Athabasca's Family and Community Support Services held the 10th annual Seniors' Symposium June 7 at the Athabasca Seniors' Drop-in Centre.
Seniors from around the community dropped in to listen to lectures on topics including grandparent's rights, wills and power of attorney, making better healthy choices, as well as personal safety and fraud awareness.
Kim Lewis, the FCSS' seniors' advocate, said the event had a great turnout.
"I am pleased with how the event has been received," Lewis said. "The information has been vital, and it contains important information. One of the afternoon programs, the Better Choices Better Health discussion with Dalerie Felstad from Alberta Health Services focused on chronic pain, and what seniors can do about managing it."
During lunch, attendees were treated to some singing from FCSS employee and local artist Darlene Woodward, and at the end of the day, comedian Ken Valgardson entertained the crowd.
Lewis added that the symposium is about being safe and aging in place.
"Any information we can provide the seniors to enable them to make informed decisions means we are doing what we need to do," she said. "This is the tenth time the FCSS has put this on in Athabasca, and in Boyle, we had the second annual one take place June 5."
Athabasca resident Pat Johnson took the time to attend the event, and said it was excellent and informative.
"This is the second year I have attended this event," Johnson said. "Some of the stuff discussed today I had learned before, but others I only learned this year. You can always learn something new from these."
Athabasca Country Coun. Warren Griffin was also in attendance, and said the information imparted at the event was really good.
"It's very useful, and I am quite impressed," Griffin said. "After 10 years, the symposium is still getting strong attendance, and I think it remains a valuable part of our community in service to our seniors. And now that the symposium is also being held in Boyle, we can now reach seniors right across the county."
While both presentations discussed similar topics, Lewis said one difference included a presentation from the Cross Cancer Institute at the Boyle symposium.
"This presentation was very well received by attendees," she said. "It had a lot of really good information. And also, Road to Hope was at the event to talk about their program as well."
