The Second International Workshop on Seniors and Emergency Preparedness was held March 16 to 19 in Halifax. The Workshop brought together 120 leading experts from various fields, including seniors, emergency management, health care providers, front line responders, policy makers and researchers. The purpose of the gathering was to share tools and resources; develop a better under-standing of existing networks and current initiatives; and to advise on next steps to enhance the inte-gration of seniors into emergency management.

In a message to participants, the Honourable Minister Tony Clement set the tone of the Workshop with the following: "The frequency of disasters and global population aging are resulting in an increasing awareness of the vulnerability of older people. However, the resiliency of people, including the contributions of older persons, must not be discarded, but rather harnessed. I commend you for staying the course in developing an understanding of the impacts of disasters on older people around the world and the management of policy and practice."

Gerda Kaegi, CPC member, attended as a representative of the Congress of National Seniors.