The Danube Seniors Leisure Centre members enjoy a good barbecue as much as anyone: Hamburgers, sausages, devilled eggs, and an array of cold salads.
But sitting outside in the sun and the heat, swatting at flies and wasps, takes a lot of the pleasure out of a barbecue – not to mention the demands on those stuck at the grill.
That’s why the Centre holds an Indoor Barbecue each August. On Aug. 16, while the volunteers cooked up burgers and sausages in the certified kitchen, members dined indoors, where it’s cooler.
And to cool things off even more, this year’s special guests delivered a special dessert – they sponsored an ice cream truck, giving members a choice of favourite treats.
The guests were Jaime Robertson, sales and marketing manager, and David McEachern, Operator at The Elden retirement residence, a new 152 suite residence under construction on Sideroad 10, beside St. John’s Presbyterian Church.
Robertson and McEachern described the philosophy of “Unretirement” that will guide The Elden, and its amenities, before opening the floor to questions.
Senior John Fennell had just one question for the guests: the price. “To me, for the average person, the price range is right out of it,” Fennell said.
McEachern acknowledged that the residence is run for profit, but he pointed out that studio apartments start at just over $3,000 a month – “meals included, housekeeping included, telephone included, TV included, internet included, entertainment included.”
McEachern concluded, “It is a for-profit business. It’s not priced crazy-to-the-moon high,” and he predicted, “We’re going to fill up very quickly.”
Then it was time to eat, and members and guests lined up to fill up their plates.
This Saturday, volunteers from the Danube Seniors Leisure Centre will be at Carrotfest, selling hand-made Gwilly pins – the carrot mascot of CarrotFest – for $1 apiece. All of the funds raised will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities in Toronto, which provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children undergoing treatment at Toronto hospitals.
