The days of celebrating remembrance and thanks have come and gone and snowy landscapes are starting to form. Last month our Mentors and Coordinators traveled far and wide, connecting deeper with their communities, listening to needs, responding by delivering core programs, collaborating with like-minded agencies and preparing gifts and events for older isolated adults. Here are a few highlights from around the province.
Community Programs: Online and In-Person
BC CRN hosts online presentations of our three main programs on the first Tuesday of each month, on a rotating basis. 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.
Campbell River CRN partnered with Quadra Circle Community Connection Society to co-host an in-person presentation of “See Something, Say Something” last month. The ferry crossing was nearly canceled due to winds and choppy water, but Regional Mentor Jennifer Lazenby and Coordinator Cheryl Stinson made it across and the workshop was successfully delivered to a small but prominent number of attendees from the community.
This event was sparked by a concerned community member who began to notice signs of neglect with a local senior and inquired about resources and ways to help. Word reached the Campbell River CRN and an event was created. During the presentation it was revealed that the Quadra and surrounding islands residents were seeing growing gaps in local resources and services. They recently experienced changes to the boundary lines for their provincial health authority but have limited local health providers and are not being given consistent priority for ferry crossings for medical care or other critical services.
Information and resource materials were given to attendees who distributed them around the community.
Recently featured in the local newspaper, Healthy Aging Abbotsford is one of our valued, committed partners of our Abbotsford CRN. They offer a wide variety of programs, support and resource information to older adults and caregivers in the community. For more information check out their website or facebook page.
New Borders and New Connections
The Northern Interior and North West BC regions recently merged to form the North West and Interior Region. Anjali Marshall, initially the Northern Interior Regional Mentor, was asked to take on the additional territory in the merger. Anjali spent a couple weeks in October traveling to most of the CRNs within the new regional boundaries connecting with people in the communities, CRN coordinators, volunteers and host agencies. Here are a few highlights from some of her visits:
The Robson Valley CRN serves the communities of Valemount, Dunster and McBride. Currently the RVCRN Coordinator, Khamile, is working to expand awareness of the CRNs presence and build more collaboration in the area. They have a holiday event planned through their host agency, the Robson Valley Community Services, to host a Christmas event in Dunster, transporting seniors on buses from the neighbouring communities. Other CRN partners include: Better at Home and The Elder Collaborative. The Elder Collaborative along with RVCS is also working on a seniors fair and other smaller events for the new year, to inform and educate the community on elder abuse, neglect and self neglect.
The Prince George CRN is currently looking for a Coordinator. Anjali connected with a local radio station CFIS FM, where host Dawn Hemmingway, presents a program called “Senior Moments”. Anjali was invited on the program to talk about the opportunity for a CRN Coordinator and partnership with BC CRN. Other current CRN partners are the Niwîķôwin Métis Family Service Society, Prince George Council of Seniors and Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society.
The Vanderhoof CRN hosted a table at the farmers markets every Thursday afternoon during the summer. While making connections with community members, they inquired about seniors in the area that may be isolated from services. After collecting names they are now distributing CRN materials, black out curtains and heaters to those in need of them. CRN materials have also been given to the local health unit for distribution. The Coordinator, Jeannie, works at the District Tourism office and adds CRN materials to welcome packages offered to newcomers.
The Link, host agency for the Lakes District CRN in Burns Lake, hosts a drop-in community cafe where CRN materials are available, questions answered, and connections made. The CRN also hosted an information table for Granisle Day in the nearby community of Granisle which was a busy day to connect with community members and many community service agencies. The Regional Mentor was invited to attend the Elders Tea Time in Tachet, an Indigenous community in the Lakes District and presented BC CRN to the community.
