2022 Summer Issue Final Better With Age_compressed

Better with Age Mieux avec l'âge Summer 2022 - Volume 6 A Message from the Seniors Take Action Coalition Welcome to our  second year publishing  Better with Age. In Spring 2021, we published our first issue to share information and promote opportunities for seniors . We also wish to celebrate the lives and contributions of older adults in Richmond County.  As strong advocates for age-friendly communities, we will increase the awareness about, and emphasize the importance of, age-friendly communities for people of all ages who live in Richmond County. Bienvenue à notre deuxième année de publication Better with Age. Au printemps 2021, nous avons publié notre premier numéro pour partager des informations et promouvoir les opportunités pour les seniors . Nous souhaitons également célébrer la vie et les contributions des personnes âgées du comté de Richmond. En tant que fervents défenseurs des communautés amies des aînés, nous allons accroître la sensibilisation et souligner l'importance des communautés amies des aînés pour les personnes de tous âges qui vivent dans le comté de Richmond. What's in This Issue: Page 1:  Update from the Seniors Take Action Coalition Page 2: Age -Friendly Communities Page 3 Who are the people in your Neighbourhood?  Meet Harold O'Connell As we look forward to a summer of greater freedom, we Page 4/5: can be grateful that we live in relative safety in a glorious Spotlight on: Inflation/River Roots Market and part of the world. We have freedoms that many don't. Yet Advice and Tips within Richmond County, we also know there are people who face challenges. Page 6:  Together, we can strive to work towards a more fair and Spotlight on: Lillian O'Hearn just life for all in Richmond County. Seniors Take Action Coalition remains committed to Page 7: creating an age-friendly community that is within reach Spotlight on From Away Farm and Strait for all. Our hope as we move forward is that we can regain Richmond Palliative Care Garden Plan lost enthusiasms and restore efforts to become the community we all wish to be. Page 8: Take care and enjoy the summer! Cape Breton Welcome Network and Community Connector Project Dorothy Barnard, Coalition Chair Page 9: Did you Know Page 10: Community Corner Services and Programs in your Community Page 11: Upcoming Events, Courses, and Other Useful Links and Tidbits Page 12: Grants Available Page 13: Last Word Seniors' Clubs in your Community FdNOiianrvstetiJroNsunenaacteliuIon2lntd1us,i,rg2Iene0snu2aoi2tnu,adsCnoPaduneMtoaspdétaliteainssndpsDineacgoyep,ale lchebhsor.inaetoveuemrtihneegntt2sh6eothfhearnitnaugael, Staying Connected: Click here to subscribe to the newsletter  For more information about the Seniors Take Action Coalition, or if you mailing list! would like to become involved contact: [email protected] Pour plus d'informations sur le groupe Seniors Take Action Coalition, ou si vous souhaitez vous impliquer, contactez: [email protected]

AGE-FRIENDLY communities Seniors Take Action Coalition Weighs in on Strategic Planning Process On May 19, members of the Seniors Take Action Coalition met with the consultants hired to do the Strategic Plan Refresh for Richmond County to share our thoughts and ideas about issues  impacting older adults and opportunities for the future. We also submitted a paper to highlight the importance of age-friendly communities and the strong connection to overall health and well-being. If the Municipal Council were to consider all its policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment, and put the following principles into practice, they would be applying an age-friendly lens to their work. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Municipality to improve the quality of life for the older adults that call Richmond County their home and to create an age-friendly community that both embraces the contribution of older adults and ensures policies, programs and services that respect the unique and diverse needs of all its citizens. We made the following recommendations to the Municipality: Design and deliver educational program that so Council members, staff and residents of Richmond County understand the benefits of adopting an age-friendly community that helps to ensure overall health and well- being. ( Dedicate funding for an education/training program). Establish an Age-Friendly Communities Planning Advisory Group. Develop a framework for decision-making that includes consideration of community belonging and equity    (See funding above). 02

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN  YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD? Meet Harold O'Connell by Julie Freeman Chief Superintendent Harold F. O’Connell, MPA  A Few of Harold's Awards  Who is this man? How is “Harold the Chief of Interpol\", and 'Harold the regular guy'' now- RCMP Long Service Medal retired resident of Rockdale, Cape Breton, different in his day- to-day Canadian Peacekeeping Medal interactions with his wife Valerie, his mother-in-law Leona, his two United Nations Medal for sons, his grandsons in Halifax, and his many friends? Peacekeeping (BiH) How does the second-highest ranking staff official at INTERPOL go The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal from spending his days making decisions that direct and affect world Canadian Operational Service Medal security, to finding himself chopping firewood and loving a rustic, RCMP Commissioner's Commendation relaxed life on this island on the other side of the world? for Outstanding Service In a word: COVID. In truth, COVID changed the course of history, from perspectives both personal and global. For Harold and Val, two and half years ago, amidst global Covid restrictions they returned home from Lyon, France and retired. In fact, Harold and Val are born Capers - the two of them met at St. Francis Xavier 40 years ago.   