Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Seniors in the Northwest Territories will be looking at a $550,000 Christmas gift if the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors has its way.

The association recently launched a public campaign to supplement the $15 million given by the Department of Health and Social Services toward the new territorial dementia care facility.

Team leaders in the dementia care facility fundraising drive, Wendy Carter, Jan Stirling, David Gilday, Barb Bromley and Esther Braden are all smiles after launching a fundraising drive for a territorial dementia centre, Friday. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

The facility was approved in April and is expected to be completed around November 2009.

Already about $300,000 strong - after a recent $60,000 boost from the Elks Club - the group is offering room sponsorships in the facility to the tune of $10,000 each to make up the rest of the funds.

"Raising money isn't the easiest thing in the world," admitted Dave Gilday, one of two Yellowknifers at the head of the fundraising drive.

"It sounds like a lot of money," he added. "But in this community that's nothing."

Gilday spoke on Friday afternoon to a packed lunch gathering at the Baker Community Centre, encouraging those present to become team leaders. Each person leading a team is asked to rally family, friends and neighbours to reach the $10,000 room goal.

"I don't think there's very many of us who can stand up and write a cheque for $10,000," he said. But maybe 10, 20 or 30 people working together can.

Dementia touches many people and someday it might "be ourselves" who need a room in the facility, Gilday reminded attendees.

One team leader, Wendy Carter, doesn't think it will be too hard to raise the money.

"There's hardly anybody you meet who doesn't know somebody with Alzheimer's. It really hits home," she said.

Carter's mother has the disease and after 37 years in the North her mom had to relocate to Ontario to receive long-term care. Currently, there aren't many options for people with dementia in the North. Either they stay home, go to the hospital or head south.

"It's too late now for my mom," said Carter.

"She shouldn't have had to move - nobody else will."