VBA: Village By The Arboretum

Quilt B1

CRAFT groups are popular in the Village. The traditional Quilting club is a self-help group sharing knowledge, talent, and techniques. Classes are provided as required and trips are made to nearby quilt shops and shows.

We have a Broidery group who use needle and thread to create wonderful patterns on various materials.

The Tied Quilting group makes quilts for charity, from drapery fabric sample tops, donated sheets and purchased batting.

There is a Traditional Rug Hooking group who make rugs, cushion covers, placemats and the like.

Another group practices Bunka, a form of Japanese embroidery, sometimes described as painting with threads.

Bobbins The Needle Crafts group meets to knit, crochet and do other handicrafts. The group meets weekly to share ideas and create crafts such as quilts, shawls, mittens, scarfs, slippers, blankets which are donated to the General Hospital, Sister Christine's Drop-in Centre, the Police Department and other organizations in the community of Guelph.

Folkart work

A Folk Art group of decorative painters get together weekly to work on their individual projects. Occasionally, special lessons are provided.

Water colour - Irises

The Watercolour Art group is a social painting get-together for beginners and advanced artists. Instruction is provided.

Caricature - by Eldon Humphreys, of the VBA HOBBY groups are well developed in the VBA. Formed in the fall of 2001, the Wood Carving group brings together Village residents interested in the craft of wood carving. Members' experience ranges from none to extensive. The VBA Wood Carving emphasizes caricature carving. Villagers have the good fortune in having one of North America's foremost caricature carving artists, who is also a renowned instructor, living in our village.

Marquetry sample

Several VBA residents have also formed a Wood Workers group which meets from time-to-time.

Village Model Railroaders meet to promote model railroad building. They encourage each other by offering help to those who want to start model railroading or who need help in expanding their existing layouts.

Model Airplane

The Airplane Modellers group promotes model airplane building and flying. Here is a sample of a model airplane built by a resident.

Amateur radio set up
The Amateur Radio group appeals to residents interested in communications and electronics. This hobby can include the use of computers and satellites, and virtually every imaginable kind of communications using radio to achieve world-wide communications.

There is also a very active Computer Club that meets regularly to advise and answer all kinds of questions.

Victory Model - by Peter Robertson of the VBA
The Ship Modellers are interested in building models of old sailing ships, liners and modern tankers. They meet to talk about their models, display their models at hobby shows and occasionally sail their boats on local ponds.

Village Centre Exercise room Several EXERCISE activities are available to Village residents.
The Stretch Exercise group provides a regular opportunity for Village residents to engage in light exercise. Sessions are relatively short. They are designed to get people moving, but not in a strenuous way. In addition, there is men's and women's Keep Fit classes (a little more vigorous).

Villagers can participate in Tai Chi and Yoga, both activities are non-competitive with participants working at their own pace and within the limitations of their body.

VBA Pool

Aqua Fit classes are held in the Village Centre pool three times per week. Both High Impact and Low Impact classes are available.

CARD GROUPS meet regularly in the Village Centre. Duplicate Bridge is played two ways; where partners are allocated to a table by random number, and where players bring a partner and play with them all evening. Social Bridge is played where players are assigned to a table with three other players. No Stress Bridge is available for players who wish to socialize and play fun bridge.

The Euchre Club was one of the first clubs formed in the VBA, and it is still very popular offering regular and no stress versions of the game.

The Poker Group is made up of VBA poker enthusiasts with experience ranging from near-beginners to more advanced players.

Village residents have access to a wide range of SPORTS and GAMES.

Indoor court activities include doubles and singles Badminton which is played on the three courts in the Village Hall.

The Table Tennis club is one of the newest clubs in the VBA. It is a group of people who enjoy playing table tennis (ping pong).

Horseshoe pit The Village has a very active Tennis Club. The club organizes fun days and round robin competition, social Barbecues, pot luck dinners, and 'Breakfast at Wimbledon' complete with strawberries and cream. Other outdoor activities include Shuffleboard and Horseshoes.

