Good Life cowichan
Seniors Resource Directory Page 33
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CLOSE counts also inside: mexican siesta
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Autumn 2013 Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 1
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Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
good life
inside chemainus in bloom
Meet mural town’s blossoming team
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free to enjoy recreation on a budget
p8
up to par on the links with Cowichan ladies
p10
building co-operatively a new vision for home care
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it won’t define me life after a mastectomy
A guide to your best years in Cowichan Welcome to the Good Life — your local guide to the second half of living. You are the Baby Boomers of the Warm Land. Your kids are gone, or at least are in the process of leaving the nest. Your goals have shifted, or are shifting. Your body doesn’t necessarily work the way it once did. And life has served up a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. These stories are for you.
See page 33 for your Seniors Resource Directory
chemainus in
bloom
p4
p16
mexican siesta there’s a mexican vacation for everyone
p20
volunteering for a happy retirement
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on the road again keeping your freedom to drive
p27
when being close counts Jerry Melissa keeps pitching ringers
p30
seniors resource directory cowichan seniors community foundation
you’ve got to
taste this p37
p33
redefining retirement it might not be what you are expecting
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you’ve got to taste this don bodger goes mongrillian
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on a brighter note with lori welbourne Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Produced by: The Cowichan News Leader Pictorial Editor: John McKinley Publisher: Bill Macadam Designer: Eric Morten
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Published by the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Unit 2, 5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan B.C., V9L 6W4 Phone: (250) 746-4471 Fax: (250) 746-8529 E-mail: editor@cowichannewsleader.com Web site: www.cowichannewsleader.com
Autumn 2013 Friday, November 22, 2013
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 3
Chemainus Communities in Bloom’s Erica Prince and Marion Hawkins look over some of the work their group has done at the Rotary Park. photo: Ashley Degraaf
chemainus Dedicated group of volunteers hard at work making Mural Town bloomin’ wonderful by Ashley Degraaf
P
eople, plants and pride. It’s a recipe for success for a group of Chemainiacs that has transformed the Little Town That Did into the Little Town that Bloomed. “We are a happy group,” said CCiB’s secretary Erica Prince, who’s been involved since 2004. “We have parties. We will have people new to town stop us and ask what we’re doing and how they can get involved. They want to meet people in the community.” And as much as the group — which works pretty much all year-round including planning and paperwork — is about socialization, it’s also very much to do with pride in the community members call home. “Chemainus Communities in Bloom’s purpose is to enhance the small community of Chemainus through people, plants and pride,” current
4 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
in
bloom
chairwoman Marion Hawkins, who also joined in 2004, said. “For me, I’m just so proud when you see the final result.” “And people really appreciate us,” said Prince. CCiB broke ground in 2002 with a small group of passionate gardeners. “It was two ladies and they asked their friends,” explained Hawkins. “It took quite a lot of digging.” The founding gals met in each other’s homes before they went on a walkabout of the town and decided what needed to be done. They then developed a program where individuals adopted a bed and paid for plants, compost and other supplies. In 2003, the first public meeting was held at Fuller Lake Arena. This is when the Municipality of North Cowichan became involved, explained Hawkins and Prince. In 2004, CCiB’s adopt-a-bed system became more established, with folks caring for 21 beds.
Money was raised initially by plant sales, and garden tours and in 2003 by a container competition with the muni matching the funds. CCiB now currently applies for grant money each year. “We have a dedicated and active membership of approximately 25 and last year we contributed over 1,500 volunteer hours,” Hawkins said. “We apply for a grant from the municipality of North Cowichan and work closely with them on our projects.” In 2004, members were tickled to get talks started on the Henry Road traffic circle and surrounding beds, designed and maintained by CCiB. Chemainus north and south entrance signs were designed and implemented in 2008, while in 2012 CCiB did the re-design of the Gerry Smith Park (locomotive area) which is a work still in progress. continued on page 7
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CCiB’s flower of the year was the cosmo (which is Greek for “beautiful”). “They produce a prolific amount of flowers all the way until the first frost, and as an added bonus they attract butterflies and beneficial insects to your garden,” stated the CCiB on their blog. “Last year we were thrilled with the participation from our little town in planting our annual choice. “We not only gain in beautifying our homes and streets, but this also shows unity and support for our efforts in making our town bloomin’ wonderful.”