A 34-year career of service for Harold spanned INTERPOL, peace strategy in Bosnia, and national security in Asia. And more – much more - a curriculum vitae that leaves me in awe. How will I find the Caper, in a short interview sitting in my kitchen? It’s easy. Harold speaks to me about how much he enjoys spending time with his grandkids in Halifax, and about his passion for boats and being on the water. He also tells me how his early life without parents instilled wider family ethics that live within him still, and the bigger world developed leadership instincts to bring about ‘Better’ – by listening. “First, do no harm”, he says. “Then listen, because everyone has a 03 need, and a right, to be heard.” In the unique culture that is Cape Breton, with its Acadian and Celtic histories, serving the community and parish is a deep, instinctive drive for survival and comfort. Folks here step up, says Harold, without thought of personal gain, to do whatever is needed. As an example, many years ago, when help was needed for a new church in L’Ardoise, Val’s mum, Leona, turned her home into a boarding house for out of province workers who happily lived and shared meals amongst a full house, renting out rooms to workers. True to that Cape Breton culture, Harold has immersed himself in a local volunteer group, heading up the L’Ardoise Men’s Club. Extensive plans are underway for another season of activities to fill hearts and raise funds for much-needed community support. Harold and Val have travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and Central America, including three years living in Singapore. I asked if he could name a favourite. Beyond living in Singapore - Vietnam will always be very memorable, he says. And again, it’s about the people, the heart, the spirit, the absolute resilience of a population decimated, yet surviving and thriving again.  Those values are humbling, and inspiring, the same values found here. They draw in those from away, and those returning, to become part of the story on this little island with such a big heart.

Spotlight on:  Food Inflation Rate While, Norma Jean MacPhee, Board Chair, may be Reaches 40-year relatively new to  Richmond County, she is a fellow high Richmond Cape Bretoner from Sydney, and moved to River County Ready for Bourgeois officially in 2021. When I chatted with Norma the Challenge  I discovered that her interest in gardening became a passion as a child growing up getting her hands dirty by: Celeste Gotell alongside her Dad. I asked what motivated her to get involved and this is what she shared, “For many years Richmond County residents are being challenged to I have had an interest in environmentally friendly tighten their budgets to keep up with approaches to creating sustainable local food the skyrocketing price of oil, gas and food. Compared systems.  When I was approached to get involved in to a year ago, Statistics Canada says the cost of fresh the project it seemed like a natural fit to get fruit and vegetables is up 10-20%, meat 10.1%, bread involved in the community by combining both my 12.2 %, dairy and eggs 8%, butter, in particular up more commitment to the issue and passion for than 15% and oils almost 29%. The price of gas has gardening”. reached as high as a$2.19 a liter for regular and $2.45 The project is still relatively new in its operation, but for diesel. These increased costs are causing additional already has made great strides in its brief lifetime. River stress and worry for many residents and particularly Roots is more than a garden; it is a way to become lower income seniors in our community. We have just involved in the community in many different areas by experienced two years of stress related to Covid 19 and sharing knowledge about growing and preserving now we are living through even more stress with the food. They also have a commercial kitchen in the Glebe high cost for everything from bread to lumber. House for hosting workshops and hands- on activities. Thankfully, there are great things happening in They have employed students and older adults and are Richmond County and many of our older adults have committed to intergenerational connections. They are a great deal of experience and skills in gardening, developing an outdoor sensory garden that provides canning/preserving and knowing how to stretch the an opportunity to discover and enjoy a  garden with dollar. We have several food banks in the area, school textures and smells. They have raised beds and varying food programs and  several community gardens. plant heights to accommodate persons with mobility During the two years we have been living with COVID, issues. They also have a geo-thermal greenhouse that interest in hobby vegetable gardens has made a will provide year around produce. comeback. There are still many ideas and opportunities yet to be One of the many great things happening to help launched and others to be discovered to grow River tackle food insecurity is the Richmond River Roots Roots in the years ahead. As it develops, River Roots Market Garden Society.  Back in 2018, the Dr. Kingston will continue to  support  the residents of Richmond Community Health Centre recognized the need to County with sustainable food practices while building begin work on addressing food insecurity and applied capacity to address food insecurity. for a grant that would help to teach people to produce their own food. Dorothy Barnard, Board Member and Site Manager, is the visionary for this project. She understands that community health centers have a huge role to play in improving community health outcomes. They  are involved in  programs that  improve our health by looking at issues called the “social determinants of health”, the social conditions that impact health. In 2019, a piece of land was donated for the garden in River Bourgeois and then, in 2020, they purchased the Glebe House and the adjacent land.    When I asked Dorothy, what her vision was for the River Roots Market, this is what she had to say ... 04

