Senior of the Year Award Call for Nominations

The City of Pickering is excited to be able to honour one local senior for their outstanding accomplishments. To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be a Pickering resident over 65 years of age, and have enriched the social, cultural, or civic life of the community.

Do you know a person deserving of this award?

Tell us about your nominee, and their accomplishments, in a one page submission. Include contact information for both the nominator, and the nominee.

One nomination will be selected and the chosen recipient will be contacted. Only the nomination

selected to receive the award will be notified in advance. The award winner will be announced to the public at our Seniors’ Month Big Band Celebration in June.

Nominations must be submitted by: Friday, March 1, 2024 no later than 4:00 pm

Nomination forms are available online at pickering.ca/adults55plus.

For more information please contact Community Services Department at 905.420.4660 or email communityservices@pickering.ca.

Holiday Scams!

During the festive season, fraudsters target the elderly more frequently. They exploit the seniors’ vulnerability and generosity throughout holidays and into the New Year. Seniors can protect themselves from being cheated, and their adult children can monitor their parents’ financial and social activities to prevent possible frauds before any money is lost.

Red Flags to Look For

Seniors unfamiliar with the internet might not understand a scam is being presented to them. Scams targeting the elderly take advantage of the

fact an older adult may be suffering from memory/dementia issues.

Any phone call asking for money: If you witness your parent take a call or receive a call where the conversation turns to money, immediately hang up. Never give out any banking information through the phone to anyone who has called you.

Gift Card Purchase requests: Often times criminals prefer gift card payments. They may want them in a

form of a big box store gift card, gaming gift cards, or Visa/Master Card gift cards. Never purchase gift cards or give gift card information such as the card number to anyone, especially over the phone. Criminals want payment in the form of gift cards because they are difficult to trace back to the spender.

Unusual credit card charges or bank withdrawals: Talk with your bank about what it does to protect

seniors against fraud abuse. The best banks make an effort to contact the account owner if there is a large, unexpected withdrawal or money transfer. You may want to consider adding your adult children to the account to keep tabs on what’s being spent.

Types of Holiday Scams

The Canada Revenue Agency CRA: A scammer pretends to be a CRA agent and contacts an elderly

person, claiming that they have unpaid taxes and must send money, using a prepaid credit card, before

the year ends or face legal consequences. The victim may not be aware that the CRA does not make such calls, does not accept prepaid cards as payment, and does not threaten people with arrest.

Disaster relief: Many seniors feel compassion for families who have lost their homes during the holidays and want to donate money to help them. However, some of the callers who claim to represent these victims are actually scammers. To avoid falling for these frauds, you or your loved one should contact a reputable charity directly instead of giving money to someone who calls you.

For more information on how to report or further protect yourself against similar scams, please visit

Durham Regional Police's website.

New 55+ classes are being offered at CHD Recreation Complex, East Shore CC, George Ashe LCC, and Tomlinson CC.

• Aging Stronger
• Arthritis Dance Fit
• Chair Fit
• Chair Yoga
• Cycle Fit
• Fit Fusion
• Forever Young
• Pilates Reformer
• Pilates for Strong Bones
• Stretch & Strengthen

New Winter Programs

• Learn to Play Golf
• iPad Level 1

For a complete list of adult/55+ programs and to register, visit pickering.ca/active.

Pickering Public Library

• Art Hub
• Genealogy Drop-In
• Tea & Books
• Seed Library Launch
• Seniors Social
• Will & Estate Planning Information Session

Preparing Your Pet for Winter!

Article submitted by, Pickering Animal Services

Winter has arrived and with temperatures often way below zero, there are many things that you need to be mindful of to ensure that your pets are kept safe. Below are a few tips to help.

1. If it is too cold for you, it is too cold for your pets! Wind chill can be deadly, never leave your pets outside or in the car unsupervised. Prolonged exposure to cold can be fatal, especially to those with short hair, thin build, the elderly, or young.
2. Limiting the time spent outdoors is a good idea, especially when temperatures are extremally low. For extra warmth and protection, you might want to consider purchasing booties and a winter jacket for your furry friend.
3. Like us, our pets are also susceptible to frostbite. Make sure that any ice caked on your pet’s paws is removed as soon as you return from walks as salt and other substances that are used to melt snow can potentially burn the pads of your dog’s feet. 
4. Did you know that Antifreeze is very toxic to cats and dogs. Most animals find the sweet taste of ethylene glycol quite irresistible, and ingestion of the antifreeze can result in permanent and fatal damage to the kidneys. When storing antifreeze, always make sure that it is in a tightly-closed container and out of the reach of children and your pets! 
5. Lastly, avoid walking on frozen lakes and ponds, and always keep your dog leashed when out for a walk.

For more information visit Pickering Animal Service's Website.

Tuscan Kale Bean Soup

Warm up and stay cozy during the chilly months with this healthy and satisfying soup.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 large onion,
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
• 2 28 oz cans of diced fire roasted tomatoes
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 15 oz cans of white beans, drained and rinsed
• tsp dried oregano, fennel seed, and smoked paprika
• 1 tsp and half of kosher salt
• 2 bunches of kale, chopped

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until tender. 
2. Add diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and beans. Bring to a simmer. Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seed, dried oregano, smoked paprika, and kosher salt. Simmer for approximately 12 minutes. 
3. While the soup simmers, chop the kale. 
4. Add the chopped kale and simmer for an addi­tional 2 to 3 minutes until tender. Add the remaining ½ teaspoon of crushed fennel seed.
5. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese. 
6. Store refrigerated for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.