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from page 4 “This year has been a busy one for us,” said Hawkins. “In addition to our display of annuals at the Henry Road traffic circle, we provided a new design and were involved in the planting of the Gerry Smith Park (locomotive park); planted trees at Askew Park, on a Croft Street bump-out, and at the Horseshoe Hotel and new shrubs and trees at the Henry Road traffic circle. We were involved in the planning of the new Oak Street traffic circle and take pride in their spring daffodil display.” As a group the gals get their hands dirty maintaining the Henry Road traffic circle and surrounding area as well as the large area called Rotary Park. About 4,000 annuals are planted in the spring with help from friends, family and Rotary members. CCiB is also responsible for the four sun baskets at the marina; 12 shade impatiens baskets at Waterwheel Park and six sun baskets at the Old Fire Hall and Info Centre. “We have regular two weekly work parties over the summer and into the fall, we have what’s called Weed and Feed as we work hard for one hour and then share a meal together and socialize,” said Hawkins. Individual participation is still ongoing with 21 beds being taken care of by adopted folks. These beds include those at Waterwheel Park, Chemainus Health Care Centre, the Willow Street planters, the Information Centre, and the Emily Carr garden as well as many others. “We have a flower of the year to promote our group and to encourage the community to plant more flowers,” said Hawkins, noting the group also has a blog maintained by one of their members (www.thelittletownthatblooms.com) and they also get monthly ink in the Chemainus Courier for a We Dig segment. “This year it was cosmos and we had a huge display of pink, mauve and white blooms all summer long at the Henry Road traffic circle,” said Hawkins. “We work year round in preparation, planting annuals in spring, bulbs and pansies in the fall, replacing old plants, ongoing maintenance and planning. We have monthly meetings except in the summer.”
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Cowichan Good Life Magazine 7
free
Cowichan’s Peter Evans takes advantage of the Cowichan Sportsplex’s new rubber trail that runs 660 metres around the ball fields. photo: Ashley Degraaf
to enjoy
Cowichan seniors shouldn’t expect local government to provide free fun and recreation, but that won’t stop people from making their own by Ashley Degraaf
R
unning a valley-wide free recreation program for seniors isn’t as cut-and-dried as it is in other communities. But officials say there are plenty of options for costfree or low-cost activities depending on what electoral area you call home. “The CVRD Parks, Recreation and Culture programs, being part of a regional district governing body, has no one master to govern or set policies and procedures, but several area commissions to govern their respective electoral areas,” Cowichan Valley Regional District parks, recreation and culture manager Ron Austen explained. Nanaimo city council councillors recently debated whether to keep its free recreation program going for folks over 80 years old. “Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture Department is a municipally funded program
8 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
governed by one (only) overall commission and council,” Austen said. “If the Nanaimo Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission wishes to provide district wide-free programs for seniors, it can do so with one municipal approved resolution. Hence their district-wide free programs for seniors policy and procedures drives their programs.” Meanwhile, Warm Land officials are doing their best to keep to the general mandate: providing, developing and collaborating on inclusive, cost-effective programs and services. “I feel that we have an excellent range of leisure activities and opportunities here in Cowichan,” Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation executive director Carol Hunt said. “There are numerous walking groups, canoe/ kayak clubs, rowing clubs, dragon boats, lawn bowling, and trail systems.” As part of the CSCF’s Brain Fitness program, participants and organizers brainstorm
ideas for recreational activities that are free, affordable and accessible. “When I was in Cranbrook, I witnessed seniors walking around the arena during the cold weather, as a sort of track,” she said. “The walkway was constructed so this was possible as it went all the way around and was flat and wide enough for a walking track. It was half way up through the seat section. “I was struck with how terrific this would be here as we have cold and wet weather making it hard to be outdoors,” said Hunt. She also recently noticed a group of seniors in Colorado getting into an aerobics class at their aquatic facility. “It was led by a member, a senior person, and they were having a ball,” Hunt said. “They had T-shirts with the
logo (Silver Shoelaces) on it. It was free. There were posters up displaying stuff they could do as a self-instruction activity i.e. stretches, posture, etc. It seemed like it was a club rather than a class.” While many local recreation programs hold indoor events during fall and winter seasons, including the Cowichan Aquatic Centre and South Cowichan Recreation’s activities at Kerry Park Arena and Shawnigan Lake Community Centre, there are also plenty of options available when the sun’s out in full force. For one of those, take a gander at the Cowichan Sportsplex. Facility staff recently launched a rubberized trail system, about 660 metres long that loops around the ball field and features several Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
pit-stops and added workout stations. Ask Cowichan’s Peter Evans and he’ll tell you it’s easy on the joints. “It’s just great, especially for your knee and hip issues,” Evans said during a stroll. He had a knee replacement surgery about four months ago. “I come here every day. It’s definitely first-class,” he said, also noting more folks are hearing about the new trail and it’s not as quiet as it used to be. Sportsplex staff is also in the process of polishing off a few of the trail’s features, including the building of a gazebo at the trail’s end. “People who use the trail can even bring their grandchildren along,” executive director Catherine Brandon said, pointing to several features along the way, including a set of monkey bars. “We’ve really tried to make this project as accessible to as many people as we can.” For folks living in the south end, South Cowichan Recreation offers a recreation assistance program. That program is up for grabs for families living in Mill Bay, Malahat, Shawnigan
“I feel that we have an excellent range of leisure activities and opportunities here in Cowichan.”
