John Braithwaite Community Centre (JBCC) and the North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) hosted Finding Home seniors dialogues. During the dialogues, seniors shared their experiences and generated practical tips about: moving from your home into a smaller place; the art of forgiveness; and how to find home within yourself. Throughout each dialogue, the seniors shared about the importance of gratitude in living through and responding to these everyday challenges. Highlights from each dialogue were turned into educational posters and are being distributed throughout North Vancouver as part of a larger strategy to create an age-friendly community.

To celebrate the seniors’ achievement, the dialogue participants hosted a community-wide Finding Home dialogue on Seniors Day at John Braithwaite Community Centre. The theme of the dialogue was about the importance of gratitude in creating home. In particular, all the seniors present shared their gratitude towards JBCC and NSNH staff and volunteers for all their work in providing quality programs for seniors and how crucial both community centres and neighbourhood houses are in creating a sense of home for older adults. One senior explained, “Neighbourhood Houses are my family.”

Recently, the seniors who participated in the Finding Home dialogue series have been invited to present their posters and findings to the City of North Vancouver’s interagency meeting. In addition, an invitation from a local school to talk with youth about the art of forgiveness and values for a bully-free world are in the works. Keep an eye out for these North Shore seniors as they make waves in their own lives and communities.

North Shore Seniors Say Gratitude Creates Home - Graphic Facilitation by Cheyenne Dyer