Active Aging Two-Day Expo coming to Libro Centre June 7-8

By Ron Giofu

Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) and the Town of Amherstburg are coming together to present the 2023 Active Aging Two-Day Expo at the Libro Credit Union Centre in early June.

The expo is being held June 7-8 with the first day being a 11.5-hour day with a number of activities and programs available to be tried and observed. The second day is four hours and that will feature over 30 vendors, demonstrations, presentations and Meals on Wheels food sampling.

There is free admission to the Libro Centre on both days.

ACS executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo was pleased the expo has become a two-day event. Previous attempts have been held over one day.

“It’s the biggest and best one we’ve done,” she said.

Trese MacNeil, the town’s recreation manager, said the town undertook an inclusive communities project and out of that came the need for more things for seniors to do, including an active and aging expo for older adults. MacNeil said DiBartolomeo was part of that process.

“On Day 1 (of the expo), we have a full day planned with recreational activities,” said MacNeil. “It includes physical activities to card playing.”

Events and activities planned for that day include pickleball, tennis, badminton, tae kwon do, a guided trail walk with Phil Roberts, turf tots for kids and grandparents, card games, yoga and nature-based education with Natural Pathways.

Program instructor Kristen Saunders added it also includes “Golden Games Turf Time” where low impact physical activities such as cornhole, bocce, spikeball, giant pong, washer toss and other activities will be featured.

The first day runs from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

The second day runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with seniors encouraged to bring donations for the ACS food bank. Demonstrations and presentations include topics such as cooking, health and wellness, singing and dancing, United Empire Loyalists, and the Marsh Historical Collection.

The first 50 people on Day 2 receive a free ACS tote bag. A “passport” will be distributed to seniors and those who obtain at least ten vendors are eligible for a free lunch, said MacNeil.

Seniors in need of a ride can register for a free ride on the CareLink Accessible Transportation bus by calling 519-736-5471. Rides are only for those in Amherstburg.

DiBartolomeo said she is often approached about what programs and activities there are for seniors in town and believed partnering with the town was a great way of showing what is offered locally.

“I feel good about it,” said DiBartolomeo. “I think there will be something for everyone at the expo.”

“It’s also an opportunity to come in and see what is happening at the Libro Centre,” added Saunders. MacNeil stated that partnering with ACS gives the town a platform to show what they do for older adults as well as to promote new programs at the Libro Centre.

“We’d like to see this as an annual event,” stated DiBartolomeo.

The Libro Centre is located at 3295 Meloche Road. For more information, call ACS at 519-736-5471 or the town’s recreation department at 519-736-5712.