CAFES is happy to invite Ottawa’s seniors to our FREE event, Extreme Weather and You: Building Community Response on Wednesday, October 7 2026 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the Rideau Community Hub, 815 Saint Laurent Boulevard. Lunch will be provided!
As extreme weather events like wildfire smoke, floods, and storms become more frequent in the Ottawa area, senior residents are one of the more vulnerable populations. However, seniors equipped with knowledge and skills that can help them and their communities are seniors who will be resilient and a crucial resource to their community.
On Wednesday October 7, we invite seniors to join us to build community, bring your experience, and learn about the services that may be available to your community that build resilience in the face of extreme weather.
Panelists
- Elder/Wisdom Keeper Karen McInnis, (Nenookassiwag kwi – Humming Bird woman) is a pipe carrier, drum and sweat lodge holder, an Elder and a Psychotherapist who works with Minwasshin Lodge, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, and Wabano Aboriginal Health Centre.
- Bader Abu Zahra is Co-Chair of the Ottawa-Vanier Chapter of ACORN, is an engineer and a committed advocate for social justice.
- Katrina Coderre is a Nursing Project Officer with Ottawa Public Health’s Emergency Management Program supporting emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
- Melissa Lavery is a Coordinator with the City of Ottawa’s Office of Emergency Management where she supports emergency planning, training, exercises and coordinated municipal response.
Program
09:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Doors open and Ice breakers. Coffee & tea provided.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Panel discussion with experts
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Lunch
12:30 PM – 01:30 PM – Participatory workshop about an extreme weather event
01:30 PM – 02:00 PM – Next steps: What can we do
02:00 PM Closing
This project is being implemented in collaboration with Seniors For Climate Action Now (SCAN) Ottawa, The Odawa Native Friendship Centre, and City For All Women Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes IVTF (CAWI-IVTF) and is funded by the Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which supports projects designed by and for seniors; projects that empower seniors in their communities through increased social inclusion.
