Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 134

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #134 March 2024 19

Seaway Seniors - Knowing/Growing Project

By Christine Ouellet, in collaboration methods of canning and preserving
with Karen Douglass Cooper, Project home-grown produce with our
Manager Seaway Senior Citizens community partners, in particular,
Club our friends and neighbours from

he Seaway Senior Citizens Akwesasne.”
TClub (50+) is anxious for The Seaway Seniors officially
spring as they plan for the first-ever kicked off the project with an
growing season of their accessible educational and inspirational tour
Knowing/Growing Raised Garden of Akwesasne’s Thompson Island
Bed Project. Funded in part by a Cultural Camp last fall. Participants
grant from the Ontario Trillium learned how to prepare a traditional
Foundation (OTF) Resilient Mohawk meal and participated in a
Communities Fund, the club is in the medicine plant walk.
process of developing an accessible
senior-friendly community garden The growing space behind the
project behind their downtown Centre will provide local elders
Centre, located at 506 Pitt Street, in an opportunity to safely grow and
the heart of downtown Cornwall. access produce from a variety of
locally sourced raised garden beds.
This project is helping the club The fresh vegetables grown will
to further expand and provide become an important part of the
economic support for the current Centre’s weekly Meal Program
food program for elders by providing Menu and be made available
what their Mohawk project partners through a program to area seniors.
call “good medicine”. The project
will see the creation of accessible Community involvement with
raised garden beds, as well as the the project has been encouraging
launch of a series of collaborative with donation of seeds, the building
gardening and canning workshops of raised garden boxes by the shop
with community partners, including students of La Citadelle, volunteer
subject matter experts from efforts of a dedicated seed starter
Cornwall and Akwesasne. Healthy team, and leadership from volunteer
food, fresh air, and exercise, as well master gardeners and mentors from
as inter-generational community both Cornwall and Akwesasne.
engagement and knowledge- The Knowing/Growing Garden
building will be promoted. The Project continues to look for plant
writing of a companion garden- donations for direct planting this
based cookbook will also be a part spring, as well as community
of the project. volunteers who may be interested in
providing some time in the garden
This grant further expands on the to assist current team members.
mandate of the Seaway Seniors to
provide and promote creative and For more information on the
active healthy living for people over Knowing/Growing Project,
50 years of age. Project Coordinator, members of the public are invited
Karen Douglass Cooper says, “This to contact Project Coordinator,
project is a wonderful opportunity Karen Douglass Cooper through
to provide older adults with the Seaway Senior Citizens Club/
opportunities to grow healthy food Centre at 506 Pitt Street or call 613
and learn new, as well as traditional 932 4969 for more details. Photo Submitted