Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association

Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA)

Dear ELLA Members

The Board of Directors of ELLA has weighed all of the medical facts and, in taking our cues from the University of Alberta,  have come to the conclusion that, in the interests of the health of our members and the community, we are cancelling Spring Session 2020.  Thank you to all the volunteers for the thousands of hours that they have put in setting up the Spring Session 2020 program.  It is a big disappointment for us all to have to cancel.

An Annual General Meeting will be held at a later date.

Thank you for your patience.

Regards

Your President

Shirley Forrest 

Shirley Forrest

Announcing the University of Alberta’s 14th President

Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA) Posted on by

To the University of Alberta Community: 

It is my honour and privilege to announce that Bill Flanagan has been named the 14th president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta, effective July 1, 2020. 

A week ago, I planned to share this exciting news with you today in person, but the rapid response to COVID-19 led to a quick and necessary change in plans. As board chair, I have been proud of our community’s response and want to thank all of you for your extraordinary efforts. Just as teaching, learning and working have moved to remote delivery, so has this major announcement moved online. I now have the pleasure of introducing you to our next president. 

https://www.ualberta.ca/presidential-search/bill-flanagan-named-14th-president.html

Keeping our members informed

Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA) Posted on by
March 19, 2020
 
Seniors Sector News
 
COVID-19 WEB PAGE RESPONDS TO SENIORS’ NEEDS

In an effort to support seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council has developed a new COVID-19 resource web page, which will be maintained and updated regularly in the coming weeks. This page includes updates from seniors’ organizations and information to support seniors and their families during this challenging time. 
COVID-19 RESPONSE FROM THE SENIORS SECTOR
 
Edmonton’s seniors sector has been swift to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19.
 
Seniors are at greater risk of being impacted by the virus, and extra care is advisable at this time. Seniors organizations are adhering to Alberta Health Services recommendations and have closed their centres and cancelled programming until further notice.
 
ESCC is monitoring closures and service limitations and this information will be updated regularly on the ESCC COVID-19 resource web page. 

Currently, we have listed information for the following organizations:
  • Canterbury Foundation
  • Caregivers Alberta
  • Central Lions Seniors Association (CLSA)
  • Drive Happiness
  • Early Onset Dementia Alberta Foundation (EODAF) 
  • Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA)
  • Edmonton Meals on Wheels
  • Edmonton Seniors Centre (ESC)
  • Jewish Senior Citizen’s Centre
  • Mill Woods Seniors Association (MWSA)
  • Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operative
  • North Edmonton Seniors Association (NESA)
  • North West Edmonton Seniors Society (NWESS)
  • St. Albert Seniors Association
  • Sage Seniors Association
  • South East Edmonton Seniors Association (SEESA)
  • SouthWest Edmonton Seniors Association (SWESA)
  • SouthWest Seniors Outreach Society
  • Westend Seniors Activity Centre (WSAC)
  • Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Association
 
More seniors sector news
(links to the ESCC News for Seniors Organizations web page)
 
 
Resources
 
HOW TO USE ZOOM TO HOLD YOUR SUPPORT GROUP OR COURSE ONLINE

With the world becoming increasingly more affected by COVID-19, meetings are being cancelled and many people are left without the support they are used to receiving. This webinar recording discusses best practices for how to continue to offer support virtually using Zoom, specifically for gatherings, support groups, and education.
 
More resources for sector staff
(links to the ESCC Resources web page)
 
 
Learning Opportunities
 
HOW TO RUN AN ONLINE EVENT AND ENGAGE MORE PEOPLE VIRTUALLY
Bloomerang
March 20, 1 p.m. (Eastern)
Free
 
Due to the impact of COVID-19, virtual events are key to keep your stakeholders both engaged and healthy. This webinar will take you through the steps of developing online engagement events. You will learn about how to develop an online engagement event, software and tools needed to successfully run an event, and virtual engagement pitfalls and solutions.
 
