As we approach the end of 2025, Seniors First BC would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Seniors First BC is a charitable, non-profit society that provides information, legal advocacy, and support to older adults across BC with issues affecting their well-being. Our services are delivered through our Seniors Abuse and Information Line, Victim Services, Elder Law Clinic, Advance Planning Clinics, Legal Advocacy Program, and Public Education and Outreach Program.

Donations serve an important role in helping our programs operate. To make a donation to our organization safely and securely online, click the button below to access our Canada Helps page.

Click Here to Donate!

Fall Prevention

Stay Safe

Winter is now just around the corner and the cold season brings a lot of happiness, but also its share of difficulties. Among them are falls. Low light, wet leaves, icy sidewalks and snow are all challenges seniors must meet during those cold months.

In B.C., one in three older adults will fall once every year. Around half of older adults who fall experience minor injuries, while 5 to 25% will sustain a serious outcome. Between 2012 and 2022, there was a 23% increase in hospitalizations due to fall-related injuries among older adults in British Columbia. Women were 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for such injuries compared to men.

Fortunately there are several ways to prevent falls. Here are some resources:

Reach Out and Stay Connected During the Holidays

Diverse group of seniors at Christmas dinner

Due to the emphasis on family and togetherness the holiday season can be a particularly difficult time for people who are not close to their relatives, don’t have any left, or none nearby, and/or recently lost a loved one.

Reaching out is one way to navigate the season. Several Neighbourhood Houses offer events and activities during that period.

Here are some suggestions:

For those who are struggling with the loss of a loved one, please contact the British Columbia Bereavement Helpline.

A Reminder to be Scam Aware

Shop Safely During This Holiday Season

Here are some tips to protect yourself against the holiday purchase scams:

Use strong, unique passwords.
Consider shopping local instead of shopping online.
Go directly to trusted websites instead of searching for items on a search engine or on social media marketplaces.
Keep an eye on your credit card, bank statement and report immediately any unusual activity.

Be aware of:

Fake retailer websites, along with phishing emails or deep-fake videos to impersonate brands or celebrities/influencers.
Counterfeit products (e.g. on the TikTok Shop) or prices that are “too good to be true”.
Digital Pickpocketing, where criminals use contactless payment devices to skim data from phones.
QR Codes, where fraudsters embed malicious links in QR codes. When you scan that QR code, check if there really is a URL or a website link and/or if there is anything suspicious about the link.

For more information, visit Get Cyber Safe.

December 10

Human Rights Day

This year’s Human Rights Day’s theme reaffirms the values of human rights and shows that they remain a winning proposition for humanity.

The day commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most ground breaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948, setting out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

For more information, visit the United Nations.

Legacy Gifting, What It Means and Why It’s Important

by Sam Zeitoun

Interview with Mr. Eric B. Clavier, Lawyer and Partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

(Interview from October 10, 2025)

I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Clavier, who is also a past president of Seniors First BC, to discuss legacy gifting and what people should know when considering such gifts.

So, what is legacy gifting or legacy giving?

Some are aware that Legacy gifting is the act of making a charitable donation through formal estate planning documents. Most donors consider legacy gifting important because it supports causes that we care about. Some donate time by volunteering or giving donations to specific non-profit organizations that are close to their heart for various reasons. However, legacy gifting offers a unique opportunity to extend its impact beyond our lifetimes.

I asked Mr. Clavier to explain. He said that legacy gifting involves making donations to charities through wills, trusts or setting up foundations, allowing individuals to support non-profit organizations with their wealth after their passing. He noted that while such gifts can be made during a person's lifetime, many legacy gifts are part of estate plans, often for tax advantages.

Besides money, what other types of gifts people can offer to non-profit organizations?

Legacy gifts can include various assets beyond just cash, such as property, stocks and securities, Mr. Clavier said.

Have you experienced any family conflicts due to legacy gifting and is this a subject that should be discussed with family members in advance?

Mr. Clavier discussed the risks and considerations involved in legacy gifting, emphasizing the importance of understanding the size of one's estate and the will-maker’s obligations to their dependants, particularly in British Columbia where there are moral and legal obligations to spouses and children and there exists the very real potential for a will variation claim if those are not met.

Mr. Clavier talked about the challenges and considerations involved in estate planning, including the potential for conflict and litigation when distributing an estate unequally among family members, even if discussed in advance. It’s vital to have open conversations with family members about intentions, using various planning tools such as gifts and charitable donations, while considering the size of the estate and the potential for legal challenges. He also highlighted the role of a lawyer in providing professional advice and weighing the risks and family support before making decisions about legacy gifting.

What do people need to know about the organization they are donating to and can they be specific on how the money is to be spent within the organization?

Mr. Clavier stressed the importance of understanding the organization you want to leave a legacy gift to. For example, how much money supports the administration costs and how much money supports the actual cause. Ensure that you get the correct legal name and registration number of the organization. This will save a lot of time should the name differ from its legal registration.

Yes, donors can decide if they want to see the money allotted to a specific department or cause of this organization.

In addition, Mr. Clavier mentioned that unless a legacy gift is made immediately and irrevocably during a person’s lifetime, a person can change the proposed legacy gift and their will at any time while alive as long as they possess testamentary capacity.

Final comments and advice from Mr. Clavier

Mr. Clavier outlined a few key points for donors to consider and carry out:

Speak with your family members and inform them of your intent and wishes.
Seek professional advice in estate planning to fully understand the tax benefits and implications.
Ask about the implications of capital gains taxes on estate planning, noting that while beneficiaries do not pay income tax on gifts made through a will, the estate does have tax obligations, so proper planning is crucial to ensure sufficient liquidity to cover taxes and fulfill intended gifts. He stressed the importance of considering estate taxes when making gifts and emphasized the benefits of making gifts during one's lifetime to avoid potential litigation and preserve the value of intended charitable contributions.

