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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2010/2011 BY NANCY DAVY, PRESIDENT At last year’s AGM, I reported on our goal of providing leadership, stewardship and creating partnership opportunities to bring people, senior serving organizations and valuable resources together in an effort to provide the best quality of life possible for both seniors and their family caregivers. I am pleased to a brief update on our progress. A Little History: The Foundation was founded in 1982 and this coming year we will celebrate our 30th anniversary. Thanks to our generous donors, we are proud to report that we have granted out over $6.3 million to enhance care and quality of life for the elderly. Since we were founded, our mandate has expanded enabling the Foundation to help more people navigate through the journey of aging. We have not forgotten our roots and, although we are now more people-focused rather than facility-based, we remain committed to supporting the original Juan de Fuca Hospitals (Glengarry, Aberdeen, Mt. Tolmie, Priory/Heritage Woods) and our newly adopted Oak Bay Lodge for as long as there are elderly residents in need who call those facilities ‘home’. Although we have expanded our definition of ‘community’ to include all of Vancouver Island, our original mission has not changed: to enhance the care, comfort, dignity and independence of elderly persons living in our community. And although we now focus more on ‘people’ rather than specific ‘facilities’, our purpose remains the same: to raise funds for specialized equipment, home-like enhancements, community program support, research and education to enhance care for the elderly both now and into the future. The Power of Partnership: The most powerful partnership the Foundation has is the partnership with our donors and supporters. It is because of their generosity and dedication that we have been able to provide the incredible gift of enhanced quality of life for the elderly. Thanks to this partnership, we have also been able to provide funding for research and education to ensure those who care for the elderly are able to stay abreast of new technology and techniques. We are working hard to build on our partnership opportunities and grow initiatives that will enable more people to benefit from our important work. With Vancouver Island’s rapidly aging population we know that working together as a community will greatly benefit our valued elders and those who care for them. To that end, here is an update on some of our partnership initiatives: Embrace Aging Month: Embrace Aging Month started in March 2005 and is a wonderful example of partnership building. Through this initiative we have been able to partner with older adults, their family members, volunteers, senior-focused businesses and organizations, and through increasing awareness, several communities at large too. The Embrace Aging Month initiative was developed to raise awareness about the wealth of resources and opportunities available year-round to help seniors and their families navigate the journey of aging. The four pillars of Embrace Aging Month are: Be Well, Be Secure, Be Connected and Be Enriched. Embrace Aging Month draws attention to the importance of incorporating art, fitness, education, family, community and wellness as essential parts of a positive, healthy, older life. During Embrace Aging Month young and old alike are encouraged to explore the possibilities and make connections. Partnerships are a prominent part of Embrace Aging Month. Every event and workshop incorporates opportunities for like-minded people, groups, organizations and businesses to work together and share their knowledge. A good example is our partnership with Senior Living Magazine who hosts the popular Embrace Aging Month Senior Expo. Showcasing a wide variety of senior-serving and senior-focused groups, organizations and businesses, this Embrace Aging Month event exposes opportunities and resources to over 3,000 attendees. Senior Expo exit survey results revealed that attendees come from all over Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. This coming year, the Senior Expo will be held at Pearkes Recreation Centre on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 as the kick-off to our 7th Annual Embrace Aging Month. As part of Embrace Aging Month the Eldercare Foundation organizes free workshops hosted by a variety of partners that explore important topics and issues covering all four Embrace Aging Month pillars. Although the majority of these workshops will be held in Greater Victoria, we are hoping to expand our locations to include other Vancouver Island communities in 2012. Last year, the Queens Park Healthcare Foundation in New Westminster partnered with us to bring a smaller version of Embrace Aging Month to their community. It was very well received and during March 2012 they are once again planning to host a variety of workshops to build on the Embrace Aging awareness initiative. The Oceanside community on