Golf - Golf-around is a recently formed group of VBA men and women who golf at various 18-hole championship (regulation-size) courses within a 40 minute drive of the VBA.

Billiard Room

Billiards, for both Men's and Women's is proving a popular year-round activity.

Ten Pin Bowling is enjoyed by Villagers through the Fall and Winter months.

The Bicycling group takes regular weekly rides on trails through Guelph and the nearby countyside.

Opportunities for EDUCATION abound in the Village. A well stocked Library, located in the Village Rec Centre Library Centre, consists entirely of books donated by residents, except for a few books that were purchased for reference purposes. There is also a Book Club that meets regularly for discussions on various editions. Residents can borrow books or spend time in the quietness of the Reading Room.

A Peer Study Group, formed by Villagers, meets regularly to discuss and debate topics of common interest. Participants prepare a relatively short presentation related to the main theme.

Villagers have also formed a group named SENSA - Supporters of Environmental and Societal Activities. SENSA members arrange speakers and discussion opportunities to provide a forum for the support of specific projects both environmental and societal. SENSA membership also provides opportunities to support environmental and societal activities as volunteers.

SOCIAL activities are popular with VBA residents. A Card Party, held on the third Friday of each month, provides residents with an opportunity to play cards and to socialize with neighbours and friends. Similarly on Games Night, residents can play Scrabble, Shanghai Rummy, and Rummy Cube, or any other game they choose to bring.

Coffee Hour, held on the second Wednesday of each month, is an informal gathering which provides an opportunity for Villagers to meet neighbours and get information on upcoming events and activities.

Luncheons are arranged for most months and are held in restaurants in Guelph and in the surrounding area. Periodically the luncheon is combined with another event such as a visit to a special attraction or to a theatre.

Ones & Twos Dinner Club is for singles and couples interested in meeting for an evening of food, fun and fellowship. Dinners are usually held at an area restaurant.

The Village boasts two Red Hat Society Clubs who frequently take trips to various attractions in southern Ontario.

DANCING All residents are welcome to join any of the dance activities available in the Village. Residents can have fun and exercise learning how to Line Dance. Beginners are encouraged and participants find Line Dancing an excellent opportunity to socialize with friends and meet new neighbours.

The Social Dance Group invites all Village residents to dance on the finest (sprung) dance floor in Guelph. The group is arranging for dance lessons and is planning for weekly dance practices. They are also planning to continue a Village tradition of the Big Dance Parties.

Residents can participate in Square Dancing which is good physical and mental exercise and is also very sociable.

Tap Dancing classes available to Village residents cover basic tap steps leading into easy and more intricate routines. No tap dancing experience is required to join the group. Classes are fun, educational, and provide good exercise.

ENTERTAINMENT The VBA Film Society meets bi-monthly except during summer months. Selected by committee, the films are chosen to entertain VBA residents.

The Theatre Group has been very active in the Village from the early days of the Village Centre. The Group encourages Village residents to participate in theatrical events, both on stage and back stage, for the entertainment of residents and their guests. They present a variety of performances which include: plays, the popular Cabaret Nights and the "Sunday at 3" concerts.

Members include Villagers with an interest in acting, dancing and singing, as well as those who provide lighting, sound, make-up and other stagecraft services. Any resident may join the Theatre Group.

The Village Singers, an enthusiastic group of approximately 45 choristers, love to sing for their own enjoyment and have entertained inside and outside the Village ever since they began. They have a two semester season with a fall session from September to December and a spring session from March to mid June. Concerts are presented at the end of each session with one for the Village residents and several for the community, which have included appearances at River Run with other local choirs, as well as performances at various churches in and around Guelph. Their repertoir includes show tunes, traditional and folk songs, along with Christmas Carols at yuletide. New members are welcome at the start of either session.

The Hymn Sing group gathers in Reid Hall for an hour of singing followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments.

The Village Band is made up of residents who have some knowledge of a particular instrument and are interested in making music!

We have a Film Club whose members get together on a regular basis in our Recreation Centre to watch and dicuss current movies.

A relatively new activity is the Opera Study Group who meet to watch operas on DVD and then join in a general discussion.