Getting older is a privilege, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy—and it can be even harder if a person lives somewhere less accessible, inclusive, or accepting of them as they age. But how can a community become age-friendly? With time.
"Transforming a community to be more inclusive and welcoming to older adults is not something that happens in a single year, it’s a long-term commitment," says Luana Bussieres, executive director of St. Aidan’s Society.
“At its core, social justice work is about recognizing needs and creating systems that advance equity for all. When we build with older adults in mind, you’re truly building for everyone. That’s the power of an inclusive community—it leaves no one behind."
St. Aidan’s Society Team
St. Aidan’s Society is a local social profit that is working to make this a reality in Fort McMurray, with a focus to ensure people aged 60 years and older are valued, respected and have opportunities to thrive in the community. WBCF has funded several initiatives that have helped move this work forward.
“The Foundation’s support has allowed us to take a comprehensive look at the full scope of needs for older adults, including the physical environment, and assess where the biggest gaps are and create a plan for community response,” she says. “I am proud of our team’s ability to develop strategies and partnerships to respond and meet needs—initiatives that we developed and are still alive through other organizations years later,” she says.
These unique community collaborations have been offered alongside the organizations continued programming, including Seniors Outreach program, Seniors Volunteer program, Age Well At Home, aging sensitivity training, financial security work and rural workshops.
St. Aidan’s programming has been developed through the expertise of their ten-person team identifying a need in their work or directly from seniors. The team has responded to challenges by working with other charities or organizations in new and innovative ways—something Bussieres is particularly proud of.
“When donors give to the social profit sector, it has a widespread impact because organizations work in collaboration with each other to maximize resources,” she says. “The expression ‘many hands make light work’ resonates with me over and over again.”
An example she shared is a partnership with the Arts Council Wood Buffalo that matched older adults with an artist through phone calls during the pandemic at-home measures. Artists then created an art piece—music, paintings, stories—based on the stories people told them. St. Aidan’s provided the seniors, data collection and the space, while the Arts Council brought the artists. Years later, this strong partnership continues through a multitude of programs.
“That’s the community development piece the Foundation has helped us move the needle on. If you’re only worried about the day-to-day operations, you don’t put energy into macro-level opportunities that is the crucial part of building community,” she says.
St. Aidan’s helps raise awareness and education to build capacity in the community, including initiatives like age-sensitivity training, which Bussieres says help people understand the unique challenges older adults face with a view to improve services for them.
“Our team wants to make a difference in a vulnerable population that needs a strong voice and strong advocates,” she says. “I come to work because I know we are making a difference.”
Read St. Aidan’s Society’s 2024 Annual Report. You can donate to St. Aidan’s through WBCF and ensure your giving lasts a lifetime.
