Glen Arbor celebrated its 10th anniversary with a large cake featuring a photograph of the residence on Monday, Oct. 27.
Several of the original residents along with new residents were on hand to share photo albums and conversation and review some of the photo albums on display.
A video of activities at the complex is also available for viewing.
Gordon Waters has only lived at Glen Arbor for 18 months but is thoroughly enjoying his new home.
“Great,” Waters says of the facilities. “It’s a nice place, there is no doubt about that.”
He says he is getting up there in age, “42 next week.” He has a car and is still driving but likes walking and the fact that he can walk most places he needs to go.
“The location is perfect.”
Helen Silovick moved to Glen Arbor in January of this year and leads the exercise low-impact (chair or standing) exercise classes at Glen Arbor and volunteers at the Seniors Activity Centre on Fridays.
“I love it,” Silovick says. “This is the best place in town. There is security and the people are all friendly. We are looked after very well.”
Ray Edginton moved to Glen Arbor just over a month ago.
He says he previously lived at Wildwood and making the return trip to town every day was becoming expensive. He also got tired of shovelling snow into his long driveway in winter time.
“Too much milage and too much snow,” Edginton says, surrounded by his women friends, he adds with a chuckle. “The only problem is there are too many women here.”
Sirkka McKerral has lived at Glen Arbor for two years and loves it. She is a painter and in October had a show of her work in the upper gallery of the Station House.
“The rents were very high in town. Living here is affordable and I am very comfortable and secure here,” says McKerral, who doesn’t own a car but being down town appreciated that she can walk where she needs to go.
“I have a life here. I am right downtown and everything is close by.
In addition to painting nature inspired works of art in acrylics Sirkka is a volunteer at the Salvation Army food bank.
Vi Penner has lived at Glen Arbor for six years. “I like the location. You can walk to the stores if you don’t drive and it is close to the Seniors’ Centre. I do a lot of volunteering there.”
She helps taking cash and serving at special dinners and lunches periodically and twice a month helps out with the bingos at the Seniors’ Centre.
“I enjoy it. It gives me something to do and keeps me active,” Penner says.
She says volunteering and exercising at the pool three times a week keep her young.
“It makes me feel good,” Penner says. “I am 80 and I don’t feel it. I love helping people and maybe someday I will need people to help me.”
Joy McCann will be 91 in February and has lived at Glen Arbor since it opened 10 years ago. “It’s gone too quickly,” Joy says. “Living here is fabulous. Our manager, Tracy (Lynn) Rouse, is just one of the best.”
She says she is one of nine of the original 34 residents who are still living at Glen Arbor.
Like the other residents she finds Glen Arbor a safe, comfortable and convenient place to live, with lots of opportunities to make friends.
“I have some good friends here,” McCann says.
She has a lovely view of the lake and while she is now suffering with a bout of menieres disease that affects her balance, Joy says she is looking forward to getting back into carpet bowling at the Seniors’ Activity Centre, where she continues to visit on game days.
She has been a life member of the Seniors Activity Centre since 2008 having 26 years of volunteer service including working in the kitchen twice a month for 16 years. She also enjoys being “mom” to her Lioness Club cohorts and the fact that she lives independently, downtown, but is close to her family living in the city.
Glen Arbour provides low-cost housing for seniors ages 55-plus in 34 one-bedroom independent living apartments. There are comfortable recreation and meeting rooms on the main floor and underground parking.
Glen Arbor also has a new guest suite where family and friends of residents can stay for a minimal fee when they visit. The suite is dedicated to the memory of the late Nola and Dick Poole who spent countless hours helping to get Glen Arbor built and to keep it operating efficiently.
Long-term plans include adding an addition for 21 new apartments when funding becomes available.