Carol Hunt Lake, Cobble Hill, and Cowichan Bay with a family income that is at or below the Statistics Canada Low Income Threshold. And, there are also plenty of other programs available that aren’t too heavy on people’s bank accounts.
Some include their Fit Forever exercise program designed for adults 55 years of age, a stretch and strength morning fitness class, 55+ yoga sessions, and leisure drop-in hockey geared for player’s ages 50 years and older. The Island Savings Centre offers several programs for seniors recreation, including pickle ball, seniors yoga and Pilates, pioneer hockey and skate drop in and Men’s 50+ full gear hockey. Meanwhile, Cowichan Lake Recreation’s budget includes a tax requisition funded by the tax payers of Electoral Area I, Electoral Area F and the Town of Lake Cowichan. “Recreational services providing options for healthier lifestyles is an investment,” Cowichan Lake Recreation manager Linda Blatchford said. “This investment assists with lowering overall health costs.” They offer several programs for adults and seniors for free or at reduced costs, including pickle ball, carpet bowling, curling, bowling, skating and volleyball.
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Cowichan Golf and Country Club’s ladies’ division all about fun and socialization photo: Don Bodger
Up to
PAR recreation
Linking up on the links on a regular basis from left are: Doreen White, Sandy Buchanan, Rosemary Branting, Pat Molyneaux and Nancy Munro. by Don Bodger
G
olf clubs are one common bond that makes the Cowichan Golf and Country Club’s ladies’ division a great social club for its members. Many of the ladies have been through personal and family health issues, but have formed lasting friendships through the club to carry them through some of the tough times. “It’s the best therapy I can have — the exercise, the fresh air, the companionship,’’ said Rosemary Branting, 77. Branting’s husband, Ralph, died this year and she spent 2 1/2 months in hospital herself last year and underwent an operation when a tumor was detected on her pancreas.
“I couldn’t even walk when they told me I could get up,’’ said Branting. The good news is she never needed chemotherapy or radiation. Branting gets a CAT scan every six months and the road to recovery included getting back into golf. “I started in February,’’ she said. “I came out for nine holes.’’ By April, Branting was back to playing 18 holes with the ladies. “To walk 18 was a real challenge,’’ she said. “The first times I would walk nine and ride nine.’’ Branting only picked up golf in her early 50s but has been at it for 25 years now with only minor interruptions. “I joined the club in ‘88,’’ said Branting. “Prior to that, we golfed up at March Meadows. We had our cabin up there.’’ continued on page 12
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from page 10 Having Wednesday ladies’ days is a nice habit for her. “You end up going out for lunch or staying for lunch,’’ she said. “I’m not in a hurry to get home. There are a lot of ladies here that have lost their husbands in recent years.’’ Pat Molyneaux, 66, is the current ladies’ captain and was vice-captain previously for two years. Molyneaux hails from Grande Prairie, Alberta and just came to the valley in 2006. The Prairie girl has enjoyed her integration to the coast, with golf playing a big role. “I started because my husband was golfing,’’ she said. “I love the social part as much as the competition, if not more.’’ Molyneaux found she had connections with Doreen White and just hit it off with the group. “They were all just very
“I started because my husband was golfing,’’ she said. “I love the social part as much as the competition, if not more.”