Spotlight on:  Advice for all of us As the cost of our basic needs (food, gas, home heating etc.) continues to rise, we recognize the extra burden that places on people, especially those on a fixed income. We reached out to older adults across Richmond County for their input, advice and wisdom to assist people during these challenging financial times. Although space did not allow for everyone's contributions, we thank-you for sharing. \"Gardening provides enough produce to allow me \"Check the flyers It will be interesting to see if the price of gas to pressure can 300+ meals. None of the for specials, formulate vegetables are wasted and canned meals don’t will help or hinder our transition to using require refrigeration. When meats are on sale, a budget and plan transit for getting around. I see so much traffic pressure canned meat pie filling, ham and chicken your meals.\" are added to the pantry shelves. \"Dehydration of on my road that I wish there was a simple way wild berries and fruit during summer and fall          - Viola Landry to connect with some of those drivers, oh, are provides me with delicious fruit leather and snacks that don’t spoil.\" Audrey Boudreau Preserving. you going to the grocery store? Can I come For those that can, plant a along? Can you please pick up a loaf of bread?   Audrey Boudreau's preserves vegetable garden. Be aware of what you buy. Shop for I do sometimes stand at the end of my driveway “Extra blankets to sleep in cold bedrooms. and get a chance, but sometimes I think, too I make my own bread. Plus, buy butter on what you need. sale and freeze it. Buy less meat and - Seniors from  bad we don’t have a local kind of Uber software more dry lentils, beans, etc. Plan multi- that could connect us to each other for ride errands in one trip to St. Peter’s or Port Louisdale We Care Days Hawkesbury, such as grocery shopping or sharing. I am almost always glad to be able to doctor appointments. That’s some of the offer someone a lift or to pick up something changes we made.” - Anonymous they need. In my ideal world the  We grow a lot of our own veggies to eat and we have school bus system and the transit  for years.  I haven’t bought jam in 44 years I always make my own. Ervin grows tons of tomatoes and I system would join forces but have tomato sauce and salsa to use all year. We also that’s complicated!\" Anne Rogal have chickens (well we did until the fox got them all a few weeks ago) but we are hatching chicks as “For the younger generation, know the difference between replacements. If people have the time and space it what you need and what you want.” - Anonymous pays to grow your own veggies.  I would be willing to pick up someone to take them for groceries when I “My best piece of advice  would be to cut up your credit cards.  Very go as well for my own groceries”. tempting to over extend in trying times but then your money might - Janice Stone Touesnard be going to interest instead of food. I really wish I had a better answer. But no one answer will be correct for everyone.” - Robert Cotton \"Congratulations to everybody that grows their own food! That is the most healthy, economical, and environmentally friendly and food-sustainable thing to do!  I do have  a small garden which saves me a lot of money, it’s healthy and brings joy.\" -Maxine David (photo is a salad from her garden) Here is a few more ways of saving money from Maxine: “Ride sharing for trips to the Credit card, that gives you cash back. The idea is to pay off grocery store etc.”  the  balance every month, and you will never have to pay interest. -Belinda LaRochelle Many cards give cash back. This way you are making money on the money you spend. I get back about $300 every year. The grocery store where I shop, gives me deductions off fuel and groceries. This saves about $200 a year. Delicious on a DIME - is a food blog Don’t forget senior's discounts.  They offer them at many  stores. created by husband-wife team Laurier Don’t forget to ask. and Myra Samson of Arichat. \"We love delicious food, and we believe With an Airmiles card you can get points on most things that you that people shouldn't have to sacrifice buy; this saves me about $200 to $300 a year. flavour because of the ever-rising cost of groceries. For that reason, we created the I always buy things on sale and stock up on staples. For example, I will buy site to include tasty recipes you can make ground beef on sale  to make meatballs and hamburger patties which on a budget and tips for saving money on I freeze them instead of buying ready-made products. When fresh produce groceries.\" isn’t on sale, I buy frozen vegetables (on sale) I use them to round out a -Laurier and Myra Samson meal when I can’t have salads. www.deliciousonadime.com I freeze individual meals. For example,  if I make chinese food, I freeze individual servings in a plastic sandwich container. Rice on one side, and some kind of stir-fry on the other. I usually make a big batch of chicken balls that I freeze, and take out some to have with this meal as well, frozen vegetables to round out the meal. 05

Spotlight on:  Age is a Number but Aging is a State of Mind by: Cynthia Curtis Given her life-long commitment to gardening and dedication to the betterment and beautification of the Rocky Bay area, it is most appropriate that the Isle Madame Garden Club has nominated Lillian O’Hearn  “as their Outstanding Member and Garden Club Hero of the Year.” This award is more than well deserved and that the beauty Lillian has created and maintained is indeed prize- worthy. For almost 50 years, Lillian O’Hearn has been creating her very own Garden of Eden on Rocky Bay Road. A stroll about the grounds of her home delights the senses and inspires awe—both in the botanical beauty she has created and in the thousands of hours of labour it has taken to design and maintain it. Lillian’s perennial gardens are abloom with colour much of the year. She has designed them so that when the pretty pastels of spring start to fade, the vibrant hues of summer