UPCOMING EVENTS:
TAX CLINIC
This could be you: it’s July and you receive two letters, one from Alberta Seniors Benefits and one from Service Canada. Each has the same message: you didn’t file your income tax return by April 30, and now they cannot verify your income, so your benefits will be stopped. Anny Fransen
IN PROFILE:
LONGTIME RESIDENT ANNY FRANSEN
There are many long-standing members of the Silvera family – residents of our communities who have been with us, in some cases, for more than 20 years. Anny Fransen is one of them. Originally from the Netherlands (or, as she prefers in the original Dutch, Nederland), Anny describes herself as “a farm girl,” having spent many years tending farm in the ParklandCayley-Nanton area south of Calgary before moving to the city. She joined Silvera’s Beaverdam Community in 1991 before relocating in 1997 to the Shawnessy Community. “I have a very normal life here, really,” says Anny, who is deaf but doesn’t let that stop her from being part of the community, adding she’s often introduced to new residents. “I knew quite a bit about homes like this because I had worked for five years at the Father Lacombe Home [now Father Lacombe Care Centre], so I knew what it could be.” Anny says she encourages newcomers to always have a good attitude: “‘I want to have a good time.’ It makes a difference. I do quite a bit [here], as long as it doesn’t come to hearing! The people are very good.”
#804, 7015 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 2K6 (t) 403.276.5541 | (f) 403.276.9152 contact@silvera.ca | www.silvera.ca 4 silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
Don’t think it can’t happen to you. The next income tax filing deadline is April 30, 2013 – and, even if you’re retired, it’s important you don’t miss this date. It’s extremely important to file before the deadline if you’re receiving Alberta Seniors Benefits or the Guaranteed Income Supplement. By filing late, you risk being cut off from all supplement programs. For some seniors, supplements add up to half of their total monthly income and, while they can be reinstated, it takes a lot of paperwork and could take six to eight months. Meanwhile, how do you pay your bills? Buy your groceries? To help you avoid this, Silvera for Seniors’ Community Resource Coordinators will be offering tax clinics with qualified volunteers in the coming months to help residents complete their 2012 tax returns. These knowledgeable men and women come from either the Institute of Chartered Accountants or are volunteers trained by the Canada Revenue Agency. The tax clinics are free of charge and are available to seniors with an annual income of $30,000 or less (singles) or $40,000 or less (couples). Individuals who are selfemployed or have rental income or real estate holdings are not eligible for the free volunteer tax return service, regardless of income. For more information, please contact the Community Resource Coordinator supporting your Silvera community: Susan Ink (403-510-4283) or Jo-Anne Parks (403-701-9704). CORRECTION: In the previous issue of Silvera Times, resident Marian Holmes’ name was misspelled. We regret the error.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you have a story to tell? Have a comment about something in this issue? We want to hear from you! E-mail us at times@silvera.ca, phone 403.567.5308 or write us at Silvera Times, c/o Silvera for Seniors, 804-7015 Macleod Tr. S.W., Calgary, AB, T2H 2K6 (attn. Silvana Saccomani).
CALGARY CARES! VOLUNTEERING EVENT
John Bullock, Manager Westview Community, Premier Alison Redford and CEO Arlene Adamson at Westview Community.
Stampede royalty visit Silvera. Page 4
SILVERA TIMES Silvera’s Community Newsletter - Winter 2012-2013
Right: Resident Rose Yancey Middle: Suncor’s Marie-Beth Cay Left: Resident Kathrine Kaiser Silvera’s Valleyview Community recently welcomed eight members of Suncor Energy’s SCM Category Management – Engineering Services Department, who came down for a team volunteering event. The employees spent the day painting Valleyview’s activity room and sharing stories with our seniors. During their visit, they also enjoyed lunch with our residents, and the employees tell us they had a very positive experience and were glad to have had the chance to provide a needed service for Silvera and to visit with the seniors.
YEEHAW!!
Calgarians are always up for a good Stampede party. Recently residents of Silvera’s Confederation Park Community put on their cowboy boots for some good ole’ western fun with the Calgary Stampede’s Queens, Princesses and Harry the Horse.
OLD SAINT NICK STOPPED BY
Donna McQuay & Santa Claus No sooner had the Happy Trail posse left than Old Saint Nick stopped by Confederation Park Community to drop off candy canes and gather up wish lists for his elves at the North Pole.
BLANKETS FOR THE HOMELESS
Helga Bunjes of Silvera’s Spruce Community has been knitting blankets for the homeless for a number of years and recently helped start a Knitting for the Homeless Group that meets on Saturday mornings.
