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The Future of Aging in British Columbia A symposium featuring BC Seniors Advocate, Dan Levitt, is being co-sponsored by the Kehila Society of Richmond. Poster here Date: Sunday, January 12th at 2:00 p.m. Location: Peretz Centre, 6184 Ash Street, Vancouver Cost: $5.00 Free underground parking Register here Seniors Housing Information and Navigation Ease (SHINE BC) “The SHINE program , funded by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and led by the Seniors Services Society of BC, is a province-wide initiative designed to facilitate timely access to and navigation of appropriate housing services and support for seniors.” Housing has been a key priority for the Westside Seniors Hub throughout 2024. As a grass-roots coalition of community-based public and non-profit organizations serving seniors, the Westside Seniors Hub is actively endorsing the expansion and multi-year funding for the SHINE program. More information here Community Cafés ASK Friendship Society is seeking a broad and diverse perspective on future programs and services that ASK might provide for both older adults and caregivers in our new multipurpose 9,000 square foot facility in the Arbutus Redevelopment at Nanton Ave and Arbutus Street. In 2025, we are hosting a series of Community Cafés, each focused on engaging a specific community group. More information about opportunities to participate here . To take a survey click here . Please join the conversation!

HUB AÎNÉS WESTSIDE ACTION COLLECTIVE PAR ET POUR LES AÎNÉS OUR MISSION To build a more responsive and resilient community for seniors on Vancouver’s Westside through the power of collective action. OUR KEY GOALS To identify and promote awareness of Westside seniors’ issues and priorities To improve programs and services for seniors on the Westside through collective action by Hub Council, Hub Partner Organizations, and community organizations To encourage seniors to become more engaged in their community Hub brochure here WHAT IS THE HUB STRUCTURE? The Hub is comprised of Partner Organizations and a Hub Council. Hub Partner Organizations serve seniors on the Westside and have an interest in collaborating with others to support seniors in their community. They meet quarterly to share information about resources and assets, identify emerging issues, and collaborate on building a range of integrated services for seniors. They work with the Hub Council and serve on working groups to act on identified issues and represent the Hub to the public and various constituencies. Partners include public entities, non-profits, and faith-based organizations that provide services for seniors. Hub Council is composed of several Westside volunteer seniors who have knowledge of seniors’ issues, experience working on action-oriented teams, and skills to work collaboratively with Partner Organizations, each other, and community members. They meet monthly to identify priorities and direct movement towards collective action. WHAT CONSTITUTES THE WESTSIDE? QUE CONSTITUE LE CÔTÉ OUEST? Nous définissons la zone de chalandise du Westside Seniors Hub comme suit: À l'ouest de la rue Ontario, tout le chemin pour inclure UBC et les terres de dotation Au sud de la rue Cornwall et de False Creek Au nord de Marine Drive À noter que la zone de chalandise n'inclut pas la péninsule du centre-ville ou l'île Granville. Les partenaires dont le bureau est en dehors de notre zone de chalandise sont invités à se joindre à nous s'ils servent activement les aînés de Westside . HOW DID THE HUB EMERGE? The concept of a seniors hub first emerged through a 2009 research report entitled Sustaining Seniors Programs through the Neighbourhood House Model , which focused on opportunities for seniors at Kitsilano, Kiwassa & South Vancouver Neighbourhood Houses. In 2010, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House received pilot funding from Vancouver Coastal Health's SmartFund, City of Vancouver, United Way, and Vancouver Foundation to develop the South Vancouver Seniors Hub and produce an Implementation Plan and Seniors Hub Toolkit. This led to Kitsilano Neighbourhood House receiving a 2013-2014 Vancouver Foundation grant for a Seniors for Seniors Project: Building a One-Stop Place for Westside Seniors . One of the aspects of this project was to develop a Westside Seniors Hub. A number of community members and seventeen senior-serving Westside organizations met at a visioning roundtable in January 2014 to explore the potential benefits and nature of a Westside Hub. Several subsequent planning roundtables developed the structure of the Hub as well as Partner Collaborative Agreements, wrote a Hub Council Member job description, recruited and interviewed Hub Council applicants. By February 2015, appointments to the Hub Council had been made and the first joint meeting of Partner Organizations and Hub Council members took place. SPONSORS COMMENT LE HUB EST-IL ÉMERGÉ? Le concept d'un carrefour pour personnes âgées est apparu pour la première fois dans un rapport de recherche de 2009 intitulé «Sustaining Seniors Programs through the Neighbourhood House Model», qui portait sur les opportunités pour les personnes âgées à Kitsilano, Kiwassa et South Vancouver Neighborhood Houses. En 2010, la South Vancouver Neighbourhood House a reçu un financement pilote de Vancouver Coastal Health - SmartFund, de la ville de Vancouver, de Centraide et de la Vancouver Foundation pour développer le South Vancouver Seniors Hub et produire un plan de mise en œuvre et une trousse d'outils pour les aînés. Cela a conduit Kitsilano Neighborhood House à recevoir une subvention 2013-2014 de la Vancouver Foundation pour un projet Seniors for Seniors: Construire un guichet unique pour les aînés de Westside. L'un des aspects de ce projet était de développer un Westside Seniors Hub. Un certain nombre de membres de la communauté et dix-sept organisations de haut niveau de Westside se sont réunis lors d'une table ronde de vision en janvier 2014 pour explorer les avantages potentiels et la nature d'un carrefour Westside. Plusieurs tables rondes de planification ultérieures ont développé la structure du Hub. En outre, ils ont rédigé des accords de collaboration avec les partenaires, rédigé une description de poste de membre du conseil du hub et recruté et interviewé les candidats du conseil du hub. En février 2015, les nominations au Hub Council avaient été faites et la première réunion conjointe des organisations partenaires et des membres du Hub Council a eu lieu. Depuis lors, le Hub a recherché des subventions pour divers projets et opéré avec des entrepreneurs rémunérés, le soutien administratif de Kitsilano Neighborhood House et des efforts bénévoles. COMMANDITAIRES Depuis sa création, le Hub a reçu le soutien financier de plusieurs sponsors. Nous sommes reconnaissants pour leur confiance et leur reconnaissance de la mission et des objectifs du Hub au nom des seniors. Retourner en haut

