2024 Provincial ActionPlan

The project: working with the Province of Nova Scotia Justice Department, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism (OoEAR) to identify barriers that elder Q folk face, in accessing provincial government programs.

The Methodology

1. All promo material must include the Province of NS Logo
2. We will be using the 5-question (six, "What haven't we asked about?") survey provided by the OoEAR. It's on google here.
3. Four meetings of probably eight people each, plus one Zoom meeting. ASL interpreted if we can get funding for it.
4. The deliverable
   1. notes from the meetings
   2. NOT transcripts from recordings; recordings are not allowed.
   3. Quotes from people as they can be made by the note-takers.
   4. Anonymized. No mention of specific places or people's names.

Our Provincial Contacts

• Executive Lead – Miranda Romkey, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
• Executive Lead – Luke Power, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
• Executive Lead – Jenny Benson-Pratt, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism

Possible Venues

• The restaurant on the ground floor of Fenwick Tower
• Elliot & Vine
• Le Bistro By Liz
• La Pizza Resto on Chebucto near North
• Armdale Yacht Club
• Caribbean Bliss
• Juliens
• Swiss Chalet
• Silver Dragon

Budget

THIS BUDGET NEEDS TO BE RE-DONE in light of the 2024-06-28 Meeting

From the contract

The objectives of the engagement campaign for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan initiative are outlined below.

• Meaningful Engagement: Actively listen and understand concerns, challenges, and insights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Where possible, bridge these perspectives into provincial policy, programs, and services to enhance accessibility, equity, and safety.
• First-Person Stories: Gather first-hand knowledge and personal stories to provide nuanced insights into the challenges faced by the community.
• Building Partnerships: Identify, collaborate with, and establish relationships with community champions, leaders, organizations, and Elders.
• Community-Driven Actions: Understand community needs and convert insights into actionable plans.
• Collaboratively integrate these actions across various provincial government departments, aligning policies and services with genuine needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
• Core activities associated with the ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY in support of engagement for the 2SLGBTQIA+

Action Plan initiative are described below

1. The objectives of the ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY will be to:

• Lead engagement sessions with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; and
• Report to OEA the insights, issues, and solutions shared by community members during engagements to inform an all-of-government action plan for the community.

2. Activities associated with engaging community as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan initiative and associated benefits/outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Using the guidance and templates provided by the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, conducting in-person and/or virtual engagement session(s) with community members, including (but not limited to):
  • Facilitating broad attendance by community members;
  • Securing a location including ensuring technology needs are met;
  • Arranging for refreshments;
  • Ensuring the accessibility needs of participants are met; and
  • Using a Trauma-Informed approach to deliver the sessions as well as facilitating participant comfort and safety for information sharing.
• Promoting the engagement session(s) they are leading, for example:
  • Social media activity to advertise sessions (e.g., posting to Facebook and X; as well as media interviews);
  • Printed material: posters, flyers, newsletters, bulletins, etc.; and/or
  • Pre-recorded video messages.
• Reporting to OEA the feedback from community members that was shared using the provided templates and within two weeks of completion of engagement activities. Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Executive Leads will be consulted as necessary to support ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY and to approve any changes to the agreed approach:

August 17, 2025 Meeting

Where: Eliot & Vine, Cunard St

• Transcriber: Dan
• Moderator / Animator: Renee

Notes

• Send them the questions the day before.
• Show up on time please. If that means maybe getting there 15 minutes or a half hour early, we'll have a place for you to sit.
• Intro to the evening
• Look at menus
• First question
• Order
• Questions while we wait for food
• Social time while we eat
• Rest of questions over coffee / refreshments
• Order dessert
• The last question "Is there anything we didn't cover"
• Enjoy dessert and head out.