begin to appear. And, in the fall, her burning bushes and maple trees turn a bright, joyful red, bringing their own sort of sunshine to those colder, cloudier days. Of all the seasons, though, summer is the highlight. Lillian’s prize- winning flowers spill from beds too large and numerous to count. The spectrum of colour is rainbow and the bounty of fruit-bearing trees is plentiful. With 25 blueberry bushes and several apple trees, Lillian and her family enjoy the fruits of her labours—quite literally—all year round. But such splendour demands equal effort and Lillian is the first to admit that the work, though most rewarding, is endless. And not just in the warmer months. This past winter, with little snow on the  ground, Lillian was out raking up leaves in preparation for spring. The constant stooping to plant and weed, dig and trim has taken a physical toll on Lillian. Half in truth and half in jest, Mrs. O’Hearn claims her posture is “perpetually bent” from the activities of gardening. And there is, at times, an emotional toll as well. Recently, the deer have played havoc with the gardens’ flowers and bushes. In evening and early morning, the deer often visit, chewing away both buds and leaves. It seems there are very few plants they dislike. In an effort to protect her gardens and groves, Lillian has invested in hundreds of yards of netting to limit the damage. She also hangs stockings filled with Irish Spring soap and human hair to deter them--200 hand crafted “ornaments” to be exact. Lillian claims her mixture of water-soluble Epsom salts and fertilizer do help to bring the flowers and bushes back, but the deer are hungry, persistent creatures so the disheartening battle to keep them afield is ongoing. Other damage has disrupted Lillian’s gardens too. Last year, maintenance to her home necessitated the dig of a backhoe which forced her to transplant many flowers and plants in order to save them. Not anticipating the extent of the digging, she lost many others, but most “heart-wrenching” was the topple of her large heirloom rosebush and arbour. These setbacks mean a lot more work, of course, and that is on top of the already time- consuming and physically demanding work necessary to keep the gardens vibrant and healthy. Needless to say, helping hands are always welcome. 06 Saturday, June 18th was officially  recognized as Garden Day in the Municipality of Richmond County.

Spotlight on:  From Away Farm by: Julie Freeman Driving up the lane to the farm on a lovely spring day  evoked such a feeling of welcome. The front door of the old farmhouse opened, and owners Gwen and Rocky stepped out to greet us, along with a couple of guests staying there, and three super-friendly Labrador dogs. Lawn chairs called us, and we all drifted there like old friends to chat and learn the story here. Basically, it’s a love story, I discovered. Two people fell in love, built a new life together in a place they love, then fell in love with their life. One can feel it. It’s joyful. And I think I fell a bit in love with their story myself. The property known now as From Away Farm has deep history, dating back to the 1800’s Crown Land Grants. For more than a hundred years, the farmland granted to the Maugers was a very large employer in the area of Poirerville and Cap la Ronde. Eventually the last hundred acres of grant land owned by George Mauger became too much for him to work. And along came Gwen Smith. Gwen had packed up an Ontario life and made a brave move alone to start a new life in her family homeland. She rented the old farmhouse from George, and began restoration with a vision to starting a business that would enable her to share the peaceful surroundings and good life on the land. Rocky Foss is a Newfoundland native, who found Cape Breton to be close enough to home, but just far enough away. And his partnership with Gwen has truly built something unique and authentic. Their combined skills and talents are evident, from handcrafted fixtures to comfortable rooms, where one just wants to settle in for a long visit. From Away Farm is more than its beautiful space, which is enough in itself. It’s an ‘experience’ featuring lobster-boils at the trestle table in the lovely, rustic old barn to seafood boils on the beach. Sometimes there are campfires, and music and shared insights about conservation, preservation – and how does one really eat a lobster anyway? Breakfasts, too, are truly ‘farmhouse’ size and delicious. One can ‘experience’ without a stay-over, and all of it can be booked on their AirBnB page for accommodation and experiences. Easy peasy. Like everything about time spent here – relaxed, peaceful and charmingly welcoming. You’ll fall in love with it too. I know it. Check us out on Facebook or e-mail Gwen Smith Strait Richmond Palliative Care Garden Plan  by: Nancy Cameron A garden is a wonderful place to observe the cycle of life. A seed is planted, it grows, it blossoms, it bears fruit and, then, it dies. As it is with the human life cycle. We are born, we live, we blossom, we are productive and, then, we die. Palliative care helps people at the end of life’s cycle to live with dignity until they die. The mission of the Strait Richmond Palliative Care Society is to provide support for the care, comfort, and peace of persons and families living and dying with a life-threatening illness in the Strait Richmond area. One of the Society’s projects this spring is to restore the Memory Garden at Strait Richmond Hospital. This garden was designed by volunteers with the Richmond County Garden Club in the late 1990’s. These volunteers were the original garden heroes. The purpose of the garden was to create a space of living beauty honoring those who had died in the care of the Strait Richmond Hospital healthcare team. The Society plans to revive the flower bed to its former glory. Sunflowers will be featured in the Memory Garden and are the international symbol of palliative care. As noted on the SRPCS website, “The sunflower is a flower that always looks toward the sun to be filled with energy. It represents vitality, love and positive encouragement in the face of adversity.”  Cudeca Fundacion. For more information about palliative care in the Strait Richmond area, please visit the Society’s website  or the Strait Richmond Palliative Care Society on Facebook. 07

