Senior living Magazine May 2014 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

SPECIAL PLANNED GIVING EDITION MAY 2014 TM

50+ Active Living Magazine

Regional Parks Legacy Program A Drop in the Bucket

Women Helping Women Anneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Closet

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MAY 2014

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The reasons to come see us are truly inspiring.

What’s your reason? Inspiration takes many forms. Whether you play Bach or Chopsticks, staying connected to your love of music is a great reason to get your hearing checked. May is National Better Hearing Month. There’s no better time to book a complimentary hearing evaluation and try hearing aids for two weeks at no cost, and no obligation.*

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MAY 2014

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DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES 6 A Drop in the Bucket

29 Legal

10 More Than Skin Deep

43 Travel

12 Where Others Dare Not Tread

COLUMNS

Running enthusiast Tom MacDonald launches a fundraiser to bring water to path users. Early detection and dedicated research go a long way in increasing cancer survival rates. Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue volunteers save mariners in troubled waters.

16 Women Helping Women

Downsizing seniors offer much-needed household items to those just starting out.

20 Shaken, Not Stirred

41 Entertainment & Attractions 50 Classiﬁeds 4 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

15 Your Life New Column! by Sue Maitland

37 Ask Goldie

by Goldie Carlow

One man`s personal journey through a Parkinson`s disease diagnosis – and beyond.

48 Fit for the Adventure

22 Worthy Paws

49 Courageous & Outrageous

Fosters provide a safe and loving environment to allow animals to trust again.

30 A Family Affair

Fraserview Care Lodge is developing new strategies to engage residents.

34 Here, There Be Dragons

Representing Canada, the Gorging Dragons are taking the senior paddling world by storm.

38 In Desperation

An unyielding urge to write draws together four Port Alberni authors – turning them into friends.

by Eve Lees

by Pat Nichol

52 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Cover Photo: Tom MacDonald, his wife Catherine and their dog Oslo enjoy water from a fountain installed by the CRD with the help of Tom’s fundraising efforts. Story page 6. Photo: Vernice Shostal

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Senior Living is published by Stratis Publishing. Publishers Barbara Risto Barry Risto

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Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com

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Advertising Sue Collins 250-479-4705 ext 102 Larry Leggett 778-239-2542 (Vancouver) Bob Ramsey 250-479-4705 ext 104 Kathie Wagner 250-479-4705 ext 103 For advertising information, call 250-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com

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Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living is distributed free throughout British Columbia. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living (12 issues per year). ISSN 17103584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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MAY 2014

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Celebrating BC Family Caregiver Week

re you providing care and support for an adult family member or friend who is elderly, in poor health or disabled? Or do you know someone who is caregiving, perhaps a friend, co-worker or neighbour? Approximately one million family caregivers in British Columbia devote their time and energy toward helping someone else live a more comfortable and safe life while that person copes with a change or decline in their health. Although it is likely caregiving will touch each of your families in some way, over the years, it is hard to predict how or when the situation will present itself. I never knew colon cancer ran in our extended family before my mom and dad were diagnosed with it in the same year. And even if your family has a known history of heart disease, you don’t know how or when it will manifest itself.

Caregiving can also start as a result of a sudden accident or fall or gradually as someone ages and needs additional help with daily activities. Along with other caregiver support organizations and community-based groups around the province, the Family Caregivers’ Network is celebrating Family Caregiver Week in BC, May 3–9. The goal of this week is to recognize hard-working family caregivers across the province. So take time during this week to acknowledge and thank the family caregivers in your life by perhaps providing a few hours of respite allowing the caregiver to take a break, meet with friends or go for a walk; offering to cook a meal for the family or picking up food and bringing them dinner or lunch; sending a thank-you card or a bouquet of flowers to show your appreciation for all that they do; offering to do the grocery shopping or housework for

BY BARBARA SMALL

the caregiver; giving them a gift certificate for a spa visit or dinner out and providing respite so they can use it; taking the caregiver (and the care recipient, if possible) to the theatre to see a play. The Family Caregivers’ Network and similar organizations in other communities provide programs and services to assist caregivers. Local health authorities can provide assistance through their Home & Community Care programs. Watch for events being held in communities across the province May 3-9. For information about free webinars and tele-workshops visit www.familycareSL giversnetwork.org Next month: Caregiving While Travelling Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. 250-384-0408 www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

The Family Caregiver column is brought to you by the generous sponsorship of Saint Elizabeth

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Let your

legacy

be their

future

Give opportunities to generations of children.

Remember Plan Canada in your will and Plan to change the world.

Contact Aruna Aysola, Planned Giving Manager 1-800-387-1418 ext.528 | aaysola@plancanada.ca plancanada.ca/legacy WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Charitable reg.# 11892 8993 RR0001 MAY 2014 5 7

A Drop in the Bucket BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

ormer marathon runner Tom MacDonald knows how important water is to the runner. Originally from Nova Scotia, Tom came to Victoria for a weekend visit when he was 19 “and never left.” He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria. For 27 years, he worked with the District of Oak Bay, where his last position was Municipal Clerk. For another 10 years, Tom held the position of Executive Director of the Local Government Management Association. For health reasons, he took an early retirement from that job. Among his accomplishments, in 2011, Tom was awarded the Lieuten-

ant Governor’s Silver Medal for Excellence in Public Administration, and in 2013, he was one of the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his involvement in a project to support local government training in Tanzania, where he has visited twice in the past four years. In 1998, Tom ran his first of 18 marathons at the inaugural “Rock and Roll” Marathon in San Diego, where a live band performed at each of the 26-mile markers along the course. “I have used marathon running as a good excuse to travel,” says Tom. From 1998 to 2009, Tom ran marathons in San Diego, San Francisco, Hawaii, Milwaukee, Scranton, Victoria and Vancouver.

Support the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

When you remember the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in your estate plans you become a member of the Stradivarius Legacy Circle. This Circle recognizes the foresight and generosity of those donors who leave a bequest or planned gift to the VSO insuring a robust and stable future for the orchestra.

For more information about this program and the available tax beneﬁts, please call Mary Butterﬁeld, Director, Individual and Legacy Giving at 604.684.9100 ext. 238.

vancouversymphony.ca 68

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Between 2005 and 2009, Tom also volunteered at the Running Room Store, coaching runners for the annual Thanksgiving Weekend Victoria Marathon Run.

Photo: Vernice Shostal

Mike Perkuhn, a passing cyclist, stops for water on the trail.

“I always wanted to be at the finish line to watch the people I had coached come across,” says Tom. He volunteered to stand at the finish line and put medals on people. “So that [when] all the people I coached came across, I could put their medals on over their heads.” Since volunteering to stand at the finish line at the Victoria Marathon prevented Tom from running himself, he solved the problem by flying to Milwaukee the week before Thanksgiv-

The War Amps

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A legacy of “amputees helping amputees” since the First World War.

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For planned giving information, contact:

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Charitable Registration No.: 13196 9628 RR0001

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Please visit our website for our Essential Financial Information and Annual Report. The War Amps does not receive government grants.

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MAY 201 20144

Help make Computers A c c e s s i b le t o A ll !

Support people with disabilities through the Neil Squire Society Donate Today! www.neilsquire.ca 1.877.673.4636 810

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ing to run in the Milwaukee Marathon. In 2009, Tom was registered to run in the Prague, Czech Republic Marathon; however a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma prevented him from running any more. “I had to stop running because of an illness and an injury,” says Tom. “I was not able to run myself any more, but I thought there might be something I could do to help out my friends.” Running on the Lochside and Galloping Goose Trails, runners needed someone to go ahead of them with a water supply so they could regularly refill their water bottles and continue on. “[Marathon] runners are not just running for half an hour,” says Tom. “They could be running for up to two or three hours.” Sometimes there could be as many as 70 or 80 athletes, running from downtown to Sidney or Sooke on the trail or the Goose, Tom explains, and runners would say it would be nice to have water bottles on the trail. With the idea of helping his friends, Tom went to the Capital Regional District and asked about the possibility of putting a fountain approximately every 10K on the trails. He offered to organize the fundraising. The CRD would not have to do anything until Tom had raised the money. “So you don’t have to take it on faith,” Tom told them. “You only start to work when you have the money in your hand.” In 2011, Tom led the launch of a funding campaign with the goal of raising $54,000 to cover the cost of nine drinking fountains. The cost to taxpayers would be “a drop in the bucket.” Regional Parks supported the initiative with the agreement to install nine new water fountains along the trail system. By October 2012, the fundraising mission was accomplished. “The support we got from the community was really quite overwhelming,” says Tom. Of the nine fountains required for the trail, five were entirely funded by single corporate donors: Don Mann Excavating, Peninsula Co-Op, Running Room Canada, Uptown Shopping Centre and a local developer who wishes to remain anonymous. The remaining four fountains were funded by donations from individuals in the community. Three of the fountains were installed by the end of 2012; three more by the close of 2013. And CRD Parks will install the remaining three fountains by the end of this month. The fountains are designed to fill the whole bottle, Tom explains, as he holds his water bottle upright, and not just a partial bottle as they can from most fountains. Aesthetically prepared as a rest area with an interpretive sign and a bench where people can rest, the fountains are a benefit to runners, walkers, pet owners, cyclists, photographers, bird watchers, equestrian riders and anyone who wants to use the trails. Tom is pleased with his accomplishment. “There’s nothing quite as fulfilling as giving something back to the community, be that through a financial contribution to a worthwhile project or through the donation of your time,” he says. “It gives me great SL pleasure seeing the fountains so well used.” For more information about Regional Parks’ Legacy Program, visit www.crd.bc.ca/legacies

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Look Closer… What do you see people, what do you see Is it just an old man when you look at me Do you see that in my life I was brave, strong and true That I built a home and a family that I loved through and through That I could ﬁx anything, lead Sunday drives and was a huge hockey fan Do you know that I took pride in being a generous and kind man Now my wife has gone before me and I ﬁnd myself sad When I remember the joys and the great fun we often had Here I am left with a frail body and mind Depending on others and hoping they’ll be kind If I could ask you anything it would be to realize My life still has meaning, – I’m sure you can see it in my eyes I am still here and I am still that same guy But now what’s important has only come to be That you look closer, look close and…

See Me.

The Eldercare Foundation enhances the care, comfort, dignity and independence of hundreds of elderly residents living in care facilities and generally supports elderly persons living on Vancouver Island by funding community programs and education for seniors and their caregivers.

Outdated equipment needs to be replaced, community programs that allow people to stay in their homes longer need to be funded and care facilities need to feel more like home. It will require just over one million dollars to fill these urgent needs alone. Funds to provide valuable education and research to improve the way the elderly are cared for are also urgently needed. Please consider donating today. Your legacy will help us enhance quality of life for our valued elders for generations to come.

1454 Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2B7 250-370-5664 � www.gvef.org WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

GVEF ��

MAY 201 20144

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More Than Skin Deep BY KEVIN MCKAY

Give the Gift of the Future Your conservation legacy gift helps ensure a sustainable future for B.C.’s ��

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www.bcwf.bc.ca

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12 10

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n 2001, Claire Harcus received the diagnosis that no one wants to hear: skin cancer. She had no choice but to face it head on. “There was definitely a lot of fear when I heard, but there was also quite a bit of relief because I was no longer in denial and now I knew I could address it and deal with it,” she says. Claire was working as an elementary school principal in Surrey, a job she held for a quarter of a century before retiring that same year when she noticed that something may be wrong. She had concerns with an area on her neck, but pretended she did not notice, a decision she would come to regret. “I saw signs that something was happening with my neck, but I neglected it because of fear,” she says. “I had heard

My home. Our community. A world that provides a chance to make a difference starts with you.

See the difference your donation can make

Visit www.ilhs.ca and donate today! Independent Living Housing Society of Greater Victoria

Providing living solutions for individuals seeking independence in a caring and supportive home environment. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

somewhere that skin cancers on the neck are among the worst, so I was hoping that if I did not pay it any attention it may just go away. Now I know differently and would urge everyone to not delay and get things checked out right away if you have any cause for concern. It is better to go and find out that all is well than to ignore a problem while you still have time to fix it.” The delay in having her melanoma diagnosed caused Claire some grave difficulties. Because the cancer had advanced so far it was extremely difficult to treat. She wound up having three operations involving skin grafts, radiation after the first surgery, and a long, painful rehabilitation. “It was very complicated because of where it was located though I have been told I was quite brave,” says Claire. “I also know it was more difficult than it needed to be and that I had caused my own misery to increase.” Claire is now an outspoken advocate for cancer research, not strictly due to her own experience. Previously, her mother had a case of skin cancer and, subsequently, Claire’s cousin had dealt with his own case of the disease. Fortunately, each of them discovered their tumors early and dealt with them before they had developed too far. The scariest thing to happen to her family, however, was when Claire’s daughter, Christie, became concerned about a mole on her back in 2012 only to discover it was malignant. “I found out that even while I was undergoing treatments for my skin cancer, Christie was going to sun tan booths to get the glow she wanted. These booths are just deadly to your skin as we found out first hand,” says Claire. When Christie found another mole, though not very large, she had to convince her doctor to have it checked further. Claire says, “She urged her doctor to have it tested and he used the new Aura machine designed for early detection of skin cancer. When he saw the results, he told her at

Cancer survivor Claire Harcus with her daughter Christie.

Your Legacy

once that they needed to deal with the melanoma right away, which they did.” The Aura, a device invented by the BC Cancer Agency, is a life-saving, non-invasive diagnostic tool used to detect skin cancer. According to the BC Cancer Agency, the Aura uses a Raman spectroscopy system to provide valuable information by identifying spectral changes associated with the biochemistry of skin cancer cells in less than a second. Claire adds, “They told me the Aura can read the molecular level below the skin, which is just stunning.” One thing that frustrates Claire is that so many people are unaware of some of the breakthroughs in cancer research, a cause she is passionate about. That is one of the reasons she is excited about Aura. “I’ve been talking for years to the Cancer Society about the money we have raised,” says Claire. “My friends ask me where the money is going. What is happening with the research? To me, it only makes sense to focus on the cure – before we get

Is Her Future.

Since 1973, the Canadian Section of Amnesty International has promoted and protected human rights at home and abroad, through ongoing campaigning, outreach and education programs. By remembering Amnesty International in your will and estate planning, you will be helping to build a future where the fundamental dignity of every person is respected worldwide. For information and assistance, contact: Heather Warren, Gift Planning Associate (613) 744-7667 ext. 239 hwarren@amnesty.ca www.amnesty.ca/plannedgiving 1-800-AMNESTY Charitable Reg. No. 11878 5914 RR 0001

HOW WILL YOU LEAVE YOUR MARK? to the slash-and-burn method. We need to be able to diagnose early, so I always direct my donations to research. Each year, it accelerates, what the research is able to accomplish. Aura, alone, is a huge winner.” Claire is so dedicated to cancer research she has even become a planned giving donor, meaning she is leaving a gift in her will to the BC Cancer Foundation. “Anything I can do for them I will,” she says. “Three people die each week in British Columbia from melanoma. I wish I could win the lottery, so I could provide them with more help right now. It would be so wonderful if every small community in this province could have their own Aura machine. I have put a donation for research right into my will and will give as much SL as I can before I go.” Visit www.bccancerfoundation.com to make a donation or to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

By including the Heart and Stroke Foundation in your Will, you’ll support life-saving heart disease and stroke research—and give your family and friends a brighter future.

To start planning your legacy gift by Will, call Jane Westheuser at 1-888-473-4636 or visit heartandstroke.ca/legacygiving

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Where Others Dare Not Tread

Gerry McQuade knows the power of giving. As a prostate cancer survivor, I am delighted to support the good work of The Prostate Centre. As I went through my journey with prostate cancer, I benefited hugely from the programs and support they provide. Please support Vancouver Island men like Gerry by including The Prostate Centre in your estate plans. It’s easy and important… for you, your loved ones and our community.

(250) 388-0214 www.TheProstateCentre.org Reg. Charitable No: BN 86665-8230-RR001

elta resident Peter Motzek has over 40 years of boating experience, so it may not be a surprise that he became a volunteer with the Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue Station 8 Delta about 10 years ago. “My kids were grown up,” says Peter, “and there were no more kids’ soccer games to take them to on Saturdays or Sundays. I needed something to give back to the community. Lo and behold, my wife, who knew I loved boating, suggested I get involved with rescue. I started out as a sailor as a kid with my dad going to the Tsawwassen Yacht Club.” Peter now volunteers as Deputy Unit Leader and Coxswain on rescues, along with public relations and recruit-

TPC-PlannedGiving1404.indd 1

2014-04-15 9:23 AM Please remember Zajac Ranch for Children with a bequest in your will.

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Thank you for remembering our children. �� 14 12

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BY BEV YAWORSKI

ing new volunteers for the Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue Station 8 Delta (RCM SAR). Based at the Point Roberts Washington Marina, in order to provide immediate access to the Strait of Georgia, 32 volunteers – ranging in age from 19 to 65 – are part of this group. Volunteers in their 70s handle some administrative and equipment maintenance tasks, but more assistance is needed for fundraising and administrative tasks. Members perform dangerous jobs going out in darkness, storms and conditions that other mariners would avoid. It’s common for volunteers to roll out of their warm beds, get dressed and race out to sea in the middle of the night in miserable conditions to search for missing boats and people. “Every rescue situation is different,” emphasizes Peter. “For example, we have been part of cold, stormy weather searches near the Tsawwassen Ferry looking for people who may be missing. In order to cover all bases, we have to search the whole ferry route. We are bound by Coast Guard Bylaws to have our rescue vessel operating within 30 minutes of getting a call. Our boat is ready to go 24/7... all our volunteers live within quick access to the vessel.” Rescues have also included rendering assistance to a person who had fallen from the top deck of his boat, hitting the rail injuring himself and falling into the water. Aid has been given to boats lost in the fog in the shipping lanes, to a kiteboarder in distress, a sailing vessel with a crab-trap wrapped in its propeller, a boat with a heart attack victim on board, among many other rescues. “Summer is the time of year when we are busiest,” says Peter. “Two of the most common reasons mariners may need help are their boats running out of gas and inadequate vessel maintenance.”

Photo: RCM SAR Delta

Crews receive extensive training enabling them to be ready to handle all kinds of water emergencies. A state-ofthe-art simulator at training headquarters in Sooke provides a full-scale mock-up of a cabin vessel with wrap-around scenery and sound. Crews are trained and tested in scenarios that would be dangerous in real life.

Spirit of Delta V Marine Rescue vessel

“When we get a call, and normally the calls come in adverse conditions, 90 per cent of the time we are battling for our own safety,” says Peter. “We have the confidence that we have the ability to get there with the new technology of vessels and navigation. It gives us the greater ability to get on scene quicker to save lives.” The Fast Response Boat used by the Delta team is called the Spirit of Delta V. Twenty-nine-feet long with twin Yamaha

Legacy Gifts Help Keep the Gardens Growing ��

Your legacy: a better future for everyone touched by cancer. Research is our Foundation. When you remember the BC Cancer Foundation in your will, you’ll be supporting world-renowned research in BC that is shaping the future of cancer care. Please be sure to use the full legal name of our organization: BC Cancer Foundation

Registration Number: 11881 8434 RR0001 Toll free 1.888.906.2873 www.bccancerfoundation.com WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

MAY 201 20144

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250 hp engines capable of 40 knots, this vessel was specifically designed for the area’s waters – complete with a shock mitigating crew capsule to ensure crew safety. On-board equipment includes radar, electronic navigation system/GPS/ Chartplotter, radio direction finder, two DSC VHF radios, oxygen, first aid and more. RCM SAR Station 8 Delta is part of a network of 65 rescue centres located up and down the BC coast. Volunteers work alongside Canadian Coast Guard, police, fire and other public agencies assisting people in trouble on the water. Formation of an “auxiliary” to assist the Canadian Coast Guard came mainly as a result of a serious accident on the Fraser River in 1975. A Ladner pleasure boat, called the Kemah, experienced engine failure in heavy seas between Ste-

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�� Invest in a brighter future Peter Motzek (far right) and volunteer crew of Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue Station 8 Delta vessel.

When you invest in The Cridge Centre for the Family, you give a gift of hope, security, and love. Your gift provides support for abused women, brain injury survivors, young parents, families of children with special needs, seniors, children, and those in need of affordable housing. Visit www.cridge.org/give or phone 250-995-6419 to plan your gift.

