REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SENIORS

October 1, 1999

RECOMMENDATION

1. Attendance at Seniors Summit - October 30-31, 1999 File: 3057-1/RTS: 1059

As part of the celebration of the International Year of Older Persons, a Seniors Summit will be held at the Empire Landmark Hotel in Vancouver on October 30-31, 1999. There will be interest and policy group meetings on finance, health, multiculturalism, seniors and technology.

The mission of the Seniors Summit is to:

· provide a forum that welcomes and includes seniors from all social, economic and ethno-cultural groups, and that stimulates and values seniors' contributions;

· create opportunities for seniors, those who work with seniors and other interested individuals to exchange information, share experiences, and hear new ideas about issues affecting older adults;

· generate interest in the issues of an aging population among government and non-government organizations;

· create legacies by linking the discussions, recommendations and actions of the Summit to the broader community in keeping with the theme of working toward a society for all ages.

The goals of the Seniors Summit are to:

· examine and, where necessary, explode myths and stereotypes in building new images of seniors;

· promote participation and leadership among seniors and encourage their input at a community level;

· strengthen formal and informal networks and partnerships among seniors centres, seniors groups and organizations in the health, education and other sectors that work with seniors.

·promote a better understanding of seniors issues and appreciation of seniors concerns in government and in our communities.

· develop action plans for summit participants, communities and all levels of government.

Attendance fees for the conference are $80 per person.

The Special Advisory Committee on Seniors believes that this Summit is of great importance to older persons. The Committee requests that funding be provided for up to ten of its members to attend the Summit.

On October 7, 1997, Council resolved that the Director of Finance provide an allocation of $3,500 in the Operating Budget beginning in 1998, to be reserved for grant requests for local conference expenses from Council-appointed bodies without direct access for funding, and instructed the City Clerk to advise the Special Committees that access to that funding should be by way of individual committee requests to Council, as necessary.

Therefore, the Special Advisory Committee on Seniors

RECOMMENDS

A. THAT up to ten members of the Special Advisory Committee on Seniors be authorized to attend the International Year of Older Persons Seniors Summit in Vancouver on October 30-31, 1999.

B. THAT a sum not to exceed $800 be allocated for attendance fees for the Summit, the source of funds to be City Clerk's operating budget account CC 15080, G/L 536040.

sgnd/Mary Bosze
Co-Chair
Special Advisory Committee on Seniors

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

Given that it is the International Year of Older Persons, and given that there is funding available, the City Manager supports the request from the Special Advisory Committee on Seniors, and RECOMMENDS that A and B be approved.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver