You are warmly invited to this community photo exhibit by older adults from the Distillery District features nine residents who took photos over ten weeks. Their images reflect places, spaces, people, and moments that shape their community and sense of belonging, and tell their story of aging in place.

Event Details:

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 from 3 – 7 pm

Activities and refreshments from 5 – 6:15 pm

Arta Gallery – 14 Distillery Lane

Please register by January 19, 2026 -  https://tinyurl.com/5v38a34b

Join us for an interactive session with an experienced occupational therapist! Discover how small changes can make a big difference in how and where you live. Learn practical tips and strategies to keep your living space comfortable, safe, and supportive - so you can stay independent, confident, and connected to your community.

Please register here by Thursday, January 15th - https://forms.gle/wdES2YKmt1LeRQPL7

A light lunch will be served.

Join us for Living Long in the Distillery updates, learn about the new tech mentor program, provide feedback on current programs and help design future programs.

Please register here by Friday, January 9th - https://forms.gle/cem6gRfSEN88Zbyu9

Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for an engaging and supportive session focused on mental health in older adulthood. Learn how mental well-being affects seniors and why a holistic approach to mind, body, and social connection matters.

A light lunch will be served.

Please register here by Tuesday, December 30 - https://forms.gle/LVFRgy7AStSGRCZy5

You’re invited to a joyful afternoon of food, fun, and festive cheer! A holiday lunch will be served followed by a sing-along.

Event Details:

Tuesday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm

33 Mill Street, Party Room – 6th Floor

RSVP by November 25th at https://forms.gle/YxXbGmGok21s7f9UA

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca or (437) 457-4777 if you have any questions.

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery 

Experience the magic of Canada’s largest and oldest choir at The Distillery Winter Village! This Sunday, November 30th, we’re thrilled to welcome the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for two back-to-back performances of their cherished Festival of Carols gathered around the Christmas tree in the main square. The JUNO-winning and GRAMMY-nominated ensemble brings breathtaking harmonies, traditional carols, and festive works to life under the twinkling lights. Performance details below:

Sunday, November 30th at 7 pm and 8 pm
Free to attend with entry to The Distillery Winter Village

Join us for an informative and engaging afternoon focused on preventing falls and promoting safety for older adults. Learn how to fall safely, how to get up if you fall, and exercises to help prevent falls and increase balance.

Event Details:

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 at 12:30 PM
80 Mill Street, 2nd Floor Community Room, Buzzer Code 1145

A light lunch will be served.

Please register here by Thursday, November 13 - https://forms.gle/w3XHmjwMDfMMTqft8

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca if you have any questions.

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery

Join us for an informative and engaging afternoon focused on nutrition and simple meal prep ideas.

Event Details:

Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 at 12:30 PM
33 Mill Street, 6th Floor – Party room

Light refreshments, coffee, and tea will be served.

Please register here by Thursday, October 30 - https://forms.gle/utNGTdjaEHxQDxXKA

GWNA’s Living Long in the Distillery and the Canary District Neighbourhood Association (CDNA) are partnering with the local No Frills Pharmacy, Soulpepper Theatre Company and Rocco’s No Frills to host a Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. 

Event Details:

Sunday, November 2, 2025 

11:00 am to 4:00 pm 

Soulpepper Theatre Co - 50 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON

Please register here by Sunday, October 26 http://bit.ly/46PzuRg

Vaccine Eligibility:

Flu Vaccine - ages 2 and up

COVID-19 Vaccine - ages 12 and up

Vaccine Clinic Volunteers

We’re looking for Distillery and Canary District residents to volunteer at the vaccine clinic. There are 3 roles – greeters, registration desk, refreshment stand – and 90 minute volunteer slots, beginning at 10:30 am through 4:30 pm. If you’d like to volunteer, please sign up here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xGLop6QMvA3rr9ItR0WjT-rF9R5spLsw7m1igxftUd0/edit?usp=sharing

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca if you have any questions.

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery

Join your neighbours for a night of fun and friendship at GWNA's Halloween Neighbours Night out this Monday night. 

We'll be projecting the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series. 

Plus GWNA members get their first Old Flame Brewing Co. beer, or soft drink, for free. 

Costumes are encouraged. We saw some fun ones last year and look forward to again awarding a best costume prize. 

Any new or renewing memberships will now be valid through December 31, 2026. It's easy to sign up and e-transfer the $15 annual fee online at https://www.gwna.ca/become-a-member 

See you Monday night!

Join us for an informative session on diabetes prevention and management.

This session in helpful if you are:

- at high risk for diabetes

- living with type 2 diabetes

- caring for someone with diabetes

Event Details: 

Tuesday, October 21st from 12:30 – 2:30 pm
70 Mill Street, Community Room (Main Floor)

Light refreshments will be provided.

Please register here by Thursday, October 16 - https://forms.gle/nqCRkRF1MsL6LURr5

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca if you have any questions. 

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery

New: Hearing Health

Join us for an informative session on hearing health and receive an optional hearing screening from a Baycrest audiologist.

Event Details:

Tuesday, October 7th from 12:30 – 2:30 pm
33 Mill Street, 6th Floor Party Room

Bring your own lunch. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please register here by Thursday, October 2 - https://forms.gle/8yLHkvu4RFcp4TuCA

Join us for an informative session on living with osteoarthritis presented by the Arthritis Society.

Event Details:

Friday, September 26th from 12:30 – 2:30 pm
70 Mill Street, 2nd Floor Party Room

Bring your own lunch. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please register here by Monday, September 22 - https://forms.gle/siVrHDGYbHfHnVgF6

Community Engagement Meeting

Join us for Living Long in the Distillery updates, provide feedback on current programs and help design future programs.