Serving those in need since 1873 … because love is the bottom line 16 14

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Photo: Jessica Kerr/Delta Optimist

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veston and Sandheads Light, and went aground on a jetty. Despite valiant rescue efforts by nearby fishing vessels, two people on board were tragically swept away, and the Kemah sank. Fortunately, fishing vessels were able to rescue two other Kemah passengers. Regrettably, at that time, the RCMP vessel was being repaired. The Coast Guard hovercraft was also out of service and no other Coast Guard resources were nearby to assist in a timely manner. Subsequently, the widow of one of the deceased boaters – along with some concerned Delta citizens met with politicians and Coast Guard staff eventually leading to the present-day creation of marine rescue auxiliaries. With support from the BC Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance for operations and Canadian Coast Guard for fuel expenses, these valuable rescue organizations also rely on generous volunteer time and SL community charitable donations to keep operating. For more details, contact Delta Marine Rescue Society at www.deltasar.bc.ca or phone: 604-205-8955.

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s a Life Transitions Coach, I’m passionate about empowering people, aged 55 and up, to live their best life and not settle for anything less. Each month in this column, I will ask questions to get readers thinking about each issue’s theme. Everyone who reads this will have their own unique answers to these questions. The key is taking action after discovering your answers. Questions to ask yourself about your estate and planned giving: Q: Who are the people and what are the causes important to me, and how do I want to acknowledge them in my will? Q: Consider your list of beneficiaries and imagine your will is being read. Now, step into the shoes of one of the recipients. As you imagine being that person, ask yourself, “How do I feel receiving this bequest? What difference will it make in my life?” Now step back and ask yourself, “Is that

the difference I wanted to make?” One by one, do this for each beneficiary. At the end, ask yourself, “Are there any adjustments I may want to make to my will as a result of this exercise?”

Photo: Eric Maitland

Sharing Your Gifts

Your Life

BY SUE MAITLAND

Q: If I don’t bother making a will, or if I have an out-ofdate or vaguely written will and just let the beneficiaries sort it out, what could happen? How will my beneficiaries feel about me not clearly stating my wishes? After you’ve been through this exercise, think about what actions you will take based on your answers. Take those acSL tions now. Sue Maitland is an ICF Certiﬁed Life Transitions Coach based in Victoria.

A good book lives on long after the last page is turned. As an avid reader and lifelong library user, you can help foster the love of reading in the next generation by including a bequest to the Greater Victoria �� how to leave a gift that maximizes advantages for you and the library. 735 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC V8W 3H2 Tel: 250-413-0370 Charitable Registration Number: BN 11894 6979 RR0001

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Women Helping Women

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BY JUDEE FONG

Give a second chance at a happy life… there is no better gift you can give an animal in need. Include a gift in your Will or designate a life insurance policy to the BC SPCA to set tails wagging!

nney Ardiel, owner of Act Together Moving Services, had a “Eureka!” moment when she realized her senior clients, who were downsizing to smaller accommodations, had amazing amounts of gently used household items and furniture being donated by the truckload each month to charity.

Visit us today at spca.bc.ca/support or contact Yolanda Benoit ybenoit@spca.bc.ca 1.800.665.1868

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Anney’s Closet volunteer Patty Scott stocking shelves and organizing donations.

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Photos: Judee Fong

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As a new member of Soroptimists International Victoria Westshore (SIVW), Anney learned there were young women, aging out of foster care or other social services programs, who were in immediate need of donated items. That eureka moment became “Anney’s Closet,” an extraordinary

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SIVW project, officially started in 2012, which exploded into a national success story. Gently used household items including dishes, cutlery, chairs, small tables, lamps, bookshelves and small dressers fill every square foot of Anney’s Closet. Teenaged girls, “aged-out” of foster care or ready to be on their own under the care of one of the Youth Advocate Partners such as Care Home Parenting Program under the Boys and Girls Club, Supported Independent Living, School District 62, Victoria Native Friendship Centre and other agencies, would receive an empty one-room apartment or accommodations to share. No beds, blankets or other necessities often taken for granted to make a space a “home.” Their small monthly stipend covered only rent and food. “These young women would often need the necessities that morning because they’re moving into their apartment that afternoon,” explains Soroptimist member Joan Jackson about the need Anney’s Closet meets. “Sometimes, the girls are overwhelmed by the choices, which are all free. They’re too shy to take what they need. They’ll pick out some things such as sheets, towels, blankets, dishes, flatware, but it’s not until they get home that they realize they could have used a few more things. They would contact their outreach worker and arrange for another ‘shopping trip.’” “One of our first recipient was a young girl who had a real chip on her shoulder as she didn’t want to be here, didn’t want anything from us and she kept making negative comments,” recalls Joan. “By the time she left, she was planning to blog about her experience; she wanted to volunteer and she was going to tell her friends.” Young mom Cynthia Newman remembers, “Anney’s Closet is such a fun experience because everyone has a positive attitude. The people are very helpful. I was able to get all the things I needed to set up housekeeping. I also got my daughter, Charleigh, her crib, stroller and highchair.” Smiling, Cynthia adds, “The nicest part was I didn’t just get a carton filled with essentials, but had the fun of choosing things I needed. You leave feeling really good.” Anna Harvey, President of SIVW, feels blessed that Victoria has a generous heart. At one time, there was a call for 18-20 rocking chairs and the community came through. “It seems the rocking motion creates a deeper bond between mom and baby. The response was amazing. Rocking chairs are one item that doesn’t linger long in Anney’s Closet,” she says. At this time, baby clothes are not accepted, but infant furniture is. Small, cleaned stuffed animals are given to Emergency wards for traumatized kids. Cash donations are always welcome and are used to purchase grocery gift cards. The “Needs List” changes as the supply and demand changes, but the website www.anneyscloset.com provides a current “Needs List” and contact information for donation queries.

You can create a lasting legacy of love for all of BC’s children. When you include BC Children’s Hospital as part of your estate plans you could be saving the life of a child 20 or more years from now.

Small Patients Great Needs

For more information please contact the Gift & Estate Planning team at

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Anney’s Closet owes its success to its numerous donors, corporate sponsors and the army of volunteers whose enthusiasm and kind-heartedness provides labour, space and time. The Closet’s lockers are generously donated by Westshore U-Lock and Mini-Storage. Andrew Foster from Foster’s Moving and Storage has provided his movers and trucks when needed. Vancity is a supportive financial corporate sponsor and Anney Ardiel’s downsizing clients have generously donated their gently used

Anna Harvey, President of Soroptimists International Victoria Westshore (SIVW).

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Give a second chance at a happy life. . . there is no better gift you can give to a wild animal in need. Include a gift in your Will or designate a life insurance policy to the BC SPCA to set wings ﬂapping! Visit us today at spca.bc.ca/support or contact Yolanda Benoit ybenoit@spca.bc.ca 1.800.665.1868 20 18

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items. As the public becomes more aware, donated goods have kept the Closet filled. Dynamic duo, Beth Portingale and Patty Scott volunteer their time doing a tremendous job of organizing Anney’s Closet into a pleasant place for the girls to “shop.” When the shelves get bare, they are replenished with items from the warehouse lockers. Beth has been known to lovingly restore, like new, some furniture pieces. Marianne Goodrich, an active donor, became involved when her friends, Sue Price and Brenda Fox, donated some items after reading an article about Anney’s Closet. “Heather Peterson, the manager of my building, became another active donor when a long-time resident in the building was moving to a care facility and wouldn’t need a lot of her household items and furnishings,” says

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Marianne. “Heather suggested her family could gather everything up and donate it to Anney’s Closet. Another lady in the building had things to donate and it just kept coming.” “When I found out the items were given to girls aging out of foster care, I had goose bumps,” says Marianne. “My parents fostered children when I was growing up. Anney’s Closet seemed so fitting and felt so right for me.” Soroptimists are women of all ages, who bring with them a wealth of experience and interests. SIVW has been chartered since May 2010 and, during that time, has been active in seeking ways to help women and girls, both locally and internationally. Money raised is put back into the organization to fund local awards as well as international projects. Anney’s Closet is a unique project that epitomizes the philosophy of the Soroptimists. Anna sums it up best, “Soroptimists mean ‘best for women.’ It’s teamwork and a lot of people making Anney’s Closet so successful. Women helping women – that’s what it’s all about!” SL Contact Donations Coordinator Beth Portingale at 250-886-2951 for donation queries. Email for donations information at anneysclosetdonations@gmail.com For more info on Anney’s Closet and SIVW see www.anneyscloset.com

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Your legacy can change everything Where will our trained and skilled workforce come from? Our health care professionals, our trades workers, our technicians, our educators? When you leave a planned gift to Camosun College, you’re creating a legacy that secures promising futures for our students and prosperous communities for all. � �

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Make a gift of lasting change. To discuss your personal giving goals contact: Angie Bowles or Karen Whyte, Advancement Managers

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T: 250-370-4233

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Foundation camosun.ca/foundation MAY 201 20144

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Shaken, Not Stirred

If you plant a seed you can touch the future.

My Journey with Parkinson’s Disease

BY ROBIN DUNN

If you stop and listen you can hear the past.

Leave a legacy through UBC Botanical Garden. Visit www.startanevolution.ca/garden or call 604-827-4466 for more information.

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t all started five years ago with a sneeze and, inexplicably, a small tremor in my right hand. But when I told it to stop, it wouldn’t. Then, after five minutes, it stopped on its own. Nothing to worry about I thought… except it would keep happening at random. I soon resorted to sitting on my hand until it decided to stop. But each occurrence became longer and more severe. My wife, Chris, soon caught on to me, so now we worried together. After three months, I saw my doctor. The diagnosis was quick – Parkinson’s disease. The main course of action was to get me to a neurologist as GPs, in general, have limited expertise in treatment options. It would likely take several weeks to get an appointment.

Within two weeks, my symptoms were under control and, four months later, I was back at work – full-time. Meanwhile, my symptoms became worse – tremors spreading to all four limbs for longer periods (right side was the worst), still working, but with greater difficulty. I was scared now. Painfully aware I was on a lifetime journey without a map or compass, I was lost. Without warning, I would get spasms in my arms, legs and torso that could last for hours. Chris had to repeatedly give me extra doses of my medication and then wait for another 30 minutes to see if it was sufficient. Afterwards, I was exhausted for days. I had to stop working, going onto an indefinite medical leave. Twice, Chris got me to Emergency by ambulance, but I was just kept, still jerking, in a bed for five hours or so. Then, I would be told the on-call neurologist had called

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Your Legacy back: I could take my medication on an altered prescription and sent home. Not the highlight of my life! After three or four months with my symptoms becoming more entrenched, on the recommendation of a friend, I contacted Headway Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre. Under the circumstances, it was one of the best choices I could have made. I immediately met with my Parkinson’s’ counsellor. Her knowledge and empathy helped me realize I was no longer alone and that my Parkinson’s could be managed. Further counselling, together with Chris and other new Parkinson’s “recruits,” helped arm us with coping strategies and steered me towards getting treatment at the Movement Disorders Clinic at UBC. Headway continues to be a great support, providing information and help whenever needed. At UBC, a detailed examination immediately confirmed that yes; I had Parkinson’s and made a change in my medication. Within two weeks, my symptoms were under control and, four months later, I was back at work – full-time. After four years, I am still working full-time, doing a job I really enjoy. My current symptoms include periodic, minor tremors, a left foot that keeps scuffing, some short-term memory loss, poor balance, difficulty swallowing, losing some muscle mass and a few more besides. But the good news is I CAN COPE! Practice, speed-walking with my dog, weight-training, running and yoga all help to counteract these challenges. I know I have an incurable disease, but I can live with that; I take life one day at a time, look for the positives, and enjoy each day for SL what I do have going for me.

