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Wednesday August 9, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B3 SENACA Day Program thrives at Oaklands By W ilm a Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR SENACA is on the move. The day care centre for seniors with Alzheimer's and other cog nitive disorders, has received increased funding from three different funding sources. The money will allow SENACA (Seniors Enjoy Nurturing Activities Compan ionship Achievements), to hire more staff and expand services. Funding has come from the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Oakville United Way, and the Trillium Foundation. "United Way funding of $41,355 will allow us to hire an administrative assistant for three days a week," says Wendy McBride, SENACA's director. Trillium funding of $14,000 a year for two years has allowed the agency to hire a part-time volunteer co-ordinator two days a week. And, the ministry funding of $132,179 a year "will mean we can have 18 clients a day," thanks to being able to hire addi tional staff. The provincial money will come from the min istry's Long Term Care and Alzheimer Directive Program. "All of this is absolutely wonderful," says McBride. SENACA, located at Oaklands Regional Centre at 53 Bond St., averages between 15 to 16 clients per day, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. "Sometimes, we're as high as 17 to 2 0 .1 would like our pro gram to expand to have at least 18 clients daily." The agency offers respite care, giving caregivers a break, while at the same time, stimu lates the clients with a variety of activities. "All of our clients live at home with their families," said McBride. "We give them a much needed break." SENACA "is big enough for our clients to think they're in a club with their peers, and small enough for it to feel like family. `The most important thing Is that we want these people to feel good about themselves. "We give them mental stimu lation," said McBride, adding this includes trivia games and jumble words. "We try to get people thinking. We look after the mental as well as the physi cal - we look after the whole person." SENACA offers everything from carpet bowling to golf, music, simple crafts, gardening, visits from therapy pets brought by the Oakville Humane Society and intergenerational programs with Thistleoaks Child Care Centre - also at Oaklands. The agency moved to Oaklands a little over two years ago, and has found the arrange ment to be "really neat." "We share with other groups here. SENACA shares one of its rooms with the child care centre before and after school and dur ing PD days." There are visiting local musi cal groups, dance groups, and speakers including anybody from tai chi instructors to reflex ologists, dental hygienists, and firefighters. Halton VON footcare staff and hairdressers come to provide services. Sheridan College, McMaster University and high school students comes to give clients manicures. The agency has 70 volun teers, and a staff of five full time equivalents. "I'm excited about expand ing, but I want to keep our per sonal touch," said McBride. "But, our dream is to provide evening and overnight respite in partnership with Oaklands and Erinoak (another tenant)," she said, adding an application has been filed with the Ministry of Health under its long-term care division. `The facility is already here and I would like to see it used." Three hospital beds plus a number of wheelchairs have already been donated. For information, or to refer potential clients, call SENACA at 337-8937. Photo by Peter C. McCusker Mary Clifford, left, a program facilitator at SENACA, dances with clients Bev Crux and Florence Stewart at the recent 25th anniversary celebrations for Oaklands Regional Centre. SENACA shares space with Oaklands, and benefits from some shared programs. Canoe trip celebrates history; charity; nature andlockengineering (C ontinued from p a g e B 1) "But, then when they realized we were actual ly guests of the hotel . . . " said Daniel, you could say the red carpet was rolled out. `They got two `sherpas' to carry it up into the executive boardroom" for an official reception where they were personally welcomed by Claude Sauve, general manager of the Chateau Laurier. "History has been made," said Angus. `This hotel was built in 1912 and never has there been a canoe portaged into the hallowed halls of this well appointed establishment." The next morning, Daniel and Angas carried the canoe down the steps and hoisted it on top of a car for the trip home. The pair set off from Kingston - Canada's first capital - to begin their nine-day, 18 mile adventure which took them through four different natural water formations, linked by locks along the Cataraqui and Rideau Rivers . "For the first five days of our trip, we were canoeing in open water across six to seven lakes connected by locks to Smith Falls," explained Angas, "then through some of the most beautiful marshes