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A night to have a vital discussion

How do you know when you’re spending your time and money on the right things? That you’re putting your efforts in the right areas, and not barking up the wrong tree? These questions are just as important for charities and non-profits as they are for

How do you know when you’re spending your time and money on the right things? That you’re putting your efforts in the right areas, and not barking up the wrong tree? These questions are just as important for charities and non-profits as they are for individuals, and it’s something we focus on a lot at the Victoria Foundation.

Besides our ongoing work with donors and grant recipients, one of the biggest things we do is work with the community to support activities and initiatives that help to improve the well-being of residents. We use a lot of “intel” to guide our work, one of the biggest being our Vital Signs report, which combines public opinion with statistics and relevant facts to provide an annual snapshot of livability and well-being in our community.

Of course, there are many other sources of information and resources we turn to. One activity in particular involves public consultation — engaging with groups of interested individuals around an issue. These kinds of dialogues — we call them Vital Conversations — are useful for delving deeper into what’s behind a trend or statistic. How are people coping with an issue? Which existing supports are working and which are not? Where is more support needed and how can we collectively bring that about?

On Wednesday, March 23, just such a discussion will take place to look at inclusion and well-being as we age. Sponsored by Island Savings and co-hosted by the Victoria Foundation, the Eldercare Foundation and Island Health, it calls on people of all ages to participate in a conversation about staying connected to our family, friends, neighbours and communities as we grow older.

Many people are concerned that we are becoming disconnected from one another as we age. Statistics indicate that 14 per cent of seniors on southern Vancouver Island do not have someone to turn to for help or advice, and that social isolation affects nearly 40,000 people above the age of 55 across all three health regions on Vancouver Island.

The event will take place during the 11th annual Embrace Aging Month, and attendees will look at a range of questions such as: How can we support a community that is inclusive and connected as we age? What are the barriers to inclusion and connection, and how are groups working to overcome them? What are the benefits to the community as a whole when a proactive approach to seniors’ well-being is taken?

Join us on this evening to share your ideas about staying connected and building age-friendly communities where everyone is included.

For more information, including how to register for one of the limited seats, visit viha.ca/hshc/events.

Sandra Richardson is CEO of the Victoria Foundation.