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Waterloo Chronicle (Waterloo, On1868), 3 May 1989, p. 10

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In some ways the private sector is gaining a foothold in the market serving the interests of seniors through special "lifestyle communities", incorporating housing, activities and organizations within one complex. Travel agencies organize group activities specially de, signed for seniors. "What we're looking in is preparing ourselves for a much more extended period of time than, our grandparents." "There are things we can do to prepare ourselves for that time, understanding where we are at and what do we want to do. Often people who are really able to adapt to retirement are those people who, in pre-retirement living, had things they did in their leisure time so they expanded upon these things (when they retired)," said Kemp. Making a smooth transition from the years spent working at the ofrace or factory to retirement - with time on your hands - depends upon the prepartr tion done beforehand, explains Bob Kemp, director of seniors programing for the City of Waterloo. Retirement requires iinarseial planning and consid- eration of ways to productively spend tune. Isobel Lawson Chromcle Staff Leisure Is no longer a dirty word. Not only has n garnered respectabili. ty. but it ts expected to be an enriching part of a person's life and a time to explore new Interests. As llfe expectancy is lengthened lei. sure takes on a new meaning. It is something that demands planning, espe- Clally by those preparing for retirement. Many people can realistically expect to have another 20 and 30 years of healthy, productive years ahead of them after retirement, Expanding seniors population creates new challenges "These (special needs) people feel they've sat by the wayside too long," Steele said. "They're starting to realize they have a right to belong. They're ready for integration." And that's Steele's job too. He meets with social agencies and parents of youths with special needs, and educates them on the benefits of integra. tion He offers individualized leisure counselling, information on leisure awareness, leisure education and com- munity resource listings. Steele recently compiled a reference guide listing every. Graduating recently with a leisure studies and psychology degree and a recreation diploma, Steele is facing the monumental task of educating recre- anon program facilitators about the values of integrating able-bodied and physically challenged sports enthu. slams. ran: m . WAltHLUO CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY MAY 3. 19% w Sonnet-ville Ohmic Staff Considering he works part time, uses a may oifiee in the Kitchener city recre. ation department and has worked for the municipality for only three months, AI Steele is a busy man. Not sitting by the wayside anymore Waterloo faces challenges serving the diverging wants of its senior’s commun- ity, addressing the spread in ages and levels of mental and physical health, responding to the various enthic needs, and providing support for "snowbird residents" who spend their winters in the south and summer and fall at home. "The aiilrrtiiriiiiiiiiii; is, will she (a daughter) go to the same place where her 1tother)s going?" ince nearly 15 years ago, Kemp has noticed a phenomenon which will come into play as centre's continue to evolve. As the senior population extends later into life, and more people opt for early retirement, two generations of retired and healthy family members may seek social recreation at the same facilities. it takes time to accommodate them within the system. For example, said Kemp, the explosion of sic-pitch, with leagues of men and women wanting to play ball long after they traditionally would have. Since senim’ centres first came on to the scene. popping up around the prov. It may change, but it doesn't eliminate the demands placed upon public leisure facilities. Private enterprise may focus on serving rinancially-set seniors, but the city still has to be able to provide a wide range of activities to accommodate growing senior population. Cities, including Waterloo, are being asked to respond to the needs of a growing group of seniors who are physi. cally healthy and interested in partici- pating in a diverse range of activities, from hiking and cross country skiing to field trips and cultural activities. At the same time, there are still the seniors who want to get together with their work compatriots to shoot a game of pool. Sometimes things spring up so quickly it takes time to mmmM-fn than He mentioned baseball, soccer and hockey as ideal alternative team sports. Big Brothers, Big Sisters, YWCA, YMCA, and the KW Community Living Association are among the social agen- cies contacted by Steele to set up these leagues As leisure lifestyles coordinator. "Ideally, we would like to push people into organizing their own alternative leagues, but we are prepared to start one ourselves" Steele said the league would be open to anyone who "won't fn into our eategor. ies." Many parents are tired of violence in sports and an alternative league that stresses tton<ompetitivetteas would be an ideal way of integrating, said Steele. 