CACS Newsletter Spring 2016 - Creative Aging Calgary Society

Spring 2016
Volume 6 ~ Issue 1
http://
www.creativeagingcalgary.com/
Inspiring vibrant and positive aging ∞ Promoting participatory arts ∞ Engaging civic stakeholders
“I hear the passing echoes of winter and feel the warming spring on my
face.
(Terri Guillemets)
Inside this issue:
Spring
1
Worth Viewing
2
Worth Reading
2
Symposium 2016
4
Story Telling
6
Smile
6
Spring translates earth's happiness into colorful flowers. (Terri Guillemets)
Little Free Library
8
Upcoming Events
9
CACS Information
12
Photos by Sharon L. Moore, 2014
Volume 6 ~ Issue 1
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Page 2
Worth Viewing
Second Hand Lions: Movie reviewed by Movie Review Editor: Zoe Greaves, MA: Volunteer Program Administrator, Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society
“Men are basically good. Courage, honor and virtue mean everything. Money and power mean
nothing. Good always triumphs over evil and true love never dies. Those are the things worth believing in.” (Hub, Second Hand Lions)
I fondly remember the first time I watched this movie – it was in my third year of my undergraduate degree
in Gerontology in a course about film and aging. Ignoring the amazing cast including Michael Caine,
Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment and Kyra Sedgwick – it struck a chord; one that’s been hard to ignore
these nine years later.
Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is dropped off by his distant and uninterested mother to his retired uncles’
home; uncles he has never met. He is told he will be there for the summer. These uncles are not your typical relatives – the story goes that they are incredibly rich and have oodles of money hidden somewhere on
their property. In addition to this, they are gruff, ornery and often carry around shotguns. What Walter initially thinks will be a boring and unpleasant summer turns into one that will soon change his life, values
and perceptions.
Walter is given the attic as his bedroom and discovers a box filled with old photos and shipping labels from
all over the world – thus a story is born. With amazing detail and vision, these stories of grandiose begin to
emerge from Hub and Garth. The yarns they weave are mesmerizing and enchant young Walter. Walter
encourages them to spend some of their supposed fortune, even to the point in which they buy a discarded
lioness from the circus.
The predominant theme throughout this movie is aging - and society’s perception of it. Both Garth and
Hub are dealing with the challenges of getting older. Unbeknownst to them at the time, Walter is what
brings them out of their misery and enables them both to be the men they are meant to be. This movie
teaches the younger generation, specifically boys the value in aging and to see those people as unique and
of substance; not to be mocked or ignored. As the title of the film aptly explains, the lioness may be second
hand, Hub and Garth may be considered “old” and Walter may feel neglected by his mother – but all have
value and intrinsic worth. A must see!
Worth Reading
Book Reviewed by Kathleen Honeychurch (Member of the Creative Aging
Society of Calgary) Expressive Arts Practitioner, Freelance Custom Clothing
Designer, and Library Assistant
The Sound of Paper written by Julia Cameron (2005) and published by the Penguin
Group.
Julia Cameron’s career spans 30 + years. As a best-selling author, playwright, songwriter and poet, she tells us, “It is my belief that we make great strides in our creativity by taking little steps…One essay at a time, one task at a time, you will become
more and more familiar with your creative strengths.” (excerpt from the introduction) “There is a dignity inherent in making art, a filament of largesse and generosity,
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Creative Expressions
Worth reading continued from page 2
a connection to something better and brighter than myself.” (quote pg. 14, The Life of the Imagination)
“When we are willing to be open-minded, art and beauty come flooding into us in a thousand different ways.” (quote from pg.
51, Happy Accidents)
Between the covers of this book, Cameron shares her experience as an artist and instructor, offering writing
exercises following each of her personal essays. The completion of these exercises will assist us to discover
inspiration in and around ourselves, empowering us to sustain the ability to create authentically. She quotes
Oscar Hammerstein, “A hundred million miracles are happening every day.” (quote from page 117, Good
Husbandry)
“We use the phrase “practicing artist,” but we seldom allow ourselves to enjoy the nuance of meaning it conveys. We do not need to be perfect as artists. We do not need to create every day. But we need to create most
days…the part of us that creates is youthful and vulnerable…like a small child, our artist simply does not understand delays and denials.”