A YEAR-END MESSAGE
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FROM ARLENE ADAMSON, CEO The end of a year is always a time to sit back and reflect on successes, challenges and milestones. When I do so this year, Silvera’s 50th anniversary year, I have to say I am in awe of our amazing residents and our equally amazing staff. We have had an extraordinary year. In honour of our landmark anniversary, we decided to change our name and brand to better reflect a new “silver era” that values seniors. So, in February of 2012, MCF Housing for Seniors became Silvera for Seniors. The new name better reflects that our organization is about more than just housing. It’s about seniors and the important role they have in our city. In marking our 50th-anniversary milestone, we were happy to include our residents in many anniversary activities, and were delighted by the enthusiasm they showed in participating! Some of our residents took over the CTV News desk during Seniors Week in June. That was after we had recruited them to help us shatter myths about seniors by participating in our Sassy Seniors videos. These videos were broadcast on CTV
during Seniors Week, and were a big hit with viewers from around the world. Then we aimed for an even larger stage, asking our residents to help set a brandnew Guinness World Record for Cane Fu, a chair-based physical activity, on September 9 at our Aspen Community. Proudly, we can say there are many new World Record holders now living at Silvera. Apart from fun and celebration, Silvera also took significant steps forward towards providing more support services and, therefore, a better quality of life for our residents. This is hard work, and much of it goes unseen in the background, although some of you may have noticed staffing changes in your community. We have also spent time reorganizing and streamlining our business processes. We have developed positive new relationships with the Province and the City, and, as a charitable non-profit, we are advocating for increased funding support. To this end, we launched a fund development program this year.
We need Calgary companies and individual Calgarians to recognize service to seniors is an important investment. We have seen some great results, raising $420,000 in donations so far this year, which will be used to provide increased training opportunities for our staff and improve systems. There is much more to do, however. The board has two main goals for the organization as we move into our next 50 years: to build more housing and to provide even better support services for our residents. Quite simply, we want you to remain in your Silvera homes for as long as possible. Silvera has development opportunities at the Jacques and Elbow Valley sites (SW) as well as at Gilchrist Community (NE) to move forward over the next few years. As well, we want to ensure existing communities are updated and comfortable. And we will remain committed to improving resident experiences and lifestyles in as many ways as we can. Thank you again for your feedback and for a tremendous year – and have a wonderful holiday season!
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Many dignitaries have celebrated the Christmas season with Silvera residents over the years. At left, Premier Ralph Klein meets Manager of Operations, Kathy Eyre during a 1998 holiday season visit to Westview Community. At right, our current Premier Alison Redford brings her Christmas greetings to Westview in 2012. silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
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WINTER MAINTENANCE & SAFETY TIPS
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Winter is here again, and with it comes the snow and cold temperatures. Silvera offers these friendly reminders to make sure you keep your suite warm and toasty and stay safe outside. • When going outside, put on your winter coat and an extra layer of clothing underneath. • Wear boots, mitts, scarves and hats.
• Outside, if you see icy conditions such as slippery sidewalks, entryways or parking lots, report this to maintenance so they can be cleared up as soon as possible. • Please note we do not shovel between cars parked side by side in order to prevent potential damage to the cars. • You can reduce the chance of slipping outside through taking simple steps like making sure you have footwear with good traction, and just taking your time. Being out with a friend or carrying a cellphone will help you summon aid if you do fall. • If you live in our one of our independent communities and need help to secure food and medical supplies as you are unable to do this yourself, call your Silvera Community Resource Coordinator: Susan Ink (403-510-4283) or Jo-Anne Parks (403-701-9704).
• Keep a sweater handy for when you are inside. • Never leave your windows open when it’s below freezing. Leaving your windows open could cause frozen or burst pipes, and residents could be held financially responsible for the repair costs. If you do experience frozen or burst pipes, contact maintenance immediately. • Using heating devices such as plug-in heaters and space heaters is not advised as they can overload power circuits, causing outages or even fire. If your suite is too chilly, contact maintenance and they will assist you. • Never use your stove/oven as a heater. This is extremely dangerous. Once again, if it’s too cold in your room, please contact maintenance.
WINTER HOTLINE NUMBERS INDEPENDENT LIVING Maintenance: Daytime: 403-567-5614 After hours and on weekends Tigertel Call Centre 403-228-8088 SUPPORTIVE LIVING Contact a staff member in your community. They will, in turn, call maintenance.
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SILVERA FOR SENIORS IS OFFICIALLY IN THE RECORD BOOKS! In September, 262 Silvera residents gathered at Aspen Community in Bridgeland to set a world record for the most people doing a chairbased exercise. Guinness World Records officially confirmed the feat in October. One of the world record-setters, Hazel Gehring, recently turned 98. “We need to keep these [types of] programs because it keeps my muscles working,” she said. “Thankfully, I still have my health and can be an active participant.”
Cane Fu is a low-impact exercise inspired by the teachings of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Introduced last year at Silvera’s Shawnessy Community as part of its Mobility Support Program, Cane Fu lets participants use canes or cardboard tubes to engage in gentle movement and breathing exercises, giving them the positive effects of a good workout, without leaving their seats.
