Who are the Community Pillars in Old Ottawa South? They are the three churches, Trinity Anglican, Wesleyan and Southminster United, the Sunnyside Library, Abbotsford House, the Community Association, our City Councillor, MPP and MP. Organizations and political elements that have been here “forever.” As a watchdog for seniors, Senior Watch Old Ottawa South (SWOOS) organized a meeting on May 28, 2020 on ZOOM to share and learn with one another outreach efforts and resources for seniors in Old Ottawa South living under COVID-19 distancing and isolation restrictions. Here is what we learned:

Old Ottawa South's Trinity Anglican Church recently received a federal "New Horizons for Seniors" grant. With this grant - and in response to the restrictions experienced by seniors during the COVID pandemic - Trinity Anglican Church has created a new program called "Reaching Seniors in Old Ottawa South" (RSOOS). RSOOS is a partnership of professionals, local organizations, and volunteers, that is part of the Trinity Anglican Church neighbourhood hub. One of the first initiatives to come out of this RSOOS is a meal delivery program.

Senior Watch Old Ottawa South (SWOOS) surveyed housing needs for our community from January to March 2020. This report outlines the findings from 119 respondents.

There are several general and community specific resources available for seniors:

In case you missed it: read this CBC story highlighting ideas from Seniors Watch Old Ottawa South on how to address housing needs in the neighbourhood.

Enjoy our first “intergenerational” bench at the bus stop on the corner of Bank Street and Hopewell Avenue. Have a seat and chat, to connect with neighbours.

Hot of the Press! The Council On Aging’s Housing Committee just came out with a comprehensive guide to help you decide “Should I Stay or Should I Move?”.

SWOOS meets iGEN: June 1st – Come Out And Vote!

Senior Watch Old Ottawa South celebrates its first year with an invite to young and old  to vote for the best location for a city bench!

Where: Cast your votes at The Firehall, 260 Sunnyside Avenue

When: Saturday, June 1, 2019, from 9:30am to 11:00am.

This past year, May 2018-2019, the SWOOS team searched what we, as a watchdog for seniors in Old Ottawa South, could or should actually do.

Old Ottawa South is a great community for young and old, but, by means of engaging local residents in our various projects, SWOOS strives for our community to become truly Age Friendly in terms of:

• Walkability

• Adequate snow removal, salting/gritting ofsidewalks
• Extend timing of automatic crosswalk signals
• Improve accessibility, increase the number of benches (Bank Street, parks), increase and identify washrooms availability to the public (decals?)

• Intergenerational Social Connections
• Promote get-togethers and community participation
• Support for making the Firehall a more welcoming place
• Establish “BuddyBenches”

• Housing
• Promote and provide information on accessibility in existinghomes
• Inform our community on the inadequate availability of diverse suitable housing options for seniors (e.g. Co-housing, co-op housing,Abbeyfield)
  • Support an “Inclusionary Zoning” Zoning Bylaw Amendmentthat includes seniors as a separate category

• Health and Quality ofLife
• Provide information about available health resources, publications and lectures
• Support Exercise classes suitable forseniors
• Maintain working relationships with health networks such as thecurrent LHIN, Abbotsford House and the Council On Aging

Present: Barbara Brown (chair), Catherine Read, Anna Cuylitis, Maura Giuliani (minutes)

Regrets:                      Helen Lynn, Christine Franklin, Fran Mowbray