(excerpted from pg 194, Survival)
Julia Cameron, author of “The Artist’s Way,” “The Vein of Gold”, “The Artist’s Date Book”, offers this little
book (315 pages), “The Sound of Paper” as a guide and companion to those of us who long to create, strive to
create, and aspire to make creativity a deeply woven part of our lives.
"Creativity and successful brain aging; going with the flow” published in Psychology Today, March 2010, by
Susan Kraus Whitbourne Ph.D.
Article reviewed by Joanne Morcom, BSW, RSW, gerontological social worker, laughter yoga leader,
author of two poetry collections and co-author of two poetry anthologies.
Do you want a healthy brain as you age? Keep busy, and also keep a flexible attitude, according to the author. She cites research that indicates the more mentally flexible, open minded and adaptable to change that
you are, the greater your chances of avoiding cognitive decline in your senior years.
The author points out that these traits are also "the essence of creativity," along with maintaining a sense of
curiosity, as well as setting and achieving new goals. You don't have to write a bestselling recipe book, for example, to stay in top form mentally. But maybe you can gather all your favourite recipes together, or even
make it a family project. Just continue to express yourself creatively, and enjoy the many rewards of going
with the flow, wherever it takes you on your lifelong journey.
Always more than one
way to look at something.
The Burmis Tree in
Crowsnest Pass
Photos by Sharon Moore
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5th Creative Aging Symposium
Monday, May 16, 2016, 8:00-4:30 pm
Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB
THEME
Wellness, Aging & Creative Expression
AUDIENCE
Aging services organizations, health care staff, artists, healers,
practitioners, and researchers, elected officials, funders, changeleaders, policy makers & older adults
OBJECTIVES
Examine the role that creative expression can play in promoting
healing, wellness and hope
Develop strategies for incorporating creative expression in practice
Network with individuals actively engaged or interested in creative
expression and aging.
PROGRAM
Keynote Address: Why Being Engaged in Creative Expression is Important as we Age
Dr. Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka is an author, teacher, and international
speaker. She is the founder of the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care
in British Columbia. She is instrumental in national and international
conferences on creative expression, communication and dementia
(CECD). The Creative Expression Activities Program she conceived and
developed for seniors with dementia is an award winning program (from
the American Society on Aging and the Metlife Foundation). This program is based on a comprehensive approach to dementia care incorporating the individual’s past, present and future, on improving the physical
environment the person lives in, on training family members and caregivers in their daily interactions.
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Concurrent Workshops (a.m.)  Intuitive Painting: Tina Thrussell
 I Remember Better When I Paint (Documentary Film & Dialogue) Blythe Bohonos,
 This is What I Want to Tell You: A Life Writing Workshop
Faculty and Students from Mount Royal University
Lunch and Creative Aging Calgary Society Annual General Meeting Concurrent Workshops (p.m.)  Fun with Ukuleles: Marsh & Donna Kennedy
 Belly Dancing: Exercise Fun and Brain Training: Angela Grell
 The Creative Expression Activity Programs and CEAA Tool
Early Bird Fee: $99.00 on or before March 16 Fee: $149
after March 16 includes Keynote, two concurrent workshops, breaks & lunch
Half day: $75
REGISTER NOW:
creativeagingcalgary.com
Celebrating all forms of creativity in later life
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Storytelling – A Bridge Between Young and Old
by Gail Hinchliffe
United Active Living Communities posted a blog on February 5 covering the Writers in Residence program that brought together 6 English students from Mount Royal University with residents at Garrison
Green Community to hear – and write – stories of the residents’ early years. The blog also features a short
video clip on the program.
