Loneliness and social isolation are now being recognized as public health issues in Ontario. In his recent report, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David C. Williams highlights the growing evidence that loneliness and social isolation have negative impacts on our health and wellbeing. He also recognizes the need to understand how community structures have shifted over time and why some Ontarians may do not have a stronger sense of belonging.

Increasing connectedness and sense of belonging are complex community issues which require organizations, groups, governments, and citizens to work together. No one sector working alone can effectively address complex community issues. In the webinar, Paul Born will sit down with Dr. David Williams to discuss his annual report, Connected Community: Healthier Together and explore how public health can help communities to build more connected communities.

This webinar will look at the challenges for evaluating advocacy and ways to apply general evaluation methods successfully. The presenters will introduce a framework that will help you track progress even when there are setbacks. They will share guidelines for how to make sure you are choosing good progress indicators that fit your campaign or initiative and that are feasible to track. They'll also share a few resources on methods unique to advocacy evaluation that can help you broaden your data collection options. 

The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations is partnering with the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis to deliver a bylaws session for non-profits registered under the Societies Act.

This session will be an in-depth exploration of the areas that you need to cover, key questions your board and membership need to answer, and recommendations on how to structure your bylaws to support your organization in moving forward. Attendees of the session will be able to ask the experts present questions directly related to their organization.

You will be provided with resources, templates, and a set of proven practices to help you modify, edit, or build your next set of bylaws.

This is the last luncheon before Southwest Seniors' Outreach Society breaks for the summer. Enjoy a barbecue and entertainment by the Chwyll Brothers. You must purchase your tickets in advance. Call 780-435-9515 for more information.

Being a board member for the first time means a lot of things: taking on significant responsibility, doing a tremendous service, and committing to learning a lot of new things. But what does a board member actually do? What are your roles, responsibilities and duties? How much time should you expect to commit? What expertise do you need to bring to the table? Many people join boards without knowing the answers to these questions, which sometimes makes the reality of board membership a bit surprising, to say the least.

This webinar will provide participants with guidance about what boards expect of you, and what you should expect from your board. It will cover the fundamentals about being a director, bust some myths, and help to get you ready for board membership.

This presentation by experienced staff from the Cross Cancer Institute is focused on cancer and caregiving. However, some of the practical resources and psychological information that are provided in the presentation have relevance for caregiving in general. The presenters will outline strategies for psychological coping from a self-compassion perspective and describe resources that can assist patients and caregivers to manage the cancer experience. An opportunity for questions will be provided. This presentation, coffee, and cookies are complimentary. Call 780-433-5807 to reserve your spot.

The Technology Training Centre offers Tech Savvy Seniors classes on a variety of topics. Check out their summer offerings:
June 26: Introduction to Social Media
July 10: Taking Better Photos with Your Smart Phone
July 24: Senior's Tech Q&A
August 21: Sharing Photos from your Smart Phone

Join a group from SWESA attending the Freewill Shakespeare Festival to see The Winter's Tale. The Winter's Tale was originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabeled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics consider it to be one of Shakespeare's "problem plays" because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comedic and supply a happy ending.

This is a self-drive event. The group will meet at the gate at 7:15 p.m. and be seated as a group. Food and drink are available for purchase. Please be prepared for the weather. Registration is required by June 24. Call SWESA at 587-987-3200.

Save yourself a trip to the dump! The City of Edmonton Big Bin Events allow residents to recycle or dispose of household items too large for regular garbage collection for free. The website includes a list of accepted materials, dates, and locations around the city.