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The Link-Letter March 2, 2012

v. 07-09

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NEWS FOR AGENCY STAFF

1. The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations’ annual Alberta Nonprofit Survey is underway. Results of past surveys have contributed to a deeper understanding of sector trends. CCVO will release its findings and analysis in April. The deadline to participate is March 16. To access the survey, go here.

2. Edmonton-based GeriActors & Friends intergenerational theatre company is accepting booking requests for its spring tour. The company performs “plays based on stories from our lives and on issues facing seniors”. Performance length ranges from 30 to 50 minutes and fees are negotiable. Dates are available throughout April and May. For more information, email geriactors.friends@.

3. In December, the Edmonton Downtown Vibrancy Task Force presented Downtown X-posed, a one-day symposium on “what we have now, what's in the works, what's yet to come, and some new things that might need to be considered”. To find out more from the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, go here. You’ll be able to listen to all of the presentations and view the corresponding PowerPoint information, as well as a report on downtown office vacancies.

4. Baby boomers approaching retirement are piling on debt at an unprecedented rate, prompting CIBC World Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld to label them as “punch drunk”. Canadians nearing retirement who should be in their prime savings years are, instead, getting themselves deeper into debt. This raises the spectre of a large number of future retirees being financially strapped as interest rates rise and they struggle to pay the interest cost on their loans. To read more of the article The Debt Bomb, go here.

5. The non-profit sector in Canada needs a skills development strategy. The sector faces demographic pressures from an aging workforce; recruitment challenges within a shrinking domestic workforce; greater reliance on importing a workforce through immigration and by tapping into the talents of retired workers, Aboriginal Peoples and persons with disabilities; increases in service demands as governments vacate areas of service delivery; and requirements for non-profits to meet new standards of financial and service accountability. To read more in an HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector report released late last year, go here. To read the executive summary of a report on executive directors, go here.

6. The Active Living Coalition for Older Adults’ website now offers advice on heart health, aerobic fitness, strength training and brain fitness in seven languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. To access the tip sheets, go here.

7. To view a three-and-a-half minute video of Gay Hanna, executive director of the U.S. National Center for Creative Aging, discussing the benefits of artistic expression as you age, go here.

8. Can you do the job? Will you love the job? Can we tolerate working with you? These are the “only three true job interview questions”, says a contributor to Forbes online magazine. And while the publication is aimed at the for-profit sector, consideration of how these questions play out applies to the non-profit sector as well. To read the article, go here.

9. Staff in the non-profit sector are sometimes unclear about the difference between advocacy and lobbying, and consequently worry about jeopardizing their status or their funding. To check out the U.S. National Council on Aging’s explanation of the difference, go here. Even though the context is American, many of the tips and much of the information provided is applicable in Canada.

10. Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council invites representatives of its member agencies (staff or seniors) to submit applications to fill several vacancies on the ESCC board of directors. Contact Vi Presley, chair of the nominations committee, for more information at 780-476-0940 or at 780-496-7369 Thursdays. To apply to become a member of the board, email your resume to vipresley@shaw.ca. For more information about the ESCC, go to .

11. Canadian Business magazine has weighed in on the debate over Old Age Security. OAS is sustainable, the editors agree, but the program “requires reforms” and is “overly complicated”. They advocate merging the “patchwork of seniors benefits” into a single program accompanied by “more selective means-testing”. To read the commentary, go here.

12. For another perspective on Old Age Security, presented by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy in Ottawa, go here. “Instead of curbing OAS expenditures, such as by increasing the age of eligibility,” the institute argues, “Ottawa and the provinces should boost the Canada Pension Plan, which would reduce reliance on OAS and strengthen the pension system overall.”

EVENTS FOR AGENCY STAFF

1. Reach Edmonton is offering two (Re)Doing Difference cultural diversity workshops, one beginning on March 6 and the other on April 20. For more information, go here. For a registration form, go here. “Participants will explore their own and others’ complex identities, enhance awareness about how identities are shaped, and learn and practise problem solving tools and strategies.”

