Seniors against loneliness: being ‘out and about’ is the ‘secret to good health’
Posted January 18, 2025 12:59 pm.
Last Updated January 18, 2025 5:55 pm.
Nearly one in five Canadian seniors aged 65 and older reported experiencing loneliness according to Statistics Canada. Consequences of social isolation can be devastating: an increased number of falls, premature death, and dementia.
Conactivity is a community centre in Westmount for older adults. They aid with government correspondence, organize recreational and social activities. Busy Bees knitting group is part of the centre and meets every Wednesday. It’s made up of about 10 women.
Sally Rioux first learned about the Busy Bees when participating in Contactivity’s walks in the park. “I didn’t know a soul, but we become very close friends,” she said.

Rioux has pep in her step. People are often surprised to find out her age explained the 91-year-old.
“I’ve always been busy and I’ve always been out and about and I think that’s a secret to good health,” she said, “because even if you’re not feeling good in the morning, by the time you’re out and about and talking to people, you’re just fine when you get home.”
The Busy Bees knit items to sell and donate to charities like to unhoused shelters and hospitals in Montreal. Rioux says her $10 hats sell like ‘hot cakes.’
“It’s called Pussy Power Hats,” she said. “I did one and it was such a success.”

Benita Goldin, the executive director of Contactivity says, “If I had to put a label on it, I would say they’re a feisty bunch, and they’re very productive.”
Goldin says that groups like this are key to combating loneliness.
“Once you retire, or once you get to a certain age, [your community has] changed,” she said. “You’ve left the workforce, you don’t have that community that you did before… perhaps your children have moved out of the city and you’re no longer taking children to soccer games, or, you’re not running to see grandchildren at soccer games.”

“I look forward to Wednesdays. Um, the ladies are amazing,” said Caryn Weltman, who has been a member of the Busy Bees for a year. “It’s just a wonderful place to share ideas, and knit different projects, and being able to give back to the community.”
Renee Griffiths, another Busy Bees member said laughing, “Oh, I don’t know. Fun. That’s why I come, for fun.”
“It’s a pleasant place to come,” said Jean Shettler vivaciously. “It’s only once a week, but it’s worth it… especially in the wintertime.”

After her husband and mother passed away a few years ago, Valerie Quinn Holland says that Contactivity helped get her out of the ‘doldrums.’ The hardest part for her was getting out for the first time. She described it as the ‘first big step.’

“I was a terrible procrastinator for a while to make myself go out and join,” said Quinn Holland. “I’ve never regretted it.”
“I’ve made some friends here, and we get together, and we go for coffee, and, we go to shows, we’re going to a show in that in February, and, to see the, Oh, my heavens, Tina Turner, you know, review, and then we’ll dance, and, you know, still quite active.”