Don't miss the HNN Volunteer Appreciation Concert and Lunch on Saturday, April 26th. -Check out the Event page for more details.
OUR STORY
The HNN...Bringing Folks Together
In February 2023, The Highlands North Network (HNN) was established by three local, community-minded women—Barb Young, Nancy Veary, and Rachael Heleniak—who shared a vision of enhancing the social well-being of residents in the northern Lanark Highlands, where small hamlets are geographically isolated. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated this isolation, leaving community halls vacant with little happening to help neighbours stay socially connected.
After the isolation orders were lifted, some communities continued to struggle with getting people out and about. With a significant concentration of older residents in this part of the township, it became clear that the lingering fear of contracting the virus often outweighed many seniors' desires to reconnect socially. Given the toll the virus took on seniors, their concerns were more than justified.
The timing was ideal for establishing our umbrella organization to provide resources and support for social programs in individual hamlets and for the larger community. Understanding that resources require funding, in 2023, HNN applied for financial assistance for two communities through the expansion of the province's Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program. At that time, HNN was not yet a registered not-for-profit organization and could not independently meet the eligibility criteria. The Township of Lanark Highlands agreed to act as the official operator and manage the funds, aligning with their shared goal of serving the residents' needs.
Now, as a newly incorporated organization, HNN has a four-member Board of Directors, which includes two of the founding members, and a four-member Advisory Committee. HNN’s motto, "Happy Matters," emphasizes the importance of social well-being and reflects the organization's mission.
For the first full year of operations, the program has expanded to serve several communities, including those near the Darling White Lake Centre, the White Lake Sports Centre, the North Lavant Community Centre, Tatlock Hall, Robertson Lake Hall, and the Middleville Community Centre.
In the near future, we aim to become the sole operator of the Lanark Highlands-HNN SALC Program and continue to expand the number of social activities and events offered for residents in the northern part of the township. Additionally, we strive to take a leading role in recognizing, understanding, valuing, and supporting the essential contributions of front-line, community-based social health service providers.
Why the HNN Serves the North
The northern part of the Township of Lanark Highlands is a rural, isolated, and underserved area, characterized by a high concentration of retirees, making it an ideal candidate for the SALC program. Spanning over 1,000 square kilometers, Lanark Highlands is one of the five largest lower-tier townships in Ontario. Given the township's vast size, focusing the service area on the north was essential to facilitate the program’s networking and community-building efforts, particularly for the team of volunteers leading the initiative.
Venues for hosting activities and events are crucial to the program. All of the northern hamlets have community halls owned by the township, which are managed by volunteer committees dedicated to keeping them operational. These halls are excellent for social gatherings and come equipped with separate kitchens, making popular events like social dining easy to organize.
A Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program Without a “Centre”
Our Seniors Active Living Centre Program, officially referred to as the Lanark Highlands-HNN SALC Program is distinctive because it does not rely on a single physical location. Although "Seniors Active Living Centre" implies a central hub, this program functions without one. Instead, it operates as a umbrella organization providing resources and support services to several communities in the northern area of the township. The lead team consists of seniors (volunteers) who reside within the service area and primarily work from home. They frequently meet in person at the Max Sutherland boardroom on the lower level of Tatlock Hall.
HNN collaborates with township-owned community halls and the sports centre in White Lake to support and promote their activities and events. These community halls remain independent, supporting other activities beyond those offered by the Seniors Active Living Centre Program. To keep everyone informed and engaged, the HNN utilizes mailers, bulletin boards, email lists managed by our hall representatives in each community, local newspaper and radio advertisements, a Facebook page, and a website.
This decentralized approach ensures that seniors, even in the most rural areas, have access to a diverse range of programming. It also allows each community to preserve its unique character while providing activities for all age groups.