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One stop shop for seniors at Fall Expo

Thirty exhibitors confirmed for one-day event that also features six workshops
1708-senclub CC 9616
Dave Thomas is the centre's 95-year-old knife sharpener and is considered a cut above in his work. CHRIS COLBOURNE/St. Albert Gazette

Due to high popular demand, the Seniors Expo is expanding with its first fall session coming next week. It will have many of the same features as the spring session but it does have some new programs and exhibitors, as well as more on offer.

“One of the cool things for this one… we went from three workshops to six workshops. We've doubled the amount of workshops because we had such a great response from the workshops the last time. We've worked really hard this year to jump that up. They cover a really broad range of topics,” said Jenna Sparrow, facility bookings co-ordinator at the St. Albert Seniors Association.

The whole idea behind these expos, she continued, is “to ensure that seniors have information and resources to make informed choices in their lives.”

“It all ties into our mission, which is to enhance the lives of older adults with activities and services. This is one of the services that we offer that really hits that point of our mission: to make sure that they have … informed choices for their lives and their futures.”

She said that people rave about past expos, saying that they are very relevant and educational and that the workshops are “awesome.”

Wednesday’s one-day event will have 30 confirmed exhibitors and six workshops covering topics from wills to walking to housing and financial assistance. There’s also one about the importance of social connection. Social isolation is a big topic in St. Albert right now with seniors, Sparrow said, adding that is both hard to do and more important as we get older.

“I think that one's just really relevant to what's going on in St. Albert and what people are talking about.”

Some of the exhibitors will be St. Albert Further Education, Primary Care Network, St. Albert Public Library, St. Albert Transit, Drive Happiness (a not-for-profit organization that provides assisted transportation services to seniors), and SAIF – Stop Abuse In Families.

She expects several hundred people to attend the free event. She noted that the café would stay open all day, as usual, as people can still grab lunch and hang out with their friends.

“We're trying to keep it a social day as well to try to decrease that social isolation.”

DETAILS

The Fall 2019 Seniors Expo

11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2

Exhibitor List (confirmed only)

• Alberta Supports

Careadon Corp (Seniors Residence)

Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home

• Courageous Goodbyes

• Crystal Nail Files

• Discover Hearing

• Drive Happiness

• Ironwood Estates

• Knife-Sharpening by Dave (demonstrations only)

Marrazzo Law Office

• Memories Funeral Home

• Neighborhood Watch Association

REMAX Professionals – Don Cholak

• River Ridge by Revera

• Seniors United Now

• St. Albert Community Info & Volunteer Centre (CIVC)

•  St. Albert Further Education

• St. Albert Recreation & Parks

• St. Albert and Sturgeon PCN

• St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association (SASHA)

• St. Albert Public Library

• St. Albert Retirement Residence

• St. Albert Seniors Association

• St. Albert Transit

• St. Albert Victim Services/RCMP

• Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF)

• Vocational Pathways of Edmonton

Voxxlife

• Willows Gift Shop

• Your Piggies

Workshops

• The importance of having a power of attorney, personal directive, and will in place, presented by Willpower Wills

• Staying committed to social connection, presented by the Southside Primary Care Network

• How walking changed my life, presented by the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network

• Advocating for the healthcare you and your loved ones deserve, presented by Jonna Grad, executive director of the St. Albert Seniors Association

• Housing options as we age: a discussion, presented by Jolyn Hall of Edmonton55.com

• Seniors financial assistance programs, presented by Alberta Seniors Benefits

Workshops are free but space is limited. More information can be found at www.stalbertseniors.ca/expo.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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