2024 Research Forum
Discover some of the latest advancements in dementia research from three local researchers!
Join us on Thursday, September 19 from 6 – 7:30 pm for our free public education event, “Spotlight on Local Research: Connecting the Dots” at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM), 340 Provencher Blvd, Winnipeg, – with live streaming events happening at participating Alzheimer Society locations across the province.
During this event, you will learn how cardiovascular disease, the vestibular system and virtual reality are linked to dementia and brain health research. You might be surprised at how the dots connect.
Register now to secure your spot for our Winnipeg or Regional events (Please note: This event is in-person only. If you have accessibility or travel concerns, please contact the Alzheimer Society.)
For more information, contact us at alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca or call 204-943-6622.
Register Now! 2024 Care4u Family Conference
Join us for Care4u, a day of education and support for family and friends caring for people living with dementia. The conference features local and national health care and community professionals who will share the latest about dementia, caregiving strategies and community resources while empowering care partners to prioritize their well-being. This year’s theme is, “Building Confidence for Day-to-Day Care.”
Care4u takes place on Saturday, October 19 at Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre, from 9 am – 3:30 pm.
At Care4u, you can connect with other care partners, gain knowledge and engage with community service providers. The conference gives you the opportunity to explore topics such as responding to challenging moments, living safely at home, complex legal situations, adapting to physical change, navigating end of life and more.
Click here for more information and to register
This event is sponsored by:
NEW: After-Hours Telephone Support
For some care partners and people living with dementia, accessing telephone support during daytime hours can be a challenge. Whether due to work, family or other day-to-day commitments, we know that connecting with our First Link® Client Support team can be difficult to fit into the day.
Starting September 4, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba will offer extended telephone support on Monday and Wednesday evenings until 8 pm to make accessing support easier.
Call us at 204-943-6622 (Winnipeg) / 1-800-378-6622 (Provincial). We’re here to listen and offer guidance, resources and reassurance.
We’re Hiring! Check Out Our Available Positions
Come join our team! The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is currently hiring for multiple positions, including a Communications Coordinator, a First Link® Community Coordinator and Minds in Motion® Fitness Leaders. If you think you’d be a good fit for one of these positions, check out the full job postings at the following links. We invite all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Communications Coordinator job posting (will remain open until the position is filled)
First Link Community Coordinator job posting (will remain open until the position is filled)
Minds in Motion Fitness Leaders job posting (will remain open until positions are filled)
Call for Minds in Motion® Volunteers!
Are you looking for a way to get out into the community and make a difference? We’re looking for volunteers to help facilitate Minds in Motion® programs in their community! As a Minds in Motion® volunteer, you will:
– Learn to facilitate recreational programs for adults of varied ability
– Engage socially with participants
– Assist with the set-up and clean-up of refreshments and program equipment
– Be available for a 3-hour shift, for eight consecutive weekday mornings or afternoons
Learn more about the program and the role on our Minds in Motion® website.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole McDonald, Senior Manager, Dementia-Friendly Communities
204-943-6622 | nmcdonald@alzheimer.mb.ca
Alzheimer Society Research Program 2024
The Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) is one of Canada’s most innovative hubs for dementia research, helping the best and brightest minds in the field transform their work from ideas to impact. Since the program’s start over 30 years ago, nearly $73 million in grants and awards has been invested toward innovative research that brings us closer to a future without dementia.
This year, the ASRP is investing $5,244,000 in 40 researchers and their projects across Canada, with the help of generous donors and funding partners, including Research Manitoba.
The ASRP funds dementia research in Canada, through four award categories: Doctoral Award, Postdoctoral Award, New Investigator Grant and Proof of Concept Grant. The eight priority research areas the ASRP funds are:
- Care
- Cause
- Diagnosis
- Epidemiology
- Risk
- Therapy
- Translational
- Treatment
Dr. Jillian Stobart, assistant professor at the University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy is one of the 2024 ASRP award recipients and has received the New Investigator Grant for her pioneering project: Reducing astrocyte P2Y1 receptor signaling to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression.
