News for Staff and Volunteers of Seniors Organizations

COVID-19 Response and Resources for Organizations

The following section contains COVID-19 information for organizations, such as funding information, resources, and tools. Organizations seeking COVID-19 training opportunities should reference our learning opportunities page.

COVID-19 Emergency Federal and Provincial Funding

Both the Federal and Provincial Governments have announced emergency funding for social services for seniors, families, and other vulnerable citizens in light of COVID-19.

The Government of Alberta is providing a total of $30 million for emergency social services to be channelled through municipalities for distribution to local organizations. Edmonton-based organizations can apply for this funding through the City of Edmonton by visiting edmonton.ca/COVID-19Grant.
On March 29, the Prime Minister announced emergency funding measures to protect vulnerable Canadians and support them to cope with the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Among these measures is a $9 million contribution to support essential services for Canadian seniors.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Recently, the Prime Minister announced the introduction of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for employers who have experienced a loss of revenue attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. This wage subsidy aims to prevent further job losses, encourage employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, and help better position Canadian companies and other employers to more easily resume normal operations following the crisis.

The program would provide a 75 per cent wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020. To qualify, This subsidy would be available to eligible employers that see a drop of at least 15 per cent of their revenue in March 2020 and 30 per cent for the following months (see Eligible Periods). Eligible employers can apply for the subsidy through the Canada Revenue Agency's My Business Portal.

10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers

Employers who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may qualify for the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy. The subsidy is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The subsidy is equal to 10 per cent of the remuneration employers pay from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer.

Alberta Nonprofit Network Develops COVID-19 Resource Page for Nonprofit Sector

This resource page is a landing spot for COVID-related advocacy and issue-gathering for the sector, understanding the needs of the sector, and resources for talking to funders.

COVID-19 Resource Document for Nonprofit Organizations

ECVO, Align and the Alberta Council of Disability Services created a document containing resources for nonprofit organizations related to guidelines for working remotely, supports for employees who have been laid off because of the pandemic, and letter templates that nonprofits can use to advocate for government funding to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on operations. Note that there have been some updates to information about financial support programs offered by various levels of governments mentioned in the document. These updates are reflected in the above section on government funding.

Alberta Counsel Provides Organizations with Government Policy Help

To help organizations stay up-to-date on the latest government policy announcements related to COVID-19, Alberta Counsel is providing a frequently updated infographic that outlines provincial and federal support measures. Review the infographic from March 30. Alberta Counsel is also providing an opportunity for organizations to ask a government relations expert questions about government policy.

Volunteer Resource Page for Organizations

Volunteer Bénévoles Canada has created a resource page responding to the needs of volunteer centres, corporate community engagement professionals, and non-profit organizations from around the country.

OHS Information: Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace

This bulletin offers employers, supervisors and workers information about minimizing risk from respiratory viruses in the workplace.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Business Continuity Plan

This plan offers an outline for businesses an organizations affected by the pandemic.

Report Highlights Community Needs During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton's most recent COVID-19 report illustrates the top COVID-19 concerns of community members during this time using recent data from calls to the both the Distress Line and 211.

New Horizons for Seniors Program Projects Can Now Be Used for COVID-19 Support

On April 6, the Honourable Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors, announced flexibility for organizations under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) to use funding previously received through the community-based stream to provide immediate and essential services to seniors impacted by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Resources for Social Workers

As part of the frontline pandemic response, social workers support their communities, friends and families. In caring for others, it is important to not neglect self-care. The following resources promote health tips for social workers during this stressful time.

Personal and Professional Strategies to Reduce Psychological Stress During a Pandemic: This presentation slide deck by Caring Safely contains information for professional carers to take care of themselves emotionally during this pandemic.
Social Work Peer-to-Peer Facebook Support Group: This online support group is a great resource for Canadian social workers seeking support during the pandemic.

Information on Holding AGMs and Board Meetings During a Pandemic

Given the restrictions on in-person gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofit organizations may be wondering how to convene board meetings and AGMs. The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) has outlined information to help organizations think through decisions related to these key meetings. Visit ecvo.ca/covid-19 and click on the AGMs and Virtual Board Meetings tabs for more information.

ECVO also posted an announcement related to postponing AGMs. The Government of Alberta has officially announced that nonprofits and societies can postpone AGMs and filing of annual returns until meeting restrictions are lifted. Additionally, cancellation or dissolution processes for societies and non-profit companies that have not filed previously outstanding annual returns are suspended until further notice.

