In Penticton, next week has been set aside by city council and Mayor Dan Ashton for recognition of seniors, a time to celebrate and honour the leadership, volunteerism, mentorship and community building contributions by older citizens.

Central to the week is the annual Seniors’ Symposium, which takes place on Wednesday in the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It’s the 18th annual such event sponsored by the South Okanagan Seniors’ Wellness Society, who see it as a venue for both businesses and individuals to participate in Recognition of Seniors Week.

“It’s really an opportunity for so many people to connect with each other to see what’s going on throughout the South Okanagan,” said Sandra Dean, executive director of the Wellness Society.

The theme this year is Claiming Our Power As We Age, focusing on advocacy for older adults, especially for those just moving into the senior age bracket.

“Especially from 50 on, it’s the younger older adults that really need to look at shaping their future,” said Dean, adding that otherwise seniors could end up facing a range of issues in health care, social services and pensions.

“It’s now that we have to start making a difference, it’s not when we’re 80 … as we reach our senior years and still have the energy, we really need to be shaping the future for ourselves.”

The symposium features a day filled with entertainment, as well as up to 110 booths displaying new equipment, supplies, housing arrangements, anything to do with health for seniors, including information from Interior Health, who maintain a regular presence at the symposium, distributing information about the programs they offer.

Interior Health will also be conducting their first flu clinic of the season at the symposium, making it easy for seniors to get their annual flu shot.

“It offers a one-stop opportunity for Interior Health to provide flu shots to the up to 5,000 people that usually attend,” said Dean.

Central to the claiming our power theme will be an afternoon seminar by Nidus, a not-for-profit group charged with providing information and assisting the public. They’ll be discussing the importance of representation agreements, a legal document unique to B.C. combining Enduring Power of Attorney with the ability for a person to legally document their health care wishes.

There will also be many entertainers performing throughout the day, including the Village Fiddlers and the Fiddlekidz, dancing by the Peach City Cloggers and magician Ali K. Zam. Local piano students, young and old, will entertain all day.

“It’s really an enjoyable day at a good time of year,” said Dean, who says the symposium is one of the largest of its type. “We consider it to be one of the largest seniors’ events in North America. We haven’t been able to find anything that’s equivalent.”