Seniors, caregivers and service providers came together to address issues concerning Greater Sudbury's aging population at the Caruso Club on Oct. 24.
About 400 people attended the Seniors' Summit 2019, hosted by the Seniors' Advisory Panel to the Mayor and City Council.
Members of the public and professional service providers were split into about 40 small groups to discuss specific issues and concerns faced by seniors today.
The five-hour event was facilitated by Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan.
"It exceeded everybody's expectations," Kirwan said. "What we're hoping to do is start a culture shift where people start accepting responsibility for people living around them.
"Neighbourhoods need to start caring for people living in their community instead of always saying 'Well, somebody's going to take care of them.' They are our neighbours, we should be taking care of them."
Normand Gauthier, 88, from Azilda said he enjoyed the event and learned a lot in the process.
"Who is more important in your community than your family and your neighbours?" Gauthier said. "This event was a way to educate the community to get involved instead of keeping the couch warm. This is a big fault in a lot of people who are too busy doing nothing and don't want to get involved in doing something.
"You have to be looking out for your fellow neighbours."
Kirwan says the Seniors' Summit 2019 is a call to action to develop a local seniors strategy.
A follow-up session will be held Nov. 21 to develop strategies for implementing local actions across the community. This is a call to action that will produce results.
"That is going to be an important day." Kirwan said. "That's where we will write up the plans of action in a way that they can actually become strategic plans. We have to do what we can, we can't just put it on the shelf."
Anyone wanting to attend the follow-up session for The Seniors' Summit 2019 can do so for free. The event will take place at the Caruso Club beginning at 9 a.m. on Nov. 21.
