Oral health for seniors

Dental Hygienist Jenna Simmons

Jenna Simmons, Alberta Health Services - Healthy teeth lead to a healthier well being! It is common for people to keep their own teeth as a result of more access to care, more education and more advances in professional services. In Canada, dental care is mainly privately funded. Financial challenges are often a concern when it comes to seniors visiting the dentist. Oral care is postponed for many people. Overall health is directly connected to oral health. Periodontal disease, cavities, lack of proper nutrition and poorly fitted dentures are among some of the most common problems seen by health care providers. There are many factors that place seniors at high risk for an unhealthy mouth.

New Horizons funding keeps seniors engaged in Foothills

Press release - John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills, extends his congratulations to the 11 organizations that have been granted funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

• Huddlestun Seniors receives $5,400 to upgrade their facilities
• Metis Local 1880 receives $24,000 for camps and gatherings so seniors can mentor the youth in traditions such as dance, canoeing, cooking, hunting & fishing
• Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club receives $25,000 towards the Heritage Arts Program
• Windsor Heritage Drop-In Centre receives $20,800 towards new chairs, computers and sound system equipment
• Foothills Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings will receive $24,000 for Making Music in the Foothills program
• High River Seniors Friendship Center receives $22,000 for replacing the roof and eaves troughs
• Stavely Museum receives $4,000 to build new ramps to allow access to all seniors
• York Creek Lodge receives $8,400 for a greenhouse to allow seniors to share their gardening knowledge and skills with children
• Coleman Seniors Drop-In Centre Association receives $18,000 towards the Seniors on the Grow program
• Town of Okotoks receives $25,000 for the Move and Groove café program
• Coordinated Community Response to Elder Abuse receives $13,800 for an Elder Abuse Awareness and Education Project

Vows renewed at Vista Village Valentines Day event

Submitted - On Valentines Day we had fun with wedding vow renewals with couples at Vista Village. Fun was had by all, and it was a great afternoon.

New advisory council to focus on seniors, continuing care

Alberta Health Services - A new provincial advisory council (PAC) will launch next month, providing a direct connection between Alberta Health Services (AHS), seniors, the disabled and those receiving continuing care services, as well as their families and informal caregivers. The Seniors and Continuing Care PAC includes 15 people from across the province who have personal interactions with continuing care, or are caregivers for clients in continuing care. They will provide AHS with advice on services and delivery related to seniors care and continuing care, and will report to the Community Engagement Committee of the AHS Board.

United Nations International Day of Older Persons

Alberta Council on Aging President Ron Rose

On behalf of Alberta Council on Aging board of directors,

October 1 we recognize and celebrate older persons for what they have contributed in the past, present and future.

To promote age friendly environments and communities is to promote healthy aging. We look at the various domains that affect all of us, at any age, and utilize strategies that support the fundamentals to well being: clean air, water and food; access to comprehensive health care including rehabilitation and medications; housing, transportation, social programs and income source.

Town of Pincher Creek to release up to $1.3 million for Crestview Lodge rebuild

Toni Lucas - Council for the Town of Pincher Creek agreed to release up to $1.3 million dollars to Crestview Lodge for the smooth continuation of the construction project that has been in progress during this year. The funds were originally committed in April 2014. The 2014 agreement was based on an estimated total construction cost of $13,000,000. That estimate laid out an expectation of 75% federal/provincial funding. The current estimated cost is $12.2 million total cost for construction to completion.

Doris Rowledge nominated for 2017 Minister’s Seniors Service award

Doris Rowledge (file photo)

Chris Davis - On March 30 of this year Alberta Minister of Seniors and Housing Lori Sigurdson announced a new award intended to recognize a senior who has provided long-term service to their community. The MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 received a letter asking for a nomination for that award. At their May 9 meeting council for the MD of Pincher Creek decided to nominate Doris Rowledge for the award for her participation with the Pincher Creek Care Bears. That organization was nominated last year by the MD for the Minister's Senior Service awards as well. Pincher Creek Care Bears is a not-for-profit group established 28 years ago that facilitates transportation for seniors to Calgary and Edmonton for medical appointments. Seniors pay a small fee and the drivers volunteer their time. Care Bears receives funding from the Town and MD of Pincher Creek.

“Seniors built this province and they deserve to retire in dignity. Volunteers who give those seniors a helping hand deserve to be recognized. I am delighted that we are acknowledging those volunteers who make life better for seniors.” - Lori Sigurdson, Minister of Seniors and Housing

Town Council hears from Creekside Condos delegation regarding concerns about roads and taxes

Toni Lucas - Dr. Tom Halbert was the spokesperson for a delegation from the senior residential complex Creekside Condos at the regular meeting of Town council on Monday, August 22, 2016.  Creekside Condos representatives previously appeared before Town Council on July 28, 2015.  At that time the delegation asked the Town of Pincher Creek the Town of Pincher Creek to assume ownership of the road Adelaide Crescent and all roads in front of the different Creekside Condo units. (Click here for that story.)

Crestview highlights for July 2016

Excavation begins for the new Crestview Lodge (file photos)

Greetings from Crestview Lodge - July was a great month with many great people who came to visit us here at Crestview Lodge. Canada Day was a beautiful soul-lifting day for us here. Ann Nicols came in and shared a program with us. The music was a pure joy and so is Ann. Thanks so much for spending your time and energy with us.

Ground breaking ceremony held for new Crestview Lodge

MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond, Foothills MP John Barlow, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier, Calgary-McKay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson, Crestview Lodge Manager Millie Loeffler, Pincher Creek Foundation Chair Sahra Nodge, Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg

Christian Davis - A ground breaking ceremony was held for the new Crestview Lodge construction project in Pincher Creek on Wednesday July 27. Dignitaries in attendance included Pincher Creek Foundation (PCF) Board Members, Foothills MP John Barlow, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier, Calgary-McKay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson representing Alberta Minister of Seniors Lori Sigurdson, Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg, Municipal District of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond, Town and MD councillors. architect George Berry, former foundation Chair Neil Stewart, and representatives from Golden Triangle Construction Management Inc.

Crestview Highlights for June 2016

Crestview Lodge residents showing their Canadian pride on July 1

submitted photo

Greetings from Crestview Lodge - June finally came and the weather held out for all of our trips. Our first trip this month was with Farley Wuth guiding us, he directed us to the Castle Mountain Ski area, as well as Beaver Mines Lake. It was a wonderful trip, many of us haven’t been in those parts in what seems like forever. Beautiful area and quite a bit of history in those hills! The next trip Farley took us on was to the Fishburn and St Henry’s Church areas. Wow there is a lot of history in all the areas of Pincher Creek, with many great families keeping the history alive for us to enjoy for years to come.

New Alberta Seniors Advocate Sheree Kwong See announced

Government of Alberta press release

Alberta’s new Seniors Advocate, Sheree Kwong See, will help bring the issues and concerns of seniors to government.

Pincher Creek Legion holds second annual Poker Rally

Fred White with winner Bill Torvi
Photos courtesy of  Lou Burnham

Toni Lucas - Pincher Creek Royal Canadian Legion #43 held their second Annual Father's Day Poker Rally on Saturday, June 18. The event was meant to be a scenic tour of the countryside with a stop in the communities of Lundbreck, Twin Butte, Beaver Mines, and Cowley where each participant got to draw a card form a destination deck. Once everyone was back at the Legion they received a fifth card giving each of the 12 adventurous participants a five-card poker hand.

Crestview May 2016 highlights

Greetings from Crestview Lodge

May was the end of cabin fever as we begin our summer bus trips out and about our wonderful area.