Grant Opportunities - Top of page PAST GRANT OPPORTUNITIES MEN'S SHEDS START-UP GRANTS United Way & Men’s Sheds of BC “Men’s Sheds improves men's health and wellbeing by: Creating spaces where men help men while working shoulder-to-shoulder Increasing men’s social connections, and sense of well-being and inclusion Increasing men's participation and engagement in their communities Start-up Grants are available to groups of two or more men or to community organizations interested in starting a Men’s Shed in their B.C. community and who have contacted MSABC to learn about effective approaches to developing and sustaining a Men’s Shed. If an organization is starting a Men's Shed but does not require a Start-up Grant, they can apply for the larger Project Grant (of up to $10,000) once available.” Call for proposal, application and information here Call opened July 2021 and is still open in 2023. PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH (PAR) GRANTS Vancouver Foundation Grants support research that is co-led by community members and researchers to learn more about the root causes of pressing issues impacting the health of communities PAR Convene grants for one year starting in May 2023 are for developing a PAR project plan. PAR Investigation grants for up to three years starting in June are for investigating the root cause(s) of a pressing issue impacting the health of communities. No matching funds are required for 2023 grants. Accepting applications up until February 13, 2023 More information here COMMUNITY SERVICES RECOVERY FUND Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada & United Way Centraide $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. There are three funding streams , each with a different focus. Three funders are accepting and administering applications for a single stream, so there’s a decision tree here to find out where your organization and project fit into a funding stream. Application deadline for all three streams: February 21, 2023 5:00pm PST In BC, United Way BC is administering the project focus area: Investing in Program and Service Innovation and Redesign . Information here Webinar here In BC, Vancouver Foundation is administering the project focus area: Investing in Systems and Processes Information here Canadian Red Cross is administering the project focus area: Investing in People Apply here CATALYST FUNDING PROGRAM IN HEALTHY AGING AGE-WELL and Canadian Frailty Network “One-year research projects with a focus on technology-enabled solutions or novel technologies that support healthy aging…may consider complementary social and healthcare innovations (e.g., new community programs, new service-delivery models, policy recommendations, and prevention strategies) related to the technology-enabled solution.” Projects for April 2023-March 2024 Applications accepted until February 24, 2023 Information here 2023 NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALL GRANTS Vancouver Foundation and Partner organizations These grants help residents of any age, experience or background take part in building community. There are three funding streams: Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) , Youth NSG , and Greenest City Grants (GCG). Each grant offers up to $500 to bring projects to life and make communities safer, stronger and more welcoming. Partner organizations in communities throughout the province offer opportunities to apply for grants. In Metro Vancouver, find your community here . Timing for accepting applications may differ among communities. West Side Vancouver applications open March 7, 2023 and will be accepted and reviewed by a volunteer Neighbourhood Grants Committee on a rolling basis. SENIORS CAN! (AINÉS DEBOUT!) HelpAge Canada Three types of grants, each up to $10,000, Well-Being, Innovative Programming, Emergency Relief “designed to help low-income seniors across Canada avoid isolation and loneliness and to engage more fully with their communities. Applications accepted any time but closing date for review: March 31st Information & application here EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE United Way of BC Join a CORE Healthy Aging group and apply for up to $25,000 to support “creating protocols for identifying, locating, and supporting vulnerable seniors before, during, and after impending crises in ways that respect and address privacy concerns… sharing best practices, training and mentoring to facilitate relationship building between the CBSS sector, other emergency response organizations, and local government emergency preparedness staff…The United Way will support projects that: demonstrate collaboration with community partners, respond to an immediate need related to a climate emergency, increase volunteer capacity.”
 If you don’t already have a free BC Healthy Aging CORE (Collaborative Online Resources & Education) account , first register her e . Then click on Groups > Emergency Preparedness & Response > JOIN button for access to the Application Guide and Call for Proposals. Date: Rolling applications accepted starting July 4, 2022 HAMBER FOUNDATION Grants for projects arising and undertaken in the Province of British Columbia by registered charities for cultural, education and charitable purposes, in priority areas of athletics, arts & culture, health &welfare (including older adults). Emphasizing at-risk individuals, especially under-represented and marginalized populations and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion Dates: Applications reviewed Marc h 15th and September 15th. Information and application here COMMUNITIES FUND McConnell Foundation Our strategies: “Overcoming economic and social inequality requires collaboration, collective action and policy work, and this is where we will focus our support…address the underlying causes of systemic inequality, supporting the leadership of equity-deserving groups who face systemic barriers to economic and social justice.” Accepting applications on rolling basis November 2022 webinar recording and information here

RESOURCES We also provide selected resources here for Dementia Ventures , since that was the Hub's principal focus in 2019-2023. An extension of Building Capacity project funding enables some Hub Partners to deepen their projects 2023-2025. Understanding & living with dementia Guides for inclusive Programming Tools for Engagement Research Reports & Data

HOUSING FOR SENIORS Top of Housing for Seniors Affordable rentals are currently difficult to find in Vancouver. When their tenancy is threatened or ended, many elderly tenants on fixed incomes are unable to relocate anywhere near their former homes, even temporarily. New buildings, even those with a percentage of below-market rental units, are not yet ready for tenants. What are Westside Seniors Hub members doing about housing for seniors? Recent updates listed first . December 2024 WSH Partner representatives and Council members followed up on our August meeting with Vancouver–South Granville MLA Brenda Bailey to develop a Letter of Support for expansion of the Seniors Services Society of BC’s Seniors Housing Information and Navigation Ease (SHINE) program. The Letter to Minister Bailey recommends 2025 and ongoing funding by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to ensure more British Columbian seniors experiencing precarious housing get navigation support, so their health and wellbeing do not deteriorate while suitable affordable housing is being developed. November 2024 Two WSH Council members participating in the City’s Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee (OPEAC) Housing Subcommittee were privileged to attend the BC Non-profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) Housing Central conference, thanks to arrangements made by SPARC BC CEO and BCNPHA staff. The annual conference features success stories of how non-profit housing providers, municipalities and businesses have overcome challenges and developed diverse solutions to affordable housing dilemmas. The free BCNPHA e- newsletter and website provide case studies and insights for continuing WSH housing activities. October 2024 Council invited WSH Partners to participate in feedback on the City’s Social Housing Initiative and representatives attended SHI Open House consultations to speak with Planners September 2024 VCH Population Health facilitated contacting