A dedicated group of volunteers have been working behind the scenes for years to transform an under-utilized building in Emo into a brand new space for local seniors, and they’ve even penned a theme song to go with it.
In response to the growing need for a dedicated senior’s space in Emo, a group of volunteers have banded together to form a steering committee that has been examining the feasibility of using parts of the Emo Knox United Church to become a new dedicated Senior Centre.
In a press release from that steering committee, they say they have been working on planning for the past two years to help make the transformation of the facility into “a modern, accessible and appealing space” to better play the home for seniors and related activities.
“It’s no riddle that Emo and surrounding area residents have needed a place to call home and headquarters for too long,” the committee states in the release.
“The seniors of Knox United could see the opportunity to share their underutilized building for just such a purpose.”
According to the release, the committee has so far received towards the project from the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, Enabling and Accessibility Fund, Seeds, and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.
“These programs all share the same belief in the senior centre vision at Knox’s location and all provided funding to make it possible to achieve it,” the release says.
“The ultimate goal has been hard fought through hours upon hours of visioning, preparing grant applications, then arranging logistics with contractors.”
To date, the building has seen new insulation installed, along with new floors, an accessible washroom, automated doors, improved lighting, fresh panelling and paint, new cushioned chairs, wi-fi access and a four-person pedal bike. The next large-scale work to be done will be a renovation to the kitchen, and is scheduled to take place in the summer ahead of the centre’s grand opening later this year.
However, the seniors of Emo have not sat idly while this transformative work has been going on. According to the release, the steering committee has been holding different workshops and programs to generate interactions with the town’s senior community, as well as to gather input and opinions on what they would like to see offered in Emo. As a result of that input, a creative writing program was held, in part with funding from a Senior Community Grant, that saw a poem written by an assembled group of 12 community seniors. The poem has since been turned into a set of lyrics that will form the basis of a multimedia project that will include recording sessions with MJ Interactive, a produced music video starring local seniors and a grand premiere event to be held in the spring.
Additionally, the steering committee states it intends to choose officers who will take over operations at the Senior Centre by 2025 to ensure governance that is independent of the church itself. They note that interested individuals are encouraged to contact members of the steering committee.
“The steering committee is grateful to the Canadian Mental Health Association of Fort Frances, Rainy River District Women’s Institute/Museum, Borderland Pride, Rainy River Right Relations Circle, Tom Mosbeck, Louise Bliss, Lisa Teeple, Ralph Fluit, and (late) Liz Donaldson for putting their support in writing,” the release states.
“Additionally, there were some private donors whose generosity was pivotal to the vision for building improvements.”
An expected date for the senior centre’s opening was not given.