'Tve tried to come up with as many alternatives as possible. I think it would be great to have an alternative sports league." thing about integrated programs, from government subsidy information to which ones are wheelchair woessible. He also created a reference catalogue of camping facilities that cater to people with special needs “because they usual- ly don't know what’s available. Politicians need to keep in mind that Waterloo and Kitchener are neighbors and work together to enlarge the total number of cultural experiences available. l‘l‘hecityiamakingalotofprogreesin improving the cultural events possible in Waterloo, according to Nancy Norman, who chaired the "futures committee" group examining culture in Waterloo. The futures committee was highly eriti. cal of the city’s offering when it presented its report to city council in 1987. That has begun to change, said Norman. “This is a very exciting time in Waterloo became culture now has a mention in a department and there are now two city employees (Manager of culture Robert Monteith and his assistant Gary Morton) working in that field." neueves oo w qu In: ot trails may be "The range is between $5,000 and achievable over the next decade. And the $70,000 (per kilometre) and it could be Gal extent of the trail "depends on year- higher if we get into highly urban areas or to-year financing." upgrading downtown." l ' it ith city hall I _ n -- ,-_.~- "-an qu,UW ll Yet, while team sports are promised signage approved l facilities such as arenas and soccer pitches, Shelved for this , people who prefer to cycle or walk have trail from the Ci become a low priority with a city council Street South tothe intent on keeping costs down. and Wilfrid Laurie Plans for the community trail system Total costs for t have been cutback drastically, and it may dimeult to pin dew be 20 years or more before even a less level of developmei ambitious plan is fully realized. tically for each sect City landscape architect George Smith system. believes 30 to 40 km of trails may be “The range is achievable over the next decade. And the $70,000 (per kilou final extent of the trail "depends on year- higher ifwe get int toyear financing." umndina damm- Ian Kirkby This year, the city will complete a section Chronicle Staff through Hillside Park and another three or It started off as a grandiose plan to build four kilometres through Lakeshore North. 153 kilometres of trails for Waterloo Both sections largely follow existing path- joggers, cyclists, and walkers at an esti. ways. The cost for 1988.89 will be approxi. mated cost of $2.5 million over 10 years, mately $300,000 including the expense of f Yet, whileh team sported are promised signage approved by city council Monday. l sci itinn mrr no alumna an «mm» -u., Mi.. P“ ' ' .. _. . _ ' When Steele 'first mee'té Jith these anxious sports enthusiasts he admits "Sledge hockey - similar to ice hock. ey, except you play sitting in a slege - was developed for the physically chal- lenged but it's open to anyone," Steele links these agencies with people wlear.e startling for _altttrnative sports. Community trail plan cut back drastically Sledge hockey ls lust one of the new challenged K-W adults and children. SEW "09891 ls st ' 2e, 32:21; 2t, 1e: Integrated programs offered for physically That is one of iiU"aGGGiiirtiGl of the cultural futures committee that has yet to be seriously examined. , While progress on developing Waterloo into a community with well-known and diverse cultural activities takes time, the city will eventually have to look at some kind of arts funding agency, said Norman, The city’s top priority in promoting culture should be “dealing with the space question," said Norman. "We need a performing practice space, a cultural cen- tre of some kind." The city can eneounge cultural groups to reside here, Norman laid. Norman is now a member of the "eultur al development committee" an advisory group not up by city council in 1988. The city’s tart ttrioritv in nromotina‘ an_d Wilfrid Layritr Univqrsiiy: Total costs for the trail are now very dimeult to pin down, he said, because the level of development required varies drag. tically for each section of the proposed trail ghefvedior this year ire plans aaifi, trail from tlt.Civ.if 9sntre opfegina "they're obviously pretty reserved" but they soon become excited about the prospect of integration. ". . . they are just a fraction of people who would ultimately be interested. We've (so far) just touched the tip of the iceberg." l Qpiversity of Wate‘Hoo

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