Vancouver Island also incorporated Embrace Aging awareness into their Oceanside Healthy Aging Initiative by partnering with the Eldercare Foundation to promote their Health and Wellness Fair in 2011. The aim is to expand their participation in Embrace Aging Month for 2012. We are currently working to form new partnerships that will enable us to promote the many valuable resources available to seniors and their families on Vancouver Island during March 2012 as part of our 7th Annual Embrace Aging Month celebrations. Memory Cafe: Our partnership with Oak Bay Lodge, Rotary Club of Oak Bay and Oak Bay High School launched an intergenerational program called Memory Café. Students from Oak Bay High attend at Oak Bay Lodge once a month to share stimulating discussions and memories. The evening begins with a presentation on a given topic which is then followed by discussion and sharing of memories. At times these stories spark unplanned performances reflecting the essence of the conversations through song, poetry and even rap narrative. Now in its third year, the Memory Café initiative demonstrates how bringing together the generations can enhance the lives of both groups and foster greater understanding between the generations. Seniors’ Dialogues: As I reported at last year’s AGM, the Eldercare Foundation undertook a series of Seniors’ Dialogues in July 2010 as part of our special project grant funding initiative. When the dialogue project was finished, the senior participants were not! Since then they have grown their group and have undertaken some very successful initiatives with the support of the Eldercare Foundation and our partnership with Saanich Parks & Recreation and the Vancouver Island Health Authority. The group has created a ‘Social Skills For Shy Seniors’ tip card that has been distributed to recreation centres, seniors’ centres and various other locations in the Greater Victoria area and in communities on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. They have also created Conversation Café which provides a safe and comfortable opportunity to explore meaningful and interesting topics through an engaging dialogue with other seniors. In addition to the initiating partners, the group has also partnered with Serious Coffee and MediChair to expand their Conversation Café locations making them more accessible to more people. Vancouver Island Partnership for Aging Care: Since joining forces to brainstorm ideas in April 2010, participants from the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, the University of Victoria, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority have formalized their partnership to strengthen care for the elderly both now and well into the future. The Vancouver Island Partnership for Aging Care (VIPAC) is a collaborative partnership to facilitate research, education, policy and practice by promoting excellence and innovation to enhance optimum aging of seniors on Vancouver Island. Several initiatives are moving forward and research project findings are being used to translate knowledge in positive ways that impact care for the elderly. Through a “Quality of Life” research project conducted in Adult Day Programs, an education tool has been developed that will be distributed through the Eldercare Foundation to benefit Day Program Clients and their Families on Vancouver Island. Findings from an “End of Life” research project conducted at the Aberdeen Hospital have resulted in three knowledge translation projects which were funded by the Eldercare Foundation. The “Aberdeen End of Life Library” is a valuable resource lending library that is available to residents, family members, staff and volunteers. The “End of Life Collage” on display in the link-hallway between the Aberdeen Hospital and the Hillside Seniors Health Centre is a powerful and thoughtful project completed by caregivers to illustrate their experiences and share their feelings with others. The “Skin Care Fair” held on October 4, 2011 was a huge success and has resulted in a proposal to develop a template to be shared with other care facilities for the benefit of staff, families and residents alike. Education Awards & Endowments: Education has always been an important part of the Eldercare Foundation’s mandate to ensure quality care for the elderly. This past year we were thrilled to add two new Education Funds to our portfolio. The Kully Sekhon Memorial Fund was created by her colleagues, friends and family and this endowment fund is currently in the building stage with almost $25,000 donated to date. Kully was a Social Worker who had a particular regard for our elderly and for the people who care for them. Her colleagues will tell you that she was very much a “team player”, leading by example while encouraging others to provide quality, client-centered care. To honour this spirit of inclusiveness, once Kully’s fund is established, it will offer educational awards to all professionals who work with the elderly. Generations of elderly people and their caregivers will benefit from her legacy. The