SPARK – Seasonal Workers SPARK Ideas (for Community)

December 2019 – January 2020 Project Recruitment

“Thanks to Bruce County strategic community initiatives fund, The Meeting Place has received 2-year funding to help facilitate the design of some new resources. The focus is specific to addressing social and economic ‘risks’ sometimes associated with the seasonal economy. The goal is to bring together the experience of seasonal workers with others representing existing community assets. From there, the idea is for small working groups to get to know each other, build trust, generate homegrown ideas and work them into feasible actions and resources. What will be the outcomes? That’ll be up to the working groups and what they come up with. This is a ‘winter’ project and some fun and financial incentive is sure to be built into the process. We have the right people living in our community to work together on this new project. ”

SPARK Project Newsletter, Issue #2

SPARK – Seasonal Workers Spark Ideas (for our Community)

The Meeting Place in Tobermory is moving ahead with a new 2-year project. SPARK is all about looking at the seasonal economy and ‘building social capital’ with your ideas (new resources, new relationships that work for workers). We are still looking for interested people to join the project, who self identify as seasonal workers and who are mostly living year round on the Northern Bruce. If you are curious and comfortable enough working in a small group with like-minded people we’ll fill you in on the rest. You’ve got the expertise. We are starting to pull people together in January 2020 – so mark the date Saturday afternoon, January 11, 1-3pm at The Meeting Place Tobermory. To start, it’s a 4-month commitment to meet once a month, Jan. – April. There will be a small payment provided to those participating in the project. Want to join? Questions? Call The Meeting Place Tobermory at 519-596-2313 or contact info@tobermorymeetingplace.com and leave your name, number and note of interest with Jennifer.

December 5, 2019 – Sheatre ‘Play for Change’ at The Meeting Place Tobermory ‘Ye Canna Throw Yer Granny Off a Bus’

Granny Dec 5-19

December 5th saw The Meeting Place transformed into stage, musical production and audience involvement. As you might guess, ‘Ye Canna Throw Yer Granny Off a Bus’ was a musical comedy about elder abuse. Amid laughter and gasps, we saw the subtle and not so subtle actions and circumstances that are elder abuse. Written into the play were also the many ways seniors can be supported by friends and family and encouraged to use their voice to stop abuse if it’s occurring in their lives. But some can’t, especially if they experience dementia. The community can and should have safety services available and we need widespread public awareness of signs and symptoms of elder abuse so any one us is prepared to help. TMP will distribute packages of information about elder abuse to key organizations in the community and encourage the public awareness and conversations to continue. If anyone is worried about a possible abuse situation the Senior’s Safety Line 1-866-299-1011 is a good resource with trained counselors on the other end. We also wish to thank the Tobermory Muses for opening the event with a program of ‘Reflections’ – readings on family and elders delivered with respect and humour. For more information on elder abuse or the Sheatre group–Play for Change call TMP at 519-596-2313.