British Columbia’s Seniors Advocate is returning to the Royal City for the 2015 Seniors Festival.
Isobel Mackenzie, the province’s first seniors’ advocate, monitors seniors’ services, promotes awareness of seniors’ issues and works to identify solutions and make recommendations to government. She’ll be speaking at New Westminster’s Seniors Festival, which is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Century House.
“She is a great speaker,” said Shelly Schnee, a recreation programmer at Century House. “She really gets the issues that a lot of seniors face.”
Mackenzie will speak from 2 to 3 p.m., but her presentation is just one of the events during the jam-packed Seniors Festival that’s running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More than 40 organizations will be taking part in an information resource fair where seniors and older adults can get details about a wide range of services they may want to access.
“It’s information about the different programs and series that are available in New Westminster,” Schnee said. “It’s all information that is useful for older adults.”
At the Century House table, visitors will have a chance to share their dreams about the type of programs and services they’d like to see at the seniors’ centre.
Throughout the day, visitors will be able to take part in free drop-in activities and workshops (first come first served), including: Nordic pole walking (11 a.m. to 3 pm.); watercolour painting (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.); exercise room tour (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.); pickleball (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); Zumba (1 to 2 p.m.); and a demonstration on “souping for health” cooking (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
Seniors are invited to bring their gadgets – iPads, smart phones, tablets, laptops or cameras - and get some hands-on technology help from 1:30 to 3 p.m. At the VanCity Healing Garden, visitors will be able to meet with an acupuncturist, reiki practitioner or herbalist and get their flu shot.
“TransLink will be here as well,” Schnee added. “I think lots of people have questions about the Compass Card.”
Mackenzie isn’t the only presentation taking place at the Seniors Festival. The B.C. Law Society will share some basic information about how to manage or plan will and estates (12:15 to 1:15 p.m.), Service Canada will provide information about the Canada Pension Plan (11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.) and Service Canada will offer information about Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement (12:30 to 1:15 p.m.)
Century House is located at 620 Eighth St. in Moody Park. The Queen’s Park Healthcare Foundation will be offering complimentary coffee, tea and cookies, but guests will also be able to buy lunch at Century House’s Connections Café.
