 |
Celebrating Seniors
|
Elliot’s compassion, devotion, and proficiency are but a few qualities that make her a worthy recipient of the Advocacy award. In addition to being a well-known advocate within the local community, she is also recognized provincially and nationally. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Elliot cannot help but be inspired by her selfless commitment to bettering the community. Whether it is delivering presentations on older adult abuse or organizing city-wide forums, Elliot is continually working in the best interests of the community. Not only is Elliot an advocate herself, but she emphasizes the importance of advocacy and encourages others to become involved. Elliot’s contributions on behalf of others continue to build Saskatoon into a stronger community. |
Award Recipient
|
| George has worked tirelessly to ensure that all older adults have access to lifelong learning opportunities. He understands that whether it is learning to ski or taking courses in Canadian politics, learning never stops. George saw the need to provide equal opportunities to people in rural areas interested in education and worked diligently to address the gap. Currently George is a member of the Council’s Long Range Planning, Ski for Life, and Communications committees, as well as the Older Adult Abuse Task Force and its subcommittees: Legal and Finance and the Task Force Subcommittee for World Older Adult Abuse Day. In addition, George sits on the Saskatoon Health Region Community Grants committee and the Health Region’s Seniors Strategy Committee. His dedication to making education accessible to the public and his love of learning makes George James a worthy recipient of the Education award. | Award Recipient Education - George James  |
| Muriel is passionate about promoting dignity for older adults, contributing hundreds, if not thousands, of hours to making life better for many citizens of Saskatoon. She has volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Saskatoon Food Bank and chaired the comittee that founded the enriched living tower McClure Place and the Amy McClure House. She has been the recipient of many awards: the Muriel Jarvis Award from the Saskatoon Health Region , Golden Heart Award and the Village Builder's Award. Muriel began her career with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) in 1994 and served on SCOA’s Board from 2000–2006, with the last two years as President. Currently Muriel is an active member of Council’s Advocacy Committee and sits on SCOA’s board a member-at-large. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and leadership are exemplary and make her a deserving candidate for the Community Leadership award. |
Award Nominee Community Leadership (Urban) - Muriel Baxter  |
| Sheldon believes that all seniors should be active and is certainly a leader in our community to make this happen. He sees the big picture of things and is very dedicated to see things through. He has worked numerous volunteer hours with the Council to ensure that the Seniors Walk each year is a success. He engages many of the members of the Saskatchewan Seniors Fitness Association and others to participate in the walk. He also has provided great ideas for the Age Alive Photography exhibit to showcased at our upcoming Spotlight on Seniors Trades Show this October.Sheldon is willing to volunteer in what ever capacity is needed whether is it is being the master of ceremonies for the Seniors Walk to helping with the kitchen cleanup after the walk. Sheldon’s dedication and drive helps improve the lives of older adults through being active. | Award Nominee Community Leadership (Urban) - Sheldon Kraus
|
.jpg)
Founding Members of the Saskatoon Council on Aging -
Teamwork Award Recipients
.jpg) |
Muriel Jarvis was Advisory President on the Founding Board. She became involved with SCOA because she saw the need for community involvement with seniors. Muriel’s favourite part of SCOA is the imagination, creativity, and energy in such a wide range of activities and support for seniors in the community, including emphasis on support for informal caregivers. “I have worked with many groups and I felt this group was the greatest. Of course most of us were seniors and had vested interest and real life experiences with various issues - really a "grass roots" group of people. Enthusiasm continues and new persons involved are carrying on with the same commitment” says Muriel. |
 |
Wilma Mollard was the Co-President with Delores Dzubin on the Founding Board. Wilma became involved in SCOA because she thought the quality of life for many older adults could be enhanced if there was an organization which could coordinate information about resources that were available to meet their needs. For Wilma, aging means embracing life at home and in the community and seeing others able to embrace their lives – growing, learning, and being involved. Wilma served on numerous committees that helped seniors. Wilma describes the experience of working together as “wonderful, we all met in each other’s homes around the kitchen table. Everybody did what they needed to do; it was a team for sure, all the time.” |
.jpg) |
Mary Helen Richards was the Secretary of the Founding Board. Mary Helen was the editor of the Council’s Coming of Age newsletter and wrote many wonderful articles. She was also involved with the Elder Abuse and Isolation committees at SCOA. Mary Helen was the President of SCOA from 1992 to 1993. Mary Helen was a member and chair of numerous organizations dedicated to helping the community. She spoke out on suspected cases of child abuse and made presentations to the governmen which led to the founding of the Society for the Protection of Children and the establishment of the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery. Mary Helen’s favourite part of SCOA is all the new projects SCOA initiates and their positive impact on the community. |
 |
Dan Swerhone was the Assistant Treasurer on the Founding Board of SCOA. He was the Executive Director of Services for Seniors and was on the board of the Saskatoon Housing Authority at the time of the Council’s inception. Dan helped establish a coordinating body that could direct seniors to all the services available to them through various agencies. This coordinating body eventually became the Saskatoon Council on Aging. |
 |
Nancy Monseler was a Member at Large on the Founding Board and also managed the SCOA office. She became involved in SCOA because she was a senior and knew of some of the problems seniors were experiencing. Nancy’s experience with older adults before SCOA was through the YWCA (where she worked) and her church affiliation. Nancy fondly remembers working with the founding board members and the determination they shared to get funding and forming a purpose for the group. One of Nancy’s duties at SCOA was to obtain speakers for the monthly board meetings. These guest speakers, such as the police, presented valuable information to SCOA. SCOA used this information to tailor its programs and services for older adults. |
 |
Mary Levers was in charge of membership on the Founding Board. She became involved in SCOA because she and three of her colleagues realised that Saskatoon did not have a central source of information for older adults. Mary’s experience with older adults before SCOA included visiting older adults through her church group and her work as a nurse. Mary had started Council’s blood pressure clinic which still operates today. Between November 1993- March 2011, 24,622 people attended the SCOA blood pressure clinic! Mary is currently involved in the Century Club and Anniversary committees of SCOA. Mary recalls that “we were a group of people who all shared the same vision in our minds, but we knew we had to band together to accomplish the goal. We put our ideas together and got it off the ground. " |
 |
Patricia Zipchen was a Member at Large on the Founding Board and has a background in nursing and politics. Patricia became involved with SCOA because one of her strengths is helping and advocating for others. Patricia describes SCOA as an organization “working together for better health and living for seniors”. “Our elders have built our country and have given us so much so we have better lives. As a grateful, caring, and responsible community, we wanted to promote and support the dignity, well - being, health, and independence of aging adults. We also wanted to support those who looked after loved ones. To achieve this vision, we created our newsletter “Coming of Age,” we launched a walk in and phone in information centre, we established an ongoing blood pressure clinic, and we sponsored workshops on a variety of topics. I am so grateful our Saskatoon Council on Aging continues to provide these and other valuable services for our heroes.” |
| Demi Dunlap was a member at large on the founding board and was an Honorary Life Member of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation. Demi currently is lives out of province. The following Founding members were also involved in the creation of the Council but are now deceased: Delores Dzubin Co-President, Bill Gallie 1st Vice President, Anne Wogg 2nd Vice President, Wilf Wagner, Treasurer/Finance, Helen Jones Social and Walter Unrau Member at Large. The current board and staff are very thankful for the dedication and time that the founding members spent to create the Council on Aging as we celebrate 20 years of success in promoting dignity, health and independence of older adults through programs, services, education and advocacy. |
|
Top of page