Saturday 5 April 2025
The Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show, Ottawa, 5 April, 2025
by Ifeoma Chinwuba
Thanks to Mr. Godwin Ifedi, Editor of the online mag Black Ottawa Scene, and founding member, Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors Club, for inviting me to the Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show (FFPLS), which held at the EY Centre.
I went by on Saturday, a symbolically rainy day. I convinced hubby to come along for air. No entrance fee, though we coughed out $10 for parking. The lot appeared full; other activities were simultaneously holding at the Centre, but we lucked out and got a good spot. We took a few minutes to admire the O Train Line 4 pulling into the EY Station above our heads, from the Macdonald Cartier Airport. The stop is a new addition to the Ottawa public transport system, and skyline. Henceforth, the Ottawa airport is connected by rail to town, directly up to South Keys for now, with the possibility of transferring to Line 2 that rolls up to Bayview. What’s that called? Integrated transportation network. But I digress.
The aisles of the FFPLS were brimming with patrons browsing the many businesses deemed to appeal to the gilded age. Holidays and cruises were on offer. Yes, we have a lot of time on our hands, and why not spend it travelling and in far niente; transported to far-off ports. I have been on one such cruise. (My sister, Agnes, sponsored me on a cruise from Anaheim to Mexico and back.) Everything is on board; food and drinks, shopping, entertainment, gambling, keep-fit, games. What’s not to like?
Also on display were holiday infrastructure, – mobile homes, temp homes on wheels, what is cutely called RV-Recreational Vehicles, and state-of-the-art caravans. As were retirement homes, because as we get older and feeble, we may find ourselves incapable to undertake housework, hence the need to outsource that to facilities for seniors.
Also featured, were health gears for the elderly, ranging from footwear, stockings to motorized wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks and hearing aids. Renovation companies to re-engineer or redesign homes to make them more user-friendly, interspersed the stands.
The cemeteries and funeral parlours were not left out. Back in Africa, ageing parents content themselves with leaving instructions about their final journey and dwelling place; Do not keep me in the cooler for long, bury me next to my deceased child/spouse, send my body back to my father’s house (for the women that married far) etc. One’s cadaver is at the mercy of the living, to do as one pleaded, or be overruled.
Over here, one can choreograph or curate one’s funeral ahead of time, in absentia, then outsource it. Death insurance, some call it. You dish out instructions to the funeral home, choose your casket (or cremation), buy a tomb plot, the whole works. Once the client transits, a phone call to the company will suffice for them to swing into action as per your contract. Your family is spared the expenses and left to grieve your passing in peace. My late sister, Julie, asked to be cremated and her ashes dispersed over Hawaii waters. Done deal.
Not to end on a sad note, the fair boasted two shows, as well as beauty care for ageing skin (collagen-infused, you guessed right.) There was a brewery stand (very popular judging by the three-person deep patrons) and health food entrepreneurs.
Finally, lots of free gifts were on offer: the usual pens (I am writing with one from the Canada Council for the Blind), tote bags, keyholders, lip balms, etc. Many were the lotteries; Enter to win, with prizes ranging from cruises to gift baskets, to cash. Mr. Ifedi is praying to win the $11,500 cruise. However, before you qualify for any of these lucky dips, you had to drop your contact, a way to link up with you later. So, we expect our inboxes to be flooded soon with promotions.
All in all, it was a refreshing outing. Seniors, now is the time to splurge on your well-being. Tap into your savings, if you have. The proverbial rainy day is (literally) upon us.
Ifeomachinwuba.com