2. Greater Edmonton Foundation Seniors Housing hosts Laughing Out Loud, a charity comedy night and silent auction, on March 9 at the Oasis Centre, 10930 – 177 Street. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

3. The Centre for Race and Culture will host an evening of “conversation, community, and entertainment” March 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Edmonton Petroleum Club, 11110 - 108 Street, to raise funds and highlight its work to “change the social landscape in Alberta”. Enjoy entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and an auction of “art, experiences, and objects from our culturally diverse communities. Dress to impress.” This event is part of the CRC’s March for Understanding campaign, a month long celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21). To purchase tickets, visit , call 780-425-4644 ext 9 or email smolina@.

4. The Edmonton Advisory Board on Services for Persons with Disabilities is calling for nominations for the annual Mayor's Awards. The deadline is March 21. Awards are presented for outstanding service, universal design in architecture, providing opportunity and support for employment or volunteer positions, and individuals with a disability who have been advocates in the development of services and supports for citizens with disabilities. For more information, go here.

5. The University of Alberta chapter of Medical Students for Mental Health Awareness will hold its annual Mental Health Awareness Week March 26 to 30. “Our ultimate goal is to increase awareness of mental health issues and to work towards the elimination of erroneous and harmful stereotypes about those with mental illness.” Sessions will focus on Crisis Response Talk on March 26, Schizophrenia Society of Alberta on March 27, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on March 28 and Bipolar Affective Disorder on March 30. All will be held from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, Room 1080. A resource booth fair is scheduled for March 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

6. The U.S.-based IDeA Center is offering two online continuing education programs from March 26 to April 22. The Nature of Barriers and the New Demographics provides an introduction to the philosophy of inclusive design. The second program, Universal Design and Transportation, provides an in-depth look at one industry. The registration deadline is March 22. Each course costs $250 US. For more information and to register, go here.

7. The Community Learning Network and eCampus Alberta are celebrating International Adult Learners’ Week on March 28 from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, 10065 – 100 Street, Edmonton. Tickets are $60 per person and $450 for a table of eight. For more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

8. The Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta is observing its centenary during International Adult Learners Week with a conference on how lifetime and life wide opportunities contribute to the strength of communities. For more information on Celebrating Lifelong Learning in our Communities on March 29 and 30, view the event poster here and/or go to the website here. It includes a link to registration.

9. The Canadian Association on Gerontology has issued a call for abstracts for its annual scientific and education meeting, Aging in a Changing World, to be held Oct. 18 to 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. The deadline for submission is April 2. For more information, go here. For information about conference registration, go here. For information on the keynote speakers, go here.

10. The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging will hold a continuing education conference on April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Blackfoot Inn, 5940 Blackfoot Trail, Calgary. The fee to attend is $135, which includes GST, lunch and certificate of completion. For more information and to access the conference registration form, go here.

11. The second annual Edmonton Volunteer Fair will be held April 14 at West Edmonton Mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Non-profit organizations wishing to participate can register by going here. There is no cost. Volunteer Edmonton notes that the 2012 Festival Volunteer Fair will not be held this year so groups that have looked to that event for assistance in the past should register for this one instead.

12. Edmonton agencies and organizations are being invited to set up display booths at a Seniors Information Expo in Stony Plain from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 19. The event is focusing on programs and services related to seniors housing, legal issues, volunteer opportunities, finances, nutrition, mental health and caregiving. For more information, go here. The deadline to book a table is March 19.

13. The Alberta Centre for Active Living and Mount Royal University present a Physical Activity Forum in Edmonton on May 1 and in Calgary on May 3. Dr. Grant Schofield, Professor of Public Health at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, will focus on “new ways to get adults moving in their workplaces and children moving in our neighbourhoods”. Go here for more information and to register.

ITEMS FOR BOARD MEMBERS

1. Board Leadership 2012: Board Basics and Beyond will be offered March 17 from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Grant MacEwan University. The program focuses on board members of voluntary and nonprofit organizations, and will provide “a variety of sessions and networking opportunities addressing not-for-profit board fundamentals and new trends”. For more information and to register, go here.

