By 2019, the SLCAO-SG has about 150 members. Membership is free and opened to everyone aged 55+ of Sri Lankan origin living in Ottawa. Year after year, programs are organized and delivered by many dedicated volunteers. SLCAO-SG continued to offer various information sessions and workshops to educate seniors on age-related health issues, financial and social issues and to overcome stress due to respite care providing for family members at home. Programs also include promoting daily physical activities for the wellbeing of seniors, teaching new skills and visiting our isolated seniors or those with serious health issues. All these services, programs and activities including annual festive season celebrations are well appreciated by Sri Lankan seniors.

During the meeting Mrs.Olive Nelson was nominated by Anura Ferdinand to be the Ottawa Center/Seniors Activities Chair. Few months had passed, and SLCAO was invited to a meeting with Social Planning Council Meeting in Ottawa for possible funding opportunity. During the same time we received exciting news about the arrival of a new grand child for Mrs Nelson. Sadly she had to vacate the position to make time to spend quality time with the new addition. There was also pressure to abandon seniors activities for SLCAO given other competing group. However, given the opportunity at hand with SPCO, few members of the Sri Lankan community were invited by Anura Ferdinand to a meeting in March of 2016 to collect activities ideas to bring the seniors community together. The objective of the meeting was to form a Committee to evaluate, design and organize activities for seniors in the Ottawa Sri Lankan community.

At the meeting, SLCAO President, Mr. Anura Ferdinand, addressed the subject of creating activities for seniors, and requested the input of attendees. The attendees contributed their views and it was agreed of a NEED to create a Committee to address Seniors Activities as well a need to define a framework for senior activities in the Ottawa Sri Lankan Community. There were discussions that the Committee should be an independent group, managed by seniors, for the seniors. It will be linked to SLCAO EC by Chair of the senior’s activities committee. He/she will attend SLCAO EC meetings and EC members can attend the seniors meetings. It was agreed that the group’s name be “SLCAO Seniors Group”.

This plan was accepted by SLCAO President and EC members who were present as it is in line with current established committees. I.e. SLCAO Sports Committee, SLCAO Souvenir Committee.

During the course of the meeting, an anonymous vote was cast to select a suitable leader among the members present. Everyone was pleased at the announcement of Mr. Nissanga Jayasinghe was voted as Chair. However, his trip to Germany for a few months impeded his ability to undertake responsibility.   Since, Ranjini Alwis came next in the ballot, she was appointed as an interim chair to which she gladly obliged. It was great to see the enthusiasm to participate as well as a progression of membership in the committee.  Mrs. Ranjini Alwis was officially inducted into the Executive Committee at the following EC meeting. In her absence Mr. Nissanga Jayasinghe or any other committee member were to represent the Seniors Activities Committee at Executive Committee meetings. Mr. Nissanga Jayasinghe resumed Chair – SLCAO Seniors Group in December of 2016.

The objectives of the new Seniors Group Committee:

• to support age 55 and over seniors of Sri Lankan community living in the National Capital Region
• to promote and help maintain the physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing of the members and community Seniors
• to provide information on available benefits and accessing appropriate services available to Seniors and their families
• to facilitate a variety of activities to overcome social barriers and isolation of community Seniors including new comers

Age limit: According to SLCAO constitution, “Seniors” are considered as anyone 65 and over. As far as its membership and ticketing purposes the age limit of SLCAO Seniors will remain at age 65 and over. For the purpose of the Seniors Group, it was decided fifty five (55) as the age.

The committee agreed to provide service programming and allow the participation of activities to Sri Lankan Canadians in Ottawa who are 55 years old and over. The families that are hosting the Seniors were welcome to attend any and every event that was organized by the SLCAO Seniors Group. It was agreed to open the events to Seniors as well as any member of the public to attend and benefit at that time.

At the meeting, the attendees appreciated Mr. Chaminda Bamunukula Arachchi ,B.A.Sc.(Kin.,& TR), R.Kin.,R/TRO and Ms Angela Helandi, Senior Recreation Programmer in their assistance to create a Wellness Program for Seniors. It provided the meeting insights on a need to develop a strategic plan to:

1) Identify seniors at risk
2) Assess senior’s needs
3) Develop a plan

Examples of Programs discussed for seniors as well as young adults were:
·       Physical domain (Tai Chi, Taiga, Yoga, Bacci)
·       Spiritual domain (Meditation, religious activities)
·       Cognitive domain (various games, Backgammon, Chess, New Learning Programs, Bridge)
·       Social domain (Social Tea and sweets, Cinema, Cooking classes, pot luck arrangements, card games, day trips, home visits,picnics)
·       Creative Domain (arts programs, painting, knitting, sewing. crochet, drama, dance, music programs)

It was agreed to have a special segment at the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year to appreciate the Sri Lankan Seniors in the community. It was very well received by the new committee as well as the invitees.

Few weeks later, SLCAO Seniors Group got approved a grant which was presented at the inaugural Seniors New Year Tea Party event held at the Heron Gate Community Center on the  16th of April 2016. To receive this grant credit has to be provided to SLCAO President Mr. Anura Ferdinand, Mrs. Ranjini Alwis, Mrs. Padmini Hapuarachchi, and Mr Nissanga Jayasinghe who prepared presentations, proposals and attended meetings with SPCO to obtain the initial funding.

All the seniors group activities were based on a survey of the membership.

Currently, SLCAO Seniors Group boasts of close to 200 members, dedicated volunteers and fundraisers, supporting organisations and funders. There are daily programs like swimming, aqua fitness, exercises promoted and funded by the seniors group, weekly gatherings to socialise and many weekend programs. (to be expanded later)