The Scrivener - Winter 2025 - Volume 34 Number 3

TO OUR NEWEST BC NOTARIES!

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WINTER 2025 | VOLUME 34 | NUMBER 03

CONGRATULATIONS Published 3 Times a Year by the BC Notaries Association

ACCESS 2026 PROPERTY VALUES Search and compare property assessment information at bcassessment.ca If you’re among BC’s approximately 2 million property owners, visit bcassessment.ca to find your updated property assessment information.

The 2026 assessments are based on market value as of July 1, 2025.

Have questions or want more information? Visit us online at bcassessment.ca or contact us at 1-866-valueBC. The deadline to file an appeal for your assessment is February 2, 2026.

WE VALUE BC

Contents Winter 2025

Published by the BC Notaries Association Editor-in-Chief Val Wilson

Read The Scrivener online.

BCNA CEO Chad Rintoul

https://www.bcnotaryassociation.ca/ resources/scrivener/

Administrative Coordinator Jenna Gardezy Courier Lightspeed Courier & Logistics Production fractal design inc. (fractal.ca)

Download the magazine to your device for offline reading.

BC Notaries Class of 2025

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Chad Rintoul

email: scrivener@bcnotaryassociation.ca

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website: www.bcnotaryassociation.ca

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All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

This journal is a forum for discussion, not a medium of official pronouncement. The BC Notaries Association does not, in any sense, endorse or accept responsibility for opinions expressed by contributors.

Personal Connections . . .

Key to BC Notaries’ Success Because It Matters . . .

Rimpy Sadhra

Welcome to 2026!

Val Wilson

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The Longevity Economy and the Future of Your Business Rhonda Latreille

10 The Office Revisions You Don’t Know You Need Rhonda Latreille

14 He Couldn’t Say Hello Until He Knew the Car Was Safe Rhonda Latreille

15 The Wealth Transfer No One’s Talking About (But Should Be) Rhonda Latreille

20 Why Can’t You Be Like You Used to Be? Rhonda Latreille

Printed on 100% Canadian paper

22 My Name Isn’t “Dearie” Rhonda Latreille

24 Legacy Isn’t the Last Step.

CANADA POST: PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT No. 40010827

It’s the Deepest One

POSTAGE PAID AT VANCOUVER, BC

27 Supporting Ageing Clients

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION SUITE 201, 2453 BEACON AVENUE SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA V8L 1X7

Rhonda Latreille

with Care and Compassion Natalya Hanna

28 Tips for Making a Big Difference when Working with Mature Clients Hilary Beard

30 Protecting Ageing Clients from Financial Exploitation Ian Callaway

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BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION

32 BC Notaries Graduating Class of 2025 33 Address to the Graduates Kyla O'Reilly

34 BC Notaries Class of 2025 Installation Ceremony

36 A Witness to Tradition Marny Morin

37 Introducing the BCNA Board to the Legislature, regarding Make-a-Will Week

38 BCNA 42 Lessons in Uniting Canada Nigel Atkin

44 What’s New in Canadian Immigration, Eh? Alex Ning

46 Carrying on a Legacy:

Blending Tradition and Technology

48 Restoring Nature with a Bulldozer Jean-Philip Rousseau

50 Is There a Settlement?

Trevor Todd

54 Top 5 Topics in Estate Planning for Millennials and Generation Z

Elaine T. McCormack and Emily Sheard

56 REIBC Foxtrot 2025 Tamara Da Silveira

57 The Skylight Calendar Max 27” and 15” Akash Sablok

59 Porsche Factory Tour Akash Sablok

62 People

CEO B C N O TA R I E S A S S O C I AT I O N

Services a BC Notary Can Provide CHAD RINTOUL

Personal Connections . . .

Key to BC Notaries’ Success Î Congratulations to the 24 recently commissioned new Notaries in British Columbia!

The BC Notaries Association is excited to be a part of your career journey; we hope this edition of The Scrivener provides you with excellent insight on how to make your office accommodating for clients of all ages.

According to the Government of British Columbia, BC has an ageing population; by 2036, the number of residents age 65 and over is projected to reach a quarter of the province’s population. That’s significant. Their ongoing needs will be unique and changing.

My own parents (avid Scrivener readers) fall into that category. I watch them continue to take comfort in personal interactions more so than technological options for services.

There’s a lack of trust in a world riddled with cybercrime and fraud.

They would rather sit down with their Notary, accountant, banker, or doctor and have those professionals take the time to evaluate their needs.

about confirming a client’s identity and competency, it’s about exercising empathy and understanding. I believe that their caring, small-practice approach to providing service is what sets BC Notaries apart from many other professionals.

As we enter a new year, the BCNA is pleased to help recognize The Society of Notaries Public of BC’s 100-year anniversary, 1926 to 2026. Part of the fabric of this province, Notaries have been providing legal services here for over a century.

The anniversary of the SNPBC as regulator of the profession is something for all Notaries to be proud of. BC Notaries provide access to noncontentious legal services throughout the province. While each new year brings change, be assured that under the Legal Professions Act, Notaries will continue to serve British Columbians as a distinct legal service profession, well into the future.

I wish our readers, sponsors, and members a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Respectfully,

That personal connection is a great way to build client-confidence and trust. Notaries’ work is not just

had Rintoul, C Chief Executive Officer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. PROPERTY MATTERS 1. Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transfers 2. Mortgage Refinancing Documentation 3. Manufactured Home Transfers 4. Easements, Covenants, and Rights of Way 5. Builder’s Liens 6. Subdivisions and Statutory Building Schemes 7. Zoning Applications

B. PERSONAL PLANNING 1. Wills Preparation 2. Powers of Attorney 3. Representation Agreements 4. Advance Directives 5. Wills Notice Searches 6. Estate Planning

C. NOTARIZATION /DOCUMENTS 1. Affidavits for All Documents required at a Public Registry within BC 2. Certified True Copies of Documents 3. Execution/Authentications of International Documents 4. Notarizations/Attestations of Signatures 5. Insurance Loss Declarations 6. Personal Property Security Agreements 7. Statutory Declarations 8. Authorization of Minor-Child Travel 9. Letters of Invitation for Foreign Travel 10. Passport Application Documentation

D. BUSINESS 1. Business Purchase/Sale 2. Commercial Leases and Assignment of Leases 3. Contracts and Agreements

E. SOME BC NOTARIES PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. 1. Marine Bills of Sale and Mortgages 2. Marine Protests 3. Marriage Licences 4. Mediation 5. Real Estate Disclosure Statements

There are Notaries to serve you throughout British Columbia For the BC Notary office nearest you, please call 1-604-676-8570 or visit www.bcnotaryassociation.ca.

Note: Not all Notaries provide all services listed. Please check with your Notary before making an appointment for services.

THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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PRESIDENT B C N O TA R I E S A S S O C I AT I O N

Because It Matters . . . Î Many of the people who walk through our BC Notary doors are older adults who have trusted us for years—sometimes decades.

They come to us during some of the most meaningful moments in their lives. It’s our responsibility to make their experience as comfortable, respectful, and reassuring as possible.

Creating a Welcoming and Safe Space A few small changes in our offices can make a big difference. Simple things—like adding handrails where needed, keeping hallways clear for wheelchairs and walkers, and making sure seating is sturdy and easy to get in and out of—help clients feel safe and supported the moment they arrive.

Those and other adjustments aren’t just practical, they show clients we’ve thought about their comfort before they even see us.

Offering Support with Kindness Many ageing clients appreciate a steady arm, an unhurried pace, or help settling into a chair. Those gestures may seem small, but they go a long way in building trust. Ensuring washrooms are accessible, doors are easy to open, and staff are ready to lend a hand all contribute to a caring environment where clients feel looked after.

Giving Extra Time—Because It Matters Ageing clients may need more time to move around the office, take bathroom breaks, review documents, and ask questions. Things don’t always move quickly—and that’s okay. Building-in a little extra time allows clients to process information comfortably and gives

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R I M PY SA D H R A

us the opportunity to explain things clearly, without rushing. Patience is one of the most valuable tools we have.

Leading with Empathy Empathy is at the heart of BC Notaries’ work. Our ageing clients may be navigating complex decisions or emotional situations. Taking the time to listen, offer reassurance, and meet them where they are helps reinforce the trust they’ve placed in us and reflects the community spirit at the core of the Notary profession.

By creating accessible spaces, offering thoughtful support, and approaching every interaction with patience and understanding, we honour the people who have contributed so much to our communities—and who continue to rely on us for guidance and care.

Personal Message from the President While 2025 may not have felt as busy in sheer volume, I know how much heavier our workload has been, from rising compliance demands, more complex files, and the ripple effects of a shifting economy. It has been challenging but we Notaries have been there for our community—family, friends, clients, colleagues, and neighbours— and they appreciate our important work. I trust you took some time over the holidays to rest, recharge, and come back feeling renewed.

Looking forward to an exciting and busy 2026 for all of us!

Regards, Rimpy Sadhra, West Coast Notaries

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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By creating accessible spaces, offering thoughtful support, and approaching every interaction with patience and understanding, we honour the people who have contributed so much to our communities— and who continue to rely on us for guidance and care.

KEYNOTE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Welcome to 2026! Î The goal of our Winter-issue theme, “Accommodating Your Ageing Clients,” is to educate people about the needs of some adults as they mature. Much of our content can also be applied to your personal relationships within the family. .

At age 35, I broke my ankle skiing at Whistler. On my first day home in my brand new plaster cast, I decided to make myself a nice cup of tea and then relax on the chesterfield.

On my crutches, I duly created the hot beverage but found I could not carry the mug into the living room. Ever creative, I soon saw I could hold the handle of a thermos in my teeth, to ferry the tea to where I could enjoy drinking it.

My life had changed . . . temporarily.

For many individuals, mobility changes are not temporary . . . new ways of coping and doing even simple things must be hatched. People may suddenly need help with some of

VA L W I L S O N

their daily activities . . . and they especially appreciate the understanding and assistance of others—the kindness of strangers, professionals, friends, and family members.

The articles and ideas in this issue will guide you in some of the helpful ways you can make the lives of others easier.

Thanks very much to our resourceful writers!

In January, it’s normal for us to look ahead into the New Year . . . at our goals, plans, and resolutions. Looking back at the old year can also be quite useful . . . to celebrate what we accomplished and what remains for us to complete.

For 2026, my goals include continuing to apply kindness in all situations, to be more patient, try new things, and to appreciate others (and myself) as we are today.

Do take care!

1/2 H O R I ZO N TA L A D

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

The Longevity Economy and the Future of Your Business The following 7 articles were researched and written by Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA®, Founder & CEO of Age-Friendly Business®. Î This edition of The Scrivener invites you to view your work through a different lens, one shaped by time, purpose, people, and potential. y What if the biggest opportunity for your business is not about chasing youth?

the age range 50+; they are chasing the millennials. I invite them to reconsider that position . . . who is cosigning the loans and mortgages, paying for their grandchildren's tech toys and education, and their adult children’s emergency needs and family vacations?

y What if it is about your clear understanding of your mature clients’ experience?

Physical, social, emotional, and cognitive realities define the second half of our lives. Insights about them can make your business more effective, ethical, relevant, and more successful.

“It’s not about old people; it’s about the people who are going to live a very long time.

The Power of a Generation Still in Motion Across Canada, adults age 50 and older direct more than half of all consumer spending and control . . . about 70% of private wealth. That is not a passing demographic shift; it is a structural transformation in how influence, trust, commerce, and purchasing power move through our economy.

Called The Longevity Economy, it refers to a market now valued at more than US$15 trillion worldwide!

Surprisingly, some businesses and professionals tell me they don’t serve

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We are living the gift of the Thirty-Year Longevity Bonus, an unprecedented gain of 30 additional years of life expectancy in a single century . . . the last 100 years.

That has never happened before in our history. While it suggests we are just now trying to figure out this whole “longevity thing,” we do know

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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R H O N DA L AT R E I LLE

Called The Longevity Economy, it refers to a market now valued at more than US$15 trillion worldwide!

those added decades have rewritten how Canadians approach work, family, purpose, and legacy.

Dr. Joseph Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab, explains, I t’s not about old people; it’s about the people who are going to live a very long time.” Professionals who grasp that shift and adapt will be the ones who thrive within it.

Understanding the Clients Who Hold the Future Your clients in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are often juggling multiple roles— supporting adult children, caring for ageing parents, preparing for retirement, managing their wealth, and planning their estates.

Serving those clients well requires seeing beyond transactions. It means aligning your work with their values, communication preferences, their fears, and their vision for what comes next.

Authors David Wolfe and Robert Snyder, in Ageless Marketing: Strategies for Reaching the Hearts and Minds of the New Customer Majority, remind us that motivation at that stage is driven by values such as contribution, connection, purpose, and legacy . . . rather than by age labels.

Consider How You Frame a Will. y Presented as a legal requirement, it is a transaction. y Presented as an act of love and stewardship, it is a message to future generations and becomes transformational. y The difference is not in the paperwork. It is in empathy.

Longevity Literacy: The New Core Competence Today, professional excellence means more than technical mastery.

Longevity literacy—understanding how ageing affects decision-making, comprehension, perception, and trust— has become an essential skill.

The Law Society of British Columbia’s Code of Professional Conduct (Rule 3.1-2 on Competence and Rule 3.2-9 on Clients with Diminished Capacity) and The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia’s Principles and Guidelines for Ethical and Professional Conduct, both underscore competence, sound judgment, and sensitivity to client capacity.

The frameworks call on professionals to communicate clearly, act with integrity, and uphold the dignity and autonomy of every client. Those are not lofty ideals; they are the very foundation of professional ethics and public trust.

One Age-Friendly Business® professional, a financial planner, shared the impact of that awareness. After noticing several longterm clients had hearing challenges, she made simple but powerful adjustments, such as y lowering background noise; y slowing her speech; y keeping her hands away from her face to facilitate lipreading; y checking for understanding; and y following-up in writing.

The results were striking—improved retention, increased referrals, client satisfaction, and deeper trust.

Welcoming every client with dignity and equity is more than compliance; it’s a declaration of respect.

“When clients feel heard,” she said, “they remain loyal and they tell others.”

The Ethics and Economics of Engagement

Competence and compassion are not separate strengths. Together, they define leadership in the longevity marketplace.

Today, doing good and doing well walk hand-in-hand.

Beyond Stereotypes The words “older client” no longer signal winding down. They signal reinvention.

Boomers and active seniors are running businesses, mentoring younger colleagues, volunteering, and reshaping communities. They expect professionalism without paternalism and respect without condescension.

Professionals who understand the longevity market elevate both their impact and their income. Ethical service grounded in integrity creates enduring trust.

Research from Cerulli Associates revealed that more than 70% of widows change financial advisors within a year of their spouse’s death, most because they never felt truly seen.

(Cerulli Relationship Continuity Study Summary: https://www.cerulli.com/ about-cerulli.)

Engaging both partners early and meaningfully is not only considerate, it is good business.

Competence and compassion are not separate strengths.

Together, they define leadership in the longevity marketplace.

When empathy, communication, and awareness of capacity become core competencies, you are not merely meeting regulatory expectations . . . you are building a practice designed to last.

From Awareness to Advantage The path from understanding to leadership begins with deliberate, practical action.

1. Audit your environment.

Peter Hubbell, author of BoomAgers, captured it best: “This is the generation that refuses to act its age They demand clarity, efficiency, and authenticity, not assumptions.”

In British Columbia, those expectations are supported by legislation and design: the Human Rights Code (section 8 on age discrimination) and accessibility standards in the BC Building Code (Division B, section 3.8).

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Is it welcoming, safe, and accessible for those using mobility or hearing supports?

2. Adapt your communication.

Clarity and patience build confidence.

3. Include trusted contacts.

National Instrument 31-103 (Regulation issued by Canadian Securities Association (CSA), the umbrella organization of provincial and territorial securities regulators) discusses the THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

correct application of temporary holds on financial transactions as well as documenting trusted contact persons to help support and protect all clients, especially vulnerable clients.

4. Address digital legacies.

Help clients list and document access to digital assets such as emails, social media accounts, online banking, reward programs, websites, blogs, domain names, cloud-stored files, streaming and cryptocurrency accounts, and any other digitally based asset that is part of their estate and continuity plans.