ITEMS FOR SENIORS

1. E4C offers low income seniors free income tax preparation services and assistance applying for benefits throughout March and April. For details, go here.

2. Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Ave, offers free income tax help to its members. Membership is $25. Call 780-433-5807 for an appointment.

3. March is Fraud Prevention Month and Fraud Prevention Alberta will highlight online/mass marketing fraud, counterfeit cards/skimming, investment fraud and identity theft during the coming weeks. For more information, go to and here. If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, contact your local police or visit antifraudcentre.ca. If you suspect you have been a victim of securities fraud, contact the Alberta Securities Commission toll-free at 1-877-355-4488 or email inquiries@asc.ca.

4. The Alberta Caregiver College is an online resource on topics ranging from advance directives to vision loss. Go here to check out what’s available. The website is intended to provide support for caregivers of older adults and makes its information available both in print and spoken word. The information was developed by the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital with contributions from partnering organizations.

5. Four Edmonton YMCA locations will begin offering Bridge to Fitness programs on March 5. The program is “designed to support participants in getting started in a regular fitness program, developing social contacts and increasing their general knowledge of health”. The program targets seniors as well as persons dealing with chronic conditions and recovering from injuries. For a brochure with more information, go here. The YMCA is offering Bridge to Fitness in partnership with Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.

6. Reach Edmonton Council for Safe Communities invites seniors and stakeholders to a Community Safety Conversation on March 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Queen Alexandra Community Hall, 10425 University Avenue. RSVP by March 7 to communications@reachedmonton.ca. The event is intended to inform, encourage attendees to share ideas and suggest solutions, share best practices and celebrate local success stories. To view the event poster, go here.

7. On March 15 at 7 p.m., Edmontonians of African heritage are invited to meet with members of the Edmonton Police Service to “discuss policing concerns and highlight opportunities to work together”. The community meeting will be held at the Africa Centre, 13160 – 127 Street and will be preceded by a one hour reception with refreshments and opportunities to view resource displays. For more information, go here, email aclc.edm@ or call 780-707-2561.

8. Tickets for the Central Lions Seniors Association Luck of the Irish St. Patrick's Dinner and Dance on March 15 will be available until March 9. The event will include a meal of baked ham, meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes, salads, Irish bread pudding, tea and coffee. Entertainment will be provided by the Matteirin School of Irish Dancing and the CLSA Seniors Big Band. There will be a cash bar, 50/50 draw and door prizes. For more information call 780-496-7369. Tickets are $25 for CLSA and NESA members and $30 for non-members and guests.

9. The Alberta Caregivers Association hosts a Compass for the Caregiver workshop Wednesdays from March 14 to May 2, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The registration cost is $25, which includes the manual. Weekly sessions cover The Emotional Journey, Knowing Your Capabilities, Assertiveness and Sharing the Care, Self Care, Managing Stress and Burnout, and Navigating the System. For more information and to register, call 780-453-5088. For a workshop poster with more details, go here. Sessions will be held at #200, 9808 – 42 Avenue, just south of Whitemud Drive.

10. Edmonton Police Service is accepting applications for its Citizens’ Police Academy. It enables participants to gain knowledge about “police issues, practices and operations in the City of Edmonton”. Applications from individuals who live in the target community of West Edmonton and whose community involvement and/or organizational affiliation will enable them to pass on their knowledge will be given priority. Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., March 20 to June 12, at the Edmonton Police Service training facility located at 10173 - 97 Street. For more information, go here.

11. CARP Edmonton is hosting a financial education seminar on Pre- to Post-Retirement Investment Strategies on March 21 at 7 p.m. (registration at 6:30 p.m.) in the Alberta Teachers Building Auditorium, 11010 - 142 Street. Sponsored in part by the Alberta Capital Market Foundation, this seminar will cover the options for financial strategies as people first plan for retirement, then transition into retirees, and finally live a retirement lifestyle. Admission the seminar is free but pre-registration is requested. Call 780-450-4802 or e-mail carp.edmonton@ to reserve your place. Check out carp.ca/edmonton for further updates.

