Job Title: Coordinator of Peer Support

Posted Date:  7 June 2022

Closing Date: 28 June 2022

About The West End Seniors’ Network (WESN):

WESN is a registered not-for-profit organization with over 850 members, an annual revenue budget of $1m and 15 full / part time staff. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults in Vancouver’s West End by providing social, recreational, educational, and supportive programs and services that foster connection and inclusion in the broader community.  

We are building a collaborative team of highly motivated individuals who are passionate about WESN’s mandate of having a positive impact on the lives of seniors in Vancouver’s West End.

Accountabilities:

• Train and supervise volunteer driven peer support groups.
• Lead support groups.
• Establish an outreach program for peer support groups – specifically, hard to reach seniors.
• Monitor funders for grant opportunities.
• Encourage fundraising and marketing / communications activities from Kay’s Place.
• Providing staff and volunteers with the necessary support and resources to conduct their roles to the best of their abilities.
• Represents the Manager of Kay’s Place when required.

Skills and Qualifications:

• A degree in the social sciences, health sciences, counselling or equivalent
• Current full registration with applicable regulatory College or eligibility for registration with an appropriate professional body 
• Strong people skills with the ability to lead volunteers 
• Knowledge of the needs and issues of seniors 
• Strong writing skills
• Strong MS Office tools, social media skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with staff, volunteers and board members

Reports To: Manager of Kay’s Place

Supervises: Multiple Volunteers

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week with some flexibility

Benefits: Health Care, Dental and Vision Care

Location: This is an on-location job, working out of our offices located in the Denman Mall – Kay’s Place, in Vancouver’s West End

Other: Satisfactory completion of a Criminal Record Check

Please send your resume and covering letter to [email protected]

Graduate students from SFU’s Department of Gerontology are looking for older adults to participate in a 60 – 90 minute interview (on Zoom or in-person). As part of their coursework, students are required to come up with a study topic of their choice and conduct one-on-one interviews with seniors. Below are the topics that students have chosen and their contact information:

How does ageism impact the experience of older adults in the workplace?

–       Gracen Bookmyer

–       509 637 3232

–       [email protected]

–       Looking for seniors who are currently working, or who have recently retired, to understand experiences of ageism in the workplace.

What are the barriers and motivators for physical activity engagement among older people?

–       Sadia Sharmin

–       604 773 0080

–       [email protected]

–       Looking for seniors to discuss barriers, motivators, benefits, and challenges regarding physical activity in later life.

How do widows, whose spouse dies suddenly, experience the grieving process and transition into widowhood?

–       Samantha Teichman

–       506 608 3091

–       [email protected]

–       Looking for women who are widows and the death of their spouse occurred suddenly when they were aged 55 or older.

If you are interested in participating in a one-on-one interview on any of these topics, please contact the student directly, or contact:

–       Joe Humphries, Community Services Coordinator, West End Seniors Network

–       604-669-5051 ext 2

–       [email protected]

Thank you for your interest in helping out these students!