NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCED
Breton Ability Centre aims for ‘inclusive’ seniors programming with new funding.
Residents at Breton Ability Centre were happy to hear Friday about an expansion of their community garden and greenhouse project as a result of a provincial government grant.
The Sydney River facility provides residential care and other services to about 100 people with a range of special needs and intellectual disabilities.
“It’s great,” said Brian Dipersio, a resident of Breton Ability Centre, who spends his time in the garden each Tuesday.
“I help doing the weeding in the garden sometimes.”
The $8,000 in funding through the Age-Friendly grant program will provide resources for the facility to offer horticultural and exercise therapy sessions to their residents and seniors in the larger community.
A second grant of $3,250 was given to the Health Association of African Canadians (Cape Breton) so the group could host a two-day senior health symposium aimed at opening a dialogue about the health of African Canadians.
Sydney-Whitney Pier MLA Derek Mombourquette announced the funding on behalf of the Minister of Seniors Leo Glavine.
The funding is an important step in opening up Breton Ability to seniors and others in the community, said Millie Colbourne, CEO of Breton Ability Centre.
About 10 of 15 residents from the facility who participate in the garden program are senior citizens.
Colbourne said she hopes to encourage more of the approximately 40 seniors living at the facility to participate in the programs.
“It’s very therapeutic. I think it’s the whole thing about getting your hands in the dirt and a lot of people really enjoy that, myself included,” she said following the announcement.
She said the money will “enhance” some horticulture activities, the purchase of garden supplies, transportation, and it will help pay the salary for an employee to co-ordinate activities.
Colbourne has been looking to rid the perception that Breton Ability Centre is an institutional care home by making more events and activities at the facility available to everyone in the community.
“We’re trying to bring in more seniors to get them more involved in those types of programs instead of just sitting at home.
“A lot of seniors can be alone for long periods during the day and this gives them the opportunity to get out and interact with other people.”
The therapeutic exercise sessions — previously open only to Breton Ability residents — will offer low intensity workouts, yoga and light pilates.
David Farmer, senior manager of community business development at Breton Ability Centre, said opening the sessions to all seniors 55 and older beginning this fall will bring the community closer together.
“We want to be a part of the community as well ¬— not just services for our residents who live here but we also want to provide services for older adults who live in the greater CBRM area,” he said.