WHAT HAPPENED IN "THE GAP" 2021
PROJECTS IN MOTION
Community members in Vancouver and Thunder Bay began implementing their planned activities in the COVID context, and the UBC/Lakehead research team started its Developmental Evaluation. The team conducted interviews and focus groups with people from a cross section of dementia care sectors in order to tell the story of how our community partners were moving ideas into action. They analyzed how the BCP team could support the implementation process, and they also assessed what was working well and where there was room to grow.
In addition to relaunching HubBytes, the Westside Seniors Hub Council updated their website to include Hub Partner Profiles and details on Dementia Ventures Hub initiatives and the Flipping Stigma Toolkit, drawing attention to their website and especially the Dementia Ventures pages. Hub volunteers updated staff education and grant opportunities as well as keeping the Dementia Ventures page fresh with relevant events and resources for Partner staff, dementia advocates, care partners and other seniors. Hub Council Members attended healthy aging webinars offered by local, regional, and national agencies to gather information about building inclusive communities with adequate supports for aging in place.
The BCP and Westside Seniors Hub formed a Communications Outreach Team to help partners in promoting their initiatives. The first project they worked on was a tablet lending initiative started by the South Granville Seniors Centre. In addition to drafting a press release for distribution, the team designed a postcard campaign and strategized rolling out promotional material that would reach as many eligible seniors as possible.
As phase two of our developmental evaluation strategy, The Building Capacity Project’s Knowledge Translation team conducted a key informant survey to help guide broader plans for moving forward with program planning, stigma reduction, and culture shift. The goal: making community life more inclusive and understanding of people with dementia.
The BCP Team organized a two-day hybrid celebration event for seniors, featuring people with dementia as assets to their community.
OCTOBER 1st was an in-person community-fair-style event at Balaclava Park. Hub Partners and other related projects (like Emily Carr University’s Health Design Lab) hosted booths, Angus McIntyre conducted an historical neighbourhood walk, Andrea Sara from the Dunbar Residents Association showcased the Fireweed Club, and Lori Snyder spoke to audience members about reconciliation, the Butterfly way project, and the value of gardening.
OCTOBER 2nd was an online event showcasing not only the community initiatives in Vancouver and Thunder Bay, but also a series of panels facilitating dialogue on how to tap into community assets like music, art, media, culture, and faith, as well as tapping into the knowledge, wisdom and passion of people living with dementia.
Learn More about the Building Capacity Project