Friendship Centre helps St. Marys seniors stay active, connected and engaged

The Friendship Centre Choir performs at their year-end concert May 27 at the Pyramid Recreation Centre.

By Galen Simmons

For many older adults in St. Marys, the Friendship Centre is much more than a place to play cards, exercise or attend a program.

It’s a community hub where friendships are formed, new interests are discovered and volunteers help shape the programs and services that support hundreds of local residents each year.

Operated by the Town of St. Marys’ senior services department out of the Pyramid Recreation Centre, the Friendship Centre offers a wide range of recreational, social and support programs for adults aged 50 and older, as well as adults with varying abilities. According to St. Marys senior services manager Jenny Mikita, the centre’s continued success comes down to two things: listening to the community and empowering volunteers.

“We hear from people all the time that we’re a great centre and that their friends in other communities don’t have anything compared to what we have going on here,” Mikita said. “There’s a great variety of programs, but there’s also a really strong sense of community. People come here to connect with other people.”

From fitness classes and pickleball to the Friendship Centre Choir, craft groups and social activities, participation continues to grow. Mikita said the Friendship Centre Choir recently wrapped up its year-end concert, providing an opportunity for participants to step outside their comfort zones and rediscover talents they may not have used in years.

“It was awesome to see people participating in things they haven’t done for so long,” she said. “People were getting up and doing solos they probably haven’t done in years.”

Just as important as the programs themselves is the way new ideas are developed.

Rather than dictating programming from above, Friendship Centre staff look to participants and volunteers for direction. One example is a proposed French-language conversation group expected to launch this fall after several members expressed an interest in practising their conversational French with others in the community.

“We listen to the people,” Mikita said. “That idea came directly from people who use the centre.”

That approach extends to volunteer recruitment as well.

Many volunteers begin as program participants before stepping forward to lead activities, support fundraising efforts or help deliver services to others. Mikita said the centre is fortunate to recruit many volunteers from within its own membership.

“People are willing to support things they’re passionate about,” she said.

That volunteer spirit helps make much of what the Friendship Centre offers possible. Volunteers lead fitness classes, organize activities and support fundraising events that help keep programs affordable and accessible.

“It’s because we have these volunteers,” Mikita said. “They’re enriching their own lives and enriching the lives of others.”

Beyond recreation programs, senior services also provides a variety of supports designed to help residents remain independent and connected to their community.

Services include Meals on Wheels, shopping assistance, fitness and falls-prevention programs, friendly visiting, telephone reassurance and community connections programming. The department also works closely with organizations such as the Alzheimer Society, which offers satellite services and programming at the Friendship Centre.

Mikita described the department as a one-stop shop for seniors, caregivers and families looking for information, resources and support.

“We serve people who participate in programs, people who receive services and the volunteers who make it all happen,” she said.

While reaching isolated seniors can be challenging, Mikita said partnerships with health-care providers, community organizations, family caregivers and local media help connect residents with the services they need.

At its core, she said, the Friendship Centre’s mission is simple – helping people stay active, engaged and connected.

“The key is to stay active – physically, mentally and socially,” Mikita said. “Isolation is a huge challenge for people. The more connected you are, the easier it is to access services and stay involved in your community.”

For residents considering retirement or looking for a new way to stay involved, Mikita encourages them to explore the Friendship Centre’s programs and volunteer opportunities.

“St. Marys is very fortunate to have people who are passionate about what they do,” she said. “There are so many ways to get involved and give back.”

More information about senior services, Friendship Centre memberships, programs and volunteer opportunities is available through the Town of St. Marys website, www.townofstmarys.com/recreation-community-culture/seniors/, or by contacting senior services staff at 519-284-3272.