5. Invest in longevity literacy.

Expand your professional toolkit with specialized training and insight.

The items in 1 to 5 above are not optional extras. They are how forwardthinking professionals future-proof their practice.

The Opportunity of a Lifetime The Longevity Economy is not emerging. It is already here. The question is, who will lead within it?

Those who honour experience will define the next generation of professional excellence.

You are advising the generation that built the very systems we now work within, and they are still building.

The future of your business will be defined by how wisely you y serve experience, y lead with empathy, y learn continuously, and y watch your practice and your purpose grow.

In the pages that follow, you will find practical insights and tools to help bring those principles to life . . . one age-relevant, respectful conversation at a time.

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The Office Revisions You Don’t Know You Need Making Your Space Age-Friendly. Î Walk into most professional offices and you’ll find a standard setup . . . some seating, glossy floors, decorative plants on stands, and maybe an inviting bowl of tightly wrapped candies at reception. That looks fine, unless you’re managing arthritis or using a wheelchair or a walking aid.

On a personal note, in my late 20s, it was discovered that I had abnormal bone growth in my left middle ear (called otosclerosis) and underwent surgery that helped somewhat. For me, it is not a volume issue, it is an issue of clarity. In noisy environments, I can miss many words because it sounds like people are talking underwater!

We often say no one should have to work hard to give you their money.

Unintentionally, offices can be a dangerous obstacle course for clients.

Those who watched the first season of CSI on TV will recall the lead character Dr. Gil Grissom had the same issue—his condition was portrayed extremely well.

So, let’s adopt intention.

Start with the Obvious Stuff The reality: Most office spaces aren’t designed with older clients in mind.

The good news: You don’t need blueprints or a building permit to make the situation better.

Do you understand what’s physically changing for many of your clients as they move through various life stages, and how those changes show up in daily interactions with you and in your business space?

A few quick fixes can reduce their frustration, improve comfort, and lower the risk of injury.

Office Design and Layout Should Respect Real Life.

Hearing Starting as early as our 50s, many of us begin to progressively lose our ability to hear high-frequency sounds.

It’s harder to hear certain tones and especially difficult to follow conversations in environments with distracting background noise. Presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss; it impacts 1 in 3 people by age 65 and 1 in 2 by age 75.

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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In certain environments, I need to “lip-read and face-read” to help me grasp the spoken context and to work quickly to replace words that seem garbled!

Suggested Remedies y

Slow your speaking.

y Don’t assume a client’s slow processing of your spoken information means they lack intelligence . . . they may be hearing only every third word and have to scramble to fill in the blanks before they can respond. y Speak directly to your client, not through their adult child or companion. y Speak clearly and enunciate well. y You may need to increase your volume somewhat, but don’t shout! y Lower the tone of your voice and check to see if that helps. y Establish eye contact and keep your hands away from your face in case the client is lipreading. y If a client asks you to repeat something, rephrase your sentence.

ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Working together with Notaries in and around Vancouver since 2011.

We can help your clients with • Probate Applications • Legal Advice to Executors • Testamentary Trusts

• Living (inter vivos) Trusts • Incorporations • Tax-planned Corporate Reorganizations

Because we are focused estate-planning and probate lawyers, we refer all real estate transactions to Notaries across BC.

Connect with us to see how we can help.

www.westcoastwills.com | e. info@westcoastwills.com | p. 604 230-1068 THE SCRIVENER | SPRING 2024 11 Vancouver | North Vancouver | Burnaby | Richmond | Surrey

ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Sound basic? You bet . . . that’s the point. Simple, practical demonstrations show your clients that their needs are being considered.

Design Your Premises for Bodies That Have Been Around the Block.

Arthritis, osteoporosis, and reduced vision aren’t rare exceptions; they are everyday realities for many adults.

Realistic Remedies for Reading y On important documents, use a minimum 12-point sans-serif font, such as Arial. y Have magnifying glasses available for those who need them or people who have forgotten their eyeglasses. y Increase the lighting by 30%.

y Arthritis is the most common chronic condition among older adults; it impacts fine motor-skills, grip, and mobility.

y Black words printed on a white background are best; avoid trendy pastels on your print materials and your website.

y Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures from even minor impacts.

y Don’t print words on top of pictures.

The words and the pictures will be compromised.

y Presbyopia can occur when our eye lens becomes less flexible; we lose the ability to read fine print and we find our arms are too short to hold printed pages at a readable distance!

You Don’t Need to Turn Your Office into a Clinic.

Just Be Thoughtful and Aware.

y Use large print on your business cards and appointment cards. y Place taxi or transportation information in plain view.

A few small changes can make your office a whole lot safer. y Does your seating consist of low, squishy couches? Be sure to add sturdy chairs with arms and firm seats that support the transference of weight. y Install lever-style handles instead of knobs. y Remove area rugs or secure them with anti-slip grips.

Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches aren’t accessories.

They are tools necessary for freedom.

The presence of mobility aids isn’t the problem. Poor office design is.

y Fix uneven flooring or tricky transitions between surfaces. y Mark thresholds and stairs with contrasting strips. y Keep pathways clear of protruding furniture or décor.

Give the Senses A Break.

y Brighten dark corners, hallways, and stairwells.

You wouldn’t hold a meeting next to an active construction site. Even subtle sensory overload can be distracting and exhausting.

y Install grab bars and use nonslip materials in washrooms.

Some clients are negatively sensitive to noise, clutter, and scents. They can

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BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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affect concentration, comfort, thinking, and mood. y Keep noise levels low. No background TV or blaring music. y Avoid strong scents in cleaning products, perfumes, essential oils, and air fresheners. y Use high-contrast signage and clean, simple fonts. y Make sure you have CO2 detectors in your office.

Small changes will help your clients feel calm, focused, safe, and welcome.

Let’s Talk Mobility Aids Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches aren’t accessories. They are tools necessary for freedom. The presence of mobility aids isn’t the problem.

Poor office design is.

Mobility aids are used for many reasons, including joint pain, injuryrecovery, balance issues, and longterm conditions. Those aids can help your clients only if your space makes room for them. y Passageways must be wide enough for safe movement. y Offer to help, but always ask before you act. y Never touch or move someone’s mobility aid without permission. y Add cane hooks at the reception desk. y Pull up a chair to have a conversation with a seated person and someone in a wheelchair, so you are at their eye level. Never tower over a person to speak with them . . . perhaps squat to maintain eye contact.

Fall-Prevention Isn’t Just a Safety Thing.

It’s a Good Business Decision.

Our balance and reflexes decline gradually. Falls are the #1 cause of injury-related hospitalizations for adults over 65. Many falls happen during normal moments. Even a slight stumble can become serious due to brittle bones from osteoporosis.

My mother once stepped from a carpeted area onto a glossy tile floor, lost her balance, and whiplashed. She didn’t fall—the motion fractured vertebrae in her back. That’s how fragile bodies can be. And how preventable accidents are.

y If a cane or a crutch snags on an area rug, will the person go flying?

Think About the Whole Appointment Experience, Not Just the Meeting

y Is your reception desk designed for seated comfort or simply standing?

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BC Notaries

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Lawyers

Your client’s experience doesn’t begin in your office. It starts in the parking lot and ends when they leave your building.

And here’s a bonus. Creating an age-friendly environment doesn’t benefit just your maturing clients. It helps everyone. Think of busy parents with kids in strollers, clients on crutches after a sports injury, and your own future self.

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Land Surveyors of BC

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Real Estate Professionals

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R eal Estate Boards and Associations

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Age-Friendly Designates

A space that works for everyone doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you decided it should. That’s how you tell someone, “You matter here.” When your space works for a client with a disability, it works better for everyone.

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MLAs and MPs in BC

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Life Insurance Brokers and Agents

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Accountants

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Managers of Financial Institutions

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Investment Management Agencies

Clients pay attention. Not just to the words and the way you speak, but to how your space makes them feel.

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P rovincial and Federal Court Judges

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Registrars

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Mayors

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Government Ministries of

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You’ll Get Bonus Points for Thoughtful Preparation

Accommodating all clients isn’t a trend. It’s a smart business decision and a meaningful one. One chap took over his father’s successful and established business, changed the environment to be more age-friendly, and doubled his revenue in a year!

L ibraries: Public and Private, including Law Society, Legal Services, Education Facilities

It’s not about being fancy. It’s about being ready.

So, the next time you walk into your office, ask yourself . . .

Small touches communicate that you care before a single word is spoken.

y Would this space make a 72-year-old client feel welcome?

Safe? Comfortable? Confident?

Respected?

Walking long distances, standing too long, or juggling carried belongings gets harder with age or injury, even if someone “looks fine.” y Are accessible parking spots nearby? y Can clients find the entrance without needing to ask? y Do doors open automatically or does pushing a button open the door?

People may be carrying a bag, documents, and a phone while managing a mobility aid.

Every step, from arrival to departure, is part of the appointment with you. Make it a positive experience.

Let Your Office Design Speak Your Concern.

Each client who walks through your door brings a history and expectations.

The way your space looks and feels, and the way it is laid out and functions, tells people exactly how much you value them, their time, safety, comfort, and dignity. You don’t need fancy wallpaper; you need thoughtfulness. y Is there room to move without squeezing past furniture or unstablebut-decorative plant stands?

y What about a fit younger adult who injured an ankle skiing and is hobbling on crutches?

Designing for ease, access, safety, and poise doesn’t require a full renovation.

Who Will See Your Ad in The Scrivener?

• Chambers of Commerce • BC Housing • BC Assessment • M inistry of Citizens’ Services: Real Property Division

Spring Advertising Space Deadline March 1, 2026

Observe and rethink your environment.

Do you see instant opportunities for improvement?

scrivener@bcnotaryassociation.ca www.bcnotaryassociation.ca

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He Couldn’t Say Hello Until He Knew the Car Was Safe What one parking experience revealed about risk, trust, and professional insight . . . The Greeting Had to Wait Î Some people are easy to read.

Others need a bit more conversation, their curiosity satisfied, or even parking clarification before their real selves show up.

A few years ago, my husband and I were looking for a new financial advisor.

A trusted friend recommended someone whose office was about 30 minutes from our home, located in a sleek and splashy new business complex. We found the building easily. The underground parking? Not so much.

There were no signs. Just row after row of unmarked sterile concrete stalls and a growing sense of uncertainty.

Was parking free? Were certain spots restricted? Did we need a permit? Did we have to pay . . . where and how?

After looping the garage several times, we gave up and just parked. I reassured Herb we were fine. We wouldn’t get towed; if we got a ticket, we could use the lack of signage as a defence.

My reassurances did not make Herb feel better.

At the building entrance, the advisor greeted us with the typical first-impression big smile and extended hand.

Herb ignored it completely. Instead, he asked abruptly, “Where the heck do you park around here? Are we going to get towed?”

I was still muttering, “We’ll be okay,” like a mantra.

The advisor asked where we had parked and Herb answered. Unphased, the advisor admitted, “Yes, unfortunately, that area is patrolled. There is no signage but people do get ticketed there.”

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He told Herb where to move the car and Herb rushed off to repark.

saw two very different reactions and expectations to the same problem.”

From Agitation to Charm

When a First Impression Offers Real Insight

When he returned, Herb channelled his “charming self.” He shook the advisor’s hand, smiled, and settled into the meeting with his usual confidence and quiet pleasantness. The stress evaporated because the uncertainty was gone.

As we walked to the advisor’s office, I asked the advisor if he had noticed what had just happened there.

Many client meetings begin with paperwork, intake forms, formalities, and small talk. But if you look closely, especially in the first few minutes, you will often find something more valuable.

I said to the advisor, “You just witnessed a small but significant interaction . . . one that says a lot about who we are and how we operate. We came here to review our financial position and ongoing strategy. Herb could not even shake your hand until he knew the car was safe. I was willing to roll the dice, confident we would be just fine. You

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Many client meetings begin with paperwork, intake forms, formalities, and small talk. But if you look closely, especially in the first few minutes, you will often find something more valuable. You can see how someone deals with ambiguity, pressure, new situations, and unclear expectations.

They are more than personality quirks. They are decision-making styles—a potential goldmine of information. For those of us working in professions that involve trust, precision, and longterm consequences, such as law, Personal Planning, accounting, financial planning, home care, health care, real estate, etc., the early cues are tremendously valuable.

How a client reacts when a process feels unclear can tell you a lot.

For example . . .

1. Whether they need structure and guarantees 2. Whether they tolerate ambiguity easily 3. Whether they are attuned to risk or quick to minimize it The Meeting before the Meeting To this day, I see that parking lot experience as the “pre-meeting.” Not the one scheduled on the calendar . . . the real one. It was a spontaneous diagnostic, where the advisor had the privilege of observing a key part of how

Herb and I move through this world.

That small hiccup told the advisor what kind of clients we are. No intake form could have matched the rich essence of what was revealed.

And it came in handy. We were there not just to talk numbers. We were there to build a plan based on our instincts, comfort zones, preferences, and priorities. Herb’s need for clarity and security was a critical variable. My casual confidence was just as relevant.

To his credit, the advisor articulated and responded to both our needs.

The Wealth Transfer No One’s Talking About (But Should Be) Why the other spouse should be at the centre of your client strategy

Could the Advisor Have Warned Us? More than a few people have told me since, “A good advisor would’ve sent you parking instructions ahead of time.”

Yes, that would have been helpful, but I am glad he did not.

Because that moment of uncertainty, and how each of us responded became a live demonstration of what mattered to us. If you are paying attention, those moments can give you more insight than any formal questionnaire ever would.

What to Watch for in Your Next First Meeting If you work with clients, here’s a thought. Don’t skip past the awkward greeting. Don’t rush through the opening tension. Watch what is happening, not just what is being said. y Are your clients calm? y Are they distracted? y Are they already scanning for signs of risk? y Are they leaning into details or brushing them off?

The answers you need are already unfolding.

So the next time you welcome a new client into your office, consider this: The first real insight might come even before the handshake.

Î We’ve all heard about the massive intergenerational transfer of wealth . . . those trillions shifting from the age 50+ market to their adult children.

But there’s a piece some professionals miss. Before the money moves to the kids, it often moves to the surviving spouse. And usually, that’s a woman.

Women are still outliving men by about 7 years and many wives are younger than their husbands.

Introducing the “Inter-Spousal Transfer of Wealth” This “first transfer” doesn’t get the headlines, but it should. If you’re TABLE OF CONTENTS

a professional working with mature clients, that moment changes everything . . . the way assets are handled, new decisions and priorities, and the professional relationships that will survive and help guide the transition.

The Money Moves and the Surviving Spouse Stays—Will You? Here’s how it typically plays out . . . a couple, both in their later years, has worked with the same financial advisor for 25 years. For example, the “husband” attends every money meeting. The “wife” occasionally joins at landmark meetings and client appreciation dinners. When the husband THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

passes away, the financial advisor assumes that the relationship will continue. It doesn’t. Within 18 months, she’s working with a new advisor.

That isn’t rare. According to Investment Executive, about 70% of widows fire their husband’s financial advisor within 3 years. https://www. i nve s t me nt exe c ut ive .c om / ne w s / industry-news/70-of-widowed-clientsswitch-financial-advisors-dont-beleft-out/ Sun Life Global Investments puts the number even higher: 80% of widows in Canada switch advisors within a year. https://www.sunlife.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/announcement/ on ly-15- of-f inancial-adv isors-incanada-are-women-while-womensshare-of-wealth-assets-expected-todouble-by-2028/123720/ And it's not just financial advisors who are at risk. For example, if you're in law, real estate, or accounting, the same thing can happen to you. If your professional rapport was tied to the

16

now-deceased spouse, your competitors are ready and prepared to step in to build a new relationship.

The Real Cost of Ignoring Her According to Stats Canada for the year 2023, families with the largest median net worth ($1.109M) were those where the main income earner was age 65+. y The Lifetime Value (LTV) of 1 Client. In BC the average family sells their home every 7 to 10 years.

How many potential commissions/ transactions are you losing if even one surviving spouse leaves you for another professional? y The Numbers: Most industries quote an average referral rate of about 2.7 referrals per happy client, while dissatisfied clients are reported to complain to 3 to 10 persons!

That’s a big and sobering range, impacting both the cost to your reputation and your opportunity.

