CRNs in the Community: Accolades, Honours and Education
May was a month blooming with community events and a few more of our Mentors and Coordinators were showered with honours and accolades. Even as our CRNs are busy preparing for our penultimate event of the year, there have been many awards and activities in the meantime. Here are a few highlights from around the province.
Honours and Accolades
All the time, effort and dedication that our Coordinators and Mentors have been investing into advocating, capacity building and educating for the prevention of abuse, neglect and self-neglect within their communities is being recognized and acknowledged. Over the last two months, notifications of awards and invitations have been reaching our inbox almost weekly. Here are three of BC CRNs’ members that have been honoured recently:
- Ken Kuhn, BC CRN Regional Mentor Fraser West: Was recognized by MLA Fin Donnelly during a session of the BC Legislative Assembly. Mr. Donnelly praised Ken’s work in the Coquitlam-Burke Mountain area through the Tri-Cities Seniors’ Action Society. Ken is the Executive Director of the TCSAS, and sits on several advisory committees that advocate for the prevention of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults including: Organizing Against Racism and Hate Network, Tri-Cities Healthier Communities Partnership and Raising the Profile Project.
- Eva Navrot, BC CRNRegional Mentor Cariboo, Chilcotin: has also been selected to serve a three-year term as a member of the BC Seniors Advocate’s COA beginning September 2024. She is also a member of the Emergency Support Services for the province of BC and was on the task force supporting the evacuation of Fort Nelson and surrounding rural areas earlier this month.
- Sandi McCreight, Coordinator of the Castlegar CRN and IRIS Program: Out of 100 applicants, Sandi has been selected to serve as a member of the BC Seniors Advocate’s Council of Advisors (COA) and has been invited to begin her three-year term with a meeting in Victoria in September 2024.
Check out our Facebook page for these stories and more!
Honouring Women
Kitimat CRN hosted a walk and speaker to raise awareness and support for Red Dress Day. The event was created in collaboration with the Haisla Nation Council as a free event to facilitate a gathering place for local participants to learn and reflect on the missing, murdered indigenous women and girls from the community, the province and nation-wide. CRN volunteers set up a table to provide resource referral information, education and materials to attendees.
Saanich Peninsula CRN partnered with local agencies and service providers to roll out a 10-week program experience to foster strength, resilience and empowerment for older women who are currently experiencing abuse, have left an abusive situation or those still living with the impact of a past abusive relationship. During each session participants will engage in group discussions, interactive workshops and learn from guest speakers as they receive support and resources for preventing social isolation and promoting self-discovery, health and wellness. Community partners include: SHOAL Community Centre (host agency: venue), Victoria Women’s Transition House (designing and delivering the course), Beacon Community Services Mental Health Seniors Wellness Support Program (course initiative and collaboration), Seaside Magazine (complimentary promotions).
The Little Black Book of Scams
Salmon Arm CRN has been working with the local RCMP to deliver a community-wide education presentation on frauds and scams at the end of May. Service Canada will also have a guest speaker present on some types of scams and how to detect and avoid them. Many of the older community members do not have internet access or computers and prefer their information in print, so the CRN is creating and printing an updated edition of The Little Black Book of Scams for handout. Booklets will be bundled into BC CRN reusable totes along with information on abuse, neglect and self-neglect and a selection of referral resource information and materials from BC CRN and community partners. Thanks to community partners: Salmon Arm RCMP, Service Canada, First Community (catering and resource tables), Better at Home, Public Health, WorkBC, Family Resource Centre Legal Advocate, SAFE Society, Salvation Army, Canadian Mental Health Assoc., Service BC and SASCU.
In Case You Missed It
On the first Tuesday of each month, BC CRN hosts an online workshop featuring one of our three main programs. Visit the Events page for upcoming online presentation schedules. To learn more about the programs or to request a presentation, see the Programs page or email programs@bccrns.ca.
Also featured monthly is our Provincial Learning Event. We are constantly on the lookout to bring you relevant topics and resources to help navigate current issues facing older and vulnerable adults. May’s Provincial Learning Event topic was originally scheduled as a ‘Meet the Seniors Advocate’ but due to a scheduling conflict, that presentation will be rescheduled at a later time. Instead, we had the privilege to host Jessica Busswood and Cayce Laviolette from the ReAct Adult Protection Program at Vancouver Coast Health. Watch the replay here.
For June’s PLE we invite everyone to join us for the national webinar presentation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) as we shine the light on advocacy for end of elder abuse and share how each person can create a safe and supportive society for all. Register now for the webinar or learn more about WEAAD and what to do.
Stay in the know by signing up for our Newsletter, watch the calendar on the Events page, or follow us on Facebook. Watch on-demand all our past workshops posted on our website here.
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