Dr. Stobart’s research aims to explore the role of astrocytes, a type of brain glial cell crucial for brain function, which become abnormal during Alzheimer’s disease. This abnormality may cause cell death and damage that contributes to memory loss and sensory problems experienced by people living with Alzheimer’s.
Stobart’s study will focus on the P2Y1 receptor on astrocytes, which increases during Alzheimer’s disease and may cause astrocytes to damage other brain cells, leading to memory loss and other symptoms. By genetically reducing astrocyte P2Y1 receptors, Stobart and her team expect to see improved brain cell survival and function. Stobart’s research can help us better understand the causes of brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease.
Visit the Alzheimer Society Research Program page on our national website to learn more about the ASRP and other 2024 award recipients.
Participants Needed for Research Study
A new study is looking for participants to help with the first phase of research gathering. The study focuses on the link between genes and microorganisms in the intestines that could impact brain health, particularly, Alzheimer’s disease.
Those who are eligible to participate:
- Have a parent with Alzheimer’s disease
- Have a live-in partner who has no family history of cognitive impairment
- Are age 50-75
To read more about how you can participate in this study visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada Research Portal.
You can also check out the I-Forget website for more information about the study, the scientists behind the research and how to participate.
The Fall 2024 Education Calendar is Here!
We’ve got a full calendar of education sessions this fall, covering a variety of caregiving topics including meaningful engagement in physical activities, wandering and dementia, mealtimes and nutrition and more. These sessions are free to attend and offered via Zoom.
Click here to register for all Family Education sessions.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Navigating the Long-Term Care System
What is paneling and how do you initiate the process? These questions and more will be answered. Recognizing that everyone’s dementia journey is different, this session will outline the “typical steps” that can be helpful when navigating the long-term care system.
Tuesday, August 13 | 2 – 3 pm
Living with Dementia First Steps – Part 1
*Please note you do not need to attend the Living with Dementia series in order.*The first session of a three-part information series for people supporting someone recently diagnosed with dementia. In this webinar, learn more about the progression of dementia and the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s Programs and Services.
Saturday, September 14 | 10 – 11:45 am
Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Dementia in Physical Activities
Involvement in physical activities is a good way to provide both mental and physical stimulation for people with dementia. In this session, learn about:
• Adapting physical activity to the varying levels of abilities of people with dementia
• Strategies to motivate a person with dementia to participate in physical activities
• Safety measures and considerations
Tuesday, September 24 | 10 – 11 am
Wandering & Dementia
Did you know that six in ten people who are living with dementia are at risk of getting lost in familiar or unfamiliar places? Join us for a discussion about wandering, safety, and strategies for reducing the risk(s).
Tuesday, October 1 | 10 – 11 am
Family Education: Next Steps: You can choose to watch these online sessions in-person at the Alzheimer Society office (10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg) – the speaker will not be presenting in-person. Please email ekinnaird@alzheimer.mb.ca if you are interested in this option.
Visit the link below to view our full Fall 2024 education calendar.
Family Education | Fall 2024 Calendar
Family Education programs sponsored by:
Fall 2024 Community Partner Programs
Registration for fall community partner programs kicks off this August! The Alzheimer Society partners with community organizations to create programs designed especially for people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia to attend with their family members, friends or care partners.
Check out our fall 2024 program lineup:
Dalnavert Museum Dementia-Friendly Tours
Come to the Dalnavert Museum for their monthly dementia-friendly tours. This program allows people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia and their care partners to step back in time and explore the historic house and its collection.
After your tour of the museum, join them for tea and coffee and a closer look at some artifacts.
Please note: The upper floors of the museum are only accessible by stairs. If stairs pose a barrier, there will be the option of exploring the upper floors of the house with a tour guide in the Visitors’ Centre through our virtual tour. Folding cane-seats can be borrowed free of charge during your visit and there will be seating available throughout the museum.
