Active Living Centre

Welcome to the Active Living Centre, a vibrant hub for older adults offering a diverse range of activities and services. Whether you're interested in Tai Chi, shuffleboard, yoga, or pickleball, our Centre has something for everyone. 

We also offer regular trips to enjoy the arts, the outdoors, and live entertainment. Located at the FlightExec Centre (2066 Dorchester Road), we are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (excluding statutory holidays). Our building is fully accessible, with designated parking available for those with accessible parking permits.

Pricing for Sessions, Pay-as-you-go and Drop-in classes are listed in Bi-monthly newsletter, as per the current Fees and Charges by-law. 


ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE SURVEY

Share your ideas about what we can do to improve Active Living Centre programs in Thames Centre!

Click here to take our 2026 Active Living Centre Survey.

Paper copies are available at both Dorchester and Thorndale locations. 


Download Our Most Recent Newsletter!

Download Our Current Calendar!


Facility Overview

The Active Living Centre is located at the north side of the FlightExec Centre and is fully accessible. 

  • Activity Rooms
    • Meeting Room #1 - Lions Den (68' x 55')
    • Meeting Room #2 - Activity Centre (39' x 62')
    • Meeting Room #3 - Creative Art Studio (39"x26')
  • Commercial Kitchen
  • Auditorium - Lions Community Hall (68' x 79')
  • Courtyard (19' x 24')

Programs

We are excited to offer programs in Dorchester, as well as at the Thorndale Lions Community Centre (265 Queen Street).

Dorchester

Location: Activity Centre

Thursday 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Activity Centre

  • Wednesday's: 7pm - 10pm
  • Prizes to be won

  • Bus trips are run monthly and can be found in the newsletter or by contacting Karen Gress

  • Mondays - Returning in the Fall
  • Thursdays (Activity Centre) in person, 11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m

Instructor: Cheryl Elliott

Virtual House Calls with Janis Baines

Janis Baines is offering to make house calls to help people with connecting with family and friends through Skype (video call) or other conference meeting apps and to help with general computer/device issues.

Please let us know if you are interested and we will have Janis contact you


Tech Help with Dan Parker, Mastering Modern Technology: A Comprehensive Guide for Seniors

Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., Creative Art Studio, 6-week session.

Course Overview,
Class 1: Getting Started with Smartphones, 
Class 2: Making Calls, Sending Texts, and Managing Contacts, 
Class 3: Exploring Apps and the Internet, 
Class 4: Using Smart Home Devices,
Class 5: Streaming Services and Entertainment,
Class 6: Online Safety and Troubleshooting,

iPads are available to borrow with advance notice.

 

  • 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - scheduled periodically
  • Participants of this class will make decorations or party favours for the centre events i.e. Hot Meals, Socials etc. 
  • Instructor: Karen Gress

- Returning in the Fall

- Returning in the Fall

Gentle Yoga

Tuesdays - Returning in the Fall

Thursdays 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Location: Activity Centre

Instructor: Cheryl Elliott

Join us to perform yoga poses modified to individual needs, gentle movement sequences to help improve the body’s movement patterns, yogic breath techniques, and guided relaxation.

 

1:00pm – 3:00pm every Wednesdays

Location: Activity Centre

  • Second Friday of every month (unless listed otherwise) 12 noon in the Lions Community Hall
  • $25.00 for a full course meal including dessert & tea/coffee and entertainment
  • Purchase tickets as soon as possible by dropping by the Centre or reserve your tickets by contacting Karen Gress

Every Friday from 10:30AM – 12PM

Location: Gymnasium

For more information, contact Penny by email penny@pennywearne.com or call 519-268-3306.

- Returning in the Fall

- Returning in the Fall

Location: Lions Den

Wednesdays from 9am – 12pm

Join Lawrence Seah for “Coffee and Mahjong Social”. Mahjong or mah-jongg is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is played by four players. If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity to learn this game, call, or email us to sign up. Once participants learn to play the game, this will develop into a social drop-in program where everyone can join in on Wednesday mornings to play Mahjong.

