HNN Blog

By Frank Sodonis I’ve been a competitive swimmer for most of my life. Starting in high school, continuing through university, then stepping away for 20 years to raise a family. Over the past 25 years, I returned off and on through Masters swimming. This January, with my doctor’s encouragement, I dove back in again. Masters Swimming Canada has a simple motto: Fun, Fitness, and Friendship. It’s a reminder that sport isn’t just about competition. It’s about staying active, stayi

Social Health…from the Heart #7 By Barb Young I can’t help but reflect on the irony that the classic children’s book Where Does the Butterfly Go When It Rains ? was written in 1961. Those born in that same year are becoming seniors this year. We rarely see butterflies in the rain. So, it feels only natural to wonder - where do they go? Science tells us they find shelter - under leaves, deep in bushes, in the crevices of tree bark. They fold their wings, hunker down, an

The Highlands North Network held a free Seniors Social for residents of Lanark Highlands North on Saturday, March 28 th , 2026. It was held in Tatlock Community Hall which was all decked out for the event with fresh, spring table settings. On arrival, attendees were given a loot bag of delicious chocolates purchased from Village Treats in Lanark. Following speeches via video from Raymond Cho, Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility and John Jordan, Ontario MPP for..

By Barb Young Imagine this. As you read these words, a senior is sitting alone in a local hospital room, a room that has been their temporary home for the past eight months. Their real home is here in the northern Lanark Highlands. But they cannot return to it. Not because they need medical care, but because they need help with daily living: meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation to appointments, reminders to take medications, someone nearby if they need help, and, p

By Barb Young In a recent meeting with our Advisory Committee, we focused on the HNN Strategic Plan and ways to better align it with our Mission Statement. We discussed strategies to increase participation in activities that raise awareness about the importance of social health in our communities, as well as among those who can influence policy change. Social health is just as important as physical and mental health, and the time is long overdue for the government to re

By Barb Young Music has a unique way of weaving into the fabric of our lives, often serving as the backdrop for our most meaningful...

By Barb Young (Joseph) Harold Flanagan was born on January 17, 1928, in an old, red brick farmhouse on a knoll just north of...

By Barb Young As a home-based assisted living provider for seniors for many years, I often witnessed firsthand the importance of social...

by Barb Young The old saying ‘hard work pays off’ rang true in Middleville this past Sunday afternoon as HNN, together with Harmony...

By Barb Young The World Health Organization's definition of health, established in 1948, remains relevant today : "a state of complete...

By Barb Young As a founding member and President of the HNN, I would like to take this opportunity to personally reflect on why our...

Lanark — The Ontario government is investing in a new Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program in Lanark. “This is an exciting day...