Monthly Program
The last Saturday of every month, 10 – 11:30 am
Cost: $24.00 (plus tax) per pair and session, $12.00 per pair and session if one of the pair is a Dalnavert Museum Member
Register today on the Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre website
Fun!-Damentals of Table Tennis (Manitoba Table Tennis Association)
Introducing the Fun!-Damentals of Table Tennis program which connects people living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners through fitness and friendship.
Table tennis is a great aerobic exercise with proven cognitive benefits. Participants will take part in gentle recreational play. We will teach basic techniques and rules of the game while having tons of fun.
Fall Program (10 weeks)
Cornerstone Alliance Church, 1100 Autumnwood Dr, Winnipeg
Wednesdays, 6 – 8 pm
Sept 4 – Nov 6, 2024
Cost: $110 per pair
Registration now open!
Register by emailing table.tennis@sportmanitoba.ca
Journeys Through the Zoo (Assiniboine Park Zoo)
Journeys Through the Zoo is an engaging program designed for people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia and their care partners to explore Assiniboine Park Zoo’s most famed exhibit: Journey to Churchill. Led by an Educator Coordinator, we explore the animals at the zoo and earth-friendly themes while building community through reminiscing, sensory and group activities. We spend time indoors and outdoors so please dress for the weather and walking.
Journeys Through the Zoo is a joint offering of Assiniboine Park Zoo and the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. It allows people living with dementia and their care partners to try new experiences in a supportive environment.
Fall Program (4 weeks)
Assiniboine Park Zoo, Special Events Gate, 54 Zoo Dr, Winnipeg
Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Sept 10 – Oct 1, 2024
Cost: $125.55 +GST/couple
Registration now open!
Register on the Assiniboine Park website
Tales Along the Trail (FortWhyte Alive)
Enjoy the best of a Manitoba autumn with migrating birds, magnificent bison and let crackling campfires set up a calming, fun, natural adventure – all in city limits!
Tales Along the Trail is for people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia and their care partners who are looking for a safe but exciting way to encounter the natural world. An experienced naturalist will guide the group along FortWhyte’s gentle pathways, pointing out all fall has to offer and encouraging everyone to use their senses to explore.
Each session will include a relaxing walk through the woods, with stops focusing on all of our senses. Participants will then have a chance to share thoughts, stories, and a snack around a crackling fire or cozy indoor space. In stormy weather, we bring nature indoors.
Fall Program (8 weeks)
FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Rd, Winnipeg
First session: Wednesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm | Sept 4 – Oct 16, 2024
Second session: Tuesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm | Sept 3 – Oct 15, 2024
Cost: $160 + GST/couple
Registration now open!
Register by contacting Jeff at jbuhse@fortwhyte.org or 204-989-8355 ext 210
The Living Well Program (The Leaf)
The Living Well Program enables people with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners to reap the social and well-being benefits of engaging with plants with the guidance of a practitioner of horticulture therapy.
We cultivate a dementia-friendly community with sensory plant-based activities, fostering social engagement, and guided explorations of The Leaf and outdoor gardens when the weather permits. Every session includes refreshments.
Fall Program (6 weeks)
Tannis Richardson Indoor Classroom at The Leaf, 145 Locomotive Dr, Winnipeg
Tuesdays, 2:15 – 4 pm
Nov 5 – Dec 10, 2024
Cost: $110 + GST/couple
Registration opens Oct 2
Register on the Assiniboine Park Conservancy website, under “Recreation and Leisure”
Vivace Voices Choir (Canadian Mennonite University)
Come and join in making music together! Singing in a choir is a challenging and joyful experience. Learn to sing new and familiar music while making connections with those around you. No prior choral experience is required.
Fall Program (10 weeks)
Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury Blv.
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Sept 25 – Dec 4, 2024
Cost: $145/pair OR $280/pair for both fall 2024 & winter 2025 programs
Registration now open!
