Submitted by Kathy Blomquist
New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded Ottawa Valley Community Arts and Senior Active Living Centre to bring seniors and youth together to participate in intergenerational dialogue and art-making about age discrimination. “It’s About Time” participants meet weekly from Sept – Nov at the Madawaska Valley District High School in Barry’s Bay to share experiences of ageism and develop an interview packet in preparation for field interviews in the community. Participants are also learning how to use recording devices to conduct these interviews. Shown above at back: Jennifer Bennet Pond, Wren Crossland, Sarah Whyte, Evan Nickerson, and Chloe Myles; Front: Linda Brenholen, Roberta Della-Picca, Anne Burns, Frank Tettemer, Kathy Blomquist (project lead), Janice Adams, Kaylee Breen, Tristan Whiston, Joanne King; Sitting: Lionel Kingstone (Photo Jana Tamosetis).
Project facilitators Kathy Blomquist and Tristan Whiston will then edit the content into themes and share with the group for feedback. The final work will be presented to the public in an event next spring to raise awareness about ageism and have a permanent home via the virtual gallery on the OV-CAOS website. A Zine (homemade magazine) is also being created to synopsize key concepts in word and/or image.
Opportunity to participate in ageism consultation
“It’s About Time” coincides with the launching of a Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FTP) consultation on Ageism which hopes to better understand and address the negative impacts on older adults in Canada.
Public consultations will be followed by FPT-led roundtables, community-led group discussions, as well as engagement with members of First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups that will take place in the fall of 2022. Feedback will be summarized in a What We Heard report. A final report will support FPT governments to consider how they may address this important issue.
To participate, please visit the Government of Canada website. Submissions can be made online or by mail. The deadline is October 31, 2022.