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Feb 19,2006 - Feb 26,2006 |
COSTI's Elderly Persons Centre celebrates 15 years
MPP Mario Sergio, COSTI chair Bruno Suppa, director Mario Calla all attend
By Niccolò Marras
Originally Published: 2006-01-29
This week, the Elderly Persons Centre of COSTI celebrated its first 15 years in the presence of MPP Mario Sergio representing the Government of Ontario.
The usual meeting place, suite104 at 1700 Wilson Avenue, was crowded. Many of the 120 members of the Centre - all over 55 years of age - were there. With them, the crowd included social workers, volunteers, and COSTI officials: chair Bruno Suppa and executive director Mario Calla.
The Centre's 15 years have been well spent. Patrons are happy. "The organization is excellent, we are well cared for and able to socialize and make new friends," commented a woman. "It makes me feel 10 years younger," said Armelinda Buccione, an energetic 92-year-old woman with a passion for dancing. Buccione exercises and follows a program prepared by a volunteer, Teresa Ambrosini-Zaccagnini. "By helping others, I help myself too," commented Ambrosini. "COSTI is good for all of us."
"The group of sports practitioners is always large," declared Pina Marino, co-ordinator of the Centre, "and every morning at least 35 of our 120 members come and exercise."
The presence of Mario Sergio, MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Seniors, allowed us to clarify the role of the three levels of government towards this age group.
"A great many seniors need help, but the Federal Government does not consider them. It does not acknowledge their needs and does not intervene. Taxes go up, primary goods such as gas go up, but pensions stay the same and their purchasing power erodes away. However, in addition to Ottawa there is also the City of Toronto piling up on needy seniors. Taxes rise also here, particularly property taxes; and seniors get poorer and poorer. As a matter of fact, they're caught between Ottawa's rock and City Hall's hard place."
What about Queen's Park?
"No, the Province is doing everything it can. We are helping seniors in long term care facilities. We have frozen rents, raised welfare payments and brought the Realty Tax rebate limit up from $500 to $600."
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