Seniors’ organizations’ talking amalgamation plan

A seniors’ organizations’ amalgamation plan is in the works in Whitehorse but isn’t a done deal yet.
The Amalgamation Implementation Plan (AIP) would see the Yukon Council on Aging (YCOA), the Golden Age Society (GAS) and the Elderactive Recreation Association (ERA) all join forces as part of a new organization.
According to the AIP presentation to members (dated June 6, 2024), the three entities represent a “combined 112 years of community engagement, programs, services and resources” in the Yukon.
The request for proposals regarding the AIP from Duncan Miller, president of the Golden Age Society, stated, “we are exploring an amalgamation strategy to pool resources, expertise, and services. Our goal is to create a unified, efficient and more robust structure that can offer a wider range of services and support to seniors in the Yukon”.
“We also believe that our membership and active client base are less extensive than they could be.”
“Collectively, these three organizations have a combined membership of approximately 1,300
seniors/elders, which represents less than 10 per cent of current Yukoners 55 and older (12,621
per Yukon Bureau of Statistics, June 30, 2023).”
The Yukon Star spoke with former Whitehorse Mayor Bev Buckway recently to get an update on the amalgamation process.
Buckway is part of the eight-person Amalgamation Feasibility Team that’s been working on the possibility of an amalgamation.
The team has representatives from the YCOA, the GAS and the ERA.
Buckway explained how the potential amalgamation came about.
“It seems that there has been discussion of a potential amalgamation going on for over a decade. So a group of us decided, ‘You know, let’s quit talking about it. Let’s get a feasibility study done.’ And so we did that in May of 2023.”
“And then, things seemed to prove very positive that there was good potential for it. So we then did an implementation plan and that has just been completed now in July. And so we thought that if we actually had something on paper, instead of just talking about it, we could lay out what would have to happen, what the process would be, and then it would provide enough information for all of our members to actually make an informed choice when it comes to the vote.”
Buckway had an update on the progress being made on the Amalgamation Implementation Plan.
“There was a selection made and the consultants have worked diligently on putting the information together. (I’m) pretty impressed with all the work that they’ve done.”
A group of three people were awarded the contract, including Wendy Morrison (YZED Projects), Linda Casson (Linda Casson Ltd.) and Ryan van Der Marel (Nomad Mind) and a non-profit consulting firm, The Osbourne Group.
A final draft was completed in early July.
“We want to get that out to the members fairly shortly,” said Buckway.
Once the members receive the report, they will be invited to vote on whether to amalgamate or not.
The target date for the vote is tentatively set for Oct. 10 at the Elks’ Hall.
“It’s really crucial that people understand that it’s the members that will have the final say whether we amalgamate or not.”
If the amalgamation proceeds, the name of the new organization would be the Northern Horizons Yukon Society.
The Star will have more on this ongoing story in Friday July 26’s print edition.