After a six-year hiatus, the South Cariboo Rec Centre reviewed the 100 Mile House Seniors Resource Fair on Thursday, June 26.
Around 200 community members came out over the course of the fair to meet with 32 service providers to learn about what they can offer 100 Mile House's senior population. Shelly Morton, the centre's events coordinator, said the last time the fair was done was in 2019 by the now-defunct Age Friendly Society of the South Cariboo.
"It was really well attended and there seemed to be a need for it, so we decided this is the year to do it," Morton said. "Obviously, we got a lot of organizations to provide resources and information to our seniors. We have a very robust seniors community in 100 Mile. This is their building too and we want to be able to invite them for a little bit of social networking and just get out of the house and find out what's out there for them to do."
The organizations in attendance ranged from healthcare-related groups to sports organizations and everything in between. Some notable groups included the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society, the Cariboo Brain Injury Support Group, the District of 100 Mile House, the South Cariboo Pickleball Association and Carefree Manor.
One of these booths included the local Hospital Employees Union, with 15-year union member Teresa Porter inviting seniors to join a raffle and learn more about the HEU. Porter said they were specifically there to promote the HEU's Care Can't Wait Campaign, which is intended to advocate for the importance of seniors' care in B.C.
"It (calls for) making new care spaces, fixing staffing crises, stopping contracting out and forcing private companies to follow regulations, meeting standards and increasing capacity," Porter explained.
During the fair, Porter shared with seniors what they can do to help the cause and ways in which they can stand up for themselves if they feel they are receiving inadequate care. This includes emailing their local MLAs to tell them about the healthcare staffing crisis in B.C., which Porter said is still ongoing and directly impacts the care seniors receive.
"The main focus is that care can't wait, healthcare is important and we need to stand up for our resources," Porter remarked. "We want to let people know we are here, we're standing up for them and we're helping them out where we can."
Two of the community members who turned out were curlers Linda Peterson and Marge Gammie, who attended with their friend Janice Gray. Peterson quipped that they're all seniors, even if they don't look like it, and they wanted to find out more about what resources are available locally.
"It's been excellent because when I first needed care aids and the different things, I had to go searching," Gammie said. "I had no clue that there were even such (groups) in the town. Now I find out what all there is to offer to seniors."
Both Peterson and Gammie said they enjoyed attending the fair, noting it was similar to the seniors day programs offered at Fischer Place. Peterson said they ran into tons of people they know and that it served as a good social event for them. Watching a pickleball demonstration was a highlight for Gammie, noting that if it wasn't for her leg, she would love to give it a try.
The two said that one thing they feel the community is lacking right now is some form of a public taxi. Gammie said a lot of the care aids who work in the hospital will come for three weeks at a time from outside the Cariboo and, unless they've driven, are often without a vehicle.
"Not only that, for people who are not able to get out (of the house)," Peterson said. "A taxi would be a real benefit. I know they've had them here before and I'm sure they didn't make a great living, but maybe it can be subsidized. Other things are."
Morton said she thought the event had a good turnout throughout the day, noting everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy talking to one another and the organizations. Everyone who came out was eager to talk to the seniors in the community because it's harder to reach them, due to a lack of online literacy in older generations. When asked if this will become an annual event, Morton said she still needs to discuss that with the team at the rec centre.
"We were thinking every other year, but if there's a need for it, we'll definitely consider doing it every year," Morton said. "I just hope the seniors realize there's a lot here for them to do and a lot of people here who can support them, whatever they're navigating. We just want to make sure they know what's out there to help them as you get older."
Peterson agreed with Morton that holding the event every second year would be a good idea, noting she doesn't think the population changes that much from year to year. Gammie, meanwhile, agreed but said she hopes they consider doing it again next year, so seniors who were unable to attend this year and hear about it later could attend.
"There's going to be us talking to people and they're going to say 'oh I wish I had known about that'," Gammie remarked. "I'd come back, if for nothing but to meet a new friend."
Anyone with feedback about the fair is invited to contact Morton at smorton@100milehouse.com or call the rec centre at 250-395-1353.
