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Seniors Advisory Committee Comité consultatif sur les personnes âgées Minutes
35 ProcÈs-verbal
35 Wednesday, 6 October 2010, 4:00 p.m. Le mercredi 6 octobre 2010,
16 h Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West Salle Champlain, 110, avenue
Laurier Ouest |
Present / Présents : P. van Boeschoten
(Chair/Président), D. Breton (Vice-Chair/Vice-présidente)
B. Batson, M. Dunn, R. Larivière, P. Michaud, J. Nyiramukwende, C. Rannie, M. Saumweber, S. Sicard
Regrets / excuses : P. Thompson
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
DÉCLARATIONS D’INTÉRÊT
No declarations were received.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
RATIFICATION
DU PROCÈS-VERBAL
Minutes 34
of Wednesday, 1 September 2010 were confirmed.
CONFIRMED
PRESENTATIONS
PRÉSENTATIONs
1. Coalition of New Canadian Seniors - Overview
Coalition canadienne pour les personnes âgées - APERÇU
John
Melville, Community Development,
Ottawa Community Immigration Services Organization (OCISO),
provided an extensive PowerPoint
presentation, “Seniors and Immigration: Ottawa’s Evolving Demographic”. As well
he provided the following documents to members of committee:
·
Welcoming
Newcomer Seniors to Ottawa
·
Ottawa
Immigrant Seniors: A Collective Voice on Needs and New Life Skills
·
Independent
Living and New Canadian Seniors
·
Special
Senate Committee on Aging Second Interim Report : Issues and Options for an
Aging Population (March 2008)
The PowerPoint presentation and additional
documents are held on
file with the City Clerk and Solicitor’s office pursuant to the City of Ottawa
Records Retention and Disposition By-law.
Mr. Melville was joined by several
members from Club Casa de los Abuelos, a non-profit senior citizen’s
organization, which provides services for mainly Spanish speaking seniors who
lead a very isolated life due to language barriers. These members included:
Ana Maria Cruz-Valderrama –
Executive Director
Erenia Hernandez Oliver (Co-Found of
Club Casa) – Program Director
Maria Luisa Vasquez – Vice-President
Rosa Meneses – Member
Also present were Violene Gabriel, Director, Regroupement Affaires Femmes Coalition d’Ottawa (Business Women’s Coalition of Ottawa) and Basice Mair, Settlement Worker for seniors, Ottawa Community Immigration Services Organization (OCISO).
In response to various questions
from the committee, further information was provided on the following:
·
Grant
History
·
Culturally
defined age ranges
·
Definition
of foreign born
·
Additional
language and cultural barriers resulting in lack of access, visibility and
participation (i.e. with respect to municipal affairs)
·
Equity
and integration
·
Importance
of outreach and training for immigrants in order to feel accepted
·
Difficulties
in engaging and participating with other City groups
Action: The Committee Coordinator
to forward contact information of individuals from the various organizations Nadine
Jodoin, staff member responsible for the development of the Older Adult Plan.
2. CRIME PREVENTION OTTAWA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD TOOLKIT
PRÉVENTION DU CRIME D’OTTAWA - TROUSSE POUR UN
MESSAGE VOISINAGE
Nancy Worsfold, Manager of Crime
Prevention introduced the Neighbourhood Toolkit and walked through the website,
explaining the different options that are available. She explained that they developed this toolkit
to help people address neighbourhood based crime. She further explained that the website, www.crimepreventionottawa.ca/toolkit
is written in plain language, is very accessible, and is aimed at community
activists. Ms. Worsfold briefly elaborated on a few sections of the
website and indicated that input is welcome. She directed the committee to the feedback tab
where suggestions can be submitted electronically.
Member Dunn suggested that a one
page hand-out would be helpful, especially for the older population, outlining
the information available on the website.