You can help provide outstanding care to future peninsula residents. Just think of all the good your planned gift could do.

Your legacy can be an investment in CRISIS INTERVENTION and SUICIDE PREVENTION. A gift to the Crisis Centre in your will helps us support 123,000 youth, adults and seniors in their greatest time of need every year. Registration Number: 10699 3322 RR0001

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Kyle Tiney, CFRE Director of Development (604) 872-1811 ktiney@crisiscentre.bc.ca www.crisiscentre.bc.ca

Be involved today by planting seeds for future generations. Explore the vision of your legacy with

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Worthy Paws Planned Giving

BY KEVIN MCKAY

ifty-year-old Heather Nielsen has a favourite saying: “Saving one animal won’t change the world, but it will surely change the world for that one animal.” About four years ago, Heather got involved with the Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders (GVAC) and now she is the president of the organization that is saving many animals every year. GVAC has been around since 1973 and though it has changed board members, volunteers and donors many times over the decades, the passion for saving distressed animals has remained unwavering. In addition to finding foster families for abandoned pets, they also spay and neuter, locate adoptive families, provide emergency vet funding for sick animals and much more. Following her divorce, Heather moved to Victoria and found work with the Land Title Office. With two girls to raise on her own, she had some hard decisions to make. “At this point in my life, my focus starting to become clear-

GVAC President Heather Nielsen with her pups.

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North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

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In Life, it’s your family that’s your true legacy. Once you have remembered your family in your Will, why not consider making a gift to Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation? Let your legacy provide for the vital medical services your family and community needs to live full, happy and healthy lives. To discover more about the many unique lifetime and long-term benefits of leaving a legacy gift to Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation, visit www.pahfoundation.ca or call 604-535-4520.

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er,” she says. “What exactly was important to me? I knew I wanted my girls to learn what volunteering was all about. To give of yourself and expect nothing in return. We started small in 2007 by fostering with a small animal group called Small Mischief. I needed to make sure we could foster and let them go to their forever homes, so we started with hamsters, rats and hedgehogs.” After her two long-lived cats died in 2007 and 2008, Heather started fostering cats. Since that time, she has fostered over 80 cats and also a few dogs, claiming, “Each one has a very special place in my heart.” By 2010, she was an active member of GVAC, fostering animals, helping with fundraising, and eventually joining the board. She claims they do not operate as every other group does. “There are three keys to a successful board: respect, communication and no one person is more important than any other. We don’t always agree, but the majority takes it. We all work full time, have kids, families, pets of our own and, sadly, house and yard work to do. GVAC is 100 per cent volunteer and we just fit in with our lives because giving a voice to those who have none is really important.” Heather is convinced the most important part of the Animal Crusaders organization is the foster program. By providing a safe and loving environment for these animals to get acclimatized to trusting humans again or recover from an illness or injury fosters play a vital role.

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Some pets are fostered for only a few days, while others may be kept for months or even years. Since she is a foster herself Heather knows firsthand how it feels. “Being a foster is such an incredible feeling,” she says. “Often they come to us scared or sick, and it is so amazing how animals live in the moment. We give them healthy food, a warm and safe place, and the time it takes to trust, and there is just no going back.

You watch them thrive and when they start to trust, that is when the heart is engaged. The emotional investment can be overwhelming, when you need to let them go. But, that is why we say fostering saves two lives, the one whose home we found, and then you are open to save another.” Rayana Reece was forced into early retirement due to an illness, and then lost her 17-year-old dog and found herself really missing having an animal around.

She took a cat in as a foster pet and has never looked back, fostering more than 50 cats over the past 15 years. She also volunteers for GVAC in a variety of capacities, including driving cats to vet

Foster kitties Dasher and Dancer.

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appointments, fundraising and helping place animals with new fosters. “Our dedicated volunteers visits every household before a pet is adopted to make sure it is the right fit,” says Rayana. “This is a time-consuming but necessary step to reduce the chances of the cat

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or dog being abandoned yet again. We often receive updates as to how much the pet is loved and how they are such a wonderful addition to the family. It is what makes what we do worthwhile.” Though GVAC is entirely volunteerled and receives no money from government agencies, they do what they can to ease the expenses of fosters. They will pay for medical treatment and medicine for the pets, will have them spayed and neutered, and will even pay for litter, pet food and supplies. Several fosters, who have the resources, choose to pay for those things themselves and then receive a year-end tax receipt they can submit as a donation. Sadly, Rayana knows the flood of abandoned animals never stops, but at least she takes comfort from knowing she is part of an organizations that is doing something about the problem. “I believe animals have the same feelings as people – loneliness, abandonment, fear, distrust,” she says. “It breaks my heart to see these innocent

Your support helps us provide many programs and services for people in need including:  Nutritious grocery parcels that emphasize fresh produce  Connections with our community partners  Ageless volunteering programs  Much more For more on how you can help please visit:

www.richmondfoodbank.org

creatures who have been so ill-treated. Fostering is the most rewarding volunteer job I have ever done. It can be sometimes stressful dealing with aggressive, fearful and often dysfunctional animals. It often takes weeks or even months for you to gain their trust. But when they finally learn to trust you and let you hand feed them, curl up beside you on a chair or rub against your leg and claim you as “their own” it is the most wonderful feeling. Love goes a long way and, in

even the worst cases of abuse, an animal will forgive with time and patience and can thrive if given the chance.” Delana Steele has been involved with GVAC for around eight years and finds it extremely rewarding to be part of an organization that helps over 1,500 animals each year. In addition to fostering animals and other work with the board, Delana is in charge of fundraising for the group. “We have various events through-

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE COULD BE LIFE ITSELF Leaving a gift in your Will helps thousands of women and newborns each year. With a legacy to BC Women’s Hospital Foundation you transform the lives of others for generations to come.

NEWBORN ICU CAMPAIGN Hope starts here

bcwomensfoundation.org WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

604.875.2270 MAY 201 20144

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Donate to WIN (Victoria Women In Need), and join our journey to make a difference in our community.

www.womeninneed.ca/donate 250-480-4006 x203

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Foster animals take time to trust but, eventually, they become part of the family.

Photos: Courtesy Heather Nielsen

Our ability to change the lives of women in our community depends on YOU!

out the year,” she says. “Our biggest fundraiser is the annual Wags to Whiskers Dinner & Auction, where we usually raise anywhere from $16,000-$25,000. This year, it’s on October

18th at the Royal Colwood Golf Course. We have been the charity of choice for two years now for the Vancouver Island Pet Expo. In addition to other events, kids sometimes donate their birthday money to GVAC and people host fundraisers themselves for us. We also have monthly donors who give

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anywhere from $10 to $300 a month.” Delana also knows that fostering is good for more than the animal. “Fostering is very rewarding for both the animal and the foster. Folks who are unable to adopt an animal right now have the great chance to love and care for a pet and to know that they were integral to providing a new and nurturing start for an animal in need.” “Many people think they can’t foster because they will become too attached to the cat and it would break their heart to let it go. But as a foster parent, what you get is so much more than you give. Most of our animals come from bad situations and just need to know that they can trust humans again. A foster parent gets to be an integral part of the healing process for many cats – how SL rewarding is that?” If you wish to get involved with the Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders, either as a foster or a donor, email info@animalcrusaders.ca or visit www.animalcrusaders.ca Experience the power of giving.

help us put life into days

Leave a legacy in your Will to Variety - The Children’s Charity and help children who have special needs in the province. Your generosity will help us continue to provide hope, enrich lives, and build a better future for children like Xander. For more information on how to leave a legacy: Call 604 320 0505 or Toll-free 1 800 310-KIDS (5437) or visit our website at www.variety.bc.ca/legacy.htm

When the whole world fades away

your support is there.

For someone who’s losing their sight, it can seem like the whole world is fading away. But with a legacy gift in your will for CNIB, you’ll be there for people in your community at this crucial time in their lives. For more information about making a legacy gift, call the CNIB Helpline at 1-800-563-2642 or visit cnib.ca/legacy.

Leave your legacy of compassionate care for those facing life’s final journey. Your options include: • Donations In Memory • Monthly Giving • Wills and Bequests • Gifts of Securities • Gifts of Life Insurance • Gifts of RRSPs/RRIFs

Leaving a legacy to Covenant House is like being a Grandparent to over 1,400 kids a year. Your bequest to Covenant House ensures our young people a welcoming smile, a safe place, support and a chance for a new life.

To request more information about planned giving options please call 604-945-0606 or email info@crossroadshospice.bc.ca

575 Drake Street Vancouver, BC V6B 4K8 Phone: 604-638-GIFT (4438) www.covenanthousebc.org

www.crossroadshospice.bc.ca

BN 89767 5625 RR 0001

Help us help others. No gift is too small. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

MAY 201 20144

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Plant your legacy today. Be forever. Find out how at vancouverfoundation.ca/belikealice or call Kristin at 604.629.5186

#BeLikeAlice

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vancouverfdn

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Planning

victoriahumanesociety.com

Your Will

BY EDWARD TAKAYANAGI, BA, LLB

hen planning your estate, consider making a charitable donation in your will to support a non-profit organization that provides services to your community. These gifts can offer a legacy to your community, help charities with which you have a personal connection, and afford you tax advantages. The first step is deciding on the cause you want to support. What are you passionate about? Charitable organizations deal with everything from the arts, education, health, poverty, animals and more. Once you have decided, think about your goals. Your gift should be structured according to your intentions and goals. Charitable gifts can be made in various ways. A lawyer can advise you on the implications of how a gift is structured. Many larger charities operate several programs, so you may want to specify which programs your gift will support. Gifts can take on a variety of forms, whether in your lifetime or in your will. Commonly, people make a gift of a specific dollar amount, but the charity may also accept non-cash gifts, like real estate, art or possessions. The type of gift you select has different tax, legal and practical consequences, so it is important to discuss this with a professional. A charitable gift can also be applied to minimize income taxes against your estate, ensuring you are able to provide for the people and causes you care about. Planned gift giving may make sense as part of your estate plan. Consult with legal and accounting professionals about your options, and how to optimize the benefits for SL both you and the charity. This information is not to be used as legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. We do not accept any liability for your use of the information in this publication. For legal help, contact a lawyer.