I thanked Mr. Eric Clavier for his time, advice and recommendations.

We hope that our readers will benefit from this interview and consider, if possible, leaving a legacy gift to a non-profit organization that reflects a worthy cause.

Sam Zeitoun is the VP of the board, Seniors First BC

Seniors First BC’s Vision

Older adults in B.C. have the right to live with dignity, free from abuse of any kind. We are committed to protect the legal rights of older adults, increase access to justice for older adults, inform the public about elder abuse and provide supportive programs for older adults who have been abused.

Make sure to watch and share our new promotional video

We would like to warmly acknowledge our 2025 donors

Silver Tier

RBC

$5,000 to the Elder Law Clinic

Copper Tier

Mount Pleasant War Memorial
$2,000 (July)

Vancouver Foundation – Carole & Cameron Osler fund
$879.93 (July)

Christabelle Zhang, through RBC
$625.00 (September)

Beth Gallpen
$300 (November)

Pui Wah Joyce Cheung

$500 (November)

Delores Drake

$400 (November)

Promoter Tier

Margaret Davies

$100/month

November Recap

Seniors First BC was busy with presentations throughout November, covering a range of topics (Introduction to Seniors First BC, Government Benefits, Staying Connected to Reduce Social Isolation, Frauds and Scams, and Advance Planning).

Here are some highlights:

Presentation at the Chawathil First Nation in Hope.

Nov. 5

Marie-Noël Campbell, Executive Director of Seniors First BC, and Angelina Gordon of the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC, were invited by the Chawathil First Nation in Hope to present on Financial Literacy, Frauds and Scams and Elder Abuse Prevention.

Nov. 6

Seniors First BC hosted an information table at the Richmond Kiwanis Seniors Neighbourhood Café (sponsored by Heart to Home Meals Vancouver) as well as at the Social Justice Forum hosted by the Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Marie-Noël Campbell at the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Nanaimo.

Nov. 7

Marie-Noël Campbell presented on wills, powers of attorney and representation agreements to Elders and seniors at the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Nanaimo.

Nov. 14

Seniors First BC held a third pro bono legal clinic in Kelowna since mid-October, with Carolyne Pennell, Community Connector at the Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre (SORC), and Marie-Noël Campbell, Executive Director of Seniors First BC.

Huge thank you to the incredible community that has come together to make these legal clinics possible. Core funding is provided by the Law Foundation of BC, with additional support from Seniors Services Society’s SHINE Program, funded by the Province of B.C.

Carolyne Pennell and Marie-Noël Campbell at the third pro bono legal clinic in Kelowna

The PEO team at South Granville Seniors Centre’s Senior Support and Solutions Expo

Nov. 28

Seniors First BC participated in the South Granville Seniors Centre’s Senior Support and Solutions Expo. We hosted an information table and Linda Yauk (Public Education and Outreach) delivered a presentation on Frauds and Scams.

We are grateful to work with many community partners to share information with groups of seniors, including Wavefront Centre for Accessible Communication, BCCRNs, Multicultural Helping Hands Society, Brella Community Services, Whistler M.A.C., libraries, seniors centres, community centres, neighbourhood houses, and others.

Our Upcoming Presentations

An Introduction to Seniors First BC’s programs

Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 5th – 1:00–2:30 pm

Location: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, 800 East Broadway, Vancouver

Join us for this overview of Seniors First BC programs that provide information, legal advocacy and support with issues affecting seniors’ well-being such as elder abuse. Learn about common issues, and examples of how we have supported older adults.

Registration needed. Contact Shelly to save your spot. Email shelly.schnee@mpnh.org or call 604-879-8208 ext. 104

Seniors at MT Pleasant Neighbourhood House

Frauds and Scams

Date/Time: Monday, Dec. 8th – 10:30 am–12 noon

Location: Vancouver Public Library, Mount Pleasant Branch, 1 Kingsway, Vancouver

In partnership with Vancouver Public Library, we are delivering a presentation on Frauds and Scams. We’ll discuss what frauds and scams are, common methods and schemes targeting Canadian seniors, safety strategies, and resources to consult if you or someone you know has been affected by frauds/scams.

Frauds and Scams

Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 9th – 10:30 am–12 noon

Location: Vancouver Public Library, Kitsilano Branch, 2425 MacDonald St., Vancouver

In partnership with Vancouver Public Library, we are delivering a presentation on Frauds and Scams. We’ll introduce what frauds and scams are, common methods and schemes targeting Canadian seniors, safety strategies, and resources to consult if you or someone you know has been affected by frauds/scams.

Frauds and scams at VPL Kitsilano Brranch

Please check Seniors First BC’s website – Events page for latest updates and changes.

Our 2025 Holiday Schedule

Our Seniors Abuse and Information Line will remain open from December 24th, 2025, to January 2nd, 2026, with the exception of statutory holidays on December 25th–26th and January 1st.

Our Legal Programs, Victim Services, and Public Education and Outreach Program will be closed from December 25th, 2025 to January 1st, 2026.

Contact Us

Our province-wide confidential Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults and those who care about them to talk to a professional intake worker about issues that affect their well-being, receive information, or learn about our programs. Call 604-437-1940 or Toll-Free at 1-866-437-1940 weekdays 8am to 8pm. Language interpretation is available. Email us at info@seniorsfirstbc.ca.

If you are interested in contributing to this newsletter as a volunteer, email outreach@seniorsfirstbc.ca.

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