Action Key Word for WE*ACT (Aug-Sep 2004)

Women Elders in Action (WE*ACT) have been true to our name with a variety of activities designed to raise awareness about the perspective and needs of senior women throughout the province over the last few weeks.

Joining with BC Health Coalition and Seniors Network BC, WE*ACT members organized an electoral forum on seniors issues for the federal election with a focus on health care, pensions, housing and social programs.

Approximately eighty 411 Seniors Centre members and others from around the community attended the forum, held Monday June 14 to hear representatives from five federal parties (Kimball Cariou, Communist; Harvey Grigg, Conservative; Robbie Mattu, Green; Hedy Fry, Liberal; and Kennedy Stewart, NDP). The dialogue was charged at times, and always revealing as the candidates were plied with formal questions from the moderator, and then grilled by about a dozen members of the audience.

Joyce Jones, Co-Chair of Seniors Network BC, did an outstanding job of stick handling the proceedings for the clarity of the candidates and the seniors who wanted to hear what they had to say.

On another front, WE*ACT member Marjorie Buchanan has joined the Vancouver/UBC Transportation Advisory Committee to apply skills derived from her years of community committee and peace movement work to the task of helping create a more user friendly, reliable, safe public transit system.

Mita Dixon is WE*ACT’s representative helping to promote the Right to Privacy Campaign, which seeks to educate the public about the possible impact and consequences to BC’s citizens of contracting out the administration of the Medical Services Plan, PharmaCare and other public services. Contact the WE*ACT office Wednesday through Friday at 604-684-8171 (local 228) if you’d like more information.

Mita also joined Joanne Blake to staff a display table for the International Day of Reproductive Rights organized by Vancouver Women’s Health Collective, BC Health Collective, and others on May 28 at the Vancouver Public Library.

Joanne Blake and Elsie Dean (who’s been dropping into seniors’ gatherings around the province in her travels) are taking WE*ACT’s message to the Hispanic and Chinese com-munities as well during informal speaking engagements this month. Their presentations cover: background information on the committee; an overview of provincial government cuts which affect senior women adversely; and a discussion of the need for, and some suggestions about, federal pension reform.

We were delighted recently to hear that WE*ACT/Penticton is celebrating their first anniversary. A group of 27 local women meet regularly to increase their understanding about government intervention in their lives, and the lives of other seniors across the province. They’ve “learned that knowledge is power and public discourse is the route to advocacy”.

WE*ACT is keen to locate women of other cultural backgrounds to lend their perspectives, concerns, and energy to our local undertakings. If you or someone you know might like to join WE*ACT for discussions and to get involved in our activities, please call Jan Westlund at the number above.

~Jan Westlund