(Business Development Bank)

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y Client Acquisition Costs: We spend a good portion of our budget on client acquisition; it is equally important to protect that investment and focus on client-experience and retention!

Let’s Talk about “Mary” Mary is 68. Her husband dies suddenly from a stroke. While she was responsible for the day-to-day money management throughout their marriage, he took care of all the investments, insurance, and tax conversations . . . an effective and efficient division of labour at the time. Mary trusted “everything was in place.” That may or may not be the case. In addition to learning about her current financial and estate planning position, Mary may discover some disturbing gaps that need immediate attention.

The first advisor she meets speaks quickly, drops acronyms, and never once asks how she’s feeling or what she wants. She leaves the meeting irritated and no further ahead in her quest to understand her financial situation.

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

She soon moves all her business elsewhere . . . and rightly so.

The new advisor sits down with her, doesn’t talk down to her, listens carefully, and creates a plan that makes sense to her. That advisor didn’t just gain a client. They built trust. That’s the difference.

Real estate often shifts first.

The house isn’t just property . . . it’s memory, identity, history, and stability.

2. But here’s the thing. y If you never met the wife, she might not trust the documents. y If she didn’t feel included in the planning, she might assume it was done to her, not for her. ou’re not just the drafter anymore.

Y You’re now the interpreter, the translator, and often the emotional support. That works only if she already sees you as “her” lawyer, not “his.”

3. Real estate often shifts first.

The house isn’t just property . . . it’s memory, identity, history, and stability. y It may be sold quickly if the surviving spouse wants to downsize or reduce costs. y It may require title updates, survivorship processing, or tax reporting.

The Other Threat You're Not Seeing It's not just that Mary might fire you. Her 45-year-old daughter with the MBA is in her ear right now saying, "Mom, my financial advisor is amazing.

You should meet her."

Adult children often speak for your competition. They've been researching, they're digitally savvy, and they want to "help." The kids won't see you as trusted. They'll see you as part of the old guard that needs replacing. They're bringing their own professionals to the table. And unless you've proven your value to the surviving spouse directly, you won't stand a chance.

Where BC Notaries and Lawyers Come in If you’re in law, especially estate law or Personal Planning, the first wealth transfer is where your work hits real life.

1. Estate documents meet real emotion When the husband dies, the Will activates. The PoA no longer applies.

Representation Agreements may need to be redone.

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y The process might be complicated by adult children who suddenly have opinions.

If you’re the real estate lawyer or a Notary, you’re part of that transition. Get ahead of it by knowing both spouses while they’re living.

Explain how title works. Review estate implications. Ask who really wants to keep the family cottage and who’s ready to let it go. Don’t leave a grieving spouse to tackle those questions on their own . . . with the help of other influential relationships who may not understand some of the nuances of the various options.

4. Personal Planning needs a rewrite.

Surviving spouses face a new chapter. What was once “our” plan is now “her” plan. y She may need to (or want to) change the executor. y She may need a new PoA.

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Professionals who anticipate those shifts, who update documents, clarify intentions, and calm the waters, aren’t just doing good legal work . . . they’re providing peace of mind.

Real Estate, Taxes, and Sudden Power Shifts y Many surviving spouses in BC find themselves with assets they weren’t managing previously. That isn’t always welcome. A widow who’s never managed property may now be asked to downsize or invest. She might have adult children who are pressuring her to “just sell it all and split it.” y An accountant may suddenly be explaining capital gains issues on a property she didn’t know was in her name.

Here’s what happens. y She hesitates. y She gets conflicting advice. y She wonders, “Am I being taken advantage of?” y She looks for a new advisor . . .

Notary, Lawyer, Accountant, Realtor—someone who speaks her language and relates to her situation.

If you’ve ignored her until now, you’re not that someone.

Establish Your Value and Your Relationships BEFORE You Need Them Re. couples of any age, especially over 50, the opportunity is right now, not later. y Bring both spouses into the conversation. If one is silent, ask, “How do you feel about this plan?” y Make your documents “otherproof.” That means clear language, fair responsibilities, and understood options for future updates. y Flag the “first transfer” explicitly.

Talk about what the other spouse wants to happen before anything goes to kids or charities.

y Offer guidance tailored to the other spouse. Create checklists, resource guides, or plain language explanations. y Make the other spouse feel like the client, too, not the tagalong . . . not the “later problem.” The current client, too!

Why it Matters to Your Business (and Your Reputation) Professionals with that approach sleep better and retain clients longer.

When the other spouse feels supported, they tell their friends. If they feel ignored, they walk and warn others.

The age 50+ market already holds most of the country’s wealth.

Women in that market will control a growing share—expected to reach nearly 50% of accumulated financial wealth by 2026. https://www.ipcc.ca/ women-and-wealth?utm_source That’s not just a stat. That’s a wakeup call.

Serving the other spouse is more than being “nice.” It’s smart. It’s strategic. And it’s overdue.

Final Thoughts The market isn’t shrinking; it’s just shifting and the surviving spouse is sitting at the centre of that shift.

Professionals who serve with empathy, clarity, respect, and inclusion won’t only stay relevant, they will stand out. If you’re a Notary, a lawyer, a planner, real estate agent, or an advisor in BC (or anywhere), your next loyal client might already be in your files . . . just waiting for you to speak to them.

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foreverguardians@spca.bc.ca | 1.855.622.7722

foreverguardian.ca

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THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Why Can’t You Be Like You Used to Be? Rewriting the script on ageing, expectations, and changing body parts!

Î Bette Davis said, “Ageing isn’t for sissies!” There’s more truth to that than we care to acknowledge.

Let’s be real . . . ageing can feel strange. Your body, once a predictable partner, begins making decisions without consulting you.

y Fatigue following a night of perfectly good sleep Just when you think you are adjusting to the “new you,” someone close to you comments on the person you used to be.

y A back twinge from a sneeze y Joints that click

“You used to hike all the time.”

“You don’t do…anymore.”

They remind you, as if you had forgotten. You haven’t. Your body remembers vividly.

The Unexpected Loneliness of Change Change is celebrated unless it involves wrinkles, gray hair, or episodic forgetfulness. A new physical disability may become suspect . . . are you trying hard enough?

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There’s a strange denial baked into the way our society and younger family members view ageing—the expectation that we should always be who we were, not who we are becoming.

There is often an unspoken desire for older adults to remain unchanged, frozen in the familiar. You haven’t vanished, you have simply turned the page to a new chapter in your life.

You are not less capable now, you’re operating with revised hardware. In your quiet recalibrating, you haven’t become less; you have simply become different. There is great value in adopting that attitude.

You: Version 2.0 Think of it this way—your body isn’t betraying you. It is just sending new signals. Your 25-year-old self wanted to run 10ks. Your current self wants to make it through Costco without needing a nap.

What if we didn’t see age-changes as a form of failure and instead saw them as a form of universal evolution, even wisdom?

Here is some interesting research: A 2021 longitudinal study published in Psychology and Aging found that older adults with more positive selfperceptions of ageing experience a weaker link between their daily stress and their physical health symptoms. In other words, how older adults view their own ageing plays a buffering role in the way stress affects their health. (https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC11502953) When Loved Ones Miss Who You Were Your family may see you as the person who used to be much more active and capable. Their frustration isn’t malice, it’s grief masquerading as confusion. They’re mourning the version of you they felt most connected to and are frightened by any demonstration of your mortality.

They are often coming from a place of fear, love, and a little selfishness tangled together. They worry about losing you and don’t realize their worry can sound like criticism: “Why aren’t you like you were before?”

Instead of reacting, perhaps next time someone asks why you’re not as spry, laugh about it: “I have upgraded to a deluxe model . . . less horsepower and more built-in wisdom.”

Humour can soften the moment and so does honesty. Let them know you see what they miss and that you miss it, too, sometimes. You’re learning to appreciate the new version of yourself.

It’s still you . . . smart, with added depth.

Reframing the Conversation y If you have heard “you used to…” lately, did you react or respond?

Ageing isn’t about becoming less. Ageing is accumulation . . . of great stories, some injuries, interesting perspectives and experiences, earned wisdom, a few mistakes, and some necessary orthopedic devices. It’s all part of the package.

y If you’ve found yourself saying that to someone else, perhaps take a moment to reflect on where that comment came from. y Was it longing? Was it worry? ometimes we mean to connect but end S up creating distance instead.

An Invitation for All Ages Ageing isn’t about becoming less.

Ageing is accumulation . . . of great stories, some injuries, interesting perspectives and experiences, earned wisdom, a few mistakes, and some necessary orthopedic devices. It’s all part of the package.

Let’s stop asking people to be who they were. Let’s be curious about who they are today and who they want to become. If we’re lucky, they’ll let us into their lives.

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My Name Isn’t “Dearie” The Small Stuff Can Hurt the Most (Ageism) Î The objective of a filming event held at a local retirement centre was to record stories from boomers and seniors sitting together over coffee, candidly sharing experiences about local professionals and the treatment they receive in stores. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, unrehearsed.

The setup was relaxed; the young husband and wife filming team was energetic and skilled. And yet, the wife was calling the older women “sweetheart,” “beautiful,” and “dear or dearie.”

When encouraged to stop using those terms, she insisted she meant no harm, “I use those terms with my friends.”

“This situation is different—we are not your friends or your peers,” someone said. When the director asked the group how they felt when someone called them dearie, one lady responded, “I HATE it” . . . the others agreed wholeheartedly!

Ageism—Intended or Not—Lands Hard Ageism is stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination directed toward people based on their age. Sometimes it comes dressed as kindness or protectiveness. y Using diminutive language such as “dearie, sweetie, or honey” y Simplifying your speech as if the person is a child (infantilization) y Being overhelpful y Mak ing decisions consultation y Avoiding eye contact

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w it hout

y Referring to older couples as “so cute” when they walk in the neighbourhood holding hands y Assuming someone isn’t cognisant because they’re “nearing retirement” y Ignoring an older person and speaking through their adult child or companion y Not promoting an older employee because “they’re winding down” Are your thoughts or actions ageist?

Would you have the same thoughts, reactions, or comments about younger persons?

Stop and Think y What five words come to mind when you think about older people? Frail, slow, bad drivers, forgetful, sexless, grumpy? Those aren't neutral words; they reflect bias that doesn’t just stay in your head—it shapes the way you act in your professional and personal engagements. y What if we change our lens to see ageing as universal—the progressive collection of wisdom, priceless knowledge, rich life experiences, and being knocked down and knowing how to get back up? y What if we see ageing as something to be respected? How would that influence your new interactions?

Walking Positions One resident participating in the filming was a well-known, respected gentleman with a decorated career, celebrated for significant contributions to his former industry.

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What five words come to mind when you think about older people? Frail, slow, bad drivers, forgetful, sexless, grumpy? Those aren't neutral words; they reflect bias that doesn’t just stay in your head—it shapes the way you act in your professional and personal engagements.

When the young activity coordinator at the care home walked ahead of him, the gentleman bristled. “I’m used to people walking beside me or behind me,” he said, “Not in front of me.”

Although his reaction could’ve been dismissed as pride or arrogance, I remember how I felt as a young woman in my early career, the only female in a group of older male colleagues. When they walked ahead of me, I felt invisible.

Unimportant. Minimized. To this day when that happens, I stop and wait.

Before too long, people turn around and see that they have left me behind.

There were times that I walked ahead of my mother, trying to clear obstacles to keep her safe. I meant well. But I wonder now . . . did she feel diminished?

What Professionals Can Do Differently

I walk beside people now. If something needs clearing, I can deal with it when it appears. Beside means partnership. Ahead can be controlling.

Start Small

The Perfume Counter Snub

y Assume wisdom, not withering

A dynamic, accomplished woman in her mid-80s, serving as a representative to the UN for a large nonprofit organization, asked me, “Have you walked through the perfume department at Macy’s? Did they offer you free samples? They don’t stop me anymore,” she said. “When do those young clerks think maturing women stop caring?”

y Walk with, not ahead (literally and figuratively)

If you work with clients age 50 and older, you’re not just offering a service.

You’re shaping an experience that either affirms their value or chips away at it.

y Use names, nicknames

not

You are the key You the key that are opens You are thethe key that opens You are thethe key door recovery. thatto opens the door recovery. thatto opens the door to recovery. door to recovery.

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Your gift can y Provide help after receiving permissiontransform the life y Ask more, tell less of someone living y Check your own bias before making with mental decisions y Portray older adults in your Yourlike gift can illness, Aman.

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transform Your giftthe canlife transform the life Your giftthe can of someone living transform life of someone living transform the lifegift withamental of someone living Leaving legacy Science Backs It Up with mental of someone living illness, like Aman. with mental means that no matter Feelings have measurable effects. Dr. illness, like Aman.

Becca Levy at Yale has spent decades Final Word with mental illness, like Aman. of what the landscape studying the impact of age-related illness, Aman. beliefs. Her research found that older Every time an older adult is overLeaving like a legacy gift they’re no longer seen as individuals with presence, preferences, style, impact, and value.

Older adults are not a niche. The 65+ age group is the fastest-growing segment of the population. They control most of the wealth. And they know when they’re being “dismissed.”

mental health isgift like in Leaving a means that no matter Leaving a legacy legacy gift 20 years, 30 years, means that no matter what the landscape means that no matter Leaving a legacy giftofand what the landscape of mental health like in Think about the jokes you tell, thebeyond, what the landscape of Coast Mental means that noismatter birthday cards you buy. Is that the vision mental health is like in 20 years, 30 years, and mental health is like in to what the landscape of of a world you would like to age into? Health will be here 20 years, 30 years, and beyond, Coast Mental 20 years, 30 years, and mental health is like in What if we stopped treating ageing beyond, Coast Mental Health will be here to respond. beyond, Mental 20 years, Coast 30 years, and A 2021 World Health Organization as something to endure . . . and started

adults with positive self-perceptions of ageing lived 7.5 years longer on average than those with negative beliefs. Not just living longer—healthier, too.

Source: Yale News PubMed study https:// news.yale.edu/2002/07/29/thinkingpositively-about-aging-extends-lifemore-exercise-and-not-smoking

looked, underestimated, pitied, treated like a child, or flattened into a cliché, something significant is lost.

report framed ageism as a public health threat. Chronic exposure to negative stereotypes leads to higher stress, poorer recovery from illness, and even cognitive decline. https://www.who.int/ publications/i/item/9789240016866

treating it as something to respect?

On the f lipside, environments that celebrate age and capability help people thrive. Positive messaging and respectful treatment don’t simply support well-being, they build it.

Health will be to Healthrespond. will be here here to beyond, Coast Mental respond. respond.

Health will be here Contact Meghan Boswellto Contact Meghan Boswell 604.785.1910 604.785.1910 respond.

Contact Meghan Boswell

What if your next client, who happens to have silver hair, isn't meghan.boswell@coastmentalhealth.com looking for sympathy or sweetness—but Contact Meghan Boswell meghan.boswell@coastmentalhealth.com 604.785.1910 expertise, honesty, respect, validation, 604.785.1910 meghan.boswell@coastmentalhealth.com Contact Meghan Boswell meghan.boswell@coastmentalhealth.com and equality? Would you see them in a 604.785.1910 Coast Mental Health Foundation different way? meghan.boswell@coastmentalhealth.com

y Because they see you . . . they’re watching and listening. Especially now, in 2026.

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Registration Number: CoastMental Mental Health Foundation Coast Health Foundation 86150 8018 RR000 Coast Mental Health Foundation Registration Number: Registration Number: coastmentalhealth.com Registration Number: 86150 8018 RR000 Coast Mental Health Foundation 86150 8018 RR000 86150 8018 RR000 coastmentalhealth.com Registration Number: coastmentalhealth.com 86150 8018 RR000 coastmentalhealth.com THE SCRIVENER coastmentalhealth.com | WINTER 2025 23

ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Legacy Isn’t the Last Step. It’s the Deepest One Our clients are not just reviewing insurance policies.

They are asking, “Did I matter?”

Î The Fall 2025 edition of The Scrivener offered a masterclass in Personal Planning. From Wills and Representation Agreements to Advance Directives and Powers of Attorney, it gave us a clear, timely, and detailed checklist.

In Accommodating Older Clients, we find the conversation developing in a related and new direction, because something interesting happens with clients as they grow older. The important documents may be in place, but the questions get bigger.