Funke-Furber Gerontological Education Fund has been established by Jeanette Funke-Furber and Robert Furber, both strong believers in the importance of ongoing education. Jeanette has been both a member at large and President of the Eldercare Foundation’s Board of Directors. She has also served on many of our committees. Robert recently retired as the owner/manager of an electronics company in the field of control and automation. He currently volunteers for the Eldercare Foundation and has been a long-time supporter. This fund will enable health care professionals to access continuing education in the field of gerontology in order to enhance and advance care for the elderly. We hope to distribute our first award from this new education fund in 2012. In Conclusion: The partnership we have with the people who support our important work is the strongest partnership of all. It is because of the guidance and support we receive from you, our Foundation Members, that we are able to accomplish so much. Thank you for partnering with us to enhance the lives of the elderly both in the residential care setting and in the community. In closing, I would like to acknowledge and thank my fellow Board and Committee Members for sharing their expertise and helping to steward our donors’ gifts to ensure maximum benefit for our valued elders and those who care for them. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Eldercare’s Staff: Lori McLeod, Donald Clark, Marie Peach and Delia Roberts for their dedication and hard work this past year. We are fortunate to have such a respected and resourceful team of caring people working behind the scenes. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Davy, President
Savouries Sweets & Sips ~ Thanks to our friends and supporters, the 3rd Annual Savouries Sweets & Sips Chef Challenge will enhance quality of life for our valued elders. The net proceeds raised at this year’s ‘Taste Bud Tango’ is being directed in support of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation’s 3R’s campaign and will be used to purchase specialized equipment and provide valuable program support both in residential care and in the community. Held on November 9th, 2011 at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa, this year’s event featured award-winning wines from Argentina’s Bodega Norton Winery. Following the bubbly reception hosted by Two Oceans, the evening kicked-off with a traditional Argentine Tango performance by David Watling and Jeannie Kam. Guests’ taste buds were then tantalized as the competing chef teams described their creations. Next was an educational wine tasting of the Bodega Norton flight led by PMA’s Kathleen Shandley, and then…our guests were set loose to taste, judge and enjoy! There were six delicious savoury entries created to pair with the Norton Reserva Malbac and six sweet entries made with Amarula Cream. The Chef Teams in our challenge most definitely gave our judges a difficult task. The winning entries were chosen by our professional Chef Judges, Media Judges and our Guests. Live Latin music performed by Havana Mambo filled the room as guests set their taste buds to tango. The fabulous theme basket raffle rounded out the evening and helped to boost the fundraising in support of the Eldercare Foundation’s 3Rs campaign. Our guests had a very difficult time choosing the winners as the overriding comment was “I can’t choose just one of each. They are all so delicious and so different!” Our Chef Judges, Gilbert Noussitou, Dan Hayes and Steve Walker-Duncan, all agreed that the creativity and caliber of this year’s chef entries was unparalleled.
And the Winners Are... Media Choice Savoury: Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa ~ Lure Media Choice Sweet: M & J Pastry Arts Inc. People’s Choice Savoury: Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites ~ Vista 18 People’s Choice Sweet: Oak Bay Marine Group ~ Marina Restaurant Chef’s Choice Savoury: Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa Chef's Choice Sweet: Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa Grand Prize Winner: Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa
Thank you to all of the participating chefs. Mike Dunlop ~ Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites Dan Bain, Justine Bona & Franz Dessombes, Ian Goard, Mathieu Seguin & Lukas Gurtner, Hotel Grand Pacific Christie Lacroix & Tony Nicholson, Carol Christie, Megan Hennis and Jaclyn Bickford ~ M & J Pastry Arts Inc. Matthew Rissling & Nicholas LeBlanc, Brian Bradley, Danielle Duenk, Drew Williams, Thomas Yesdresyski & Carey Jordan McLauchlin,
An event like this isn't a success without a lot of generous people. Many thanks to:
And thanks to our Theme Basket Raffle Donors: We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful theme basket raffle donors for their generous support. Please support these wonderful businesses as often as you can!
Your support has helped the Eldercare Foundation enhance the care, |
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