the City of Vancouver’s Assistant Director Housing Policy and Regulation | Planning, Urban Design & Sustainability to discuss implementation of the City’s Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy developed in conjunction with its Broadway Plan and Housing Vancouver 10 Year Housing Targets . Meeting time pending. Council representatives attended United Way BC webinar Making Rental Housing Affordable for Seniors and People with Low-Incomes and benefit from summaries of data and research in its two Fact Sheets – Key Messages and Defining the Problem and Finding Solutions . August 2024 Council representatives met with Brenda Bailey, MLA and candidate for a new Vancouver-South Granville riding to discuss issues in the WSH Briefing Note on Seniors Housing and potential actions. Council representatives met with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Medical Health Officer (Housing), ED Population Health, and the Lead for Seniors’ Healthy Public Policy to discuss their roles and current involvement in seniors’ housing issues relevant to WSH Briefing Note on Seniors Housing . Council prepared a Briefing Note on Seniors Housing summarizing concerns about senior tenants being negatively impacted by developments in the Vancouver housing market and the actions and support needed for this vulnerable population. Council representatives met the BC Housing’s Assoc. VP Supportive Housing & Homelessness, Operations Division to discuss potential short-term shelter spaces in Chalmers Lodge and other supportive housing operated by BCH. Advocated for westside seniors experiencing housing precarity to remain in their neighbourhoods while seeking more stable housing. July 2024 Council representatives contributed to City's Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee (OPEAC) Housing Subcommittee drafts of Motions to City Council regarding the need for senior-specific shelters and transparency regarding implementation of the Broadway Plan's Enhanced Tenant Relocation & Protection Policy . Encouraged WSH Partners to advocate with City of Vancouver Councillors for adoption of the Seniors Housing Strategy . June 2024 Council members began attending monthly OPEAC Housing Subcommittee meetings as guests to become familiar with their community partners and contribute to their action plans. Representatives from a dozen WSH Partner organizations met at a quarterly Partners’ meeting to discuss five Seniors’ Housing Issues for Action: Follow-up to 2024 Q1 Partners’ Meeting . Council member attended 411 Housing Forum to liaise with other local housing advocates. May 2024 Council members explored Seniors Services Society of BC’s (SSSBC’s) Seniors Housing Information & Navigation Ease (SHINE) program with WESN’s Housing Navigator. Recruited a volunteer to participate in SHINE’s four online training sessions. April 2024 The City of Vancouver’s D raft Seniors’ Housing Strategy was released for public feedback. P ublic and WSH Partners invited to participate in submitting comments by May 16th. March 2024 Council prepared a resource list: Housing Resources Referenced at Quarterly Housing meeting Brief summary: Seniors Housing Issues for Action: Follow-up to 2024 Q1 Partners’ Meeting February 21, 2024 Representatives from a dozen WSH Partner organizations met at a Quarterly Partners’ meeting to discuss seniors’ housing affordability . They were joined by guests from the City of Vancouver, City’s Older Persons & Elders Advisory Committee, Healthy Aging United Way BC, Hey Neighbour Collective & SFU Housing Solutions Lab, Premier’s Legislative Office, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, and South Vancouver Seniors Network. Presentations at Quarterly meeting: Healthy Aging UWBC presentation by Dr. Laura Kadowaki and Dr. Beverley Pitman City of Vancouver Older Persons & Elders Advisory Committee (OPEAC) by Dr. Marc White SFU Housing Solutions Lab Exploring Housing Options for Older Adults Design concepts by Michelle Hoar February 2024 Council prepared some briefing materials to inform WSH Partners: Selected Housing Navigation Supports & Trainings and Selected Recommendations from UWBC’s Aging in Uncertainty: The Growing Housing Crisis for BC Seniors report (Nov 2023) & IRPP’s Affordability Action Council report (Feb 2024) Entire UWBC Healthy Aging report Aging in Uncertainty and City of Vancouver Seniors’ Housing Strategy: What We Heard report (July 2023) January 2024 A questionnaire circulated by WSH Council to its Partner Organizations produced: A Snapshot: What Partner Organizations are Seeing, Hearing and Doing. Fall 2023 Survey of Hub Partner Organizations identified top priority issues of concern: Housing, Food Security, Phase 2 Dementia Ventures, Caregiver Support, Emergency Preparedness. Return to Top of Housing for Seniors

RESOURCES The Hub encourages everyone to know about Help Lines that provide credible information to callers with questions and concerns. Help Lines DEMENTIA VENTURES RESOURCES We also provide selected resources here for Dementia Ventures , since that is the Hub's focus in 2020-2023. Understanding & living with dementia Guides for inclusive Programming Tools for Engagement Research Reports & Data

Events - Return to top SOUND BYTES SERIES Return to top Hub Community Action That Builds Capacity The Dementia Ventures project empowers Hub Partners to build out inclusive community programming for all and adapt to include people living with dementia. They and their care partners want to remain socially engaged in meaningful activities. A collaboration with UBC’s Dr. Alison Phinney and her Building Capacity team offers financial, strategic and logistical resources so programs can welcome and support those with dementia and their care partners. We celebrated midway in this initiative with a series of vibrant online community dialogues. The theme was: “What it means to be an accepting and inclusive community.” SoundBytes wants to share wisdom from those dialogues. Here are our first nuggets. There will be many more! BC-based artist and advocate Granville Johnson spoke out about fear and the power of our perspective on Dementia Dialogue's most recent podcast episode, addressing the ways we can choose to gain some sense of control and joy back into our lives even in the face of new challenges. Watch Full Event HERE PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING In the most recent podcast episode of Dementia Dialogue, Dr. Alison Phinney discusses the stigma attached to dementia diagnoses and how that impacts community support efforts. She speaks with host Lisa Loiselle and fellow podcast guest Granville Johnson, who lives with dementia himself, about the important balance to be struck between training and education on one hand, and engaging with people with lived experience on the other. The Biggest Challenge to Community Support for People Living with Dementia Watch Full Event HERE WHAT HOLDS US BACK Karen Rolston’s mother Louise started getting inklings something was a little “off” back in 2011. At the time, the Rolstons were already in the process of creating a laneway house on their property for her, so they could live close together. The timing worked out well. Louise lived there for seven years beside her daughter Karen, Karen’s husband, and their daughter. Those years were, “a beautiful opportunity for us to just wrap mom with more support and care while she was able to live in her own space,” Karen said. When Karen thinks about the journey she has been on with her mom, and the reactions from people when it comes to dementia, the word that comes to mind is fear. “People find out someone has dementia, and they think, ‘Am I going to receive this diagnosis too?’ ‘Is someone I love going to get dementia?’” Rolston said. Fear seeps in and too often, people pull away. “People often don’t know what to say or do, so they turn away from those with dementia instead of turning toward them with love,” Rolston said. Rolston is extremely grateful for community supports. Her mom really enjoyed the Alzheimer Society’s Minds in Motion program, the Alzheimer’s Café and the Helena choir she joined. “These community groups are where we felt really held,” she said. “It’s such a painful journey and there is still so much we can do.” In this Soundbyte, Rolston offers her thoughts on how to really tune into a person’s needs and meet them where they are, rather than seeing their responses as resistance or defiance. Loving and showing up for someone with dementia is about cherishing the now, embracing their world, and accepting what is. TURNING TOWARDS THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA A care partners perspective on what helps. Watch Full Event HERE Esteemed Globe and Mail Columnist André Picard wrote Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada’s Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic in 2021, a book that discusses what needs to change to shift the culture of long-term care across our country. “Picard reveals the full extent of the crisis in eldercare and offers an urgently needed prescription to fix a broken system and ensure long-term care homes are not warehouses of isolation and neglect” Penguin Random House states on their site. Care home COVID outbreaks seemed to be exploding in every region of the country at the time, drawing attention to the deplorable working conditions they had for employees, the resulting neglect residents experienced, and the total lack of support for the institutions in general. In this storyboard, Picard says media needs to highlight not just worst-case scenarios meant to shock and awe, but stories about people living quite well for a long time with dementia. Seeing more people with dementia in our day-to-day activities—including in the news— would normalize that experience as a way of reducing stigma. Lastly, he emphasized the importance of having people with dementia sit on boards and committees on which they get a real vote in the outcomes of important decisions. ANDRÉ PICARD ON THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN STAMPING OUT STIGMA Watch Full Event HERE Rob Dramer and Lilllian Ireland are self-identified elders who work with the Suzuki foundation mentoring and supporting other elders and younger generations in dialogue and action on environmental issues. They're also traveling performers who offer a multi-sensory show featuring songs they've written about biodiversity, interspersed with some familiar tunes to help audiences tap into earlier memories. Music elicits powerful connections, and they invite audience members to join in the fun alongside them and their collection of beautiful local animal puppets. On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Watch Full Event HERE SUZUKI ELDERS Myrna Norman is an author, artist, and dementia advocate based in Maple Ridge. In 2009, when Norman was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia and given eight years to live, she went home ready to die. But after grieving this news for a couple of weeks, Norman decided to do what she’s best at: advocating for change. She became heavily involved in initiatives that let others in her situation know they weren’t alone. Thirteen years later, Norman’s passion, generosity of spirit, and charisma have touched so many lives. Her book, “Dementia Strategies, Tips and Personal Stories,” has become an indispensable voice of validation and support. Norman has participated in multi-year research studies, art-making groups and task forces including The Dementia Sisterhood, the Dementia Action Committee, Dementia Advocacy Canada, the Dementia Friendly Task Force, and now the Building Capacity Project to name just a few. She’s also collaborating with researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab to develop a series of workbooks geared at supporting researchers to engage in collaborative work with people with lived experience. And to all these roles, she brings her signature energy, compassion, and love for showing people their strength. On the value of art in supporting the dementia journey... Watch Full Event HERE POETRY A dedicated group of congregation members at Pacific Spirit United Church worked together over the course of a year to create an incredible and insightful four-part series on dementia that you can access online. They had noticed church members struggling with cognitive decline and family members worried about finding extra care, so they dove in to offer support. Their commitment to fostering a dementia friendly culture at their church has since inspired many other groups to take action too. For more details go to www.pacificspiritc.com and click on "ministries". The series is under "Beacon *shinning light on dementia." BEACON *Shining Light on Dementia An Initiative to build an inclusive congregation at Pacific Spirit United Church. Summary HERE Watch Full Event HERE The Flipping Stigma Toolkit is a project where a group of people diagnosed with dementia partnered with a research team to develop an online toolkit. This Action Group, funded by a research grant from the Canadian Institute of Health and Research, co-designed the toolkit to help people with dementia recognize and respond to stigma and discrimination -and to help others better understand ho to be supportive-. The Goa? Flip that fear on its ear. To learn more visit www.flippingstigma.com LET´S TALK ABOUT DEMENTIA THE FLIPPING STIGMA TOOLKIT An Action Group of people living with dementia came together and developed a toolkit to start a conversation about stigma and discrimination in dementia. Watch Full Event HERE Granville Johnson is an artist and teacher whose advocacy work is always led by his passion for lifting people up. In this piece, he talks about the ways his art and his lived experience inform each other. He sees dementia as an opportunity for insight. “Dementia gives you a chance to express your inner self, the good, the bad and the ugly. And in that expression, there are opportunities to grow.” He focuses on what he can do, rather than what he can’t. He believes the more society can get behind the idea of championing strengths rather than focusing on deficits, the stronger our community will become. Johnson lives in a remote part of Northern British Columbia and thrives in its natural beauty. NEW PERSPECTIVES Shifting the conversation on dementia involves recognizing its gifts. Watch Full Event HERE Researchers and designers at Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab use participatory design methods to catalyze, support and amplify initiatives addressing complex health challenges like dementia. “We use design methods to help engage people with dementia in initiatives that directly impact their lives,” said Lab Director Caylee Raber. The team’s current project is called Collaborate, Gather, Share—a workbook series co-designed by people with lived experience to help drive reflection around how they can be brought into research projects and how best to support those collaborations, recognizing people with dementia as experts. Their recent video, “Perspectives,” paired design students with long-term care residents. They co-designed and co-wrote mini publications featuring residents’ stories. Students developed creative games and activities to help draw out residents’ stories that they then captured in zines and mini-books, some even embroidered