FUNDRAISING IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS: HOW TO MANAGE AND MODIFY YOUR FUNDRAISING
CharityHowTo
March 23, 3 p.m. (Eastern)
Free
 
Coronavirus will hurt fundraising in the coming weeks and months. The good news is the most destructive and long-lasting impacts of the crisis are completely avoidable. This webinar will help you separate the things you can’t control in this crisis from the things you can. In this webinar you will learn how to assess your organization’s response to the crisis, make up for revenue lost due to cancellations, empower and encourage your donors, and keep fear from overwhelming your organization’s future.
 
BUILDING YOUR NONPROFIT’S COMMUNICATIONS ENGINE
Bloomerang
April 8, 2 p.m. (Eastern)
Free
 
The Nonprofit Communications Engine framework is designed to help nonprofit leaders build, refine, and optimize their organization’s ability to communicate effectively. This webinar is for nonprofit leaders who need to set clearer goals, build a stronger team, and manage communications in their organization so it truly advances the mission.
 
More learning opportunities for staff/volunteers in the seniors sector (links to the ESCC Learning Opportunities web page)
 
 
News and Events for Seniors
 
DELIVERY SERVICES FOR SENIORS
 
Edmonton Senior’s Coordinating Council has created a document providing a summarized list of service providers to assist and support seniors in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. These services operate out of Edmonton. This document is also available on the new ESCC COVID-19 resource page and will be updated as new information becomes available.
 
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO FROM HOME IF SELF-ISOLATING
 
If you are self-isolating and staying inside your home more often during the COVID-19 pandemic, here are some ideas of activities you can do from home.
 
Seniors’ Centre Without Walls
This telephone-based social group for seniors offers social and health programming, free of charge, and provides seniors opportunities to socialize, learn new skills, and stay connected. Seniors’ Centre Without Walls is open to seniors age 55+ living anywhere in Alberta.
Learn more on their website and call 780-395-2626 to register.
 
Age Friendly Edmonton Podcasts
The Shared Mic: Conversations for the Ages intergenerational podcast brings together people from all ages, stages, and backgrounds to discuss topics like navigating relationships, finding space to be ones’ true self, and the evolving role of technology in our lives. By creating space for intergenerational discussions, AFE hopes to build a city that values, respects, and actively supports citizens from all walks of life.
 
In each podcast episode, guests are assigned a topic and given free reign to discuss that topic while sharing different perspectives, but also finding common ground. At a time when we like to focus on what divides us as “Boomers”, “Millennials” “Gen Xers”, and so on, the Shared Mic brings us together to create a shared understanding of the human experience.
 
You can access The Shared Mic online or through your favourite podcast streaming service, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
 
U of A MOOCs
The University of Alberta offers several free non-credit courses called Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). Courses include Astro 1010, Bugs 101, Dino 101, Mountains 1010, Introduction to the Arctic, Indigenous Canada and several paleontology topics.
 
EPL Online Resources
Edmonton Public Library offers a wide variety of online resources – courses, language learning, magazines, books, music (streaming audio) and film (streaming video). All you need is your free library card!
 
Open Culture
Open Culture curates and centralizes free online cultural and educational content from around the world. Their resource collections include audio books, eBooks, movies, online courses from top universities, and language learning resources.
 
Virtual tours of world-class museums
This article in Southern Living magazine highlights virtual tours of 12 prestigious museums around the world.

MCN Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections
This ultimate guide to virtual museum resources, tours, online collections, and digital archives is a great way to spend the day if you’re stuck inside. 
 
Opera
The Metropolitan Opera will host free Nightly Met Opera Streams of past performances from its Live in HD series. The encore presentations will begin at 7:30 p.m. EST each night on the company’s official website and will then be available for an additional 20 hours thereafter.
 
Symphony
The Seattle Symphony will share free rebroadcasts of past performances via the Symphony’s social media channels on YouTube and Facebook.
 
Coursera
Coursera offers hundreds of free courses featuring on-demand video lectures, homework exercises, and community discussion forums.
 
More news and events for seniors
(links to the ESCC News and Events for Seniors web page)
 
 
MORE INFORMATION

Link Letter includes new items each week. If you’re looking for content that was included in a previous issue of Link Letter, refer to the ESCC website:
 
 
Submissions for Link Letter can be sent to memberservices@seniorscouncil.net. Review our submission guidelines for more information.
  
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