12. Calder Seniors Centre offers tax clinics March 22 and 29, and April 5 and 12. Members will be given preference. There is no charge for tax preparation but donations to Calder Seniors Centre’s expansion project are appreciated. Tax preparation is by appointment only. Call 780-451-1925.

13. The South East Edmonton Seniors Association Accidental Drama Club presents Laugh-in, Laugh Out Loud March 23 to 25. The Saturday and Sunday shows include a meal. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 22, and will be available until March 20, unless the performances sell out. For a poster with more details, go here. For more information, call 780-468-1985 or go to seesa.ca. SEESA is located at 9350 – 82 Street.

14. The Edmonton and District Historical Society sponsors an “entertaining and informative” lecture series about Edmonton and area history. The lectures are free of charge and are held at 7:30 p.m. at the Queen Alexandra School gym at 7730 - 106 Street. The March 27 lecture will be about “the history of the Great Western Garment Company, later Levi Strauss”. For more information, go to historicedmonton.ca and or contact Dean Wood at dean.wood@shaw.ca.

15. Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Winspear Music Resource Publications editor Dave Baker presents The Day the Music Changed: The Dawn of the Romantic Age at the Jewish Senior Citizens’ Centre on March 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. Pre-registration with payment of $20 is required by March 22. The centre is located at 10052 – 117 Street. To view an event poster with more information, go here.

16. The paintings, drawings and memorabilia of C.W. Jefferys, artist, historian with illustrations in over 700 books, and mentor to the Group of Seven, will featured at the Jeff Allen Art Gallery at Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Avenue, until March 28. An exhibition reception will be held March 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. C.W. Jefferys’ work has been displayed at the Ontario Art Gallery and The National Art Gallery of Canada, and his home in Toronto has been declared a national historic site. C.W. Jefferys is the grandfather of C.W. Jefferys Allen, director of Strathcona Place Senior Centre. Best viewing hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 780-433-5807.

17. Men wrestling with relationships and communication, dealing with a separation or divorce, and feeling empty and alone are invited to register for a Men and Relationships weekend March 30 to April 1. The event is intended to help participants understand their current relationships, explore how things came to be the way they are, learn how to cope with the crisis, initiate change, and build a better personal foundation, which can include choosing a new direction. The weekend is sponsored by City of Edmonton Community Services and facilitated by social workers, men’s group veterans and volunteers with professional backgrounds. For more information and to register, call 780-944-5542 or 780-496-5966.

18. An international consortium that includes Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre is conducting a survey of what adults age 55 and older think about environmental issues. The United Nations Conference for Environment and Development, or “Earth Summit”, will be held in June and “evidence shows that older people can be disproportionately affected by environmental problems such as air pollution, climate change-related heat waves and other natural disasters.” To take the online survey, go to . The deadline to participate is March 31.

19. The City of Edmonton’s Office of Great Neighbourhoods is soliciting nominations of individuals, couples, families or groups that have made “a difference in the life of your neighbourhood” for a Good Neighbour Award. Go here for more information and to access a nomination form. The nomination deadline is March 31. Winners will be recognized on May 15 at City Hall during an event connecting Edmontonians to city programs, projects and services.

20. The Greater Edmonton Retired Teachers Association presents The Second Wind Conference on April 11 at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre, 11727 Kingsway. The event is intended to provide information and share resources to promote retiree health and wellness. For more information and to register, go here. Registration is $65. Non-educators are welcome.

21. The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona is planning to make manual wheelchairs available free to individuals who need a secondary wheelchair, require one to address temporary or episodic needs, and/or who cannot afford cost-sharing or do not qualify for Aids to Daily Living. For more information about the national program, go here or email cflessner@cdnwheelchair.ca. For more information about Edmonton Strathcona’s involvement, call 780-466-5566 or email strathconian@. The application deadline is April 13.

