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FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976, PAGE 9 Seniors' co-ordinatorhas big By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer Whitby's senior citizens' centre opened in February this year, but it was not until the end of September that the centre was able to get a full-time co-ordinator. The centre's new co-ordi- nator is Mrs. Kay Byk, an energetic woman, who has six years' ,experience in organizing recreational, social and educational programs for groups. In six nonths she hopes to "have something going in all areas at the seniors' centre. Mrs. Byk was born in Toronto and has lived in Oshawa for the past two-and- a-half years. However, now that her work is in Whitby, she intends to move to this town as soon as she can. Mrs. Byk attended the Ontario College of Art and after graduation, worked on promotion, market research and publicity for an advertis- ing agency in Toronto. She went on to teach art in Toroit-o and create and implement programs for ele- mentary school children for the Toronto Board of Education. This included planning art prograns for emotionally disturbed chil- dren. Mrs. Byk also was a volunteer organizer for the United Appeal, Muscular Dystrophy and other com- munity charitable groups. Before coming to the Whitby seniors' activity centre, she was in the promo- tion department of a*photo- graphy firm. Mrs. Byk is working with senior citizens for the first time, but already she has a number of plans she wants to implement at the centre. "This is an activity centre; not a social club", she emphasises. "Every area of activity has to be expanded". After only a couple of weeks on the job, she has been able to determine that the social area of games and dances is well established at the centre, but there are many kinds of activities she would like to see added to the program. Among these are a creative arts program during the day, afternoon and weekend concerts, bus trips to Toronto and other places on a regular monthly basis, and special interest clubs at the centre to encourage closer group relationships. Mrs. Byk would %like to see the centre's lounge used as a drop-in centre from 9 a.m. to closing time at Q-30 p.m. to offset the isolation experienced by many seniors, especially those who live alone. According to Mrs. Byk, the Whitby centre is in an excellent location and has everything the seniors need. "There is enough open space to create areas they need to work in, and the program is governed strictly by the needs of the people", she says. It is important, says Mrs. Byk, to have a balanc.e of programs emphasising the recreational, social, education- al and physical aspects of life. One of lier major concerns is to get the senior citizens out into the town and the people of the town coming into the centre to work with the seniors. There is a real need for volunteers to work an hour or two a week ut the centre doing such things as office work, serving tea, providing rides, and socializing with the seniors, says Mrs. Byk. Ai- ready -she has l10 steady volinteers and wvould be interested in hearing from anyone of any age wlho is interested in working with people. Anyone interested in being a volunteer may caîl Mrs. Byk at the centre, at 668-1424. Mrs. Byk lias a keen interest in maintaining the tradition of Whitby which is important to the older residents of the town. One idea she would like to try is house tours or garden parties at some of the town's older homes on a volunteer dona- tion basis. Mrs. Byk points out that the senior citizens' centre belongs not just to the seniors but to the whole town. If the people of Whitby help to establish a successful centre it will mean more to them because there will come. a time when they will be using it as they grow older, she says. Another point Mrs. Byk emphasises is that the senior citizens' activity centre is not in competition with the established senior citizens' clubs, for these clubs are important. Mrs. Byk hopes that seniors would join both clubs and the centre. Al- ready the membership at the centre has reached 300. All guests and any seniors are welcome, she says, but one has to be a Whitby resident to be a member. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for noon to 1 p.m. So far, activities generally occur on week nights from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., but there is a need to fill up the weekend program, says Mrs. Byk. A number of facilities are being added to the centre this fall. On Saturday, the Lions Club presented the centre with a piano for sing- songs and entertainment, and a pool table and carpet bowling equipment are ready for installation at any time. Mrs. Byk is setting as lier first priority, the building of a group of volunteers to assist at the centre. Transportation is a big problem in Whitby, she says, so people who can drive seniors to and from the centre are needed. Also she would like to sec people with special talents come to the centre to give concerts or teach crafts or skills. It is a problein for people who have retired to know what to do with un- structured time, she says, and would like to see the seniors learning new hobbies and activities. ler next priority "is to encourage the menbers to corne and give us a chance and give themselves a chance". Mrs. Kay Byk, co-ordinator of the senior citizens' activity centre (right) chats with members at the Lions Club piano presentation Saturday. From left to right are May Smith, Lillian King, (chairman of the New Horizons Club), Effie Chisholm, and Florence Gommersall. Free Press Photo Classes in English for new Canadians English classes for new Canadians will continue in Whitby this fall in a new location, St. Mark's Church House, 200 Byron Street South. The program was formerly at. St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. Classes will be, held on Tuesday and Thursday after- noons fromi 1:30 p.n. to 3:30 p.m. starting Nov. 2, providing a sufficient enrol- rpentjsreached. A nVrsery school program for the children of students and volunteer teachers will be provided by a qualified teacher, Mrs. Ann Finley. Anyone interested in learing or improving their English is asked to -contact Mrs. Barbara Bagnell, 668-1063. Housewifes with young children who seek challenging volunteér work while their children attend a nursery school should also contact Mrs. BagnelI:.......... WVHITBY 1