The mandate of the 50+ Activity Centre, formerly the Shepherd’s Welcome Centre, is to enhance the lives of those 50 years old and over, by providing in a friendly and welcoming environment affordable programs and activities that will keep them mentally and physically active.
Our organization is directed and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors . In addition, we have a dedicated and hardworking, volunteer Office Staff.
Our office is located on the 3rd floor of the Wall Street United Church In Brockville. We are not affiliated with the church, however, we do rent office space. Typically there are several venues throughout Brockville where all of the 50+ activities take place. These locations may change from time to time depending on activity schedules and availability.
Over two semesters each year, September to December and January to May, we offer a wide range of daytime activities and programs. These encompass a variety of:
- exercise classes
- languages
- arts and crafts
- special interest
- social
- general interest.
For a view of the range of typical activities and classes we provide, access the Activities dropdown menu above. This gives the schedule of current activities and also a brief description of each. These documents relate to the current semester and do not reflect all that will be available in future semesters, but they do give a fair representation of what we typically provide.
We are a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization and are a registered charity. We receive no government funding but rely on an annual donation from the Shepherd’s Centre (Brockville) Foundation and participant fees.
We are keenly aware of the value of socialization as a health promoter as we age. In addition to the opportunities presented for friendly interactions during our classes, we also organize special bus trips and host a number of luncheons during the course of the year.
We welcome all those 50 and over to join our Activity Centre family. We conduct a registration day at the beginning of each semester, in September and in January. This provides an opportunity to meet one-on-one with our volunteer instructors and register for one or more of the exciting programs.
A single low registration fee allows an individual to register for a semester. There are class size limits and some courses fill up quickly. Subject to space being still available, individuals are welcome to register in certain classes at any time during the course of the semester. Check ahead with the AC office if this is the case.
The beginnings of our Activity Centre, then the Shepherd’s Welcome Centre, stretch all the way back to 1980. However, we have been operating out of our current location at the Wall Street United Church in Brockville since 1998. (For a brief summary access our History page, or the Detailed History page if you wish to view the full story.)
We have a mantra at AC: We may be getting older but we’re not old yet! Come and join us and prove the truth of this adage.
Updated: 11/02/2022