I want to wish you all Season's Greetings and a most prosperous New Year. I hope your future is filled with happy associations and events.

Canadian Pensioners Concerned's future is in its alliances, its affiliations and partnerships and joint concerted actions to address issues that affect an aging population, the quality of older persons' lives and of future and yet-to-be elders or seniors.

The National Organization for Canadian Pensioners Concerned (CPC) had its Annual General Meeting in Toronto on October 21st. Representatives were there from four of its divisions, with additional attendees from Ontario's Division and the Toronto Chapter. The biggest issue facing the meeting was discussion of a proposed joining with the National Pensioners and Seniors Citizens Federation (NPSCF). This was approved for CPC to join as an affiliate and send five delegates to the NPSCF Annual General Meeting which was being held October 22-24 in Toronto. At this meeting, Winnie Fraser?MacKay, President of CPC National, was elected member-at-large for a two-year term.

Over the next year CPC National will be participating in meetings and program activities with NPSCF. The CPC Executive and Board of Directors will be looking at the potential for a mutual alliance with NPSCF, one that can be made permanent if the affiliation proves to be positive and mutually beneficial for both organizations. CPC has limited financial resources, and NPSCF is able to draw on a larger base for its financial support. Many other seniors' organizations are facing similar challenges and financial limitations as CPC faces but some seniors' organizations in Canada are stronger: organizations such as teachers' or nurses' associations or retired civil servants have large numbers of contributing members and are the most secure.

Two speakers joined CPC National's Annual General Meeting. Lisa Romano from the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) spoke about the research paper, Congregate Living and the Law as It Affects Older Adults, she co?authored with Jane Meadus and which was prepared for the Law Commission of Ontario. The full report can be found on the ACE website or a hard copy can be requested and mailed. The report concludes that current legal structures are not adequate for those in hospital settings, retirement homes, and long-term care or nursing homes. In those settings seniors face ageism, power imbalances, limited awareness and knowledge of their legal rights, laws to protect seniors that are not applied properly, ineffective legal mechanisms and limited resources of programs and of staff. Eight recommendations are made in the report with detailed explanations for each.

The second speaker was Kim Wilson, Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health (CCSMH) who was joined by Winnie Fraser-MacKay, current President of CPC National and member of the Steering Committee for CCSMH. Kim spoke about the project which began in 2002 and has been funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada to get information circulated about mental health issues and seniors. It is predicted that 1 in 5 Canadians will be affected by mental illness. To raise awareness of this, four booklets have been prepared and widely disseminated. These booklets are available and can be requested from the Canadian Coalition.*

• Depression
• Delirium
• Suicide Risk/Prevention
• Mental Health Issues in Long-Term Care

CPC Ontario Division will be watching the national scene but will continue with its many projects. It has long been a leader in the preparation and presentation of briefs and position papers. May it continue to be.

* The booklets may be ordered free of charge from Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health, c/o Baycrest, 3560 Bathurst Street, Room 311, West Wing Old Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1. Phone 416-785-2500 x6331, Fax: 416-785-2492.