Pickleball is located in the gymnasium at the FlightExec Centre.

  • Mondays-Fridays 7:00 am - 8:50 am
  • Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
  • For Active Living Centre members only.  
  • Paddles and balls are provided during the program.

  • In person Pilates Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Location: Lions Den
  • In person Pilates Thursday- 10:30 a.m.  - 11:30 a.m. Location: Lions Den
  • Instructor: Laura Lea Devine. 
  • Pilates is a method of exercise endorsed by physicians for almost a century.  It has become one of today’s most sought after workouts that helps strengthen and condition muscles, reduce and eliminate back ache, dramatically improves posture, flexibility and balance as well as getting you on your way to long, lean, toned muscles and a flat stomach.
  • Call (519) 268-2025 for more information.

- Returning in the Fall

- Returning in the Fall

Location: Activity Centre

Join this lively, social group for a fun afternoon of crafts from 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.. You are welcome to quilt, sew, knit, crochet, cross stitch etc. Bring your favourite craft to work on. If you’d like to learn to quilt, there are lots of helpers here to give you a hand. You don’t have to be a pro crafter, just come out to have fun, stitch away and have a chat with the gang. Gladys Butler is the organizer of this class.

Join “The Ragged Edge Quilters” Guild!

- Returning in the Fall

Location: Lions Community Hall

Thursdays: 2:00 PM  – 4:00 PM.

Monday: - Returning in the Fall

Wednesdays: 10:30 AM –  11:30 AM
Location: Lions Community Hall
Instructor: Shelly Hansford

- Returning in the Fall

- Returning in the Fall

- Returning in the Fall

Thorndale

Mondays

9:00am - 10:00am in Meeting Room #3

Instructor: Maggie Squiers

Fridays

- Returning in the Fall

Benefits of Chair Yoga: increases circulation, strengthens muscles, increases flexibility, lubricates joints, improves range of motion & mobility, improves balance, eliminates toxins, calms the mind/relaxation and improves concentration.

Instructor: Lynda Barber. A fun, easy to follow choreographed dance routine with the incorporation of scarves. All fitness levels welcome!

Fridays 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Location: Meeting Room #3.

Come out and enjoy a relaxing time, creating whatever your hear desires, with provided supplies and some social conversation!

Mondays 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. in meeting room #1

Starting September 2

Location: Meeting Room #1 

Tuesdays from 1PM – 2:50PM

Cash prizes to be won

Come out and join this fun, social group play this enjoyable card game

Monday
10 a.m - 11 a.m
Meeting Room #3
Instructor: Maggie Squiers

Friday
- Returning in the Fall

Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Gymnasium. 

Currently inactive.

Wednesday’s 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Location: Meeting Room #1

Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, baked good and great conversation

    • A perfect mix of strategy, storytelling, and a great excuse to gather around the table.
    • Fridays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Meeting Room #3

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 1PM – 2:50PM in the gym.

For Active Living Centre members only

Tuesdays

9:00 am - 10:00 am (outside)

Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Gymnasium 

Currently inactive.

Contact Dayna if interested.

Monday

  • Returning in the Fall

Wednesday
8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Location: Gym

- Returning in the Fall

Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Location: Meeting Room #3

Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, baked good and great conversation.

Contact Us

Municipality of Thames Centre
4305 Hamilton Rd
Dorchester, ON, Canada, N0L 1G3

Ph (519)268-7334
Fax (519)268-3928

inquiries@thamescentre.on.ca

Lions Active Living Centre

2066 Dorchester Rd
Dorchester ON
N0L 1G2

Thorndale Lions Community Centre

265 Upper Queen St
Thorndale ON
N0M 2P0

Karen Gress
Active Living Coordinator

Ph (519)268-7334 x708
kgress@thamescentre.on.ca

Kayla Small
Active Living Assistant - Dorchester

Ph (519)268-7334 x728
ksmall@thamescentre.on.ca

Dayna Barons
Active Living Assistant - Thorndale

Ph (519) 268-7334 x730
dbarons@thamescentre.on.ca

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