The 12th annual Sage Awards, presented by Servus Credit Union, celebrate the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of people after reaching the age of 60. Through celebration, the awards showcase the invaluable contributions of seniors and highlight how they truly enrich our communities and lives. Learn more event details.

The Sage Awards luncheon celebration will be held on May 8 at the Chateau Lacombe hotel. Tickets are $65 and are on sale until May 1. Click here for a seat reservation form or contact JoLynn Parenteau at 780-701-9017 or [email protected].

Many Canadian caregivers are balancing paid work and unpaid caregiving responsibilities, with 35% of the Canadian workforce providing care to others. The value of this unpaid care is significant. Unpaid caregivers reduce pressure on the health care system by enabling care recipients to remain at home, rather than in expensive institutional settings. The report estimates that Canadian caregivers contribute $25 billion to provincial health care systems every year through unpaid care.

Costs associated with caregiving have been estimated at approximately $1.3 billion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover for Canadian employers. Approximately 30 per cent of caregivers for older parents took time off work, with the average time off taken estimated at 450 working hours per year (or approximately 8.5 hours per week) per caregiver. 

The  Why Canada Needs to Better Care for Its Working Caregivers report makes evidence-informed recommendations to support policy and practice approaches governments and employers can implement to provide better support to current and future working caregivers.

Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) are designed so that the policies, services, and structures will help older adults live safely, enjoy good health and stay involved. Included in this dialogue is an exploration of how AFC design of physical and social environments can be leveraged to prevent falls among this population. This strengthened and complementary approach requires the commitment of expertise, resources and efforts from age-friendly planners as well as health practitioners and other stakeholders currently working in fall prevention.

During this webinar, presenters will:

• Advance our conceptual understanding of the connection between age-friendly communities and fall prevention strategies;
• Offer two practical community examples of how deliberate linkages between these approaches can strengthen local services and supports; and
• Facilitate a discussion about what people need to support these initiatives in their communities

The grant budget by itself tells the complete story of your grant application and needs to be bulletproof and tell the story of your application on its own to ensure you are awarded the grant. This interactive webinar looks at the steps necessary to write a grant budget that, regardless of the form provided, will tell the complete story of your grant proposal. The webinar will walk through each step of creating a budget and look at numerous budget form examples to discuss how the specific form helps tell your application's story.

Every nonprofit needs a solid online communications foundation. This online course will help you define your communications goals, practices, and strategies. The course will help you refine your "SMART" communications goals, learn what kind of content engages your stakeholders, understand the purpose and best use of each online communications channel, develop an editorial calendar, track success against goals, and choose how to invest your time and money. By the end of this course you'll have a firm understanding of how to create an online communications plan that meets your goals, connects with your audience, and drives engagement.

Healing for the past, health for the present, hope for the future.
This interactive and engaging symposium will feature sessions on self-care and secondary trauma. The keynote speaker is Dr. Jody Carrington who has spent most of her career working with children and families who have experienced trauma and loss. Jody will speak about anticipatory grief, grief and healing, children's grief and helping someone who is grieving.

Tickets are available until April 20 at Stony Plain FCSS, Spruce Grove FCSS and Parkland County Office. For more information contact Stony Plain FCSS at 780-963-8583 or Spruce Grove FCSS at 780-962-7618.

NCOA's National Institute of Senior Centers and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Providers offers the only national senior center conference in the United States. The conference features a keynote speech by author Elizabeth White, workshops on trends and best practices, tours of nationally accredited senior centers, and networking opportunities. 

An exciting, full time opportunity exists for a person who is outgoing, client focused and passionate about working with volunteers, seniors and vulnerable persons. You would be joining a dynamic team of customer service professionals and would be responsible for the day to day management and operations of the Store to Door grocery shopping program, as well as supporting evening meal delivery and developing new training programs.

Review the job posting for details on the position and application instructions. Submit your resume and cover letter by April 5.

Come enjoy an afternoon of Bingo. Cards are $1 each. A $6 minimum purchase is required. Daubers are $2. Bonanza cards are 3 for $1.  Pop and water are $1. Tea and coffee are free. Sandwiches and hot dogs are $2. Call 587-525-8969 for more information.

Book Sale

April 3-April 7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily and April 4, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Book donations will be accepted up to March 29.

Flea Market

April 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Over 30 tables of fabulous treasures. Accepting donations of items from March 19 to April 4 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the east side of the building. 

Call 780-496-6969 for more information on these events.

An introduction to the art of Japanese flower arranging with the opportunity to make a seasonal arrangement under the guidance of certified Ikebana instructors. Participants will learn some of the history of this art form and take home a completed flower arrangement. Floral supplies and container included in the price. Bring your own floral shears/cutting tools and scissors. Call 780-483-1209 for registration information.

This event is open to the public. There will be housewares, clothing, crafts and so much more at bargain prices. Donations will be accepted starting April 3. No furniture, helmets, or large appliances. MWSA is also looking for volunteers for the Rummage Sale. For more information call 780-496-2997.

Enjoy contemporary and traditional cuisine. Celebrate Arabic cultural sword dancing. Learn about and experience hands-on Arabic Calligraphy. Registration deadline is April 9. Call 780-496-7369 for more information.

Are you hard of hearing and would like to learn some better communication and coping skills? In this level one class you will learn basic speechreading (lip reading) and strategies to communicate better, as well as gain information on hearing aids, technology, tinnitus, and many other subjects of interest to the hard of hearing. You'll also meet others who share your challenges and are determined to do something about them.

You can register through the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association at 780-496-6969 or email [email protected].