Planning a great centre for older adults at the Old School
In 2021, when Friends of the Mindemoya Old School (FOMOS) presented ideas to the Municipality for repurposing the Old School, Council chose two new purposes for the buildings: a seniors centre and an artisans’ hub. We had visions of creating facilities that would be inviting, and offering popular programs and activities that would be most useful for an aging population, so we began by asking seniors what they would like.
In January 2022, we put out a survey, and senior residents enthusiastically answered. In total, eighty-two people responded, eighty of whom were at least 60 years old. Three-quarters were women. Seventy-two percent lived year-round on Manitoulin.
The most important, ONE wish for a centre
When asked what was their ONE wish for a seniors centre, most seniors said they wanted a fun place to get together, a safe place to gather and visit, an active, busy and friendly centre, a place to share stories, a drop-in activity centre, and other ideas along the same lines. That was the big take-away.
Our survey also asked some specific questions, and people picked their favourite activities from lists. If we want people to enjoy themselves (and we do!), we need to provide the most popular activities. What did the seniors tell us they’d like? Guest speakers, sing-alongs and an onsite coffee/tea shop topped the list! Fitness activities and dancing, weekly lunches, and games all came a close second. At least half said they’d like sitting and chatting, movies, brain fitness, painting and drawing. Here are the highlights on the most popular activities and the percentage of seniors who are interested in these activites:
I am interested in the following groups and clubs.
A games room (e.g. shuffleboard, billiards) 60%
Other games (e.g. scrabble, cards) 50%
Sitting and chatting 52%
Movies 50%
Book club 30%
I am interested in fitness activities/classes.
Fitness 66%
Chair exercises 63%
Dancing 56%
I am interested in health, cooking and eating.
Weekly lunches with others 61%
Brain fitness 54%
Coping with hearing loss 39%
Diet and nutrition 45%
I am interested in arts and crafts.
Painting, Drawing (lessons and workshops) 55%
Crochet, knitting 44%
Scrapbooking, making cards 39%
Woodworking 32%
I am interested in music activities.
Singalongs 72%
I am interested in lifelong learning.
Guest speakers 75%
Computers 56%
Preserving photos 47%
Using cellphones, social media 41%
I would be interested in an on-site coffee/tea shop.
Yes 67%
Getting There
The Old School is an ideal location for a seniors centre, but it needs a retrofit and renovations. Our not-for-profit has a 21-year lease from the Municipality, and we have applied for several government capital grants. Every grant has its own rules and we don’t always fit neatly into their requirements. There is intense competition, and it appears most capital funding goes to municipalities.
For example, last spring we learned that one agency requires an existing “track-record” of seniors programming to qualify for a grant. So we re-oriented our priorities to establish a track record, even though the building is not ready for occupancy. It seemed like a step sideways. Fortunately, the Central Manitoulin Historical Society was pleased to partner with us, and together we ran a variety of programs for adults and children last summer, at the Pioneer Museum. There was great potential for collaborative workshops with the museum, learning and creating as our ancestors did. The most popular program, “Bridge in the Covered Bridge”, attracted 12 people (enough for three tables) eager to learn how to play bridge. Sure, you can play bridge on a computer, but it’s more fun with friends. The programs and workshops ran on a shoestring, led by excellent, talented volunteers who stepped up. The new curator of the Museum provided valuable support coordinating, advertising and arranging space. It’s a winding road to help us reach our ultimate goal of repurposing the Old School.
We are continuing to create a “track record”, in cooperation with the Municipality of Central Manitoulin. When the Ontario government announced last summer that they plan to set up more seniors centres across the province, we saw an opportunity to work together. As a result, the Municipality has applied for funding for a new seniors centre, with FOMOS as a collaborating partner. If successful, the seniors centre could begin operating in late 2025. In the meantime, Central Manitoulin has begun programs popular with seniors, like chair yoga, and FOMOS will also offer workshops in arts and crafts this winter. We hope to offer movies and other activities soon as well.
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