M.I.L.E.S. for Seniors hold annual general meeting

On Wednesday, April 8, M.I.L.E.S. for Seniors held its Annual General Meeting at the Cypress River Memorial Hall, attracting over 25 attendees.

The meeting began with a report from M.I.L.E.S Chairperson, Janice Drummond. She explained, “In case you were wondering, M.I.L.E.S. stands for Maintaining Independent Living with Extended Services. That was one of the first questions I had when I was asked to join this board four years ago. I want to share my experience with being a member of this board.

“The four-year term commitment was a positive aspect for me, as it provides clarity on the expected commitment and end date. We hold only nine meetings each year, scheduled for the first Monday of every month, with locations rotating through our four communities. Please note that there are no meetings in July, August, or December. The four-year term truly makes sense because it takes time to understand how M.I.L.E.S. operates and to help facilitate its operations. Being on the board has helped me realize the many options available for our small communities to remain physically active, educationally informed, and recreationally engaged in various events. If you haven’t tried the Party Bus to an adventure, I highly recommend it! It’s a lot of fun. I hope this information inspires you to consider joining the M.I.L.E.S. board in the future if you haven’t had the chance to do so already. M.I.L.E.S. is part of Prairie Mountain Health and works alongside the RM of Victoria and Norfolk-Treherne.”

Janice also discussed the meal program, which is another important service offered under the M.I.L.E.S. umbrella. “While each program runs somewhat differently in each location, they are all accountable to the M.I.L.E.S. board. This program is essential for our seniors, as anyone over 55 is considered a senior and is welcome to participate, whether dining in, taking out meals, or joining in the activities offered at the senior facilities in each community. The dine-in congregate meals provide opportunities for our seniors to socialize and, if possible, avoid the isolation of being home alone 24/7.”

M.I.L.E.S. Coord-inator, Stephanie Clark, also shared her report, which outlined several initiatives including the Victoria Lifeline program that “continues to be a valuable resource in our communities,” and the medical equipment loan service that “has been thriving with 15 rentals, 4 purchases, and several inquiries.” Stephanie noted that the Handi-Van service has seen an increase in bookings, and congregate meals are being held in Cypress River, Holland, Treherne, and Rathwell. She further discussed the continuation of Intergenerational Programs in Treherne and Holland this year, partnering with the grade 5 and 6 classes in both towns. Stephanie highlighted the growth of the M.I.L.E.S. Social Club and the Casino Club, which has expanded to the point that it now requires two buses for participants.

Wesley Hodges from Tiger Hills Arts also addressed the audience about the importance of creativity. “Creativity is not limited to the arts. Every sector has creative moments, where someone finds a solution that wasn’t initially apparent.” Wesley shared various scenarios in which creativity had been essential to problem-solving, including one involving rescuing a batch of cinnamon buns when it was found that there was no yeast available. He also led activities that illustrated creativity as a multifaceted skill, reassuring attendees that employing their creative “muscles” can make the process of seeking solutions less daunting.

Artist extraordinaire Renata Truelove was also present to guide the audience through a delightful creative arts exercise. It is truly inspiring to witness art created from simple materials like plain paper.

The M.I.L.E.S. for Seniors Annual General Meeting exemplifies that meetings don’t have to be dull. With a touch of creativity, they can be engaging and enjoyable!

PHOTO CAPTION: Renata Truelove was a guest speaker at the M.I.L.E.S. for Seniors AGM held in Cypress River last Wednesday, April 8th, and gave a presentation on ‘Abstract Art’- working with the idea of play, experimentation and working through uncertainty using creativity. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK