Date of publication: Tuesday 1 July 2025
Saturday 7 June 2025
Bridging the Gap: Ottawa Event Unites Seniors with Essential Services
by Joy Keke, Editorial Associate and Godwin Ifedi, Editor
At a bustling community event held at Tom Brown Arena, local organizations gathered to connect with seniors and share valuable resources.
The event which took place on June 7 was hosted by the Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors’ Club, featuring healthcare professionals and seniors across the city.
Godwin Ifedi, Program Coordinator of the Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors’ Club, welcomed all the participants and exhibitors and gave a brief history of the club.
He then introduced the Master of Ceremonies for the day, Dr. Andy Kusi-Appiah.
At the event, there was Mary Nduati, a Somerset West Community Health Centre community health worker. Nduati, who works primarily with African, Caribbean, and Black communities as part of the centre’s mental health team. Nduati, emphasized the value of outreach events like this. “It is very important,” she said. For her, these partnerships go beyond a single event. Many of the residents she encountered at the arena were familiar faces, individuals she had previously connected with through her work. “It’s about reminding them that we have services that are not just limited to the catchment area.”
“They can call us, and we can offer them services that can help depending on the issues they’re facing,” she said. But the work isn’t without its challenges. Accessibility remains one of the most significant barriers for seniors in the community.
Many face mobility issues, while others struggle with language barriers that prevent them from accessing vital services. “Some clients are not able to express themselves in the two official languages,” Nduati said.
“We often need interpreters to bridge that gap.” Isolation is another pressing issue. As loved ones move away or pass on, many seniors find themselves alone, with limited opportunities to socialize.
“It would be important to have more people involved in social sciences,” she said. “They belong to families, have aging parents and relatives, and are connected to the broader community. Getting to know the challenges people are facing, and how they can help, is so valuable.”
Following a musical interlude, the MC introduced a game in which participants were asked to guess the day of birth of the club’s Program Coordinator.
The next game was titled “Find Someone Who”, for which each participant was provided with a form which required them to go round the room and get the answers to a set of 12 questions, such as: find someone who has lived in Europe, or someone who has a tattoo.
Participants had a lot of fun going round the room collecting the information from fellow participants.
At the end of the game, 5 winning responders were selected and given prizes provided by one of the Club’ sponsors, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO), represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Donnielle Roman.
The highlight of the evening was the music and dance in which both participants, organizers and exhibitors enthusiastically joined in the dancing, with music featuring.
DJ Jekyl did himself proud with his selection of the music loved by many such as Bob Marley and Afrobeat stars Flavour and Davido.
During the intermission, participants were provided with a delicious jollof and plantain dinner, courtesy of the one of the club’s sponsors, the African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO), represented by the President, John Adeyefa.
Dr. Averlyne Pedro, a longtime Ottawa resident, came to the event as an attendee.
Pedro shared how programs like Ottawa Golden Oldies have made a lasting impact on her daily life and health. “They encourage walking, which is so healthy, and the social side is so important for older people, to know there’s somewhere they belong,” Pedro said.
Pedro emphasized how being part of the community has strengthened her sense of belonging. “It’s not only about building community but developing it. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this,” she said.
When asked what advice she would give to young people interested in supporting the elderly, Pedro encouraged them to start within their own families. “Get connected to an older person you know, a neighbour, a family member and bring them out. That connection makes a difference.”
Lucia, who has been involved in community initiatives for years, attended in support of LeBron, a respected activist and organizer. “LeBron is a very long-time community member and activist. I’ve known him for a very long time and I’ve always supported the events he’s put together,” Lucia said.
For Lucia, the highlight of the event was seeing a diverse group of seniors come together in solidarity. “There’s a bond that binds us,” he said. “We’re taking lessons from the past and bringing them into the future. It’s about sustainable community development that meets the needs of today without compromising tomorrow.”
While not an organizer himself, Lucia noted the importance of volunteer efforts in making these programs possible. “We can’t run any program like this without volunteers. It’s impossible,” he explained. “Volunteering is the foundation of these initiatives.”
An unexpected surprise was the distribution of free bread and pizza to all participants by the Executive Director of Flo’s Seniors, Joanne Robinson.
For more information on the Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors’ Club, visit: www.ottawagoldenoldies.com
Photo contributions by Donneille Roman, John Adeyefa, Sarah Onyango, Godwin Ifedi and Joy Keke