INTEREST GROUPS 115 The Esplanade, Toronto, Ontario M5E
1Y7
Tel: 416-214-1518
e-mail: info@olderwomensnetwork.org
| Items of Interest | OWN Volunteers | Reading Room | Friendship Link | Book Discussion Groups | Stitches | Writers |
Seniors
Advocacy and Awareness Network – SAAN. Mandate: help for abused older adults.
A Seniors Fair - Thursday, June 12,
2008 at the accessible Harry Lumley
Bayshore Arena, Owen Sound, Ontario.
Displays and informative sessions: credit counselling; communication skills; wellness; fitness;
managing medications; wills.
Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Email unitedwayinfo@bmts.com
June 16 - 17
World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day - this year in Ottawa June 16 and 17. The
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and its partners
invite you to join us this June in Ottawa, Canada, for a 2-day conference
focused on learning and understanding about elder abuse and the importance of
the UN 1991 Principles for Older Persons. More information at www.inpea.net
Sunshine Centres for
Seniors offers year-round
programs providing recreation, socialization, and health promotion for seniors
across Toronto. Described as a place to meet new friends and become part
of a supportive community, a day of activities might include exercises,
singalongs, euchre, bridge, speakers, special events, refreshments. There
is a cost of $2, $3, or $5 per day. There is also a summer day camp at
Ward's Island. In Toronto the location is 117 Bloor St. East.
Information: 416-924-3979 or www.sunshinecentres.com
.
Peterborough
Women's Hour. A woman's
place is by her radio! Trent Radio 92.7 FM, live every Saturday at 2pm. A
joint project of the Trent Women's Centre and Peterborough's Older Women's
Network, bringing you news, events, and issues affecting women in our
community. Join us each week for interviews, music, and lively
discussions. Listen online at www.trentradio.ca,
contact us at info@trentwomenscentre.ca
or 742-7195 for more information or show ideas.
4 INTERESTING WEBLINKS TO CHECK OUT
1. OWN has
recently become a member of the Common Front for Retirement Security (CFRS). CFRS will advocate for better governance
of pensions, investments and retirement savings and promotes a wide range of
legislation to improve the security and integrity surrounding these tools for
planning and managing our resources. The organization cites a range of
legislation to achieve improvements in banking, pension issues, protection for
whistleblowers.
Contact: dan.braniff@sympatico.ca
2. ACORN - The Association of Community Organizations
for Reform Now; a democratic, multicultural, grassroots
organization, member-owned and member-run, www.canada.acorn.org
3. What Older Women
Want is a study from
interviews of 5000 older women across Canada regarding their health needs, which
they felt were not being met or addressed by their health care providers.
Some interesting findings: www.wowhealth.ca
4. Toronto Disaster
Relief Committee, website
www.tdrc.net, email: tdrc@drc.net
Maquila Solidarity Network is a labour and women's rights organization promoting solidarity
with grass roots groups in Mexico, Central America, and Asia where many items
sold in North America are made. OWN supports the Maquila Solidarity
Network and they now have an informative newsletter available at www.en.maquilasolidarity.org/en/contact
.
Cathy Crowe
is on a tour promoting her new
book Dying for a Home - Homeless Activists Speak Out. For
location and dates see: www.tdrc.net/tour_dates.htm
VOLUNTEERING
OWN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
OWN would like to find volunteers who can
provide some training to members in the maintenance of our database. There
are members ready to do this important work but who need some help in getting
started. It would mean a commitment of three two-hour sessions at the OWN
office. Please email barbaragreer26@rogers.com
if you are interested in helping us.
The Communications Committee of OWN would
welcome members interested in assisting in the work of producing CONTACT,
maintaining the website and developing new ways of communicating our message as
broadly as possible. The work does not require previous experience, it is
based on language skills, meeting deadlines and being accurate. We meet
once a month at a minimum and we enjoy ourselves too.
The TELL TREE needs more people to work the phones, as they say. This is
ideal for someone who prefers to work at home and has the time to make 5 or 6
calls a month. It is a very important aspect of OWN's mandate, as it is a
way of keeping in touch with members and reducing isolation. Call the
office at 416-214-1518 and leave a message for Joanna Wilson.
Volunteers needed by the ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION
The Coalition, which has offices in Toronto, is
sponsoring a "Protect Rural and Small Hospital Tour" in the following
towns: Haliburton, Alexandria, Napanee, Hawkesbury, Picton, Renfrew, Kirkland
Lake, Iroquois Falls, Cochrane, Nipigon, and Marathon. Volunteers are
needed to help with basic office work - any amount of time would help.
Call 416-441-2502.
NEW PUBLICATION
See www.statcan.ca/english for a
new publication on Seniors.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
For older women, at Ryerson University, Toronto, see www.seniorcentre.ca for more information.
PLAN OF ACTION ON AGING
The Review Process of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging can
be found at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/secondworld02.html.
This is a
site established by the United Nations Non-governmental Liaison Service.
