The story behind the exercise equipment that a seniors group paid for at Burloak Park

background graphic redBy Pepper Parr

October 2nd, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

This story goes back to 2015. At the time there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and BSCI expired on Dec. 15, 2015.

The City of Burlington had taken over all operations at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre after severing ties with an independent board of directors that had been responsible for running some aspects of the city-owned facility.

The city ended its association with Burlington Seniors’ Centre Inc. (BSCI) at the start of November following a recent decision not to renew its partnership agreement with BSCI.

Under the previous agreement, BSCI had the responsibility at the centre for running the Bistro Café and annually organizing seven day trips as well as one lunch and Christmas dinner and a Robbie Burns dinner.

On Oct. 26, the city notified BSCI that it would assume these responsibilities as of Nov. 1, said Fred Hendriks, president of BSCI, a non-profit volunteer entity that was incorporated in 2012.

Kwab

Kwab Ako-Adjei, Director of government relations and strategic communications for the City of Burlington.

“From a service delivery perspective, we had two different entities offering services to members. … the BSCI operated the bistro and organized the day trips while the city organized everything else,” said Kwab Ako-Adjei, senior manager of government relations and strategic communications for the City of Burlington.

“The recent change means that we now are able to offer the same training, support and recognition to the volunteers in the bistro and events areas, who were formally the only volunteers not under city supervision.

“…. This conclusion in our relationship (with BSCI) will have no operational impact on service to the 3,800 members of the seniors’ centre. All the programming members have come to enjoy will remain the same.”

The paid chef who manages the bistro will remain in his position, said Ako-Adjei, who added that, if anything, he expects some service improvements and enhancements at the centre in the future, but didn’t elaborate.

Hendriks said his board members had expected to have meaningful dialogue with city representatives about a renewed working arrangement and feels that didn’t happen.

“The city and BSCI have been in discussion for many months about beginning negotiations to renew the MOU. BSCI is disappointed that the city chose to end the relationship in this premature and disappointing manner without any BSCI consultation.”

Ako-Adjei disagreed with Hendriks’ assessment.

“Since October 2015, the BSCI and the city had co-cooperatively agreed to work though a mediation process facilitated by an external facilitator, which amongst one of the objectives sought (was) to clarify roles and responsibilities at the seniors’ centre.

“At the conclusion of this lengthy and thorough mediation process, the outcome highlighted our collective inability to effectively move forward as partners…. As with any end to a relationship, the decision was not an easy one to make…”

BSCI is now operating as Burlington Seniors’ Community (BSC) and is governed by the same board of directors, said Hendriks.

It has a boardroom within another local organization’s building and will hold meetings there, he noted.

“The BSCI board will meet in November to discuss next steps. Our goal is to continue to be a vital organization supporting the well being of Burlington’s diverse and growing community of seniors,” said Hendriks.

“…. BSCI hopes to offer our experience and expertise by collaborating with BSAC (Burlington Seniors Advisory Committee) and other seniors groups throughout the community.”

As for wrapping up its affiliation with the city, Hendriks noted that programming staff in the city’s recreation department are responsible for all programs at the seniors’ centre.

Seniors taking in the music

Music programs are part of the program offering at the Seniors’ Centre

The city hires and pays the centre’s program instructors and determines the content.

All seniors’ centre membership fees his group received as BSCI were forwarded to and managed by the city, he said.

However, BSCI did receive and manage money donated directly to it by independent groups like The Boutique Ladies, which sold handmade items and donated proceeds to BSCI, and Club Nine.

“All of those generous donations were given to BSCI to be used at the discretion of BSCI’s board of directors. The board of directors chose, instead of using such donations for operating expenses, to add all of them to profits from running the bistro, day trips and events,” said Hendriks.

He said the BSCI used these funds to purchase items that would benefit the members of the Burlington Seniors’ Centre, things like playing card tables, dirty dish carts, a fridge, freezer and utensils.

As well, the BSCI had given tokens of appreciation to the centre’s volunteers such as free coffee, food vouchers for the bistro or Tim Horton’s cards.

Hendriks wouldn’t say how much money is in the fund managed by BSCI/BSC,  just that those funds “will continue to be used to further the interests of seniors in Burlington”.

“No decisions will be made about those funds without thoughtful deliberation, transparency and input from the local seniors’ community.”

Carr + MAyor at BSCI

Mayor Meed Ward on the right and Regional Chair Gary Carr on the left at the unveiling of the exercise equipment at Burloak Park.

Fast forward five years and we have the Mayor, the Regional Chair, a couple of members of council unveiling a plaque that says the equipment in the Burloak Park was purchased by the Burlington Seniors Centre, a not for profit private group that once used to run programs at the Centre and operated a very profitable Bistro.

When the city parted ways with the group they took the money they had (it was a substantial amount) and used it for events that benefited the senior community.

The exercise equipment was their most recent initiative. Finding a place to put the equipment turned out to be a real challenge. The city provided little in the way of help. They were eventually able to find a space in the Burloak Park. The preferred site was somewhere in Central Park.

The working relationship between Parks and Recreation and the seniors group was never healthy.

When things were difficult back in 2013 the seniors decided their issues would get attention if they went after members of Council – that tactic worked.

City manager Jeff Fielding doesn't win every time. Joe Lamb, negotiating for the Seniors' Centre basically took Fielding to the cleaners with the deal he talked the city into.

City manager Jeff Fielding with Joe Lamb, negotiating for the Seniors’ Centre

Jeff Fielding was the city manager at the time; he was a delight to work with as far as the seniors were concerned. The problems were worked out.

When James Ridge became city manager a lot of things changed.

The Seniors’ Centre is administered by the Parks and Recreation department which many feel has never really understood what the seniors want and need in terms of recreation and exercise needs.

The Gazette recalls an occasion when ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward took part in a “listening” exercise. She met with anyone who wanted to take part in a gathering of people at the Centre to talk about the issues. It was a somewhat muted occasion when members found that staff were lined up at the back of the room listening carefully. Members felt intimidated and not prepared to speak out.

Parks and Recreation has not been able to find people who can empathize with the seniors, understand their concerns and put up with some of their limitations.

This isn’t the story that got told out at Burloak Park Thursday morning.

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2 comments to The story behind the exercise equipment that a seniors group paid for at Burloak Park

  • Connie Price, BSCI Sr. Equipment Chair

    Claudette, that piece of equipment did not end up being installed lower to the ground as we had requested. A change to it is already being look into. So happy that you love the concept and hope you will return to use the other pieces of equipment often.

  • Claudette Mancini

    We just got back from that senior’s exercise park at Burloak and Lakeshore. I tried most of the pieces, but one left me dangerously vulnerable to falling. It was the one with the rotating plate on the bottom and the stable bars above. I was unable to get up on the plate because it wasn’t able to be kept stationary while stepping on and off, even when holding on to the bars above. It was also too high off the ground. So my able-bodied husband tried it and he was also unable to get up on it safely. One needs to be able to keep the plate from rotating while stepping up and then again while stepping off.. There’s no way to do that. It would be prudent for the city to figure out how before there’s a serious accident with a senior who wants to use it. I love the concept, and congratulate the city, but fear there’s trouble ahead.