New Brunswick Senior Citizen’s Federation is the voice for mature residents
There is strength in numbers and the province's leading support and lobbying group for residents over 50-years-old wants to get more seniors on board this spring.
"The New Brunswick Senior Citizen Federation is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, as the largest bilingual voice for seniors in the province," stated Chuck Gray, president of the Tobique Senior Club in Plaster Rock and second vice president of the federation. "It is important for seniors to have a unified voice in dealing with government."
Gray said the federation, which has dozens of affiliated clubs throughout New Brunswick, has always been very active in lobbying government on matters that concern mature residents.
The NBSCF goals are "to insure the wellbeing and leadership of New Brunswick senior citizens 50 years of age and over regardless of language, race, colour, sex and creed; maintain a line of communications for all our members; and establish good relationships with government, corporations and provincial and national organizations."
The active senior said the strength of many voices commands attention, sometimes at the highest levels.
"Right now there is a file on the (federal) minister's desk to take the taxes off of funerals and a10, 000 name petition on that issue that came out of the Bathurst area. Our MP Mike Allen told us that is now on the minister's desk," Gray commented.
Gray noted the importance of seniors and their concerns was reflected when the province announced Eugene McKinley was a minister of state for seniors and housing.
"No other group speaks for the seniors in the province of New Brunswick… We have more than 23,000 members and that is a lot of votes."
Gray said the NBSCF is a non-partisan association that is open to any New Brunswick residents over the age of 50.
The group is also very involved in current negotiations for Canadian Red Cross in New Brunswick to provide more transportation for isolated seniors in rural areas.
"Seniors need transportation to get medical appointment for banking shopping and other necessities that will not cost them an arm and a leg," Gray stated.
Gray said the 55-Alive Drivers Guidance course is valuable tool for mature drivers, because a driver's license is "independence in New Brunswick." The course is held by the New Brunswick Safety Council and takes into consideration the physical changes everyone goes through and helps instruct drivers how to compensate for those changes.
"It s a very practical course that brings drivers up to par, for example, the new highways and how to get on and off, the new signage and roads that are out there….The course provides opportunities for participants to identify individual problem areas and gain the information needed to improve their behavior as drivers."
Belonging to the NBSCF also provides financial benefits like favorable group home and auto insurance rates. Gray said he was able to save more than $600 a year on his own home and auto insurance rates.
"We are also looking at a group medical policy right now," he commented
The federation is not just a lobbying group. Seniors through individual clubs are encouraged to participate in local social outings, trips and recreational activities. At the provincial level the federation hosts the New Brunswick Senior Friendship Games, with qualifying tournaments in slo-pitch softball, tennis, washer toss, lawn bowling, track and field, curling, contract bridge, hockey, scrabble, badminton and swimming. The winners will go on to national competitions when the New Brunswick Senior Friendship Games Association hosts the Canada 55 games in Dieppe Aug. 26-31.
Residents who are interested in learning more about the New Brunswick Senior Citizens Federation or wish to join the group can call 1-0800-453-4333 or visit the website at www.nbscf.ca
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