With support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Families Canada (FC) is offering two free online webinars on the benefits of intergenerational volunteering for newcomer seniors. The webinars will highlight the benefits of intergenerational volunteering, discuss strategies for connecting newcomer seniors and preschool-aged children through virtual programming and showcase a successful model of virtual intergenerational volunteering at Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There will also be a Q+A section at the end of each session.

Guided by the gerontology, early childhood and positive discipline experts on FC’s Integrating Newcomer Seniors project, as well as the facilitators running Mosaic’s program, these webinars will be for family support practitioners, settlement workers and staff working with newcomer seniors across Canada.

Session 2 topics:

• Access to Equipment and Service – programs, partnerships

• Teaching newcomer seniors to use technology – strategies, content, potential partners

• Strategies to support virtual programming – regular check-in, mentoring, partnering

• Overcoming resistance – family, seniors, staff

The webinar will be conducted in English, and the recorded video will be available on FC’s YouTube channel in English with French subtitle options.

Speakers include:

• Maureen Keelan, Manager, Senior Immigrant Settlement Services, A & O: Support Services for Older Adults

• Jean Tinling, Director of Training and Mentorship, Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network; Master Trainer, program development team, Positive Discipline in Everyday Life

• Leslie Barker, Parenting Education and Healthy Child Development Consultant, Positive Discipline in Everyday Life

• Bonnie Schroeder, Program Director, Age-Friendly Ottawa, Council of Aging Ottawa

• Shereen Denetto, Director of Family Programs, Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network

• Amna Burki, Facilitator, Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network