Last year, the successful first edition of the Let’s visit our seniors challenge! was held. More than ever, fighting the isolation of seniors is a social issue and demands a collective action. Within the framework of the En Bonne Compagnie dans le Haut-Saint-Laurent project, the Comité de concertation des aînés du Haut-Saint-Laurent in partnership with the municipalities, the MRC amie des aînés, as well as Philips Lifeline are very pleased to launch the second edition of Let’s visit our seniors challenge! which will take place from June 1st to 30th, 2018. The partners are honoured to have joining them this year Mr. André Bienvenue, a well-known speaker on the subject of aging happily, as spokesperson for this recurring annual event. “It is with emotion that I accept this honour because the values of the Challenge, of mutual aid and kindness, are my values and the benefits for the visitors, like those who receive visits, are huge and permit aging well.” 

The Let’s visit our seniors challenge consists of mobilizing all sectors of the community, including municipal, institutional, private, community, school, and paramunicipal, as well as families, to increase the visits with seniors and to show kindness during their visits. The goal is to celebrate our seniors by offering them quality time during regular visits. Visitors are invited to register their individual or group visits at: www.enbonnecompagnie.org, or, NEW THIS YEAR, on our Facebook page or during our coffee-meeting registrations. The participants of the Challenge have a chance to win Visit the Haut-Saint-Laurent packages and a gift basket from the Comité de concertation des aînés du Haut-Saint-Laurent. 

This event also launches a fundraising campaign for the En Bonne Compagnie dans le Haut-Saint-Laurent project, home visit category. Ms Lianne Finnie presents a collection of Life in Vignettes, a result of her meetings with seniors who shared their memories with her. This exercise looks to recognize what seniors can bring to our community. The collections, Life in Vignettes I and II, are available for $25 each. 

Among the activities planned for this second edition, please note: 

  • The return of the purple ribbon campaign associated with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 (at the Ormstown shopping centre from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and at the Huntingdon CLSC from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.) 
  • Coffee-meeting registrations which will give visitors support for registration of their visits (check the Facebook calendar) 
  • Fundraising campaign for the home visit category of En Bonne Compagnie dans le Haut-Saint-Laurent project (check the list of points of sale for the collections of Life in Vignettes) 

This Haut-Saint-Laurent community mobilization aims to fight the isolation of seniors 50 years of age and over, to celebrate them and to ensure that they are well-treated, through active partnerships. The Comité de concertation des aînés du Haut-Saint-Laurent (CCAHSL) is the founder of the Challenge, and its original implementation was financed by Québec amis des aînés (QADA) – within the framework of projects looking to improve the living conditions of seniors. Philips Lifeline is contributing financially to this second edition. 

With seniors, I stay committed! I register my visits!