To link into the blog: www.unitedactivelivingblog.com Subscription to the weekly blog and newsletter
is free. Please subscribe to keep up to date on innovative creative programs and research.
The Writers in Residence program is one of the featured concurrent sessions at the May 16 Creative Aging Calgary Society Symposium.
Smile …and the whole world smiles with you!
by Michael Lomas
Michael Lomas, a retired 82-year old writer admits to being a compulsive sketcher and uninhibited cartoonist.
Welcome to my fantasy world in which this little smiling feller
Mike (maybe a relation of mine?) hangs around and makes appearances now and then in my correspondence and notes.
He isn't very active or agile. He doesn't have much “depth,” no
sides or back to speak of. No color, just black and white. No special props or background scenery. He doesn't hang around on a
comic strip with other characters. He just stands there, mostly
alone, smiling and grinning and now-and-then frowning.
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I created him by accident about fifty years ago. (Yeah, I'm 80+.) I was a copywriter back then in an advertising
agency. Creating fantasy worlds for products and services was what I did for a living. It was hard work trying
to be clever with words from nine to five, so that's maybe why this character Mike turned up – as comic relief.
Suddenly, there he was on the
side of my scribble pad. And
low and behold, he had a girlfriend, a cute young lady who
prefers to remain anonymous.
.
So let's call her that, Anonymous.
But she doesn't appear often, just
sometimes to approve or disapprove of Mike's behaviour
Now, I said back at the beginning of this rant that if you smile, the whole world smiles with you! Well, it's true,
I have proven it over and over again. Whenever I write paper-based notes to people, I include Mike. And
online, on the Internet, I include him as a jpeg file. And folks react to Mike. He is kind-of ingratiating. He's
that four- or five-year old who says “Hi” and “Why” with a beguiling innocence. When people see him on a
supposedly serious document, they can't help but grin. Often they don't say a word, they just grin.
So may I offer you a suggestion? Create your own cartoon character. No excuses. If you can sketch or doodle
a stick figure, you can go just a bit further. Then let your newly-created cartoon character show up at your next
meeting. Then watch the looks of disapproval … and the smiles and grins.
P.S. If you want some help or inspiration in making your comic character, I strongly recommend you acquire
the following publication which you can probably obtain at your local library or online at Amazon.ca:
“The Cartoonist's Workbook” by Robin Hall.
This 100-page+ book is loaded with tips and techniques on cartooning. So you may ask: why hasn't little Mike
been developed more as a fully fledged cartoon? Because he feels perfectly happy the way he is, thank you very
much.
In addition to being as writer, Michael is
an enthusiastic umbrella-sailing kayaker
who enjoys hammock-camping on Ontario's Rideau Canal.
Photo by Steve Swettenham
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Little Free Library by create! in the East Village
by Wendy Lees
You have likely seen these libraries around Calgary as there are now over 100 of them in different neighbourhoods, often on the lawns of homes. The participants of create! in the East Village, a free drop in inclusive
program for people in the area many of whom are low income seniors, were very pleased to be asked to decorate the very first LFL for the East Village neighbourhood.
We decided to use mosaic glass because many people could be involved in the decorating. We were given two
10 gallon buckets of glass by a local stained glass studio so we had lots of material to work with. Everyone
from create! was given the opportunity to put pieces on and we invited members from area groups and organizations to participate so it was a true collaboration. It took us a couple of months to complete but the
results were outstanding and it is known to be one of the most beautiful in Calgary!
Once the LFL was put into the ground on the lawn of Murdoch Manor, a Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta building, our writing group wrote about it. Participants, Georgie and “Toe Knee” wrote wonderful poems that were read at a special launch attended by area residents, representatives from organizations including
Calgary Reads, and several local politicians including Kent Hehr and Druh Farrell.
The LFL has become an uplifting and welcome addition to the neighbourhood and is well used and cared for
by the people who live in the area.
