MOOSE JAW — Seniors’ week was formally announced in Moose Jaw from Oct. 1 to Oct. 7 to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons which was declared on Oct. 1.
To mark the occasion, the Moose Jaw & District Senior Citizens Association (MJDSCA) partnered with the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan (STS) to host a seniors’ symposium at the Timothy Eaton Gardens building on Oct. 1.
“Everything is in one place. People could come and talk to different service (providers) they may not have been aware of and pick up all the information they would need for now or maybe in the future,” explained Elaine Parsons, the co-ordinator for seniors on the STS board.
“We started off at 2:15 p.m. with the mayor reading the proclamation (to announce seniors’ week), then we had the Comfort Singers doing a 25-minute performance,” she said. “They were excellent.”
The symposium was meant to provide older adults with a wide range of practical information relevant to their current circumstances, which could range from independent living assistance to retirement home options.
The free-to-attend event drew in 27 exhibitors including the Moose Jaw Police Service who provided information on scams that target seniors, the Moose Jaw Public Library, Connect Hearing, Service Canada, and numerous retirement home options.
One of the 27 exhibitors at the symposium was sales advisor Charlene Rivard who represented Aspira West Park Crossing in Moose Jaw.
“Today I highlighted memory care services for our Arbour Unit over at West Park Crossing,” Rivard shared. Her focus on Alzheimer’s and dementia supports came as a result of Alzheimer's month, which was recognized internationally throughout September.
“Then we talked a little bit about aging in place (and) independent living,” she continued. “You can get (these) care services with West Park Crossing.”
Rivard said attendance was “really good” and the event was well attended, especially in the first hour or so which was “humming.”
“(It’s) really nice to see the community out,” she said. “All of the resources were here for our seniors. If they had any questions… (Philips) Lifeline was here to talk about emergencies and independence, the Cosmo Centre was here, Service Canada was here — (there were) lots of things to offer our senior citizens.”
Parsons said she’ll “probably not” host the symposium next year in 2025, but said both organizations are interested in a return for 2026.
To make this year’s symposium possible, the Moose Jaw Co-op, The Bentley, and Motion Moose Jaw donated coffee, cake, and other resources to the centre.
“All the exhibitors said they got a lot of good information out and talked to a lot of people. Everybody was very happy (and) they thought it was a good thing,” concluded Parsons. “I think it was a success.”
To learn more about seniors’ services offered by the provincial government, visit Saskatchewan.ca and search for “Seniors Services.”
Timothy Eaton Gardens is the home of the MJDSCA and is located at 510 Main Street North. To reach out or for more information relevant for adults over the age of 55, call 306-694-4223 or visit MooseJawSeniors.ca.
To learn more about the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan in Moose Jaw, visit STSMooseJaw.com or call 306-373-3879.
