- Details
- Published: 28 April 2016
By Alana Prochuk
Elder abuse and violence against women aren't separate issues, and we believe that they must not be separate conversations. That’s why West Coast LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) and the Canadian Centre for Elder Law are offering a free webinar for front-line service providers to explore the legal challenges that are most likely to impact older women in BC who have experienced violence.
If you support or advocate for older women in BC, we invite you to join our free webinar on Tuesday May 24th and Tuesday May 31st from noon to 1 pm Pacific Time. We will introduce our new 90-page plain language legal handbook for older women fleeing violence, called Roads to Safety, and offer an overview of some of the legal topics it covers:
TUESDAY MAY 24th - PART 1
- Decision-making rights and capacity, including for women with dementia and mental health diagnoses
- Substitute decision-makers and the abuse of decision-making authority
- Protection orders and peace bonds
- Options to assist older women who are facing abuse and cannot take action to protect themselves
TUESDAY MAY 31st - PART 2
- Public pensions
- Basics of property division after separation or divorce, including pension division
- Steps to protect assets in cases of financial abuse
Each session will be framed by discussion of the insights that 450 older women shared with us in nine different languages as part of the Older Women's Dialogue Project. Throughout the webinar, we'll maintain a focus on the gendered dynamics of violence against older adults. We aim to prompt reflection about how legal challenges in the aftermath of abuse can vary based not only on age and gender, but also based on ability, citizenship status, Indigenous identity, language, access to financial resources, and more. We hope you will come away with greater confidence in talking to older women in BC about their legal rights and options in the context of abuse.
This webinar is part of the Older Women’s Legal Education Project, a collaboration between West Coast LEAF and the Canadian Centre for Elder Law. Funding has been generously provided by the BC Council to Reduce Elder Abuse.
Space in the webinar is limited to 100 people.
Please register now at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1678353196952104195
Questions? We would love to hear from you!
Please contact Alana Prochuk at or 604-684-8772 extension 117.
Alana Prochuk is the Manager of Public Legal Education at West Coast LEAF, BC’s first and only organization dedicated to advancing women’s equality through the law. She designs public legal education workshops and print resources with a focus on women’s safety and rights. Previously, she worked for the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support, where she developed a peer-led, volunteer-based elder abuse education program.
Contact information:
Alana Prochuk
Manager of Public Legal Education
West Coast Women's Legal Education & Action Fund
555 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2
Unceded Coast Salish Territories
Tel: 604.684.8772 ext.117,
toll-free in BC: 1.866.737.7716
Fax 604.684.1543
www.westcoastleaf.org
Twitter: @WestCoast_LEAF
Facebook: WestCoastLEAF