on quilts. Lastly, the team worked with Vancouver Coastal Health for four years on a project focused on shifting the culture of care in long-term facilities. All the Lab’s work focuses on how researchers and designers can use their skills and expertise to build upon work already being done—facilitating creative expression and self advocacy for people with dementia and getting those messages out to the world. EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY´S HEALTH DESIGN LAB Emily Carr University's Health Design Lab employs participatory methods to lift up the perspectives of people with lived experience. Watch Full Event HERE Author, artist, and dementia advocate Myrna Norman runs a peer support group for others with dementia in her lower mainland community called the Purple Angels Memory Café. The group meets four times a month, and sometimes outdoors in summer when the weather is beautiful. Every second week, it’s the Army and Navy Club for a beer and live music. Members take turns bringing refreshments and treats and have fundraised up to $300 to put towards games and activities they can play together. The group is a wonderful way to connect with others, share similar experiences, and gain support and a powerful sense of belonging. The best part? Membership is free. “The gift [members] give to me is so much more than could ever be paid,” said Norman. One new member who joined a couple of weeks ago turned to Myrna as he was leaving the Army and Navy Club and said, “Myrna, I feel different now. The music touched something inside of me.” “I still get the shivers thinking about it,” Norman said of the comment. It’s revelations like this one that drew her to this work. For more information or to check out the Purple Angels sometime, email Myrna Norman at: the.normans@shaw.ca REPRESENTATION MATTERS The power of seeing our experiences in the stories of others. Watch Full Event HERE Reverend Deborah Liang has been a minister in the United Church of Canada for 37 years, the last four at Pacific Spirit Kerrisdale. She's seen how good communities gather around people in both their joys and troubles, contributing immensely to their quality of life. She also served as chaplain at a rural hospital and learned so much from nurses and program staff there about support, respect and care for people with dementia. Shared values and perspectives. Watch Full Event HERE THE POWER OF SUPPORT FROM OUR FAITH & CULTURE GROUPS One Vancouver man who has been advocating for the treatment and care of people with dementia ever since his dementia diagnosis over a decade ago, discusses how dementia is viewed through various cultural lenses. He explains how those lenses affect families' and individual's responses to diagnosis and decisions around treatment. Watch Full Event HERE RESPONDING TO DEMENTIA THROUGH A CROSS-CULTURAL LENS BC artist and dementia advocate Granville Johnson talks about the importance of trusting one's sense of self above all else when living with dementia. "The world might not know we're capable, but we can know it and live it and continue to pursue our dreams." Johnson lives in remote part of British Columbia where he's currently working on a novel. Watch Full Event HERE TRUSTING OUR SENSE OF SELF ABOVE ALL ELSE When Lester was first diagnosed with dementia, he and his wife and care partner Cindy found that some of their friends and family reacted with disbelief. Others weren't sure how to talk to him. Sharing the Flipping Stigma toolkit with their church and social communities gave the couple a chance to contextualize dementia for those who didn't know much about it. The toolkit allayed fears, provided reassurance, and ultimately resulted in Lester AND Cindy feeling they could open up more about his diagnosis, feel less shame, and share more of their journey with the people they cared about. The toolkit helped them feel much more deeply understood. Watch Full Event HERE ON BRAVERY AND THE POWER OF SHARING OUR STORY Bill Heibein continues to live on the farm he shared with his late wife Heather just outside Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. When he was diagnosed with dementia in 2000, doctors told him he'd have about five more years to live "usefully". Twenty-two years later, he has proven them wrong. In addition to caring for his horses, Bill volunteers as an advocate with the Northwest Dementia Working Group, helps run Dementia Cafes in the community, and is passionate about encouraging others with lived experience to get involved, advocate for themselves, and find purpose. Bill says it's that deep sense of purpose that's fuelled his ability to thrive with dementia for so long, and he's confident others can do the same. Bill Heibein's Journey with Dementia Watch Full Event HERE HOW FOCUSING ON A PURPOSE BUILDS RESILIENCE When COVID-19 threatened to halt all their efforts in their tracks, Andrea Sara and her team found was to move online, gather virtually, solve problems, and dream big anyway. They worried for seniors who'd been hit particularly hard by increased isolation and wanted to ensure everyone in their community felt seen and supported. So, they went outside. They sought out "soothing spaces" where they could "feel safe socializing". That's how the Fireweed Club came to be. These days the DRA has its hand in so many wonderful initiatives, all which support inclusion, environmental awareness, and social engagement. A community works together to be more inclusive. Watch Full Event HERE MAPPING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY CULTURE Dementia Educator and community advocate Helen Murphy has dedicated her career to making the North Shore and surrounding communities more dementia-friendly. She provides training for North Shore organizations, speaks to community groups, and volunteers in developing new programs and opportunities for people with dementia to live better lives in a community that is "wise, inclusive and socially integrated". Watch Full Event HERE ON THE VALUE OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION The Building Capacity Project team in Thunder Bay, Ontario partners with the Northwest Dementia Working Group on a number of fantastic community initiatives. The team is very grateful to the NWDWG members who have volunteered to help run some of their Dementia Cafes over the years, for instance, as these cafes are a great opportunity for people in the community to witness for themselves how important representation is, how much capacity there is among people with lived experience, and to be a apart of breaking down stigma. THE NEED FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN ADVOCACY ROLES Lynn Jackson is an action group member with lived experience who played a key role in developing the Flipping Stigma Toolkit, a new online resource helping educate caregivers, people with lived experience, researchers, and the public at large about how to respond to stigma around dementia. Jackson talks about how important it is for care partners to empower people with dementia to stay engaged and active. Fostering autonomy while supporting someone with dementia works to maintain their sense of personhood. Treating them like they're sick makes them feel that way. Watch Full Event HERE CARE PARTNERS EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA Dr. Elaine Wiersma of the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University talks about the need to amplify a wider cross section of voices when it comes to the lived experience of people with dementia. If our exposure of these experiences stays too narrow, we run the risk of silencing important wisdoms, staying uninformed as to the broad range of experiences, and keeping devastating stigmas alive. AMPLIFYING DIVERSE VOICES: THE VALUE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE Art is a powerful vehicle for shifting perceptions and shaping culture. AND it's one way of letting your voice be heard when the words themselves might be too hard to say. Whether it's a poem, a collage, a painting, or a dance, the arts can be incredibly helpful and moving for people with dementia at all stages of their journey, and can help the public gain insight into their experience. ART AS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE

Devenir un partenaire Partenaires actuels HUB COLLABORATION VALUES SENIORS LED Dirigés par les seniors: L e Hub est dirigé par des personnes âgées afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées. Il favorise un processus de vieillissement en bonne santé, reconnaissant que plusieurs générations et cohortes ont besoin de différentes activités et soutiens. Les aînés fournissent des conseils sur l'amélioration de l'accessibilité des programmes pour aînés et la prise en compte de la diversité des intérêts des aînés. COMMUNITY FOCUSED The overarching intention of the collaboration among Partner Organizations is to maximize benefits for the community and to leverage resources effectively, for example by seeking opportunities for funding support and innovative collaboration. The Hub relies on community engagement to address the needs and interests of diverse facets of the community. DIGNITY AND RESPECT Dirigés par les seniors: L e Hub est dirigé par des personnes âgées afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées. Il favorise un processus de vieillissement en bonne santé, reconnaissant que plusieurs générations et cohortes ont besoin de différentes activités et soutiens. Les aînés fournissent des conseils sur l'amélioration de l'accessibilité des programmes pour aînés et la prise en compte de la diversité des intérêts des aînés. BELONGING The Hub strives to create a sense of belonging and inclusion and provide opportunities to be connected and engaged in the community. OPENNESS Ouverture: Les Organisations Partenaires Hub opèrent dans un esprit de respect mutuel et sont claires et ouvertes sur leurs intentions. Ils évoquent tous les problèmes qui surviennent au cours du travail du Hub afin qu'ils puissent être traités par le groupe. BECOME A PARTNER If you are a public, non-profit, or faith-based organization that serves seniors on Vancouver’s Westside, we would like to collaborate with you! WHAT VALUE DOES THE WESTSIDE SENIORS HUB OFFER? Inform seniors about Westside organizations that offer to keep them socially engaged, active and well-served Enable the sharing of information and resources among Hub Partner Organizations , seniors and community entities Increase community awareness of seniors' issues and strengthen advocacy on behalf of seniors HOW CAN PARTNERING IN THE WESTSIDE SENIORS HUB BENEFIT MY ORGANIZATION? Enhance community awareness of your seniors’ programs and increase participation Learn from experiences and insights of other seniors' service providers Share ideas and solutions to improve seniors’ programs and services Amplify the voice of Westside seniors' service providers through the collective power of working together WHAT ARE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A HUB PARTNER ORGANIZATION? Support the goals and operation of the Westside Seniors Hub by attending quarterly meetings, sitting on working groups when possible, and providing advice and expertise to Council and the public when requested Respond to requests for information to profile their organization in Hub communications (website, HubBytes) Share ideas, successes, and challenges at quarterly Partner meetings Disseminate information from Partner meetings within your organization Promote the network of Partner Organizations and make referrals where appropriate Partners meet quarterly and communicate via email between meetings. Partners are encouraged to join working groups relevant to their work and offer space, resources and guidance to help the Council and volunteers in their efforts. Contact us to become a partner ABOUT HUB PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS A growing network of non-profit, faith-based and pubic organizations that serve seniors on the Westside have become Hub Partners . They share Hub collaboration values in supporting seniors in their communit y. Partner representatives meet quarterly to share information about resources and assets, identify emerging issues, and collaborate on building a range of integrated services for seniors. Their representatives work with volunteer Hub Council members, represent the Hub to the public and various constituencies and may serve on working groups to act on identified issues. Hub brochure here Collaboration values Become a Partner

We'd love to know what you think! Name Your email address What two or three words come to mind when viewing this image? How does this image impact the way you think about Dementia? Would you like to know more about Dementia? Yes No Not sure SUBMIT

VOLUNTEERS YOU can help participate in community conversations assist with social, creative & physical activities provide technical expertise & logistical support interview & write stories Volunteers are essential partners in making Hub Partners' programs meaningful opportunities for participants. Your interactions with people living with dementia become important connections to community and diversify the kinds of activities that Hub Partners can offer. Hub Partners would like to hear from you! Visit the Current Hub Partner Projects page to see which project is most attractive and contact the Partner sponsoring it.

Outils d'engagement Les parties prenantes partout dans notre société peuvent favoriser la résilience des êtres chers qui éprouvent des difficultés cognitives. Tout le monde lutte pour l'inclusion sociale et la reconnaissance de sa personnalité, et les personnes atteintes de démence et leurs aidants ne font pas exception. Quelle est la recette du succès pour favoriser la résilience? Dementia Ventures vise à atteindre un large éventail de parties prenantes et à fournir aux organisations communautaires des outils pour s'engager efficacement avec les personnes confrontées à des problèmes cognitifs. Donnons-leur plus d'opportunités! Et comment? Laissez la voix et l'expérience des êtres chers vivant avec la démence éclairer la planification d'activités significatives qui apportent de la joie à toutes les personnes impliquées! Vous trouverez ci-dessous des outils incroyables pour vous aider à vous engager et à faire la différence. Mots et approches puissants Engagement significatif Justifications concises du changement QUE CONSTITUE LE CÔTÉ OUEST? Nous définissons la zone de chalandise du Westside Seniors Hub comme suit: À l'ouest de la rue Ontario, tout le chemin pour inclure UBC et les terres de dotation Au sud de la rue Cornwall et de False Creek Au nord de Marine Drive À noter que la zone de chalandise n'inclut pas la péninsule du centre-ville ou l'île Granville. Les partenaires dont le bureau est en dehors de notre zone de chalandise sont invités à se joindre à nous s'ils servent activement les aînés de Westside . WHAT IS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN FOSTERING RESILIENCE? Dementia Ventures aims to reach a broad range of stakeholders and provide community organizations with tools to engage effectively with people experiencing cognitive challenges. Let’s give them more opportunities! And how? Let the voices and experience of loved ones living with dementia inform the planning of meaningful activities that bring joy