2023 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s
Call for Board Members!
Annual General Meeting & Volunteer Recognition
Today is National Care Giver Day!
Join Us for the New Season of Dementia Care
Happy National Volunteer Week!
Great Memories Fundraising Event
2023 Spring Education Calendar
Register Now for Spring 2023 Community Programs
Join a Support Group!
Follow Us On Social Media
Donate Today to Help Our Work Continue
2023 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s
WALK WITH US IN MAY!
Winnipeg In-person Walk
Saturday, May 27th at 10am
Assiniboine Park, Lyric Theatre
Walk Agenda:
10 am – Check-in, team photos, granola bars and water available
10:45 am – Warm-up
11 am – Walk begins!
12 pm – Hot dog cart open for lunch
Host: Ace Burpee, 103.1 Virgin Radio
Check out the official website for more details and to register for this year’s Walk.
SHARE YOUR STORY!
Share your story about why you’re walking on social media throughout April and May! By doing so, you’ll encourage those around you to register and donate. Plus, it helps families feel less alone in their dementia journey.
Tag us at the accounts below so we can be there to cheer you on!
- Facebook: @AlzheimerSocietyManitoba
- Instagram: @Alzheimermb
- Twitter: @AlzheimerMB
- LinkedIn: Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
- Hashtag: #IGWalkforAlz
Let’s inspire each other and show our support for families affected by dementia in Manitoba. Together, we CAN make a difference.
Call for Board Members!
An Exciting Leadership Opportunity
The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba needs you! We are looking for qualified candidates for our Board of Directors and are encouraging people from all over Manitoba with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.
Candidates will have:
• Ability and eagerness to review and if necessary adjust/reset the Society’s values and vision
• Big picture, future-oriented thinking
• Willingness to create and initiate rather than approve
• Moral courage
• Willingness to contribute to a disciplined, high-performance, trustworthy and ethical team
• Willingness to delegate operational detail to others
If you think you’d be a good fit, visit our board member posting to learn more about the position and how to apply.
The application deadline is April 21, 2023.
Annual General Meeting & Volunteer Recognition
Please join us as we celebrate a year of accomplishments and recognize our dedicated volunteers at our Annual General Meeting.
Wednesday, June 21
Alzheimer Society – Provincial Office
10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB (Mezzanine Level)
5:30 pm
RSVP to Bonny Neal by Friday, June 16 at bneal@alzheimer.mb.ca or 204-943-6622.
Today is National Caregiver Day!
Tuesday, April 4 is National Caregiver Day – a day to celebrate and honour Canadian carers. At the Alzheimer Society, we recognize your commitment to caring despite the many challenges you may have faced. Thank you for everything you do!
Join Us for the New Season of Dementia Care
Professional Development Series
The Complex World of Dementia Care
Sponsored by All Seniors Care
We invite you to the opening session of our Dementia Care 2023-2024 Professional Development Series! Sessions are geared towards healthcare staff and community service providers and take place online monthly (plus three in-person) until March 2024.
Join our opening session on Thursday, May 18, from 2 – 3 pm, called Turning Towards, Not Away: Caring for Others While Caring for Yourself, featuring Dr. Jillian Horton, MD, author and Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the U of M. Dr. Horton will speak about burnout, mindfulness and compassion as they exist in the complex world of dementia care.
Unpack the unique challenges and intricacies involved in caring for people with dementia while exploring practical approaches relevant in day-to-day situations. With topics ranging from cultural sensitivities to the importance of inclusiveness, these sessions will empower health care professionals to offer respect, compassion and empathy to those living with dementia.
For only $30, you get access to all virtual sessions PLUS the option to register for in-person workshops!
(Additional charge for in-person sessions.)
We encourage anyone working with people with dementia whether in the community, in hospitals or in personal care homes to register. These sessions add up to 30 completed hours of education that may be used towards professional development or continuing education hours.
Visit the dementia care website to learn more about all the sessions, speakers and to register now!
Happy National Volunteer Week!
Not all volunteers wear capes, some wear mascot costumes instead!
April 16 – 22 is National Volunteer Week and we want to shout out one of our wonderful volunteers at the Alzheimer Society – the individual who every year dons the costume of our unofficial mascot Tracker for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s.
Justin Albo has been the man behind our favourite sneaker for many years and this May at Assiniboine Park will mark his tenth year.
“I’ve visited with participants and volunteers at the Walk and it’s so much fun to give high fives and pose for funny photos. It’s a really wonderful event and being able to engage with everyone while volunteering for the Society is the best of both worlds.”
He says what excites him to volunteer as Tracker is simply being able to help the community, as well as his friends and family.
“It is my honour to be Tracker, the lovable mascot and hope to continue putting on the costume for the big day for years to come.”
