Unlike younger adults, connected to their communities through social media and digital tools, many older adults who weren’t tech-savvy were forced to spend their time without any opportunity to see their friends, family and loved ones. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, Trinity Anglican Church, located in the heart of Old Ottawa South, found themselves in quite the predicament. Funding had been granted to host a weekly senior luncheon and speaker series for education and interest, which now was unable to happen because of lockdowns and restrictions.

Wondering what to do instead, the original initiative pivoted, and Seniors in Conversation was created, an online community that would meet every Tuesday morning on Zoom to offer the community free educational conversations with guest speakers and engaging topics, community resources, and an opportunity to connect with one another during isolation.

“Trinity Church has a history of serving the senior population of the parish, many of whom are vulnerable and, in some cases, live a fairly insular life,” said Heather Maclachlan, the lead volunteer at Trinity Anglican Church for Senior’s Programing. 

“Trinity’s volunteers were looking to expand senior opportunities by inviting any seniors living in Old Ottawa South. We wanted a meaningful experience where ideas and information were shared.”

The program was originally intended to serve those living in the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood. Week by week, this shifted as the Reaching Seniors in Old Ottawa South (RSOOS) leadership team received requests from those looking to participate from all around the city—even having participants attend who were based in the West Coast, East Coast, Newfoundland and the USA.

Seniors in Conversation has run for nearly two years and heard from a variety of speakers and topics surrounding mental health, self-care, elder abuse, politics, anti-racism, truth and reconciliation and more. 

“This group has been a lifeline during the long days of isolation,” says Marni Crossley, a regular participant of Seniors in Conversation. “It has become a wonderful gathering of friends who have come together to learn and grow from the wonderful guests who have come to share their area of expertise with us.”

While the RSOOS Leadership team recently announced the initiative would end on April 12, 2022, the success of the program and what it brought to the community will have a lasting impact. 

“This program offered an opportunity for people to connect, to build a new community, to interact with others and to learn and engage in a variety of topics,” said Donna Rourke, the program director. “I think this program had numerous benefits for everyone involved.”

While the pandemic brought many challenges, it also demonstrated the positive effects of connecting our older adults with the digital tools and education needed to become more active online. This success was evident each Tuesday that Seniors in Conversation ran. 

“While we have decided that Seniors in Conversation has a natural end having been developed in response to COVID, I see this kind of program and delivery format as something that will always be relevant to those living in isolation,” says Maclachlan. “Pandemic or not, people need to be inspired and have a community of belonging. This format couldn’t be easier or more accessible.”

To participate and join our community as we continue this program until April 12, 2022, you can register to receive our weekly zoom link by emailing seniors@trinityottawa.ca. To learn more about the program and the upcoming topics and speakers, find us on Facebook at @seniorsinconversation and on Twitter at @RSOOS_Trinity.

From Seniors in Conversation participants

“It has become a routine part of my week, and I’ll be very sorry to see it end in April.” – Tim Boreham

“Seeing others on Zoom as I am living alone has become such a comfort” – Jean Ash

“I love learning, and the well-organized variety of topics and speakers keeps me coming back: history, health, politics, art, epidemiology, travel, music and many more. I am so grateful for this community-oriented learning opportunity.”  – Beth Hughes

“I always left the Zoom time feeling encouraged and — most importantly — less alone in all of this craziness we’re living through.” – Lorna Unger

From the leadership team

As a group, we’d like to express our sincere thanks to the participants and speakers who made this program what it was. We can honestly say that every Tuesday morning we look forward to Seniors in Conversation. It created (and continues to create) a caring community where participants became friends. It has created a safe community where participants freely share concerns. It has created an educational community where resources were provided to those who displayed signs of distress with respect and the utmost privacy. It has been a privilege for us to work with this amazing community, and continues to be such an honour to spend time with these amazing humans. We will miss our time together, but are proud to have been a part of such an amazing initiative that so clearly had a positive impact on the community. 

Seniors in Conversation was created and made possible by the conjoined efforts of Donna Rourke, Heather Maclachlan, Paige Kahkonen, Isabel McFarlane, the Rev. Arran Thorpe, and Archdeacon Mark Whittall as an outreach of Trinity Anglican Church. 

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The program is based at Trinity Anglican Church in Ottawa, but it is inclusive and open to everyone and has built quite the virtual community, growing every week. Since it is online, distance is no problem. Here are some thoughts from our participants about what ‘Seniors in Conversation’ has meant to them.

“I have enjoyed ‘Seniors in Conversation’ since it began. It was sponsored by my church, Trinity Anglican in Old Ottawa South, so I looked forward every week to seeing many other people from my church and chatting on Zoom. The series has had so many interesting speakers, as well as singers and comedians. ‘Seniors in Conversation’ is inked in on my calendar for as long as it is available.”

— Sue Cherry

“ I had a sabbatical this year, but all of my plans for travel, conferences, and research were side-lined. I found myself, like so many people did, cut off from my work colleagues, isolated from valued social connections, and worried constantly about my mother in long-term-care. There were bright spots. During the pandemic, my week has always properly started on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. with ‘Seniors in Conversation,’ which is actually an enjoyable use of Zoom (well that, and church services, too—thank you Revs. Aaron and Mark). I love learning, and the well-organized variety of topics and speakers keeps me coming back: history, health, politics, art, epidemiology, travel, music and many more. I am so grateful for this community-oriented learning opportunity.”

