Dawson Creek 'Better at Home'

                                                                                                          THANK YOU!                                                                 

We would like to send out the biggest Shout Out and Thank You to ARC Resources Ltd for once again making so many Seniors very happy by taking them to the Rodeo event at the Fall fair.  ARC not only provides the transportation (Diversified Transport and the wonderful Step Up and Ride) to the event but also supply a lovely meal (Fixx Urban Grill), gift bags and loads of water. We cannot say enough about the attentiveness of the ARC personnel throughout the event.

ARC has been doing this for so many years and the people start signing up for the event well in advance.  It is a joy to see the smiles on everyone’s faces throughout the event and well into the evening.

We would also like to thank Diversified Transport for supplying a very large bus and Step Up and Ride for supplying 2 busses for the day and being on call if someone needed a ride home early.  Also, a big Thank you to The Fix for the great spread that they put on for everyone.

And of course, a huge Thank you to the Better at Home volunteers and the ARC staff for making the day so enjoyable for everyone.

 The following was posted on the BC Seniors Advocate website on March 7 2022.  

One-Time GIS Payment for Seniors Affected by CERB

Many seniors who received the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) in 2020 saw a loss or reduction in their federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments as a result.

The federal government will provide an automatic, one-time repayment to alleviate the financial hardship of seniors who saw a loss of GIS or Allowance by compensating them for the full, annualized loss amount. Seniors will not need to take any action to receive the one-time payment.

When will I receive the repayment?

Payment is scheduled for April 19, 2022 and will include repayment of GIS from July 2021 to June 2022. Regular GIS payments will resume July 2022.

Is this payment taxable?

No. This payment will be non-taxable and non-reportable.

Will this payment affect other benefits?

This payment will not affect eligibility for income support programs, such as the Old Age Security (OAS) or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and will not impact the amount you receive through the provincial SAFER program or what you pay for provincially subsidized housing.

Will this happen again next year?

The federal government has introduced formal legislation to ensure that this issue does not reoccur in the future

Learn More




Arleene Ann Thorpe
April 10, 1943 - February 11, 2022

    It is with great sadness that we say a final goodbye to our friend and coworker, Arleene Thorpe.

    Arleene was the Volunteer Coordinator for Dawson Creek Better at Home for many years. She was very active in our community and touched many lives. She will be greatly missed.

    Many will remember the wonderful bus tours she organized to watch the rodeo, or to see the Christmas lights, and many others. 

   If you would like to extend your condolences to the family, please visit the link below.

Obituary of Arleene Anne Thorpe



December 17, 2021:  The 2021 Seniors Gift Bags are being distributed, but cold weather has slowed us down a bit. Please be patient and we will get them all delivered eventually, preferably when there's not 'Frostbite Warning' in effect!  Brrrrrrr

Sponsor  a  Senior CHALLENGE

Thank you to Dwayne Dilworth, Glacier Mobile Glass Ltd, for Sponsoring a Better at Home Senior. This $720 will provide housekeeping services for a senior for a year!

Dwayne CHALLENGES all Dawson Creek Car Dealerships to meet or beat his donation.

Call Better at Home to take up the challenge. 250-782-2341

 

Right:Dwayne Dilworth, Glacier Mobile Glass Ltd., presenting Linda Studley, Better at Home Coordinator, with his “Sponsor a Senior” donation

August 4 2021

The office door is open and it's lovely to see all the smiling faces again. So many things went on hold in the last year and a half. Our tours were all cancelled due to restrictions. 
But we're back in business and the busses are full for our first event since December 2019! 
On Wednesday August 11th, as ARC Resources is partnering with Better at Home to host over 70 seniors at the Rodeo Chuckwagon Races!

Check back later for pics of Better at Home seniors at the races!  

Big Thanks going out to ARC Resources Ltd. for making this possible.


