Statement made on 26 October 2010 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, last Friday, two fantastic new initiatives for seniors were officially launched in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The East Prince Seniors Initiative and the Third Quarter Pilot Program are both aimed at improving wellness, productivity and lifelong learning for Island seniors.
The East Prince Seniors Initiative, or EPSI, is a partnership between community, business and government, with a goal to improving the lives of Islanders over the age of 50 years. It originally began last year as a project by the Rotary Club of Summerside, and it has grown significantly. It has a board of directors comprising community leaders from across the region to help encourage older Islanders to stay active in both body and mind. The group helps bring people together to address the challenges of an aging population.
The EPSI office at Credit Union Place in Summerside has now become a drop-in centre. Here, seniors can access information on programs and services, share ideas to enhance their lives and the lives of others, and learn about what EPSI is doing.
The Third Quarter Pilot Program is a two-year pilot project sponsored by the Summerside Chamber of Commerce. This program aims to match workers over the age of 50 years who have valuable experience, work ethics and skills with employers who can make good use of such a significant resource. These workers want to delay or reverse their retirement. It is an online community where workers can find potential employers on the Third Quarter website.
One interesting aspect of this program is that it does not use traditional resumés. Many of these workers want a change — a chance to do something different with their transferable skills. The format allows employers to see the "hidden talents" of these individuals.
Honourable senators, both these projects will help to enhance the lives of Island seniors and their communities. This kind of action is so important. In the next 20 years, almost 30 per cent of Islanders will be greater than 65 years of age and 48 per cent of the population will be over 50 years of age.
As noted in the recent report from the Special Senate Committee on Aging, we must be ready to overcome the challenges that come with an aging population and take advantage of the countless opportunities that will exist in the years to come. I believe that programs like these, done through collaboration and with enthusiasm, will help Islanders to do just that.