‘They’ve been the ones asking the most’
Bus trip to Tattoo in Halifax available for seniors
Everyone remembers field trips as the highlight of their school days.
Thanks to Middleton Recreation Services, the joy of going on field trips with friends has been restored into the lives of older community members.
A day trip for seniors to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax is planned on June 30 for the 40th anniversary show, says Andy Kerr, the program co-ordinator for Middleton Rec.
The group will leave Middleton by bus at 10:30 a.m. to make the 2 p.m. matinee and will be back in Middleton by 7 p.m. The price to join the trip is $70, which includes the bus ride and ticket to the show.
The trip was officially announced on May 10, Kerr said, but some community members had found out about the plans for the trip before it was announced and were so excited that they tried to buy tickets early. As of May 15, there were 47 tickets out of 56 still available for the trip.
Great opportunity
This is the second time that Middleton Rec has organized this sort of trip. Last summer, the staff organized a seniors’ day trip to Halifax that included guided tours of Pier 21 and Citadel Hill. The response was great, and the trip was a success, Kerr said, with the staff filling a 26-passenger bus. As with this year’s trip, last year’s trip originated from interest and demand expressed by community members.
“The tour idea came from community members. We had someone come into our office last summer who had been taking carloads of seniors to different events and he suggested that we run a bus service,” said Caroline Saxon, the summer events co-ordinator for Middleton Rec.
The trip opens up doors for local seniors, she adds.
“It’s good opportunity for seniors who don’t want the hassle of dealing with traffic, driving at night, or for those who don’t drive or can’t find people to drive them,” she said.
“It’s also good opportunity for seniors who don’t have many friends or family around to socialize and make new friends. Last year, I actually got to see people come alone and then make new friends during the trip.”
Kerr said Middleton Rec is hoping to do three trips/tours this summer, including this one. The second one will potentially head to Yarmouth and the third one is still undecided right now, Kerr said, but would likely be a festival or indoor market.
He added Middleton Rec may do a trip for community members of other ages as well.
“We’re considering doing another bus tour for any age. But we owe this one (the trip to the Tattoo) to the seniors, as they’ve been the ones asking the most,” he said.