Summary of what people told us... |
- Amberlea CRD Housing Building - located in the Quadra/Cloverdate area
5 Residents/1 CRD Staff
- August 8, 2016
RECREATION: With increased residences in neighbourhood ( 200+) traffic flow will impede peoples’ movement. Traffic is a detriment for seniors. Seniors need to be safe. In local park, new washrooms and kiddie’s pool will be very important (Water park is proposed). Increased population creates potential need for more recreational activities. Like children and families in neighborhood.
Swimming Waterfit: SCP access was good, but not affordable. Doctor recommended but cost too high. A loonie would be affordable. Income (slightly?) exceeded LIFE criteria. LIFE Program income criteria now over $22,000. “Thought it was restrictive”. Participant has researched the program. Single event fee is prohibitive.
Brochures are useful but need to go somewhere else to find them. ( Note: it seems that many users may interpret the criteria for LIFE application too strictly? That there is some flexibility in application? Or unaware of criteria)
Evening classes do not work well. Don’t drive in the night. Membership to all swimming pools; “ I like the warmer waters of Esquimalt” . LOTS of good options for recreation.
Interested in accessing Saanich Volunteer Services Society programs - volunteer services that help residents live independently. One drive per week can cover 1) medical or 2) other app’ts shopping. Also offer assistance with income tax; medical equipment drop-off; companion visiting. We need to ensure that we communicate a clear distinction between the Saanich Volunteer agencies ( for example, confusion exists bwteween Saanich Rec Volunteer Program and Saanich Volunteers Services).
“We prefer things to be close by. “
Recreation in the building? Ideas were: Weightlifting. Cooking classes. Gardening support, Yoga, Safety/defense classes. Chair exercise (as experienced with MS Society building on North Park). Could Saanich Rec develop a partnership with MS folks who are losing their building?)
Outreach program with Silver Threads, servicing an apartment building – doing a weekly physical activity, a variety of activities: a speaker? Light exercise program? Saanich’s Minds in Motion offers light exercise followed by socializing.
Transportation: “Best to have people and programs come to us”. Example of perfect program, even if it is accessible, sometimes it is just tough to get out.
Exercise: “I take car over to Mall, walk around for an hour plus. I go there because it offers safe flat areas; go because the surfaces are even and safe. Fear of falling lessened. Afraid of sidewalks; uneven and cutouts can be dangerous. (Could Saanich incorporate flat walking circuit around rec centre)
With my Scooter, it is frightening on Galloping Goose to have bikes flying past. Not comfortable.
PARKS:
Lights would be most helpful along the pathway of Glasgow Park. Perhaps that condominium development will cover lights. Local PARKS; need the picnic tables to enable people to have lunches.
GARDENS: some housing residences have gardening clubs; gardening programs are of interest – to have ownership of the gardens, not to have them prepared by others. Healthy to work in soil. How can Saanich support peoples’ interest in gardens? - People, Plants and Homes program was super, but now cut from Housing. CRD offered a truck of fresh soil.
Could Saanich develop raised garden beds in parks or shared public spaces?
Music in the Park; with lots of seniors in the neighbourhood VERY popular; down to two concerts in Rutledge Park from three.
Neighbourhood Parks:
Would like to ensure that it is even walking terrain (needs signage)
Would like to see a local market set up at parks (foods, arts, music once per week at Rutledge Park specifically). Could Saanich support this opportunity?
Mayfair Park; the plants and flowers are an attraction. Recent modifications have increased accessibility to park.
Suggest bike racks or bike cage with combination or keylock, to be located near tennis courts; Pathways go from one end of the park to the other; they use pavement that is very smooth; (better than interlock bricks that tend to become uneven.)
Need good pathway outlets with multiple access points. Great benches. More cutouts are needed.
Pathways / Scooters: need to look at wider pathways, ensure that the pavement is even to lessen danger for riders and those walking.
Idea: To make people more aware and comfortable with available recreation and parks opportunities in their area, Saanich could offer orientations to neighbourhoods; trails, recreation, opportunities for free access – possibly resourced by Saanich volunteers.
People are shy and nervous in new circumstances. Older adults can be advantaged by having a person orient them to new programs, rec centre facilities, to guide them. Welcoming needed to help mitigate fears.
“Nothing is more inclusive than recreation”. People can find people of common interest.
MODEL: Similar to BC Transit showing people how to get on and off buses independently: “Community Travel Training” with one month free pass, and assistance in learning how to use transit. Very popular program.
Marketing: Maybe we need to look beyond digital and paper communication to Face-to-face orientations, such as described above, to groups in the community.
Recreational therapists through Island Health explore recreational opportunities with individuals.
Walking clubs; approach Mayfair mall, much better than Uptown Mall.
Steps to Connect: Liz’ program – coaches groups of older adults to develop ways of becoming active, creative ways of being engaged. The group comes together, they solve their own problems (for example, access to resources, travel arrangements). The key here is to build community with the attending groups.
How to help people connect with others to create community?
Community kitchen – social cooking classes and get togethers. Offers it at two locations. Also offered at certain residences, but needs to be cost recovery.
Saanich does some partnerships with Island Health, we still have work to encourage new partnerships.
Could walking groups build stronger relationship with Saanich?
Interest in evening games – cribbage, etc.
Finding out information Rec Centre programs? ALG adapted to older adults. Hand deliver to seniors residences.
How can we get men more involved in community-based activities? Men tend to go outside more often into the community. Women may be more inclined not to go out.
Pearkes and SCP very hard to get to by bus; long walk to bus stop; long waits! Is there a community bus like the one in Gordon Head?
Les Passmore and Goward House: food and arts/painting programs are excellent.
“Painting in the Park “ - could be super program. Therapy class at Aberdeen Centre.