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Castlegar IRIS Project seeks to connect seniors

The Castlegar Community Response Network is launching a new project to help keep seniors connected.
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The Castlegar Community Response Network also holds a Celebrate Seniors luncheon each World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. IRIS Project will provide local seniors with similar opportunities to get out into the community and mingle. (File photo)

The Castlegar Community Response Network is launching a new project to help keep seniors connected to each other and the community.

The IRIS (Increasing Recreation Involving Seniors) Project will kick off on Monday with coffee and refreshments at Kinnaird Hall (2320 Columbia Ave.) from 9 to 11 a.m. Long-term the goal is to provide more activities for seniors, including events that encourage inter-generational connectedness.

“I created it from feedback and needs that I see in the community,” said Sandi McCreight, coordinator for the Community Response Network (CRN). “We are not providing enough opportunities for socialization. I work with seniors, so that’s my main focus, but I also really want to focus on the inter-generational piece. We’re missing that.”

There will be a second coffee group at Kinnaird Hall on Monday, Aug. 21, 9 to 11 a.m. and then there will be two more coffee dates in September, to be announced.

“That will be where we start the conversations around, ‘What kinds of things is it that you want to learn about? Who do we need to bring in to teach you what?’ is kind of the idea,” explains McCreight.

The IRIS Project may also offer participants the chance to share their own skills with the rest of the group and McCreight hopes the different generations can teach each other.

“Maybe the youth will come in and help the seniors with their computers and then, who knows, maybe the seniors will want to teach some kind of cooking to the youth,” she says.

Starting in October, there will one coffee group and one lunch a month, with the possibility of two coffees a month, depending on resources.

The goal of the project is to prevent local seniors from becoming isolated.

“Research shows that lack of social relationships is equivalent to smoking as a risk factor for mortality,” according to a report from B.C.’s Raising the Profile Project — an organization that raises the profile and celebrates the value of community-based seniors’ services in B.C.

The IRIS Project is supported by the Regional District of Central Kootenay Areas H, I and J, No Frills, the B.C. Association of CRNs and community donations.

McCreight notes that thus far the City of Castlegar has not committed any funding support. However, Coun. Bruno Tassone recently invited McCreight to apply for a Fortis Community Giving grant (applicants have to be nominated by elected officials) and the Castlegar CRN’s application has been submitted for the competition.

Anyone from Castlegar and Areas H, I and J are welcome to attend the upcoming coffee groups.

For more information, contact Sandi McCreight at 250-365-2104, ext. 23 or soscastlegar@hotmail.com.