Yellowknife (Mar 14/03) - The first NWT Seniors' Forum was a productive two-day event, said NWT Seniors' Society president Beatrice Campbell.

"I thought it was a very successful workshop. It gives elders a chance to voice their concerns," said Campbell, a resident of Fort Smith.

"I was so happy with the forum because there were representatives from every community in the North. Every community had a chance to have a say."

Campbell was among 60 elders and government officials who met at the Explorer Hotel March 4 and 5.

The forum is part of a promise by the GNWT to meet with representatives from across the territory every four years. The forum is one of many initiatives that came out of a 2002-2003 Seniors Action Plan. The review, which aims to improve seniors programs, was released last June. The 28 recommendations that came out of the review are the joint responsibility of the GNWT and the NWT Senior's Society.

At the forum, seniors talked about the recommendations, reflected on what had been accomplished and revised the present work schedule.

Hot topics included respect for elders, seniors policies, living wills and power of attorney and the extended health benefits program.

Overall seniors were satisfied with the action plan and what's been accomplished, said Campbell.

"I really feel we are really looked after in the GNWT."

"In comparison with the rest of Canada, we are very well off as seniors," agreed Lloyd Brunes, the Hay River representative and the NWT representative on the National Advisory Council for Aging.

So far recommendations for elder abuse workshops, financial support for seniors programs and improvements to the fuel subsidy program have been addressed and continue to develop.

No new recommendations came from the meeting, but elder abuse and building more community seniors committees were high priorities, said NWT Senior's Society executive director Barb Hood.