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Archives > Winter 1999 articles
from the Executive Director's Desk
Nineteen ninty-nine will be a busy one for BC CEAS. We are
presently undertaking the planning and preliminary work for
a national launch of our video and educational package “Money
Matters for Seniors”, a resource concerning financial
abuse of seniors. This package has proven to be very successful
in British Columbia since its provincial launch in June of
1998.
During the International Year of Older Persons , and into
the year 2000, we plan to visit each province together with
One Voice, the National Seniors’ Network, to launch the
video package. A senior’s organization in each province
will be the provincial host for the presentation. Representatives
from the Canadian Bankers’ Association, Credit Union
Central of Canada, Health Canada and other community organizations
will also be taking part.
Health Canada is funding our preliminary work and we will
be advised in April whether they will fund the national project.
We also plan to re-shoot the video in Quebec, and translate
the educational materials into French. At a later date, we
hope to make the video and educational package available in
other languages. Please see our advertisement for “Money
Matters for Seniors” in this issue.
On May 14-15, 1999 we will be holding our Annual General
Meeting and Conference in Kamloops. We are planning topical
workshops with excellent presenters and encourage as many
of you as possible to join us there. We have booked a block
of rooms at the Stockmen’s Hotel, 540 Victoria Street,
Kamloops. Their toll-free number is 1-800-663-2837. There
are also other excellent places to stay in the vicinity. A
brochure on the event will be available by the beginning of
March.
Our ABCs of Fraud Program, funded by the Scotiabank to help
make seniors a tough target for financial exploitation, is
very much in demand. Scotiabank has agreed to fund this for
a second year (1999). In 1998, they funded sites in Vancouver,
Calgary, Toronto and Halifax. This year, they will be adding
several new sites across the country. We are receiving excellent
feedback from seniors’ groups participating in this interactive,
educational program.
Our office continues to be extremely busy, with telephone
calls increasing by almost 50% over 1997. These calls come
from seniors experiencing abuse, seniors’ family members,
friends, and caregivers, community and seniors’ organizations
and agencies, health care professionals, students, etc. Our
membership continues to grow. Together, we provide a louder
voice to help prevent abuse of seniors.
As I write this, we are still waiting to hear of the proclamation
of the Adult Guardianship Legislation by the provincial government.
Perhaps by the time you read this, it will have taken place.
The International Year of the Older Person would be an extremely
fitting time for them to do so.
I wish to acknowledge the generous donations of the Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce, who are funding our newsletter,
A Shared Concern, for 1999!
-Carol Ward-Hall
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