Creating Webs of Social Connectedness Claire Doyle Beaucoup de Lots to  choses à dire Talk About Depuis qu'elle a pris le rôle de Connecteur Since taking on the role of Community Connector, Claire communautaire, Claire s'est occupée de parler aux has been busy talking to older adults all over Richmond personnes âgées de tout le comté de Richmond pour County to hear about their concerns, discuss what is on entendre leurs préoccupations, discuter de ce qui les their mind, and  how Covid 19 has impacted their lives. préoccupe et de l'impact de la Covid 19 sur leur vie. Elles They also had an opportunity to talk about what they ont également eu l'occasion de parler de ce qu'elles look forward to in the months ahead and ideas they have attendent avec impatience dans les mois à venir et des that can help to build stronger community connections. idées qu'elles ont et qui peuvent contribuer à renforcer les Claire met with presidents of seniors clubs for liens communautaires. conversations on the phone, hosted two zoom sessions, Claire a rencontré des présidents de clubs d'aînés pour des attended several in-person meetings and reached out to conversations au téléphone, a organisé deux séances de others in the community who work with seniors via the zoom, a assisté à plusieurs réunions en personne et a telephone and in person. contacté d'autres personnes de la communauté qui On June 21st over 40 participants gathered from all over travaillent avec les aînés par téléphone et en personne. Richmond County in Louisdale to hear about the results Le 21 juin, plus de 40 participants venus de tout le comté of the project and identify priorities that will contribute to de Richmond se réuniront à Louisdale pour prendre an  action plan for the  Seniors Take Action Coalition to connaissance des résultats du projet et identifier les help inform its work for the year ahead. priorités qui contribueront au plan d'action de la Seniors Take Action Coalition afin d'orienter son travail pour l'année à venir. WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT CREATING WEBS OF SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS PROJECT?   Claire can be reached at: [email protected] or call 902-228-2856. When you feel at home, you feel welcome… by: Norma Jean MacPhee - CB Welcome Network Coordinator When you feel at home, you feel welcome… that you belong. In addition to St.Peter’s, other local Strait Area Welcome For newcomers to our area, it can take some time for them to Groups nearby include Isle Madame, Louisdale, and achieve that feeling of belonging. The Cape Breton Welcome Port Hawkesbury. Network aims to help change that. It’s an initiative of the Cape Volunteer Dena MacKinnon believes the welcome groups Breton Partnership and it launched in the summer of 2020. are having an important impact. “We know moving can As Cape Breton - Unama’ki’s private sector-led economic be stressful and we want to relieve some of that,” says development organization, the Cape Breton Partnership MacKinnon. “Many newcomers have told us how special recognizes that immigration does, and will continue to, play a our welcome has made them feel.” key role in the economic future of our Island. However, that The Cape Breton Welcome Network is about enriching success isn’t just in numbers, it’s when new people feel our communities. Learning with, and about, each other as supported and connected. That’s where the Cape Breton we live and work together increases the value and Welcome Network comes in. This Network is comprised of ten prosperity of Cape Breton - Unama’ki. Welcome Groups (so far!), spread all around the Island and led by A number of local welcoming events have launched since over 100 enthusiastic community volunteers. These individual the start of Spring 2022, including the Louisdale  and Area welcome groups engage in regular activities spanning from Welcome Group’s Community & Family Welcome Event, phone calls, tea and coffee chats, community tours, welcome which saw over 70 community members take part in an baskets, and events. All so new folks to the area can more easily evening of games, music, and food, while welcoming make community connections and find the supports so newcomers to the community. The Isle Madame Welcome essential in those first few days, weeks, and months. Group hosted a nature scavenger hunt at Lennox Passage “It certainly helped us a lot,” says Lee Hollaran about the Cape Provincial Park. Breton Welcome Network. Lee and her husband Mark moved to Stay tuned for other upcoming semi-regular welcome- Point Michaud in June 2021 from Ontario. They are retired and focused events, such as Welcoming Trivia set for were up for an adventure. Lee has family in Halifax, so they August 3rd at the Bras d’Or Lakes in and August 10th at decided to head East. The Island Nest in Isle Madame. Members of the St. Peter’s and Area Welcome Group visited Lee Volunteers can join any of the ten Welcome Groups (or and Mark Hollaran several months ago. “Their visit made a huge start a new one) and newcomers are encouraged to difference for me,” says Lee. “After they left, I felt that I wasn’t contact the Welcome Group chairs found listed on the alone. I had so many questions and they were so helpful in Cape Breton Welcome Network web page located at answering them all.” www.welcometocapebreton.ca/welcomenetwork. Lee and Mark say they’re loving their new home, community and are thankful for the connect with the Welcome Network. “It’s a 08 true support network here on the ground for seniors who have just arrived and for all people,” says Hollaran. “It was an adventure for us to move here and we’re so glad we did.”

