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April 16 – 30, 2015
MIKE UNCORKED
The Cedar Centre for Active Health and Living Mike Butler
E
very third or fourth Mike Uncorked, I try to expand my topics to highlight a business or person outside of Wolfville, as the Grapevine distribution stretches between Windsor and Berwick. This Uncorked will focus on Wonderful Welcoming Windsor! I’m always surprised at the hidden treasures I find when I take a walk around the town of Windsor… trust me folks, it’s more than a few winding roads between two Tim Hortons. A few weeks back, I was whisked away to Windsor to have an extensive tour of the Cedar Centre for Active Health & Living, located at 69 Cedar Street, Windsor. The Cedar Centre is a destination for healthy living, health improvement, community and art that is a true asset to Windsor, the Valley and beyond. The mission of the Cedar Centre is to create a space and offer its patrons a place to improve and create a strong mind, body and soul.
First, let me tell you about the building itself that houses the Cedar Centre. The building is just over 100 years old and commonly known as the former location of Hawboldt’s Home Furniture. It was originally the Windsor Furniture Factory, partly owned by Andrew Shand. Andrew Shand is the father of Clifford Shand, who, along with his wife Henrie Vaughan Shand, grew to be prominent historical figures in Windsor. The Shand’s former Avon Street home, which dates back to 1890, is still standing today as the Shand House Museum. The Cedar Centre is approximately 20,000 square feet on two levels made of bricks and planks and beams. The building is priceless by today’s standards, but it is much more than that. The renovation has not only preserved the historic feel of the building but the decorative and reconstructive decisions made within the walls are appealing to all the senses; with visible beams, neutral wall colors, open spaces for relaxing, gorgeous sculptures, wall decorations, art work, furniture and lighting fixtures. The air seems cleaner and fresher and it’s genuinely inviting to its guests. I am a history nut and I love seeing older buildings filled with history put to use and preserved and appreciated and the Cedar Centre has done that. So what’s inside this beautiful centre? Well, The Cedar Centre has brought health professionals of all types together in one location. They have and will add doctors of sports science, psychiatry, naturopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, psychology, homeopathy and osteopathy. There will be registered massage therapists and physiotherapists. As well as professional instructors in METT, Yoga, Qigong, Dance and other areas of mind and fitness improvement. I was quite shocked at the extensive space being used as well as the free space still unoccupied; this building is huge and has so much potential. There’s a gym, a full dance studio (Avon Dance
Alzheimer’s and iPods
Submitted by Joel Stoddart, Careforce; and Kate Spurr, Family 1st Medical
“Alive Inside”, a documentary to be screened at Acadia Cinema’s Al Whittle Theatre, chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music on devices like iPods. It reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short. One of the most fascinating subjects in the film is Henry, a 94-year-old dementia patient. In one scene, Henry sits listless and disconnected until earphones are placed on his head. Almost immediately, his eyes focus, his posture straightens, and his face lights up as he listens to some of his favourite music. The film presenters (Careforce, Family 1st Medical, and the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia) say that over the past few years they’ve seen a significant increase in the number of local families learning to cope with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss. “There is such a great need for support and so few resources in the community” says Kate Spurr, “We saw the film and thought we’d love to share it with everyone.”
Company), a conference room (complete with digital projection) available for meetings and parties (by rental), many offices being used, and many more still under construction as the Centre grows. There’s also a delightful coffee shop called the Lavender Pumpkin Piano Café which only serves healthy food and drinks (wraps, smoothies, pure juice etc.) so pop in, read a Grapevine and play a tune on the piano! The Cedar Centre is going to provide this writer with many Who’s Who options for future issues of the Grapevine so stay tuned, but a sneak peek will include acclaimed artist David Howells, whose studio is in the centre; sculptor Ian Startup; Psychiatrist Dr. Lorraine Lazier and many more. If you are in the health profession and want to join the Cedar Centre team by renting space for your office, check out the website at www.69cedarcentre.ca or visit the centre for a tour, it’s well worth it. For those in Windsor and beyond, I strongly encourage you to take a tour, online or in person, of this unique establishment. Find them on Facebook or if you have questions, you can email info@69cedarcentre.ca. Dr. Matthias Jaepel gave me a friendly and informative excursion around the centre the day I visited. Dr. Jaepel is the co-owner of Platypus Medical Exercise Therapy & Training in Halifax and has worked hard to create the Cedar Centre. He has a PhD in Sports Science with over 30 years of training and knowledge and has worked with athletes, children, and people of all ages with a tremendous level of success. He is a world-class athlete himself with tri-athlete championship credentials. Wait, I’m giving away too much…. Matthias is another Who’s Who for the future. What a wonderful adventure! I am eager to get back to the Centre and explore some more of their unique features. Take a trip to Windsor; be healthy, active and wise to what’s handy to you.
The film will be presented May 7 at 7pm at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at www.careforce.ca/aliveinside or by phoning 902-365-3155. Tickets are also available at the Box of Delights Bookshop in Wolfville and will be for sale at the door. For more information about the film, visit www.aliveinside.us.
LOCAL BLOG ROLL
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valleystorytime.wordpress.com
April 15, 2015: Some dogs and guessing games For some reason, there are a lot of dogs in the books I picked up this week. So, if you are hankering for a doggie storytime, I have you covered. First off, Smick, by Doreen Cronin. Her books are so active, you can really get moving with them. In this one, very sparse vocabulary featuring a dog, a bird, and a stick turns into a fun guessing game...
alexsings.blogspot.com
March 29, 2015: Song #13: Four Walls This song was written in Spring 2014, shortly after I moved into my Tiny Home, just in time for five long, miserable days of snow, rain and sleet. It's part love song for my house and cat and part break-up song for a relationship that had ended shortly before my move. The references in the song are to off-grid living in a converted trailer. No electricity. No running water...
www.confessionsofafitnessinstructor.com
April 13: I Finally Ran Outside Hurrah! Sunday afternoon I was able to go get my long run in OUTSIDE without the fear of falling on ice, or freezing my lungs off. Though the thought of actually running 7 miles was a little worrisome.
www.drwoodnd.com/blog
April 8, 2015: Savoury Crepes I've been craving swiss chard lately and trying to figure out different ways to eat it... at every meal. I sautéed it in coconut oil this morning along side of my eggs, I ate it for lunch in a protein "buddha" bowl (this recipe will be coming soon!), and I wanted it again for dinner. I told you, I'm on a kick!
www.chelseayeatonphotography.ca/#!blog/ch6t
April 1: Spring has Sprung (kinda sorta) Happy Spring! I saw some golden sunshine the other day and I know that grass, flowers, and sundresses are on the way. At least I really, really, really hope they are. So, I get the cake for a cake smash session the night before. I swear - as soon as that box of cake touches my hands, I feel like I'm holding a BOMB...
avrlfeedyourmind.blogspot.ca
April 13, 2015: Used books, new money A few times a year we hold used Book Sales. We get many donations from our patrons, and some of those books we actually add to the system; but many of them we already own enough copies of, and so we sell them at our Book Sales...
Register now for spring classes. Start May 1st. Flow, alignment andmobility classes. $8 weeks for $80 until April 24th.
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