GRANDPARENTS CARING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Grandparents, extended family members and community members who care for
children in need of protection may now be eligible for financial support and
services as part of new reforms to Ontario's child well-being and protection
system. Information: 416-325-5666, or 1-888-789-4199.
OLDER WORKERS
The Federal Government has announced the appointment of an expert panel to
study labour market conditions that affect older workers. Information: lorne.coe@ontario.ca
PEACE TAX RETURN
You can make a declaration of objections to military taxes to attach to your
income tax return. Information: consciencecanada@shaw.ca
WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN
The White Ribbon symbolizes a man's pledge to never commit, condone, or
remain silent about violence against women.
Email: info@whiteribbon.ca
SURVEY
The National Council of Welfare has launched a Canada-wide survey to find out what Canadians
think about the solution to poverty and insecurity. Anyone can
participate, individuals and organizations, fill out the questionnaire online,
go to www.ncwcnbes.net, the survey ends in
mid-December and the results will be made public. This is a great
opportunity to ensure the survey reflects women's diverse experiences.
MEMBERS ALERT:
Members are reminded to advise the office of changes of address, phone numbers,
email addresses.
FRIENDLY TO SENIORS
The Toronto Seniors Council has developed a program to assist neighbourhoods and
businesses to become seniors' friendly. This is done by assessing an
office, department or store for accessibility and capacity to meet seniors'
needs. An Action Plan with practical suggestions of
adaptations/improvements is provided for $100.
Certification of a facility is conferred for no extra charge and is good for 2 years after which re-certification is required.
Qualified senior volunteers can offer employee workshops on the challenges and benefits of providing better service delivery to the growing seniors populations. Cost $50 per employee.
OWN members may have opportunities to suggest this service to community places they know and use. One OWN member would love to see coat-checking available on all or alternative floors of department stores -- that winter coat becomes unbearable after a while.
For more information call 416-351-0095 ext. 215, or at www.friendlytoseniors.ca.
Alfreda Mordas
Reading Room
The Alfreda Mordas
Reading Room is open in the OWN office on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m.
The aim of the Reading Room is to highlight the the literary
contributions of midlife and older women. Donated books in these
categories would be welcome: feminist fiction and non-fiction on midlife
and older women; self-help and self-affirmation for midlife and older women;
up to date information on managing finances, pensions, finding employment; health in all its
aspects.
The Reading Room Committee has established some rules for its
use and they are posted in the Room. Please observe the system for signing
out books. A limit of 2 books can borrowed by OWN members only.
Reading Room Event
If you enjoyed Heather
Mallick's talk and reading from her latest book, Cake or Death,
you may email her at mrsramsay4@sympatico.ca
. She welcomes feedback and conversation.
Volunteers for the Reading Room -
OWN members interested in being part of the Alfreda Mordas Reading Room
Committee are welcome. An interest in, and familiarity with Canadian mid-life and
older women writers is the most important aspect of this work. A volunteer
is needed for Fridays to help keep the collections up to date. Call the
OWN office 416-214-1518 and leave a message for Victoria. Please contact the OWN office - Margaret Hawthorn and Erin
Harris at 416-214-1518
FEMINIST
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS
Our groups at libraries across the city are an interesting way to interact with
others in a stimulating environment. Click on the link above for more information.
These are your
contacts:
Northern District Branch - Adrienne Taylor 416-481-2356
3rd Wednesday of the month, 2 - 4 pm, 40 Orchard View,
Room 224A
North York Central – Mary Hynes 416-441-3310
1st Sunday of the month, 1:45pm, 5120 Yonge St.
OWN Co-op – Leslie Lawlor 416-363-9219
2nd Tuesday of the month, 2 - 4 pm, OWN Co-op Building, 115 The Esplanade
INTEREST GROUPS
The Friendship Link is a congenial group of
women of varying ages and from varying walks of life. Single, married,
divorced or widowed, our mission is to enjoy the many social and educational
activities Toronto has to offer, while developing support and friendships
around mutual interests. Any outing that's inexpensive (or free) and
easily reached by public transit may become a Friendship Link activity. We
go to plays, movies, lectures, festivals, galleries, lunches, and music and
dance performances together - or simply meet for coffee and
conversation.
We try to schedule at least four activities a month, most of which take place during the day. One Saturday afternoon each month we have a general meeting at 115 The Esplanade, sometimes with a speaker or other entertainment.
If you're curious to see what
we're like, just contact Susan Mansfield Jones at the OWN office
(416-214-1518) and tell them you want to attend one of our monthly social
meetings. You'll be welcome! Friendship Link is co-sponsored
by the OWN Housing Co-op and the Older Women's Network.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Stitches
The person to contact is Molly Frannklin, call the OWN office at
416-214-1518. Any woman who enjoys handiwork would be welcome to share
skills and friendship. The group is embarking on a new project - Sushimi,
a variety of embroidery. Members will work on 12-inch blocks for a quilt
which will be sold or raffled with the proceeds going to OWN. Our
meetings are approximately every 6 weeks.
Writers Group – for information call the OWN office at 416-214-1518