SAVI’s Mission Statement: is to consolidate and strengthen the network of seniors’ clubs giving a united voice and an improved quality of life to the seniors in the City of Vaughan.
SAVI’s Objectives are: to advocate for seniors’ needs and interest. To offer social, cultural, recreational and educational activities aimed at reducing isolation and promoting social interaction among seniors, and to strengthen friendships and community connections.
SENIORS’ SUMMITS: this concept was initiated as an avenue for seniors to have local issues addressed by its City and Regional Council. To achieve this end, annual delegations and deputations are made to the Vaughan City Council highlighting the needs of individual seniors clubs across the City of Vaughan.
SAVI expanded its Seniors Summits to include Provincial and Federal party representation, at which point provincial and federal matters were presented. Resulting from this initiative, the Provincial government introduced and legislate the Property Tax Rebate for seniors across Ontario. A commitment was made to improve health services in Vaughan, with a particular focus on the building of a hospital and health campus of care, and a commitment on the part of the Federal government to ensure that seniors’ needs be met by making it a high priority for its government to deal with senior needs.
SENIORSFEST/CULTURE FEST: to reduce isolation, loneliness and strengthen friendships. SAVI’s Board, organizes and implements an annual full-day festival, engaging well over 1,300 senior members. Through cultural games, culinary delights, entertainment and friendly competitions, senior members from our multi-cultural community participate jointly and celebrate together, culminating to an evening of dancing under the stars. Coinciding with this event, is the record-breaking food drive for the Vaughan Food Bank, with SAVI having set and still maintaining the record for the most food collected for a single day event as well as on a cumulative basis.
SENIORS’ INFORMATION DAY: this annual full-day event provides an opportunity for seniors to be informed of the various services available to seniors and become familiar with the procedures and process to obtain the required services. SAVI undertakes of inviting and securing the attendance of various service organizations, organize workshops for interactive communication and activity, schedule guest speakers and making provision for food and refreshments, while ensuring that each senior attendee is provided with ample information and pamphlets within a social and cordial atmosphere. This event attracts and engages hundreds of seniors of the City of Vaughan.
Past activities: VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: is an annual evening of acknowledgement and recognition of valued volunteers. During the undertaking of SAVI’s activities and events, there is an ongoing recruitment of volunteers from among its members, to assist with identified tasks. SAVI places great value in rewarding the efforts made by the SAVI members, and as a result, the volunteer recognition event has become a much-anticipated festivity where volunteers come together in a celebration of friendship and goodwill, and go away with an increased sense of pride and belonging.
INTERCITY BOCCE TOURNAMENT– To encourage and expand social interaction and friendship building. There are a number of seniors clubs whose facilities include bocce courts. As a result, each of these seniors clubs has formed teams that participate in the game of bocce, although the competition was restricted within each club
To ensure that SAVI provides an exceptional level of service to its members. SAVI recognizes the need to increase the services provided by SAVI well beyond social activity and event. Therefore, SAVI has established working relationships with local retirement homes, senior’s residences, CHATS, OCSCO, Elspeth Hayworth, and other like organizations. With the Vaughan Community Health Centre and the City of Vaughan Parks and Recreation Department, through various grants, SAVI has assisted in the Active Living Program for seniors which offered sessions of light exercises and health education to any senior wishing to participate. With Elspeth Hayworth, through The Learning Centre grant, able to procure computers and offer computer learning classes, free of charge, on an ongoing basis.
The activities and events undertaken by SAVI are not limited to those noted above. SAVI’s mission is to gather information on other current event from other sources which are shared with the seniors clubs. As a result, SAVI is invited annually by York Regional Police to its Seniors Day celebration, as well as its Calendar Launch, and is a vehicle of communication for any information session, pertaining to seniors that are held by York Regional Police as well as the City of Vaughan Fire Department.
