The news section relays important information about Dignity Seniors Society. Please read more about our updates from the board and other activities below.
DSS is proud to release the finding of their 2022/23 needs assessment on 2SLGBTQI+ Seniors in BC. The report includes 25 recommendations to improve the lives of 2SLGBTQI+ Seniors in BC.
Xtra* Article by Stephanie Verge ‘Is this the future of queer elder care?’ [2023]
The Tyee Article by Tegwyn Hughes ‘Other Cities Have Housing for Queer Seniors. Why Not Vancouver?’
Sunday July 18, 2021 3-5 pm
Join Dignity Seniors Society and BC Care Providers Association for a fun game of Bocce Ball. Meet the two organizations, celebrate pride, and make new friends in a place where we remember old friends, the Vancouver AIDS Memorial.
You'll have a chance to talk to us about the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ seniors in care, and help us guide our advocacy effort to reform residential care in BC to improve the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ seniors in care. You may even want to become part of our educational video about 2SLGBTQ+ senior issues!
OMG, This is so cool, where do I sign up?
**LIMITED ENTRY – 8 TEAMS / 4 PLAYERS PER TEAM**
Email shawnewing@telus.net and include the below information:
Contact information for someone on the team (email and phone #)
List of all team members and their ages (this is a bonus points area)
Team name
Your team contact will receive a reply email confirming your place in the tournament.
Tournament schedule will be emailed to team contacts on Friday July 16, 2021.
Don’t have a team? Reach out to Shawn, who will connect you with other people who would like to form a team.
BONUS POINTS
Bonus points will be awarded to Best Pride Team outfits (they don’t have to match but we encourage colourful outfits!), Best Team Cheer, Cutest Mascot (two or four legged), most vocal cheering team, most gender diverse team, oldest player, oldest team (Combination of all team members ages)
Before the games even begin, bonus points will be awarded as follows:
Team member over 75 – 5 points for each person on your team over 75
Team member over 70 – 4 points for each person on your team over 70
Team member over 65 – 3 points for each person on your team over 65
Team member over 60 – 2 points for each person on your team over 60
HOW TO PLAY
The games in the Bocce challenge will follow the basic rules of Backyard Bocce with some modifications and twists. Each team is comprised of a maximum of 4 people. The games will have a time limit of ½ hour or 8 points, whichever comes first. There will be a Head Judge to rule on anything that teams are unable to resolve between themselves. The Bocci court will be smaller than regulation to allow for a few games to go at the same time. Winner is declared at the end of tournament regulation time and decided by the most total points.
NOTE: There will be no food or beverage vendors that will be present at this event. You are encouraged to plan a picnic or support any of the food/beverage vendors in the Sunset Beach area. When your team is not playing, it’s a great opportunity to see old friends and potentially collect some hugs? The closest washroom location is at Sunset Beach concession stand.
Any questions regarding registration please contact Shawn Ewing at shawnewing@telus.net
COVID PROTOCOL
If you feel sick or unwell, even though you’ll be missing the event of the season, please stay home. We’ve come too far to go back now…
Facemasks are not required. However, there are people that will continue to wear facemasks for personal reasons (they or someone they know may be medically compromised and need that layer of protection) There is place here for all and kindness is expected.
The balls (Bocci) will be sanitized between games. Hand sanitizer will be available for teams competing.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any question regarding this event, please contact Shawn Ewing at shawnewing@telus.net
YOUR HOSTS
Dignity Seniors Society (DSS), is a BC based organization that strives to provide unique, tailored information and programming that meet the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ Seniors in our gender, sexually and romantically diverse communities. Our vision is that all 2SLGBTQ+ Seniors in BC enjoy fulfilling later years and a dignified end to life.
In 2021, the Board of DSS have prioritised the following three projects:
Advocating for reform of BC residential and long term care systems
The DSS Elders Project
DSS housing collaborations
For more information on any of these projects, or general information on how to get involved with DSS, please visit our website, www.dignityseniors.org
BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is the leading voice for B.C.'s continuing care sector. Including the Association’s operating arm, EngAge BC, BCCPA represent over 400 long-term care, independent living, assisted living, home health, and commercial members across the province.
The Association is committed to supporting our members to provide care which is reflective of, and responsive to B.C.’s diverse population. One way that BCCPA has done this is through the Aging with Pride initiative, which aims to help improve 2SLGBTQ+ competency across the sector. Together with our partners, BCCPA has:
Developed an indicator on EngAge BC’s Route 65 (a free online search service) which enables continuing care operators to indicate that they are LGBTQ2+ inclusive.
Offered queer competency education for our members.
Developed a resource page on our website.
We continue to be committed to supporting safe and inclusive care for all British Columbians.
Should you have questions about the Aging with Pride initiative please feel welcome to contact Rebecca Frederick, Director, EngAge BC at rebecca@engageseniors.ca
Acknowledgement
This event takes place on the unceded Coast Salish land, home to the the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. DSS recognizes the need for a significant connection with Indigenous peoples and communities so that Indigenous perspectives and knowledge are inherent within the work of DSS in BC.
DSS is advocating for the reform of BC Long Term Care Facilities and supports the ARRCBC report. Read the ARRC Report here and see DSS’s position paper on page 67 and 68.
and survivors of the Afzaal and Salman families, after the hateful and heinous attack that took place in London, Ontario. A hate motivated attack on any minority group deeply affects all minorities in Canada. We are committed to standing together to fight hatred and ignorance and build better communities that can value diversity and inclusion. Support for any Seniors affected by this tragedy can be found through the BC Muslim Association: https://thebcma.com/Home.aspx
Egale is a National 2SLGBTQI organization that is highly respected by DSS for its leadership and guidance. Like Egale, the members of DSS’s Board are deeply saddened by this latest example of Canada’s terrible colonial history and unforgivable treatment of Canadian Indigenous peoples. As stated by Egale “If you require support, the free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line for survivors of residential schools is available around the clock at 1-866-925-4419”.
Please see DSS’s land acknowledgement here. DSS’s Board is committed to making the voices of the Two Spirit and Indigiqueer communities we aim to serve heard. We commit to consult with Two Spirit and Indigiqueer community members on all of our projects and are proactive in increasing Indigenous representation on the Board. Our hearts go out to everyone touched by this tragic news.
You can read Egale’s full statement here.