22. The Ital-Canadian Seniors Association will open its bocce courts to seniors across the city of Edmonton from 1 to 2:45 p.m. on the last Friday of each month beginning April 27. “Bocce games will be free of charge and we will also offer free refreshments, such as coffee and juices.” To ensure space is available, as only 24 seniors can be accommodated at any given time, pre-registration is required. Phone 780-424-1255 or email itcansrs@. Seniors must have their own transportation to get to and from the courts.

23. The prevalent theme of an exhibition of artwork by Aboriginal artists at the Royal Alberta Museum is storytelling. “These are stories that have been shared by the elders, stories of a search for understanding and meaning, stories of identity and belonging, and stories retold to preserve a threatened culture.” The Narrative Quest exhibition is available to the public until April 29. For more information, go here.

24. The City of Edmonton’s Neighbourhood Engagement Strategy Grant provides funding of up to $2,500 for projects developed by neighbourhood groups. For “tips and tools for bringing the people in your neighbourhood together” go here. The grant application deadline is April 30. To access an application form, go here. Groups interested in applying should attend a Neighbourhood Engagement Workshop on March 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is included) at the Santa Maria Goretti Centre, 11050 - 90 Street. RSVP by noon on March 5 at the following: East - phone 780-442-4972 or email NCDeastevents@edmonton.ca; South - phone 780-442-4847 or email NESsouthevening@edmonton.ca; or West - phone 780-442-4848 or email westrsvp@edmonton.ca.

25. Is the decision of seniors to remain in their own homes, rather than moving into a continuing care retirement community, based on good information or myths and misperceptions? Going here may provide a basis for discussion.

VOLUNTEER/WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS

1. Seniors in north Edmonton who are interested in working full or part-time may want to attend an employer connection event on March 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the second floor boardroom at Alberta Human Services – Alberta Works, 30 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, St. Albert. The participating employers are Hole’s Greenhouse/The Enjoy Centre, Home Depot, Pro-Western Plastics and Connect Logistics (liquor distribution centre). Among the positions available are cashiers, greeters, counter attendants, event staff and room attendants. For more information, go here.

2. Edmonton Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteer kitchen helpers. “When you help prepare meals in our kitchen, you help make it possible for Meals on Wheels to deliver 250 to 500 meals a day.” Volunteers are needed between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. To sign up, go here. Kitchen helpers need to be able to lift up to 20 lbs. and stand for long periods. Free parking is available. For more information, contact Kerryn North at kerryn.north@ or 780-429-2020.

3. Extendicare Eaux Claires is seeking volunteer bingo assistants (click here for more information), friendly visitors (click here), porters (click here), card and board game assistants (click here), and goody cart providers (click here). Potential volunteers have to have a Police Information Check done (the facility pays for it). “Our facility currently has 180 residents, we have 24 hour nursing, and most of the residents require assistance with day to day functions.” To apply for any of the positions, contact volunteer coordinator Janice Graff by calling 780-472-1106 ext 202 or emailing jgraff@. Extendicare Eaux Claires is located at 16503 - 95 Street, Edmonton.

4. Habitat for Humanity needs office volunteers to help with volunteer recruitment. “We are recruiting volunteers who will work in our office to assist our staff in phone calls for the purpose of recruitment or scheduling of volunteers. Flexible scheduling is available. Great for friendly people who want to help our program in a non-construction role.” For more information, contact Angela at angela@ or 780-451-3416 ext 223.

5. The City of Edmonton is looking for more than 1,400 census workers to visit households in April. For more information, call 780-496-8008 or go here. Apply in person at 16304 - 114 Avenue or at City Hall, 3rd Floor Office of the City Clerk, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

6. Volunteers are needed for Walk so Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone. The event takes place on May 6. Help is needed with event planning and activities such as registration, hosting, supervision, entertainment, food and water, set up and more. Kids Help Phone is a confidential and professional 24/7 counselling service. “In 2010, we answered over 25,000 calls and nearly 3,000 online posts in Alberta alone on issues such as abuse, depression, suicide, bullying, eating disorders and family crisis.” To volunteer, contact Jacqueline Broverman at jbroverman@shaw.ca or 780-485-3750.

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