Our Organization:   PERTH SENIORS FELLOWSHIP

Ontario Corporation # 297803 and Registered Charity # 119091510 RR 0001   

Perth Seniors Fellowship operates the "Perth Seniors Active Living Centre", offering area residents  "activities for seniors" at McMartin House, 125 Gore Street East, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1J6.  How did Perth Seniors Fellowship acquire this responsibility?

We began as an informal organization named The Perth and District Senior Craft Fellowship (P&DSCF) early in the 1970’s.  On November 22^nd, 1974, as recorded in its Letters Patent, P&DSCF was formally recognized as a registered Corporation and Charity with the principal objective of “promoting good fellowship among the Citizens of Perth and District, and in particular the senior citizens of Perth and District.”   Associated objectives included promotion of the “learning of crafts” and of social and learning “activities”.  In 1975, McMartin House opened as a Historic Site and P&DSCF began offering activities on the premises.  In September of 1975, the Province of Ontario granted P&DSCF recognition “as a Corporation approved by the Ministry of Community and Social Services of the Province of Ontario to operate the McMartin House as a Centre under the Elderly Persons Centre Act with financial responsibility shared by the Province, the Town of Perth and the fellowship, 50, 20, 30%.” (See the last paragraph, below, to read about the legislation that has replaced this act).

Four years later, on March 21^st, 1978, on the authority of the Honourable Larry Grossman, the Ontario Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, P&DSCF was granted Supplementary Letters Patent which confirmed its authority “To maintain and establish an Elderly Persons' Centre” and added the following clause:

• To accept money from Her Majesty The Queen either in right of the Dominion of Canada or in right of the Province of Ontario, for any and all purposes including but not limited to the maintenance and operation of an Elderly Persons' Centre.

From 1974 to the present, P&DSCF has developed and offered activities and events within McMartin House that “are of interest to the Citizens of Perth and District, and in particular to the senior citizens of Perth and District.”  Activities for seniors have included Bridge, Euchre, Scrabble and other board games, Rug Hooking and other crafts, Social (and craft learning) groups like the Friendship Club, Book Clubs, Stamp Clubs, Exercise groups, Line Dancing and  Scottish Dancing groups.

We also offer a number of events of interest to the wider community.  Our Annual Open House is held every July, in conjunction with “Doors Open Ontario”.  Each December we offer the “Nick of Time Craft Show’, an event that features over 20 of the area’s most skilled artisans in a high quality, juried art and craft show which brings in hundreds of visitors.

On November 18^th, 2011, the wording (but not the thrust) of our Mission Statement was revised to read as follows:

“Serving social, intellectual and recreational needs of our mature adult community while preserving the heritage of McMartin House”.

In November of 2014, P&DSCF completed 40 years of service to Perth and District’s senior citizens. In September of 2015, the Province of Ontario approved Changes in Letters Patent changing our name to PERTH SENIORS FELLOWSHIP and clarifying and simplifying our objectives as a corporation and registered charity.  Our revised objectives are listed under the OBJECTIVES TAB on this web site.

As of October 15th, 2017, new Ontario Legislation, entitled the Seniors Active Living Centres Act, 2017, came into effect.  A copy of the new legislation can be accessed here. Perth Seniors Fellowship now manages the Perth Seniors Active Living Centre, and our previous name (Perth Seniors Elder Persons Centre) is retired.  

Our Staff

For over 30 years, Vivian Buchanan, our Executive Director and Comptroller, has worked diligently to ensure that McMartin House has its financial affairs in order, is clean and well maintained and meets the logistical needs of the activities and events offered.  We are very fortunate that Vivian Buchanan, is still with us.  She competently and efficiently manages the Corporation’s financial affairs, and liaises. on our behalf, with the Ontario Heritage Trust and local or regional officials. She also provides informed advice and reminders supporting our operation as a Board.

Over the years, Vivian has also set up the furniture in our Activity Rooms to meet the needs of our various activities. She carried some housekeeping responsibilities and frequently took on tasks like cleaning up spillage or breakage, snowshovelling and other tasks requiring physical strength. Currently she cannot easily provide contributions requiring considerable physical strength and stamina. We are pleased to announce that Erin Carter has joined our staff and is working with Vivian in a number of areas, including housekeeping and room setups.

The Board is also grateful for the past contributions of each of the following members of Vivian's family:

Keith Buchanan, until a short time prior to his passing, carried out skilful and reliable maintenance work and supervised contractual maintenance or repairs.  Keith was made an Honourary Member of the Board of Directors for his contributions.

Vivian's daughter, Elizabeth McPhee Wall, carried a large supporting role until she left in 2014, carefully managing McMartin House activities and events, carrying out most of the housekeeping chores and assisting in other duties. 

Our Board of Directors

PRESIDENT:      Brian Henderson;       
EXEC DIRECTOR: Vivian Buchanan    

DIRECTORS:
Brian Henderson, Vivian Buchanan, Shirley McLenaghan, Susan Roach, Sue Brown, Ian Moffatt.

HONOURARY MEMBERS: Maxine McEachern, John McCluskey and the late: Keith Buchanan, Mary Bowrin, Gus Quattrocchi, Judy Burns and Helena Hardy.