to everyone involved! You will find some amazing tools below to help you engage and make a difference. Powerful Words & Approaches Concise Rationales for Change Meaningful Engagement Top of Tools for Engagement Concise rationales POWERFUL WORDS & APPROACHES CONCISE RATIONALES FOR CHANGE Practice Tools & Factsheets (I-CAARE) A Quick Guide To: Approaches ; PIECES of My Relationships (Guidelines, Questions, Family Supplement); Medicine Wheel: Preventing Dementia in Indigenous People by Aging Well ; The Pathway of Dementia Person-centered Language Guidelines Alzheimer Society of Canada “By being more conscious of the language we use, we can avoid reducing individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to a series of labels, symptoms or medical terms.” Dementia & Language Dementia Alliance International Organizational philosophy:”Nothing about us, without us.” Approach conversations with and about people living with dementia using respectful language that does not stigmatize and demean. Media should reflect DAI's Core Beliefs. Why Arts-based Activities? Westside Seniors Hub, Vancouver, BC Rationale for social engagement through the arts, credible evidence, and links to model programs that demonstrate how arts-based creative activities can have profound impacts on people at every stage of the dementia trajectory. Flipping Stigma on Its Ear Toolkit Taking Action Against Stigma and Discrimination Associated With Dementia University of British Columbia, CIHR Action Research Project “The purpose of this toolkit is to recognize and respond to this stigma and discrimination…designed by people with dementia to help others – including other people living with dementia, service providers, physicians, family members and friends – to address the challenges of stigma and discrimination.” Hear from the experts who live with dementia – what they experience, how they respond to stigma and discrimination as advocates for themselves and others, how they build skills and competence. Powerful tools from people living with dementia with more being developed for support persons and researchers. What is the Building Capacity Project all about? Westside Seniors Hub, Vancouver, BC Meaningful Engagement MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT Tipsheet for accessibility & equity in online engagement MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU, Burnaby, BC “It is important to consider how community members’ identities and experiences may impact their ability to learn about, access or participate safely in an engagement—and tailor plans to suit diverse needs.” Beyond Inclusion: Equity in Public Engagement MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU, Burnaby, BC “Hearing from people with diverse lived experiences leads to more innovative ideas, better decisions, greater public support of outcomes…This guide is designed for individuals sponsoring or planning public engagement initiatives that will inform decision-making...outlines some factors practitioners can reflect on when scoping and designing engagement processes.” Healthy Community Engagement Action Guide PlanH, BC Healthy Communities Featuring community examples, resources, strategies and other useful information, this guide helps local governments plan their community input process to ensure…equity-centred, inclusive community engagement…to create healthier, more accessible communities. Making Your Workplace Dementia Friendly Alzheimer Society of BC Specific resources for professionals who are in legal, financial, housing, and recreation professions … ”to understand and recognize the signs of dementia…communicate in an effective, respectful way…think about specific ways they can support a person with dementia in their work and how their workplace may become more dementia friendly.…know what resources are available to them and their customers or clients.” Busting Dementia Stigma: One Children's Book at a Time WA Dementia Action Collaborative “Are you a parent, teacher or librarian who wants to help build dementia awareness and challenge stigma? Children’s books can be a great tool! The criteria below can help you evaluate children’s books and select ones that carry a respectful, stigma-busting message.” Back to Resources - Dementia Ventures

PAST PROJECTS DEMENTIA VENTURES September 2023 - March 2025 Additional PHAC funding allows Dementia Ventures projects to deepen their impact. Initiatives elsewhere in BC will involve people living with dementia and community members to create new engagement programs, and result in publication of an Action Guide that offers insights for communities building capacity for greater social citizenship by people experiencing dementia. DEMENTIA VENTURES - BUILDING CAPACITY PROJECT September 2019 - March 2023 Building Capacity for Meaningful Participation by People Living with Dementia , an initiative funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), aimed to enable people with dementia to participate in community life as full social citizens. The project was a partnership between researchers at the University of British Columbia and Lakehead University, and their community partners: members of the Westside Seniors Hub in Vancouver and the Northwest Dementia Working Group in Thunder Bay, a coalition of people with lived experience, care partners, and researchers. In Vancouver, where the initiative is known as Dementia Ventures, six Hub Partners implemented programs that created opportunities for active involvement of people with dementia, such as a virtual memory café, a buddy program, outdoor activities, and discussions among faith-based congregations. Read more about Dementia Ventures here and Hub Partners’ stories here . CYCLING WITHOUT AGE EVENT September 28, 201 9 Cycling Without Age Vancouver, in association with Kitsilano Neighbourhood House and the Westside Seniors Hub, are hosting safe and scenic trishaw rides along the Arbutus Greenway on September 28th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Trishaws are three-wheeled cycles where you sit in the front and experienced pilots pedal you from behind. Our mission is to break the elderly free from social isolation. Make them smile. Make new memories. And let them be part of society again and thereby renew their appetite for life itself. We give them the right to wind in their hair. Cycling Without Age is based on generosity and kindness. Event HUbBYTES NEWSLETTERS July, September, November 2019 and re-launched December 2021 - present In 2019 Hub Council began compiling resources of potential value to Hub Partner Organizations that we encountered as we attended events and made community contacts. The MailChimp illustrated newsletters are now sent out quarterly to Hub Partners and community members who sign up. Read current and past editions and sign up here . DEMENTIA PROJECT - HUB FIRST STEPS TOGETHER October-November 2018 Hub Council convened a working group of representatives from Partner Organizations to discuss and decide upon actions to be taken after a presentation about Alzheimer cafés and other dementia-friendly initiatives. At two meetings, some Guiding Principles were drafted. First Steps Together 2017-2018 WALK AND BE SEEN CAMPAIGN The 2017-2018 Vancouver Walk and Be Seen (WBS) campaign was a great success! The finale held in March included presentations by Safety Ambassadors from 17 organizations from Metro Vancouver. Seniors were involved in organizing neighbourhood Walk and Be Seen projects. For those who attended the finale, there was no doubt that many were Proud to be Seniors and Proud to be Seen-iors! During the campaign, volunteer Ambassadors spoke to seniors in their communities about pedestrian safety and the benefits of increasing their visibility in low-light conditions by wearing reflective or light-emitting gear. The comments, stories and survey results collected in this campaign clearly showed grassroots support for increased pedestrian visibility. 