Senior's Resource Fair

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2009 Senior's Resource Fair

The organizing committee for the 22nd Seniors Resource Fair would like to extend our greatest appreciation to the supporters of the event. First, we wish to thank the many community patrons who took the time to visit our venue at the Municipal Building. Second, we wish to thank the enthusiastic members of the Boys and Girls Club for providing assistance throughout the event. Third, our appreciation is extended to our entertainers Tom Bridges (Socks and Sacks) and William Bjorn. Finally, we wish to thank the following booth holders for taking the time to participate in the event:

Access Calgary
Accessible Housing Society
Alberta Health Services - Calgary EMS
Alberta Monitoring For Health
Alzheimer Society of Calgary
Anderson Vacations
Bethany Care Society
Big Brother and Big Sisters of Calgary & Area
Brenda Strafford Foundation –
Brentwood Dental Centre
Calgary Chapter of the American
Calgary Co operative Memorial Society Ltd
Calgary Community Network Association
Calgary Counselling Centre
Calgary Family Services/Older Adult Team
Calgary Fire Department
Calgary Meals on Wheels
Calgary Mobile Optometry
Calgary Public Library
Calgary Seniors Resource Society
Calgary Sexual Health Centre
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
Canadian Hemochromatosis Society
Cancer Screening Programs
CARP Calgary Chapter Assoc.
Changing Homes
Chip Home Income Plan
Chronos Homes Inc.
CIR Realty
City of Calgary Cemeteries
Comfort Keepers
Community Mediation Calgary Society
Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre
Continuing Care Transportation
Daughter on Demand Inc.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Society
Designing Travel Inc.
Dinners Done Personal Chef Service
Distress Centre Calgary
Diversicare
Downtown Friendship Centre
Driving Miss Daisy
Dukart Law Firm
Five Star Seniors Relocators Inc.
Foster's Garden Chapel
Fountains of Mission
Freedom Care
Good Companions 50 Plus Club
Good Samaritan Telecare
Hardie & Kelly Inc., Trustee in Bankruptcy
Health Span Inc.
Historical Society of Germans from Russia
Home Care - Alberta Health Service
Homecare Maintenance Services
Investors Group
Kerby Centre
 Laughter Yoga Canada 
lia Sophia
Linda Kitchins and Harvey Cohen
Living Well with Chronic Condition
Masterpiece Inc.
MCF Housing For Seniors
MCF Housing for Seniors (The West View)
Millrise Place and Monterey Place
Mountain View Memorial Gardens
Nature & Nurture Senior Concierge Ltd.
NewSpaces
Origin Retirement Communities
Osteoporosis Canada - Alberta Chapter
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society Calgary
Parkinson Society of Southern Alberta
Philips Lifeline/Bethany Lifeline
Pierson's Funeral Home
Prime Time Seniors and Family Concierge
Prince of Peace Manor
Priority Care Call
Revera Living
Rostad Tours Ltd./Stan Dunster
Rouleau Manor (Holy Cross Manor Inc.)
Safeway Pharmacy
Saint Jude's Health Management Institute
Seniors Tour Canada
Serendipity Solutions Inc.
Serenity Manor Retirement Community
Smile Dental Hygiene Services
 The City of Calgary - Senior Services Division 
The Manor Village Life Centers
TOPS
Transitions
United Active Living - Garrison Green Seniors
Wentworth Manor

2009 Senior's Resource Fair Pictures:

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2008 Senior's Resource Fair

Roopa McKellar/Marianne Rogerson – 2008 Committee Co-chairs

The 21st Annual Senior’s Resource Fair, held May 31st, 2008 at the Calgary City Hall Atrium was another success. The Fair which ran from 9:30 to 2:30, attracted over 1800 members of the public. One hundred and two booth holders participated in the event and we would like to thank each booth holder for their assistance in making the Fair an exciting and diverse event.

This year’s entertainment was provided by Debbie Myles, Elder Friendly Community Program (Tai Chi demonstration), Alnoor Jaffer, Korean Senior’s Association (dancing group), Charlie Doran and the Elder Friendly Community Program (cultural dance group).

In addition to each of the booth holders, we included a “Did you know?” session to the Fair. Twelve booth holders were provided with an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with the public within a ten minute session. This addition to the Fair proved to be extremely popular and we plan to provide this opportunity to booth holders in the future.

We would also like to thank other members of the CCAAG committee who contributed countless number of hours to make the event success.

Jaryll Dunne Marketing/Advertising/ Media/Banners

Lesley Rybchynski Registration

Glenn Skimming Entertainment/Volunteer Recruitment

An event the size of the Senior’s Resource Fair cannot run without the support and assistance of volunteers and we would like to extend our appreciation to our dedicated and hard-working volunteers, Dianne Skimming, Alnoor Jaffer and Korean Seniors Association. We would also like to thank the many businesses and community patrons who contributed door prizes as well as our entertainers.

