2017 Seniors’ Champion Winner Jennifer Pass
SPONSORED BY BUSH & COMPANY
Jennifer Pass has used her background as a lawyer to work tirelessly for seniors and others in the Comox Valley.
She and Gwyn Frayne co-founded Support Our Seniors, a non-partisan society advocating that seniors at home or in facilities need to have a good quality of life.
She started and co-ordinated the CV Community Response Network to increase awareness of adult/senior abuse and neglect and to provide referrals to other services.
Most recently she was the force behind development of Elders Take Action (ETA), a group that advocates quality care for seniors in all sectors of society. Concurrent with the genesis of this group, she took on a role at the CV Seniors Table and the Association of Registered Nurses of BC: Patient Advisory Council for CV.
She developed and virtually single-handedly managed a seniors group for L’Arche Comox Valley, exposing them to educative speakers, culinary exploration, and seasonal projects. She has an affiliation with Senior Peer Counselling, where she offers her expertise to the Senior Information and Access Support group (SIAS), where seniors get assistance with forms, contracts, and document interpretation (eg. OAS, CPP, income tax, etc).
Because of this, and more, she is receiving the top honour Local Hero award for Seniors Champion.
“I love working with elders (beats scrubbing the floors!). We live in a society that is out of touch with its older members. Older citizens have so much life experience and so much to contribute. Also they have the time to advocate for needed changes and work towards making the Comox Valley a healthier place for all age groups,” Pass said.
Pass also helps with the Friends of Strathcona Park, trail building by volunteer groups, her church’s walking group and L’Arche.
“I feel it is important for me since retirement, to use my work-life skills, and be engaged in my community. I think we are all called to something for all stages of our lives. I benefit immensely, and at least one less senior (me), is isolated,” she said.