Active living fair returns to Stratford this fall

Participants take part in the Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Association’s active living fair and open house last year. The event returns Sept. 12 with more than 50 vendors and speakers focused on healthy, active living after retirement.

By: Amanda Nelson

Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Association (SLAAA) is once again hosting its active living fair and open house this fall on Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. upstairs at the Agriplex Community Hall, located at 357 McCarthy Rd. W. in Stratford.

Alongside more than 50 vendors, speakers this year include Dr. Krista Lounghead, naturopathic practitioner and professor at the University of Windsor, and Dr. Todd Loughead, kinesiologist, who will discuss healthy living, supplements and staying active after retirement. Speakers will take the stage from 10:30-11 a.m.

The goal of the open house and fair is to bring together programs and businesses from across the region that promote and foster a sense of healthy aging after retirement, something that is a passion of Trudy Jonkman, event organizer and volunteer.

“One of the significant challenges facing our society today is social isolation,” she said. “By bringing organizations together, we can help people discover the many opportunities available to them – opportunities that may spark an interest, provide a sense of purpose, create meaningful connections or simply encourage them to get involved.”

She continued to say that no single organization can meet the needs of everyone and by working together as a community, SLAAA aims to provide a broader range of choices and make it easier for individuals to find the programs, activities, services and relationships that are right for them.

All attendees will talk to vendors, connect with others and listen to speakers to help them navigate aging with optimism by finding purpose within their community, maintaining a positive outlook, building meaningful connections, staying healthy and active well into retirement and finding healthy ways to manage stress.

SLAAA aims to challenge stereotypes about aging and prove that living a full, healthy and meaningful life into your 90s or beyond is possible.

“Aging does not mean becoming invisible, irrelevant or disconnected,” said Jonkman. “We can challenge negative stereotypes about aging – whether they come from society, from others or from within ourselves.”

Jonkman, who recently lost her 97-year-old mother, said she wants to continue to live a full, nourishing life, just like her mother did, and that means continuing to learn, adapt and support her community.

“My working career has always been working with older adults in the community, and I am so passionate about not only helping others to age well, but to live well, like my mother did,” she said. “She lived well until she was 97. I want to combat the idea that, as we age, there is no option but to decline, which is not true. We have lots of things to be involved with, whether we find purpose in our lives through volunteering or working or being involved with different organizations; that’s the way I want to live my life.”

The event is partly funded by the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, which helps identify the importance of improving the lives of seniors and people with disabilities by changing perceptions and promoting the benefits of an age-diverse and accessible workplace and community.

The ministry is also committed to addressing social isolation and helping older adults remain healthy, safe and active in their communities.

Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend this event focused on active, healthy living after retirement.

To learn more, please visit www.stratford.ca/active55.