Partnership Between The Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health And The Goderich Legion Is Becoming Very Popular With Local Seniors

by Bob Montgomery

The partnership between the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health and the Goderich Legion was launched just over two months ago.

Gateway Research Assistant Amy Sturgeon says the partnership consists of two programs. One of them is Legion Learning and the other is Legion Lounge. “Legion Learning is just connecting seniors with technology. Anyone fifty years old and over is welcome to drop in on any Monday or Friday and learn how to work an iPad, to work their phone, their computer. If they're confused with online banking they can get assistance there. We're going to have some guest speakers once or twice a month to come and talk about specific things.” And she says on June 3rd they're going to have an OPP officer visit and talk with seniors about how to avoid fraud and online scams over the phone and that will be at one o'clock that afternoon.

Legion Lounge is very much what the name suggests – it's a senior's arcade and coffee house, and snacks are always available. “There's pinball, T-ball, golf, a Nintendo switch sport so people can play badminton or tennis with a friend or bowling and they also have a driving simulator that allows people to get comfortable behind the wheel for people who may have to go for a drivers test or just want to feel more comfortable driving.”

Sturgeon says both programs are open to anyone over fifty years old on any Monday or Friday afternoon. They do not have to be a member of the Legion. So far they've had about fifty people come and visit them in the basement of the Legion. The numbers vary from week to week and tend to drop a little on nice warm days when people might prefer to be outside.

More information about the programs can be found on the Gateway Centre of Excellence website under Current Projects.