SAANICHNEWS Big world of the small
Getting in line
It’s complicated and expensive, but UVic’s new microscope will peer deeper than anything in the world. News, Page A3
Mount Doug brothers are part of school’s small but strong team going to track and field provincials. Sports, Page A18
Friday, June 1, 2012
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Veterans Affairs braces for job cuts in Victoria
From left, Enes Moscrip, Barb Belknap, Carol Allis, instructor Anna Wren and Ellie Wight gather around the stove as they cook dinner together at the Les Passmore Seniors Activity Centre in Saanich. The group made skillet pork chops with sweet potatoes and couscous, and a rhubarb crisp for dessert.
Vets will fall through cracks, says union Erin McCracken News staff
The elimination of frontline staff at the Victoria office of Veterans Affairs this fall will deal a devastating blow to military veterans, says the union representing employees. The federal department’s main office on the Island the will see its roster of 17 client service agents shrink by 4.37 full-time equivalent positions, as part of a nationwide downsizing “We’re plan. not processing The Victoria agents help vetpassports here. apply for We’re dealing with erans disability penpeople’s lives ...” sions and mobility aids, among – Kim Coles other services. Union of Veterans In the wake Affairs Employees of the job cuts, the Royal Canadian Legion expects to see an influx of veterans submitting more disability claims. That will further swamp the Legion’s two service officers, one each at CFB Esquimalt and in Vancouver, who are already filing papers for hundreds of vets, who turn to the Legion rather than Veterans Affairs. “The workload has increased tenfold for our two service officers in the last few months, to a point where we’re going to have to hire two more,” said Dave Sinclair, immediate past president of the B.C./Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. PLEASE SEE: Veteran’s cuts, Page A6
Gray Rothnie
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Finding community in the kitchen Seniors offered free cooking skills, social activities Natalie North News staff
I
t’s 3 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon and Anna Wren has nine women over for dinner. Wren is a registered dietician and the women are seniors who prescribe to her belief that healthy lifestyle education is best retained in the kitchen – rather than the doctor’s office. Wren leads a community kitchen for seniors, a free cooking program designed to boost seniors’ health and independence through meal planning and group cooking sessions. “Nutrition tends to be a lower priority when people are living on their own,”
Wren said. “It’s hard to cook for one … and it’s not as fun to eat by yourself.” Wren was motivated to launch a community kitchen targeted at older residents when her outpatient work with seniors at risk brought her in contact with people who were losing weight and suffering from improper nutrition and isolation. Today at Les Passmore Seniors Activity Centre, the seniors – who happen to all be women, though the class is open to men too – are preparing skillet pork chops with sweet potatoes and couscous and an apple rhubarb crisp for dessert. Some people with mobility issues sit and chop ingredients, some tell stories while cooking, and all go home with leftovers and a book of affordable, easyto-prepare recipes. One participant was a caterer before suffering a stroke. Her knowledge is returning as she learns to cook again. “It’s interesting how everyone finds something to do within their ability,” Wren
said. “No one is standing and watching. Even if you’re stirring a pot or measuring spices for the soup, everyone feels like they’re involved.” Wren launched the program in September 2011 at the James Bay Community Project in Victoria, and was able to continue thanks in part to a collaboration with Saanich Parks and Recreation and a $20,000, New Horizons for Seniors Program grant from the federal government. “So many seniors are living on their own and they want to stay in their homes. This is a way to keep them healthy, keep them socially connected,” said Julie Wallace, programmer with Saanich community services. Sessions run for six weeks – a term Wren and Wallace hope participants will extend independently with the co-operation of participating seniors’ centres. PLEASE SEE: Project aimed, Page A15
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