DID YOU KNOW? Trivia In the 2021 Census what % of the population in Nova Scotia was 65 years of age and older? Lors du Recensement de 2021, quel pourcentage de la population de la Nouvelle-Écosse avait 65 ans et plus? 19 % 34 % 28 % 22 % Trivia Did you know that Richmond County has a What percentage of seniors are aged new Accessibility Plan? 65 or over in Canada are women? Check out the plan below. Quel pourcentage des Accessibility Plan - The personnes âgées de 65 Municipality of the ans ou plus au Canada County of Richmond sont des femmes? (richmondcounty.ca) Answer/Reponse: 54 % A Simple Beginning The L’Ardoise Men’s Club had a simple beginning back in 1975. In fact that tradition holds true today in all the good works done by its members for the community. Father Clarence MacDonald asked that a club be formed to ensure the Community Centre was operated in an efficient manner while meeting the needs of the community. Today, people are regaled in stories of the little room in the Hall where they would gather with a little heater fan whirling in the background. Today, the members continue to work in the community, hosting signature events, such as the Seniors Christmas dinner, supporting the Acadian Days Festival, hosting Celtic Colours and Supper by the Sea. We believe in supporting other organizations such as the food bank, bursaries for students and infrastructure projects to modernize the Community Centre, such as the kitchen modernization and building the deck. These projects are undertaken with the help of many, including the driving force of our former member Joey Jones, who passed away recently. Founding members: Charlie Sampson, Amos In this Post Covid time, we look forward to more regular events and McGean, Ambrose Stone and Mickey Martell. upgrades to the Hall. Our membership continues to grow and includes (Seated Fr. LeBlanc). Rene Samson, one of the the support of many family and friends who work tirelessly at events. We continue to look at new and innovative projects, assisting those in founders is still an active member today. need, while working closely with the various organizations in the community and region. The simple beginnings of service to the community continue in 2022; we would like to wish everyone in L’Ardoise and surrounding communities a healthy and festive summer season. Member Harold O’Connell 09

COMMUNITY CORNER Did you know? Services and Programs Dr. Kingston Memorial in Your Community Community Health Centre ... Trauma Sensitive Yoga By: Michele MacPhee Trauma can be experienced by anyone and is unfortunately For more information, quite common. Everyone experiences its  impact differently. A contact Michele MacPhee traumatic experience could be something that happened over a (902) 587-2800 ext: 5 or long period of time including abuse, neglect, bullying or the [email protected] death of a loved one. Or it may be an isolated incident such as surviving a car accident, fire or sexual assault. Sometimes we are able to work through our trauma and other times the pain of it can be so difficult that we might choose to ignore it instead. However, our bodies may still hold the experience of trauma and unprocessed trauma can make living in our bodies challenging for many reasons. Symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) may present as depression, difficulty sleeping, being easily startled, anxiety, addiction and so on.  Trauma Sensitive Yoga provides an opportunity to reconnect with oneself  through choice- making and present-moment experience. Michele has recently become certified in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). TCTSY is the leading evidence-based treatment for complex  trauma and  PTSD based on decades of research. Michele will be offering a series of trauma sensitive yoga classes with the Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre beginning in the Fall of 2022. The classes will be offered FREE of charge to seniors residing in Richmond County. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please reach out to her. Looking for your opinion, The launch of the ACTing Collectively project is getting closer! survey is anonymous. If you live in Richmond County The short term goal of this collaborative project involving Richmond, Victoria and and Port Hawkesbury and are 65 Cape Breton Counties is for a team in each County to engage in conversation with at years and over, please take a few least 120 older adults. The purpose of each conversation is to identify challenges and minutes and let us know what determine if there are available local resources. These challenges vary from wishing you think. to know more about opportunities to take part in local events to finding someone to It is only a few questions, will repair unsafe front steps. take a couple of minutes to complete. The long-term goal is to establish a provincial system of gathering, storing and using The Strait-Richmond Housing community-level data that will support older Nova Scotians to live in place for as Matters Coalition is trying to long as they wish. Stay tuned! You might be on our most wanted list!!!  determine if there may be an interest in offering a one-year This initiative is in partnership with the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care pilot-program on shared Age Friendly initiative. Click here to learn more. housing in the Strait Richmond Le lancement du projet ACTing Collectively (Agir collectivement) approche ! Area and are gathering L’objectif à court terme de ce projet de collaboration impliquant les comtés de information to help inform our Richmond, de Victoria et du Cap-Breton est qu’une équipe de chaque comté engage decision to move forward. une conversation avec au moins 120 personnes âgées. Le but de chaque conversation Please take a few minutes to est d’identifier les défis et de déterminer s’il existe des ressources locales disponibles. share your opinion. Click here. Ces défis vont du désir d’en savoir plus sur les possibilités de participer à des événements locaux à la recherche de quelqu’un pour réparer les marches  d'entrée dangereuses. L’objectif à long terme est d’établir un système provincial de collecte, de stockage et d’utilisation de données communautaires qui aidera les Néo-Écossais âgés à vivre sur place aussi longtemps qu’ils le souhaitent. Restez à l’écoute! Vous pourriez être sur notre liste des plus recherchés !!! Cette initiative est en partenariat avec l’initiative Amis des aînés du ministère des Aînés et des Soins de longue durée. 10

