Seniors Centre for Excellence hosts health, wellness fair

DRAYTON – The Seniors Centre for Excellence (SCE) of Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North is holding its fourth annual Health and Wellness Fair on Oct. 8.

The free fair will take place at the PMD Arena (68 Main St. W., Drayton) from 10am to 2pm.

There will be two free workshops designed to support health, wellness and everyday living, with over 35 exhibitors from community agencies and vendors offering information and resources.   

That includes 10 new exhibitors who have not attended the fair before. 

One of the workshops will be led by Burton Taxes and cover how to get ready for the tax season, and the other will be “Sleeping Soundly,” presented by local social workers. 

Complimentary snacks will be available, prepared by the Drayton Legion, “because learning is easier when there is something tasty nearby,” organizers state. Lunch will not be served this year. 

“It’s the learning that I come for,” said previous attendee Doris Cassan – “networking, finding out what is available to help me in my community.”

Willa Wick has attended as both an observer and participant, and said “as an observer I was amazed at the number of booths and such varied topics from personal hygiene to baking flavours, and then on to community assistance via first responders and fitness experts.

“As a booth representative I met new people and old friends and was able to highlight two different local organizations.

“The Wellness Fair is a valuable tool for seniors as it provides an outing, plus shows so many different services available to them – some of which they hadn’t known before.  It also provides insight into areas where seniors can easily volunteer,” Wick added. 

SCE representative Glynis Belec told the Community News “the highlight for us is when we see seniors feeling empowered by what they see and learn. 

“We love it when our older adults discover ways to maintain independence, improve their quality of life, and connect with vital local resources.” 

Belec said the SCE aims to encompass physical, mental and social health at the fair. 

“The moment we hear words like, ‘Thank you for putting this on,’ or ‘This was great. I learned so much,’ ‘What fun that was,’ and the like, we know we have been successful and all the hard work leading up to this day was worth it,” Belec said.

There will be a new “Taste of Mapleton section,” this year, Belec said, with vendors offering samples from local Mapleton businesses, as well as free soft serve ice-cream at the 100 Women Who Care Booth.   

Conestoga Crest will have a table to share all that is happening with the expansion expected soon for older adult affordable accommodations, and there will also be some vendors focusing on environmental concerns, she added.

The event is open to all, including “locals and beyond.” 

And there will be door prizes, freebies, and “other little surprises – proof that good things really can come in reusable carrier bags,” organizers add. 

“Come for the information, stay for the inspiration – and leave with useful resources, new connections new knowledge, possibly a bag of goodies, and maybe even a door prize.”

No registration is required – “Just drop in and delight in the day.”

The fair is supported by funding from the province and the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario.