Volunteers being honoured for UN Day of Older Persons

To mark the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on Oct. 1, the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging is honouring four Victoria elders for their exemplary service to helping others in the CRD.

This year’s nominees for the Valued Elder Recognition Awards (VERA) are Americk Bhandar, William Buckle, Jean E. McKenzie and Narindra (Nindi) Sehmi.

One of the nominees will be given the VERA award in a presentation at the Salvation Army Victoria Citadel beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The VERA was an idea put forward by Doreen Burrows, the founding member of the Friends of the Centre on Aging, in 1998. The first VERA was given in 2000.
Following this year’s award presentation is a keynote address by Dr. Ed Ishiguro on “The Quest for Longevity Genes.” From 1977 until he retired in 2006, Ishiguro was a faculty member in the department of biochemistry and microbiology. He was the recipient of the Faculty of Science Teaching Excellence Award in 2005 and the UVic Alumni Association Harry Hickman Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006. In “retirement” he continues to teach at UVic and, for the past three years, at Camosun College.

Where: Salvation Army Victoria Citadel, 4030 Douglas St., (off McKenzie Ave. by Christmas Hill)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.

• 1:30 p.m. – Valued Elder Recognition Award presentation
• 1:55 p.m. – Complimentary afternoon tea
• 2:30 p.m. – Lecture to 3:45 p.m.

Note: Media will have an opportunity to interview the four nominees and Dr. Ishiguro between 1:50 and 2:30 p.m.

The theme of the 2014 commemoration of the UN International Day of Older Persons is “Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All”. On Dec. 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 45/106) designated Oct. 1 the International Day of Older Persons.

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