History

1989

During a workshop about the 3rd age at the Rond-Point of the provincial ACFA, a recommendation was made to bring together the seniors of the province. A provisional committee was then formed on November 27, 1989 with the participation of Agathe St-Pierre, president, Thérèse Laplante, vice-president, Églande Mercier, secretary, and Valère Grenier, treasurer.

1990

The provisional committee focuses on the preparation of the constitution of the organization, its goals and objectives. It was decided that the organization would operate under the name La Fédération des aînés franco-albertains.

The first congress, coordinated by Fernande Bergeron, was carried out thanks to the financial contribution of New Horizons. The Fédération des aînés franco-albertains then includes four provincial groups and more than 1,100 members.

1991

The Fédération des aînés franco-albertains is incorporated. It then includes 350 members. The FAFA office moves to Center 82.

1992

Representatives from the central, northwest, northeast and south regions expressed the desire of local clubs to affiliate with the Fédération des aînés franco-albertains to ensure the unity and strength of seniors across Alberta. In 1994, the Federation had thirteen affiliated groups. This included 950 members.

1996

Églande Mercier became the first person to receive the Senior of the Year award.

1997

In January, the FAFA office moved to La Cité francophone in Edmonton. The FAFA rents a space from Francophonie jeunesse de l’Alberta.

2006

At the request of the Fédération des aînés franco-albertains, Campus Saint-Jean is setting up the University of the Third Age. The first Plaisir d’apprendre week took place from May 8 to 12, 2006.

2010

Thanks to funding from New Horizons, the first edition of the Jeux FRANCO+ for Franco-Albertan seniors takes place on October 2 in partnership with the Fédération du sport francophone de l’Alberta.

2013

The provincial ACFA recognized FAFA as the legitimate spokesperson for French-speaking seniors in the province.

2014

On March 3, FAFA launched its endowment fund to ensure the continued mobilization of seniors and retirees aged 50 and over.

On October 18, FAFA received the ACFA Provincial Impact Award. The award ceremony took place during the annual congress of the Alberta Francophonie.

2018

The “Je me raconte” project leads to an exhibition of 10 portraits which will tour the province (Edmonton, St. Isidore, Calgary).

2019

Launch of the Altamino project, which aims to provide tools and information on the benefits of walking. The first FAFA hike is between Edmonton and Beaumont (15 km) in May 2019.

The FAFA hosts the National Conference during the Plaisir d’apprendre 2019. About ten seniors from outside Alberta are participating in the event.

ConnectAînés is a program implemented in 2019 to combat social isolation among seniors. These are seniors living in remote or rural areas, immigrant seniors, official language minority seniors and even senior caregivers. What’s unique about this program is that seniors can connect via Zoom or phone call. The topics covered are related to health prevention for seniors and information for everyday life in order to acquire new knowledge or connect with others.

2020

Initially designed to meet the need for transition in our activities during confinement, Le petit Plaisir d’apprendre is a cycle of presentations and educational discussions, presented by videoconference via the Zoom platform.

2021

DiversAînés is a program funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2021. Its objective is to support and help French-speaking newcomers integrate into the province of Alberta by working with settlement services such as FRAP in Edmonton, PIA and CANAF in Calgary. Here, Canadian seniors participate voluntarily in cultural and information activities with families newly arrived in Alberta.

2022

The first Summer Quarter took place from July 18 to 29, 2022 in partnership with Chantiers jeunesse. The Summer Quarters bring together seniors and young people to combat isolation and create intergenerational links.

In December 2022, the Community Navigator position is created to identify existing services and direct seniors and their families to services and organizations in order to improve their financial well-being and general well-being. The Community Navigator provides support services for seniors between Edmonton and Calgary.