Volunteer Screening: Police Information Checks

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Information Check & Alarm Control Section office closed to the public. However, new procedures have been implemented to allow the section to continue to offer these important services:

Volunteers are now able to submit police information check applications online.
An appointment-based system for fingerprinting services has been implemented.

Online Collaboration Tools

With the right tools, collaborating online can be a snap. This helpful resource lists tools to help your team with creative thinking, surveying and polling, online meetings, online discussion groups and communities, citizen engagement, file sharing, and project management.

Covid-19 Response and Resources for Everyone

The following section contains general information about the COVID-19 for everyone. Feel free to share.

The Alberta Government

This website outlining COVID-19 information for Albertans contains a “Prevent the spread” poster that can be printed and posted.

Self Isolation Information Sheet

Alberta Health advises: If you have COVID-19 symptoms and have travelled outside Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link at 811 for instructions. Do not go to a health care facility without consulting Health Link at 811 first. If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

The provincial government has developed a series of posters providing social distancing tips and proper etiquette.

The Federal Government

Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada

Mass gatherings and risk

COVID-19 Be Prepared

COVID-19 Know the facts

Public Health Agency of Canada

Travel Health Advisories

Multilingual Resources

For immigrant, refugee, and newcomer seniors, information about the COVID-19 pandemic has been translated into different languages for ease of access.

End Poverty Edmonton: This web page list a variety of resources.
Edmonton Chinatown Care Centre: Dr. Bing Li has created an informative series of COVID-19 videos in Cantonese.

Seniors' Transit Pass Increase Postponed

Edmonton City Council approved a motion to postpone an increase to seniors' transit passes for one year. The motion, filed by Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Knack earlier this month, proposed freezing the cost for customers who had purchased the annual pass in 2019 for one year. The price of a senior pass had increased from $136.50 to $374 on February 1.

Help Secure Government Support for the Common Good Retirement Plan

Common Good has submitted a formal proposal to the Government of Canada to fund the creation and growth of the Common Good Retirement Plan for employees in the non-profit sector. If successful, the plan can be built and start enrolling members by early 2021. To get the Government of Canada to fund the plan, key decision-makers in Ottawa need to hear from non-profit employees. Take five minutes to send a letter of support to Canadian leaders using Common Good's letter template.

Tool explains service eligibility for immigrant, refugee and newcomer seniors

Depending on the immigration pathway in which immigrant, refugee and newcomer seniors (IRN) seniors arrived in Canada, most IRN seniors have limited or no access to essential services including income support and benefits, social programs, and healthcare.

The Age of Wisdom Collective initiative has developed a helpful tool that outlines service eligibility and includes stories from seniors that illustrate the diversity in their immigration experience and their access to services.

For more information, contact Nuel Han, Project Animator with the Age of Wisdom Collective at nuelhanmchb@gmail.com.

Alberta Government Phases Out Seniors Advocate, Rolls Role into Health Advocate

Seniors will no longer have a dedicated provincial advocate in 2020 as government asks Alberta's health advocate to absorb the role.

Although the minister of seniors and housing said the new combined office will still serve seniors well, the current seniors advocate worries elderly people are losing the voice of a team dedicated to combating systemic ageism.

"I am so passionate about it - we really need a seniors advocate in this province," outgoing advocate Sheree Kwong See said earlier this month. "We need seniors' issues to be front and centre."

In 2013, the former Progressive Conservative government announced it was creating offices of the health advocate and seniors advocate as part of implementing an Alberta Health Act.

The offices opened in 2014, with the health advocate taking on the seniors advocate role temporarily until Kwong See was recruited in 2016.

The seniors advocate has three key roles: helping seniors navigate systems and get support, outreach to seniors' groups and making recommendations to government for improvements.

Since becoming independent, the office has handled about 3,600 calls for help from seniors, Kwong See said. An average case takes about six phone calls, meetings or emails to resolve. The office opens and closes about 100 cases a month.

For more information, reference the full article text in the Edmonton Journal.

Financial Information Sessions for Seniors

The Seniors Financial Empowerment Network (SFEN) provides free financial literacy information sessions in the areas of personal finance, protection of assets, housing, legal considerations, areas of fraud or abuse, communication and self-esteem. The seven core education modules can be presented as stand-alone sessions or as a complete series at seniors facilities, community leagues, churches, or in larger settings. The modules are delivered by senior volunteers. Contact Sarah by calling 780-722-6701 or emailing sarah.ramsey@edmonton.ca if you’re interested in booking a session.