2010 Seniors Academy graduation ceremony a celebration

Fall River, Nova Scotia (D2N) – There were smiles on the faces of graduates at the recent 2010 Seniors Academy Graduation ceremony held at the LWF Community Hall. It was the third year for the Seniors Academy, which is supported by the RCMP. The event was a happy occasion, but it was very apparent that the mood in the room was more subdued than it has been at previous graduation ceremonies. Clearly the loss of Seniors Academy organizer and RCMP volunteer Julie Vials had left its mark on the seniors who were graduating. Along with RCMP volunteers Sharon Smith, Elly Porter, and Nancy Macdonald, Vials had worked determinedly to put together a program for seniors in the area, one that would generate and keep the interest of students, and provide them with educational information at the same time – the Fall River Seniors Academy was that program.

Among the topics covered during the 2010 Seniors Academy, were “Nurse Next Door”, “Spiritual Healing”, “Inner Balance Hypnosis”, “Heart & Stroke”, “Osteopathy and Reflexology”, ” The End of Life”, there was also a talk with local weatherman Peter Coade.

During the graduation ceremony, Fall River – Beaver Bank RCMP Community Liaison officer, Cst. Michael Bracken, congratulated the seniors on their completion of the program, presenting each student who attended the program with a graduation certificate and pin to mark the moment, along with a certificate from the HRM.

Porter, Smith, and MacDonald have helped with the Seniors Academy since it began three years ago. “A special thank you to our community seniors for participating in our program this year; they are the ones who make it successful!” said Elly. “I enjoy working with the seniors, and by helping to provide them with information to maintain their health, independence and security, I have achieved great satisfaction.”

“It’s been three years now that I have volunteered with the Academy and I must say it’s been both an experience and a pleasure,” Sharon said. “We have seniors who have been with us for the full duration of time and new ones who have joined us. It is so much fun watching the seniors and listening to some of the things they do and say. They are almost like children in school – they come each week and sit in the exact same seat they sat in the week before, and even the year prior.”

Elly said she sees how the Seniors Academy presentations can benefit those who attend the program. “Our program provides seniors with the tools and skills they need to be independent,” she shared. “We are never too old to learn and this has proven to be true; our seniors are willing participants in every presentation, they provide us with very positive feedback and always have questions and interesting suggestions. I am pleased to see how much more outgoing some people have become. It is wonderful to see how friendships have developed over the last couple of years, how they help each other, how conversation is enjoyed while they have lunch. I notice more smiles too!”

“Even with all their years of knowledge and wisdom, they are always eager to learn more and look forward to coming each week to see who the presenter is and they are never at a loss for questions to ask,” Sharon said, “hence the phrase: “You are never too old to learn!” It is quite interesting to hear some of the stories they have to tell about their years of growing up etc.”

Nancy says she enjoys her time volunteering for the Seniors Academy. “2010 was pretty good,” she said. “A lot of people came; they were glad to learn things they never knew before. Speakers tell them a lot; most deal with safety things for seniors.”

Unfortunately, with all good times there are also bad times.  “Within the three years we have lost a couple of our seniors due to death and one volunteer whom we miss very much,” Sharon said.  “We have also lost some seniors due to illness. The seniors become very much like family when you volunteer with them for this length of time and you miss them when they are no longer there.”ju

Smith spoke about her friend Julie Vials. “Julie has been a volunteer with me for the three years I have been volunteering for the academy. That was how I met her.  She was always willing and eager to help with everything.  She put her whole heart and soul into it and would say “I hope there is something like this going on for me when I get older”, Sharon said, repeating her friends words.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be. “She is and will be sadly missed for many years to come,” said Sharon.  “She used to love the seniors as we all do and she loved volunteering for the academy.  No matter where we were or what we would be doing, Julie would be passing the message about the academy to other seniors, people that she had no idea who they were or where they were from.  Not that where they were from would matter, because every senior is welcome.”

Sharon tries to focus on the positive things that have come from the Academy. “Anyway, for all the bad times there are a lot of good times and this is what keeps us – as volunteers – wanting to go back and continue to provide some fun times or even an outing for our seniors,” she added.

Elly thanked everyone who had a hand in making this years program possible and the success it was once again. “I want to thank all our speakers and congratulate you on your willingness to share your time and knowledge with our community,” she said. “A special thank you to RCMP Constable Michael Bracken for presenting the graduates with Senior Academy pins and graduation certificates.  Thank you to Councillor Barry Dalrymple, who provided HRM certificates for all the seniors.”

The volunteers will be getting together in the fall to discuss the future of the Seniors Academy. “We are going to have a meeting and see what they want to do,” Nancy said. “And then we’ll go from there.”

Elly spoke from her heart. “What is better than having someone tell you what a great job you are doing and how much they enjoyed the presentation and the delicious lunch,” Elly said, ”it is sincerely appreciated!” She spoke of Julie, who started this year’s academy and who put so much thought into making it an enjoyable and educational experience for the seniors, despite having had worsening health problems of her own. “I miss Julie, she was an asset to our community and a great volunteer,” said Elly. “ and I think she would be proud of our accomplishments with the Academy this year!”