-For further information contact Wendy Lees at 403.880.3001 or [email protected]
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Editor’s Note:
Creative Expressions
This will be my last newsletter as I retire from the CACS board
after five years. I have enjoyed my time on the board immensely
and encourage you to consider a board position as an opportunity for learning, growing and fostering creative aging..
I’d like to extend my thanks to the regular contributors to the
newsletter: Zoe Greaves, Movie Reviewer, and Kathleen Honeychurch and Joanne Morcom, Book and Article Reviewers. Many
others in the community have contributed stories, images, poetry and articles to keep us engaged.
Sharon L. Moore, PhD, RN, R. Psych.
Professor, Faculty of Health Disciplines
at Athabasca University
Finally, I would like to thank the board members who work tirelessly to make creative aging more visible in our communities.
A spring stroll in northern Denmark where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea come together.
Photos by Sharon Moore
Upcoming Events
Puppet Power is a biennial conference that examines the power of applied puppetry. Puppet Power 2016’s theme, “connecting generations”, examines the compelling
strength of puppetry in advocating, educating and celebrating community connections
across generations. Learn, play, and galvanize with hands-on workshops, keynote speakers,
panels, and more. A conference for everyone from artists, activists, idea generators, and
thought leaders to educators, therapists, and helping professionals.
Presenters include Karrie Marshall from Scotland, Eric Bass of Sandglass Theatre, and
Sharon Bayly from Vancouver.
Learn more at http://wppuppet.com/puppet-power/
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Upcoming Events cont’d
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Associations / Organizations that
support Seniors participation in Arts
Event: Walk with Me 2016 (conference on changing the culture of
aging in Canada)
Date: March 10-11, 2016
Kerby Centre for the 55 plus—Education and Recreation
Location: Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton
http://kerbycentre.com/calgary-adult-services/education-andIno: http://www.the-ria.ca/walkwithme/
recreation/
Event: Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association Annual Conference : Advocating and Caring for the Dementia Client
Date: April 22, 2016
Location: Radisson Hotel, Red Deer
Info: http://www.agna.ca/agna-conference-and-educationday-2016/
Event: Aging in America 2016
Date: March 20-24, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Info: http://asaging.org/aia
Event: Our Future is Aging Conference: Current Research on
Knowledge, Practice and Policy
Date: June 16-17, 2016
Location: Halifax
Info:
http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/research/centresandinstitutes/cen
treonaging/agingconference/default.aspx
Greater Forrest Lawn 55+ Society—Activities and Classes
http://www.gfls.org/activities--classes.html
Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre—Classes and Clubs
http://www.conpark55.org/#!classes--clubs/cxin
Ogden House Seniors—Activities and Calendar
http://ogden50plus.org/
Alliance for Active Aging—Programs
http://www.allianceactiveaging.ca/programs/
Bow Cliff Seniors—Activities
http://bowcliffseniors.org/
Parkdale Nifty 50’s—Activities
http://pdnf.org/#
Calgary FLC Seniors Club—Activities
Event: International Federation on Aging 13th Global Conference: http://www.flcseniors.ca/activities
Disasters in an Ageing World: Readiness, Resilience and Recovery
Date: June 21-23, 2016
Calgary Association of Life Long Learners
Location: Brisbane, Australia
http://calgarylifelonglearners.ca/
Info: http://www.ifa-fiv.org/project/ifa-13th-global-conferenceon-ageing/
Silver Stars Musical Revue Society
http://www.calgary-acts.com/view_member.php?MemberID=24
Event: IAGG’s 21 World Congress: Global Ageing and Health:
Bridging Science, Policy and Practice
“Voices” Seniors Choir
Date: July 23-27, 2017
http://www.thirdagecommons.ca/resources/voices-seniors-choir
Location: San Francisco, California
Info: http://www.iagg2017.org
Calgary Music Makers Senior Citizens Choir
http://calgarymusicmakers.ca/
Organizations
Alberta Association on Gerontology www.albertaaging.ca
Calgary Raging Grannies
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Calgary-RagingGrannies/149773808411499
Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association
http://www.agna.ca/
National/International Organizations
National Center for Creative Aging
City of Calgary—Seniors Programs and Services
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Pages/Seniors/SeniorsPrograms-Services.aspx#recreation
Directory of Creative Aging Programs in America
http://www.creativeaging.org/programs-people/cad Page 11
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Creative Aging Calgary
Society
Vision: Vibrant and positive aging
Mission
Executive
Dianne McDermid President
Gail Hinchliffe, Past President
Bernice Schumlich, Treasurer
Board of Directors
Sharon Moore
Suzanne Clease
Ali Shivji
Norma Karlinsky
Creative Expressions
John Vaillancourt
Carol Henckel
Cathy Hume
Elaine Danelesko
Zabin Jadavji
Board Advisor
Ralph Hubele
Newsletter Editor: TBA
Email: [email protected]
Membership Info
Memberships are available at no charge online:
www.creativeagingcalgary.com
Members receive event and information updates as
well as newsletters three times per year.
