Pages

Monday, February 28, 2011

Why Wouldn't We... Participate

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Memories and Music Program

Who wouldn’t want to be the elderly person in this picture, being escorted into their seat by a young person, to watch and receive an original song about your life? Then again, what young person wouldn’t want the chance to learn new skills, build a wonderful relationship, have fun and be a part of something bigger than him or herself?


The Bridging the Gap, Memories and Music Program gave the Georgetown District High School Vocal Music students such an opportunity and much more. In early September, the music class was asked if they wanted to participate in a memories and music project. ALL hands went up.


In this project, the students would interview local seniors, write, compose and record the songs and, finally, perform them in front of the seniors and their families. This was a vocal class with only a third of the students having any musical experience.


When asked about their decision to participate, the students' response was, "What wouldn't we want to do this project? A change to get new creative real...why wouldn't we?"


- Nora Zylstra-Savage, Storylines

www.story-lines.ca


To view a video collage of students performances, click here.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Latest research: Aerobic exercise may improve memory in older adults

More movement on the brain fitness front: recent research indicates that starting an aerobic exercise program in later life may have a positive impact on performance on tests of memory. So for all you couch potatoes - which the study participants were - it's not necessarily too late to make some changes for the better! For more information, see a report on the article on the NPR website.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Event at SERC: NSERC CCI Launch

February 7, 2011

SERC's research team, our business partners in the NSERC CCI grant, the SERC advisory board, and Sheridan administration gathered at the Twisted Fork in Oakville, Ontario to celebrate the start of what will be a 5-year collaboration between SERC and area businesses to support aging well in place.

David
Foot, noted economist and author of Boom, Bust & Echo spoke to the group about the importance of taking our aging population into account for businesses.


See below for some photos from the event!








Sheridan President and CEO, Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, with Dr. David Foot












SERC Advisory Board members Peter Broadhurst, Candace Fochuk-Barey, and Richard Finch, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies








Karen Aikman from the Halton Region Services for Seniors, Francesca Abbruzzese from Sheridan Research, and Bob Kallonen from Schlegel Villages.






Dr. Darren Lawless, Dean of Research and Innovation, Karen Hamilton from PointerWare Innovations, and Susan Pratten, faculty member in the Social Service Worker program at Sheridan.