UPCOMING events, courses, and other useful links and tidbits Nova Scotia Websites National and International Websites https://caregiversns.org/ https://www.carp.ca/ https://alzheimer.ca/ns https://www.activeagingcanada.ca/  https://ns.211.ca/ https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/ https://nscommunitylinks.ca/ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health- https//novascotia.ca/seniors/ promotion/aging-seniors.html https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ccs/ https://cnpea.ca/en/ https://housing.novascotia.ca/programs/ho https://www.endsocialisolation.org/ using-programs-seniors https://www.nia-ryerson.ca/  https://mha.nshealth.ca/en Global Campaign to Combat Ageism - Toolkit (who.int)/ https://fountainofhealth.ca/ https://www.canage.ca/ COVID Relief Fund - Maritime Division https://www.seniorsactionontario.com (salvationarmy.ca) http://www.eapon.ca/ https://www.legalinfo.org/ http://agesafecanada.ca/ https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/ NEW https://helpagecanada.ca/seniors-can/   https://welcometocapebreton.ca/NEW  Healthy Aging CORE Canada https://811.novascotia.ca/NEW https://www.nicenet.ca/talk2nice  https://novascotia.ca/dhw/physicians/ NEW https://www.who.int/ageing/decade-of-healthy-ageing https://waittimes.novascotia.ca/NEW https://ccsmh.ca/NEW Social Isolation: Are You at Risk? Discover the risk factors. Learn how social isolation impacts health and well- being, and practical ways to reduce your risk. Social Isolation| McMaster Optimal Aging Portal The Seniors' Pharmacare program year began April 1st.  30th edition of the  Learn more about the Seniors' Pharmacare program or to Positive Aging update your information, call 1-800-544-6191 or visit: Directory:  https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/ Guide to Programs L'année du programme Seniors' Pharmacare commence le and Services for Older 1er avril.  Pour en savoir plus sur le programme Seniors' Adults in Nova Scotia.  Pharmacare ou pour mettre à jour vos informations, appelez : 1-800-544-6191 ou visitez  Click here to read. https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/ 11

Receives Funding for \" This work will bring a deeper Several Projects understanding of the issues, challenges and needs of senior- serving groups and organizations and enable us, collectively, to build a stronger circle of support for older adults in Nova Scotia.” Survey senior-serving organizations to Helen MacDonnell, understand needs, gaps and opportunities in Executive Director the sector; Provide micro-grants to senior-serving Age Friendly in Focus: organizations targeting urgent community Understanding access and inclusion needs; for older adults in the built Assess seniors’ centres and community groups environment. to understand their work and how to better This project invited Older adults 65+ in coordinate information sharing and Nova Scotia to take part in a research training opportunities; study conducted in collaboration Create an inventory of virtual seniors’ social between Community Links Nova programs offered in Nova Scotia and develop a Scotia and the PEACH Research Unit micro-grant for organizations to address gaps. at Dalhousie University. These powerful graphic recordings are GRANTS AVAILABLE highlighted in the photobook! Age-Friendly in Focus - Community for organizations  Links Nova Scotia and individuals (nscommunitylinks.ca) Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence - The Flex Individualized Funding program provides supports and Helps homeowners pay for home adaptations services to adults with disabilities who live at home with their so seniors with low incomes can stay in their families or who live independently with support from their family homes independently for longer periods of time.   or personal support network. The program provides self-directed A one-time forgivable grant of up to $3,500 is and self-managed funding to eligible participants. available. Click here to learn more. Flex provides individualized funding to participants living at home Senior Citizens Assistance Program - Provides with their families or who live independently with support from assistance to senior homeowners (age 65+) who their families or personal support networks. would like to remain in their own homes, but cannot afford necessary repairs. Click here to Funding is used to: learn more. purchase supports specific to a participant’s disability-related Call one of our caseworkers today at needs and goals; 1-844-424-5110. promote the participant's independence, self-reliance, and social inclusion; and The Nova Scotia COVID Relief (NSCR) Fund was offer an alternative to, prevent or delay a participant’s established by the Government of Nova Scotia placement in a DSP-funded residential support option. from the Federal Safe Restart Agreement in April 2021. This fund supports low-income Nova Scotians For more information: struggling to pay their home heating or electric https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/FlexProgram.html bill as a result of income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding provides one-time assistance of up to $400. COVID Relief Fund - Maritime Division (salvationarmy.ca) HomeWarming offers home Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia  Community Grants Round II Call for Grants: Thursday, July 7, 2022. energy assessments and Application Deadline: Thursday, August 11, 4 p.m. upgrades for income- Coming Soon: The government is providing a one-time investment qualified homeowners, at no of $3 million to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia to cost for people living on support mental health and addictions projects across the province. Click here to read more. lower incomes. For qualifying Government of Canada's Community Services Recovery Fund:  homeowners, if determined This fund is a one-time, $400 million investment to help charities that  upgrades like draft- and non-profits adapt and modernize. This investment will strengthen the sector as it supports Canadian communities to proofing and insulation will help reduce your heating recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn more. 12 and power bills, upgrades can be installed at absolutely no cost to you. Apply Here.

