Provincial Learning Event Webinar: From Credit Reports to Debt Relief - What Older Adults Need to Know

March 18, 2025 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm PDT

Our relationship with money is more than just numbers – it shapes our daily lives, well-being and future security. This informative webinar will help you understand what to do if you face a financial crisis. Learn about your legal rights, available remedies and practical options to regain financial stability. Even if you are financially secure, a friend or family member may be struggling. Life’s unexpected turns – such as the loss of a partner, illness or financial fraud – can create serious financial difficulties.

Presented by Blair Mantin, President, Sands & Associates. With 15 years of experience, Blair helps individuals and organizations facing challenging financial situations to move forward from a position of strength.

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Office of the Seniors Advocate Caregiver Survey

The Office of the Seniors Advocate wants to hear from family caregivers about their experiences helping a loved one access publicly-funded long-term care in B.C.

Please take this short online survey if you are a caregiver supporting a family member who is currently waitlisted for a publicly-funded long-term care bed, or was previously waitlisted and has been admitted to long-term care in the last year.

Your valuable feedback will inform a systemic review on issues related to long-term care supply and demand for seniors and families in B.C., including wait times, placement processes and caregiver supports.

Take the anonymous online survey

Aging Vibrantly Podcast Tackles How to Recognize and Prevent Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario is producing a series of podcasts called Aging Vibrantly: Conversations to Empower Seniors. Episode 6 features BC CRN Board Member, Gloria Gutman. In this episode, you will learn:

• What elder abuse is and its different forms
• Key warning signs and risk factors
• How to take action if you suspect abuse
• Where to turn for help and support
• Awareness campaigns making a difference in Canada
• Steps to prevent abuse and empower older adults.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the well-being of seniors. Let’s work together to create safer, more supportive communities.

Listen to podcast

Alison Leaney, Advocate, Educator and Change-Maker

Alison Leaney has been a formidable advocate and public educator for the prevention of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults for over three decades. Her passion and dedication are as fresh as the day she joined the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC (PGT), where she helped turn a small pilot program into a province-wide organization we now call the BC CRN. Alison is set to officially retire from the PGT near the end of March 2025. Alison intends to treat this as a new beginning to spend more time with family and friends and work on her bucket list.

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Introducing Dr. Balbir Gurm, Board Member

Dr. Balbir K. Gurm, a life-long student and enthusiastic educator, is one of BC CRN’s newest Board Members. She is a nursing instructor in the Faculty of Health at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and sits on various committees and boards that promote well-being. She has a strong passion for research centred around creating equity and loves sharing her knowledge with her nursing students and the world.

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Cultural Celebrations and Social Empowerment



Our CRNs have been busy this February putting their hearts into showing their communities how much they care. Activities this month included care packages to isolated seniors, digital literacy classes, spreading the BC CRN message to new Canadians, as well as fresh updates on health and wellness. Three of our CRNs joined forces on an initiative to raise awareness of intimate partner violence and foster stronger community ties.

Read more for highlights from around the province

Top 5 Tips to Review in Fraud Prevention Month

Sadly, older adults often can be victims of financial abuse and fraud. They may be convinced to give money or account access to people who appear to be genuine. March is Fraud Prevention Month, a good time to check in and review financial fraud safety pointers.

Learn more

Transgender Seniors Fear Abuse in Care Facilities

Bill C-16 enshrines the rights of transgender and gender-diverse people in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Passed in June 2017, it has become part of a larger conversation surrounding gender, pronoun use and freedom of speech. Yet many older community members still experience transphobia, sparking the idea of an annual International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, often referred to as Trans Day of Visibility.

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Introduction to Extreme Clutter (Online Presentation)

March 4, 2025 | 12 pm - 1 pm PST

Clutter is formally defined as “a large group of usually unrelated or marginally related objects piled together in a disorganized fashion in spaces designed for other purposes (e.g. tabletops, floor, hallway).”

This presentation will help people understand what clutter, hoarding, collecting and squalor are, and that not everyone who collects, lives in clutter or squalor is actually affected by the Hoarding syndrome.

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Spotlight on Ageism (Online Presentation)

April 1, 2025 | 12 pm - 1 pm PDT

Ageism is highly prevalent and is the most socially accepted and tolerated form of discrimination in Canada. Like sexism or racism, ageism is discrimination – based on someone’s age. Ageism can occur at any point in our lifespan – regardless of how old we are – and may lead to others making judgements about our background, capability, mental or physical status, based only on their impression of our age.

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Save the Date! BC CRN Annual General Meeting

June 24, 2025 | 5 pm - 6 pm PDT

Attention CRN Coordinators: BC CRN's Annual General Meeting will be held over Zoom on June 24, 2025. Stay tuned for more details.