A New SALC: Active Seniors of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet

Alfred, ON - On Tuesday, October 22, the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet announced that it had been selected to be part of the Ontario government's Seniors Active Living Centres (SALC) program, through which the Township received a grant of just over $50,000 to keep the program running smoothly.  The “Active Seniors of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet,” one of over 300 SALCs in Ontario, is the only centre recognized in the government program between Cornwall and Ottawa. Its mobile nature enables the Township to offer programming in its six community halls, reaching a maximum number of people while minimizing travel.

“Seniors Active Living Centres improve the lives of Ontario’s seniors,’’ said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “Our government is expanding the number of programs with this call for proposals so more seniors can have access to services and activities to live healthy, active and independent lives.”

The Active Seniors of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet program offers our population aged 55 and over a gathering place and the opportunity to be physically active in a social context to forge new bonds and combat isolation.

“The commitment of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet to its seniors is exemplary”, declares Stéphane Sarrazin, MPP for the riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “By joining the Active Living Centers program, they demonstrate their willingness to create inclusive spaces where our seniors can gather, stay active, and build connections. This support of $50,000 is not just a financial investment but also a testament to their determination to improve the quality of life for all our older citizens.

Since November 2023, the Township has offered over 60 exercise classes to get muscles moving and warmed up in collaboration with the Centre de santé communautaire de l'Estrie, plus 26 Essentrics © and Yoga stretching and dynamic strengthening sessions, as well as a social outing for 54 people. Even more activities and outings are planned for 2025.

“We're delighted to launch this new program, which aims not only to get adults aged 55 and over moving, but also to create a space where they can get together and exchange ideas,” explains Geneviève Souligny, Coordinator of Cultural and Community Activities for the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet. “With the help of our five Senior Citizens Clubs who are very active in the community, I firmly believe in the longevity of this program and the positive aspects it will have on the aging community.”

The Centre's operation would be impossible without the voluntary contributions of the Township's seniors' clubs.

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Contacts

Simon St-Denis, Communications Officer
Township of Alfred and Plantagenet
613-673-4797
sstdenis@alfred-plantagenet.com

Geneviève Souligny, Cultural and Community Activities Coordinator
Township of Alfred and Plantagenet
613-673-4797
gsouligny@alfred-plantagenet.com