What Do I Leave Behind that Outlasts the Paperwork?

Joseph Coughlin, founder of MIT’s AgeLab and author of The Longevity

24

Economy, reminds us Baby Boomers are not quietly fading into the sunset. Many are now focused on the final stages of Maslow’s hierarchy— y meaning, y impact, and y legacy.

Our clients are not just reviewing insurance policies. They are asking, “Did I matter?”

Marti Barletta’s work with PrimeTime women points to a similar shift. Many women in their 50s and beyond are asking, “What happens to my estate?” and “What does my life stand for?”

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They are increasingly focused on how their time, money, and experience can reflect their values, moving from accumulation to contribution. The transition embraces mentoring others, supporting family, backing causes they care about, and creating meaningful experiences to pass on.

For professionals, that means legacy conversations often begin with purpose.

Once that intention is articulated, legal and financial tools such as Wills and Powers of Attorney serve as the structure to carry those values forward.

Although the paperwork is critical, the meaning behind it is where the legacy takes root.

When Purpose and Action Align An investment advisor shared her frustration to me about an older male client. He loved his family deeply, looked after them extremely well, and had taken care of everything except for his Will. For some reason and no matter how skillfully she tried, the advisor could not penetrate that barrier.

Since caring for his family was so important to him, I recommended to the advisor that she paint a visual picture of what his death would look like to his family. When she framed the conversation around his stated purpose and values, writing a Will and serving his family aligned with his heart and head!

y A Trust can transfer money, but often not the “why” behind it. y A Power of Attorney can grant authority, but not vision and impact.

Clients Are Already Thinking That Way. We Just Have to Ask. It is not about inserting philosophy where it is not wanted. It is about recognizing when a client is ready for, and perhaps even looking for, that conversation. Opening the door gives them permission to explore it.

Clients may say things like this. y I want to explain why I am dividing things this way.

A Model that Makes It Practical: Lee Brower’s Quadrants

y I hope this gift helps them pursue something meaningful.

Years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Lee Brower speak about legacy. He was working with ultra-high net-worth families but what he shared applied to all of us. In the course of his conversations with clients, he came to look beyond balance sheets and trust funds, into what families really hope to pass down.

y I just want them to understand what matters most to me.

Brower proposed that wealth is not just financial—it is also personal, relational, and purposeful. He described four quadrants of legacy. y Financial: What you own y Intellectual: What you know and will continue to learn y Human: Who you are (character, values relationships) y Contribution: How you serve or give back Although his full framework goes deeper into each area, even this simple version gives us a meaningful place to start. y A Will can name an heir, but cannot explain a value.

“Is there something you hope your family remembers about how you lived, not just what you owned?”

Those are not sentimental distractions. They are the heart of what legacy means.

A Deeper Conversation You don’t need to become a therapist or a legacy consultant. You need only acknowledge that legacy has layers.

Offering your clients the opportunity to express those layers can make your service more complete.

Here are a few ideas. y Perhaps include a “Legacy Letter” template in your estate planning package that invites your client to personalize what means most to them in each of Brower's four quadrants. y Ask, “Would you like to include a personal message with your documents?” y Suggest writing a note to accompany a charitable or personal bequest. y Prompt with a simple question: TABLE OF CONTENTS

“Is there something you hope your family remembers about how you lived, not just what you owned?”

Serving Older Clients Means Seeing the Whole Person Accommodating older clients is about seeing the person in front of you as someone still building their story.

Legacy is the quiet answer to this question, “Based on the values I had in my life, what do I hope my loved ones will carry forward?”

The answer might not show up in a ledger. It might come through a story, a small reflection, or a reminder that the cottage was not about real estate. It was about family.

Final Reflection By giving clients the opportunity to shape a personal legacy, we take on the role of stewards of intention.

Let us not underestimate how much our older clients still want to contribute.

Legacy is not something they leave behind. It is something they are still creating and memorializing—with your help.

R H O N D A L AT R E I L L E , MBA, CPCA, is the Founder and CEO of Age-Friendly Business®.

THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

N ATA LYA H A N N A

Supporting Ageing Clients LLP

With Care and Compassion

Î BC Notaries are proud to support the ageing community with thoughtful, patient-centred services designed to make estate planning and legal processes more accessible and stress-free. Those services include Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Representation Agreements—to ensure our senior clients can prepare for the future with peace of mind.

Because travel can be a challenge for some, many Notaries carry out mobile visits to care homes and hospitals for elderly clients who cannot make it into our offices. We strive to ensure that seniors in urgent or restricted situations receive timely and professional Notarial support.

A fully wheelchair-accessible streetlevel location can allow clients to visit

us safely and comfortably. If a client is accompanied by family members or caregivers, a pleasant waiting area can provide a separate space for loved ones to relax while appointments are underway.

MACKENZIE FUJISAWA LLP BA R R I ST E RS & S O L I C I TO RS

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We understand seniors may need extra time and personalized attention, so we often schedule additional or extended appointments to ensure every client feels fully supported.

N OTA RY N ATA LYA H A N N A is actively involved in community events and educating the public on the importance of estate planning for seniors. Proud to be a support system of trusted professionals who care, her Tri-Cities and Burnaby practices are known for providing patience and compassion for elderly clients.

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IAN M. KNAPP

1600 – 1095 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6 Phone: (604) 689-3281 Fax: (604) 685-6494 www.macfuj.com THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Tips for Making a Big Difference when Working with Mature Clients

Î Advisors must adeptly meet the unique planning needs that clients bring to the table as they age. How can we better accommodate ageing clients?

The Scrivener’s Fall edition was a brilliant compilation of helpful advice.

In this article, I will add to the existing expertise . . . from a lens coloured by multiple engagement points with retirees in my daily work with estates and donors up to age 104.

Each of the following is a specific situation I have accommodated with ageing donors.

The narrative running in the background of a client’s mind might not mirror what they say out loud to you. A client may nod as you offer facts and options but they may not have fully grasped the importance of each point.

In the Fall Scrivener, Rhonda Latreille pointed out how clients can present as anxious or they may appear quite calm, hiding the buzz in their minds.

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Ageing clients often need a few extra steps from you . . . more time to process the situation and more gentle reminders.

Questions Ask them directly if they have further questions. Your courteous prompt will ensure older clients don’t feel foolish or inadequate because they did not fully understand something at your meeting.

You may describe a certain step in a different way and suddenly the client “gets it.” Or you may realize they have some incorrect impressions. Deadlines are not usually part of their reality. Your reminders are welcome.

Clients may assume you have correctly absorbed the meaning of their words. Your providing clear, kind feedback can reveal poorly or partially conveyed wishes and omissions. Both you and the clients may have assumed erroneous facts.

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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H I L A RY B E A R D

Older clients might assume you are aligned with their unspoken expectations from a meeting that took place decades ago. Today, you may not even be aware of those former norms.

Cultural Differences Different cultural backgrounds can lead to many imperfect assumptions about how things work in Canada. It is very helpful for you to compare each “Canadian” aspect side-by-side with how the client describes the practices in their country of origin and to take additional time to ensure your client fully appreciates that your process may be opposite to those that their culture deems proper and correct.

Older clients steeped in other cultural norms will need you to focus on the key differences between what is familiar to them and the way processes work in Canada. Even Canadian-born older clients could hold beliefs handed down from their parents . . . beliefs that are present in their mind as you meet together.

Executor and Beneficiary You would be surprised at how many ageing donors will designate their mature sibling to be their executor, despite the sibling’s age, health, capability, and interest in the role of being their executor. That sibling may nominate their own child to assist them as your executor—a child who is not trusted by your client.

Does the elderly client understand that their sibling, as their main beneficiary, may themselves have a Will that leaves all their legacy (and yours) to beneficiaries your client would never choose?

Comprehension Clients who have been out of the workforce for a while may find their ability to speedily process business details has slowed from lack of practice and may worsen into their retirement years.

Adjust your voice, explain concepts several times in various ways, and be prepared to draw an illustration if necessary.

Slightly slow your speech and increase your volume; make sure you’re not shouting or appearing to talk down to the client so they feel a loss of dignity.

Be Aware Whether I visit a donor at their home, a care home, or an office, my eye is on their accessibility and convenience. y Wires taped to the office floor might be easy for you to walk over, but your client’s walker or cane might catch on it. y Walk slowly to your office with them; match their pace. y Their mobility device needs enough space so it doesn’t hit the door, doorjamb, desk, or chair. y When they are accompanied by a family member, keep your focus on your client, especially where there is a height difference between a wheelchair-seated client and others who are standing.

y Have a glass of water and tissues ready . . . perhaps not for emotional tears but to wipe watery eyes that need to see clearly to read the content of the documents and for the ease of signing on the dotted line. y For a home visit, wear low, comfortable shoes; you may have to stand next to a hospital-style bed for most, if not all, of your visit. y Watch to see if your client adjusts their hearing aid while you are speaking. If so, tactfully repeat your most recent sentences.

Accommodations small and large make a big difference for ageing clients.

They will certainly tell many people how very nice it was to do business with you!

HILARY BEARD is the Director of Gift & Estate Planning at BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

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BRENDON OGMUNDSON

Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association

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RENÉE HUSE

Leadership AI in Mortgage Brokering

THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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ACCOMMODATING AGEING CLIENTS

Protecting Ageing Clients from Financial Exploitation

I A N C A LL AWAY

Î Whether termed the Ageing Workforce, Veteran Workers, Elders, Older Adults, Pensioners, Retirees, or Seniors, our brains develop a nuanced shifting in processing . . . not necessarily a decline in cognition but in the way the brain processes information and pursues goals.

Thinking Skills Shift with Ageing

y Fluid thinking is akin to being alert “on your feet,” rather than drawing from your life experiences. Fluid thinking individuals can process new information more easily if it is based on facts and figures. Younger persons are more Fluid thinkers.

y Crystalized thinking factors-in life experiences and is not focused in the moment. Crystalized thinkers process information slower than Fluid thinkers and are heavily influenced by their accumulated knowledge and skills.

In the working environment of a sole practitioner or a corporate structure, rules are a universal commonality. Set by the business or a regulator, rules are an external operational framework that protects many decision-making outcomes.

As living financial targets move along the ageing scale, individuals have at least 1 of 3 financial profiles waiting to be exploited by financial predators.

In today’s evolving business landscape, the rapidity of change distances Crystallized thinkers from their lifetime of protected decision-making. Those no longer in the workforce are repositioned in an alien environment . . . without the rules that formerly protected them.

The combination of Crystalized thinking and the absence of decision-making rules becomes the petri dish for financial predatory exploitation. Regardless of their scheme, predators universally seek weaknesses in a person’s decision-making control.

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BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

y Those with accumulated fixed assets y Those with liquid assets y Those with insufficient assets to meet their perceived or real goals need money. That group is often targeted by fraudulent windfall schemes.

Although there are variances in the data, the consensus indicates three predatory sources. y Those within the victim’s family and/or caregiving network

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y Those with a pre-established relationship to the victim, such as their advisors—banking, financial, investment, legal, medical, or religious

BC Notaries Speak Your Language

y Cold-call predators reaching out in-person or remotely via print or Internet enticements Regardless, the next step in financial victimization is for the predator to establish trust by enhancing their personal credibility. Like a heat-seeking missile, they often have that intuitive sixth sense . . . to share interests, love, or inject a sense of urgency.

Paralleling such strategies are efforts to isolate the Crystalized thinking victim from their experiential background or their trusted contact network. The garnish for the predator? Victims with hearing deficits, physical limitations, inherent social politeness, or the fear of seeming less than knowledgeable.

Not all clients will be exposed to predatory financial opportunities. For those who are exposed, there is a huge opportunity for their benefactors to inject “Critically Benevolent Monitoring” (CBM)—empathetically exercising a balanced oversight.

For a CBM, the victimization barometer is relatively simple: Is the client exhibiting financial decision-making that seems rushed or lacking a properly vetted norm?

While such observations or suspicions might suggest a call to the police, there are several constraints. y A lack of hard evidence y A suspicion the victim is making false accusations triggered by age, medication, or predatory manipulation y Police resources go after big game, with evidence in hand y A more immediate option is to identify the client’s trusted contact persons (TCP) . . . and ensure suspected predators hold the client’s best interests. It may be up to the TCP or the individual named in the Power of Attorney document to start flexing their authoritative muscle, rather than assuming the victim can apply self-help guidelines. Self-help guidelines are better suited for Fluid thinkers.

IAN C ALLAWAY, MA, MEd, PhD(c), RHU, TRiP, MFA-P, EBP, CDCP, RIS, is also a Certified Elder Planning Councilor (EPC), Certified Executor Advisor (CEA), Certified Forensic Examiner (BCFE], Forensic Investigator (CFI), and a Fraud Examiner (CFE).

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BC Notaries around the province offer many noncontentious legal services in an impressive variety of languages.

English Afrikaans Arabic Bengali Bosnian Cantonese Chinese Croatian Danish Dutch Farsi Fijian Filipino Finnish Flemish French Fujian Gujarati Hindi Hungarian Italian Japanese Korean

Malaysian Mandarin Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Romanian Russian Serbian Spanish Swahili Swatow Swedish Tagalog Taiwanese Tamil Taoshan Telegu Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese

Search for a BC Notary by languages spoken. www.bcnotaryassociation.ca THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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BC Notaries Graduating Class of 2025 2

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1. Marny Morin (NEP Staff) 2. Ian John Barraclough 3. Renee Fu 4. Milana-Draga Ivanovic 5. Joey Jasondeep Sidhu 6. Anca Silvia Gherman 7. Hye Jin Han 8. Gurleen Kaur Dhillon 9. I Ting Alice Lee 10. Cary Lung 11. Miaoqi Ma 12. Chi Wai Yung 13. Frank Cuthbert Morven 14. Alexandra Violet Roome Johnston 15. Doris Hong Yi Yuen 16. Shayna Marie Creaser 17. Heba Abukhadra 18. Hoi Yee Flora Leung 19. Salina Pui Ling Fan 20. Jovan V Lieu 21. Kyla Lianne O'Reilly 22. Jennifer Elyse Neron 23. Abby Caitlin Rutherford 24. Amy Lynn Dettling 25. Harleen Kaur Khaira

BC NOTARIES GRADUATION 2025

Address to the Graduates Kyla O'Reilly, Class Representative

Î Good morning. I’d like to begin by gratefully acknowledging we are gathered on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.

It’s such an honour to stand here to speak on behalf of Cohort 16. I feel humbled to represent this incredible group of people. Our journey has tested us in every way—academically, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Each of us made sacrifices, sometimes at a great personal cost to get here. And through it all, the grit and determination in this cohort have been nothing short of inspiring.

When we first came together, we were strangers. But along the way, we became classmates, colleagues, and ultimately friends. We celebrated academic milestones and life’s personal joys . . . welcoming new babies, celebrating a wedding, and sharing countless moments in between. We leaned on each other during late-night study sessions, exam stress, self-doubt, and exhaustion.

We laughed together, worried together, and sometimes cried together. Above all, we learned we could truly rely on one another and discovered the strength of community. I know we will carry that forward in our professional lives.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the love and support of our families and friends. To our parents and grandparents: Thank you for stepping in with childcare, homecooked meals, advice, and places to stay while we were travelling.

To our partners: Thank you for holding down the fort at home; for learning more about Wills, conveyancing, and legislation than you ever thought you’d need to know; and for being our biggest cheerleaders through it all.

To our kids: Thank you for being patient, for eating a little more pizza than usual, and for loving us even when we were tired or cranky.

And yes, to our pets: Thank you for always being there with love, comfort, and a wagging tail.

We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to our mentors.

Thank you for opening your doors to us, for letting us stumble through our first client meetings and document preparation, and for sharing your time, knowledge, and patience. Six weeks is a long time to guide someone who’s still learning and we are so thankful for your generosity. We look forward to one day paying that mentorship forward.

And to our instructors, The Society, and the staff: You’ve been with us every step of the way. Our cohort was famous for its questions—and our anxiety. Somehow, you met it all with patience, kindness, and encouragement. y Thank you Rizalyn for always being steady and supportive and for answering our many, many emails. y Thank you Morrie and Hilde for bringing joy into the process and reminding us to keep our bubbles. y Thank you Marny and John for reminding us over and over that we’d be okay.