There are many volunteer roles to fill at our Walk event, including:
- Route Volunteer – helps direct and cheer on our walkers along the route
- Check-In Tent – collects donations, hands out prizes and registers any walk-up participants
- Food Tent – hands out lunch, snacks and drinks to our participants
- Team Photos – assists with the collection of team contact information and manages lineups of people waiting for their photo
Brendan, Justin and Emily
For Justin, volunteering at the Walk is a family affair! His wife Emily volunteers as Mascot Lead, helping Tracker throughout the Walk event. You can find Justin’s brother Brendan helping out at the Team Photo Station, making sure our Walk teams can capture some memories. And Justin’s niece and nephew are excited to be Route Volunteers again at this year’s Walk!
Are you interested in volunteering? We’re still in need of Route Volunteers to help cheer on our walkers. To apply for a volunteer position or for more information, contact Bonny Neal at bneal@alzheimer.mb.ca.
Great Memories Fundraising Event
Come enjoy a live band, free food and good times at Flea Whiskeys! The Magian family welcomes all to participate in their fundraising event in honour of their parents, who both had dementia. The funds raised from this event will go to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba to help other families affected by the impacts of dementia.
When: Friday, April 14, 6 – 8 pm
Where: Flea Whiskeys, 601 Erin St.
Tickets are $20 ($25 at the door)
Call or text Tony Magian at 204-997-3752 or email tmagia@shaw.ca to purchase or donate
Any prize donation is greatly appreciated as well as anyone who can make it to the event. Support tickets are also available if you are unable to attend, and donations are also welcome.
Check Out Our 2023 Spring Education Calendar!
Join us for our spring education sessions! These sessions are offered both in-person and via Zoom and cover a variety of topics to help you on your dementia journey. The sessions we’re offering this spring are:
Living With Dementia: First Steps –
Part Two: Saturday, May 6, 10 – 11:45 am
Part Three: Saturday, June 10, 10 – 11:45 am
Family Education: Next Steps –
Understanding Responsive Behaviours
Monday, April 24, 2023, 2 – 3 pm
Location: Virtual via ZOOM
Speaker: Sylvia Davidson, MSc, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Complicated Grief: Introduction to Ambiguous Loss
Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 10 – 11 am
Location: Virtual or Gordon Howard Centre, Selkirk, MB
Speaker: Samantha Holland, Interlake/Eastern
Regional Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
Moving From Strain to Strength – Addressing Challenging Family Dynamics
Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 2 – 3 pm
Location: Virtual or Lindenwood Manor, Winnipeg
Speaker: Lois Litz, Retired Spiritual Director,
Lindenwood Manor
Click the links below for more details on our spring sessions and to register!
Family Education Spring 2023 Calendar
Family Education – Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
Register Now for Spring 2023 Community Programs
Spring has sprung and so has our latest dementia-friendly community program lineup!
We partner with various organizations for people with dementia and their care partners to participate in activities with others living in similar situations. These opportunities offer social, creative and educational ways to get out in the community and enjoy life.
Spring registration is now open! Come check out our spring programming currently available.
Art to Inspire
This program is designed to creatively engage people living with dementia, and their care partners, with visual art. Art to Inspire offers eight afternoon sessions in WAG-Qaumajuq where participants can enjoy conversations, works of art, and artmaking in a supportive setting. Each session will explore a different theme and engage participants in different ways that celebrate present-moment awareness and meaningful creative expression.
Spring Program (Thursdays, 1 – 2:30 pm)
April 6 – May 25
$150 per pair for all 8 sessions
Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard
Register now on their website!
Developed in partnership with WAG-Qaumajuq, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, and the University of Manitoba College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Tales Along the Trail
Enjoy Manitoba’s spring awakening! Watch as snowy landscapes turn lush green, hear the songs of migrating birds and smell the first flowers in the forest. During Tales Along the Trail, participants will encounter the natural world in a safe and exciting way. An experienced naturalist will guide the group along FortWhyte’s gentle pathways. Each session wraps up with stories, tea and a tasty treat around a toasty campfire.
Spring Program (Wednesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm)
May 3 – June 14
$126 per pair for all 7 sessions
FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Road
Please contact bmiller@fortwhyte.org for a link to register for this program.
Developed in partnership with FortWhyte Alive and the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
Minds in Motion®
Our popular Minds in Motion® program connects people living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners through fitness, fun and friendship. Participants take part in a gentle chair fitness class followed by socially engaging activities and conversation.
There are lots of laughs and social interactions during these sessions! We are excited to offer both in-person and virtual options.
Our spring sessions will begin the week of April 10th, 2023. Dates, times and registration information are available now! Click here to learn more and to register.
Join a Support Group!