Ms. Worsfold felt this was a good
idea, noting Crime Prevention Ottawa is also asking various newsletters to run a
paragraph regarding the toolkit. She offered to provide this information for
inclusion into any newsletters members might have a hand in to further inform
people of the existence of the toolkit, adding the information is available in
both English and French.
Action: Staff
to look into publishing a one page hand-out outlining the information that is available
on the website.
3. UPDATES
MISE À
JOUr
A)
IMPROVED
TRANSIT SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN RURAL AREAS /
SERVICES DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN AMÉLIORÉS POUR LES PERSONNES ÂGÉES ET LES
PERSONNES HANDICAPÉES DANS LES SECTEURS RURAUX
Chair van Boeschoten provided background information, explaining that a one zone fare in the rural areas and a reduced fare for Para - Transpo users are being sought. He noted that extra funds are also being requested to provide volunteer drivers and vehicles for community resource centres, as a secondary benefit in rural areas. He referenced SAC’s previous motion with respect to improved transit services for seniors and people with disabilities, which the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) fully supported. He also noted a motion has been passed by the Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC) recommending one fare throughout the city, which effectively supports SAC’s motion.
He indicated that the next step is joint meeting of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Transit Committee, but given the pending municipal election, the standing committees will not likely meet again until the new year.
B) OTTAWA OLDER ADULT PLAN UPDATE / PLAN
AÎNÉS OTTAWA – MISE À JOUR
Chair van Boeschoten related that the sub-committee has met several times over the summer with staff. He indicated the next phase is for staff to consult with other advisory committees and the various departments and senior management at the City.
He stated that a subsequent phase would be commencing shortly, where a consulting firm will be conducting several public forums and consultations targeting various seniors’ groups. He indicated groups comprised of francophones, the disabled and immigrants were to be specifically targeted. The information gathered from these consultations will then be compiled to form an interim report in early 2011.
C) OC
Transpo Seniors Fare Reduction / LA RÉDUCTION DES DROITS DE PASSAGE D’OC TRANSPO POUR LES PERSONNES ÂGÉES
Chair van
Boeschoten recounted that the Seniors Advisory Committee endorsed the report
regarding fare reduction for seniors using OC Transpo. This item was
subsequently considered by the Transit Committee and then Council, which both
supported the recommendation. He
informed committee that staff was directed to prepare a submission that provides
seniors with a new ticket fare structure, such as one ticket constitutes a
senior’s fare, to be considered during the 2011 City of Ottawa budget. He stated that it would be put forward by OC Transpo
in their marketing plan in their budget.
4. SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATES
MISES À JOUR DES SOUS-COMITÉS
Transportation and Accessibility Sub-Committee
Member Breton informed committee that Para-Transpo has been requested to undergo an audit in 2011. She felt that this might be something that the committee might be interested in being involved with.
5. FORWARD AGENDA ITEMS
POINTS À L’ORDRE DU JOUR DES PROCHAINES RÉUNIONS
November
Ø
Update on
the Older Adult Plan
Ø Update :
City of Ottawa Community Funding
December
Ø
City of Ottawa Senior’s Centres
OTHER BUSINESS
AUTRES QUESTIONS
1. Chair van Boeschoten informed the committee that he had received an email from Member Westman indicating that she has to resign from the committee. He stated that he would send a note on behalf of the committee thanking her for her time.
2. Chair van Boeschoten
spoke to a follow-up memo that was sent to all Advisory Committee Chair’s and
Vice-Chairs regarding the September 29, 2010 meeting on City Governance. Within the memo it requested that those
committees wishing to submit written input in relation to the End-of-Term
Governance Review do so before November 1, 2010.
Action: The
Committee Chair to draft a written submission in relation to the End-of-Term
Governance review and circulate it to the committee members for consideration
prior to submitting the final document to the Program Manager of the Advisory
Committees Unit.
NEXT MEETING
PROCHAINE RÉUNION
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Le mercredi, 3 novembre 2010
ADJOURNMENT
LEVÉE
DE LA SÉANCE
The Committee adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.
Committee
Coordinator Chair