You taught us more than just technical skills . . . you showed us generosity, patience, and kindness . . . and that’s something we’ll never forget.

Rizalyn Griffiths

Morrie Baillie

Hilde Deprez

Marny Morin

John Mayr

Finally, to my classmates: I hope we all take a moment to feel proud of what we’ve accomplished. This is a huge achievement.

As we step into the next chapter, may we carry forward the lessons we’ve learned, the friendships we’ve built, and the confidence that we can overcome whatever challenges lie ahead.

May we continue to approach our work with curiosity, integrity, and service, bringing honour to our communities and to the Notarial profession.

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THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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BC NOTARIES GRADUATION 2025

BC Notaries Class of 2025

Installation Ceremony

In the Supreme Court of British Columbia BEFORE THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE MAISONVILLE Vancouver, BC, September 18, 2025 EXCERPTED FROM THE PROCEEDINGS THE CLERK: In the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver, in this 18th day of September 2025.

Calling the Notary Installation Ceremony, Justice.

THE COURT: Yes. Good morning.

I pledge myself to seek and maintain an equitable, “ honourable, and co-operative association with fellow members, other practitioners, and with all others who may become a part of my business and professional life.

CNSL Q. DUONG: Good morning, Justice. It's Duong and with me today is my colleague Mr. K. Krohman.

THE COURT: Thank you.

Q. Duong

K. Krohman

CNSL Q. DUONG: First, Justice Maisonville, thank you very much for agreeing to preside over today's Installation Ceremony for this year's class of Notarial candidates. It's our pleasure and privilege to present the candidates to you.

THE COURT: Yes. Thank you.

CNSL Q. DUONG: This year we have 24 candidates to be installed. Also, in attendance today is an esteemed executive from The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, Ms. Marny Morin, Secretary of The Society.

We are joined by the candidates’ families and friends whose support has been invaluable throughout their journey.

Justice, I'm pleased to inform the Court that each of these candidates has successfully completed the comprehensive 2-year Master's in Applied Legal Studies Program through Simon Fraser University's School of Criminology. They've also undergone a rigorous selection process by The Society of Notaries. They've also completed the Notary Education Program administered by The Society and passed the prescribed statutory examinations. In every respect they have fulfilled the necessary qualifications to become Notaries in the province.

CNSL K. KROHMAN: Candidates, please rise. If it pleases the Court, on behalf of the candidates, I will recite the candidates' pledge to The Society.

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I pledge myself to the advancement of the Notarial “ profession in British Columbia by all proper means available to me.

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

I pledge myself to place honesty and integrity above all “ else, and to pursue my practice with diligent study and dedication in order that my service to my clients will always be maintained at the highest possible level.

I pledge myself to comply with the principles and objec“ tives of The Society as set forth in its Bylaws, Rules, Code of Ethics, and Professional Conduct.”

I will now read each candidate's name. Each candidate called will take the pledge.

CNSL Q. DUONG: Justice, would you like to administer the oath of office to the candidates at this time?

THE COURT: Yes. Thank you. I'd ask you to remain standing, and when I call your name, please, as you prefer, either say I so affirm or I so swear.

···

“I do swear that I will not make or attest any Act, contract, or instrument in which I know there is violence or fraud.

And in all things, I will act uprightly and justly in the office of a Notary Public.”

···

Thank you. You may be seated.

It's a great honour for me to preside over an Installation Ceremony. As you can appreciate, most of the people who come into this Courtroom are not very happy to be here. And at the end of the day, they may not be too happy with me. So, it's a real treat for me to preside over not just an important ceremony, but a very happy occasion in your lives.

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Today marks the final day for all of your studying, your hard work to become Notaries, which has taken you years— beginning a new stage of your life as you go out to serve the public in your new role.

take a shortcut instead of following the proper steps, please remember the pledge and the oath or affirmation that you gave today and the values you have committed to, and let that govern your actions.

You deserve enormous credit for your efforts, as do all of those who have given you their love and support to help you with this goal. I'm sure they are having their special day as well, with their pride for your accomplishment.

In fact, as in every profession, it is always those who have the greatest integrity, the highest standards, who are the most successful in the practice. And that is what I recommend that you aspire to do. In other words, you will do well by doing good.

I see from your references that you're all very smart, well-thought-of, accomplished people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. I expect you have already given some thought as to how you want to carry on your practice as a Notary.

I wish you all long, interesting, and fulfilling careers as a Notary. And as you experience the deep satisfaction that comes from serving the public, helping others as members of an honourable and essential profession, I wish you all the best of luck.

Some additional advice I can give you is that you place honesty and integrity above all, as you pursue your practice with diligence, study, and dedication.

Those are not just mere fine-sounding words in the pledge and the oath. The transactions you will be dealing with and carrying out can be literally life-changing events for the people involved. And you must be trustworthy and knowledgeable as you carry out your role and serve those people effectively. You must have diligence and honesty; otherwise our system cannot function.

So, if anyone ever tries to persuade you to do something that is less than straightforward or it seems convenient to

Pursuant to section 11 of the Notaries Act, having taken your oath and upon being satisfied that you have satisfactorily passed the required examinations and paid the prescribed fee, you are now to be enrolled by the Registrar as a member of The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia, and be entitled to practise as a Notary Public.

I don't think it would be out of place here to have some applause for our candidates.

CNSL Q. DUONG: Thank you, Justice.

THE COURT: And thank you to the families who've supported your candidates. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and celebrate.

BC Notary Grad Awards 2025 25TH ANNUAL STANLEY J. NICOL AWARD

5TH ANNUAL WAYNE BRAID AWARD

38TH ANNUAL DR. BERNARD W. HOETER AWARD

IN RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST MARKS IN NOTARIAL PROCEDURES

IN RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST MARKS ON ALL ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS

WINNER:

WINNER:

KYLA LIANNE O'REILLY

KYLA LIANNE O'REILLY

18TH ANNUAL PROF. ROBERT REID AWARD

IN RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST MARKS IN PERSONAL PLANNING

IN RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST MARKS IN PROPERTY LAW

WINNER:

WINNER:

ANCA SILVIA GHERMAN

MIAOQI MA

11TH ANNUAL ROBERT M. GORDON AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST MARKS IN THE MASTER OF ARTS IN APPLIED LEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM

WINNER: ALEXANDRA VIOLET ROOME JOHNSTON

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THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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BC NOTARIES GRADUATION 2025

A Witness to Tradition

MARNY MORIN

Î I was commissioned as a Notary Public in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in June 1989.

Those are words to carry with you on bad days, good days, and every day in between. And I encourage you—come back in a few years. Sit in the Courtroom again, watch another class take the oath and be reminded why you chose this profession. You’ll be glad you did.

Six years later, I returned to the Courthouse—this time as one of The Society’s education team—to witness the Installation Ceremony of the Class of 1995. Since then, I’ve attended 30 more commissioning ceremonies, including today’s for the Class of 2025.

Each time I sit in that Courtroom, I’m reminded of the solemnity of these moments. The Justices who preside over the ceremony never fail to speak movingly. They share wise words about the profession, the weight of the oath, and the significance of the pledge. I’m always struck by how deeply they prepare; each Judge clearly reads the references submitted with every candidate’s petition to the Court. Their knowledge of the graduates is impressive and a true sign of respect for the process.

It’s easy, once life in a Notary practice gets busy, to forget the gravity of that oath. But each ceremony takes me back to 1989, when I stood in my red suit with my husband and two very young boys cheering me on. I remember realizing—this was a Big Deal. That day, I promised to treat my Notary Seal with respect and to deliver legal services with honour and integrity.

The Class of 2025 is, in many ways, like the 29 classes preceding it . . . professional, eager, and excited. At first, some may have thought of the commissioning as just another milestone—the final step at last but, as they listened to the Judge, repeated the pledge, and took the oath, I could see the realization wash over them. They understood. The weight of this trusted tradition settled in and they got it. This was not merely a date to check off, but one to remember throughout their careers.

Some graduates are second-generation Notaries, while others were inspired by friends or mentors. Watching their supporters in the gallery—often “old-timer” Notaries themselves—reminded me how powerful it is to hear the oath again.

For them, the ceremony serves as both a reminder and a renewal of their own journey.

I wish the Class of 2025 every success. I first met most of them when they began their MA ALS master’s degree at Simon Fraser University. I welcomed them into the Notary Education Program that January, taught them, answered their questions, and urged them not to let stress overshadow the process.

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BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

We’ve all been there—it’s survivable and it’s worth it.

Because one day, you find yourself in a Courtroom of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, hearing an Honourable Justice welcome you into this tried-and-true profession.

Those are words to carry with you on bad days, good days, and every day in between. And I encourage you—come back in a few years. Sit in the Courtroom again, watch another class take the oath and be reminded why you chose this profession. You’ll be glad you did.

M A R N Y J . M O R I N , Notary Public, is Secretary and Director of Programs and Services for The Society of Notaries Public of BC.

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MAKE-A-WILL WEEK

Introducing the BCNA Board to the Legislature, regarding Make-a-Will Week October 20, 2025 Hon. Mike Farnworth: I n the gallery today, we have members of the BC Notaries Association. They are here to help recognize Make-a-Will Week, taking place October 20 through October 26 in British Columbia. Makea-Will Week serves as an opportunity to remind British Columbians of the importance of having a Will to protect your wishes and your loved ones. uring calendar 2024, BC Notaries D completed or updated 19,989 Wills for British Columbians. I am pleased to introduce members of the BC Notaries Association Board of Directors in attendance: Board President Rimpy Sadhra; Board Vice President Cam Sherk; Board Secretary and Treasurer Jackie Tate; Director and City of Delta Councillor Daniel Boisvert, Director Morrie Baillie; Director Kate Roome; and BCNA CEO and Town of Sidney Councillor Chad Rintoul. Would the House please make them welcome—making a Will is really important.

Rimpy Sadhra

Cam Sherk

Jackie Tate

Daniel Boisvert

Rimpy Sadhra, President of BCNA; Minister Nikki Sharma, Attorney General of BC; and Chad Rintoul, CEO of BCNA

Ian Paton: Morrie Baillie

Kate Roome

he Minister of Transportation just beat me to it, but T I want to personally introduce Daniel Boisvert, a good friend of mine, a proud Delta City Councillor, past President of the BC Notaries Association, currently a Director, and a constituent of mine in Tsawwassen.

I met with some of his colleagues last night. Please make Daniel Boisvert welcome.

Jeremy Valeriote:

Daniel Boisvert, Paul Choi MLA, and Chad Rintoul

Chad Rintoul

n behalf of my colleague from Saanich North and the O Islands, I would like to introduce Chad Rintoul, a Sidney Councillor and the CEO of the BC Notaries Association.

Will the House please make Chad feel welcome.

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2026

CONTINUING EDUCATION CONFERENCE

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO THE BCNA 2026 CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN JANUARY 2026 The British Columbia Notaries Association looks forward to holding our Annual Continuing Education Conference at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver!

We recognize that professional continuing education and advancement are fundamental to your success as Notaries, and an important piece in ensuring the continued high standards of service that the public has come to expect from Notaries as providers of non-contentious legal services. Our thanks to members of the BCNA Continuing Education Liaison Committee for helping to develop the seminar content for the program.

If you are a potential conference exhibitor, please contact Trista Zamany for further information at tzamany@bcnotaryassociation.ca.

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BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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2026

CONTINUING EDUCATION CONFERENCE

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM TODAY! TO BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

To book your hotel room at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, please visit this link: https://book.passkey.com/go/BCNA2026 or contact the hotel directly at 1-866-540-4452 and mention BC Notaries Conference.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO CELEBRATE THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY OF NOTARIES PUBLIC OF BC www.bcnotaryassociation.ca TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

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2026

CONTINUING EDUCATION CONFERENCE

We are excited to commemorate 100 years of notaries with a truly exceptional range of educational opportunities. This milestone year will feature many of the member-favourite sessions you consistently ask for—such as PAL Updates, with the added option to submit your questions in advance, as well as our always-popular Risk Management programming.

In addition, attendees can look forward to dedicated sessions on conveyancing, personal planning, and wills, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the core areas that support your practice. We are also pleased to offer the opportunity to hear from a panel of professionals who can provide insights and expertise to help strengthen and grow your business.

We have taken your feedback to heart, and alongside these classics, we will be introducing new sessions presented in fresh and engaging formats to offer even greater value and variety.

Please stay tuned and keep an eye on your Notices to Members for detailed information on the full lineup of offerings included in the 2026 Continuing Education agenda. We look forward to celebrating this historic year with you.

PRELIMINARY TOPICS

Trista and Nicola: Personal Planning

Risk Management

Conveyancing

PAL

Wills

Round Table

Exciting Panel Discussions

PLEASE NOTE, MORE DETAIL TO FOLLOW. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. BCNA MEMBER & NON-MEMBER PRICING WILL APPLY 40

BC NOTARIES ASSOCIATION | bcnotaryassociation.ca

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THANK YOU

TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS

The Dye & Durham Platform connects a global network of professionals with public records to support business transactions and regulatory compliance.

With thanks to the Notary Foundation for their continued support

WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CANADA

Lessons in Uniting Canada Î When I first moved permanently to British Columbia, I was initially impressed by its size and then its diversity of environments and its peoples. .

the people would be as great a mistake as assuming the Chinese were closely akin to the Irish in language and culture.

I told my friends in Ontario and the United States that

The Yukon sits atop British Columbia; I still relay to friends that it is larger than Texas and buttresses BC, Alaska, the Arctic Ocean, and the Northwest Territories. The vast wilderness, distances, and the native and settler culture became ingrained in positive memories through my work with Indigenous people in Carmacks, Pelly, Stewart, Whitehorse, and Dawson City, and in my time fighting forest fires in the territory or being a reporter/photographer for the iconic Whitehorse Star newspaper.

y Geographically one could fit the entire states of California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho into BC’s borders and still have room leftover for parts of Nevada; y Prince George was in the centre of the province, that its Pacific Ocean coastline was “maritime” in nature, where traditional oceangoing canoes once linked nations in and along the coast, and how today transportation is available by numerous ferries, tugs, barges, yachts, and other vessels; y BC’s biodiversity in modern agriculture ranged in concert with its vast terrain, its respective plains, valleys, hills and hollows resident in its Jungian Animas nature, unique in North America from lake and ocean shores to its glacial peaks and beyond, that in it grew abundant specialty crops, unique medicines, and other flora.

Where there are some 600 First Nations in Canada, around 200 of those original tribes, the administrative bands in British Columbia, form a vast network of “values,” complementing a variety of language groups and respective dialects.

I was told by one Elder that the varieties of original people in the province were so distinct that to generalize about

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Yukon larger than Texas

Hitchhiking to the Yukon in those days, one was encouraged to learn “Canada” through coast-to-coast youth hostels, utilizing the national network of hockey arenas for safe and secure nights to augment personal journeys.

Having young people learn about this country by experiencing it firsthand seemed national policy; those protecting it, predominantly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, were seen as helpful­— directing and assisting travellers to hostels and otherwise forwarding them on their journey.

Other police forces, municipal and provincial, the Ontario Provincial Police for instance, were noted for expediting young travellers on their way. When many hundred hitchhikers were bottlenecked in Wawa, North of Lake Superior, I recall OPP helicopters ferried more than a few to distant Thunder Bay.

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N I G E L AT K I N

Hitchhiking to the Yukon in those days, one was encouraged to learn “Canada” through coast-tocoast youth hostels, utilizing the national network of hockey arenas for safe and secure nights to augment personal journeys.

Shameless Propaganda Uniting Canada is not a new phenomenon. The ongoing flow of human beings requires that ideas, history, and purpose be regenerated in our young people. Educating generations, through whatever means—available technology or lived experience, is essential to maintaining provincial and national character, culture, even sovereignty.

In earlier times, when Canada was faced with the realities of World War II, there were initiatives to teach citizens about our rich heritage, industries, sports, and various ways of life—from fishing and farming, mining, forestry, and our emerging global presence in manufacturing and commerce.

A decade ago, the National Film Board released a brief documentary for its 75th birthday that examines our effort through film.

In the NFB’s Own Words: “This feature documentary examines its own genre that has often been called Canada's national art form.