Welcome, Carmella Maga,

Better at Home's new Volunteer Coordinator

I asked Carmella to send me a picture that I could share. The photo on the left is what she sent me. However, after some coaxing, she agreed to take the happy face bucket off, thank goodness!  Carmella comes to us with lots of experience in volunteer management and special event organization. She loves working with and for seniors. Carmella is an upbeat, friendly addition to our office. Please join me in welcoming her to our Better at Home Team. Carmella’s email address is vcbah@spcrs.ca 
Or contact her by phone or text 250-784-7877

 

‘Dawson Creek Better at Home’ and ‘Square 1 for Seniors’ would like to thank everyone who generously donated and supported the Seniors’ Gift Bags initiative.  190 gift bags were delivered.
 B&T
City of Dawson Creek
Dawson Co-op
Dawson Creek Fire Hall
Dollar Store with More
Faking Sanity
Happy on Main
Hub International
Northern Lights College
Northern Toybox
Peavey Mart
Pharmachoice
Rip's Cleats
Shell Canada—Fuelling Kindness
Simple Pleasures
Software Emporium
Square 1 for Seniors
Tiger Stationers
TL Coe Financial ltd.
UFA – Calgary
United Way of Northern BC
Hug a Mug's Coffee House & Eatery
South Peace Community Resources Society
BC Community Response Network
Community Printers & Stationers
 
Thank you to our Volunteers who helped assemble and deliver the gift bags.
packing 200 bags! Above -  left to right: Linda Studley, Terry Dechief, Jeannie Lindgren

Below: Seniors receiving gift bags. Lots of great smiles. 

Thank You Shell Canada Ltd.

A big thank you to the folks at Shell Canada Ltd. for their support for our 'Seniors' Gift Bags' initiative. Their donation of bags and items will go a long way towards helping us spread some happiness. 

Below: Better at Home Coordinator, Linda Studley, with a representative from Shell Canada Ltd.  with a small sampling of the many great items that they collected to help out with the Seniors' Gift Bags. Thanks also to the United Way of Northern BC for helping to arrange this through the "Day of Caring". 

Better at Home Seniors' Gift Bags  -  So Many to Thank!

We are proud to list our many sponsors who are making our "Seniors' Gift Bags" a reality. 200 bags filled with both useful and fun items will be distributed to Seniors in Dawson Creek over the next few weeks. 

Here are the generous donors:  Rip's Cleats | Simple Pleasures | Northern Toy Box | Dawson Creek Co-op | Tiger Stationers | Pharmachoice | Your Dollar Store with More | City of Dawson Creek | Dawson Creek Fire Hall | UFA-Calgary | Northern Lights College | Peavey Mart | Hub International | Faking Sanity | B&T | Community Printers & Stationers | Hug a Mug's Coffee House & Eatery | Software Emporium | Happy on Main Street | Shell Canada Ltd. | BC Community Response Network | TL Coe Financial Ltd.  



Attention Senior Artists and Crafters!

January 5, 2017
It may seem like it's a bit early to talk about the Home, Garden, and Leisure Show (Formerly the Kiwanis Trade Show) that will take place in April, but here's the thing...
This year we will, again, have a place for our local seniors to sell their art or craft items and we know it's always a good idea to give you all plenty of advanced notice!
Last year we had a lovely display of handmade items and local art from seniors for sale in our Better at Home booth and sold a great deal of it. Better at Home will only be asking a 10% commission from seniors. Non seniors can submit items too at a 20% commission. 
Stop in and let us know what you'd like to put on commission and we'll save you a space!

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek.

 

Come Celebrate With Us!

September 15, 2016
On October 6th we'll be having an open house from 1 to 3 pm as we celebrate SIX years of helping seniors in Dawson Creek. There will be live music and refreshments. 

Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek.

 

2016 - 08 - 10 Better at Home and ARC Resources - Rodeo Trip

August 24, 2016

Dawson Creek Better at Home was pleased to partner with ARC Resources again to put on the Rodeo Bus Trip.  37 seniors were treated to a day at the rodeo, Better at Home volunteers and volunteers from ARC Resources acted as runners to bring dinner to the seniors in the stands. All expenses, including the bus, entry, and food was covered by ARC Resources. 
Thank you ARC Resources for making this wonderful outing possible.
ARC Resources is a treasured partner and, as well as being a regular donor ...


Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek.

 

2016 - 07 - 23 Fire Truck Pull / 18 Wheels of Christmas in July

August 24, 2016
A busload of seniors spent a sunny (and windy) day at the Dawson Mall parking lot enjoying the festivities for the 'Fire Truck Pull' fundraiser organised by the United Way of Northern BC.
Dawson Creek Better at Home loves to partner with other agencies and businesses to bring fun events and great services to our local seniors. 
Thanks to City of Dawson Creek and BC Transit for providing the bus and the services of the driver for this event.


Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek. Posted In : Event 

 

Volunteer Survey 2016

August 2, 2016
Results are in from the annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey and we're pretty happy with them! The overwhelming majority of responses were extremely positive; volunteers were happy with their assignments and felt supported and appreciated. But the most important responses are the ones that aren't completely positive - the ones that show that a volunteer may have fallen between the cracks or that something's not working. Those responses are the reason we do a survey; so we can improve the prog...
Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek.

 

2016 - April 5th, Art and Yoga Bus Tour

April 21, 2016
Seniors enjoyed a wonderful day out including creating 'jigsaw puzzle frames' with the Exploring Art group, trying out some Yoga moves with Oline Bridges, lunch in the Co-op Bistro, and tea and coffee and socializing at 'Faking Sanity Cafe'. 
Thanks go out to:
  • City of Dawson Creek and BC Transit for the use of the bus and the services of the driver for this tour. 
  • The friendly and welcoming artists with the Exploring Art group for hosting the art activity. 
  • Oline Bridges for sharing her yoga exp...

Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek. Posted In : Event 

 

Calling all Senior Artists and Crafters!

March 23, 2016
This year the Dawson Creek Kiwanis Trade Show has changed their name and format!  So on April 15, 16 & 17 Better at Home will be in our booth at the "Kiwanis Home, Garden, & Leisure Show". 
We've decided to open up our booth to Senior crafters and artist who would like us to sell their art/crafts! For a very low (10%) commission, we'll sell your items from our booth. And the commission? Well it goes right back into the community into services to seniors. Everyone wins (and we get to have lots ...
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Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek. Posted In : Event 

 

Catching Up!

January 27, 2016
Better late than never!  We've gotten some great photos from the December Christmas Light Up tour and want to share them with you! 
Check out the Photo Gallery on the right for the latest video slide show of the tour.
Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek.

 

Five Years and Still Going Strong!

November 5, 2015
On October 9th, Dawson Creek Better at Home celebrated five years of helping seniors in Dawson Creek.
From October 2010 to March of 2013, we operated as ‘CASI’ (Community Access for Seniors’ Independence). At that time we were one of five pilot projects in BC tasked with developing a program that could assist seniors to remain independently in their home through the provision of non-medical services.
In April 2013 the funder (Province of BC) decided that the model was a success and the pi...

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Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek. Posted In : Event 

 

Volunteers and Hockey Games...

October 22, 2015
A big thank you to the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce for thinking of us when they had complimentary hockey tickets to distribute!
Two of our very cherished volunteers will be taking a friend and going to the U17 hockey games. 
We are so glad we were able to pass these tickets on to such deserving people.  Cathy Mould and Jim Norquay have both been dedicated and selfless in contributing hundreds of hours of volunteer assistance to our local seniors.
Also, we'd like to thank the original sponso...
Continue reading...

Posted by Better at Home Dawson Creek. Posted In : Volunteers 

 
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Information Brochures on the Dawson Creek Better at Home Program:

General Brochure - prints double sided 8x11

Housekeeping Services  - prints double sided 8x11

Sponsor a Senior - prints one sided 8x11 (card fold)

Leave a Legacy - prints double sided 8x11


Better at Home e-Newsletters

 email pcbah@spcrs.ca to put your name on the Better at Home e-Newsletter emailing list

For more information about the Dawson Creek Better at Home program please go to the FAQs page.