Exciting News! The Age-Friendly Sarnia Lambton Expo is just days away!
And FREE to all attendees!
Wednesday, June 14th
10 am - 6 pm
At the Pat Stapleton Arena - 134 Brock St. South, at the corner of Wellington St., Sarnia.
I thought it would be important to know what to expect at this fabulous event!
You might be asking yourself - Where do I park? What kind of services will I see there? Are there benches so I can stop for a rest and a coffee?
I got some very valuable information today from Amy Weiler of Lambton Elderly Outreach & Age-Friendly Sarnia Lambton and Julie Harries of Lambton Public Health, who are the co-chairs of the Expo Planning Committee. They were very helpful in supplying crucial information so you know exactly how your day will go!
For the event, there is parking for anyone with accessibility needs right at the Pat Stapleton Arena. If you’re feeling up to a little exercise, you can walk from any of the public parking lots in the downtown area, or there is a FREE shuttle from The Gateway Casino in Point Edward to the arena all day long. There are 3 entrances - Wellington St., Brock St., and there is a back entrance off the back parking lot. All of the entrances and the whole event are accessible to all!
There will be over 100 vendor displays at the expo.
The area will be divided into different neighbourhoods with different themes which reflect the age-friendly website:
Transportation
Health Care and Mental Health
Housing & Help At Home
Family & Caregiver Supports
Social Participation & Active Living
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigeneity
Financial & Legal Planning
Employment & Volunteer
Community Navigation
The entire building will be accessible to everyone! There is lots of space to walk around. There is a safe and easy-to-use ramp to the rink area where all of the vendors are located.
You can visit each of the neighbourhoods of Age-Friendly Sarnia Lambton. It will be very easy to get around. There will be plenty of places to sit and rest as you walk through. The environment will be very relaxed with trees, plants, and park benches. They don’t want anyone to feel rushed - just wander and take your time. Enjoy the show at your leisure. It’s a good time to people-watch and maybe sit down on a bench and start talking to someone and maybe make a new friend. The concession stands will be open for food and drink. There will also be free cookies and coffee donated by Steeves and Rozema.
Everyone will be able to mingle and interact with the different vendors.
The Age-Friendly Expo, sponsored by Wellings of Corunna, is not just for seniors but for people of all ages and stages of life. At the expo, you will also find support for younger age groups, with a special focus on mental health and well-being.
The first expo was in 2019, and that was when the website was initially launched. Since then, the staff has been working in the background to ensure you have the health and social service information you need. There was a community-wide survey conducted early on, involving caregivers, frontline workers, and older adults. The survey aimed to identify barriers to accessing information. Based on the survey results, they expanded the website and increased community connections, so you can get all the answers you need. The survey showed that people seeking information prefer clear communication through face-to-face conversations or phone calls. They also wanted sufficient time to ask questions and get the necessary answers.
That is why there was a high demand to have the expo again this year – to provide an opportunity for face-to-face interaction with all the organizations available in our community. It has been a long three years of feeling isolated and overwhelmed. The expo gives you a chance to talk to someone about your needs, especially if it involves something as serious as your health.
That is what the expo is about. It brings together a multitude of community organizations that provide health services as well as social services. For example, volunteerism and staying connected to your community are equally important. Attendees can explore different areas of interest and learn about what is available in Sarnia Lambton to meet their needs.
When you arrive, you will find a variety of different services offered by nonprofit and for-profit organizations. There are housing supports for those looking to downsize or interested in senior housing or a retirement community. There will be organizations that support individuals who prefer to stay in their homes, promoting the services they offer. Vendors will also promote social participation and active living, highlighting activities such as fitness and entertainment in Lambton. You will find vendors offering assessments, like the falls prevention group, that will show you how to stay strong and prevent falls. The library and archives will be at the expo with a fun feature for you to browse through. There are a couple of surprises planned for this year, and the announcement will be made at the expo. These examples demonstrate the valuable partnerships in Lambton that benefit the community.
Each vendor will provide helpful information. They will have fun swag bags, giveaways, door prizes, and materials to distribute. Additionally, there will be educational and interactive activities, so when you return home, you can reflect on what you've learned.
Everyone will have the opportunity to mingle and interact with different vendors. Some vendors will highlight volunteer opportunities as a way for people of all ages, especially those not in the workforce, to build social connections. Volunteering is a perfect way to meet others, make connections, engage in your community, and contribute back.
As you explore the expo, you'll see that it offers everything you need to know in one place – a one-stop shop!
The expo is about enjoying face-to-face interaction, getting answers to your questions, learning more about volunteering, and becoming active in your community. You'll discover things you didn't even know existed. And once you leave, you'll have a wealth of information from all the vendors at your fingertips for future reference!
They are still looking for volunteers for the day of the expo – helping at the welcome booth, parking, shuttle, and more!
To sign up to volunteer or for more information, please email -
agefriendlysarnialambton@gmail.com
Join the Facebook Group for the Age-Friendly Expo
For more information visit -
Sponsors
Title: Wellings of Corunna
Neighbourhood Sponsors:
Transportation - Lambton Elderly Outreach
Health Care and Mental Health -ActivEars Hearing Centre Inc. Housing & Help At Home - RE/MAX sarnia realty inc - Brenda Hanlon Family & Caregiver Supports - Home Instead Sarnia Social Participation & Active Living - Gateway Casino Sarnia & Point Edward Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigeneity - Lambton Public Health Financial & Legal Planning - Lakeview Cemetery Burial & Cremation Services Employment & Volunteer - Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board
Community Navigation - Age-Friendly Sarnia-Lambton