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Toronto Seniors' Forum |
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The Toronto Seniors' Forum is a group that works to engage seniors in Toronto in the workings of local government.
With staff support from the City of Toronto, the Forum is working to ensure that the City of Toronto meets its commitment to providing equitable services to all seniors living in or visiting Toronto.
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Who we are ... combining diverse voices
The Toronto Seniors' Forum is composed of up 30 people, who are at least 60 years of age and residents of the City of Toronto, with particular attention to seniors whose voices have been less often heard or unheard.
Members are chosen to represent the following communities with common social identities:
- 3 members representing Aboriginal/First Nations communities
- 3 members of African (Black) heritage
- 3 members of Asian heritage
- 3 members of Latin American/Hispanic heritage
- 3 members who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or two-spirited
- 3 members with disabilities.
The remaining 12 members include three seniors from each of the four City districts (North, East, South and West). These twelve members also reflect Toronto's diversity.
Membership:
Carol Sahian,
Dru Gidwani
Fraciah Muriuki
Jack Harmer
Keo Huynh
Kim Lang
Lynn Bruce Helwig
Mae Couzens Duffy
Maria Antonieta Smith
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Neil Mudde
Robert Koil
Sally Houston
Severino Centritto
Sham Sabherwal
Stella Pinnock
Surinder (Sam) Sikand
Sofronio Bautista
Thamo Verna Yaga Ratnam
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Setting the priorities
The Toronto Seniors' Forum members identified five priority areas to address. These priorities were further refined after a wider community consultation..
Here are the priority areas and the City divisions providing services in these areas:
In the area of housing and accommodation and long-term care, Toronto City Council should:
- Increase affordable housing for seniors with targets to reduce waiting times
- Increase efforts to modify, restore and repair existing properties
- Increase the available stock of barrier-free housing
- Increase the number of long-term care homes
- Ensure that long-term care services are provided in a culturally sensitive manner.
In the area of financial resources and service access, Toronto City Council should:
- Adequately fund translation services according to demographics (i.e., largest language groups)
- Lower the cost of the seniors' TTC pass
- Increase the availability of transportation for non-medical appointments
- Provide recreation programming without fees
- Reduce the fees for seniors' groups providing programming in recreation centres.
In the area of health, environment and culturally sensitive services, Toronto City Council should:
- Provide a full range of dental care for low-income seniors
- Review and raise the current financial cut-offs for access to subsidized dental care.
In the area of safety, security and legal protection, Toronto City Council should:
- Increase the Toronto Police Service program to educate seniors about telephone and other types of fraud
- Increase community programs that encourage communities and neighbours to watch out for seniors
- Increase the oversized street sign program.
In the area of senior participation and leadership/advocacy, Toronto City Council should:
- Increase opportunities for seniors to take part and advocate, through initiatives like the Toronto Seniors' Forum
- Increase leadership/advocacy training opportunities for seniors
- Provide honorariums
- Encourage seniors to volunteer in their communities.
For more information
Contact us at:
Toronto Seniors' Forum
15E, City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2N2
e-mail: torontoseniorsforum@toronto.ca
Phone: 416-392-8630
Fax: 416-392-8492
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