Montreal, May 23, 2022….“SENIORS WITH SWAG” COMES TO MONTREAL!

Montreal, May 23, 2022….“SENIORS WITH SWAG” COMES TO MONTREAL!
ELEVATED Conversation, Dinner, Dance, Entertainment and Fashion Show for SENIORS With SWAG

On June 11, 2022 Montreal Seniors will enjoy an afternoon of delicious gourmet teas, conversation, fashion show, entertainment and dancing.  

Hosted by Playmas Montreal Cultural Association, Seniors With SWAG will make its event debut at Dawson College, 3040 Sherbrooke Street West from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m   “Covid has taken its toll on many seniors who have borne the brunt of the social isolation and distress.  This is a long last opportunity for meaningful in-person connection and camaraderie.” says Founder Sophia Bishop.”

“Although this event is for seniors, it is for everyone.  The goal of Playmas Montreal and Seniors With SWAG is to improve seniors’ well-being by decreasing feelings of social isolation and loneliness, to help youth value, understand, and recognize seniors as an integral part of the community, reduced stigma and age discrimination against seniors and to promote youth development, by providing the opportunity for young people to benefit from the richness that comes with and from seniors,” says Gemma Raeburn-Baynes, President of Playmas Montreal. 

Known for its premiere community events that touch the lives of multi generations, Playmas Founder and President Gemma Raeburn-Baynes is looking forward to another stalworth production that promises to be rich in engagement and celebration. There’ll be fine dining for the palate, a Fashion Show to feast the eyes, musical entertainment by Skipper Dean and music and animation by DJ Sheldon Kagan to stir the soul and move the feet.

The conversations will be about things that are relevant and will resonate with seniors, youth and everyone. The topics will include lifestyle and wellness topics as well as current and trending issues. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a wonderful day of inspiration and fun.

Tickets are $30.00 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.com (Seniors with Swag).  

For more information log on to Playmasmontreal.com or call (514) 620-6612.

Special thanks to Government of Canada New Horizons For Seniors Program and Government of Quebec Secrėtariat.

Contact: Gemma Raeburn-Baynes

President, Playmas Montreal – (514) 620-6612

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ABOUT ELEVATED CONVERSATION

ELEVATED Conversations is inclusive attracting a broad cross section of participants who reflect the full spectrum of  diversity in race, class, ethnicity, cultures, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. 

 The program will commence with an ELEVATED Conversation Reception which facilitates personal reflections, and shared deliberations about heavy matters  in a light, social atmosphere.

The conversations will be about things that are relevant and will resonate with seniors at the intersection of their interest.  The topics will include lifestyle and wellness topics as well as current and trending issues. 

The conduit or prompts are curated Conversation Quotes, enabling the sharing and hearing of points of views that may vary from those that are currently held or familiar.  Through skillful facilitation, seniors will affirm what they already know, or safely push their boundaries and themselves to see and learn pertinent facts about others and themselves. 

This results in –

 a) increased awareness and understanding on important matters – including those related to diversity and inclusiveness, 

b) a greater sense of greater empowerment and 

c) increased social connectedness.  

WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US:

Recent research conducted by McMaster University reported that “intergenerational programs are appropriate and effective for older adults, including people with dementia. They have the potential to nurture a sense of being useful to society (such as the feeling that older people are able to guide and positively influence future generations), to improve the well-being of older adults, but also to reduce the stigma associated with aging and discrimination against older adults. In addition, inter-generational interventions have the potential to improve students’ academic, behavioral, social-emotional and motivational outcomes.

GENERATIONS’ CONNECTIONS

‘The Seniors with SWAG’ premiere event, ELEVATED Conversations, Dinner with wine, and Fashion Show, is the launch for ‘Generations’ Connections’ – a volunteer program that connects seniors and youth through weekly conversations held on Zoom, the phone, or in-person.

GOALS AND OUTCOME:

Goals 

1. Improve seniors’ well-being by decreasing feelings of social isolation and loneliness. 

2 Help youth value, understand, and recognize seniors as an integral part of the community. 

3. Reduced stigma and age discrimination against seniors. 

4. Support and promote youth development, by providing the opportunity for young people to benefit from the richness that comes with and from seniors 

Expected Outcomes

 1. Increased youth understanding and respect for seniors. 

2. Decreased feelings of social isolation and loneliness. 

3. Reduced stigma associated with aging. 

4. Reduced acts of ageism/discrimination and elderly abuse

A Resource Booklet is being produced to be handed out to all the attendees.