Creative Expressions is the official newsletter for the
Creative Aging Calgary Society (CACS). It is published
three times a year and distributed electronically
(www.creativeagingcalgary.com). Questions regarding
article / photo contributions should be directed to the
editor at
[email protected]
Please note, the information and opinions in this
newsletter are subject to change, and do not necessarily
represent the opinions of the publisher, the editor, or
the CACS Board of Directors. Disclaimer: Any advertisements, businesses, or other parties listed in Creative
Expressions should not be interpreted as recommendations or endorsements by the CACS, the editor or the
publisher. Re-publication of the Creative Expressions
Newsletter (in whole or part) requires the expressed
written permission of the article’s author and the publisher. Please direct republication requests to:
editor@ creativeagingcalgary.com
To increase awareness of the positive physical and psychological impact that arts participation can have on older
adults
Strategic Priorities
Advocacy
Enhance awareness of participatory arts and aging
programs with a variety of stakeholders
Practice
Foster connections between older adults, artists,
professionals and interested community members
Research
Clearly communicate cutting-edge research specific to
arts participation
Education
Share information about local arts-based
programs and opportunities for learning
Governance
Generate an effective Board with membership that reflects our diverse community
Volunteer Here
The Creative Aging Calgary Society is a relatively new group and
is seeking volunteers to help with our various committees.
Please contact: [email protected] for more information related to:
Education & Programming, Communications, Membership, Sponsorship
& Funding, Marketing & Promotion or Research.
Submissions Welcome
Articles, book reviews, event and special interest items related to
Creative Aging are all welcome. Please contact the editor at [email protected] for more information. Next issue: Summer/Fall 2016. Submission deadline June 30, 2016.
Your Business Ad Here
Business ads are welcome: $20/issue for 40 words (first ad free
for members). Graphic ads, 1/8 page size, also
welcome for $75 per issue (members receive 20%
discount). Please contact the editor at
[email protected] Next issue: Summer/Fall,
2016. Submission deadline June 30, 2016..
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“ Creative aging is about possibilities, freeing ourselves of limiting
beliefs about aging and embracing the reality that individuals continue to grow, learn and contribute to their communities throughout the life journey.”
-Sheridan Elder Research Centre Sheridan College
The Creative Aging Calgary Society
welcomes new members
Benefits of Membership  Appreciate the importance of arts and aging
 Discuss the benefits of professionally conducted, participatory arts and aging programs and why it is neces-
sary to reach out to many stakeholders (artisans, elected officials, funders, partners, and policymakers)
 Explore how to design, implement, market, support, evaluate, and sustain arts and aging programs for older
adults
 Experience examples of arts-based programs and services in and around Calgary (fee reduction for mem-
bers)
 Network with individuals actively engaged or interested in creative expression and aging programs
 Receive an informative newsletter four times per year (advertisement opportunities available at reduced
prices for members)
FREE memberships available online
www.creativeagingcalgary.com