Applaud Albertans for stepping up for seniors

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Minister’s Seniors Service Awards featuring new and returning categories.

Albertans are encouraged to nominate individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who are supporting seniors through their extraordinary volunteerism, philanthropy, innovation, or outstanding service.

Since 1998, the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards have celebrated individuals and nonprofit organizations that serve seniors. Businesses were recognized starting in 2020.

“We all know someone who is deserving of a Minister’s Seniors Service Award,” Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing said. “They are in your community, your workplace, and your family. You can find them delivering groceries, helping with taxes, sharing messages of hope, or making our communities more accessible. Join me in honouring these important efforts by nominating a caring Albertan today.”

The deadline for nominations is June 30. Details can be found at alberta.ca/MSSA. All nominees will be recognized over the summer months, and award recipients will be publicly honoured in the fall.

In 2020, 100 nominations were submitted for these awards; the most since 2007.

Award categories

Up to nine awards will be presented to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who have exemplified leadership and compassion to serve Alberta seniors. The 2021 awards also feature a new category and one returning category:

• The new Special Service Award highlights an area of particular importance in any given year, the Alberta Spirit. The award will honour someone who has brought joy to isolated seniors
• The Alice Modin Award will recognize a senior with long-term volunteer service. This award was first introduced in 2017, in memory of Ms. Modin’s efforts to launch a seniors’ day in Strathcona County, paving the way for the province-wide Seniors’ Week we celebrate to this day.

Online nominations

For the first time, Albertans can submit nominations for the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards online, making it easier to recognize individuals or groups serving seniors.

“By implementing an online application, Alberta’s government is making it easier for Albertans to recognize individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who support seniors. This is an easy, common sense way to cut red tape and make the nominations more accessible.”

Nominations will also continue to be accepted through mail and email.

This year, June 7 to 13 is Seniors’ Week in Alberta.

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca