Attention readers of all ages. Today, Oct. 1, is the International Day of Older Persons.
Today, Joyce Jones and Max, her rescue dog companion, will take their first walk of the day before she attends the morning service at Mount Seymour United Church.
In the afternoon, Joyce will be at the soccer pitch cheering on one of her grandchildren. Sunday is a day of rest, after all.
On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 4, Joyce will be with her fellow seniors at a public meeting at Parkgate Community Centre.
These days, Joyce’s volunteer work is about lending a hand to seniors in her own community of Seymour in North Vancouver.The meeting is “a listening exercise,” says Joyce, “where we can share our views on improving quality of life for seniors living east of the Seymour River. We know we’re blessed to live in this part of the world and we know there is always room for improvement. For seniors like
me, it’s an opportunity to help build an age friendly community.”
It can be done.
On this day of celebrating seniors, let us remember Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Take transportation as an example. Many seniors in the Seymour-Parkgate area live far from transit routes. Getting to a bus stop is a challenge. Getting home lugging bags of shopping? Forget about it.
Mount Seymour United Church came up with a solution. Members of the congregation, Joyce among them, helped organize an assisted shopping program, now managed by Parkgate Community Services Society, with a bus providing door-to-door pickup and delivery, thus liberating home-bound seniors.
When Lionsview Seniors Planning Society conducted the North Shore wide Seniors’ Today survey, Joyce got involved with her local Seniors Action Table, based at the community centre, which developed the very successful My Parkgate Break program.
These are only two examples of “seniors in action,” the theme of Wednesday’s meeting at Parkgate.
Joyce started volunteering on behalf of her own children. When she and her husband Art set out to raise their family in North Vancouver, field sports for girls on their side of the Capilano River was just starting.
“Dr. Boothroyd had started a field hockey league in West Vancouver. We formed a couple of teams and that led to a North Shore wide field hockey association.”
Sports and the United Church taught Joyce about successful volunteering. “Whether it’s with young people or with seniors, activities have to have a purpose that means something to the participants, and they must create opportunities for teamwork, which we did through sports and through the church’s youth programs.”
As her children aged out of those activities, Joyce continued to volunteer with the church. Helping out with seniors at First United in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside led to a job with Vancouver Second Mile Society.
“At Second Mile, seniors come in to enjoy a clean, safe place. And our Neighbourhood Helpers go out to reach seniors directly. It’s seniors helping seniors.”
After 10 years with Second Mile, Joyce was ready to retire. Like all good leaders, Joyce believes that fresh ideas and new thinking comes with change. Then came an invitation to join the board of the 411 Seniors’ Centre Society.
During Joyce’s time with 411, the organization hosted the first B.C. Seniors’ Summit and established the B.C. Health Coalition and the B.C. Seniors’ Action Network, which led ultimately to the creation of the B.C. Seniors’ Advocate office.
When Joyce decided her time at 411 had come to an end, she did not retire. Joyce took on a fresh challenge, opting to do what she does best – improve the lives of seniors – in her own backyard.
“Why stop? Working with seniors is always interesting and challenging. Regardless of age, you do the best you can,” she says.
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Join Joyce Jones and share your views on life for seniors in Seymour, at Parkgate Community Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 from 10 a.m. to noon. Hosted by the Seymour Seniors Action Table, Lionsview Seniors Planning Society and Parkgate Community Services Society. Reserve your space by calling 604-983-6350 and using code 391194.
Laura Anderson works with and for seniors on the North Shore. Contact her at 778-279-2275 or email her at [email protected].
