The Greater Trail Hospice Society presented an update on the NavCARE Dementia Project at Monday's municipal governance meeting.
Representatives Maggie Shirley and Gail Potter detailed the initiative, which is part of a partnership with UBC Okanagan, supported by a grant to address dementia care in six communities, including Trail.
The project introduces the NavCARE Dementia/Compassionate Community program, a volunteer-based initiative aimed at supporting individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Shirley, Trail’s hospice coordinator, is joined by part-time staff from two other organizations to recruit and train volunteers and implement dementia-inclusive strategies.
“This program is groundbreaking for Trail,” Shirley noted, adding that it is being piloted alongside cities in Alberta and Ontario.
The program focuses on three core elements: volunteer navigation, which involves pairing trained volunteers with individuals in moderate to late stages of dementia and their caregivers; interorganizational collaboration, or establishing partnerships with community-based organizations and healthcare providers; and dementia-inclusive communities, which aims to create initiatives to improve quality of life and inclusion for those living with dementia.
In the coming months, the project aims to secure two additional partnerships and finalize staff hiring.
By January 2025, the team plans to form an advisory committee comprising 15 to 20 stakeholders, including people living with dementia, family caregivers, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Per the delegates' request, the committee may also include a member of Trail council.
The advisory group will assess dementia-related needs in the Trail area and help guide the project, which runs through December 2025 with follow-up in spring 2026.
Shirley highlighted the urgent need for such programs, citing statistics from NavCARE: nearly 750,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia, and over 350 new cases are diagnosed daily.
NavCARE’s model connects individuals with chronic health conditions to volunteers trained to navigate health changes and advocate for resources, aiming to improve overall quality of life.
In Trail, the project will develop a local resource inventory and identify service gaps for dementia care.
Trail council did not decide who would represent them on the advisory committee during the meeting. However, the project’s forward momentum underscores the city’s commitment to enhancing support for dementia care and creating a compassionate community.
Trail council heard two more key presentations during Monday's meeting, approving funding for two local arts organizations and revisiting a grant request from the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society.
VISAC
Sharon Roberts, executive director of the VISAC Gallery, sought a $10,000 cash contribution from council to support the gallery's community capacity-building efforts.
The request follows extensive community consultations conducted last year as part of VISAC’s first strategic planning process.
“Our rapid growth post-COVID has seen us evolve into an important community hub where people of all ages meet to learn, grow, and create community,” Roberts shared.
She emphasized VISAC’s role as the region’s sole community arts centre, which includes partnerships with local organizations such as the Teck Wellness Program, Trail Association for Community Living, and the Trail Chamber of Commerce.
Roberts said the funding would help stabilize economic opportunities for local artists, expand access to arts programs, and secure higher-level funding from provincial and federal sources.
VISAC offers a range of services, including a community pottery studio, youth programming for ages 2 to 18, and career development for emerging regional artists.
Council unanimously approved the $10,000 request.
Arts council
Next, Joanne Argue and Nadine Tremblay from the Trail and District Arts Council requested a $25,000 grant, matching last year’s allocation.
The funding supports community arts organizations and enables high-quality performing arts events in the Trail area.
Argue highlighted the council’s commitment to removing barriers to arts access by offering free events and subsidized ticket prices.
“You see the magic, but you don’t see the hard work and all the heavy lifting it takes to put that show on,” she said. “We struggle, and every year fear we won’t be able to keep it all going.”
The arts council oversees the 728-seat Bailey Theatre and the 100-seat “The Griff,” hosting more than 30 events annually, including family programs, jazz performances, classical concerts, and Music in the Park.
Trail council unanimously approved the $25,000 request to help sustain the arts council’s operations.
Affordable housing
Council revisited a $15,500 funding request from the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society, initially presented during the Nov. 12 meeting.
The grant will enable the society to complete a Capacity Building Plan for its rental properties in Trail.
Chief administrator Colin McClure clarified financial details during the meeting, noting that construction rebates the society receives would be returned to BC Housing. McClure also highlighted that Trail’s affordable housing units are aging compared to newer units in Rossland and yet-to-open complex in Fruitvale.
Since 2013, the society has developed and operated 56 rental units across the region, including 15 in Trail. Eligible tenants must meet BC Housing’s income and asset limits.
The requested funding will be used to engage the BC Non-Profit Housing Association to complete Building Condition Reports and create a comprehensive Capital Management Plan. The society noted that this plan will ensure the long-term sustainability of its properties, enabling proper maintenance and repairs.
“Having safe, affordable housing increases the likelihood of the residents participating productively in the workforce, the economy and the social fabric of the community,” the society stated.
After reviewing the clarified details, council unanimously approved the $15,500 grant.