Event Details:

Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 - 3 pm
80 Mill Street, 2nd Floor Party Room

Light refreshments will be provided.

Please register here by Friday, September 19 -https://forms.gle/JqM2bMvW3qGSZRMj9

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca if you have any questions.

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery  

Medication Management Live and Learn Session

As part of Stand Tall, our Falls Prevention program, join us for an informative session led by a local pharmacist who will help you:

• Understand your medications

• Identify medications that increase fall risk

• Avoid harmful drug interactions

• Organize your daily doses

• Get answers to your medication-related questions

Event Details:

Tuesday, September 16th from 12 - 2 pm
70 Mill Street – Community Room (Main Floor)

Bring your own lunch. We’ll provide light snacks, coffee & tea

Please register here by Friday, September 12 - https://forms.gle/LSaCuaQVxSnzLAoe6

Feel free to reach out to llid@gwna.ca if you have any questions.

Introduction to Zoom

The next digital literacy workshop will be an Introduction to Zoom presented by Connected Canadians.

• Learn the basis of Zoom, including what Zoom is, and how to access and use it

Event Details:

Wednesday, September 17th at 2 pm

Online - Click here to register

Give Us Strength Report

Between March and July, Living Long in the Distillery successfully executed our first grant project, Give Us Strength, funded by WoodGreen Community Services. Please see the report we submitted here - GWNA+LLID+Give+Us+Strength+Final+Report+Website+Version.pdf

The Digital Literacy Project is kicking off with a virtual Introductory session on August 28th, followed by the first two digital literacy workshops on September 17th and September 25th at 2PM via Zoom (see attached poster for details)! Join us on August 28th at 2:30PM via Zoom to learn more about Connected Canadians, the Toronto Council on Aging, and this project (Intro session will be recorded). 

Workshops Registration: To register for the introductory session and all upcoming digital literacy workshops, click here, or scan the QR code on the attached poster. You only need to register once; this will ensure that you receive email invitations and reminders of all upcoming workshop sessions. Do you know anyone who might be interested in registering but is not online? Please submit the form on their behalf, and Connected Canadians will be in touch. 

TIP: If you need help to set up Zoom for the first time, please contact Connected Canadians toll-free at 1(877) 304-5813 OR Email them at  info@connectedcanadians.ca, and indicate that you are part of the Digital Literacy Project at the Distillery.

The Mentor Introductory Session will be held on September 3rd via Zoom, and all interested Mentors have been contacted. There is still time to join us as a Mentor - All Ages are welcome! Reply to llid@gwna.ca if you are interested.

Next Week

Watch for information about regular learning sessions that will begin in September.

LLID Facebook Group

If you're on Facebook, stay up to date by joining the Living Long in the Distillery Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/livinglonginthedistillery  

Summer Social

As we wrap up Give Us Strength, funded by WoodGreen Community Service's Enhancing Seniors Inclusion in Communities grant, we invite you to a summer social - an afternoon of lunch, laughter, and connection with your neighbours.

Come enjoy a delicious lunch, share stories, and get to know people in our community. Whether you're new to the Distillery District or a longtime resident, this is a great chance to meet, mingle, and make friends.

Details:

Wednesday, July 30, 2025, from 12 - 2 pm

39 Parliament Street, 11th Floor Collins Room

Lunch will be served

Please RSVP by July 25 here summer_social

Feel free to email with any questions - llid@gwna.ca

Gentle Exercise Classes – Few Spots Available

The Distillery and Canary Districts have been provided with an opportunity to host free exercise classes funded by Ontario Health Toronto for their older adult community members. The program is designed to help seniors stay healthy, active, and mobile.

The funding is held by Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association, a community support organization since 1976. Since the inception of these provincially funded classes in 2013, Carefirst has partnered with Mobility Matters to deliver these classes across Downtown Toronto, Scarborough, and York Region. We are fortunate to be working with these organizations.

Classes involve a gentle, full-body routine combining aerobic movement, stretching, strength training, balance with both seated and standing segments — and plenty of good-humoured fun. Participants use small weights and therapy bands.

There are a few spots left on Tuesdays and Thursday from 9 – 9:45 am, from July 22 – October 2, at 80 Mill Street, excluding statutory holidays.

Please contact llid@gwna.ca if you wish to sign up for the exercise classes as above. As space is limited for the exercise classes, they will be filled on a first come first served basis.

Digital Literacy Project – Upcoming Information Sessions

GWNA’s Living Long in the Distillery (LLID) has been selected as one of five participating Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Toronto Council on Aging’s (TCA) digital literacy project. The project is a one-year program to improve the quality of older adult residents’ lives by offering a series of online workshops on various topics, to help build on residents' digital literacy skills and confidence.

Online Workshops

-   Connected Canadians will host a total of 18 virtual workshops between September 2025 - March 2026 (1 hour each)

- Registration is now open for the online workshops. To receive email reminders, register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNSDtTV3rqohZVqNHAOXnnu3Xo1kQu1dELXmllnE9vy_2uYA/viewform

- Attendance is at your leisure and assistance will be provided for anyone not comfortable with joining a Zoom call

Volunteer to be a Technology Mentor

Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in volunteering as a Technology Mentor! We still have spots. Technology Mentors will take part in Connected Canadians’ mentor training program (5-6 hours commitment in total) and will obtain skills necessary to help other community residents who need technology support. If you are interested and for more information, please email llid@gwna.ca.