Released in the year of the NFB's 75th birthday, Shameless Propaganda is filmmaker Robert Lower's take on the boldest and most compelling propaganda effort in our history (1939 to 1945), in which founding NFB Commissioner John Grierson saw the documentary as a "hammer to shape society."

“All 500 of the films produced by the NFB until 1945 are distilled there for the essence of their message to Canadians. Using only those films and still-photos from that era, Lower recreates the picture of Canada they gave us and looks in it for the Canada we know today. What he finds is by turns enlightening, entertaining, and unexpectedly disturbing.”

It is one of the many films I encourage my students to view in the Evolution of Public Relations course in the University of Victoria’s Diploma in Public Relations program. It is available online through the NFB and is only 1 hour 12 minutes long.

Education, personal experiences, and lifelong study are obligatory to national and personal security. Our classroom now is global and there are lessons to be learned in creating unity.

Although dated in what might be considered political correctness, it provides an understanding of what is needed in this or a different form to reflect on what we are today in British Columbia and Canada History as a Resource History is a resource. To ignore it is folly. Our own history and that of global allies and others is vital to our understanding of consequences and in planning and reinforcing for our respective futures.

Education, personal experiences, and lifelong study are obligatory to national and personal security. Our classroom now is global and there are lessons to be learned in creating unity.

In more recent times, the history and example of the European Union is a good example of providing ideas for information and experience for people learning more about their opportunities in the union of some 28 countries.

Some Historical Background Grierson said, “Throughout the 1990s, the 'single market' idea allowed easier trade, more citizen interaction on issues such as the environment and security, and easier travel through the various countries.

“Even though the countries of Europe had various treaties in place prior to the early 1990s, the ‘90s are generally recognized as the period when the modern day European Union arose due to the Treaty of Maastricht on the European Union—signed on February 7, 1992, and put into action November 1, 1993.

The Treaty of Maastricht identified five goals designed to unify Europe in more ways than economically.

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1.

To strengthen the democratic governing of participating nations 2.

To improve of the nations

the

efficiency

3. To establish economic and financial unification 4. To develop the "community social dimension" 5.

To establish a security policy for involved nations Strategically Promoting Travel Ryanair was a modest airline founded in 1985, often struggling to find its airspace and corporate footing in the early days. Because of the need to unify unique countries and the common market, strategies were implemented to make citizens much more aware of each other.

Ryanair’s adoption of the lowcost model in the 1990s reshaped the industry, making air travel accessible to millions. The airline’s aggressive low-pricing strategies, no-frills services, and ability to adapt to market demands allowed it to thrive in a fiercely competitive environment, to investorand-European benefit.

History can often be a cruel reflection of our past, in personal and national reflection, but the best of us learn from it and use it to guide us in unifying actions to promote a promising future . . . at home in British Columbia and in North America and the World.

NIGEL ATKIN teaches the Evolution of Public Relations course online at UVic. He offers onsite workshops to leverage human capital and exploit the multiplier effect of becoming better communicators.

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CANADA

What’s New in Canadian Immigration, eh?

A LE X N I N G

Updated December 2025

1. Let’s Talk Numbers (Not the Scary Kind) Canada’s government has decided to slow its roll. The grand immigration experiment of “Let’s bring in everyone!” has shifted to “Let’s bring in the right folks in the right numbers.”

So, targets for permanent residents now stand at 395,000 for 2025, dialing down to 365,000 by 2027. That’s a soft landing from the earlier 500,000 projections.

Over 40% of newcomers are already living in Canada—working, studying, and paying for Tim Hortons doubledoubles—so the government is saying, “You’ve proven yourself—let’s make it official.”

2. IRCC’s Shopping List (Budget Edition) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is still flush, with $4 billion to keep the bureaucracy humming. That covers everything from processing visas and Permanent Resident (PR) cards to funding settlement services and interpretation headsets.

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is now permanent. It’s Canada’s way of saying, “You’re a refugee who can write code or fix a tractor? You’re in!”

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Meanwhile, IRCC is rolling out targeted work permits for agriculture and fish processing.

3. International Students: Still Welcome (with Conditions) Study permits are now capped at 437,000, a 10% trim to relieve housing pressure and prevent diploma mills from operating like fast-food drivethrus. Changing schools mid-term?

You’ll need a shiny new permit—not just a click-and-go.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules are also tighter now.

4. Language Tests: Choose Your Weapon In a move toward flexibility, TOEFL Essentials has been added to IRCC’s accepted English language tests for PR applicants.

More reforms are coming to language benchmarks under Bill C‑12 that aims to align language criteria with Canada’s broader integration goals.

5. B ill C‑2: The “Strong Borders” Show Bill C‑2 introduces: y Restrictions on asylum claims if filed late or irregularly (e.g., after 14 days);

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Canada’s government has decided to slow its roll. The grand immigration experiment of “Let’s bring in everyone!” has shifted to “Let’s bring in the right folks in the right numbers.” So, targets for permanent residents now stand at 395,000 for 2025, dialing down to 365,000 by 2027.

That’s a soft landing from the earlier 500,000 projections.

It’s a W.R.A.P. y Ministerial authority to suspend or cancel immigration documents; and y Expanded enforcement and data surveillance powers across agencies.

6. Bill C‑12: Quiet but Important Unlike Bill C‑2’s fireworks, Bill C‑12 updates and modernizes IRPA:

4 IMPORTANT PERSONAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS

W ill R epresentation Agreement A dvance Health Care Directive P ower of Attorney Contact your BC Notary today (604) 676-8570 | www.bcnotaryassociation.ca

y Enables digital-first processing; y Allows new regulatory conditions for temporary residents; and y Streamlines how eligibility factors are set by ministerial instruction.

7. Francophone Focus and Citizenship Reform Canada wants 12% of all PRs outside Quebec to be Francophones.

A bill also proposes to expand citizenship by descent.

8. Quebec: Still Playing by Its Own Rules Quebec has again halved its family reunification quota, stretching processing times to up to 34 months.

9. Final Thoughts: A Kinder, Calmer Immigration Cycle?

The year will see trimming the fat, updating the laws, and saying “nonmerci” to chaos. If you’re already in Canada, you might be invited to stay. If you’re applying, you’d better know your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, your French verbs, and which language test doesn’t make you cry.

Buckle up—but also breathe. The system’s maturing and your paperwork just might survive the ride.

Trevor, Jackson and Chuck E. Todd providing excellent legal services in contested wills, trusts and estates for over 50 years.

ALEX NING, C Med, RI, RCIC-IRB, is a BC Notary in his 41st year of practice.

Past Vice Chair of the Discipline Council of the former regulator CSIC, he specializes in hearings and appeals.

disinherited.com rttodd@disinherited.com | t. 604.264.8470

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SPECIAL PROFILE

Carrying on a Legacy: How One Vancouver Notary is Blending Tradition and Technology Î When clients walk into the small office of Notary Castro in downtown Vancouver, they’re stepping into more than a place of business. For Notary Public Juliana Castro, the space carries a legacy—it’s where her late father Marco practised and where she continues his work 5 years after taking over the firm.

“My father was the first to tell me I’d make a good Notary. At the time, I couldn’t see it. I was working in sales for a large food manufacturer. But he kept encouraging me. Eventually I enrolled in the Notary education program.”

Having moved from Brazil in 2003, she understands firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new system.

Today, as she raises young children in Vancouver, she feels firmly rooted in Canadian life. “I’m as Canadian as I am Brazilian now,” she says with a smile. “When I visit Brazil these days, the culture feels a little different through my Canadian lens. I love that I get to take both parts of me wherever I am.”

How Technology Powers her Notary Practice As in the offices of most modern Notaries, technology is woven into her daily practice, but it hasn’t always been that way. She recalls how, years ago, her father would physically deliver paper documents to the Land Title Office in New Westminster for registration. “He’d hand them across the counter to be stamped. Now, it’s all done online. It’s amazing how far we’ve come.”

By the time Juliana graduated, her father had passed away. The two never had the chance to work side by side, though she fondly remembers helping him evenings with file preparation and archiving or witnessing Wills for his clients. Taking over his practice felt like a way to honour him.

“He’s still here with me,” she says, gesturing to the picture of Marco and her late brother on her desk.

Beyond emails, Juliana navigates portals like the LTSA for title A Community of Professionals Notary Public Juliana Castro registration . . . and receives mortgage instructions through Unity ® For Juliana, being part of British Columbia’s Notary Lender Centre and payout statements electronically. Dye community is another source of pride. “We’re a group of & Durham’s ProSuite helps streamline conveyancing files, really ethical and strong professionals and we help each other. while ProTrust keeps trust account reconciliation on track— When I see that a Notary is representing the other side of a “Thank goodness, that helps me a lot since I’m not too keen transaction, I feel relief. I know things will go smoothly, and on accounting,” she admits with a laugh. we’ll find a fair way forward.”

Digital signing has also transformed the way she interacts Rather than viewing fellow Notaries as competitors, with clients; Juliana has also begun experimenting with AI she sees them as collaborators. Many Notaries carve out for some document drafting. niches serving specific cultural or linguistic communities.

In Juliana’s case, speaking English, Portuguese, and Spanish Those are some of the tools she depends on for reliability allows her to support clients who might struggle with English- and efficiency and qualities she looks for when adopting any language legal documents. “Feeling fully understood makes new technology. “Technology can be a best friend or an a big difference for people.” enemy,” she says.

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Glitches and downtime can be frustrating, especially when facing a deadline, so reliability is non-negotiable for her.

Efficiency is another key consideration when adopting technology: “If it makes my practice more efficient. I’m open to it.”

For Juliana, as for many Notaries, the biggest hurdle in adopting new technology is finding the time to learn it.

“That’s time you can’t bill. But I understand that carving out the time is necessary if you want to gain efficiencies later. It’s an upfront cost that’s worth it, because you gain it back—and much more—down the road if it makes your practice run more efficiently.”

Efficiency is another key consideration when adopting technology: “If it makes my practice more efficient.

I’m open to it.”

The Client Lens Her clients, often first-time homebuyers, bring their own expectations to the table. “They come with a lot of questions.

It’s a new experience for them, so we tailor our approach to give each client personalized attention.”

Most times, technology supports that personalization through email, phone, and even client portals that can streamline communication. A few times though, it complicates things. She’s noticed clients increasingly turning to generative AI tools to draft documents such as Powers of Attorney.

“It’s interesting. Sometimes it helps because they understand a bit of the process. But it can also make things harder, because the documents aren’t always right, and the clients may think they don’t need my full services.”

Still, Juliana isn’t alarmed. “I believe technology won’t replace Notaries but will continue to assist us. This is one of the oldest professions and I believe it will endure.”

Looking Ahead When asked to imagine her ideal office 5 years from now, efficiency and balance top the list. Juliana pictures automated intake processes, correspondence, and document exchanges flowing seamlessly through a single system, saving time for both Notaries and clients. “If technology makes it possible for me to help more clients while giving me more time with my family, that’s the real benefit.”

Work-life balance is a recurring theme. Recent late nights at the office have made Juliana realize what matters most.

“I’d use those time savings to leave earlier and be with my kids,” she admits.

Still, she knows that joy can come from unexpected places, too. She lights up as she recalls winning tickets to see [the band] Oasis in Toronto through a Dye & Durham prize draw at the BCNA Conference last year. At first, she almost

didn’t attend the happy-hour event where tickets for the draw were provided, because it fell on the same day her longtime staff member was leaving and she felt heavy-hearted. But the hint of an Oasis prize was too much to resist.

For Juliana, the band carries deep meaning; it reminds her of her late brother who loved to sing along with their songs. “When I saw the email, I asked him from the other side to help me win the tickets. And when my name was drawn from over a hundred entries, I just knew he had a hand in it.”

The concert became not only a special night out, but a memory that tied together her past and present in an unexpected way.

Rooted in Both Past and Future For Juliana, the future of the Notary profession lies in striking the balance between legacy and innovation, between efficiency and personal connection. Her practice is proof that technology can transform workflows, but it’s the human side of Notarial work that keeps clients coming back.

“I hope in 20 years we’ll still be here. Technology should help us, not replace us. At the end of the day, people still need the human connection.”

This interview is part of Dye & Durham’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the BC Notary community and exploring the role of technology in its future.

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ECOLOGICAL GIFTS

Restoring Nature with a Bulldozer

JEAN-PHILIP R O U S S E AU

“The land was part of a ranch that transformed the valley into a hayfield for horses and cattle. Overgrazing left significant scars.” ~ Richard Klafki Î Restoring land to its natural state sometimes involves a bulldozer and an excavator.

•

First, carefully bring in the heavy machinery.

• Second, excavate and restore under the watchful eye of wetland specialists.

A challenge? Of course. Achievable? Definitely.

The proof? The beautiful land of Cherry Meadows in southeast British Columbia, in the Rocky Mountain Trench near Kimberley. It is now being restored and protected forever thanks to the Ecological Gifts Program, celebrating 30 years of conservation.

Photo by Richard Klafki

Today, the property stands out for both its remarkable beauty and its significant ecological value. A creek flowing through the valley captured the Latters’ hearts from the very first sight.

On the northern side, Ponderosa Pine and Western Larch grow on a few acres of grassland and open forest. On a rise, the charming Latter house overlooks the valley, grassland, and flood plain.

Ponderosa Pines also tower over the other side, on the southern rise, flanked there by Douglas Fir. Though Carol and Walter Latter no longer own Cherry Meadows, their attachment to it transcends the deed.

“We wanted to make sure stewardship of the land would be turned over to an organization that could take care of it, protect it,” Carol explains. “We found out about Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.”

Nature Conservancy of Canada became recipient of the land, but the Latters have retained their right to live there for as long as they wish.

Photo by Richard Klafki

The Machinery Gets to Work

Carol and Walter Latter acquired the property in 1992 and have lived there for almost 30 years. The longterm conservation of those 70 hectares has always been their priority.

“It had been drained by farmers long before we acquired it,” Carol recounts.

“When we said we were going to use an excavator and a bulldozer to dig out the field, they were concerned, very anxious about those heavy machines arriving,” recalls Richard Klafki, of Nature Conservancy of Canada.

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After the ecological gift was completed, naturalists set about restoring the valley to its former glory.

In the past, the land had been used for hay. Thus began the labour-intensive operation, with an excavator, bulldozer, and environmental specialists. “We were able to create 13 little pocket wetlands all through the floodplain where the old hay field was,” Richard Klafki describes. “And we’ve left it to sit for the last 7 or 8 years.”

Years in which the particularly rich ecosystem and topography of Cherry Meadows have been given a new lease on life. “The vegetation is coming back and we’re seeing more birds and other wildlife,” marvels Carol. “It made a big difference.”

How Does it Work?

From their house on the rise, the Latters were the first to benefit. Before their very eyes, the renaissance of an increasingly natural and flourishing valley is unfolding. “We’re seeing more elk and deer grazing on the bottom land,” Walter notes.

An ecological gift can consist of land, part of a land, an eligible interest or right in land such as a conservation covenant.

The highly diverse property is a crossroads: Grizzly bears and other species at risk roam through it, while waterfowl, American badgers, and rare grassland plants find refuge here.

Every donation is unique, but they all have three things in common. y The land must be certified as ecologically sensitive;

The protection of Cherry Meadows in perpetuity is a concrete example of an ecological gift turning into a conservation success story. Here, as everywhere, the benefits of every single hectare extend far beyond the boundaries of the privately protected land.

y The fair market value of the ecological gift must be determined; and

Over the last 30 years, Ecological Gifts have led to enriched ecological corridors, conservation areas, and thousands of fragile ecosystems from coast to coast.

y The gift must be donated to a qualified recipient, such as a land trust or government, that will ensure the land’s biodiversity and environmental heritage are preserved in perpetuity.

Since its inception, the Ecological Gifts Program has received more than 2,000 ecological gifts, collectively valued at an assessed value of $1.3 billion. Those donations now shelter more than 260,000 hectares of land nationwide.

As for the donor, it is an everlasting legacy. “It feels really good,” Carol confirms. “Yes, because that’s what we wanted to achieve,” Walter adds.

Carol and Walter Latter are proud to have made use of the Ecological Gifts Program with its generous tax benefits.

