The Program for Bengali Seniors was introduced at Harmony Hall
from November 2007 providing in transportation, recreational and
support services with opportunities for socializing,
recreational, skills development, physical and mental well
being, intergenerational, cross-cultural communication and
Volunteering. With all these involvements, it brings the Bengali
seniors direct participation in creating a truly multicultural
society that Toronto represents and aspire for.
A number of special events, outdoors and trips
are organized for the member seniors throughout the year
including celebration of Bangladeshi as well as Canadian
festivals and important ceremonies. Harmony Hall is transforming
the aging experience for seniors in Bangladeshi Community with
our highly successful and innovative programs designed to help
seniors live independently reducing the isolation from the
community as well as the society.
Along with Harmony Hall office, we also run the
program in two other satellite offices at Crescent Town and
Regent Park
The Crescent Town satellite office is located on
the main floor of the Crescent Town Community Centre at 2A The
Market Place.
The Regent Park satellite office address is 14
Blevins Place, Unit 101.
“Angikar”, a Bengali newsletter is also
available at our offices, which is published every month
containing detailed information on Bengali program along with
write ups from our members.
For involvement and participation, please call Nazly Sultana at
416-752-0101 (Harmony Hall) 416-693-5300 (Crescent Town Club
Office)
or email.
The
monthly socializing program is organized on every second
Thursday of the month at our office. Members cook and serve
their own foods. They normally enjoy their lunch with social
chatting with others. This gives a real chance to share
their thoughts and ideas for them spending the time in fun
and involvement. During summer, we organize special outdoor
luncheon programs at different scenic locations which are
very attractive to our members.
We Organize Cultural events and
activities on the special and important days of our seniors
lives vis-à-vis our community. They include Bengali New Year
Celebration (Pahela Boishak), Canada Day, International
Mother Language Day (Ekushey Shahid Dibosh), Eid & Puja
reunion, Bangladeshi Victory Day Celebration and other
programs. Along with others our senior members also
participate and perform in these events spontaneously
bringing color to these events.
Trips full of fun and excitement are
organized for our seniors to various places of natural
scenic beauty and historical interest including: Trips to
Thousand Islands, Niagara Fall, Casino, Ontario Science
Centre and many more.
Wellness classes are offered weekly for
our seniors e.g. Preventive Diabetes, Stress Management
workshop, Yoga and Meditation along with frequent special
workshops and information sessions. These classes and
workshops help our seniors learn and practice nutritious
food habits in their daily life along with applying
critically important tips regarding the problems and
diseases sometimes associated with older age, including
diabetes prevention and healthy maintenance and
cardiovascular disease.
We encourage participation of all!
Bengali Seniors and adults are welcome to participate with
us as volunteer in our programs and outreach to involve
yoursleves in this community intiative and enjoy our
multi-cultural environment while gathering experience.
Students who aspire to work in this field of social services
can get the experiences that they will need in their
profession career. It can be an asset for them.
Wide ranges of Settlement Services are
offered from our three locations for Bengali seniors. We
provide information and referrals, help our seniors filling
out different federal and provincial Govt. agencies
application forms and mails for health, immigration, and
housing and important issues. Every year we organize free
annual Tax clinic for our members for the convenience of
their tax return filing. Our concerned staff, volunteers and
professionals further assist our seniors to identify their
personal problems and accordingly extend their supports
through counseling, referral and service coordination.
Interpreter services are regularly offered for our Bengali
members during their visits to Doctors and Legal offices to
help them communicate with the concerned officials.