Pat Molyneaux friendly,’’ she said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the years I’ve been here and it’s a challenging course. My handicap went up when we moved here.’’ White, 62, has been an islander for 12 years after previously being in Aldergrove and playing at the Chilliwack Golf Club. “I started at about 30,’’ said White of her golfing resume. “My husband told me I should probably learn to golf or I’ll find myself at home
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alone.’’ She heeded that advice and also branched out to join the ladies. “It’s a great group of ladies,’’ White said. “I took over the Tuesday night ladies’ golf — a lot of non-members there.’’ She still works full-time in the travel industry that gives her a chance for a special get-away to somewhere like Mexico when the weather here isn’t so great for playing. “I try to take a golf holiday,’’ White conceded. Nancy Munro turns 70 next April and first started playing in 1968. “I’ve had some hiatuses,’’ she said. Munro skipped 14 years while her kids were in school and had both hips replaced that takes rehabilitation time. But she always came back to
golf, even after hand surgery derailed her further for a while in 2011. “I’m not going to let it beat me,’’ Munro said. “I gave up all my other sports after the hip replacements. It’s just to keep your mental faculties going. If I’m not active, I go crazy. “You know what you’re going to do every Wednesday. You’re going off to golf.’’ Sandy Buchanan, 75, came to the valley from Calgary and joined the club right away upon arrival in 1984. This is her 30th year golfing. “There’s always a challenge there,’’ Buchanan said. “When (pro) Norm ( Jackson) first came here, I started taking lessons from him. Norm’s really helped me.’’ She golfs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and said she likes the competitions. Buchanan has two holes-in-one on her career on No. 13 and 15 and best round ever is 88. The club has really served a dual purpose for her with the time she’s spent on the course and off it as the first lady president at Cowichan and two stints as ladies’ captain. “After having worked all my life, I thought I’ve got to do something to keep my mind active,’’ Buchanan said.
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Cowichan confident it can bring a new kind of community-friendly retirement home care to the valley
Building seniors housing,
co-operatively
photo: Peter W. Rusland
by Peter W. Rusland
C
o-operative help is coming for Cowichan seniors wishing to live at home, and receive health care there. Once that co-op — Cowichan’s first of its kind — gets lift off, local volunteers aim to build the valley’s first seniors co-op housing complex.
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Warm Land’s fledgling eldercare project, Better At Home, got huge support at a recent meeting at Duncan United Church, where demand for a co-op care model was discussed with Kevin Harding of the B.C. Cooperative Association. “We were just blown away by the meeting,” said Roger Hart of the organizing Cowichan Co-operative Connections Association. A committee of about 20 is now
exploring the Better co-op. Volunteer Cowichan would be the lead agency working with the association to first mull the care co-op, then an overall housing model to help the valley’s aging population. Hart said the association aims to apply for $20,000 available from the feds to help develop models tailored to local seniors. story continued on page 14 Cowichan Good Life Magazine 13
continued from page 13 “Growth in services, publicly or privately funded, is not meeting demand,” CCCA chairman Rob Douglas tells Harding in his group’s letter-of-intent. It tells how seniors are serious about cooperative care, and living. Douglas explains locals want an agingin-place approach, lending co-op members democratic voices about independence, and a sense of community. Cowichan’s association continues meeting with locals to impart “co-op literacy” about models fitting mature Cowichanians of varied incomes. “The proposal phase,” Douglas says of the elder-care co-op, “will explore suitable models, and develop a business plan that minimizes risk, and offers sustainability for the co-op.” Hart hoped Harding’s agency approves work on Cowichan’s care proposal. “We have a project ready to roll, and we have a seniors population higher than the provincial average.” Harding said he was taken by a strong co-op thrust at the church meeting that drew about 125. “That shows me there’s a base of community support. There’s so much excitement and anticipation in the Cowichan Valley.” The valley’s care co-op could look like this, in a formal plan. Seniors interested in home-care services, by say, licensed practical nurses, would pool their money in the co-op in return for a share in it. “I’d suggest there’s probably about 20,000 (local seniors) who are potential customers,” noted Hart. Co-op members could include renters and home-owners — but not those in hospital or care facilities now (such as Cairnsmore Place), he noted. LPNs would be hired, maybe using coop cash to open an office. Members book appointments for nurse visits, and pay certain amounts for home services spanning medicine and dietary advice, to treatment of sores and more. Non-members could also book co-op RNs, perhaps at a higher prices. Hart cited successful care co-ops in Washington State, Ontario, Quebec and Europe. Profit use would be decided by co-op
14 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Kevin Harding of the B.C. Co-operative Association leads recent discussion at Duncan United Church about starting a Cowichan co-op for seniors home care, and eventually a seniors co-op housing complex. photo: Cowichan Co-operative Connections Association
