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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 24, 2009 · 8 Seniors anxious to see growth in Palermo By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While many resist growth, an old Oakville church at the centre of what has been farmland forever and some local seniors are anxious for Palermo to grow. Both groups look forward to the quiet farming village, often just driven through by Dundas Street commuters, growing into the new Palermo Village envisioned to be a tran- sit hub and perhaps the most densely-populated area of town as north Oakville develops. The church is Palermo United Church, established in 1812, and the seniors are those in S.E.N.A.C.A. (Seniors Enjoy Nurturing Activities C o m p a n i o n s h i p Achievements). Both groups not only welcome, but are prepared to be part of a bustling community with a multicultural face. The seniors day program has been running 30 years in south-central Oakville. The non-profit organization funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the United Way of Oakville is located on Bond Street, but expanded with its north site opening at Palermo United Church at 2521 Dundas St. W. (at Bronte Road) in 2006. Meanwhile, the church was founded as a Methodist church in 1812; the building erected in 1867. In 1925, it joined the United Church of Canada and over its 193 years, helped establish more than 20 churches and/or chapels in the Oakville area. Moving from Palermo to Queen's Park, the Ontario government is eyeing the mushrooming seniors population with a view to keeping seniors living at home in the community rather than in hospital or institutions, and has sent $130,000 S.E.N.A.C.A.'s way to cater to a growing, multicultural seniors population. Through the provincial Aging at Home strategy, the Mississauga/Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is handing over an extra $130,000 to S.E.N.A.C.A. for its annual budget -- not only to double its client capacity in the north, but to better serve what is becoming a diverse multicultural community. "We're for everybody. That's what Canada is and that's what S.E.N.A.C.A. is," said Wendy McBride, S.E.N.A.C.A.'s executive director. The program operates five days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is for seniors who have health issues who are living at home with family members. S.E.N.A.C.A. gives those family members a break. "Often it's the caregiver who breaks down," said McBride, noting when that happens, a senior can quickly be moved to a hospital or long-term care facility. S.E.N.A.C.A. is in business to offer respite care to a senior in order to assist families so that seniors -- particularly those with issues such as Parkinson's or who have had a stroke -- can continue living in the community. RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER PALERMO WELCOMES GROWTH: S.E.N.A.C.A. client Chuck Shaw, 83, and 21-year-old Cynthia Egleton are pictured in the garden at the seniors' program's new north Oakville site at Palermo United Church. S.E.N.A.C.A. has new funding to reach out to the multicultural seniors community. It's best for anyone, including seniors, to be at home, said McBride. So S.E.N.A.C.A. exists to provide care for seniors and respite for families. In so doing, it becomes a venue for social activities, a touchstone with life and other people -- as well as a caregiver -- to the seniors. "`Caring like family,' that's our motto," said McBride. With more than 20 seniors participating at the Bond Street program, the north Oakville program can take eight clients. The new funding means the north Oakville client list can now double to 16. S.E.N.A.C.A. brochures are being translated into numerous languages, too -- Punjabi, Urdu, Portuguese, Italian and more. See Building page 10 Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada Watch for the new 2009-2010 Fall/Winter Parks, Recreation and Culture Brochure delivered to your home this week. Registration S 905-338-4250 Registration Start Dates Residents: August 22 - 9 a.m. Non-Residents: September 4 - 9 a.m. Seniors: September 4 - 9 a.m. QE PARK CENTRE WILL CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 Future Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre Starting this fall, renovations begin on QE Park Centre to transform the centre into a unique multi-purpose recreation, arts and culture facility. The new QE Park Community Centre will offer recreation programs and activities and extensive spaces for arts and culture activities. For information on program relocation call 905-338-4150 or visit www.oakville.ca/qepark.htm Building a Livable Community S Recreational Skating S Programs for All Ages and Abilities *HWDFWLYH\RXUZD\ HYHU\GD Registration Start Dates Residents: August 22 ­ 9 a.m. Non-residents: September 4 ­ 9 a.m. Seniors: September 4 ­ 9 a.m.