During October of 1999, Jane contacted, met with and recruited various community members to support
and become involved in this project.
The first meeting of the Community Advisors and Seniors Organizing Committee took place on
Tuesday, November 2/1999. Jane then attended the CAG in Ottawa (Nov. 4-7) where she met
Dennis Raphael, principal investigator for the project, and Patrick McGowan, coordinator for the
Vancouver project.
The Seniors Organizing Committee met in December 10, 1999. At this meeting the topics for the
focus groups were determined based on the discussions of the initial meeting and materials sent
from Toronto. The committee felt that all the topics identified by the HFX meeting were
included in the Toronto summary and were satisfied that
these issues would be pursued. We then spent time discussing confidentiality issues and
planning the organization of the groups.
On January 14, 2000 the Seniors committee met again and decided the focus group topics and
locations. It was important to involve a diversity of seniors, particularily recognizing new
immigrants, as well as the large indigenous African Canadian population, seniors living
in residence and those from a broad variety of social and economic backgrounds.
Jane was to meet with Sandra Crowell of AHPRC to have their input and facilitation with
groups. The organization has offered assistance
identifying topics, developing focus group questions and editing the reports to be written.
The following focus groups have been held to date:
Further meetings will take place:
- June 2 -a supper meeting - Dartmouth Seniors Centre Re: Finances and Pensions
- Lower Sackville - Accommodations and Housing - June 8
- Multicultural community - independent interviews being planned due to difficulty in arranging
a group.
Seniors to meet June 22.
Report will be prepared for June 30.
Hope to have a large meeting of Seniors and Advisory
Committees before that time as well.
