Haldimand County Public Library has partnered with Service Canada to offer informative in-person workshops about government benefits and services for local youth, Indigenous Peoples and seniors.

These programs will be offered in person at the identified branches with a Service Canada representative. Participants will be able to ask questions and join in discussions facilitated by library staff during and after the presentation. Pre-registration for these programs is recommended but not required.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) /Old Age Security (OAS) benefits and My Service Canada Account Workshop

This workshop provides information about the Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefit such as eligibility requirements, how to calculate your payment, how to apply, when to apply, survivors benefits, child benefits and more.

At the end of this workshop, a Service Canada representative will answer questions about the My Service Canada Account. Anyone wishing to obtain a Personal Access Code (PAC) to access their My Service Canada Account (MSCA) that day will need to know their SIN and have photo ID.

Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Workshops are open to all residents and are scheduled as follows:

• February 9 at 10 a.m. – Cayuga Library and Heritage Center, 19 Talbot  St.
• March 6 at 1:30 p.m. – Selkirk Branch, 34 Main St W.
• March 15 at 1:30 p.m. – Hagersville Branch, 13 Alma St N.
• March 21 at 10 a.m. – Caledonia Branch, 100 Haddington St.
• June 6 at 10:30 a.m. – Dunnville Branch, 317 Chestnut St.

Services for Youth Workshop and Social Insurance Clinic (SIN)

This workshop will cover a variety of government benefits,  programs and incentives aimed to help youth find employment and fund post-secondary education.  Some of the topics covered will be the Canadian Government Job Bank, education grants and loans, apprenticeship incentives, grants and loans.

At the end of the workshop, a Service Canada employee will assist youth and any other members of the public in registering for a Social Insurance Number (Social Insurance Numbers are needed to gain employment, open a bank account and apply to post-secondary education).

Services for Youth Workshops and Social Insurance Clinics are open to all residents and are scheduled as follows:

• March 13 at 11 a.m. – Caledonia Branch, 100 Haddington St.
• March 16 at 1:30 p.m. – Dunnville Branch, 317 Chestnut St.
• April 24 at 2:30 p.m. – Jarvis Branch, 2 Monson St.

Anyone wishing to register for a Social Insurance Number must bring the following things:

1. A valid primary identification document such as a birth certificate, Canadian citizenship card, work or study permit, or permanent resident card.
2. A valid secondary identity document such as a passport, driver’s licence or health card.
3. A document showing proof of address such as a bill from a service provider, employment or school document, or a letter from an organization attesting to the applicant’s address signed by a representative of that organization and the applicant.

Services for Indigenous Peoples Workshop

This workshop will provide information on the Indigenous Seniors Assisted Living Program, The Hope for Wellness Hotline as well as the Canadian Pension Program and Old Age Security. Other topics that will be covered include the First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program and financial assistance for Indigenous students.

The Services for Indigenous Peoples Workshop will be held at the Hagersville Branch (13 Alma St. N.) on Thursday, Mar. 16 at 5 p.m. The workshop is open to all residents.

For more information about these or other government benefits and services, or clarification on any document requirements, visit www.canada.ca or call 1-800-O-Canada.

The Haldimand County Public Library is hitting the ground running in 2023 with three engaging events coming up this month for the community to enjoy.

Author visit with Carolyn Huizinga Mills

The Library will be hosting an in-person author visit with Carolyn Huizinga Mills at the Dunnville Branch on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. where she’ll be discussing her latest novel, Sins of the Daughter. The visit will be approximately an hour in length with a short reading, book discussion and Q&A session. No registration is required.

Already an award-winning children’s author, Sins of the Daughter will be the first adult novel for the former Dunnville resident. The novel explores the fragile bond between mothers and daughters, and how the choices of one generation impact the next. Copies of the book are available to borrow from local library branches.

Book Club information night

The Haldimand County Public Library is launching a new book club at the Cayuga Branch. All those interested in joining or learning more about the program are invited to an information night at the Cayuga Branch on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

The session will determine if there is enough interest to start a new club, discuss how each meeting will run, and chose the titles that will be read during the year.

Crafternoons

Crafternoons are adult-only craft sessions held at various branches of the Haldimand County Public Library with a different craft each month. Participants in the January Crafternoon sessions will be creating wooden spoon snowmen to bring some seasonal charm to their kitchen décor. All sessions take place at 1 p.m. and require a $2 fee.

• Jarvis Branch – Monday, Jan. 23
• Hagersville Branch – Wednesday, Jan 25
• Dunnville Branch – Thursday, Jan 26
• Cayuga Branch – Friday, Jan 27