LAST WORDS Celebrating and thanking the many local businesses and organizations in our communities operated by older adults Rita Warner sells seaweed products, sea herbs and detox teas. Contact - [email protected] Claire's Variety Produce - George and Claire Kehoe from Rocky Bay sell a variety of preserves and jams. Blair & Cyndy Sampson from Grand Greve are beekeepers check out their website:  https://www.seabeehoney.ca Acadian Acres Farm and Wild Edibles -Small Market Garden Farm specializing in season beyond organic fresh vegetables located in the community of Samsonville.  Contact: [email protected] Pebble and Fern Market Garden located in Little Anse. They grow organic and heirloom vegetables. Check out their website: http://pebbleandfern.ca/ Isle Madame Public Market is held throughout the summer at LeNoir Landing in  Arichat. Saturdays, July 1, July 16, July 30, August 13, and August 27. Contact: [email protected] The Johnstown Landing Artisan and Farmers Market is a new outdoor market beginning Saturday June 4 until October 8, 2022. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Johnstown Landing  is located directly across from the Johnstown Parish Hall at 15290 Highway 4 in Johnstown. Contact: [email protected]. David and Mary Cotie operate the Red Shed located 674 Highway 247 in Grande Greve, where you will find current produce and fruits from their farm, and a jar to deposit your payment based an honour system 24/7. Once the full crop season opens,      they have a daily stall in  St. Peter’s, at the Market Corner. SENIORS CLUBS IN RICHMOND COUNTY in your community Arichat - Susan Marchand Port Hawkesbury - Francis Lamey Isle Madame New Horizons Seniors Club Strait Area Evergreen Senior Citizens' Club [email protected] [email protected] 902-631-3853 902-625-3962 Red Islands - Howard MacIntyre Dundee/St. George's Channel - Doris Matthews Bras D'Or Lakers Seniors’ Club,  South Mountain Arm of Gold Association [email protected],  [email protected] 902-631-5643 902-345-0495 River Bourgeois - Kim Henebry River Bourgeois 50+ Seniors,  Grand River - Joanne McCormack Dundee/St.George [email protected] Grand River Seniors Club Channel 902-563-6386 [email protected] Rocky Bay - Cynthia Blackmore 902-587-2143 Red Islands Rocky Bay Irish Club,  [email protected] L'Ardoise - Rene Samson Port River 902-302-3922 L'Ardoise Jolly Seniors Hawkesbury Bourgeois St. Peter's - Ken Leachman [email protected] Bonnie Brae Senior Citizens Club  902-587-2446 West Bay St. Peter's Grand River [email protected] Lower River 902-535-2835 Louisdale- Robert Goyetche Louisdale L'Ardoise West Bay - Sedley Rafuse Fleur de Lis Seniors Club -  Head of the Bay Seniors Club [email protected],  Arichat Rocky Bay Sedley Rafuse 902-345-2232 or Cell - 902 227-7079 [email protected] 902-345-2063 Lower River- Peggy MacNeil Riverdale's Seniors Club 55,  Other Seniors Groups [email protected] 902-625-0166 Le Regroupement de Aines et Aines de la Nouvelle-Ecosse Richmond County Branch of Retired Teachers Janine Lacroix, [email protected] Phyllis Cote 902-226-0077 [email protected] 902-625-2306 Richmond County Seniors Council Claire and Wilfred Marchand, [email protected] 902-345- 2499 or 902-302-1650 If you have comments, feedback and ideas Newsletter Committee for future issues let us know at Celeste Gotell [email protected] Cynthia Curtis Si vous avez des commentaires, des Julie Freeman réactions et des suggestions pour nos Newsletter Design prochaines publications, faites-le nous Celeste Gotell and Janelle AuCoin savoir à [email protected] Health Promotion Team Mental Health and Addictions Nova Scotia Health 13