Newsletter
June 2021
Digital Marketing Campaign – Reaching New Heights
In January we hired on Kyle McTaggart, from Park House Solutions, to be responsible for our digital marketing campaigns and SEO work on our website. It is always a work in progress, with many hiccups along the way, but he is making great strides to increase both the returning visitors and new visitors to our Active Aging Canada website. We’ve gone from just over 1,000 visitor a month to 5,000 visitors a month. Lots more to do, but we are connecting with many more Canadians across the country.
Be Wise - Cannabis and Older Adults
We are getting tremendous feedback from individuals regarding this booklet. The requests continue to come in for more booklets, and we are now scheduling virtual presentations for senior’s groups for the fall. If you have a group that may be interested in a virtual presentation, please contact me at the office.
16 Languages – it is official. The Be Wise booklet is now available both in print and online in 16 languages. We have been researching ethnic organizations across Canada, in which to send them copies of the booklet in their language. We are up to a total 30,000 copies (in all languages) as of the end of May, but we want to continue to reach older adults across the country. If you know of any groups that may be interested in receiving free copies, just send me a note and we will be happy to mail them out.
Pod casts are now launched with a new topic being released every Wednesday. Please share with others and subscribe to the series.
Braille and e-pub versions of Be Wise are also in the works and should be available in the late summer. We will keep you posted.
Member Highlight
Submission from the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life and care of older adults. The RIA tackles some of the biggest issues facing an aging population by integrating research, education and practice. The RIA develops solutions that make a difference to benefit older adults everywhere.
The RIA supports a world-class research team, including nine Schlegel Research Chairs, four Schlegel Specialists, and over 20 research scientists. The RIA has core partnerships with Schlegel Villages, University of Waterloo and Conestoga College, and collaborates with many other academic institutions and organizations. The RIA is located in Waterloo with unique-in-the-world infrastructure that brings together researchers, students, health professionals, older adults and care partners to learn with and from each other.
Learn more at www.the-ria.ca.
Member Representative
Tina Mah joins the RIA as executive director
Dr. Tina Mah joins the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) as executive director on July 2, 2021. Over the course of her three-decade career, Tina has led the development and implementation of strategic, operational and project planning, and pushed for the integration of evidence into practices and policies, all with the goal of making life better for individuals needing care.
Tina began her career as an occupational therapist, then went on to complete a Master’s degree in business administration and a Doctorate in health studies and gerontology. After several years working as a health care practitioner in hospitals, Tina recognized the opportunity for greater impact if she could influence change at the organizational and policy level. Tina moved into various senior and executive leadership positions. Most recently, Tina led the research and innovation portfolio at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario in her role as Vice President Research and Innovation.
Tina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role as executive director. She is strategic, goal-oriented and collaborative, and the RIA is pleased to welcome her to the team as she leads the organization’s next chapter.
Membership Renewals
Just a friendly reminder to those of you who have not yet renewed your membership for this year. Renewal information was sent out in May. If you need to receive the documents again, just send me a note and I will be happy to forward them again. Your support as a member is critical to the success of the organization. You have the reach to practitioners and the public. Without your support our resources would sit and collect dust. Please renew your membership as soon as possible.
Patricia Clark
National Executive Director
exdir@activeagingcanada.ca
