Looking out for one another 💪🙌

Dear <<First Name>>,

This week, we are shining a spotlight on one of the most important groups in our community - Seniors. We have been doing our best to support isolated seniors during the pandemic. Without visitors and interacting with others, senior citizens may grow lonely, depressed, and hopeless. Senior loneliness is a well-documented issue and has effects not only on seniors' mental health but on their physical health. Below we have provided resources and group events for seniors that you may know who need help.

As we celebrate Family Day on Monday, February 21st, I hope you all get a chance to spend time with people you love this weekend. Reach out to your elderly friends and enjoy our wonderful community, together!

This week, we highlight the positive contributions of active people in the Burnaby-Deer Lake community!

Meet Alexis Haig, a resident of Burnaby and the Manager of Senior Services at Burnaby Neighbourhood House! She has a Bachelor of Social Work and has graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Masters in Gerontology.

Alexis has always been interested in doing social work ever since she was young, and started working with seniors at a long-term care facility for her practicum. Working with these seniors reminds her of working with her grandparents, loving the interaction with the seniors she was involved with and getting to know their needs. Wanting to support older adults in her community, she eventually ended up at Burnaby Neighbourhood House after graduating.

As the Manager of Senior Services, Alexis supervises programs tailored towards seniors that include Burnaby Seniors Outreach, social and recreational activities, and essential services. There are a wide variety of programs at Burnaby Neighbourhood House that cover all of the seniors’ needs, such as meal deliveries, the walking buddies program, dementia support programs, and many more.

Burnaby Neighbourhood House has achieved plenty of accomplishments for seniors, and a notable example of this is the Christmas Packages! Seniors were delivered turkey meals, holiday cards and other various goodies donated by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Hearing the joy of seniors having a Christmas meal and a happy Christmas is something Alexis finds very rewarding.

There are many more examples that Alexis is very proud of, including the fan drive for seniors during the heatwave, creating social interactions for seniors, and building up referral programs for seniors to connect with the community. All of these bring more motivation for Alexis to help support more seniors, especially for those that are facing challenges during the pandemic.

It’s important to recognize how great our seniors are, as seniors make up an important part of the Burnaby community. If you would like to help volunteer with seniors, visit https://burnabynh.ca/get-involved-volunteer/ to learn more.

If you are a senior and you would like to learn more about the various programs Burnaby Neighbourhood House offers, you can visit https://burnabynh.ca/get-involved-seniors/ or call 604-431-0400. You can also contact Alexis at alexish@burnabynh.ca.

Fun fact: A character Alexis can relate to is the Energizer bunny. Just like the bunny, she is full of energy and is always looking at creative ways to use it!

Burnaby Neighbourhood House Senior Programs

Walking Buddies Program

As mentioned in the community spotlight, one of the programs that Burnaby Neighbourhood House offers for seniors that can help build social connections is the Walking Buddies program.

In the program, seniors are connected with a buddy in Burnaby to go on friendly walks with. This is especially great for seniors who may feel isolated. Explore Burnaby with your walking buddy, meet neighbours, and perhaps make a new friend!

For those interested in this program, contact Burnaby Neighbourhood House at 604-431-0400 or Alexis at alexish@burnabynh.ca

Seniors Connections

Of course, there are other programs Burnaby Neighbourhood House provides to help seniors having difficulty connecting with others. The interactive telephone-based program, Seniors Connections, is all you need is your phone.

Seniors Connections provides a wide range of sessions that you can sign up for. These sessions include learning about Burnaby's history and culture, meditating, exercising, creating new connections, and a lot more. When the session you are interested in is about to begin, you will receive a phone call from Seniors Connections. Press '1', and you are in the session!

If you are interested in this program, contact Burnaby Neighbourhood House at 604-431-0400, or at annf@burnabynh.ca.

Here are some things I'd like to share with you from the week:

B.C.'s Economic Plan: Building an economy that works for everyone

We’re launching a bold, new long-term economic plan that moves B.C. forward by tackling the challenges of today while growing an economy that works for more people and families. The StrongerBC: A Plan for Today, a Vision for Tomorrow builds on B.C.’s strength – its people.

The plan sets out to fill one million jobs over the next 10 years by investing in skills training, building resilient communities and positioning B.C. as a world leader in a low-carbon economy.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022JERI0004-000230

British Columbians' COVID-19 efforts allow easing of restrictions

The last two years have challenged us in ways we never could have anticipated and every moment in our experience with COVID-19, British Columbians have made the difference that matters.

Because we did the right things for each other by wearing a mask and getting vaccinated, B.C. is now able to ease restrictions on capacity limits on gatherings and events.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0053-000219

Canada's first Chinese Canadian Museum was established in B.C.

In order to move forward together, we need to recognize our shared history. We’re providing $27.5 million to the Chinese Canadian Museum Society to support the purchase of the historic Wing Sang Building, and support continued planning and operations of the society.

The contributions of Chinese Canadians are an essential part of the success of our province and cannot be overstated.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022TACS0007-000200

ICBC set to launch online insurance renewals

We’ve already made car insurance more affordable for people in B.C., and now we’re making it even easier to renew. Soon people will be able to renew their insurance online, and starting in May you won’t need to show a decal on your license plate.

Online insurance renewals add to the growing number of digital options available to ICBC customers, providing greater convenience, choice and flexibility for British Columbians.

For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PSSG0011-000206

I'm here for you

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any provincial issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you.

My office can be reached at (604) 775-0565 or Anne.Kang.MLA@leg.bc.ca.

Sincerely,

Anne Kang, MLA
Burnaby-Deer Lake

Burnaby Neighbourhood House February Seniors Newsletter

Check it out here.

Income Tax Clinics

Online registrations open on February 21st for BNH members at South House and North House

Need some help preparing your tax return? Volunteers can help Burnaby residents complete income tax returns for low-income earners.

For more information and criteria of eligibility, go to https://burnabynh.ca/volunteer-income-tax-program/

Digital Literacy Program

Online available via Zoom

Do you need tech help? Some people may not feel confident when navigating today's online world. But we can help! If you or your family needs help with online technical support. BNH is here for you! We can support you in Cantonese, Farsi, Mandarin, Korean, and Punjabi.

For more information, please see our poster here.

Seniors Mondays

Mondays from 10 AM to 12 PM at North House

Join us for coffee, tea, and snacks. Light lunch (Soup & a bun - by donations). Drop by and meet your neighbours, have a conversation with coffee or tea, share interests and remain social. Click here to see the poster.

Registration required. Email or call 604-294-5444

COVID-19 updates from the BC Centre for Disease Control

Total vaccine doses administered in B.C. are 11,196,470.

There are currently 657 new cases in British Columbia as of February 18, 2022. There is a total of 342,939 cases in British Columbia.

As of today, there have been more than 8,377 new tests. Our province has adjusted testing to 7,856 people per 100,000.

For more information, please visit BCCDC's website

COVID Resources

For medical info, visit covid-19.bccdc.ca or call 811
For vaccination info, visit gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated
For financial supports for people and businesses, visit this page .
For PHO orders and guidance, visit this page.
For seniors looking for additional support, or for those looking to support seniors, call 211 or visit bc211.ca
For virtual mental health resources, click here.  
For Mental Health Resources for Educators, Parents and Youth, click here.

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