Let the love begin. Help us create a new rescue shelter and enhanced animal welfare services in Victoria.

Rescue

Shelter

Rehabilitation

Adoption

The Victoria Humane Society is a registered charity devoted to enhancing animal welfare services in our region. Our urgent priority is the creation of a new rescue shelter, spay and neuter clinic and enhanced rehabilitation and adoption services. These initiatives will greatly enhance successful adoptions of unwanted, neglected and abused animals and bring love into their lives, and, we hope, into yours.

Please give by donating at victoriahumanesociety.com or by mailing a cheque to us at PO Box 37027, Millstream PO, Victoria BC, V9B 0E8

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Innovation

A Family Affair

BY JOHN THOMSON

Coreena Robertson shares a laugh with a Fraserview resident.

Photo: John Thomson

t may not look like a media hothouse, but Fraserview Care Lodge in Richmond, BC is breaking new ground in innovative technology. An extended care facility of 105 residents, 75 per cent of whom have some degree of dementia and/or physical disability, Fraserview is one of the city’s five extended care residences funded in part by Vancouver Coastal Health. I’m ushered into the facility’s media room. A TV is playing in the corner. The words “All that glitters...” appears on screen. Seconds later, the words “...is not gold” completes the phrase. Coreena Robertson, the Lodge’s Director of Recreation and

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Communications tells me it’s a video program she created on her own time, and her own dime, as a way to stimulate the mind with popular sayings the residents may be familiar with but have momentarily forgotten. “I really admire Coreena,” says Jennifer Cairns, cofounder and President of Victoria’s eGurus Technology Tutors, a company that mentors seniors in email, Skype and other computer functions by holding public and in-home seminars. “When I’m with her I think, ‘wow, she really gets it.’ She’s being innovative. I love what she’s developed.” And another Coreena initiative, this one decidedly lowtech: flashcards with pictures of flowers, animals or seasonal scenics on the front and a written description on the back. “That to me is brilliant,” continues Jennifer. “They [residents] really don’t have to worry about trying to read it if they don’t want to. They’re talking; they’re looking at the person next to them and actually finding common ground.” “Then there’s the reminiscent component,” adds Fraserview caregiver Michelle Borham who conducts the activity. “Those are questions I can ask them to prompt their memories and bring back great stories about the topic.” “They really engage,” says Jennifer. “Just talking about a winter vacation gets someone else talking about a vacation and something else comes up. It’s just a picture program, but it’s simple and it works.” Coreena admits her products, which she collectively calls Intellicare, are borne of frustration. After getting her human kinetics degree from UBC, Coreena felt that programs being offered at the time weren’t meeting the needs of her clientele, so she started making her own. “It’s walking the talk,” adds her mother, Donna Baron. “It’s not what’s expected, it’s what we do above and beyond.” Mother and daughter share a common vision. No surprise there. After all, Fraserview is a family affair spanning three generations. Donna is the administrator. She and her brother, Wayne, make the big decisions. Coreena looks after communications and recreation. Donna’s nephew, Jeffrey, does all the landscaping and Donna’s other daughter pitches in too. The family business goes back to the 1950s. Donna’s mum and dad ran the Stradbrook Nursing Home in Winnipeg. Steve maintained the property while holding down a day job as a switchman in Winnipeg’s Transcona rail yards. Audrey was a trained nurse and not only looked after residents, but scrubbed the floors as well. “My brother Wayne and I virtually grew up in the nursing home,” recalls Donna. Then, in 1968, after 11 years in Winnipeg, Audrey and Steve decided to move. “They thought they might retire,” says Donna. “My mother came out here for a visit and, while she was here, my father said, ‘just have a look around.’ My mother said if she ever continued in the business, she would have the home built the way she wanted it built. So she started look-

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Next to all Second to none.

This spring, enjoy a visit to Terraces on 7th to see our beautiful renovations. Experience for yourself why you too will love to call the Terraces home.

ing and she came across a couple of acres. My dad said, ‘get it!’ And that’s how they started.” Their retirement plans were short-lived. Wayne negotiated the paperwork, dealt with the Ministry – he even helped with the construction – and Fraserview opened in 1970 with 24 residents. “Fraserview took in dementia care and mental health issues that no other facility would take in,” says Donna. Audrey had worked in a number of other nursing homes before running the Stradbrook and was appalled at the haphazard manner in which seniors were treated. She wanted to make a difference. “I think they wanted to make the system better because they didn’t like what was available,” says Coreena. “People needed to be taken care of and nobody was doing it.” The duo shows me a home movie and I watch Audrey giving on-camera advice to her children. “They need tender loving care, kindness and good meals,” Audrey says to the camera. “And help them whenever you can,” she adds. Audrey and Steve added another wing and, in 1979 and 1989, the family added more beds and an inner garden. Fraserview is comprised of five “neighbourhoods.” Residents are grouped together according to need. Staff are assigned to each neighbourhood and don’t move because rotating staff would upset the residents.

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“For me person–centred care and dedication of staff is critical,” Donna says, stressing the emphasis on consistency and routine. Given that most of the clientele suffers from mild to severe dementia, how does the family deal with the thorny issue of mood swings and irrational behaviours? Some homes keep the severely demented under lock and key, but the family doesn’t believe in segregation. Instead, they have chosen to educate their caregivers in recognizing the warning signs, so they can intervene. And once again, Coreena’s media savvy comes into play. “We purchased a special laptop that can fit in a person’s room,” she says of the machine that she’s loaded with pictures of babies and scenery. Coreena says her video helps to reduce challenging behaviours by focusing the resident’s mind on something that interests them. “We’ve found that the babies video calms one of our residents who has high anxiety.” As for Fraserview Care’s future, Donna says she’d like to increase its number of beds and turn its semi-private rooms into single rooms. Coreena would like to see her media programs utilized in other facilities and even in private homes. Her next project is to construct short personal videos of all her incoming residents, so the staff can empathize with their needs and “see this resident as a person.” Donna and Coreena say their aim is to continue the family tradition – to provide kindness, good meals and loving care. I’m reminded of another thing Audrey said in the home movie I saw earlier – respect. “That was one thing that was very, very important to me in caring for elderly people,” she says to the camera. “It meant a lot to them knowing somebody cared for them in that manner.” Continuing Audrey’s compassionate work, I say to myself, helped along with a healthy dollop of creative techSL nology.

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Fitness & Recreation

Here, There Be Dragons BY KEVIN MCKAY

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Gorging Dragons senior crew competing at the Canadian National Championships at Elk Lake, August 2013.

interest, there was also a lot of nervousness for the previously recreational paddlers. But they gave the program a try and realized results we couldn’t have imagined would come so quickly.” “In 2012, we took both mixed and women’s teams to the BC Senior Games in Burnaby for athletes aged 55+. The women won the silver, and the mixed team won the gold, an amazing result for a first-year program.” Like the other boats that form the Gorging Dragons, the senior teams compete in local races across Vancouver Island, as well as across the water in Vancouver. One fortunate aspect to these races is that the host for each race provides all the boats, so teams are spared the expense of transporting their boats over great distances.

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Photo: Marion Draper

ot long after Vancouver held their first Dragon Boat Festival in 1989, some people on Vancouver Island decided they wanted in on the fun! They formed the Gorging Dragons in 1995 – the first dragon boat team on the Island. Of course, the sport, itself, is much older, tracing its origins back to rivers in Southern China more than 2,400 years ago. Despite their late start, the Island paddlers quickly made up for lost time with the Gorging Dragons Premier Mixed team representing Canada at the 2004 and 2008 Club Crew World Championships in South Africa and Malaysia, respectively. Tom Arnold is the head coach of the Gorging Dragons and President of Vancouver Island Paddling. He was part of that 2008 boat and had his eyes opened as a result. “We were exposed to the tremendous diversity of opportunities provided by the sport for athletes of all ages and abilities,” he says. “We wanted to see more of those opportunities become available for people on Vancouver Island and seeing no one else taking the lead, we joined with two other local teams to launch a new paddling club that would be committed to growing the sport here.” The new organization that emerged opened the door to many new paddlers; one of the groups that showed interest and started competing was seniors. No one, however, could have anticipated the results. “In late 2011, we launched the Gorging Dragons senior program,” says Tom. “Competitive dragon boating for older paddlers was new for the Island so, while there was a lot of

In 2013, the Canadian Championships came to Victoria for the first time and were held on Elk Lake. All three Gorging Dragons senior teams that competed finished in the Top 10 in their races and two boats, the women’s 50+ and the women’s 60+, earned the right to represent Canada at the 2014 Club Crew World Championships to be held this September in Italy. “In Italy we’ll be competing in 20 paddler boats, which include 20 paddlers, one steersperson, and one drummer,” says Tom. “The 20-person boat has been the standard international racing craft for many years, although the 10-paddler boat is gaining popularity and is being raced more and more around the world. We’ll have up to 30 people on our roster (including the drummer and stern) in Italy, with racing crews selected from that group to compete at 200-metre, 500-metre and 2,000-metre distances.” One enthusiastic member of the senior mixed team is 59year-old Gord Harvey, a Victoria native. He took to the sport naturally after a lifetime of enjoying playing various sports and spending summers on Shwanigan Lake. “Paddling reminds me of when my dad built a kayak out of plywood, when I was a kid, and I remember paddling all around the lake,” says Gord. “I started dragon boating in the spring of 2008 after a sales rep at work told me they were looking for paddlers.” “I used to watch the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival every

