Silent Auction

The FCSSAA Board proudly presents this year’s Silent Auction at the 2023 “Creating Connections- Building Bridges” Conference. 
100% of the auction proceeds go directly to the conference programming or subsidy budget, which lets us continue to bring this fantastic conference to you each year.
Please drop off items at the table next to the Registration Desk when you arrive on Wednesday, November 22. Each item requires a bid sheet, which you can fill out when you drop off your item. 
Bidding will open at the start of the Conference on Wednesday, November 22nd and will close after the banquet Thursday evening, November 23rd. 

Information Tables at the Conference

A small group of organizations well known to FCSS programs will be available to meet with delegates, answer questions or provide resources.

Service Canada

Service Canada representatives will be available to provide basic information on various programs and services, and how to access them.  There will be information available for the Canada Pension Plan, the Old Age Security benefit and the Employment Insurance Program. Be sure to ask about their Community Outreach and Liaison Services. Service Canada Representatives will provide services to rural, remote, and urban area to support/educate clients on our programs and services. They can offer information sessions, outreach clinics, and information booths for various sessions for your organizations.  All services are free of charge. 

Canada Revenue Agency 

Representatives from both the CVITP (Community Volunteer Income Tax Program) and Benefits Outreach programs will be on-site to answer any questions you may have regarding their programs. Have you heard about the CVITP? Do you have questions about hosting a CVITP clinic and didn’t know who to ask? A CVITP Representative will be on hand to answer these questions and more. Does your organization receive many questions about qualifying and receiving the Canada Child Benefit, the Goods and Services Tax Credit, or the Disability Tax Credit? An Outreach representative will be on site to answer questions or to book a presentation for you and your staff or your clients. Please stop by and visit our booth.

Men’s Sheds

Men's Sheds are an important resource for improving men's health and well being.  Every community in Alberta would benefit from having one, and representatives from the Alberta Men's Shed Association will be available to provide resources and answer questions on how to make it happen in your area.
 

Rural Health Professions Action Plan

The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) is dedicated to partnering with rural communities in Alberta to enhance health-care accessibility. Our primary initiatives are geared towards attracting, retaining, and educating health professionals, while also supporting rural Albertans in their efforts to maintain a reliable and readily available health workforce. RhPAP works in conjunction with the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) to ensure sustainable health-care coverage in rural areas. We remain committed to exploring collaborative and innovative opportunities in this field.

The Palliative Institute

The Palliative Institute is a research, education and public advocacy hub established by Covenant Health in 2012. The institute has recently adapted and adopted five tools to increase Albertans' understanding of palliative care and advance care planning. Recognizing that FCSS offices across Alberta play a unique role as community hubs and trusted sources of information on healthy living, quality of life, and dealing with crisis, we believe that sharing our tools and resources with FCSS members will help improve public awareness and literacy with respect to palliative care and advance care planning. Palliative institute representatives will be on hand to provide these materials and answer questions.

Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction (SARTR), Consumer Services unit oversees a vast amount of consumer protection legislation. Topics include landlord and tenant issues, consumer protections that apply when purchasing goods or services in Alberta, collection agencies, payday loans, home improvements, credit reporting agencies, condominium ownership, and much more. This information would be extremely valuable for FCSS staff to be aware of, especially when dealing with clients who have multi-faceted needs. Contact information for the SARTR Consumer Contact Centre for inquiries, including when and how to file a complaint, will also be provided. Consumer Services staff will also take requests to provide presentations to organizations about specific consumer protection topics, such as the rights and responsibilities of tenants when renting in Alberta.

Utilities Consumer Advocate

The Utilities Consumer Advocate provides information on the various electricity and natural gas options available to consumers in Alberta. We break down the line items on your bill and explain how Alberta’s unique energy market works. We also provide mediation services between consumers and utility companies when issues arise.