We kicked off our outings with a bus tour with Farley Wuth. We absolutely love going on trips with Farley. Some of us didn’t really know any history of the area and greatly admire how much history he has stored in his head. Farley’s Tours remind us of days gone by and more recently who has what farms now and if their kids had taken the farms over. This tour was around town. Wow Pincher Creek has a lot of history literally in our own back yards. Can't wait to see what will be our next tour!

Mothers Day Tea and Fashion Show held at Vista Village

Modeling clothes at the fashion show - Marj Cote and daughter Marlene Livingstone

submitted

A Mothers Day Tea and Fashion Show was held at Pincher Creek's Vista Village on Friday, May 6. Fun was had by all and guests were treated to strawberry shortcake and tea.

Fashion show models Vernie Bruder and daughter in law Lorraine Bruder

 

Crestview Lodge fire lane delineation moves forward

Josh Davis

An update on the Crestview Lodge fire lane easement was presented at the May 4, 2016 meeting of Pincher Creek’s Committee of the Whole. Town Administration had previously requested to meet with the Pincher Creek Foundation administration to discuss an agreement regarding the fire lane access, which is located on Town property and the Golf Course parking lot. An easement providing for the fire lane access was registered with Land Titles back in 1960. This fire lane was never delineated, and users and visitors to the curling club and golf course facilities have historically parked along this area, on the east side of the golf facility's parking lot. Because the fire lane easement has been in place for over fifty years, Town Administration recommended, following the meeting with the Pincher Creek Foundation, that it was appropriate to finally delineate the laneway as appointed.

Crestview Highlights for March 2016

Greetings from the Residents at Crestview Lodge - March is the beginning of our fantastic outings for the year. We will be trying to take advantage of all the good weather we can during our adventures out and about. To start off, we visited the Frank Slide Interpretive Center, it was a small group but we had a great time. We were lucky to have a guide from the center show us about. The staff were so helpful answering all our questions and helping us in and out of our seats when we watched the movies. We were quite happy that we went before peak season for our trip, otherwise we may not have had the opportunity to have such great one on one assistance with the wonderful staff at the center. Big thanks to all the staff at Frank Slide Interpretive Center!

MP John Barlow on tabling of Doctor Assisted Dying legislation

• "The Supreme Court of Canada has found the current Criminal Code prohibition on physician assisted dying to be constitutionally invalid."

John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Foothills

Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Employment, Workforce and Labour and Member of Parliament for Foothills, John Barlow, is encouraged to see the Liberal government's proposed Doctor Assisted Dying legislation encompasses a number of recommendations made by the Conservative Party. Key for Barlow is that the proposed legislation does not provide access for minors, does not compel physicians to participate in euthanasia, and creates some of the necessary safeguards to ensure the safety of those who are most vulnerable including those with mental health challenges.

Committee of the Whole seeks property agreement with Pincher Creek Foundation

Josh Davis

Pincher Creek Foundation’s upcoming new Crestview Lodge facility will require a whole new fire lane. This topic came up during the Town of Pincher Creek Committee of the Whole April 4th meeting, and ended with the committee directing administration to send a letter to the Pincher Creek Foundation board requesting a formal agreement regarding the Pincher Creek Foundation’s use of Town land.

Elimination of GILT grants may increase Pincher Creek property taxes

Toni Lucas

Council for the Town of Pincher Creek responded on Monday, March 29 to support a request from Sue Bohaichuk on behalf of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA). This is in response to Minister Sigurdson's statement that the province does not intend to reinstate the $15 million Grant In Lieu of Taxes (GILT) for social housing units. The previous Alberta government decided to eliminate GILT across the province. Livingstone Macleod MLA Pat Stier has been asking the current government to reinstate the program. In Pincher Creek this decision affects 36 social housing units for the 2015 property tax year, resulting in $32,930.47 of tax cancellations for the Town of Pincher Creek. CAO Laurie Wilgosh told council if this funding is not reinstated municipal property taxes will have to be increased by 0.08% to cover the shortfall.