SWIM PROGRAM

Our great water based exercise program has finally started up again after the multi-year Covid shut down and lengthy renovations at the ACT Center.  We gather every Tuesday at 5:00 PM and spend an hour in the water with a certified exercise therapist from Equality Fitness. These trainers are qualified to work with people dealing with disabilities and they go out of their way to tailor programs to individual needs! This program is worth the effort of getting there and goes a long way to keep us active and moving!  WPSS has private time at the pool every Tuesday from 5:00 PM through 6:00 PM and every Saturday from 4:00 PM through 6:00 PM. At the moment we have a coach for every Tuesday session. If attendance warrants it we may bring the coaches in for Saturday sessions too.

Come on out and join the fun!! KEEP MOVING!!

Bernd Schwanke

REACHING OUT TO POLIO SURVIVORS

Your Board has been working on ways of spreading the word out, primarily to Polio survivors, but also to other members of our community, about Wildrose Polio Support Society.

Our first project was to design and produce an updated version of a brochure, “Are you a Polio Survivor,” a document that WPSS first produced more than 20 years ago.

We have sent copies of these brochures to all of our current members. We hope that you are able to pass these around though your own contacts for the benefit of other polio survivors and the various care and medical  agencies.

We have also visited many Seniors Centres and other Care Homes in our region and have left posters on Notice Boards together with a supply of these brochures.

Recently we have contracted with “Coffee News” to have a series of business card-sized advertisements about WPSS appear over the next year. These adverts will appear at random frequencies throughout Edmonton and  surrounding areas.

If any of you have more ideas about getting the word out about WPSS please contact any one of our board members. We would surely appreciate all the help we can get with this.

Jonathan Smethurst – Director

 

Your Board of Directors has completed a review of the Reimbursement Program and has made some modifications to bring the document into full compliance with our Society By-laws. You can access the full document here. As previously noted the per member per year claim limit is now $1000.00. (This amount is reviewed in each funding cycle and may change from cycle to cycle at the discretion of the board)

1. We have added several new categories to the list of eligible claims, notably Foot Care Therapy and Physical Fitness Facility and Coaching Fees.

2. Also, we have made available funding to reimburse members for transportation costs to WPSS events. Claims are eligible in those instances where the member cannot drive or prefers not to for the sake of safety and where DATS service is not available. Reimbursement will be made up to a maximum of 75% of the cost of the trip. This reimbursement will not be charged against the member’s $1000.00 yearly limit.

It is that time of the year again – memberships were due on January 1. Membership entitles you to receiving our quarterly newsletter, Polio News; to participate in swim and therapy programs, to attend socials and to get financial assistance through the reimbursement program. We also provide educational information and about post polio and treatment generally and locally.

Memberships are still only $20.00 for an individual and $30.00 for a couple. Couples are a polio survivor and a spouse, partner or caregiver. Payment can be made by cheque to the “Wildrose Polio Support Society” or to “WPSS” or by e-transfer using the <wpss@polioalberta.ca> email address.

SWIM PROGRAM – ACT POOL REOPENING

At long last the pool at the ACT Centre in Rundle Park is set to open on February 14, 2023.  Our swim program will start on that day.  We will have sessions on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 6:00, and on Saturdays from 4:00 – 5:00.

Starting February 28, Bobbi-Jo Atchison and her Equality Fitness group ( Equality Fitness | Canada )will be leading aquasize exercise routines for us every Tuesday. BJ and her team are great at keeping us moving and working to our individual ability levels. This is a really great program and I encourage you to come out and enjoy the warm water at the ACT Center.

Hope to see you there!

Follow the above links to the Equality Fitness web page and to the ACT Center for address and map.