A new seniors advocacy group in B.C. is pressing provincial and federal governments to increase seniors' pensions.
Seniors Tin Cup is asking for pensions to at least meet the poverty line to allow seniors to live with dignity.
On Thursday, June 27, there will be Seniors Tin Cup rallies across the province, including in Williams Lake.
"I am hoping there will be enough people that we will line both sides of Oliver Street by Herb Gardner Park and FreshCo," said Tina Derksen of the Old Age Pensioners' Organization (OAPO) in Williams Lake, adding the rally starts at 11 a.m. and will last one to two hours.
Seniors Tin Cup is headed up by Sharon Elliott of Vancouver and Carole Fawcett from Vernon.
Independent of one another, the two women had been organizing rallies in their own communities to address the issue of seniors living in poverty.
Elliott started Seniors Tin Cup and reached out to Fawcett after hearing about the advocacy she was doing.
Derksen has been following their efforts on social media for about six months.
"They had synchronized rallies around B.C. in March and I was really impressed," Derksen said. "I think they had about six towns involved."
After the March rallies, Derksen contacted Fawcett and told her the OAPO in Williams Lake would participate in the next one.
Presently the poverty line in Canada is $25,252.
While Derksen does not have the statistics for seniors living below the poverty line in the Williams Lake area, she said women are particularly vulnerable because their CPP benefits are often lower than men's.
"Women living below the poverty level are bringing in anywhere between $18,000 and $21,000 a year," she said. "When you look at hearing aids, for instance, they cost $4,000 to $5,000. In three to five years they have to be replaced, for another $4,000 to $5,000. If a woman doesn't have an extended medical plan she is hooped. It's not right."
In preparation for the rally OAPO members have made 18 signs.
"Evan at FreshCo has been very kind and is going to let us set up at the top of the parking lot," Derksen said.
