Representation Agreement Workshop
[Event completed.]

10:30am-12:00pm
November 23, 2023
Lunch to follow

This is an in person event.
Lakeview Room
Bill Copeland Sports Centre
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby.

Workshop presenter is Sylvia Helmer from the Health and Wellness  Institute of COSCO (Council of Senior Citizens Organization of BC).
[See flyer for details of workshop.]

To register please click on the link below:
https://forms.gle/gUABrvxvHMER2UPJ6

Power of Attorney Workshop
[Event completed.]

November 14, 2023
10:30am-12:00pm
Lunch to follow

In-person:
Lakeview Room
Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

The third in our Personal Planning Series will be held on November 14 at 10:30am.
The topic this time is Power of Attorney.  Please see the poster for details.

We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Click here to register:
https://forms.gle/nBtnz4HESfGrERLp6

Advance Care Planning
[Event completed.]

The second of a series of Personal Planning Workshops.  This is Advance Care Planning, an important process for seniors to consider.  In this workshop, you will learn how to use your voice to make your choice regarding advance care.

Personal Planning Overview Workshop
[Event completed.]

October 10, 2023
10:30am-12:30pm
Lunch to follow

Hybrid event in person and over Zoom!

In-person:
Lakeview Room
Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Online: Held over Zoom
(A link will be sent to you.)

This is the first of a series of free workshops on Personal Planning.  The introductory session emphasizes the wisdom of planning. It outlines legal, personal, and financial plans you may wish to put in place to ensure that your loved ones follow your wishes and needs.

Personal planning involves making plans while you are capable or able. If you need help managing your affairs or become unable to speak for yourself, having a personal plan is important. It covers all areas of your life: health care, personal care, legal affairs, and financial affairs.

Workshop presenter is Sylvia Helmer from the Health and Wellness Institute of COSCO (Council of Senior Citizens Organization of BC).

Click here to register:
https://forms.gle/LFAXo16mH5G4Qbc17

Getting to Know You!  [Event completed.]

Tuesday September 12, 2023
10:30am -12:00pm
Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Lakeview Room
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Join us for an engaging Lunch and Learn session focused on getting to know our VOBSS members better.  Opportunities to socialize, share life stories, your travel adventures and maybe win a prize!

Registration is required.

Click the link below to register before September 8:
https://forms.gle/aeRn31Nn31p37sDj8

Cautious Consumerism: Identity Theft and Fraud

[Event completed.]

Hybrid event in person and over Zoom!

1:00-2:30pm, Tuesday, August 29, 2023

In-person:
Lakeview Room, Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Online: Held over Zoom

VOBSS is excited to present another free workshop in the Seniors Empowerment Series.  This one is called Cautious Consumerism: Identity Theft and Fraud.

The presenter is an expert Financial Educator with the Credit Counselling Society, Sheila Cahill.  She will identify the most common frauds and scams in Canada as how to avoid them and tell us what to do if we become a victim.

Please see the poster for more information.

This is a hybrid event, presented in-person and via Zoom.  You will be able to choose either option on the registration form.  Registration is required to attend the event.

To register please click the link below:
https://forms.gle/jgHz4mb748HVA8M89

Lunch & Learn on Volunteering
[Event completed.]

Tuesday, July 4, 1:00-3:00pm
Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Lakeview Room
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Whether you are an experienced volunteer with stories to share, or someone who is now considering volunteering but have lots of questions, this FREE in-person event is for you.

Join us for lunch and engaging conversation.

Click here to register before June 29 : https://forms.gle/xnys9wKufXPgyps16


Advocacy Letter Writing for Seniors [Event completed.]

Hybrid event in person and over Zoom!

Tuesday, June 13, 2023
12:45-3:00pm
In-person: Lakeview Room, Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Online: Held over Zoom

For our second Workshop of the Seniors Empowerment Series, we would like ask you to remember all those times when you thought "That's just not right!  I should write a letter about that!".

Now is your chance to learn how to write a letter that will make your voice heard!  A letter to the editor, an elected official, your strata council and more will be covered.  You will learn what works best to have your voice heard.

Please see the poster for more information.

This is a hybrid event, presented in-person and via Zoom.  You will be able to choose either option on the registration form.  Registration is required to attend the event.

TO REGISTER, CLICK THE LINK HERE.

Self-Defense for Seniors Workshop  [Event completed.]

