About Bernard Betel Centre:

The Bernard Betel Centre for Creative Living is a learning and wellness centre committed to maximizing the quality of life for seniors in the community and reflecting Jewish values. (Approved by the Board of Directors, April 2000)

WHY COME TO THE CENTRE?
At the Bernard Betel Centre, we’re accustomed to hearing people ask themselves where would they be without us?

People come to us for a variety of reasons.  Retirement and ageing represent significant stages in one’s life and are accompanied by many changes which can affect health and an individual’s quality of life.  Redefining one’s identity outside the workforce, after the loss of a spouse or post child rearing years is a difficult and challenging transition and often requires the need for seniors to re-establish a sense of purpose and self esteem.  Research has shown that ageing is a continuous process and maintaining an active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases, increases agility and mobility and extends an individual’s ability to live independently in the community.

This video features Sharon Chodriker, the staff contact for the Centre in charge of the Lifelong Learning Institute. Sharon explains why her vision of having community youth come in to the centre to hear the information about Facebook, YouTube and Crime Stoppers together with the seniors was a good idea.

That’s where we come in. We offer one stop access to a myriad of recreational, educational, wellness, community support programs as well as an on site Cafeteria.  Not surprisingly, seniors come to our Centre and access programs from our different operations simultaneously during their visit.  Where else, but at the Bernard Betel Centre for Creative Living can you take in lectures from leading scholars on topics as diverse as mass media or religion in the modern age; converse in English, Yiddish, Russian, French, Polish and Hebrew; feast on the best haimishe, kosher cuisine in Canada; indulge in creative writing classes and discussions on Yiddish literature; attend regular Synagogue services; receive the benefits of morning Tai Chi classes and free monthly screening clinics; get help from counselors and support groups that aid you in dealing with Parkinson’s, Osteoporosis, Low Vision, Sleep/Wake Disorders and Nutrition; go on out of country trips or the Stratford Theatre Festival, while you mingle with the most interesting people in town?  Trained instructors deliver the vast majority of our programs; a few are facilitated/ led by volunteers and / or paid staff.

In addition to attending programs or accessing services, the Centre’s philosophy embraces member involvement, particularly in the design, implementation and evaluation of its programs.  There are numerous opportunities at the Centre including:

• participating in Members’ Council and or one of its 19 Committees;
• representing the membership on our Board of Directors, its committees and Task Forces;
• Educating people of all ages about elderly abuse throughout Ontario;
• Tutoring students through one of our many Intergenerational Programs;
• Teaching classes and or supervising workshops;
• Lobbying various levels of government on issues of concern to seniors;
• Supporting our Community Support Programs by visiting isolated seniors and performing telephone reassurance checks;
• Acting as ambassadors for the Centre by speaking to groups on behalf of the United Way and UJA Federation.

Ultimately, through member involvement, health promotion and community collaboration, our programs and services strive to achieve:

• Independence
• Self-worth
• Physical and emotional well being
• Intellectual and creative stimulation
• Jewish values