2018 WBS Report FORUM ON SENIORS HOUSING ON THE WESTSIDE OF VANCOUVER July 2017 The Westside Seniors Hub, through the Jewish Family Services Agency, received a grant from Vancouver Coastal Health to research seniors housing on the Westside of Vancouver. A researcher interviewed more than forty stakeholders, from housing experts to seniors with housing issues. The report Seniors Housing on the Westside of Vancouver is based on these interviews. The Hub then organized a half-day Housing Forum on April 26, 2017 to further explore housing issues with those interviewed and important stakeholders. The Forum included panel presentations on housing innovation by leaders from Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, the United Way of the Lower Mainland, LaneFab and Calling Ministries, and 36 participants joined two consecutive groups to explore key issues and formulate recommendations. Forum Report 2016-2017 WALK AND BE SEEN PILOT PROJECT Walk and Be Seen (WBS) was a volunteer pilot project on the Westside of Vancouver involving senior pedestrians. It was designed to promote walking during low-light conditions while wearing reflective apparel in response to statistics that show senior pedestrians experiencing the highest number of fatalities from collisions in Vancouver. The project registered 132 participants who agreed to wear free reflective gear (cloth sash or LED slapband), tally walks of any length, and provide feedback. Upon completion, 79 registrants completed a survey and provided comments. An Action Mini-Grant (VGH Trauma Services, Vancouver Coastal Health) provided initial funding with Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, Mountain Equipment Coop, the Jewish Family Services Agency, and WalkMetroVan contributing additional funds and administrative support. 2017 WBS Report 10th AVENUE HEALTH PRECINCT PLANNING UPDATES May 2017 The City of Vancouver Transportation Department undertook a two-phase public consultation process in 2015-2016 regarding redesign proposals for the West 10th Avenue ‘Health Precinct’ (Cambie to Oak Streets). Seniors, persons with disabilities, and many stakeholders provided feedback on those proposals. The Hub noted a few significant design changes as a result of citizen input. NATIONAL SENIORS DAY FAIR October 2015 Event ELDER ABUSE INFORMATION WORKSHOP June 2015 Event DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY TRAINING SESSIONS April 2015 A series of three training sessions with presenters from the Alzheimer Society of BC were arranged and offered to staff and volunteers of Hub Partner organizations and the general public. Report

Guides pour la programmation inclusive CLICK in the links below REAWAKENING THE MIND Dirigés par les seniors: L e Hub est dirigé par des personnes âgées afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées. Il favorise un processus de vieillissement en bonne santé, reconnaissant que plusieurs générations et cohortes ont besoin de différentes activités et soutiens. Les aînés fournissent des conseils sur l'amélioration de l'accessibilité des programmes pour aînés et la prise en compte de la diversité des intérêts des aînés. SHARING MEMORIES: REMINISCENCE ACTIVITIES (Lee County Library System, Florida) Programs that find meaning in memories, storytelling, letter writing, community conversations and tips for success in engagement. HOW-TO GUIDES FOR WALKING GROUPS AND CAFÉS Dirigés par les seniors: L e Hub est dirigé par des personnes âgées afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées. Il favorise un processus de vieillissement en bonne santé, reconnaissant que plusieurs générations et cohortes ont besoin de différentes activités et soutiens. Les aînés fournissent des conseils sur l'amélioration de l'accessibilité des programmes pour aînés et la prise en compte de la diversité des intérêts des aînés. COMMUNITY-ENGAGED ARTS PRACTICE WITH SENIORS: A STARTUP GUIDE (Arts and Health, Canada) “Community-engaged arts programs promote the health, well-being and social inclusion of older adults…address the gap between the existing supports available for well seniors in recreation facilities and those for very frail seniors…provide a forum for exploration, imagination, and communication that can transform individual lives and profoundly impact community life.” DEMENTIA PROGRAMS Dirigés par les seniors: L e Hub est dirigé par des personnes âgées afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées. Il favorise un processus de vieillissement en bonne santé, reconnaissant que plusieurs générations et cohortes ont besoin de différentes activités et soutiens. Les aînés fournissent des conseils sur l'amélioration de l'accessibilité des programmes pour aînés et la prise en compte de la diversité des intérêts des aînés. SOCIAL ISOLATION OF SENIORS: IDEAS EXCHANGE EVENT TOOLKIT “Toolkit is meant to help people and organizations host effective meetings to exchange ideas and respond to the social isolation of seniors in their communities. It contains tools, templates and support resources for hosting an ideas exchange event.” Back to Resources - Dementia Ventures

JOB OPPORTUNITIES Westside Seniors Hub Council Join the Council's Volunteer Team Council members: We are recruiting volunteers to join us and ensure that Westside neighbourhoods are places where seniors can thrive. To find out more about the role of Council in Hub affairs, click he re . For more details about a Council member's role, please click here Digital Communications Assistant: One or two people to assist with publishing the Hub's quarterly newsletter, Hub Bytes, and/or with maintaining the Hub's website up to date. More details here D Di Westside Seniors Hub Coordinator Join us to assist WSH leadership in the coordination and outreach to Westside stakeholders on seniors’ issues. Council is seeking a The Council Coordinator for a new 14 hours per week position to assist WSH leadership in coordination and outreach to Westside stakeholders on seniors’ issues. We are looking for a self-motivated individual with an interest in seniors’ issues. Details in the job description here . Please apply by May 13, 2024. Family Caregivers of BC J oin FCBC's Volunteer Team Support Group Facilitators: Seeking volunteers to create a safe and open space for caregivers to share their concerns and challenges. Facilitators are people with strong listening skills, discretion, empathy and ability to empower individuals to be involved in making decisions about their own care. Host and Virtual Assistant: For our Virtual Journal Workshop for Caregivers...an ongoing program offered to to caregivers who are interested in engaging in structured writing that is private and self-reflective...You would provide technical online support to the facilitator and participants . Caregiver Support Assistant: L ooking for two Caregiver Support Assistants to provide administration support to our caregiver support team at FCBC...use your technical skills to assist with general office duties, filing, emails, help with communication and outreach. More details and application forms here ASK Friendship Society CALLS for VOLUNTEERS Board Members: ASK is growing! Help lead and manage that process, we are looking to fill 2-4 Board positions with committed individuals who have experience in human resources, administration, fundraising, etc. Youth & student opportunities too, More details and application forms here