Back home safe HMCS Ottawa crew return from drug-busting mission Page A3
NEWS: Missing woman’s mom still searching /A5 ARTS: Bringing Bach Christmas to Victoria /A10 SPORTS: Midget Royals show growth in new digs /A14
VICTORIANEWS VICTORIA Wednesday, December 19, 2012
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Elder abuse can take many forms Esquimalt woman offers her own story as an example of what can happen Tim Collins News staff
Moira Tait is an intelligent and articulate 70 year old who volunteers at the Victoria Women’s Transition House, helping elderly women who are facing the challenges of abuse. She first came to the organization as a client. “My son was dying of cancer and I was very vulnerable,” she said. It was during that period of time that Tait suffered a significant loss of vision, and she became desperate, wondering how she would survive. Her life took a disastrous turn after she was convinced to use most of her life savings to help renovate her daughter’s Alberta home. Tait said she was promised she could live out her years there, but when the renovations were finished and paid for, her daughter reneged on the arrangement. Tait was left with no place to live. She had a friend with a basement suite in Victoria, and made her way here in a last-ditch effort for survival. “I can’t tell you how humiliating, how embarrassing it was to be an older woman and be
in that position and to have to ask for help,” she said. “It just about killed me, and I’m one of the toughest broads I know.” In Victoria, she found Transition House and with their help Tait emerged from the experience as a stronger individual. She now dedicates her time to helping other women in abusive situations by speaking about her experience and raising awareness of the issue of elder abuse. She has also served on the board of the B.C. Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors. Statistics Canada’s 2011 census figures show that Victoria has nearly 63,500 residents who are aged 65 or older. That’s approximately 18.4 per cent of the population and according to Charmaine Spencer, it’s reasonable to assume that about eight per cent of that population has or will suffer some form of elder abuse. Most of those cases will go undetected or unreported. Spencer is a lawyer and an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University whose speciality is older adult abuse issues. PLEASE SEE: Seniors, Page A9
Rendering courtesy Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Photo above shows what the Ogden Point breakwater will look like with new handrails installed. Right, two men walk along the top of the walkway while waves crash against the sides of the structure. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Opinions split on safety move Harbour authority to install handrails on breakwater Roszan Holmen News staff
If the jury of social media can be trusted as an authority, the community is pretty evenly divided on the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority’s plan to put guard rails on the Ogden Point breakwater. One thing is crystal clear, however: everyone has an opinion. “Maybe fill in the water area around the breakwa-
ter with soil, and then put cushions out to soften any falls,” wrote David Coney on the Victoria News’ Facebook page, with just a hint of sarcasm. “And we could have chaperones for everyone. And helmets and lights and pre-walk safety information sessions. With maps in case anyone gets lost, and a full medical team on 24-hour standby, of course.” While many fellow commenters bemoaned the encroachment of the nanny state, a slight majority celebrated last week’s GVHA announcement that it intends to install the new safety feature. PLEASE SEE: Goal to enhance, Page A4
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