Date: Tuesday, May 30 2023
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Place: Lakeview Room, Bill Copeland Sports Centre

To register:
https://forms.gle/erpjUzEfc7JcExHm8

We are excited to announce the first Workshop of the VOBSS Seniors Empowerment Series, Self-Defense for Seniors.  It is a repeat of the one we had on May 16 that was offered to members only.

The instructor, Tim Short, is a retired RCMP officer, Law Enforcement Foundational Instructor and Martial Arts Expert who has developed a self-defense workshop for seniors who want to feel empowered, confident and competent with an immediate level of protection walking in their communities without fear of personal harm or injury.

For teaching purposes, the instructor has limited the number of participants in the class.  We will keep a waiting list in case of cancellations.  If demand is great, we may have another class later in the year.  In case you need to cancel after you have registered, please let us know so someone from the waiting list can attend.

VOBSS Event at the 2023 Burnaby Festival of Learning  [Event completed.]

Hybrid event in person and over Zoom!

11:00am-12:00pm, May 9 2023
In-person: Lakeview Room, Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

Online: Held over Zoom

The Burnaby Festival of Learning (BFOL) is a FREE, multi-day celebration of lifelong learning, taking place in venues throughout the City of Burnaby on May 5-9.

VOBSS is again taking part in this year's BFOL.  This year the theme is Belonging.  We have asked Seniors to put pen to paper and write about what Belonging means to them.

At the VOBSS event at BFOL on May 9 from 11:00am-12:00pm, join us in listening to a reading of a selected number of these and meet the authors.  It is free and refreshments will be provided.

This is a hybrid event, presented in-person and via Zoom.  You will be able to choose either option on the registration form.  Registration is required to attend the event.

TO REGISTER, CLICK THE LINK HERE.

Workshop on Frauds and Scams  [Event completed.]

VOBSS is hosting a workshop presented by the Seniors’ Health & Wellness Institute (COSCO).

Frauds and Scams - Learn How to Protect Yourself

1:00-3:00pm
April 20, 2023   
Lakeview Room, Bill Copeland Sports Complex
3676 Kensington Ave, Burnaby

FREE!  Refreshments provided.   
Registration is required.
[Event completed.]


VOBSS Participates in Dig-IT Program

VOBSS is helping to bring IT awareness and literacy to low income seniors by participating in the Dig-IT program.

This program is designed to enable older adults learn basic and essential digital literacy skills such as connecting to WiFi, tablet gestures, using the camera and accessing email and the internet. 

With the help of VOBSS several seniors were identified for the program and VOBSS volunteers acted as Digital Coaches to these participants.

Extreme Heat: Notifications, Vulnerability, and Preparedness

Disha Katyal
Environmental Health Officer, Fraser Health

Download the presentation slides.

CommunityExtremeHeat-FraserHealth.pdf

VOBSS Membership

While most of the activities conducted by VOBSS are open to everyone, we encourage you to become a member of VOBSS.  Membership entitles you to the right to vote at meetings, eligibility to hold a Board or Committee position, receive email, newsletters and information bulletins.

For more information about membership and a brief summary of the activities VOBSS has been involved in over the past year please visit the Membership page.

Workshop on Online Security Basics and VOBSS Update

Thursday February 18, 2021
1:00-2:00pm

onlinesecuritybasics.pdf

Workshop on Password Security and VOBSS Update

Thursday December 17, 2020
3:00-4:00pm

password-security-talk.pdf

Advocacy Work in the Era of COVID-19

VOBSS has been busy doing advocacy work during COVID 19 with the seniors not only for Burnaby but also for all of this great nation.  This include:

Previously Completed

From September 2018 to June 2019 VOBSS received New Horizons Seniors Grants and presented workshops and projects on various topics related to seniors.

Calendar of Events 2018 - 2019

2019

January 29:  Housing Options for Seniors

January 30:  Safety for Seniors Walk-about -Patterson Station-Willingdon Ave.-Central Blvd.

February 4:  Safety for Seniors Walk-about -Confederation Park to Hastings St.

February 7:  Facebook and Twitter for Non-Profits -College for the Retired, Burnaby

2018

June 8: The Decision Tree

June 21: Seniors’ Safety and Awareness

September 11: Stay on the Road

October 23: Understanding Dementia and Supporting Those Around Us

December 4:  Say “Know” to Drugs: Questions to Ask About Every New Prescription

In June, 2018 VOBS sent and Advocacy letter to Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General regarding the cost of completing a Driver’s Medical Examination Report (DMER)