The Aviva Community Fund (ACF) is Canada's longest running online charitable funding competition. This year the ACF is donating $1 million to charitable community initiatives across Canada.

There are three project categories: Community Resilience, Community Health, and Community Development. Funding is offered in two levels: $50,000 and under for small ideas, and $50,000 to $100,000 for large ideas. Winners of the competition will also receive free services from CanadaHelps.
Submissions open September 19 and close October 6. Voting begins
October 11.

The Alberta Council on Aging has released a new Recognizing Abuse Toolkit that includes a PowerPoint presentation, presenter's notes and a participant booklet. The materials can be used to increase awareness of elder abuse.

A healthy board has the right amount of turnover to keep history at the table while at the same time, making room for new and fresh perspectives. Join fellow board members at this policy lab to explore the important questions that will guide you in the development of a healthy board recruitment framework for your organization.  ECVO's Policy Labs are working labs designed to support policy committees in moving forward in creating, reviewing, and designing their policy manuals.

There are two opportunities in early fall to take the Navigator workshop offered by Caregivers Alberta. Navigator trains health professionals, service providers and community agency staff to better support caregivers by showing how to identify caregivers early in their journey, support caregivers to adopt self-care practices and facilitate caregivers' access to programs/ resources and referrals. Review the brochure for more information.  To register, contact Debra Paches at [email protected] or 
780-453-5088.

Stories are an excellent way for non-profits to raise money and build relationships with donors, but not all stories are automatically great. There are a few key things that non-profits can do to tell better stories that get fundraising results. During this webinar, you'll learn five things that you can start doing today to tell better stories.

Senior centers can use social capital to effect policy change to create sustained growth. This webinar will present some practical steps centers can take including being counted, sharing evidence-based practices, diversifying funding plans, having strength in numbers, using advocacy, having a broad (not just health) focus, including businesses, and reclaiming the senior-center name. 

Writing and getting grants is not as easy as putting pen to paper. Are you looking for practical instructions to secure grant funding for your organization? In this workshop, you'll learn the steps needed to successfully obtain grant support and build genuine long-term relationships with funders.

Morning session: Seeing Dementia from the Other Side
Dementia doesn't negate a person's spirituality. It does, however, change the way in which we engage it. By understanding the nature of skill loss and preserved abilities, we will learn to communicate differently and more effectively with persons living with dementia. As people of faith, we can then cultivate and offer a presence that makes spiritual and religious care more possible and more meaningful.

Afternoon session: Sexuality in Care Facilities
This presentation will challenge your preconceptions about sexuality in older residents and explore organizational barriers and obligations in residential facilities. We will then engage in a lively and interactive discussion about two of the key ethical challenges that arise regarding resident sexuality, namely when the resident does not have the capacity to make decisions about sexual behaviour and residents with dementia who are behaving in ways inconsistent with their past behaviour or past values.

Learn more about the workshop.

This position is responsible for providing Follow-up and Outreach services to isolated older adults with complex issues. This includes assessing needs, providing information, support and developing a comprehensive client centred case plan. It may also include client advocacy, system navigation and connection to other resources in the community. This role may include working with older adults experiencing hoarding, homelessness and/or other complex issues impacting their lives. 

The successful candidates will be college or university prepared in Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Community Development, Human Ecology or Nursing and be registered with their specific regulatory body. Experience working with older adults and knowledge of case management is required. An understanding of Community Development is an asset. A valid Driver's License and access to a vehicle with 2 million dollars of liability insurance is required. Note that for the part-time position, fluency in both official languages, English and French, is also required.

Resumes are due by August 31. Application instructions can be found in the job postings:
Full-Time Community Navigator
Part-Time Community Navigator

Sage is currently accepting applications from Registered Social Workers with experience providing support, assistance, information and referrals to older adults addressing their basic, social and emotional needs. This position assists the older adult in becoming familiar with housing options and works closely with all other internal programs. In addition, this position works with the Multi-Cultural Seniors Outreach Workers to connect the seniors they work with to appropriate resources.

As a Registered Social Worker, the successful candidate will adhere to the Social Work Code of Ethics and be a member in good standing with the A.C.S.W.

Resumes are due by August 31. Review the job posting for application instructions.

Yard sale tables are available for $10/table. The event will also feature an authentic Aboriginal craft table, bake sale, live music and bannock burgers for $5 each. Call 780-476-6595 for information.

Open nights are every second Wednesday of the month and are for everyone. No partner is required. All dances are taught to a variety of music and songs. Good fun and exercise. Email [email protected] for more information.

Are you interested in quilting but have no idea where to begin? SWESA's quilters are happy to help by leading a six-week beginner's project. In this class, you will make your own Christmas table runner from start to finish. The group leader has assembled a ready-made runner kit and will provide you with the pattern and all of the needed material. Bring your sewing machine or make arrangements with SWESA to rent one. Participants are welcome to attend the remaining eight quilting group dates of the season at no cost. Registration is required. Call 587-987-3200 for information.

Ever wondered what is stored at the archives, why, who does it and how? Now is the time and place to ask. Staff from the City Archives will take participants on a virtual tour into the archives. Call 780-488-4241 for information.

Participate in this six-week session led by a certified Yoga instructor. Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers to class and bring a water bottle and yoga mat. Call Connie at 780-424-1255 to register.

Strathcona Place 55+ Centre launches their 2017 Bilsland Literary Award project with dinner and storytelling. After dinner 2016 Bilsland Award finalists will read from their stories and Gail Brown will entertain with stories from her Growing Old Disgracefully collection. Tickets to the dinner can be purchased by calling 780-433-5807.

You are invited to join this happy group to listen, laugh and/or become a better writer. The first meeting is September 16 at 10 a.m. and class continues every Friday. Call 780-433-5807 to register.

Combat your fear of commitment and try out a class before you decide to register. Try out Zumba Gold, Fit For Your Life, Yoga For Men, Strong Body Fun Life, Cardio Salsa, Keep Fit, Sit Down For Fitness, Yoga, Yoga Chair, Zumba Gold Toning, Ballet Barre, Be Moved and more. Consult SEESA's online program guide for class start times.

The instructors have graciously waived their fees for this week only to offer demo classes by donation. All monies collected will go directly to building improvements. Call 780-468-1985 for more information.

RSVP at 780-433-5377.

Want to write but don't know where to start? Join this weekly writing circle where your stories, poems, and memoirs take centre stage. You will find a supportive environment where you will receive constructive feedback from your classmates and instructor.  Small class size. No writing experience is necessary. Call 780-423-5510 ext. 301 to register.

The bus leaves the centre at 10:30 a.m. and returns approximately 3:30 p.m. Enjoy a tour of the farm and a visit to the on-site shop. Bring money for lunch (stop in Leduc) and shopping at the farm's mill. Call 780-342-8625 for information. Register by September 14.

An exciting glimpse into the justice world from a retired criminal justice professor. Learn some facts about criminal justice in Edmonton in a series of classes and two tours (Criminal Court and Edmonton Institution For Women) as well as real case studies in this 11-week course. Learn that what you see and hear in the media and information you already have about criminal justice may not be accurate. Register by September 19 by calling 780-423-5510 ext. 301.

Whether you want to improve your writing skills or document your life in written form for future generations Writing From the Heart is the course for you. What a thrill to see your grandchildren's eyes light up when they see stories you've written for them, or to see your name in print in a publication. Call 780-483-1209 for more information.