OTTAWA TAMIL SENIORS ASSOCIATION

1. Yoga & Meditation Classes (weekly) Yoga and Meditation methods are taught to youth and seniors to keep the body and mind healthy. Yoga and Meditation improve our self confidence make easy to control stresses & emotions and making participants to feel happy peaceful and loving. 2. Art and culture - Drama Music Stage programs - Bi-weekly A drama club is organized in OTSA to produce dramas to impart our cultural values to the youth by demonstrating incidents depicted in stories from Tamil books written by great authors from our ancestors. Every program is rehearsed several times before it goes to stage to bring reality & great effect on audience. 3. Workshops and seminars: Workshops are conducted on cooking Tamil cultural foods and making traditional clothing allowing participating seniors to share this knowledge with their children and grandchildren. Seminars are organized quarterly with assistance from Tamil-speaking doctors and other knowledgeable community members on various topics. 4. Picnics tours and sports Picnics are organized during the summer in selected parks in Ottawa for members to relax exercise play games and enjoy snacks as well as an evening meal before returning home. At least two tours are planned for seniors. There is a one-day tour of Ottawa and its surroundings and a 2 to 3-day tour to visit other provinces including islands parks museums and places of worship. 5. Traditional cooking - biweekly Stitching costumes / cultural clothing - biweekly Knitting winter clothes/ sawing – biweekly 6. Spoken English Language through Tamil Weekly classes are organized to teach members English. Instructions are provided in their native language Tamil to facilitate quick learning. 7. Computer/Tablet Basics courses 8. Badminton Games for Seniors and others Ottawa School Badminton courts are booked weekly for seniors adults and children to play and learn badminton. Playing promotes a healthy mind and body and fosters friendships across all ages. 9. Cultural Stage Programs We conduct at least two or three stage programs annually featuring a variety of performances including dances by seniors children and adults as well as singing dramas and debates. The events which are held at Walter Baker Sports Centre or Ottawa school auditoriums typically last at least 3 hours and attract over 300 attendees of all ages.

1. Spoken French Classes to Seniors OTSA plans to start a Spoken French class for interested members. This will help keep seniors' minds engaged potentially preventing dementia and reducing stress. 2. OTSA Gala in Ottawa and Toronto We plan to hold a Gala in Ottawa and Toronto to raise funds for our Ottawa centre. The event will include 200 to 250 chairs traditional Tamil food and cultural programs for entertainment. 3. Tamil New Year Celebrations Tamil New Year begins on April 13th the first day of Tamil month Chithirai. We plan to celebrate on April 19th with our members and their grandchildren serving sweets Tamil cultural food and hosting cultural programs. 4. Christmas and New Year Program One week before Christmas we organize and celebrate Christmas and New Year in a hall. All members and their friends of all ages are invited to participate in the festivities. The event includes Santa Claus distributing gifts to children dancing carol singing and stage programs featuring dances dramas singing and debates.