The world record event on Sept. 9 was part of Silvera’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and CEO Arlene Adamson said it was yet another way our residents are proving to Calgary how active and engaged they truly are. “Setting a world record with Cane Fu is yet another way Silvera for Seniors, and our residents, are breaking the stereotypes surrounding aging,” she said.
1950s Bow Valley Lodges Foundation established by six forward-thinking Calgarians: Dr. Leonard Orville Bradley; the Honourable James H. Laycraft; Dr. H. Wright; Mr. L. Cook; Mr. A. Hemstock; Mr. D. MacArthur 1960s 1962 – Metropolitan Calgary Foundation is established by the Province of Alberta and takes over Bow Valley Lodges in June February 1968 – MCF has a waiting list of some 500 people April 1, 1969 – MCF takes over Rundle Lodge from United Church 1970s 1970 – MCF considers purchasing the old Father Lacombe Home in Midnapore, but seniors feel it is too far from the downtown core 1971 – monthly rents in lodges raised to $45 (single) and $60 (double); while operating costs are actually $77.50 (single) and $70 (double) 1973 – Old Rundle Lodge (formerly Old General Hospital) demolished 1978 – Elbow Valley Lodge female residents allowed to wear pant suits! And matrons of lodges can no longer enter residents’ rooms without knocking first 1980s 1985 – MCF agrees to help house 50 “elderly transients” who would otherwise be homeless
SILVERA SETS A WORLD RECORD
“We did it!” cheered Sybil Lavigne, 93, a waltz-loving resident who took part in the demonstration of Cane Fu. “Dancing is great exercise, too, but this is a real accomplishment. I think this is great because it helps us mentally and physically.”
OUR 50+ YEAR JOURNEY
The original plan was to beat an existing world record, but Silvera’s residents went the extra mile and Guinness confirmed they actually set a brand-new record instead. “We are never too old to break a record – all you do is keep trying and it will come to you!” said Lavigne.
1990s 1997 – Operating name changes from Metropolitan Calgary Foundation to MCF Housing for Seniors for use in advertising 1998 – MCF successfully fights for its very existence after City decides to consolidate it with two larger community social housing agencies (Calhome Properties and Calgary Housing Authority) 1998 – Joins Bethany in “Celebrating Centenarians” on Heritage Day during Stampede – three MCF residents out of 12 are honoured 2000s 2000 – wait list of 650+ seniors wanting MCF housing 2002 – MCF takes over management of former Elder Statesmen and Friendship Management Groups communities 2006 – Sells Rundle Lodge in Victoria Park to Calgary Stampede March 2009 – Beaverdam Memory Care program launches on a pilot basis 2009 – MCF takes over three properties from Southbow Seniors’ Housing Authority (Austin Nixon; Gilchrist Manor; Gilchrist Gardens) September 17, 2010 – official opening of Willow Park on the Bow 2012 – 50th anniversary of MCF Housing for Seniors – name change to Silvera for Seniors
SPOTLIGHT ON… RANDY ADRIAN
Randy Adrian has been with Silvera for Seniors’ maintenance department for six years, and was recently promoted to Supervisor of the East Side Maintenance Crew. We asked him for his thoughts on being part of the Silvera family: A wise man once said: “If you enjoy what you do, you never work again.” This is how I feel about my job at Silvera. I came from the oil industry, where it was feast or famine and repetitive work. Because I love to tinker with stuff and repair things, maintenance sounded like something I would enjoy. We have a great team and everyone pitches in to brainstorm problems. And I always like to learn new things, and Silvera gives me that opportunity. In fact, since I started here, I have acquired my Fifth-Class Power Engineering. Working with the seniors is great! The stories and lives they have led are very interesting. The best part of my job is that every day is different; you never know what the next day will bring.
CHAMPION:
AMONN NELSON
Champion track athlete Amonn Nelson spoke of determination and the power of believing in yourself when she visited residents of Silvera’s Aspen Community in October.
The daughter of Aspen’s Activities Coordinator, Jacqueline Nelson, Amonn took home the bronze medal in the 4x400 m relay at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, and narrowly missed making the 2012 London Olympic team (she has her eyes set on Rio de Janeiro in 2016). “I learned a lot through being an athlete … being disciplined, training, and dealing with the competition part where you might feel nervous or feel pressure,” she says. “It contributes to building your character and becoming a moreexperienced person.”
This was her second time presenting at Aspen. “A lot of athletes talk to young kids, but I think seniors are an important part of our community and I’m honoured to be here to tell them about my experiences,” Nelson says.
VOLUNTEER WITH US! Silvera for Seniors always welcomes volunteers who want to help out during special events and programming. Do you have an area of expertise or interest that you want to share? Let us know and we’ll make sure your talents are put to good use! For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Selina Clary at sclary@silvera.ca or call 403.470.1412.
Congratulations!
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