Eat, Drink and be Merry:
- Dinner Under the Stars – A fundraiser for the Heart of Orléans BIA. Saturday August 17th at 6pm at Orleans Fruit Farm. More details to come from the BIA.
- CGOWCA is organizing a Community BBQ on Saturday July 20th from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the parking lot of the Convent Glen Metro near the Golden Fries truck. Watch for more information posted on our Facebook Group as the event details are finalized. https://www.facebook.com/events/342258613116889/
- Orleans Ribfest Come out to enjoy some delicious ribs and accoutrement from various vendors. September 13-15 https://www.facebook.com/OrleansRibfest/
- Orleans Farmers’ Market – Benefit from fresh, local produce even if you don’t have a green thumb. The summer market season is from May 23 to October 10. The market runs from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm every Thursday at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex parking lot.
- Talk to your neighbours and organize a block party or street BBQ! If you want to host it on the street (rather than in someone’s yard), you can apply for a permit with the City of Ottawa to do so. https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/planning-outdoor-special-event
Try Something New
- Bob MacQuarrie – This Recreation Centre has a pool, a rink, a fitness centre and more. You can sign up for classes or participate in drop-in classes in swimming, aquafitness, camps and classes for children, and more. Check out what is available here: http://join.ottawa.ca/fac/26/all/
- Orleans Library – Located on Orléans Boulevard. It isn’t only about borrowing books – they offer free events at the library too. For example, there is a knitting club; Orleans Writing Group; and many other activities for families and children. Get details here: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/branch/orl%C3%A9ans
- Cumberland Library – Located on Tenth Line near Ray Friel. They also host a selection of free events such as a knitting/crocheting club and many weekly themed events for children. The listing for this location is found here: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/branch/cumberland
- Tap into your creative side. There many different ways you can explore the arts at Shenkman since there are offerings from the Ottawa School of Art, Gloucester Pottery School, Ottawa School of Theatre; and City of Ottawa courses. See what is available here: http://www.shenkmanarts.ca/en/classes_camps_cours_camps/summer_ete_2019/index.htm
Give Back
- Bruyère: If you are interested in helping residents of Bruyère, you have many options. They need help with Mass, help with meals and porter residents to and from the dining room, help with therapeutic recreation activities; help with Wednesday night BINGO, welcome visitors at the information desk, and more! For more information on the application process for volunteers, check out their site: https://www.bruyere.org/en/volunteering
- The Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre runs several programs out of the Ray Friel Centre including a Day Program for Seniors. They need folks who can help out with many things from friendly visiting, to driving a Meals on Wheels route, to helping out with administrative tasks. Here is more information on how to get involved: https://www.eorc-creo.ca/Getting_involved.php
- The Orleans Cumberland Community Resource Centre is also looking for people who can get involved. The first step is to reach out to their Volunteer Coordinator to set up an interview and discuss your interests! https://www.crcoc.ca/en/volunteer/
- Check in on a neighbour. Does someone on your street need help with yard work or pet care? Are they lonely? Maybe you can help or help them connect to someone who can. Making connections is more important than you might realize – did you know that there is research showing that loneliness affects our physical health? https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-couch/201901/is-loneliness-making-you-sick
Spend Time Outdoors
- Summer Series on the outdoor plaza at Shenkman. Get a weekly dose of fun at the summer lunchtime series. These free concerts will take place at 12:30 pm every Thursday in July and August. The performances will be outside the Centre in the Agora (or in the upper lobby if there is rain) and will present a wonderfully diverse selection of local artists and performers. These are FREE performances!
- July 4 – Sing Song Party Time with Derek McKinley
- July 11 – Caribbean Fit Fete, Caribbean dance
- July 18 – Oto-Wa Taiko, Japanese drumming
- July 25 – Moov Ottawa, hip-hop dance
- August 1 – Erika McCulloch, Belly dance
- August 8 – Aboriginal Experiences, Pow Wow dance
- August 15 – Louis Mercier, French Canadian folklore
- August 22 – Galitcha, Bollywood dance
- Yoga in the park. The CGOWCA is organizing a series of yoga classes in local parks at 7pm. RSVP to events on our Facebook Group to be notified of any changes.
- July 3 at Hiawatha Park
- July 10 at Décarie Park
- July 17 at Orléans Fruit Farm
- July 24 at Convent Glen Catholic Elementary School
- July 31 at Convent Glen Elementary School
- August 7 at Hiawatha Park
- August 14 at Luc Major Park
- Park-ticipate The Park-ticipate program is a free, informal drop-in program offered by the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans at various local, rural and urban parks throughout East Ottawa. It runs weekdays from July 2 to August 23.Children aged 4 to 10 are invited to join highly trained Recreation staff in this fun-filled program of crafts, games and sports.Some parks have splash pads so be sure to bring your towel!Please note that parents/guardians are required to supervise their children while participating in our program.613-580-9600 ext. 32776. See the complete list of parks here: https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/recreation-and-parks/recreation-programs#park-ticipate-2019
- Check out some of our beautiful parks. Bring a book and a blanket, go for a walk, have a picnic! Did you know we have 20 different parks in our area (not including the NCC trail along the river?!)
- Convent Glen North
- Voyageur Park
- Mary Scott Park
- North Vineyard Park
- Father Richard Ward Park
- Hiawatha Park
- Jean D’Arc Park
- Terry Fox Park and Participark
- Mystery Park
- Convent Glen South
- Grey Nuns Park
- Glen Park
- Friar Gate Park
- Bonaventure Park
- Stoneboat Park
- Pierre Rocque Park
- Orléans Wood
- Luc Major Park
- Décarie Park
- Beauclaire Park
- Troyes Park
- Bilberry Park
- Joe Jamieson Park
- Convent Glen North
Stay Active over 65!
In our community, there are many ways to meet others and stay active as we age. Here are a few options:
- Centre Séraphin-Marion d’Orléans. Activities in French for people over 50 including Yoga, Tai-Chi, Zumba, Line Dancing, Pickleball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Meditation and more. An initiative of the Mouvement d’implication francophone d’Orléans (MIFO) at 660 Carrière Street. Visit: http://mifo.ca/activites-recreatives/csmo-50-ans-et/ or call 613 830-MIFO.
- Rendez-vous des aînés francophones d’Ottawa. Activities in French for people over 50 including a Walking Club, Pickleball and Exercise Classes. 3349 Navan Road. Visit: https://rafo.ca or call: 613-834-6808.
- Place d’Orléans Mall Walkers. Walking and social events. At the Community Meeting Place, Place d’Orléans, 2nd Floor, Tuesdays and Thursday between 8:00 and 10:30am. Visit: http://www.millepattesplacedorleansmallwalkers.com/home
- Gloucester 50+ Centre. Activities in English for people over 50 including Yoga, Tai-Chi, Zumba, Core Strength and more. At the Pat Clark Community Centre, 4355 Halmont Drive. Visit: https://www.gloucester50pluscentre.ca or call 613-749-1974.
- Roy G. Hobbs Seniors Centre. Exercise classes and yoga in the Roy G. Hobbs Community Centre, 109 Larch Crescent. Call: 613-841-8664 or 613-580-4765×32060.
- Cycling without Age. Gives seniors free rides in specialized bicycles, peddled by local volunteers. Starts at the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre, 1515 Tenth Line. Contact Chantal Vachon at cvachon@eorc-creo.ca or call 613-741-6025. Visit: https://cyclingwithoutage.ca/ottawa/
