A provincial steering committee is seeking interest from the public for membership on Prince Edward Island's new provincial Seniors' Advisory Council.
Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover said the purpose of the Seniors' Advisory Council is to advise government on current and emerging issues of concern to seniors; to represent the interest of seniors to government; and to liaise with seniors' organizations, individual seniors, and those who provide services to seniors.
Steering Committee Chair Evie Davidson said, "The Council will serve as a direct voice to government on seniors issues and we want to represent the views of all seniors, and not just those who belong to seniors organizations."
The steering committee has been mandated by government to establish selection criteria for membership on the Council and is now inviting interested individuals to apply. The selection criteria are:
Should have knowledge of seniors' issues and concerns;
Should have knowledge of community programs and services, both public and private, keeping in mind intergenerational responsibilities;
Must be prepared to study background material and become familiar with a variety of issues affecting seniors;
Must be willing to commit time to prepare for and attend Council meetings;
Must be prepared to attend meetings of community organizations and services on behalf of the Council;
Should bring a broad viewpoint to issues before the Council and render thoughtful advice;
Should be able to work effectively as a member of a team.
The committee welcomes letters of application from interested individuals describing how they meet the criteria. Those willing to serve on the Seniors' Advisory Council should mail a letter of application before March 16, 1998 to Seniors' Advisory Council Membership, Department of Health and Social Services, 16 Garfield St., P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 7N8 or fax a letter to the Department of Health and Social Services at fax # 368 6136.
Members of the steering committee include Evie Davidson, Chair, Gerarda Corcoran, Donald Thompson, George Steiger, Roma Shaw, Francis Blanchard, Heather Henry-MacDonald, Marjorie Vessey, Vernon Richards, Jim Fraser, Denis Dolan, Sister Pauline Burke, Dr. Bernice Bell, Fran Sark, Esther Bennett, Dr. Jim Saunders, Ruth Enman, and Olga McGee.
For more information on the Seniors' Advisory Council contact a member of the steering committee or Pat Malone, Department of Health and Social Services,
368 6190.