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year and always found it fascinating. So, I just showed up on the dock one day, never having held a dragon boat paddle before, and was instantly hooked. I practiced and raced with that team for one year and then joined another team that was started by a group of dog lovers, raced with them for three years until they folded, and basically spared for a couple of teams before joining VI Paddling for my third season now.” After being part of the Senior Games gold-medal winning team in 2012 and helping host the Canadian Championships last year, Gord is back training for another successful year on the water. Like the rest of his team, he usually takes a little time off in the fall and then starts practicing one day per week in the winter and two to three times per week in the spring and summer. They also train and exercise weekly on paddling machines the club has (similar to rowing machines but for paddlers) as well as time in the gym. While the sport may not be for everyone Gord firmly believes it is a wonderful activity for many. “The benefits I have received are being part of the family of paddling, keeping in good shape, travelling to new venues, and all the on-water and off-water activities associated with paddling. I enjoy paddling big time, I have made many friends and the camaraderie is second to no other sport to which I have ever been a part. I have competed in Victoria, Vancouver, Portland, Nanaimo and Port Alberni. The paddling festivals are always super friendly, fun and competitive.” While dragon boating is truly a team sport, the success of the boat depending on every member of the team, there are a few specialized roles. The steersman or woman is the only member of the team standing up. They stand at the back of the boat and, in addition to keeping the boat moving straight down the course with their long oar, one of their jobs is to keep an eye on what all the other boats are doing. The drummer is at the front of the boat where they can easily see the steersperson. They are responsible for communicating the pace of the stroke rate set by the first pair of paddlers by pounding out the various types of strokes. Most teams will have a starting stroke, one or more for gliding and yet another stroke rate for the frenetic finish. Communication on the boat is crucial, especially between the drummer and the first paddlers, as the drum beats should sound precisely as the two of them have their paddles hit the water. When everything is working together the results can be spectacular. If Tom had one wish, it would be to fill up more senior boats. But there is one key component missing. He says, “We’d love to keep expanding our program by recruiting more men for Senior B and C men’s and mixed teams. Recruiting men to dragon boating has been a challenge on the Island, in part because so few know that competitive opportunities exist for them. And, as we now have several athletes getting into their 70s, we’d love to help get a SL Senior D division going in Canada for these paddlers.” To contact the team visit www.gorgingdragons.ca or www. vipaddling.com

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BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: I am a widow in my late 60s living in a senior home. The residents and staff are pleasant and the meals are excellent with plenty of choices. Frequent bus trips take us to various areas of the city and there is a good variety of entertainment. We can also spend quiet time in our rooms, if desired. In an emergency, a quick phone call to the desk gets help immediately. I wanted to share this so your readers will know there are enjoyable residences waiting for them when they retire. –C.N. Dear C.N.: Thank you for sharing your good fortune. Many seniors worry about what will become of them when it is time to leave their own homes. There are many outstanding residences in our city. Dear Goldie: My wife died after a lengthy illness seven years ago. One of her friends and I have been in a close relationship for about three years. She is divorced but remains on good terms with her husband to keep their family happy. The problem is that we never seem to spend time together as a couple. We visit friends and her family often, including her ex. Is there any way I can include more alone time? –D.W. Dear D.W.: Yes, I think you can change things, but it will require clear communication. As long as you are not voicing your concern, your friend assumes you are happy with the arrangement. So, set a time when you can have this lengthy discussion. Tell her exactly how you feel about the situation. Be clear about what SL you want/need. Honesty is the best policy. Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. Senior Peer Counselling Centres – Island

Senior Peer Counselling Centres – Mainland

Campbell River 250-287-3044 Courtenay/Comox 250-890-0099 Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331 Port Hardy 250-949-5110 Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607 Sidney 250-656-5537 Victoria 250-382-4331

Burnaby 604-291-2258 Coquitlam – Tri-Cities 604-945-4480 New Westminster 604-519-1064 North Vancouver 604-987-8138 Richmond 604-279-7034 Vancouver West End 604-669-7339 Vancouver Westside 604-736-3588

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Author Proﬁle

IN DESPERATION It’s the Only Way These Authors Can Write

BY JANE ELLIOTT

Photo: Alana Bodnar

hen four Port Alberni writers met at a Creative Writing Workshop in 2005 they couldn’t have imagined, at the time, they would publish two volumes of short stories together. Through these books, the writers have become supportive colleagues and firm friends. They call themselves “The Desperate Writers of Port Alberni” because of their desperate urge to write. Julia Turner was born in Dublin, Ireland and graduated from Trinity College in 1968. After a further year of study, she obtained her Education qualifications and immigrated to Canada to become a science teacher at Alberni District Secondary School. Here, she met her husband in the school staff room. They continued teaching at the same school, had two boys and, later, ran a successful tutoring business. Julia was always keen on writing and researching family history and, upon retiring from her teaching career, she pub-

The Desperate Writers of Port Alberni: (l. to r.) Ann Gijsbers, Margaret Growcott, Julia Turner and Deb Oakes.

lished her first book. The Wallaces of Kerrymount House is about her grandfather’s family in Dublin, compiled from detailed diaries of her great-aunt, from family letters, some dating back to the early 1800s, and from old parch-

ments, maps and documents. A fascinating read, it gives a true glimpse of what life must have been like for a Protestant Irish Family in the 19th century. Julia’s next book was a biography of her mother, Daphne Wormell (neé Wal-

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lace), who was born of Irish parents in Alberta in 1916. As a young woman, she went to Ireland to find her family roots and remained there for the rest of her life. Daphne was instrumental in bringing about ordination of women priests in the Church of Ireland. She died in 2001 and is still something of a celebrity in Dublin. The book With Dignity and Grace was published in December 2013, and was launched in Dublin Cathedral with the first woman Bishop in the Church of Ireland presiding over the occasion. Julia’s third book is to be published this spring. Dr. William Edward Dillon, Navy Surgeon in Livingstone’s Africa is the biography of Julia’s great-great-uncle who was a surgeon on Tall Ships. In between writing her family histories, Julia’s hobbies are gardening, bridge and playing viola in a string orchestra. She says, “I find classical music helps me put some flow into my writing.”

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“I feel I live in a fantasy world where I ﬁnd plenty of seeds to plant for fabulous story content.” –Deb Oakes

Deb Oakes originally hails from Winnipeg and moved with her family to BC in 1963. While still in high school she met her soul mate, Al, whom she married. Creative in the arts, Deb always excelled at needlework, particularly Hardanger embroidery, lace-making and cross stitch. She has had several different careers, including swim instructor, facilitator at many events and societies in the Alberni Valley, Board Member of the Alberni Literacy Society and, for the past several years, Executive Assistant at the Alberni Chamber of Commerce. Through this experience, she has gained many insights. She lives in balance with nature, meditating and practising yoga regularly. Deb has two children and five grandchildren and considers her most fulfilling job has been bringing up one grandson from a very young age. She says, “This has been very challenging, but has resulted in a fine young man.” With her invaluable experience, she became a Facilitator for the local Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group, which, she says, was very satisfying. “I feel I live in a fantasy world where I find plenty of seeds to plant for fabulous story content,” says Deb. “I’m planning on retiring soon, so should be able to concentrate more on my writing.”

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Winner of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Poetry Competition in 2010, Deb has many admirers of her short, sharp poems and her amusing short stories. Born in Holland, Ann Gijbers immigrated to Canada with her husband in 1951, settling in Port Alberni, where they had two daughters. Since childhood, Ann has been an avid writer, covering every category. Having lived in Holland during the Occupation in World War II, Ann has written some graphic and harrowing accounts of her experiences through those years, but she prefers to concentrate on her engaging poems and children’s stories. “Although I originally intended my stories and poems for my grandchildren, I am delighted that readers of all ages have said they enjoy them,” says Ann. Margaret Growcott has been a compulsive writer since childhood, sometimes writing words where she should not have done! Growing up in England, she was kept in check by a twin sister and two older brothers, and has found material from that time is her favourite. Before immigrating to Canada in 1976 with her musician husband and two sons, Margaret had articles and stories published in British magazines. Living in Vancouver for 25 years and working full time as a secretary, Margaret rarely found the time to write, until she took early retirement in 1999. Margaret’s hobbies are gardening and music – she plays violin. “But,” she says, “I am very much a second fiddle to my husband, who was in the Vancouver Symphony for 25 years and before that in the London

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Philharmonic Orchestra.” Margaret thinks there could be a story there. However, she is currently working on a novel based on the cotton industry in 19th century Britain and says, “I get my best lines when I am gardening. My characters come alive and talk to me. Unfortunately, some of these gems are lost as I am on my knees with my hands in soil and I can’t write anything down. When I actually sit down to write, my mind is often blank and nothing flows onto the screen. It is when I am most unaware that I am ‘attacked’ by words, lines and phrases. I have notebooks and slips of paper all over the house and in my pockets. I find I am most productive away from the computer, but it is essential, of course, and eventually, things get typed up.” The Desperate Writers of Port Alberni’s first book was published in 2007. This is their second book of short stories and poems. Titled Desperate Writers of Port Alberni – Write Again, it is available at Port Alberni bookstores, online at chapters.ca and amazon.ca or from friSL esenpress.com

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Entertainment & Attractions Get West Vancouver Island Adventure Cruises Departing from Gold River, BC, the MV Uchuck III navigates Nootka Sound, Esperanza Inlet and Kyuquot Sound. Along the route, watch supplies and kayakers being off-loaded at remote villages, fish farms, logging camps and lodges. Marvel at the wildlife, seabirds and stunning remote coastal scenery. To learn more about 1-, 2- and 3-day cruises, visit www.getwest.ca See ad, page 42

will see many of Victoria’s best attractions, while also getting a glimpse of local life. Enjoy a relaxing tour around the city before splashing into the Pacific Ocean for the second half of your journey. Join Hippo Tours on one of their three buses: Harry, Happy and Henrietta. With knowledgeable staff and tour guides, you will experience a trip like never before on the Bus that Floats! More info at www.victoriahippotours. com See ad, page 41

Ballet Victoria presents Carmina Burana Carmina Burana is a fiery, enerWaiting for the Parade at the Chemainus gizing dance set to the epic music of Theatre Poignant, funny and enduring – This Carl Orff. Ballet Victoria’s final perinspiring story brings to life five distinc- formance of the season is a powerful �� tive women whose lives are affected by allegory about the circle of life – how �� WWII. This bittersweet tale shows the sometimes we’re at the top of our game �� grit and determination needed to keep and sometimes the Wheel of Fortune �� the home fires burning ’til at last – “we turns and we hit rock bottom. Seasons �� made it!” they cry. More info at www. chemainustheatrefestival.ca See ad, page 42

