and patient effort, painexplained.ca is an awareness and advocacy campaign with a goal of addressing the vital need to achieve better understanding, prevention and management of all types of pain in Canada. Painexplained.ca is using the first week of November to educate and inform Canadians that information, support groups and resources are available to combat pain.

While there are many different types of pain, this year's National Pain Awareness Week (NPAW) is highlighting one of the leading causes of pain to Canadians - musculoskeletal disorders. Acute musculoskeletal pain is pain perceived within a region of the body, or the body as a whole, and believed to arise from the muscles, ligaments, bones or joints.

"Musculoskeletal pain is more than just a pain in the neck for 3.5 million Canadians," said Dr. Brian Kirsh, painexplained.ca Steering Committee Member and Medical Director of the Hamilton Health Sciences Chronic Pain Management Unit. "Almost every adult has experienced one or more brief episodes of musculoskeletal pain associated with injury or excess physical activity."

With the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder and chronic pain so high, it has a significant impact on our healthcare system and in the Canadian workplace. Estimates place direct healthcare costs for Canada to be more than $6 billion per year (in year 2000 dollars) for individuals suffering from chronic pain. By 2025, with the aging population, these costs can be expected to rise to more than $10 billion per year (Phillips & Schopflocher, 2008).(1) According to a recent painexplained.ca survey, 70.5 per cent of moderate to severe chronic pain sufferers are currently being treated by a physician for their pain - and this number will only increase.

"Musculoskeletal disorder causes as much pain in our pocketbook as it does in the bodies of people who suffer from it," said Lynn Cooper, a person who lives with pain, President of the Canadian Pain Coalition (CPC) and painexplained.ca Steering Committee Member. "Whether it's musculoskeletal pain, persistent chronic pain or acute pain from an injury, Canadians are suffering and are largely unaware of the treatment options available."

To champion pain awareness and highlight the gaps between what is known and what is practised in the treatment of all kinds of pain in Canada, the CPC, a partnership of patient pain groups and health professionals, will be distributing NPAW posters to health facilities and clinics across Canada. The CPC is also partnering with the Canadian Pain Society (CPS), offering pain information booths at various malls across Canada. For more information about where information booths will be held or to download a free poster about NPAW, please go to www.canadianpaincoalition.ca


About painexplained.ca


painexplained.ca is an awareness and advocacy campaign founded by the Canadian Pain Society, the Canadian Pain Coalition, and the Canadian Pain Foundation. The www.painexplained.ca initiative seeks to promote awareness of the issue of under treated pain in Canada through a long-term, coordinated public awareness campaign with the goal of addressing the vital need to achieve better understanding, prevention and management of all types of pain in Canada.