Lately, we’ve received a number of inquiries about the status of the Seniors United Network. And since we’re beginning a new calendar year, we thought that this might be a good time to clarify what has changed – and what has not changed – in regard to SUN.
First, though, a little background.
As you may or may not know, SUN is about to enter its fifth year of operation. Formed in 2004 to serve as “the united voice of seniors in Prince Edward Island”, we have made a fair bit of progress toward accomplishing that goal – but much remains to be done.
Membership in SUN is open to
• Seniors’ groups;
• Retiree groups;
• Seniors-related organizations;
• Groups with an interest in seniors’ issues; and
• Individuals 50 years of age and older.
As a result, our membership has grown over the years to include a number of individual seniors, plus the following organizations:
• the P.E.I. Senior Citizens Federation;
• les Francophones de l’age d’or de L’Ile-du-Prince-Edouard;
• the Provincial Command of the Royal Canadian Legion;
• the Federal Superannuates National Association (Prince Edward Island section);
• the Seniors College of P.E.I.; and
• the P.E.I. Active Living Alliance*.
(* currently undergoing a re-organization/re-alignment)
Over this time, SUN has also tackled a number of projects, usually in collaboration with other groups. These included the first province-wide seniors’ expo (Celebration 50+), a study on diabetes within a specific segment of the seniors’ population (Attitude Makes a Difference) and a three-year federally-funded project on population aging (Planning for P.E.I.’s Aging Population). In addition, we’ve been involved in various other efforts designed to improve the lives of seniors on Prince Edward Island, including studies on housing (through the Atlantic Seniors Housing Research Alliance) and transportation (as part of the feasibility study on a province-wide public transit system initiated by the P.E.I. Public Transit Coalition).
SUN and SUN representatives have participated in such activities as the Seniors Oral Health Project, production of the P.E.I. Seniors’ Reference Guide, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the New Horizons for Seniors Program Selection Committee, a Canada-wide project on the prevention of type 2 diabetes in older adults sponsored by the Active Living Coalition of Older Adults and the Taking Stock project supported by the Crime Prevention Action Fund, the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the P.E.I. Office of the Attorney General. As well, presentations have been made to the Council of Ministers Responsible for Seniors, the annual Population, Work and Family Policy Research Collaboration sponsored by the Policy Research Initiative section of the federal government’s Privy Council Office, the Atlantic Summer Institute for Healthy and Safe Communities at U.P.E.I., the provincial government’s Social Housing Policy Review and the Residential Long-Term Care Review related to the replacement and/or repair of government manors in P.E.I.
However, all this work has been done either on a volunteer basis or with the assistance of project funding; SUN has not been able to obtain any kind of long-term sustainable funding. Under the circumstances, the SUN Co-ordinating Committee decided some months ago that, in the absence of sustainable funding, it made no sense to operate solely on the basis of uncertain and unpredictable project funding.
As a result, SUN has been forced to reduce its operations.
Consequently, SUN is now operating on a strictly volunteer basis. This means that we have vacated our former office at the House of Sport in Charlottetown (the former Holland College Royalty Centre) and have eliminated virtually all our expenses.
We are still operating, however. Our Co-ordinating Committee is still in place, with representatives from across the province – although vacancies need to be filled in a couple of cases – and I continue to serve as Executive Director of SUN (on a volunteer basis and with the understanding that I’m free to pursue opportunities for paid employment). As well, we continue to work on a number of our initiatives and, for example, are pleased to see that our Planning for P.E.I.’s Aging Population project has evolved into an extended effort involving a broader range of public and private sector participants.
For all intents and purposes, though, SUN’s administration is based out of my home office for now, with members of SUN’s Co-ordinating Committee performing particular tasks as circumstances require.
Therefore, for the foreseeable future, general contact for SUN should be made through me at the following:
Mailing address:
Seniors United Network
c/o Ron Kelly
101 Westridge Crescent
Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 8P2
Telephone: 902-894-3143 or 902-393-9090 (cellular).
[Please note: SUN’s former telephone numbers – 902-892-3331, 1-866-370-3331 (toll free within P.E.I.) – and fax number – 902-892-2046 – are no longer operational. Nor is our former e-mail address -- sun@pei.aibn.com – still valid. And while the good folks at Sport P.E.I. have continued to receive any mail sent to us at their address at 40 Enman Crescent in Charlottetown, future correspondence should really be sent to the address listed above. Please change your contact information for SUN accordingly.]
SUN representatives may also be contacted as follows:
Aquinas Ryan, Chair, SUN Co-ordinating Committee –
Mailing address: 22 Ryan Street, St. Peter's, P.E.I. C0A 2A0
Telephone: 902-961-2782
Tom Connor, SUN Secretary-Treasurer –
Mailing address: 59 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Telephone: 902-892-3839
Ian MacDonald, Past Chair, SUN Co-ordinating Committee –
Mailing address: 85 Highland Avenue, Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 2H7
Telephone: 902-892-2739
In conclusion, I want to assure you that the Seniors United Network continues to operate – albeit, in a reduced manner. We also continue to pursue the goal of creating a united voice for seniors in Prince Edward Island.
No doubt, with the seniors population in P.E.I. about to double in the next 20 years, many changes lie ahead for our province and for our seniors in particular. In fact, we are seeing the leading edge of that change occurring now.
SUN was born out of the need to address change in a positive fashion and SUN, as an organization, will continue to evolve as time goes on. We will certainly be in touch with you as we navigate the challenges still to come.
And thanks for taking the time to review this rather lengthy piece of correspondence.
Use your browser "Back" button to return to the preceding page.