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pass and love changes. Carl Orff’s O Fortuna is a famous piece, played at hockey games and sporting events to rally the troops with its intensity. Dancers join live musicians and a full choir for this powerful performance. Performances on: May 2 at Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver; on May 9 at the Cowichan Theatre in Duncan; and May 30 & 31 at Royal McPherson Theatre, Victoria. For more information, visit www.balletvictoria.ca See ad, page 41 Variety Fare presents “Broadway Showcase” Variety Fare, pianist Bob LeBlanc’s exciting singing group, is proud to present its latest production, Broadway Showcase. This is a fast moving and entertaining two-hour tribute to Broadway musicals, featuring familiar songs from A Chorus Line, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Gypsy, Carousel and South Pacific. May 8 and 9 at the Charlie White Theatre, Sidney, May 29 at Brentwood College and June 12 & 13 at Metro Studio, Victoria. For ticket information, visit www.varietyfare.ca See ad, page 41 SL

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Travel & Adventure

Holiday in Hanoi BY JOHN THOMSON

“O

h my God,” gushed the teenaged street vendor as my wife and I walked along Hang Dau Street in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The Old Quarter is Hanoi’s original shopping district, initially comprised of 36 streets named after the good or service it provided when the area was first established centuries ago. Today, the area has expanded to more than 50 streets, but Hang Dau, the Street of Shoes, still stands out. “It’s embarrassing,” the young vendor continued as he pointed to my wife’s well-worn sandals. True, the sole looked like it was going to come off and the vendor, who had followed us for half a block with his toolkit in hand, was more than willing to do the repair. Now. At this very moment. On the street. I tensed up as he continued to berate us, but he did it in such a charming way and with a twinkle in his eye that it was hard to fault him for trying to make a buck. And then as suddenly as it began, the encounter was over. He flitted away, spying another tourist, no doubt, waving us a fond adieu. “Have a nice day,” he shouted as he vanished from sight. It was our second day in Vietnam’s capital city and we were getting a lesson in Vietnamese society. We were in Hanoi because of its storied past – the settlement is 3,000 years old and has been inhabited, at one time or another, by the Chinese, the French and the Japanese. The promise of great food and cheap digs sealed the deal. Our hotel, The Hong Ngoc Cochinchine – at $55 CDN a

night – was a bargain by North American standards, one of many in the Ba Dinh district, a short taxi ride to the prescribed sights, the Opera House, Bach Ma Temple and, of course, the Old Quarter. Ba Dinh is a designated tourist area loaded with English speaking merchants, lots of ATMs and a Kentucky

Fried Chicken outlet, the only western fast food franchise allowed into the city we were told. Whether by accident or design, we never saw anyone eat there. Hanoi is a city of contrasts. On one hand, we saw leafy boulevards and opulent mansions. Hoan Kiem Lake is literally a sea of tranquility smack dab in the city core, but turning a corner revealed another side of the metropolis: dense Hanoi

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Travel & Adventure with tall, skinny structures fighting for space while thousands Ethnology Museum, which pays homage to the 54 ethnic tribes that make up Vietnam, offered a fascinating insight to of scooters and motorbikes buzzed about town. Walking around revealed another facet of Hanoi life; the country’s past. Inside – clothing, utensils and crafts from whether it’s conducting business, entertaining friends or eat- the country’s various regions. Outside – examples of tradiing meals, everything tional Vietnamese houshappens on the sideing from long house to pagoda, as well as an walk. Hanoi is an outimpromptu water pupdoor society. It’s also been called “a plastic pet show, a fascinating accomplishment conchair society” because the locals sit on small sidering the puppets are plastic chairs – the controlled by articulated kind you get in toy rods underneath the wastores – accompanied ter’s surface. Watch the by stubby, truncated video at http://youtu.be/ tables. We passed famiVZwuy9-6y9g Next stop, the Vietlies cooking the evening meal on curbside nam Military History braziers while Hanoi Museum. I approached youth, like youth evthis one with trepidation. erywhere, huddled over their smartphones addicted to west- It’s been barely 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War, or ern music and fashion. These little islands of humanity gave the American War as the Vietnamese call it, and I expected a jingoistic diatribe against the United States. The outdoor us a fascinating insight into Hanoi family life. As a history buff, one of my priorities was to learn about concourse was filled with captured American warplanes and Client: Baptist Housing / Size: 7.25” x 4.75” / Colour / Seniors Living Hanoi’s transition from a fiefdom to a communist state. The that didn’t help. Was this setting the tone? Inside, homemade

We were in Hanoi because of its storied past – the settlement is 3,000 years old and has been inhabited, at one time or another, by the Chinese, the French and the Japanese. The promise of great food and cheap digs sealed the deal.

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bc seni

ation

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youthful is a positive attitude and caring for others.

n l iv i g a ss ci

diﬀerent hospitals for many years. What keeps me so

my mother. I love caring for others. I was a volunteer at

I am the oldest out of 10 siblings; I stayed home to help

of a ppr o

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weaponry and dioramas showcased Vietnam’s conflict with France and America. Thankfully, the propaganda was toned down, but much was made about homegrown ingenuity and persistence and the bicycle brigade that transported food and ammunition down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

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Suddenly a column of schoolchildren filed past me on their way to another gallery. “Hello!” they chanted in unison, anxious to practice their English, Vietnam’s second language after the fall of Vietnam’s economic partner, the Soviet Union, in 1991. “Xin chào” I replied in Vietnamese.

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Photos: John Thomson

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Hanoi is a young city. Half the population of Vietnam is under the age of 35 and as our Vietnamese friend, Truong Trân, the manager of a nearby eatery, told us his friends are too young to remember the War. Or to care. Vietnam may be a communist state but it has embraced capitalism big time, and tourism too, and wants to make nice with the West. Vietnam’s

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largest trading partner is, in fact, the United States (clothing). Touring the War Museum was a sobering experience and, in a deliberate attempt to escape the solemnity of the occasion, we treated ourselves to a tour of nearby Halong Bay. The Bay is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site because of its 1,600 limestone pillars called karsts, which rise out of the Gulf of Tonkin. It’s been called the eighth

the karsts and paddling a kayak around a sheltered lagoon. Our cabin was immaculate and the meals were superb. Our guide, 21-year-old Hieu Dinh, was friendly and knowledgeable. He asked us to call him Hugh because he said he looked like movie star Hugh Jackman. He didn’t. We all laughed. Overall, we found Hanoi both exasperating and exhilarating. Make no mistake, there’s poverty, pollution and

wonder of the world. A three-hour bus ride took us from our hotel to Halong City and our embarkation point. We boarded our boat, L’azalee, a converted junk kitted out in mod cons and tasteful decor, around noon. Afternoon activities included climbing up one of

a ramshackle infrastructure, but there’s also optimism and enterprise and an easy going give-and-take vibe that, for me, can be summed up in what I call the ballet of the street. We had heard the stories beforehand about how difficult it was to cross the

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IF YOU GO: There are no direct flights from Vancouver to Hanoi. BC travellers must connect through Europe, China, Australia or Indonesia. We travelled from Vancouver to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific with a connecting flight to Hanoi via Dragonair. Hanoi is awash in hotels, from the opulent to the perfunctory. The Hong Ngoc Cochinchine at $55 CDN a night came with free Internet and air conditioning. The legendary Metropole Hanoi can be yours for $300 CDN; the nearby Hilton costs $200 CDN a night. The local currency is expressed in dong. For rapid calculations, we reckoned on 20,000 dong to the Canadian dollar. Large 50,000, 500,000 and 1 million dong notes are commonplace.

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Featured Business road because no one stops for pedestrians. It’s true. Survival requires good timing and a stiff resolve. The trick is to look for a break in the traffic and walk slowly and confidently into the stream, while looking drivers straight in the eye. It worked.

Scooters and motorbikes gracefully swerved around us. We had miraculously melded into the rhythm of the street. SL Like I said, exasperating and exhilarating.

Retirement Concepts: So Nice to Come Home to

magine yourself in a place where everyone knows your name, caters to your individual needs and treats you like family. You don’t need to imagine, that’s reality for those that call one of Retirement Concepts twenty sites across British Columbia home. “So nice to come home to” doesn’t represent a headline in our advertisements, but a way of being for the BC owners of Retirement Concepts, the Jamal family, and all our employees. Your trust in us to deliver services to you or your loved ones sets us apart and makes us the best place to call home in British Columbia. With twenty locations to serve you across BC, chances are we have something that suites your needs. From Independent Living to Assisted Living to Residential Care, we focus our efforts on providing quality care and top-notch services. We can help you navigate the sometimes complicated system of seniors’ housing in BC by providing you with the type of support you need to make this important decision. As one of the largest providers of seniors’ housing and support services in BC, Retirement Concepts strives to be an industry leader by focusing our energy in ways that improve the quality of life for our residents and families. Recently, we talked with our employees, residents and families about what was important to them so that we could re-energize and direct our efforts for the next three years. We were amazed by the response and commitment to building our companies future together. They told us that improving the quality of our services and care, investing in our employees and innovations for healthy aging would be top priorities. These priorities set the tone for the next three years. A unique feature of Retirement Concepts homes is the strong sense of community and connections to friends, family and community members. Items such as community speaker series, where people from the community come in our homes to take part in education, or through the sponsoring of community events, Retirement Concepts works hard to be an active, vibrant part of the community. We believe that being part of the surrounding community is vital to our residents and offers a variety of options for the community to get to know our “RC Community”. We would love to talk with you about our stunning settings, great meals and introduce you to our team when you visit for a tour and a meal. Please go to retirementconcepts.com today! ADVERTISEMENT

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MAY 2014 47 49 ��

Fit for the Adventure

BY EVE LEES

Planning for the Future? Invest in Good Nutrition

mart investing isn’t limited to your bank account. Transactions occur within your body when you eat food. You credit your account (your body) by depositing vital nutrients from whole foods. And you debit your account when the digestive system uses these nutrients in doing its job of breaking down the food you eat. Therefore, what you eat can overdraw, balance or collect in your health account. Sadly, many of us are overdrawn. In our fast-paced lives, the convenience of processed, refined foods is what many of us choose. These nutrient-depleted foods don’t contribute to your “bank” account. Instead, they withdraw nutrients from your account to fuel the process of digestion. The body is designed to slowly and methodically process and refine a whole

food after we eat it – not before. Contrary to belief, highly broken-down foods (like refined sugars and other processed, refined foods) are not digested more efficiently. However, they are absorbed very quickly. This creates hormonal confusion because stages are skipped in the structured, orderly chain of events in the digestive process. Our food supply has changed drastically, especially in the last few decades, but our digestive systems haven’t changed at all. Our designer foods are far too advanced for the unique simplicity of the human digestive system. Dieticians say our wide selection of “convenience foods” is a contributing factor to the rising rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Twenty years ago, sugar-coated breakfast cereals were about the only convenience junk food found in most households.

