In a bid to support seniors and their health, Terry Sheehan, Sault Ste. Marie MP and Marchy Bruni, Sault Ste. Marie City Councillor for Ward Four, announced funding and plans for the Elliott Pickleball Courts.
Sheehan and Bruni gave the activity a try on the freshly spruced-up pickleball courts. They said the courts would have new coaches, thanks to funding from a federal New Horizons grant.
The city received almost $25,000 to buy new accessible picnic tables, repair and reopen the bocce courts and send some seniors to a coaching workshop so they can teach others how to better play pickleball. (Maybe even better than Marchy Bruni.)
The bocce courts are due to reopen at the end of May, barring any complications, said Virginia McLeod, Manager, Recreation and Culture for the city.
She also said the city would be holding regular sessions over the summer for people who want to learn to play pickleball.
Sheehan urged groups involved with seniors to apply for the New Horizons for Seniors Program as it continuously accepts applications for funding programs aimed at improving life for seniors.
He said the funding helps everyone because the courts are not restricted to seniors. Anyone with an interest can participate, regardless of age or ability.
Bruni said that pickleball courts are smaller than tennis or racquetball courts so they are easier for older people to play on.
"Less running, the balls are lighter and larger so they fly slower and not as far (as tennis balls)," he said.
That also makes the game attractive for people of any fitness or experience level, not just seniors.
In addition to funding for the Elliott Pickleball Courts, Sheehan announced New Horizons funding for the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, 49th Field Regiment RCA Historical Society and the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association.
For more on those announcements, please read the release below.
Far too many seniors face isolation in their retirement years. This was a fact even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada is committed to empowering seniors by supporting three more opportunities for older Canadians to stay involved and engaged in their communities.
Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera announced investments in support of three more community-based projects in the Riding of Sault Ste. Marie. These projects will help seniors stay active, informed, and socially connected in their communities. This funding was awarded through the New Horizons for Seniors Program’s recent call for proposals for community-based projects.
The Sault Ste. Marie Museum and 49th Field Regiment RCA Historical Society have been granted $21,963 to conduct repairs to three spaces as well as purchase shelving, chairs and tables to allow seniors to continue to participate in activities such as weaving workshops.
The Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie has been granted $24,963 to purchase accessible picnic tables, benches and timers and to repair bocce courts to allow seniors to continue participating in various activities including pickleball and bocce.
The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association has been awarded $25,000 to renovate the facility restroom to allow seniors to continue to offer events such as teas and bake sales that promote healthy aging safely.