We look forward to planning the 22nd Annual Senior’s Resource Fair.

For a list of the 21st Annual Senior's Resource Fair booth holders,
Click Here

For a list of the 2008 entertainers & "Did You Know" sessions,
Click Here

2008 Senior's Resource Fair Pictures:

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2007 Senior's Resource Fair

The 20 th Annual Senior’s Resource Fair held June 9 th, 2007 at the Calgary City Hall Atrium was another success, with attendance of over 2500 members of the public. Our initial goal was to attract over 100 booth holders; however our final number was 88 and we ended up with a diverse mix of booths (from housing, to weight loss, to relationship/companionship booths). As with prior years, various entertainers throughout the day enhanced the experience for all. The Calgary Outstanding Seniors Awards were very well attended, which translated into more interest in the fair itself as attendees took in the booths both prior to the awards presentation.

The committee

An energetic committee consisting of Board members and volunteers met monthly, and the results ensured the success of this year’s fair. Core committee members and associated responsibilities were as follows:

Roopa McKellar, Chair/Logistics/Banners

Jaryll Dunne, Marketing/Advertising/Media/Banners

Lesley Rybchynski, Registration

Debra Hartley, Outstanding Seniors Awards/Volunteers/Evaluations/Entertainment

Jean Dreger, Marketing support/Volunteer

Carrie Erickson, Volunteer

Other previous and current members of the CC-AAG Board contributed greatly and are much appreciated! Also appreciated was the feedback received from the public at last year’s fair, as recommendations/suggestions were reviewed to ensure that any feedback was implemented as was possible.

Volunteers

We secured volunteers from the Boys and Girls club for the day to assist with:

• Attendance counting and map distribution

• Float to assist booth holders and public where possible

• Distribute and collect booth holder/public evaluation forms

The Boys and Girls club had 2 leaders that kept the volunteers organized, which greatly reduced the amount of time that the volunteer coordinator (Debra Hartley) had to spend on this task on the day of the fair.

Booth Information

The booth rental prices were maintained as per last year.

Not for Profit - 90.00

Business or government - 155.00

These rates are seen as reasonable and attractive for both small and large organizations that apply for booths at the fair.

Advertising

Our advertising plan was intended to attract interested individuals and increase public awareness. Advertising was varied; ads were placed in the Calgary Herald, and an article in Mature Living leading up to the Fair. Flyers/posters were distributed to seniors clubs and community associations, public service announcements were delivered, and banners were placed in key locations throughout the city to raise the community awareness.

Seniors’ Recognition

Outstanding Calgary Seniors’ Awards .

The awards were held at 1:30 in the afternoon and were presented in 6 categories to recognize accomplishments achieved since reaching the age of 65. Accomplishments referred to a broad range of achievements and applications were submitted to a volunteer group of judges who chose the winners.

Entertainment

The entertainment consisted of:

• The Bow Valley Fiddlers

• A belly dancing demonstration from a class at the Kerby Centre

• Al Owchar - cowboy poet

As a committee, we decided not to hold the 50/50 draw this year.

 Services

The catering was arranged through City Hall. The exhibitor’s hospitality room offered complimentary coffee/tea and pastries and feedback received the day of the fair was very positive. The cafeteria offered a lunch special consisting of one hot entree and/or a soup and sandwich special, which provided the exhibitors a nice break to enjoy a lunch in an expedient manner. In addition, volunteers received lunch coupons that entitled them to a sandwich, soup, and pop.

Evaluations

Evaluations were provided, filled out, and collected from booth holders and the public. This information will be reviewed by the committee to enhance/improve the 2008 Fair, our 21 st anniversary.

21 st Annual Seniors’ Resource Fair

We have a large task this year to maintain the interest and support for our 21st Annual Seniors’ Resource Fair. Plans are well underway. The fair will be held on Saturday May 31, 2008 (tentatively) at City Hall Atrium. Our goal is to attract at least 100 booths and to be attended by over 2000 members of the community keen to seek information and knowledge relating to seniors.

 Summary

In summary, the SRF this year was successful, both in the number and diversity of the booth-holders as well as the attendees. We will continue to meet as a committee to review the evaluation summary and how we might implement changes/improvements for next year.

Our sincere thanks goes out to all the committee members and volunteers who effortlessly give of their time and support to ensure the success of the fair. See you next year!

Roopa McKellar, Chair Senior's Resource Fair 2007

Seniors Resource Fair 2007 pictures