Seniors’ centre offers teleconference sessions

MAPLETON – The area Seniors’ Centre for Excellence program has a new offering for seniors which involves teleconferencing.

Rural Connections – Senior Centres Without Walls makes staying at home “practically fun,” says centre co-ordinator Helen Edwards.

Participants can register to tap into the sessions which cover an array of conversation topics designed to attract people to engage in a wide range of interests, almost like being at the centre’s Congregate Dining or at Lunch and Learn programs, but without the bonus of a prepared meal.

Lunch is on you.

Throughout the COVID-19 isolation crisis, phrases like “stay connected, stay safe, stay strong” have been bandied about and what could be more safe than lounging in the comfort of our own living room, front porch, or back deck discussing of all things – pie, which was the topic one recent session.

Seniors can join the chat by calling Helen Edwards at the Seniors Centre for Excellence at 519-638-1000. The calls last about one half hour beginning at 10:30am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and at 3:30pm on Thursdays. The topics are listed on the calendar at the Town of Mapleton. Hosts will be Helen Edwards, Carmela Ieropoli and Glynnis Belec.

Teleconferencing was a popular way of doing business years ago when people could not easily meet at one location. Now Zoom meetings with the use of a computer over the internet seems to be preferable for conferencing needs.

During the “Pie Anyone?” teleconference call, everyone was invited to be patient, listen, learn, share and be active, connected and engaged.

The participants discovered Pecan Pie Day, they recounted the days of helping Grandma in the kitchen, they learned that using 7-Up instead of water makes a great pie crust, and they shared that their most interesting, unexpected, flavourful pie was a big pizza pie, a Cape Breton quiche with bologna and herbs, and Shoe Fly pie.

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