Bow Valley College (Room N231)
345 - 6 Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2G 4V1
Driving Directions
Join the Institute for Continuing Care Education & Research (ICCER) on April 8 as we discuss the importance of inclusivity in continuing care. Knowledgeable speakers will share information on creating environments that welcome and meet the needs of those from the LGBT+ community, as well as individuals with invisible disabilities. Read more about our speakers and their presentations below!
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with our speakers, as well as collaborate with one another over small and large group discussion.
This networking event is suitable for all levels of staff, faculty, students, and family members in continuing care. We encourage you to share the event information with those you think would be interested in attending the event. Family members from ICCER member organizations are considered ICCER members and can register for free!
An opportunity to network over coffee and snacks included!
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AGENDA
2:00 - 2:15 PM - Welcome and introductions (ICCER)
2:15 - 3:00 PM - Creating Inclusive Housing Solutions for LGBT+ Seniors by Catherine Robertson, Rocky Wallbaum & Amanda Weightman
Housing and care concerns from the aging LGBT+ community have been increasingly more public over recent years, with an emergent body of research from cities across the country. The Calgary LGBT+ Seniors Housing Needs Assessment worked closely with an Advisory Committee and a team of Peer Researchers to (a) understand what is unique about the housing experiences and needs of local LGBT+ seniors, and to (b) identify existing and imagined promising approaches to meet the diverse needs of the LGBT+ community. This presentation will share preliminary findings from current research and facilitate discussion around actionable and innovative strategies for front-line staff, program planners, and directors to improve inclusion and integration of LGBT+ residents.
Catherine Robertson - The arrival of Catherine's first pension cheque last month came as quite a surprise given that she is sure she was in her 20s about six months ago. Her lifelong "Joie de Vivre" has led to a tremendous variety of endeavours encompassing custom home building, teaching trumpet, flute and guitar, team captain of the Canadian National Skydiving Team (1983 - 1984) and Chief Instructor at her classic hand tool woodworking school: The School of Quiet Woodworking. This diversity allows Catherine to bring a very broad and interesting perspective to all aspects of her life.
Rocky Wallbaum retired after 20+ years as a college instructor and moved to Calgary to live with his younger partner. The two have been together for 10 years. Rocky got involved with the LGBTQ+ seniors when he worked with Elder Care Service Corps, and presented films and panels showing how LGBTQ seniors were being forced to go back into the closet when entering care facilities. Rocky volunteers with the Calgary Mens Chorus, AHS' provincial training program for facilities which employ AHS staff members, and helped found the Rainbow Elders Calgary (REC).
Amanda Weightman is a Principal Researcher at Habitus Consulting Collective and the Project Coordinator of Calgary LGBT+ Seniors Housing Needs Assessment (on behalf of the SHARP Foundation). Her work is focused on supporting community groups and non-profit agencies to use research to better understand community need, find innovative solutions to complex social problems, and demonstrate impact.
3:00 - 3:30 PM - Small and large group discussion
3:30 - 3:45 PM - Break and rotate tables
3:45 - 4:45 PM - Universal Design: > Curb Cuts + Grab Bars - Explore the environmental elements that impact someone's invisible disabilities presented by Lara Pinchbeck
Ms. Pinchbeck uses her architectural training to provide human-centred design to marginalized communities: folks with sensory processing challenges, recent immigrants, aging adults, those with cognitive impairments, and multiple complexities. She is a member of the Advisory Group for the New Edmonton Hospital Project as well as a PhD student at the University of Alberta in Human Ecology where her research tracks the daily lived experiences of folks with a diversity of abilities - in her firm, Lara combines her design and research on the relationship between people with disabilities and their built environment to increase the quality of life of our neighbours.
4:45 - 5:00 PM - Small and large group discussion
5:00 PM: Wrap-up_______________________________