P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation Inc.
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Our Past Programs
The PEI Senior Citizens' Federation administers and delivers programs at locations across the Island. Most of our programs are hosted in rural areas by member clubs, although sometimes community or civic organizations will act as host. No matter the location, our programs are open to all seniors - whether members or non-members of the host organization or Seniors' Federation. These are our most popular past programs:
Eat Happy, Be Healthy (2016 to 2017)
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Eat Happy, Be Healthy Program was free to adults 50+ and consisted of individual sessions selected by the host group. This fun and interesting program provided participants with information about nutrition and healthy eating during hands-on food preparation sessions.
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Available sessions included: Start Your Day Off Right (Healthy breakfast choices), Meals in Minutes (Healthy cooking using your microwave), Beat the Heat (Easy no cook meals), Comfort Foods (Healthy easy foods for the cooler seasons), and Power-up Desserts (Preparing satisfying light desserts).
​The Eat Happy, Be Healthy Program was administered by the PEI Senior Citizens' Federation and was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
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Describe your image
Describe your image
I Have a Story Program (2015 to 2016)
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“This was such a positive experience. I had such fun! It is not every day that you have an opportunity to tell your story!”
– Participant in the I Have a Story Program
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The I Have a Story Program assisted participants in discovering a story that was important to them and telling the story in front of a camera. The subjects of participants stories varied widely. Some were very personal, others were about a family memento, a local community or a special person. The program helped participants to preserve and share their story.
“I really enjoy being a part of this program,” said instructor Joscelynne Bordeaux. “People come to the first class excited and a little anxious, but since our classes are small, I can work with everyone individually. It’s relaxing and fun and everyone has a great time, including me!”
The I Have a Story Program was free to adults 50+ and consisted of three sessions, two introduction sessions and one (individual) camera session. Participants were helped to fine tune their story, prepared to tell their story in front of a video camera and supported as they told their story in a private taping session. After taping, their name was added to the video and it was edited. Copies were given to the participant so they could share it with friends and family.
Our instructors were experienced actresses and videographers who guided participants through the process to help them feel comfortable and confident.
The I Have a Story Program was administered by the PEI Senior Citizens' Federation and was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
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Fill Your Bucket Program (2014 to 2015)
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In March of 2014, the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation launched the Fill Your Bucket Program at locations across the Island.
Fill Your Bucket was an engaging program created to guide participants in discovering and rediscovering their dreams and aspirations, and assisting them in making some of these come true. Most people spend their lives working and taking care of others and often set themselves and their desires and dreams aside. This program helped participants reach out for new experiences and reach back to recall those experiences not yet fulfilled.
At the introduction session of the program (called “Popcorn and a Movie”) attendees were offered freshly popped popcorn while watching The Bucket List movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
Program participants were each given their own program workbook. In the sessions that followed, life coaches guided participants through this light yet stimulating program and inspired and focussed their to compile their Bucket Lists and to find ways to begin checking off items.
The Fill Your Bucket Program concluded in February of 2015.
The Fill Your Bucket Program was administered by the PEI Senior Citizens' Federation and made possible through funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.
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Ec Cetera Program (2013 to 2014)
Introduced in September of 2013, the Ec Cetera Program offered an opportunity for adults (age 50 and older) to learn more about a wide variety of activities.
Participants were offered a series of free one-session introductory classes in yoga, Tai Chi, homeopathy medicine, journaling, meditation, nature of spirit, nutrition, and Myers-Briggs personality. The introductory sessions enabled seniors to "test the waters" and try something new. The program was designed to empower seniors and increase their wellness and self-esteem.
This program was held at 20 locations across the Island. Whenever possible, local instructors were hired to teach sessions in yoga, meditation and nutrition. The instructor's contact information was shared with the host club to enable them to liaison with the instructor and offer programs in these areas on a regular basis.
The Ec Cetera Program was administered by the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation and made possible through funded from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.
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Myers-Briggs for Seniors Program (2014)
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions. This personality inventory has helped millions of people gain insights about themselves and how they interact with others.
In September of 2013, the PEI Senior Citizens’ Federation introduced the Ec Cetera Program for Seniors. Funded with a New Horizons grant, the program offered participants an introduction to a wide variety of activities such as yoga, Tai Chi, homeopathic medicine, meditation, gifts of spirit, nutrition, and journaling. Each location received five different activities. The “crown jewel” of the Ec Cetera Program at most locations was an introduction to Myers-Briggs personality. Those who had the opportunity to participate in Myers-Briggs thoroughly enjoyed it with 50% of attendees selecting Myers-Briggs as their favorite of the five activities attended.
Following the first few Myers-Briggs sessions in the Ec Cetera Program for Seniors, our instructor Nancy Smitheram became attuned to senior participants and changed her presentation to better meet their needs. Thus, the sessions progressed from Myers-Briggs into Myers-Briggs for Seniors. We made an application for funding from the Seniors' Secretariat to continue Myers-Briggs as a separate program and the application was approved.
The Myers-Briggs for Seniors Program was held in Borden-Carleton, Charlottetown, Dunstaffnage, Georgetown, Kensington, Munns Road, North Rustico, St. Peters Bay and Summerside.
In total, 140 seniors participated in the Myers-Briggs for Seniors Program. When asked to rate their overall experience with the program, 68% of participants rated their experience as excellent, 31% as good and 1% as fair.
The Myers-Briggs for Seniors Program was administered by the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation and made possible through funding from the Seniors' Secretariat.
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Computing for Seniors (2010 to 2013)
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Created in 2010, the Computing for Seniors Program offered free computer courses to Island seniors who had little or no computer experience. Three levels of courses were available: Basic (for seniors with no computer experience); Basic Plus (for seniors with some computer skills, but limited knowledge); Basic Plus 2 (for seniors who desired a better understanding of computer basics, including email and the internet).
"Mini-courses" in digital photography, Facebook, Skype, and genealogy were also available to seniors who had gained basic skills through our program.
The P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation has taught over 60 courses to more than 800 seniors at locations across the Island (Bedeque, Charlottetown, Kensington, Kinkora, Montague, Munns Road, Souris, Summerside, Wellington.) Students were offered seats in courses on a first come, first served basis.
The Computing for Seniors Program received national recognition by HRSDC.
When our funding was exhausted, there was still such a demand that for several years afterwards, we unsuccessfully sought funding to reestablish the program.
The Computing for Seniors Program was administered by the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation and made possible through funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (2010 to 2011) and the P.E.I. Government (2012 to 2013).
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Island Family Trees Program (2011 to 2012)
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The Island Family Trees Program was designed to provide seniors with an introduction to preserving family and personal history using a variety of approaches. Four classes were offered at each location covering beginning genealogy, storytelling, scrapbooking and community history. The program was held in the fall of 2011 and winter of 2012. Groups met once a week for four weeks with a different area of family history discussed at each session.
The Island Family Trees Program was held at two locations in Charlottetown as well as Belfast, Georgetown, Morell, Munns Road, North Rustico, O'Leary, and Wellington.
Program presenters included: Georges Arsenault, Boyde Beck, Sandra Bruce, John Cousins, George Dalton, Fred Horne, Patrick Ledwell, Bill MacMicken, Noella Richard, Dutch Thompson, Julie Watson, David Weale and Jill MacMicken Wilson.
The Island Family Trees Program was administered by the P.E.I. Senior Citizens' Federation and made possible through funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program
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