“Another feeling is one of relief,” Carol concludes. “We know now that the property is protected for posterity.”

To find out more about the Ecological Gifts Program, visit Environment and Climate Change Canada’s website.

JEAN-PHILIP R OUSSEAU is a science, environment, and conservation writer and storyteller with a focus on nature. philiprousseau@gmail.com.

Photo by Richard Klafki

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WILLS & ESTATES

Is There a Settlement?

Î A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between two or more parties to a dispute that outlines the terms of a resolution.

These agreements are a common way to resolve legal disputes, both before and after a lawsuit has been filed, and can be used in a wide range of contexts.

Settlements resolve disputes, provide legal certainty that can be judicially enforced, can be confidential, not admit fault, and release the parties from further claims. Consideration is the bargain component of the settlement contract.

Consideration is what each party receives in exchange for agreeing to the terms.

A settlement agreement is a contract that can be enforced in Court like any other contract.

On occasion, however, a disagreement may arise as to whether the parties actually agreed on all the essential terms to form a binding settlement, and they may resort to the Courts for such determination.

In determining if a settlement is enforceable, the Courts usually turn to contract-law principles such as offer and acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations.

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Common Scenarios Leading the Courts Not to Find a Settlement

T R E VO R T O D D

The bar to set aside a settlement agreement is a high one due to the great public interest in holding people to their bargains.

y A dispute over an agreement to agree y Conditions precedent not met such as financing y Lack of authority to bind a client or principal y Misunderstanding or ambiguity—a “meeting of the minds” is necessary y Repudiation before acceptance y Lack of formality in a specific way Finding a Settlement There is strong public interest in favour of resolving lawsuits by agreement. The Supreme Court of Canada in Sable Offshore Energy Inc. v. Ameron International Corp., 2013 SCC 37 stated that settlements allow parties to reach a mutually acceptable resolution to their dispute without prolonging the personal and public expense and time involved in litigation.

As a result, the policy of the Courts is to promote settlement and to enforce settlement agreements. This judicial policy contributes to the effective administration of justice.

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The bar to set aside a settlement agreement is a high one due to the great public interest in holding people to their bargains.

The burden of proving the existence of a settlement agreement is upon the party seeking to enforce or rely upon it: Salminen v. Garvie, 2011 BCSC 339.

The standard of proof required is on the balance of probabilities.

To determine if a settlement agreement is enforceable, the Court must consider whether the parties reached agreement on all the essential terms.

In Fieguth v. Acklands, section 10 states: I n the exercise of its jurisdiction in a cause or matter before it, the Court must grant, either for him absolutely or on reasonable conditions that to it seem just, all remedies that any of the parties may appear to be entitled to in respect of any legal or equitable claim properly brought forward by them in the cause or matter so that, as far as possible, all matters in controversy between the parties may be completely and finally determined and all multiplicity of legal proceedings concerning any of those matters may be avoided.

In (1989) 59 DLR (4th) 114 BCCA, the Court considered the enforceability of the disputed settlement and stated that the first question is whether the parties have reached an agreement on all the essential terms. The usual principles of contract formation apply. The Court must analyze the evidence to determine whether in all the circumstances, it is clear to the objective reasonable bystander that the parties intended to contract, and whether the essential terms of the contract can be determined with a reasonable degree of certainty.

The Court in Fieguth identified a two-question framework: 1. was a contract reached; and 2. if so, was it repudiated by one party that insisted on terms not agreed to.

After a settlement agreement has been reached, the next stage is its completion. Unless the agreement is terminated, the parties must fulfill their obligations, express and implied.

Termination by repudiation occurs when a party has an intention not to be bound by the agreement and the innocent party elects to accept the repudiation: Guarantee Company of North America v. Gordon Capital Corp., (1999) 3 SCR 423.

A fundamental breach of a primary obligation may also constitute a repudiation because it deprives the other party

of substantially the whole mutually intended benefit of the agreement and thus amounts to a refusal to perform.

BC Courts have frequently cited the principles set out in the leading case of Robertson v. Walwyn Stodgell Cochran Murray, 24 BCLR (2d) 385 (BCCA): t he fact that the settlement agreement may not have been a desirable one from one party’s point of view, or the fact that they may have received poor advice from their lawyer, or the fact that they later changed their minds, cannot provide grounds for setting aside the settlement agreement or refusal to enforce it.

After a settlement agreement has been reached, the next stage is its completion. Unless the agreement is terminated, the parties must fulfill their obligations, express and implied.

Robertson further stated that once a settlement agreement was made with the knowledge and consent of the parties to the litigation, and were no grounds are advanced for setting aside the agreement under general contract principles, such as fraud, duress, lack of capacity, or mutual mistake, then the Court has no alternative but to enforce the agreement.

In Sojka v. Sojka, 2018 BCSC 562, the Court dealt with the enforcement of a settlement reached at a mediation where both parties were represented by counsel, and one party attempted to renege on the agreement by utilizing what the Court regarded as “settler’s remorse.”

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The plaintiff brought a Court application to enforce the minutes of settlement that was signed by the parties and their counsel, and relied upon section 10 of the Law and Equity Act and the inherent jurisdiction of the Court to enforce the terms of settlement, which the Court in fact did.

As a procedural note, it is not necessary to commence a separate civil action to enforce the agreement; it can be done within the same Court action is the subject settlement in issue. McKenzie v. McKenzie, (1975) (3d) 373 BCSC. Section 10 of the Law and Equity Act RSBC authorizes the Court to enforce settlement agreements in the context of an existing action, rather than requiring a party to commence a new action on an alleged settlement agreement.

Section 10 States I n the exercise of its jurisdiction in a cause or matter before it, the Court must grant, either for him absolutely or on reasonable conditions that to it seem just, all remedies that any of the parties may appear to be entitled to in respect of any legal or equitable claim properly brought forward by them in the cause or matter so that, as far as possible, all matters in controversy between the parties may be completely and finally determined and all multiplicity of legal proceedings concerning any of those matters may be avoided.

A settlement agreement does not have to be in writing. It may be evidenced by writing, verbally, by conduct, or by a combination of some or all of these. The fundamental issue is whether an agreement has been reached by the parties on all the essential terms of the agreement.

An enforceable agreement is reached where two or more parties have reached a manifest meeting of their minds.

The parties must express themselves outwardly in a manner that indicates an intention to be bound, and there may be reasonably certain mutually agreed terms: Le Soleil Hotel & Suites Ltd. v. Le Soleil Management Inc., 2009 BCSC 1303.

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WILLS & ESTATES

Court May Imply Terms to the Settlement When Courts find that there has been an agreement on essential terms, they will often imply nonessential terms into the agreement. The lack of agreement on nonessential terms will not stand in the way of finding an agreement. For example, assuming an agreement on essential terms is otherwise in place, Courts can and will imply terms concerning the granting of a release, the manner of payment and the timing of payment. Fieguth v. Acklands Ltd. (1989) 59 DLR (4th) 114 BCCA. In Chan v. Chan, 2025 BCCA 262, the parties entered into a settlement agreement in which the appellant agreed to purchase the respondent’s interest in a property which was the subject of litigation. Subsequently the transfer could not be completed due to a failure to agree on the terms of the release.

The appellant successfully challenged the Chambers judge’s finding that the settlement agreement implied a mutual release, the appellant had repudiated the agreement and the respondent was entitled to treat the agreement at an end.

The Court of Appeal disagreed and stated that it was open to the judge to accept that there were claims being advanced by both parties and a mutual release was an implied term of the settlement. As neither party was ready and willing to complete the transfer, the respondent was not entitled to accept repudiation and the settlement agreement continued to be binding Fieguth was followed, where at paragraph 35 it stated, “the settlement implies a promise to furnish a release and if there is an action, a consent dismissal unless there is a contractual agreement to the contrary.”

Cases Where the Courts Refused to Find a Settlement Whether a Court should refuse to enforce a settlement agreement is informed by the competing objectives of promoting settlement and avoiding the enforcement of a settlement that would result in a clear risk of an

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injustice. There is a strong presumption in favour of finality of settlements, and any settlement entered into with the assistance of legal counsel should be upheld except in the clearest of cases and in exceptional cases.

Typically, the principles of forming a valid contract are the basis of binding settlements. The kinds of grounds on which any contract, including a settlement agreement may be set aside are fraud, undue influence, duress, or coercion: Pond v. Pond, 2017 BCCA 243.

There must also be a meeting of the minds, consideration, and be a party to the agreement.

There must also be a meeting of the minds, consideration, and be a party to the agreement.

In Labrash Estate v. Labrash, 2023 ONSC 4186, two actions were commenced by an estate to recover real property that was transferred by right of survivorship claiming that the property belonged to the estate. The second action challenged the validity of the Will.

A purported settlement agreement was reached for both actions, but the Court found that while there was settlement reached between the plaintiff in his personal capacity and the estate trustee that could be enforced, the Court could not find there was a settlement reached between two other signatories who were non-parties to the actions. A lawyer has ostensible authority to bind a settlement only on his or her clients.

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In Dewar Pacific Projects Ltd. v.

Fama Woodward’s Development Ltd., 2003 BCSC 53, the Court found there was no settlement agreement as it was a term of the settlement that settlement funds would be paid in trust by September 10, 2001. That term deadline had not been met and the following day the plaintiff withdrew the offer.

The Court found the deadline was an essential term of the agreement, and there was no meeting of the minds as to this essential term as the timeline had not been settled.

In 2598508 Ontario Inc. v. 2394049 Ontario Inc. et al., 2021 ONSC 5293, there was a telephone conversation between counsel with respect to payment of a pre-payment penalty in a mortgage.

There was no written communication between counsel, nor did the parties confirm the alleged terms. At trial, the parties related different versions of what was said during the phone conversation, so the Court held that no settlement had been reached.

In Apolzer v. Apolzer, 2025 BCSC 1426, a child of the deceased indicated a willingness to purchase the home owned by the deceased. The executor of the estate wrote a letter addressed “To Whom It May Concern,” stating that the estate was willing to sell the property to the son for $650,000. The purpose of the letter was to assist the son in arranging financing, but the son ran into financial trouble and was unable to arrange the financing.

The executors subsequently had a second appraisal prepared that indicated the property value to be $1 million and advised the son of the new value.

The son in turn wrote a letter to the executor agreeing to accept the offer to purchase the property for $650,000, and then sued to enforce the purported agreement to purchase the property for $650,000, when the executor then demanded the fair market value of $1 million be paid.

The Court found that the purpose of the letter was addressed to whom it may concern and was not an offer to

sell the property for $650,000 to the son, but was solely prepared to arrange financing to unknown third parties.

The second appraisal was further evidence of the lack of any offer to sell the property for $650,000.

The Court found there was no meeting of the minds on all the essential terms of a binding agreement. Salminen v. Garvie, 2011 BCSC 339.

In Flint v. Taggar, 2008 BCCA 504, the appeal Court found no settlement agreement was reached at a mediation where the plaintiff attempted to accept the offer at mediation, 6 weeks after the mediation and 10 days before trial. The defendant responded that the plaintiff would be entitled to costs up to the date of the mediation, but the defendant would be entitled to costs thereafter.

After the plaintiff’s reply, the defendant revoked the offer on the ground that the offer made at mediation was revoked at the end of the mediation.

The Court of Appeal found no settlement agreement had been reached since the offer at mediation had not been accepted within a reasonable time and the terms of the purported settlement lacked certainty and thus was void.

Many times, the party attempting to avoid a settlement is found to simply have “settler’s remorse,”...

Conclusion The case law is clear that the Courts will attempt to enforce a settlement unless there is a clear breach of basic contract law in the formation of the settlement. The Courts have no hesitation to add implied terms such as releases or consent dismissal orders to a settlement provided that the essential terms were agreed.

There are strong public policy arguments in favour of the Courts holding parties to uphold agreements and to better assist in the administration of justice. Many times, the party attempting to avoid a settlement is found

to simply have “settler’s remorse,” and is attempting to repudiate a binding agreement on technicalities.

The Courts will certainly not rewrite an agreement for the parties, but will be flexible in their interpretation as to the essential terms of the contract that the parties did agree on, and find a binding settlement agreement to be enforced.

T R E VO R TODD restricts his practice to estate litigation.

He has practised law in Vancouver for 50 years.

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Notary Public, Mediator, Immigration & Refugee Counsel

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ESTATE PLANNING FOR MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z

Top 5 Topics in Estate Planning for Millennials and Generation Z Î Millennials and Generation Z should not be overlooked as estate planning clients.

Our office is seeing an increase in people from younger generations wanting to begin estate planning now.

You may be asking yourself, why?

In Canada, Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996)1 and perhaps older Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012)2 are often compared to older generations as having more couples who cohabit rather than get married.3 They have fewer children, have them later in life, 4 or even opt for pet ownership over parenthood.

Further, some Millennials and Generation Z individuals are pursuing careers as social media influencers rather than traditional careers; they diversify their investment portfolios by investing in cryptocurrencies in addition to traditional investment options.5 Those trends are also topics commonly addressed in estate planning documents for younger generations.

Despite those trends, Millennials and older Generation Z can have a lot to plan for and protect—some of which may surprise you. You could be missing out on a large demographic of potential clients by not updating your estate

E L A I N E T. M C C O R M AC K

planning practice to include younger generations. In this article, we discuss five key topics to keep in mind when you are meeting with and preparing estate planning documents for younger clients.

You may have heard of the concept of “marriage-like relationship” used in the context of family law concerning child support and spousal support for unmarried ex-couples.

E M I LY SHEARD

You may have heard of the concept of “marriage-like relationship” used in the context of family law concerning child support and spousal support for unmarried ex-couples.

That concept also appears in the context of estate planning. Under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (“WESA”), the primary statute that governs Wills and estates in British Columbia; two persons are considered to be spouses if they were both alive immediately before a relevant time and they were either married or lived with each other in a marriage-like relationship for at least 2 years.6

1. I Thought We Were Just Cohabiting, But You’re My Spouse?

As an example, your clients that have lived together for 3 years may not be aware that they are considered to be spouses under WESA and that the spousal provisions of WESA apply to them. You may wish to discuss with your clients their relationship and consider how that will impact how you draft their estate planning documents.

More couples in Canada are choosing to cohabit than get married compared to the past but, under British Columbia law, the effect of doing so may be akin to being married, even though the couple has not officially tied the knot.

For example, do they still want their partner to be their personal representative or to be entitled as a beneficiary to an estate if they were to cease being spouses before the other passes away?

If so, there must be specific provisions drafted into the Wills to permit that.7

1 Statistics Canada. (2024, February 21). Millennials now outnumber baby boomers in Canada. The Daily [online]. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240221/dq240221a-eng.pdf 2 Ibid 3 Statistics Canada. (2022, July 13). State of the union: Canada leads the G7 with nearly one-quarter of couples living common law, driven by Quebec.

The Daily [online]. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/daily-quotidien/220713/dq220713b-eng.pdf?st=xi3ifstV 4 Statistics Canada. (2022, May 16). Fewer babies born as Canada’s fertility rate hits a record low in 2020. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/960-fewer-babies-born-canadas-fertility-rate-hits-record-low-2020 5 Innovative Research Group, Inc. 2024 CSA Investor Index. https://www.securities-administrators.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CSA-2024-Investor-Index-Executive-Summary-ENG.pdf 6

Wills, Estates and Succession Act (“WESA”), SBC 2009, c. 13, ss. 1 and 2

7

WESA, ss. 65.

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2. Planning for Later or Less Many younger families are planning to have fewer children or children later in life . . . for example, in their mid-30s or later. That has led to an increase in people choosing to store their reproductive material, including embryos, for future use. If your clients have reproductive material stored, you will want to recommend including provisions in their estate planning documents that address what can happen with that material after they pass away or become incapacitated.

Can the surviving spouse use the material to have future children?

Even after death, using reproductive material after a spouse has passed can have legal implications that may impact gifts under a Will. For example, if a surviving spouse uses reproductive material for future children, does the deceased spouse want to be deemed the parent of that child/those children at law? That could impact the distribution of estates under the Will. Also consider other documentation that may be required to ensure your clients’ wishes are honoured, for example, under the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act and its regulations thereto.