— Beth Hughes

“I’m a U.S. citizen who fortunately found her way to ‘Seniors in Conversation.’ The Zoom modality makes it very easy to learn about new topics from experts whom I never would have otherwise met. As well, the people attending these events are delightful, thoughtful, intelligent, and friendly individuals. I have fun engaging with the speakers and the attendees and learn something new to boot! It feels like I have found a new community that is nurturing to my soul. I highly recommend attending ‘Seniors in Conversation’.”

— Annette Kay Donnell

“I was referred to ‘Seniors in Conversation’ by my daughter who used to live in Old Ottawa South and read about the program in the OSCAR. I registered just before Christmas last year and have ‘Zoomed in’ fairly regularly since then. I have found the guest speakers and programs to be interesting, educational, entertaining and sometimes inspirational. In my opinion, ‘Seniors in Conversation’ meets a need in the community.”

— Ron Doll

“When I first signed into the Zoom invitation for ‘Seniors in Conversation,’ I had no way of knowing what a lifeline and support this Tuesday morning ritual would become. That first Tuesday, faced with all those strangers in the little Zoom boxes, felt surreal. But week by week, those faces eventually became real people who I recognized and was learning to know, who greeted me warmly, and continued to surprise me with their insightful and thoughtful comments and conversation. I always left the Zoom time feeling encouraged and — most importantly — less alone in all of this craziness we’re living through. 

— Lorna Unger

To register for a “Seniors in Conversation,” please email seniors@trinityottawa.ca with your name, phone number and postal address. Remember, everyone is welcome to attend. For updates or to see our upcoming schedule, follow us on Facebook at @SeniorsInConversation or on Twitter at @RSOOS_Trinity. 

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Seniors in Conversation is a community of predominantly older adults who meet every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom and listen to a guest speaker. The program was initially created for isolated seniors during the pandemic, to offer education and something to look forward to, but especially to offer a chance to have conversation and see people — even if it’s virtually. 

The program has now been running every week since June, and I feel like I am joining a close-knit community created on my computer each time I log on. 

I have never met any of these people in person, but I have known most of them now for months. There are some I see every week, and I have grown to recognize the room they are in, the chair they sit at, and the cats that can sometimes be seen walking over someone’s camera. There are even some people whose faces I have never seen, but I know I could pick out their voice in a crowd. There are also some people I get to see for the first time, and nearly every week we get to welcome a new face. 

We share a sense of excitement, and for the first 15 minutes we chat about how life is going, what’s happening in the news, how someone celebrated their birthday last week, or what new recipe they found the day before. 

Then, at exactly 10:15 a.m. we begin, and our guest speaker begins his or her presentation. We have had guests who specialize in healthy aging and wellness, elder abuse, mental health or anti-racism. Guests may be stand-up comedians and entertainers or university professors discussing their research. We have welcomed an MPP, an epidemiologist and an Algonquin Spiritual Leader. Every week is different.

What does stay consistent is the feeling I get when we all hang up at the end. This might sound strange, but I feel proud of the community that has been created. I tell my roommates all the time: I can’t believe some of the discussions we have. I can’t believe how kind these people are and how curious, how engaged, how excited they are to hear and discuss these topics. 

We talk about Canada’s history of Indigenous oppression and discuss racial inequalities. We talk about the ever-changing political climate in the U.S.A., and learn about how to be an ally. I am always surprised to find that although some of them are more than 50 years older than me, we are intrigued and engaged by the same things. 

Every other Friday, we meet again. We call it ‘Coffee Conversations,’ and I always come with my cup full. I think these are my favorite sessions, even more than my cherished Tuesday mornings. 

I always spend this time in my living room, on my cozy couch with my laptop resting on two pillows stacked in front of me. The soft, afternoon sunlight shines through my big windows at this time of the day, and I feel like I am in my own little world. 

The Friday group is smaller, and it’s a different atmosphere; instead of hosting guest speakers, we take this time to chat amongst ourselves about our day-to-day lives. I get to hear about what books everyone is reading and leave with a list of movie recommendations. We share our favorite recipes, and I wonder if I will ever try tomatoes and peanut butter together – a snack that I was told is delicious – but I don’t think I’ll ever try it to find out. I get to hear about people’s lives, their history, their passions. In an hour, I feel like I have caught up with a group of friends. 

My roommates are normally awake for this one, and sometimes will sit on the couch across from me and listen to the conversations. I glance up when someone says something funny and can see my roommate smiling along with me. It reminds me that regardless of our age differences, we have so much in common. 

Seniors in Conversation was developed because of the pandemic and was designed to be for seniors who were feeling isolated and alone. I didn’t realize it in the beginning, but it is as helpful for me as much as it is for them. Maybe more. 

Even after this pandemic is over, and we can start to look towards the future with a hopeful sense of normalcy, I find myself hoping we still continue the sessions. 

It’s going to be a sad day when I wake up on Tuesday morning knowing I won’t share an hour and a half with these seniors, but it makes me cherish the Tuesdays I still have that remind me why I love my job. 

(At press time, Trinity had just been notified that a new grant application was approved, which will allow Reaching Seniors in Old Ottawa South’s Seniors in Conversation to continue for the balance of 2021. The leadership team will be taking the month of May off to regroup and plan and will begin our Tuesday conversations again in June.)

If you are interested in participating in our Tuesday ‘Seniors in Conversation’ or our Friday ‘Coffee Conversations’, register to receive the Zoom link by emailing seniors@trinityottawa.ca. Each session is free of charge, and open to everyone interested, even those living outside of Ottawa. You can also follow us on Facebook, @HealthyAgeingOS

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