Meet Finola Hogan – a woman who runs on Energizer Batteries!

I know that I say this often, but I truly believe that we cross each others paths for a reason and at the right time so when I ventured into 26 Main Street South, in Alexandria, a place that always seems to be hosting a Creators Market of some kind, I wasn’t sure what or who I would find there but the door was held open by a lovely smiling lady and in I went.

I love discovering new places and people and on this particular day, I found a lady who I had been told runs a club called “The Sunshiners Social Club” – Funseekers Fostering Inclusive Communities and I was also told that she runs on “Energizer Batteries” as she runs this club and has a full time job.

The lady who I am talking about is Finola Hogan and when she introduced herself, I felt like we were old friends as she was so easy to talk to and her story centers around helping people, so I decided to conduct a Seeker Style 5 Question interview to find out more about her and what she does.

Here is what I discovered.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. What inspired the creation of The SunShiners Social Club, and how did the journey begin for you in bringing this community together?


When I moved here with my son Ben in 2019, it was a huge adjustment from life in Montreal. Ben had just graduated at the time of our move, so he went from the daily routine of high school with his friends to spending most of the day at home alone on his computer. The SunShiners Social Club was created for Ben and others like him who lack the much-needed opportunity for social connection that many of us take for granted.

2. For those who’ve never heard of The SunShiners before, how would you describe its mission and the kind of space you’ve built for your members? What sets your club apart as a place of connection, creativity, and care for people with intellectual disabilities?



We are a registered charity (CRA reg. no. 753904614 RR 0001) serving the communities in and around Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. Our mission is to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through athletic, recreational, and artistic programs. We provide a variety of activities to suit each participant’s abilities and interests including pickleball, bowling, yoga, and badminton. We also hold arts and craft events and now a monthly market. What sets us apart is that our club is entirely managed by caregivers of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities with community connectivity in mind, so every activity is developed to engage a broad spectrum of abilities and interests.

3. Your weekly activities sound so engaging—from moonlight yoga to Friday bingo nights! How do you choose which events to offer, and what have you found to be most meaningful for members? Can you give us the details of all your events and are they all open to the general public or just to your members?



Thank you! Moonlight Chair Yoga came about as a workaround for the fluorescent lighting in the gym at Eamer’s Corners School. We created portable set-up including tea lights, string lights, ceiling projections and a mini moon projector. We loved it so much that we decided to do the same thing for our Alexandria yoga class.



Bingo was our very first activity in February of 2023 and we brought it back this year as part of our games night on Fridays. Our current programs are Gentle Yoga with Zoä in Alexandria on Sundays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Fit Club in Alexandria on Mondays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Moonlight Chair Yoga in Cornwall on Wednesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Bingo & Board Games on Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Our markets and Crafters Club (May 31st) events are currently held once per month.



Our activities and events are offered at no cost, and they are open to the whole community. We build and adjust our programs based on the feedback of our club members and community members who attend our activities and events, so we are always looking for suggestions and volunteers:)

4. The monthly artisan market sounds like a beautiful celebration of talent and inclusion. How has this event impacted both your members and the broader community in SDG counties? What are the dates for these markets?



The markets have given our members a great opportunity to engage with people outside their immediate community, build their self-confidence, and feel a sense of success and accomplishment. Every time a painting is sold or admired, it brings the artists such great joy and an eagerness to keep creating. Our vendors have all been wonderful and if nothing else, the market is always a fun day of getting to know one another and exchanging valuable ideas. It has also allowed us to share our other events with the public and we met two of our newest yoga members through the market! Our next markets will be June 14th and July 12th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

5. In terms of growth and vision, where do you see The SunShiners heading in the next few years? Are there dreams you’re hoping to turn into reality?



I have many hopes and dreams for The SunShiners:) The next goal is an 11-passenger van. In addition to our regular weekly activities, we love our field trips and we participate in bocce ball with the Special Olympics every Tuesday. Transportation is always a challenge though, and we know that there are a good number of new members who would join us if we could drive them. Our long-term goal is a residential property (ideally a farm with a small group of animals) that would give our members their independence with the option to have their parents nearby in a separate wing or building.



Bonus Question


What’s the best way for someone to get in touch, either to join The SunShiners or to support the work you’re doing?



I can be reached by phone at 613-330-2877 or by email at: [email protected] for both The SunShiners Social Club and The SDG Caregiver Network. Our Facebook page for the social club is: https://www.facebook.com/TheSunshinersSocialClub

NOTE FROM MAI-LIIS: If you have a chance to stop in at the next Market & Fundraiser on Saturday, June 14th (see poster above) you will be greeted by the happiest, smiling people who will be so glad that you stopped in.