The Smithers CRN coordinated a collaborative event that had been shelved since 2018, called ‘Working Together, Walking Together – Interagency Collaboration Event’. It was sponsored by the Province of BC and coordinated by the Bulkley Valley Social Planning Committee. Around 60 publicly funded health and social service agencies attended to present and discuss services offered and attend workshops. A BC CRN presentation was included in the schedule. Smithers Coordinator Shay, and our host agency Northern Society of Domestic Peace were present as well.
Kitimat CRN Coordinator, Nadine, with the Regional Mentor, initiated a joint meeting with Executive Director of host agency, Tamitik Status of Women, and a representative from Resilience BC and Housing Manager to discuss and reinitiate interagency meetings. The goal was to communicate that by working together, so much more can be achieved. Nadine coordinated a meet-and-greet that served as an opportunity for networking, knowledge-sharing, and brainstorming ideas for community development. A BC CRN presentation was given at this event.
Prince Rupert’s CRN host agency, The North Coast Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (NCIMMS), funds and facilitates an interagency gathering every few months where 15 to 20 publicly funded health and social service agencies meet at the public library. The reps discuss issues in the community and take turns presenting the services they offer and ways to connect. At a recent meeting, BC CRN materials were distributed and Regional Mentor, Anjali, gave a presentation and answered questions. There was also discussion about local services with the Mayor who brought very critical situations in Prince Rupert to the table.
Purple Power and Fraud Prevention
Hope CRN hosted their last outdoor event of the year earlier last month with the “Purple Lights of Hope” celebration at Memorial Park. The event was opened and blessed by local Elder Pat John, and a prayer from a local pastor. A representative from the district RCMP detachment delivered a short presentation and the Hope Choir performed for attendees. Throughout the month, CRN volunteers handed out door decals and posters with purple lights to local businesses and organizations, organized a ‘wear purple’ day with youth from the local high school and supplied heart-shaped cookies to the leadership class to support community project fundraising.
Saanich Peninsula CRN and host agency SHOAL Centre hosted a “Fraud and Computer Hacking Prevention Workshop” for Crime Prevention Month. Co-owner of Keating Computers, Sunny Lalli, presented information about how scams and computer hacking is done, the 12 most likely holiday scams and what to do if targeted. Saanich Community Police Officer, Constable Tim Cosgrove, was on hand to discuss the current local statistics of scams and introduce the new RCMP Communications Officer. The event was planned for 50 participants but the response was overwhelming and of the number of inquiries to register, 70 participants were able to be accommodated. BC CRN information and resource materials were made available at a dedicated and decorated table. Thanks goes to Seaside Magazine, Beacon Community Services and Tanner Books for their support.
Dementia Workshop and Coffee Connections
White Rock South Surrey CRN, in association with Brella Community Services, hosted a dementia education presentation called “I’m Still Me” aimed at ending the stigmas associated with dementia. Included in the presentation were ways to create dementia inclusive communities and strategies for success and mindset for affected people and caregivers. The event was hosted at Kent Street Activity Center where attendees were also offered a delicious meal. Thanks in part to Semiahmoo Seniors Planning Table, City of White Rock and Comfort Keepers for their support.
Whistler CRN, in partnership with Mature Action Committee (MAC) has been busy developing community outreach and engagement by delivering BC CRN education and awareness presentations at a series of “Coffee and Connect” meetings with older adults in the area. They are also discussing how to address the lack of housing for seniors.
Queer & Trans Resource Guide: Workshop Development
The resource guide created earlier this year by the JQT Seniors Initiative CRN is gaining wide-spread attention and praise. Though many groups and organizations are reaching out requesting copies of the BC Jewish Queer & Trans Seniors Resource Guide, there is concern for an unknown number of seniors in care situations who are experiencing fear and isolation because they do not feel safe disclosing their religious, cultural, gender or sexual identities. To address this, efforts are underway to gather formal information and feedback and identify allies across various healthcare aging service providers in order to develop an effective, formal training workshop aimed at healthcare providers and seniors centers. The guide is available on the JQT CRN page on our website.
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