Learn more and register now on the CMU website
Registration Starts Soon for Minds in Motion®
Come join us for gentle chair fitness, fun and recreation at Minds in Motion® this fall!
Visit our Minds in Motion page for more information and to register now.
Here are the upcoming dates and locations of our Fall Minds in Motion® sessions (cost is $65/pair unless noted).
Winnipeg Locations
Faith Lutheran Church – 1311 Dakota St
Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Oct 17 – Dec 5
Contact Alana Duff to register: 204-943-6622 | aduff@alzheimer.mb.ca
Registration opens September 11
Rady JCC Fitness Centre – 123 Doncaster St
Wednesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Oct 16 – Dec 4
Call to register: 204-477-7510
Registration opens August 19
Riverwood Square – 1778 Pembina Hwy
Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Oct 15 – Dec 3
Call to register: 204-275-7632
Registration information coming soon
The Wellness Institute – 1075 Leila Ave
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm AND 6 – 8 pm
Oct 16 – Dec 4
Call to register: 204-632-3900
YMCA (Elmwood-Kildonan) – 454 Kimberly Ave
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Oct 17 – Dec 5
Call to register: 204-668-8140
Registration information coming soon
YMCA (West Portage) – 3550 Portage Ave
Tuesdays, 1 – 3 pm
Oct 15 – Dec 3
Call to register: 204-889-8052
Registration opens August 19
Regional Locations
ALTONA
The Gardens on Tenth – 140 10 Ave NE
Mondays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Sept 16 – Nov 25
*NO SESSIONS ON SEPT 30, OCT 14, NOV 11*
Call to register: 1-204-324-8945
BRANDON
Seniors for Seniors – 311 Park Ave East
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Session #1: Sept 12 – Oct 31
Session #2: Nov 14 – Jan 23
Call to register: 1-204-571-2050
CARMAN
Carman Active Living Centre – 47 Kings Rd
Fridays, 1 – 3 pm
Sept 13 – Nov 8
Call to register: 1-204-745-2356
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE
Herman Prior Centre – 40 Royal Rd North
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Sept 18 – Nov 6
Call to register: 1-204-857-6951
Registration information coming soon
SELKIRK
Gordon Howard Centre – 384 Eveline St
Wednesdays, 1 – 3 pm
Sept 18 – Nov 6
Call to register: 1-204-785-2092
Registration opens August 12
STEINBACH
Pat Porter Active Living Centre – 10 Chrysler Gate
Wednesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Sept 25 – Nov 13
Call to register: 1-204-320-4600
Stay Tuned for Fall Support Groups!
Connect with a community of support by joining a support group for care partners or persons living with dementia and find others who understand where you are coming from. In addition to our monthly virtual and in-person support groups, the following time-limited groups will be coming this fall:
– Support Group for People Living with Dementia (in-person and virtual)
– Ambiguous Loss Support Group (virtual)
– Bereavement Support Group (virtual)
Keep an eye on our website for updates on the dates and times for the above support groups, coming this fall!
When you join a support group, you connect with a community of people you can lean on for encouragement and understanding. You’ll also learn more about dementia and its progression, exchange practical coping strategies and participate in meaningful discussions.
Call us at 204-943-6622/1-800-378-6622 or email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca to register for a support group or to discover the best group to meet your needs.
For a complete listing of support groups, visit the links below:
Support Groups for Care Partners
Support Groups for People Living with Dementia
We welcome everyone to this inclusive environment for people of different ethnicities, cultures or persons who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
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Your gifts are put to immediate use through our First Link Client Support team, support groups and education programs.
Remember. You Are Not Alone.
Are you struggling to figure out your next steps? Our First Link® Client Support team is here to listen and help guide you through difficult times – from when you are concerned about your own, a family member or a friend’s memory, right through to the later symptoms of dementia. Call us today at 204-943-6622 (Wpg) / 1-800-378-6622 (MB), email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca or fill out our online form and we will reach out to you.