Seniors on Wheels program officially launches

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By Nick Seebruch
Seniors on Wheels program officially launches
Bernard Lamarche of the Senior-Friendly Community Committee, centre, cuts the ribbon at the launch of the Seniors on Wheels pedicab program on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 (Nick Seebruch/ Seaway News).

CORNWALL, Ontario – The Senior-Friendly Community Committee held their official launch ceremony for their Seniors on Wheels program on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

Thanks to a $25,000 federal grant received by the committee through the New Horizons program, as well as much local community support, the committee was able to lease a pedicab.

The program, which is supported by the Seaway Valley Community Health Centre (SVCHC) will help seniors get out into the community this summer. Seniors will be able to book a cab on either the SVCHC website or the City of Cornwall website and a volunteer will take them for a short 30 minute ride. Rides begin to the east of the Cornwall Civic Complex near Marina 200 and Cornwall Transit will drive seniors to their pedicabs free of charge by calling 613-930-2636.

“This is a great tangible project that will improve the lives of not just seniors but citizens of all ages,” said Cornwall City Councillor Justin Towndale at the launch of the project.

Bernard Lamarche, one of the project leads thanked the community for their support. Not only has the project received support from the City of Cornwall, SVCHC, and the federal government, but also from Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise who contributed $3,000 to the project.

Lamarche told the gathered crowd that the launch of the Seniors on Wheels initiative has been years in the making and that he hoped that next year they will be able to lease more pedicabs to bolster the project.

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