A two day forum on seniors issues got underway in Grande Prairie this morning. Co-hosted by the City and County of Grande Prairie with the Northern Alberta Development Council, this is the first time the Grey Matters Conference has been held in the north of the province.
Minister of Seniors and Housing Lori Sigurdson opened the conference, and stresses the importance of supporting our elders.
“They worked their lives to build up their children and their communities, so it’s very important that they also are supported when they become vulnerable, but many seniors nowadays are very vital and they’re great volunteers in their communities.”
Service providers will be taking part in sessions with information on end of life options, transportation, elder abuse and dementia care, tailored to service providers from across Alberta. Sigurdson says she enjoyed one on LGBTQ seniors this morning.
“The baby boom population moves up and seniors are moving into sometimes lodges and places like that; Are we prepared? Are we accepting? Are we welcoming of seniors from different backgrounds and diversities?”
Canadian icon Margaret Trudeau is today’s keynote speaker. She revealed her own personal experience with bipolar disorder in 2006, and has gone on to become a respected mental health advocate. Tomorrow’s highlight will be a speech by elder Maria Campbell, retired professor well known for her memoir Halfbreed.
At almost 400 delegates, Sigurdson says this is the largest Grey Matters conference ever.