Category: Blog Post

 

The City of Waterloo is working with consultant, Recreational Respite, to identify programming that will help improve the older adult experience in Waterloo, and both teams encourage the community to share their thoughts and ideas.

Older adults can provide feedback on the type of programs they would like to see during the safe reopening of Waterloo recreation facilities. In addition, the survey asks about the overall revitalization of seniors programming that will commence in spring 2022. The collaboration with Recreational Respite, and the survey findings, will help reduce isolation, encourage social connection and promote optimal wellness for seniors of all abilities.

In November 2008, Waterloo council approved the recreation and leisure services master plan, which recognizes a demand for new facility space as the city’s population continues to grow and new trends in recreation activities emerge.

To support that vision, we are expanding the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (WMRC) to include:

• a new civic front on the east side of the building that will include an activity court/gymnasium, additional lobby space, change rooms, inclusive washrooms
• a renovated Hauser Haus to allow for additional fitness programming in two exercise studios and a secondary indoor walking concourse
• a new two-storey building – the Community Pavilion – on the west-side of the property as the new home for the city’s older adult recreation programs currently offered at the Adult Recreation Centre (ARC) and Wing 404 RCAFA Rotary Adult Centre. The building will connect to the WMRC facility with an elevated pedestrian bridge

The information collected in the survey will support new and existing recreational opportunities for seniors, both in-person and virtual options, at this expanded facility.

The survey is open to Waterloo residents and surrounding communities. The deadline to complete the survey is October 31, 2021.

For more information, or to obtain a paper copy of the survey, please contact Nancy Hall-Jupp at nancy.hall-jupp@waterloo.ca or 519-886-1177 x27270.

Media contact: 

Shelly Reed
Communications consultant
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca

 

Read this news update on our website

We have added 2  of our cancelled trips onto our schedule- Thurs.Sept. 30- Otterbein to Freeport (Easy Breezie) & Tues. Oct.5- Petrocan to Birley gates.

That will conclude our season. We started later than usual but also ended it later than usual.

I hope to see you all on the water next year!

Unfortunately, several people have dropped out of Thursday’s canoe trip so that it is no longer viable to have the trip. The weather did not help either! Hopefully next week will be better for our canoeing!

Due to a high possibility of thundershowers, we are going to have to cancel this trip. Hopefully we can do this at the end of the season if we have a good Fall.

It is wonderful to be able to say that we are open. If the covid lockdowns have taught us anything, it’s certainly  shown us to not take anything for granted.  This season is the beginning of a new era and as such we will be doing things differently than we have in the past…so read on!

OSSCC 2021 Reopening Strategy**LINK**

Our reopening strategy has been tweaked from last year to take into account our transition into the 2nd and 3rd stages of the provincial reopening and the procedures the club has decided to adopt.
Highlights include:
–For the health and safety of our members, only members who have been fully vaccinated and have passed the 2 week waiting period will be permitted to participate on our canoe trips.
-Only registered members who have paid their fees and submitted their forms will be permitted to participate on our canoe trips
-Canoeing measures are the same as they were in 2020 (see below)
-Trip fees are paid as per changes implemented in 2020 (see here)

CANOE TRIPS

Anne Woolner has planned some lovely trips this season and the first one will be happening on Tuesday, July 20th.  Details will follow in a separate email.
Tentative schedule for 2021 season *Link*

Canoe Trip Times and Pre-Trip Measures
What to Bring on a Canoe Excursion
What to do on Canoe Day

THINGS TO KNOW

For planning purposes, trips will proceed as they did last year. If you  plan on participating on a particular trip, you will need to contact the Trip Organizer before the trip to sign up and let her know you are coming.  The reason for this is that the Trip Organizer needs to know how many people to plan for since we currently have a shortage of towers. If people just show up at the shed and we have too many participants, we may have to send people home if we don’t have a second tower or if people are unwilling to cartop. Spots will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. If you have the capability to tow, please indicate so on your Membership Renewal form or let Ann know. The form includes the waiver addressing covid, so no need to fill out a separate form.

Membership Form
The membership renewal form can be found here.  You will not be able to participate in any canoe trips unless we receive the completed form/signed waiver and fee. Please return asap as per Opening Update. Emailing us an unsigned form with no fees will not be accepted.
Volunteers
The success of the OSSCC depends on its volunteers! Members are expected to participate as needed in the running of the Club. When completing your membership form, please check at least one area in which you would be interested and willing to help. We currently need people to work on the Shed Relocation Committee and to consider volunteering to be on the Board of Directors. The Secretary position is in urgent need of being filled.
Emergency Contact Cards
For potential emergencies, it is essential that everyone either has one on them or in their dry bag whenever out on one of our canoe trips. Trip Organizers will be checking before we leave on any trips. If you don’t have one, they will be available at the shed and at training sessions.
Club Handbook and Rules
The OSSCC Handbook & Rules is a manual that is at the heart of the Old Salts Seniors Canoe Club. If you have any questions about the club, chances are that they will be answered in this manual.  This is the manual you promise to read and abide by when you sign the “Privacy/Membership Waiver.”
Members have the choice of viewing the manual online in pdf format or you can print it out if you have a printer. For those of you who have no printer, you can purchase a professionally printed and bound copy for $10. Books will be available at the shed before training/trips. Proceeds will go to our “Shed Relocation Project“.
Social Events
Social Events are on hold for this month until we see how things go with the first couple of trips and how things go with membership registration. What events would you like to see return? Use the comments section below and give us your thoughts and suggestions. Are you willing to help organize?

resources you may have forgotten

Canoe Basics
Know Your Strokes
Canoeing Terminology

Huge thanks to Al Dunn for 20 years of paddling, towing and organizing the Easy Breezies! Al Dunn is retiring from the canoe club . He will be missed and difficult to replace.

If anyone wants to take over his role  of organizing the Easy Breezies (which often includes lunch and ice cream afterwards), please contact Anne Woolner (519-743-2277 0r annewoolner@hotmail.com).