If you are living with or supporting someone living with dementia, our support groups are for you! Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can leave you feeling isolated, but you are not alone. There are other people who share this journey with you, and we invite you to come meet them.
Support groups provide participants with an opportunity to learn more about dementia and its progression, share feelings and common experiences, exchange practical coping strategies and mutual support, as well as participate in meaningful discussions. Groups are facilitated in Winnipeg and throughout the province including in the Interlake, North Central, Parkland, South Central, South Eastman and Westman regions.
We welcome everyone to this inclusive environment for people of different ethnicities, cultures or persons who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Care Partner Support Groups
While we have highlighted a few of our support groups below, many more are available. For a full listing of all in-person and virtual groups, please visit our Support Groups page.
Spouses of People Living with Dementia in Personal Care Home
Meets in person at the provincial office in Winnipeg on the second Wednesday of the month from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.
This support group offers spouses of people with dementia living in a personal care home the opportunity to meet and share information about their experience of caring for someone who has transitioned into a personal care home. This caregiving experience presents unique challenges for care partners as they:
- Navigate their changing roles
- Adjust to changes in self-identity
- Adjust to living separately from their spouse
- Help to support a spouse in their dementia journey
Men’s Coffee Talk Support Group
Meets in person at the provincial office in Winnipeg on the fourth Thursday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
This support group is for male-identifying care partners to connect with one another and share information about their experience of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It’s an opportunity to share about new challenges you experience relating to your role or relationship to the person living with dementia.
This caregiving experience presents unique challenges for male-identifying care partners, as they:
- Navigate their changing roles and responsibilities
- Navigate providing care in new or different ways to a spouse or a parent living with dementia
New and Upcoming Care Partner Support Groups
Spousal Ambiguous Loss Support Group
The Ambiguous Loss Support Group assists care partners to work through the feelings of ambiguous loss and grief that are experienced when a person close to you has dementia. The goal is to help you build up enhanced coping strategies that will support you in your role as a caregiver and help you in planning for the future.
This group is anticipated to start in Spring 2023. If you’re interested in joining the Spousal Ambiguous Loss Support Group, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
“Sandwich” Support Group
The Sandwich Support Group is geared towards adult children who are supporting a parent or other family member with dementia, while also trying to balance the stresses of raising a family and managing other day-to-day personal or career commitments… leaving you feeling “sandwiched” between responsibilities.
This group is anticipated to start in Spring 2023, meeting once a month. If you’re interested in joining the “Sandwich” Support Group, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Bereavement Support Group
The Bereavement Support Group assists care partners in working through feelings of loss and grief that are experienced when someone with dementia passes away.
This group will help you process feelings of loss and grief and is anticipated to start Spring 2023, meeting for 8 weeks at a time. If you’re interested in joining the Bereavement Support Group, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Responsive Behaviour Support Group
The Responsive Behaviour Support Group assists care partners who are caring for someone with a diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, or other forms of dementia where responsive or reactive behaviours are present.
Learn coping strategies and care techniques to assist in managing these symptoms, as well as share mutual support and understanding about the stresses that may arise in navigating these changes.
This group is anticipated to start in Spring 2023, meeting once a month. If you’re interested in joining the Responsive Behaviour Support Group, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Support Group for Persons with Dementia
The Support Group for Persons Living with Dementia is for persons living with a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment.
Having a diagnosis of dementia can lead to a variety of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This support group allows those with cognitive changes or a dementia diagnosis to:
- Learn about dementia and its progression
- Share feelings and common experiences
- Exchange practical coping strategies and mutual support
- Participate in meaningful discussions
The support group meets weekly starting in April 2023. Dates include:
- Mondays from 10:30-11:30 am
- Meeting from April 17th – June 26th
- This meeting takes place virtually through Zoom
- Wednesday from 10-11:30 am
- Meeting from April 19th – June 28th
- This meeting takes place at the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Boardroom, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB
- Thursdays from 10-11 am
- Meeting from April 20th – June 29th
- This meeting takes place virtually through Zoom
Additional Information and Registration
For more information about current and upcoming support group opportunities, or to register for a support group, please contact the First Link Client Support team at (204) 943-6622 or email us at alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca.
If connecting via email, please include your first/last name and the name of the support group you are interested in.
Our new support groups were made possible by a multi-year commitment for our First Link program from the Jessiman Foundation. A heartfelt thanks to the Jessiman family for this leadership gift that has allowed us to expand our programs in such a significant way.
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We Rely on Your Donations to Continue Our Work
Your gifts are put to immediate use through our helpline, support groups and education programs.
Remember. You Are Not Alone.
We are here to help you and your family no matter where you are in your dementia journey. You can reach a comforting ear by phone or get a quick response by email. Call us at 204-943-6622 (Wpg), 1-800-378-6699 (MB) or email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca