The folks at the Walden Senior Centre in Lively are, well, a lively bunch.
Membership has doubled in the past four years and the centre, which shares a building with the Lively Public Library and Citizens Service Centre, is bursting with people socializing and having fun.
Study after study suggests staying active and engaged psychically and mentally are important to stay healthy in your prime.
"We are all here together for the same reasons: to socialize, get out of the house, do activities, learn something new and enjoy each other's company,” said Brian Rachkowski, 69.
He was an electrician and instrumentation tradesperson at Vale’s Sudbury operations and was involved with training apprentices and co-op students before he retired at the age of 60.
Rachkowski started playing pool at the centre before becoming a volunteer and now oversees the woodworking group at the affiliated Naughton Centre, formerly the Naughton Public School.
His wife, Dolly, 70, is a "VIA," which stands for “volunteer in action”.
"We are always trying to get the seniors involved and increase the volunteer base (because) we are growing so fast," she said.
Membership has grown to 560 from 200 over a few years.
The Rachkowskis credit the president of the Walden Seniors and Pensioners group, Darren Byrne, for the growth by developing new programs and activities, which include darts, woodworking, shuffleboard, crafts, exercise classes, cooking demonstrations and pool.
"We have pool players here who have never played in their lives," said Brian.
There was a golf tournament earlier this week and members are excited about planned bus trip to Ottawa.
The centre also offers affordable three-course meals once a week that are available to eat at the centre or for takeout.
Dolly is heading up a new project called the Knitting Knockers. Knitters make comfortable woolen breast prostheses for women or men who have had breast cancer and undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
"I am a cancer survivor," said Dolly. "When I was going through it, the only thing I thought was available were those silicone things. Then, I was online one day and saw Knitted Knockers."
She approached the knitting group to see if they would be interested in making them. They were, and the club paid the bill for supplies,
Knockers are available in any size to anyone who needs them, not just seniors, and they are free.
Dolly suggests contacting the Walden centre in October for more information at 705-692-5591.
The city owns the building and the centre's operational costs are covered by provincial funding, memberships and fundraising activities.
"Our whole mandate here is to have a place for seniors to come," said Brian.
He is working on a program to reach out to people who may not know about the centre or who are on limited fixed incomes.
"It is hard to identify people who can't afford it … they won't tell you," said Dolly.
Brian explained, "People may go to their doctors who tell them they need to get out more. They can get a social prescription, take it to the Parkside Centre (downtown Sudbury) to be vetted, and a new government program will pay for their membership.”
Visit Allianceon.org/Social-Prescribing to learn more.
"We will contact that person, welcome them to our centre … to get them out of their house," said Brian.
"To see someone smile who hasn't smiled for a while is awesome,” Dolly said.
Walden Senior Centres members must be 50 years or older and can live anywhere in Greater Sudbury. The annual membership fee is $25. Additional fees may apply to some activities.
"We are excited about expanding because it is so rewarding not only for us, but the people who come here," said Dolly.
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer. Prime is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
