There are two fundamentally different approaches in responding to this demand: (i) Focus on a mainstream response that makes regular services senior friendly. For example, rather than having a “senior centre” in a new multi-purpose complex, provide a lounge to form the base of all the other Centre facilities available to this group. This room could serve as a Seniors’ lounge from 8:00am- 3:00pm; and a general lounge open to everyone after school hours. Another example includes offering a Tuesday “social” swim that would be available to all ages including seniors. (ii) Focus on a separate senior’s stream of services only. One example of a service offered under this stream is to provide a seniors centre within a multi- purpose leisure centre; a place that is solely for seniors.
The consultants recommend focusing on the first option and to make this approach a Strategic Priority. How seniors are served will, again, have to be a matter of trial and error. The important action is to break down barriers for seniors and provide opportunities that are open to the public and not exclusive to seniors.
3. January 29, 2009: A Pre-Budget submission on behalf of the Chapter was forwarded to the Minister of Finance. While it might be presumptuous to think that favorable consideration will be given to many of the suggestions contained therein, we take the view that our submission will ensure that the Minister is aware that there is in this community an organization that is not afraid to advocate strongly on behalf of older citizens. The complete submission is available at http://www.carp.ca/StJohnsAvalon/index.cfm?documentid=3754&type=full&cityid=183
4. February 2, 2009: The City of St. John’s invited nominations for membership on the newly approved Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Seniors. This Committee reports directly to Council providing advice and recommendations on matters and policies deemed to directly affect senior citizens within the city of St. John’s. CARP St. John’s-Avalon Chapter nominated Board Member Margaret Adey and we congratulate Margaret on her appointment to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee.
5. February 11, 2009: The Report of the National Seniors Council on Low Income Among Seniors was released. This report is the result of consultations held across Canada in 2008, including here in St. John’s at which I made a presentation on behalf of the Chapter and CARP National. The report is about 40 pages in length and can be found at http://www.seniorscouncil.gc.ca/eng/home.shtml
6. March 1, 2009: Ralph Morris and I attended a Seniors Town Hall meeting hosted by Siobhan Coady, MP St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. This meeting was attended by about 40 interested people and generated discussion on a range of seniors issues. A report in the Telegram quoted our Ralph and enshrined his image with a photograph. Congratulations Ralph. MP Coady was interested in receiving a copy of our pre-budget submission which was made available to her.
7. Aging Issues Network: The Aging Issues Network of NL held its Seventh Annual Provincial Conference March 26-27, 2009 at the Comfort Inn, St. John’s. Approximately 50 member organizations were represented including Chapter representatives Ralph Morris, Maurice Brewster, Lorraine Best, Margaret Adey, Frank Day, Don Byrne, and myself. The Agenda included sessions on the Development of a Communication Strategy for the Network, the Value of Networking from a Rural Perspective, Future Directions for the Network, Building Stronger-Age Friendly Communities, Homelessness Partnerships, and Seniors Initiatives in the City of St. John’s. The conference sessions generated much interest but ultimately, a major evident concern while attempting to review the future of the Network was how to secure adequate funding to maintain a viable Network.
