'Will Week' begins tomorrow and runs through Friday, and a free seminar's being offered in Portage la Prairie called Estate Planning For Your Future.

Community Foundation of Portage and District executive director Mary Lynn Moffat explains what it's all about.

"The Community Foundation is working with four organizations in Portage. We're putting on a public seminar to provide the community the opportunity to learn about power of attorney, health care directives, wills and estate administration, funeral pre-planning, and ways to leave gifts to charity. The seminar will be Wednesday, May 4th, at 4:00 p.m. at the PCU Centre."

She notes everyone should be aware of wills.

"These are all issues people should be aware of, particularly the wills -- you really need to have them in place. It's not just for an older section of the community. Wills are important for all of us to have in place. It's a chance to find out more about it; ask some questions of the experts; just take a chance to learn a little bit more about all of these issues. I know for young folks, it probably doesn't seem important because they've got a lot of time left . . .they think. I've heard from a lot of younger folks with families that they all of a sudden realize, 'Yes, we've got to have things in place for our children. If anything was to happen we need to have a will in place, and so on.' So, I think it really varies depending upon where people are in their lives at that time."

Moffat adds a lot of young people feel invincible, so it's not something they feel is urgent. At least, she says, we should have information about it, and understand it for our parents' sake, too, simply due to being part of the family. Moffat notes they won't help you write your will, but will explain all of the reasons for having it, and how to go about making one.

Estate Planning For Your Future takes place 4:00 p.m. at the PCU Centre's Graphic Room upstairs, and you can register by calling (204) 856-1971 or emailing CFPD at info@cfpdi.ca.