Today, for every meal there are hundreds of choices of processed foods that didn’t occur naturally, like wieners and deli meats, breads and crackers, cookies and cakes, quick-cooking rice, margarine, ice cream, potato chips, snack bars and soda pop. Eating these poor food choices won’t credit your account because they provide few nutrients to repay the debit your digestive process makes. Infrequently eating them won’t put your account in the red; you’ll stay in balance. However, many of us make poor choices at nearly every meal, withdrawing continually on our good health. To keep your account in credit, choose foods more often that aren’t as tampered with or changed by humans – foods that are as close as possible to how they were created in nature. Choose an apple instead of a sports bar. Serve fresh fruit and natural nuts at tea time instead of cookies. Munch on a whole bell pepper or a handful of cherry tomatoes. Try to eat more fresh fruit, vegetables and root vegetables, cooked whole grains, and natural meat choices. Save the processed, refined “fast foods” as an occasional treat and you’ll be a wealthier and healthier investor. SL Eve Lees was a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Counsellor for 30 years. Currently she is a Freelance Health Writer and Speaker. www.artnews-healthnews.com

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BY PAT NICHOL

Spiritual Wanderer Heads to Europe

and turn my pillow over to stop it, but it is relentless. Still, I am determined. Travelling solo is becoming more popular. If I can connect with people as I do at home, it will be a wonderful adventure. I don’t have any problem speaking with strangers in Victoria, so why should I be frightened of strangers in Brussels? After all, it is the chocolate capital of the world. Any place smothered in chocolate has to be safe, right? Of course. In line with my wanderer status, one of the things on my list is to do some housesitting in parts of Europe. This trip will be an opportunity to explore these places and see if I will be a good fit for them – and they for me. So, I go. I will enjoy. I will make new friends, and I will come home carrying a few more pounds than when I left – and some chocolate. Most of all, I will be loving every moment I SL am away. Will report next month. Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit www.patnichol.com

Afternoon Tea – with a Twist.

Join us at Revera – The Kensington for Mother’s Day Historical Tea. Friday, May 9th, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Spend an afternoon of leisure with us! Stop by for tea with Danda Humphreys, local historian and author, who will recall the untold stories of women and children of historical Victoria at our Mother’s Day Historical Tea.

Personal tours available.

Call to RSVP by May 7th! The Kensington 3965 Shelbourne St Victoria

250-477-1232

14145 04.14

or the next while, my title will be Spiritual Wanderer. This month, I am in Europe. My itinerary goes like this: Three days in Bruge and Brussels – all by myself. Sixteen days on a bus tour around France, walking the cobblestones that have been walked by travellers for centuries. Then a seven-day pilgrimage at Chartres Cathedral with eight other pilgrims. Finally, two days solo in Amsterdam before I head home. A long time coming, it has been 12 years since I last set foot in Europe and that was a one-week working trip in the Netherlands. Here is where the courageous part kicks in; while I have often travelled solo, it has always been for business, so there was a definite purpose with people meeting me as I disembarked from a plane. This journey also has a purpose, but it is more soul oriented than business style. Sometimes, in the dark of night, a voice comes through with “What are you doing? Don’t you know how dangerous it is out there?” I attempt to block it out

Photo: Frances Litman

COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS

reveraliving.com Working together to overcome ageism. Visit AgeIsMore.com

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MAY 2014

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CLASSIFIEDS

COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiﬂex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@telus.net Victoria

RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certified Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082. SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or sexeducator@telus.net ALWAYS GREAT FEET. Nanaimo’s professional mobile foot care nurses. Debbie Mason LPN and John Patterson LPN. Home, facility, and hospital visits. Experienced, qualified nursing foot care for toenails, corns, calluses and ingrown nails. Direct billing for DVA clients. 250 390 9266 WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, old photographs, and pre1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca DRIVING MISS DAISY VANCOUVER ISLAND Victoria 250-588-4638 - Sidney/Peninsula 250-507-2336 - Westshore 250-813-0440 - Qualicum/Parksville 250-937-8812 - Comox Valley 250-650-2010 - Nanaimo 250-667-1446. HEALING FOOT CARE by Nurse Foot Care Specialist Marcia Goodwin R.N.,B.Sc.N. 35 yrs. Nsg. Experience • Caring • Comprehensive • Professional • Gentle 250-6863081. (Victoria Area)

FAMILY CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS Developed by dementia care experts. Caring for a loved one with dementia? Techniques to manage behaviours and activities to encourage engagement. Call to register for May 12 and 14, 6:30-8:30pm. Cost: Free. Location: Home Instead Senior Care Resource Centre. 250-382-6565.

DEBI’S MOBILE HAIR SERVICES in the comfort of your home for everyone in your family. Serving the Victoria area. Please call Debi at 250-477-7505. “ANTI-AGING...” with Maria S. Lee B.Sc.Hons. Unique gene-rejuvenating products for your health and return of youthful vitality. 250-923-2352, mariasrejuvenation@gmail. com, www.mariasantiaging.com LEARN TO PLAY THE PIANO - Food for your brain (daytime lessons for Seniors). For free consultation call Frank at 250-384-1229. NATURAL INSTINCTS MASSAGE Sensual, nurturing, pampering and professional. This magical touch caters to your needs and comfort…Rejuvenating. 250-744-0705. Victoria Area. CUBA – ‘Spanish Studies in Cuba’ (Havana), $2,500.00 CAD for 4 wks. Hotel with breakfast and dinner, tuition fee. (Air fare not included).250-478-0494 ssic@telus.net DRAWING & PAINTING for the absolute & terriﬁed beginner, Vancouver. Tiny classes; highly skilled teacher, Lena Leszczynski. 604-253-3533, artylena@telus.net Please visit www.lenasartstudio.com

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�� We are Casalinga, a Canadian owned and operated meal delivery service. We have been serving veterans, seniors, bachelors and families in the Greater Vancouver area for over 20 years with an assortment of complete ready-made meals and we now deliver to Vancouver Island. Our gourmet quality meals are prepared using the freshest ingredients, never processed foods, pressed meat products or additives. We stand by our mantra; if we don’t make it the best, we won’t make it at all. We work hard to bring you a great meal, guaranteed! Our massive non-generic meal menu has items such as Chicken & Dumplings, Thai Curry Prawns, Seafood Lasagne, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Salmon Wellington, Stuffed Sole Filet with Crab Shrimp and Scallops, and classics such as Liver and Onions, Fried Chicken, and Shepherd’s Pie just to name a few. Whatever food you are in the mood for will be on our menu. Our gluten free & vegan meal selections contain non-medicated and organic ingredients, put together to offer a healthy alternative to all the processed foods that are in our society today! We provide the best quality, economical, ready-made meals and fresh food products in the Lower Mainland - from Chilliwack to West Vancouver. And we now deliver to the Greater Victoria area. Coming soon to mid-Island. Just last month we were in Toronto pitching one of our popular food products on CBC’s Dragons Den. It was an amazing experience. Tune in during the fall to see what happened. Deliveries are once a week to your area. An online ordering system makes it even easier to order. Meals start as low as $5.50. Delivery $5, free delivery on orders over $40. ��

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Reﬂections THEN & NOW

y mom was a beauty when she was young. At least that’s what my dad said. I was too busy being a kid to concentrate on my mom’s beauty. By the time I was a teenager, she was old – she had to be at least 40. I noticed young girls, but not my mom. Moms are interesting people. A mom is not something you can get rid of and say you don’t want anymore. You can’t trade them in or have them bronzed. I had mine for 63 years. No matter how bad I was, no matter the trouble I got into and no matter the mistakes I made, she remained my mom. Like it’s said, for better or for worse (I know that’s another ceremony, but it still fits.) My mom used to tickle me when I was a kid. She introduced me to Robert Service and helped me memorize “The Shooting of Dan McGrew.” She would write poems and read them to my sister and me, and tell us stories and sing songs with her soft voice. We didn’t have much as far as material things were concerned, but we had mom, for richer or poorer. In the evening at our cottage on Shea Lake, we would sit on the wharf as the sun was going down and she would sing and teach us the war songs like, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” “Coming in on a Wing

�� by Gipp Forster A collection of Gipp’s humorous and nostalgic columns. A wonderful read for yourself, and Reflections, �� a thoughtful gift and Other Breakfast Foods for friends and family members.

and a Prayer” and “The White Cliffs of Dover.” My mom liked to laugh. Whenever my parent’s friends BY came over, there would be lots of laughter. Laughter is a far better memory than sorrow. We had sorrow, to be sure, but the laughter stands out. My mother’s laughter could lift you to the stars. Her laughter was safe. She would nurse my sister and me when we got sick; tuck us in and hover over us. She’d make us soup and take our temperature and make us stay in bed an extra day, even when we felt better. My mom was there when I left for school in the morning, and when I got home in the afternoon. She was there when my tooth was loose, and when I had an earache, measles and mumps. She was always there. My mom tiptoed out of this world three days before Christmas in 2000. I say tiptoed, because she left quietly and without any fanfare, kind of like an unsung hero. She was smart, my mom, and a great bridge player. She had trophies. Her favourite TV show was Jeopardy. She was so faithful that we began to suspect she might secretly be seeing Alex Trebeck. She was good, too, in “What is… this!” and “What is… that!” Her favourite

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sitcoms were Full House, Home Improvement, and Everyone Loves Raymond. She was an insatiable reader too; book after book after book. She loved to build castles with her brain. When her eyesight and hearing started to go, she quietly bowed her head and slipped away. I’ve never understood why Jeopardy never had two minutes of silence for such a loyal and trusted friend. I would take her for a blood transfusion every week. I’d push her in a wheelchair, remembering her diving off a pier and swimming like Esther Williams toward the middle of the lake. It was many years past, but it was like yesterday too. Wherever I turned in my memory, she seemed to be there. Wherever I turn now, it’s the same. I miss calling her and sharing a funny story. She was my mom, but she was also my friend. She was always there to spell a word I couldn’t spell or to help me put a sentence together when I tried to write. My kids will always remember her as old, just as my young grandchildren will remember me as old. But I remember her as young, a singer of songs, a teller of stories, and a nurse to bandage a scraped knee. She was always there. She was my SL mom.

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A Collection of Published & Unpublished Writings by Senior Living Columnist Gipp Forster

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Sadly, Gipp passed away on April 15, 2013. He left us with some unpublished writings, so we are honoring his love of Senior Living and its readers by continuing to publish his work for as long as we can.

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Life. Life. Life.

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