I've ever seen from Smith Falls to Merrickville, then a river between one-quarter to three quarters of a mile wide from Merrickville to Manotick, and through a canal from Manotick to Ottawa. "People think the Rideau System is just a canal, but it's one of the most marvelous feats of engi neering I've ever seen, connecting these natural bodies of water." Daniel described the bird and fish sanctuaries they passed through along the route as "very tran quil places." Along the way they passed the Watson grist mill in Manotick. Built in 1840 from stone, this mill is still in operation, powered by five water fall driven turbines. They carried 250 to 300 pounds of gear, and camped overnight at the locks and conservation areas, everywhere from wilderness areas without any water, electricity or washrooms, to campsites in cities. "We met a group of Boy Scouts along the way, and with our combined ages of 100 years, we found we covered the distance from Smith Falls to Manotick in half the time they did," said Angas. They also met John and Marion Davis of Oakville, at the Ridea Ferry Marina. Angas bought the canoe at an Easter Seals fundraiser in Toronto in April 1999. When he dis covered the canoe was donated by Camp Nominingue in Quebec, where he spent time as a boy, he started "bidding in earnest." The Kingston to Ottawa trip "clearly was an adventure for me personally, and quite an accom plishment for both of us. I haven't done anything like this in my life since I was 12 years old" at summer camp, said Angas. `T o put it in perspective, we paddled the dis tance to Toronto every day for eight days." Daniel and Angus decided to turn their Millennium Challenge canoe trip into a fundraiser for the community. "I would do it again in a heart beat," concluded Daniel. Of next year's trip in the Yukon, "we'll be doing twice the distance (from Kingston to Ottawa), padding at twice the speed, to make it in the same time," says Daniel. To make a donation, send a cheque, payable to the United Way of Oakville, to David Angas, Nesbitt Bums, 1 First Canadian Place, 48th Floor, P.O. Box 150; Toronto, ON, M5X 1H3. film J )m l(!il in (A it/im u n fh m m itm Y o u r C o n s u m e r " Bill of R ig h ts" Here is what we p r o m is e and what you can expect when you choose Dynasty Baths for your renovation: 4 } You deserve our commitment to the best quality of material and workmanship 4^ You deserve respect and appreciation for favoring our company with your business 4 } You deserve qualified personnel who are knowledgeable, efficient pleasant clean, neat and of the highest moral character in your home 4 } You deserve full satisfaction with our products and services "W epromise to exceedyour expectations, and we will be satisfied with nothing less " c .Dynasty Baths Visit our showroom: 4380 South Service Rd. U nit II (betw een W alkers Line & A ppleby Line) T u es. thru Fri. 9-5:30, Sat. 9-4, ClosedSun. &Mon. 905 639-8409 - Let your creativity soar to new heights Help $ve a Idd a future Iff $vin 4 tnem a piece o f your past. Donate your old computer to Computers for Schools' It could mean the difference between a chHd getting by, and getting ahead, in the next millennium. With 3 simple phone call, your retired computer systems can be placed where they can really nrdre a difference - m classrooms and libraries across Canada. If your company is replacing computers, talk to your systems specialists or supervisors. Let them know they can help our students lean the skills necessary to get ahead in tomorrow's world - ani they can save money by avoiding costly equipment removal or storage. They could also get a tax receipt And if you've got an old computer at home? We just ask that donations of fewer than 3 units get dropped off at ary Sears store. So give our kids a place in Canada's future. Donate your old computer to Computers for Schools today. Call 1 8 8 8 636-9899 to arrange a pick-up or tor more information. Or visit the Computers for Schools website at www.scboolnet.ca/cfsope ART & POTTERY CLASSES ADULTS · CHILDREN · TEENS The Oakville Art Society' s experienced instructors offer a wide variety of programs. From beginner to advanced, you're sure to find a class best suited for your skill level and busy schedule. Classes commence September 16th and are held mornings, afternoons or evenings. Childrens classes are held after school or Saturday mornings. CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 16TH WATERCOLOUR - OIL PAINTING - ACRYLIC PAINTING - SCULPTURE - POTTERY JEWELRY MAKING - CHILDREN'S ART AND POTTERY - TEEN POTTERY 6c SCULTURE Register today! G ive us a ca ll or drop in to th e O A S stu dios fo r a descriptive class brochure. CanariS Partnering with Isr School* to bring tacbnnoe to oar dnvooro The Oakville A rt Society T eaching art in your c o m m u n ity for 3 5 years Computers for Schools ` Official ·«rk of lodafttsy e*oo«a. 560 Bronte Rd. 827-5711 Office Hours: Mon. to Thurs. 10 am to 4 pm · www.oakville-art-society.com