3. But My Pet Is My Child In addition to having fewer children or children later in life, in the eyes of some younger people, their pets are their children. The perception of pets as family members is not reflected in estate planning statutes. Under WESA, pets are still considered to be personal property. Clauses can be added to estate planning documents, however, that ensure your clients’ furry family members are taken care of.

For example, clauses can be included with respect to whom the pet will be given in the event of death or incapacity. You may also suggest for your clients to consider giving a cash gift to the person who will be taking care of the pet, to be used toward the 8

pet’s future care if their pet survives them. The clauses can be specific or general in nature, concerning a specific pet or all pets that your clients may acquire in the future.

It should be noted that British Columbia is moving toward the concept of pets as family members in family law legislation, while still technically treating pets as personal property. Changes to the Family Law Act came into force in early 2024 that require the Supreme Court of British Columbia to consider certain factors when determining ownership of a companion animal. 8 Perhaps in time, estate planning statutes will follow suit.

4. How Many Followers Do You Have?

There has been an increase in younger generations opting for nontraditional careers, such as being social media influencers, or other careers that earn revenue from content creation, such as social media chefs. Live streaming video games while providing commentary is also another way for younger generations to generate income.

Those individuals may have amassed a large number of followers across social media platforms—sometimes hundreds of thousands or even millions. If your clients are in one of those professions, even on a lesser scale, you should ask them to consider what will happen to those accounts in the case of their death or incapacity . . . and address that in their estate planning documents.

For example . . . y Whom do they trust to take over those accounts and manage them? y Would they let that person close the accounts or sell them in some manner? y What are the account names, on what platforms, and how can the trusted person access them in the case of death or incapacity?

What’s in Your Digital Wallet?

5. What’s in Your Digital Wallet?

Investing in cryptocurrencies has become increasingly popular with younger generations. Almost one third of investments held by Canadian investors age 18 to 34 are crypto-assets, compared to those age 65 and older, where crypto-assets only make up 4% of their investment portfolio.9 Your clients’ estate planning documents should include provisions regarding what cryptocurrencies they have, what platform they are located on, how they want those assets to be liquidated and/or distributed to their beneficiaries after their death or during their lifetime during incapacity, and how to access those assets.

Not an investor in cryptocurrencies?

Chances are your clients have some loyalty points at their favourite stores or have digital gift cards stashed away in their emails. Your clients should consider what they want done with those assets after they pass away or become incapacitated, who will manage them, and how to access them.

Estate planning is a heavy topic for any age, but particularly on younger generations who (hopefully) have a lot of life ahead of them. Remember the above five topics to discuss with your Millennial and Generation Z clients to help customize their estate planning documents to meet them where they are in life. It’s not too early!

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

E L A I N E M C C O R M A C K is a lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator with Wilson McCormack Law Group.

E M I LY S H E A R D is an associate lawyer with Wilson McCormack Law Group.

Family Law Act, SBC 2021, c. 25, ss. 3.1 and 97.

9 Innovative Research Group, Inc. 2024 CSA Investor Index. p. 2. https://www.securities-administrators.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CSA-2024-Investor-Index-Executive-Summary-ENG.pdf

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THE SCRIVENER | WINTER 2025

55

REIBC

Industry Holiday Classic Presents

Foxtrot 2025:

TA M A R A DA S I LV E I R A

An Evening of Elegance, Unity, and Industry Connection

REIBC Members attended from across the industry.

Î On Thursday November 20, 2025, the second-annual Industry Holiday Classic Presents Foxtrot brought together British Columbia’s real estate and related sectors for an unforgettable night of celebration and connection. Held in the striking ambiance of the Paradox Hotel Vancouver, the event showcased unity among organizations whose work supports the province’s vibrant real estate landscape.

Hosted in partnership with the Real Estate Institute of BC (REIBC), BC Notaries Association, Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, the Appraisal Institute of BC, and the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association, Industry Holiday Classic demonstrated the power of collective industry engagement. What began as an ambitious effort to bring multiple professional bodies under one roof has now established itself as a signature annual gathering that continues to elevate the standard for cross-sector collaboration.

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The Importance of Coming Together In a sector as interconnected as real estate, opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement are valuable.

Industry Holiday Classic is a shared space where appraisers, REALTORS®, Notaries, mortgage brokers, and real estate professionals gather not simply as colleagues, but as contributors to a broader ecosystem.

Strengthening Professional Synergy While each profession plays a distinct role, the work intersects daily in meaningful ways. The events enable professionals to exchange insights, deepen their understanding of complementary roles, and build stronger working relationships that ultimately benefit clients and communities across British Columbia.

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As anticipation builds for next year’s celebration, Industry Holiday Classic continues its evolution toward becoming one of the most anticipated annual events in the industry!

Celebrating Our Supporters Enhancing Member Experience One of the most rewarding aspects of the event is witnessing members from each organization engage with one another. Those interactions often spark new ideas and partnerships while memorable conversations carry well beyond the evening.

Connecting the People Behind the Organizations Beyond the attendees, the event provides a valuable networking opportunity for staff from all participating organizations. Sharing space in person allows teams to build rapport, share best practices, and strengthen communication across associations, ultimately leading to better support for their respective members. By coming together, the organizations amplify their collective impact and highlight the shared goals that guide their work in the real estate sector.

Foxtrot would not have been possible without the commitment and generosity of its sponsors. This year, we extend special thanks to the following.

Miss Kari Dickie

y Nationwide Appraisal Services, whose sponsorship supported the evening’s featured musical guest and added a layer of sophistication to the program y Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, for their support of the live band, helping to energize the night’s entertainment y BC Notaries Association, for their continued contributions and support of this growing event Their partnership reinforces the collaborative spirit that defines Industry Holiday Classic.

TA M A RA DA S I LV E I RA is the Associate Director of The Real Estate Institute of British Columbia.

TECHNOLOGY

The Skylight Calendar Max 27” and 15”

A K A S H SA B L O K

They Can be Used in Portrait or Landscape Format Î We are now a quarter of the way through this century and the folks at Skylight have provided a simple-yeteffective device that eliminates all the shortcomings of a physical calendar—and creates calmness in the home . . . and office.

At first glance, Skylight Calendar Max appears disarmingly simple and its handsome digital frame won’t clash with your décor. The Calendar displays a stream of

appointments, chores, meal plans, and general life-clutter in a tidy, comprehensible way that suggests everyone in your household always knows what’s going on.

You plug it in and it wakes up like a polite concierge. The adventure begins when it connects to your Wi-Fi. Skylight Calendar guides you through the initial setup with the serene tone of a therapist who has seen much worse.

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TECHNOLOGY

capacity to become a functioning ecosystem. Mom, dad, sister, brother, Uncle Fester (we’ve been binge-watching The Addams Family), even your Mini-Goldendoodle will appreciate the meal planning (no more “What’s for dinner?), grocery lists (so you can make that dinner), To-do lists (so you remember to get the food), and more.

The Skylight Calendar Max 27” in landscape orientation

It requests your Wi-Fi password in a manner that won’t judge you if the password is “ILoveTacos2015.” Then it asks you to link your digital calendars—Google, Outlook, iCloud—the whole constellation of half-maintained planning tools we scatter across our lives. Anywhere you enter your information . . . on your smartphone, desktop, or even the touchscreen of the Skylight Calendar, the unit automatically synchronizes the information across all your devices.

Watching Skylight Calendar digest those disparate sources of truth is strangely satisfying, like watching a librarian organize a roomful of unsorted books.

The device compiles every appointment, task, reminder, and birthday; then, with a small digital flourish, displays the resulting timeline with the confidence of a personal assistant who has been waiting their whole life to show you what efficiency looks like.

Placed horizontally or vertically—on a counter or mounted on the wall, Skylight Calendar immediately begins radiating an atmosphere of competence. It has no pop-ups, no buzzing, and no app notifications trying to lure you into a discount for socks. It’s not trying to impress you—it is simply trying to help.

The large, bright, and colour-coded interface makes Skylight Calendar look more like a piece of modern art than the cluster of responsibilities it actually represents.

There is something oddly reassuring about walking past it in the morning—ah yes, the glowing rectangle says I have three meetings before lunch.

What distinguishes Skylight Calendar from a simple digital planner is its belief that your household has the

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Living with Skylight Calendar is a bit like introducing a new species into your home. Some people adapt instantly, tapping events onto the screen with the fascination of a child encountering a touchscreen for the first time. Others refuse to acknowledge its existence, insisting that their memory— notoriously unreliable—remains the superior scheduling system.

Surprisingly, my parents adapted to the device faster than our teens. The 27” screen is so large, my parents didn’t need their reading glasses; the kids prefer the smaller-screen version (15”) that provides them privacy.

The most unexpected part of Skylight Calendar is not its organization, its interface, or even its ability to reduce the number of repeat grocery trips. There is something deeply comforting about being able to offload the constant mental tabulation of what-comes-next onto a device that never forgets, panics, or insists it “had it in its head somewhere.”

In the end, Skylight Calendar doesn’t transform your household into a frictionless model of efficiency. It doesn’t magically make everyone punctual or solve the eternal mystery of why no one knows when the recycling goes out.

What it does is offer clarity—an ever-present snapshot of your life’s moving parts. It consoles you with the idea that even if you are not fully organized, at least your calendar is.

And that small reassurance is enough to make daily life feel a little more navigable.

When the same process is set up in an office environment, everyone will view the screen every time they pass by. Yes, we have calendars on our laptops, desktops, and smartphones, but viewing the information on a common screen creates unity. If that helps calm us even a bit in our crazy work days (can you say month-end?), I’ll take the minor miracle!

Calendar Max 27” Classic $839 Skylight Calendar 15” Version $449 www.ca.myskylight.com

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Porsche Factory Tour Î They say never meet your heroes—sometimes mystery is better than discovery—and ignorance is bliss.

bolt-together, flat-box shelf they have ever attempted to assemble at home.

During my recent visit to the Porsche Factory in Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart, Germany, I met my heroes—the engineers and production crew behind the iconic Porsche 911 sports car. I saw the 911 take shape right in front of my eyes, in real time. I am now full of knowledge I will cherish forever.

The Porsche factory is not merely a 3 km stroll through a manufacturing campus; it is a cathedral of metal, motion, and the improbable belief that mechanical perfection is both possible and worth pursuing daily. Entering it feels a little like trespassing on a sacred ritual—one performed by people who take engineering and design values far more seriously than most take religion.

Then comes the moment the factory calls “The Marriage.”

That feels too romantic for a process involving hydraulic lifts, torque wrenches, and a conveyor belt with the self-assurance of a monarch. Yet the metaphor fits.

Due to the highly secret process, we are shown only one branch of the assembly line where the ceremony happens.

We have to use our imagination.

Farther along the line, the mood shifts from mechanical stoicism to something more intimate. In the upholstery

The tour begins modestly enough with our guide Laura ushering you past doors that look reassuringly ordinary.

Yet the moment they slide open, you are confronted by a revelation . . . robots—towering, yellow, precise—move with a grace completely at odds with their industrial proportions.

They swing welding arms in loops so elegant they could be choreographed, each motion an equation solved in steel.

The logic behind the dance becomes clearer as you observe the body shells of future 911s taking shape. The stamped pieces—curved, rigid, unblemished—slot together with an inevitability that suggests destiny more than engineering. A human hair’s width matters here; a millimetre is an act of recklessness. And while most visitors nod politely as those tolerances are explained, there is a universal moment of humility when you realize the car taking form in front of you is already more perfectly proportioned than any

GT3 Build Stuttgart Marriage

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TECHNOLOGY

Porsche Tour assembly line

workshop, leather—soft, fragrant, potentially the most emotionally destabilizing material in the building—is shaped and stitched by human hands. After the robot ballet, the calm, meticulous craftsmanship feels almost archaic.

Yet it is here that Porsche reveals its other half—the belief that even in an age dominated by automation, there remains a place for people who can coax beauty from a hide using nothing but thread, needles, and an unspoken understanding of what “right” feels like. It is oddly touching.

You expect the assembly line to break the spell, but instead it reinforces it. The interplay of humans and machines resembles a conversation in which each knows the other’s strengths. Robots handle the dangerous and the exacting; humans make judgment calls no algorithm has yet learned to approximate. The result is not chaos but order—an order that feels so intentional, it borders on serene.

If the tour has a climax, it is the sound of engines being test-run in their chambers. Our tour guide informs us the rooms are soundproof. That is a lie, but a charming one.

The noise—controlled, constrained, but unmistakably alive—passes through walls, bones, and any pretense of neutrality you might have had about horsepower. It is the mechanical equivalent of a choir warming up . . . the promise of something glorious, barely contained.

The tour ends, somewhat mischievously, in the Porsche Museum. It is a deliberate ambush. After witnessing how these cars are made—how they are welded, assembled, calibrated, and stitched—it becomes nearly impossible to regard them as mere products. They feel instead like artifacts from a culture that worships precision without surrendering warmth. The museum reinforces that idea, offering historical proof that the factory is not an exception but a continuation.

Leaving the building, you carry with you a peculiar mixture of awe and yearning. The Porsche Factory Tour does not simply reveal how cars are made; it reveals the mindset required to make something exceptionally well. It is part engineering lesson, part philosophical inquiry, and part emotional trap.

You arrive as a visitor. You leave wondering whether your life could accommodate a 911 after all. I start thinking about where I can move the Christmas tree, the seasonal decorations, and the winter tires stored in my garage at home . . . to make room.

And perhaps that is the truest genius of Stuttgart. Even if you cannot yet justify owning a Porsche, you depart feeling—if only for a moment—as though you should. That is my greatest takeaway —design and engineer a process, for example, document preparation in my Notary office, that is not only efficient and adaptable, but a joy to perform.

Tours can be booked online at the Porsche International website. Prices range from 6-18 Euros for the public 1-hour tour, to 200 Euros for a 90-minute private tour. www.porsche.com

GT3 Build Stuttgart Final

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AKASH SABLOK is a BC Notary and a Technology/ Automotive Journalist for TV, Print, and Online.

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THE SCRIVENER | SPRING 2024

61

PEOPLE Winter 2013

Volume 22 • Number 4 Published Quarterly by The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia

INSIDE: Land

Rudy Nielsen

Publications Mail Agreement: 40010827

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RUDY NIELSEN

WALTER SIEMENS

Rudy left us peacefully November 15, 2025, at age 84, holding the hand of his beloved wife Joanne. He is also survived by 2 sons, 5 grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and many dear friends.

Walter is 90 years young! His daughter Barb and his granddaughter Katie hosted him (and took this picture) at Grouse Mountain on his 90th birthday. They are very proud of their father/grandfather!

At age 9, Rudy arrived in Canada from Holland shortly after World War II with his mother, settling in northern BC. During his formative years, he began honing his considerable outdoor skills.

Born in Saskatchewan in 1935, Walter arrived in Trail, BC, in 1961 where he began his active and productive career in insurance and as a BC Notary Public.

A pioneer in the land appraisal industry, Rudy was constantly launching new ventures. In 1964 he became a Realtor and owned several real estate offices in northern BC; he obtained his Diploma in Urban Land Economics in Appraising from UBC in 1972. He was a proud REIBC member for 53 years.

His brilliance in business benefitted many fortunate community organizations. Walter dutifully served on a variety of provincial and national Boards and influential organizations, including the Insurance Council of BC, the Insurance Brokers’ Association of BC, the BC Assessment Authority, the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Canada, and The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia. A Director of The Society for 18 years, Walter was proud to serve as Chair of the PR Committee at the launch of The Scrivener magazine.

In 2025, he was inducted into the Champions of Trail.

Rudy's 2013 article

Those who knew Rudy delighted in hearing his captivating stories of adventure—tales so incredible, few could believe their authenticity. His appearances in The Scrivener include a Cover Story in 2013, and an article in the Fall of 2023. They can be found here:

Scan Here

In 1972, Rudy founded Niho Land and Cattle Company that became one of the largest recreational landholders in British Columbia. He co-founded LandQuest Realty in 1996, specializing in the marketing of rural and recreational properties. In 2000, Landcor Data Corporation was launched and became BC’s premier source of real estate data, delivering the gold standard in automated property valuation for residential properties in the province. In partnership with Coast Capital Savings, the Rudy Nielsen Scholarship Award was established at Simon Fraser University in 2023 to support students who have demonstrated perseverance through adversity.

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Rudy's 2023 article

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