members. They may elect to buy a van for the nurses, shuttling members to doctors’ offices — or maybe subsidize their future visits. A co-op seniors housing complex offers a similar scenario. “The first (home-care) initiative wouldn’t stop when we move on to the complex,” Hart noted. Investing members would decide where to build, the contractor, and home designs that could be green. Plans could span apartments, duplexes, single-family abodes, or a mix. “Some seniors said very explicitly ‘We don’t want to be in a seniors’ ghetto,’” said Hart. “They want to be part of a mixed-age (55-plus) complex.” Members would also vote about maintenance and upgrades. Since co-op members, not a developer, own the project, units could cost less without profit motives. Harding cited Vancouver’s successful Ambleview co-op, and Castelgar’s Grandview. “Affordable seniors housing co-ops can reduce the cost of living,” Harding said of a collaborative community engaging
people. Committee member Moira Hauk, of the Coastal Community Credit Union signalled where there’s a will, there’s a way to finance co-ops with a sense of affordable belonging. Given buy-in from governments, private foundations, service clubs, municipal landlords, and co-op members, a seniors’ complex is possible. “This is the type of project credit unions, as a whole, would get behind,” she said. “There’s a pretty deep social conscience in the valley, and this fits with our social values. Profits are important, but not the most important thing — the people piece is equally important.” North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure indicated interest in affordable co-op housing near core services, suggesting municipal land use should be discussed. “We don’t own a lot of land downtown, but it’s something we should talk about — there’s municipal land on the outskirts of Crofton that’s still in our urban-growth boundary. “Our concern should not just be about seniors; housing co-ops can have a lighter (carbon) footprint,” Lefebure said. Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
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Cowichan Good Life Magazine 15
One woman’s road to recovery after cancer claims her breast
i’m not going to let this
define me by Ashley Degraaf
T
he first thing Claire McColman did when she arrived home after having surgery to remove one of her breasts was design a T-Shirt. “It had one balloon on one side and another balloon popping on the side where my breast had been removed,” the mother and grandmother said. “My grandmother always taught me to see the humour in things.” That played a big factor in McColman’s journey through breast cancer and the loss of a breast.
photo: Ashley Degraaf
16 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
When McColman lost her hair during chemotherapy, she wore many funky wigs including one she said was very Rod Stewart-like. When her hair started to grow back, she dyed it bright purple. “I always wanted to be the purple-haired grandma,” McColman said. And her hair was that way for about a year and a half, she said, still showing traces of purple in her just-above-shoulder-length silver locks. McColman underwent the mastectomy in January 2011. She had been diagnosed in December with breast cancer. “My angels were with me that day,” the Crofton resident said. McColman was urged to go in for a mammogram after undergoing a hysterectomy that past summer. The mammogram picked up a lump, and although it wasn’t cancerous it caused health officials concern, therefore a lumpectomy was performed immediately. After further biopsy results came in, however, another lump, that was one
These are just some memories of Claire McColman’s journey with breast cancer. They include the book she read before making the decision to have a mastectomy, the T-Shirt she made with the balloon and balloon popping after her surgery, a photo of herself as the “Purple-haired grandma” and a breast prosthesis she used. photo: Ashley Degraaf
and a half centimeters, was discovered and unfortunately was cancerous. McColman’s surgeon gave her a choice to have another lumpectomy or a mastectomy. “I really didn’t anticipate I had cancer,” she said. “It was all very sudden. I was even surprised. Well, I kind of like my body the way it is. But I also didn’t like the idea of cancer.” McColman had a few days to chew on the decision. “My daughter said ‘You know mom, you’re not going to have to nurse any
more babies,’” she said. And after doing her homework, including reading a book titled The Intelligent Patient Guide to Breast Cancer, McColman decided she liked her chances going with the mastectomy. Tough times really began post-surgery. “I said to nurse who came to my house after the surgery, ‘I’m not sure that I’m ready to look,’” she said. “I had never had major surgery before, besides the hysterectomy.” story continued on page 18
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from page 17 Having the hysterectomy and mastectomy in such a close span was tough for McColman. “That’s your femininity, your motherhood and then you lose a breast. That was hard.” Thankfully she had lots of family and friends to walk her though. The “nasty” really didn’t hit her until she began chemo-
therapy. “It just wiped me out, completely. I wasn’t sure some days I could get off the couch,” she said. McColman was forced to quit her part-time job at Wal-Mart as she was too exhausted, and because of the risk for infection being exposed to so many shoppers. But just before McColman’s mastectomy, a friend of hers from Alberta asked if she’d
like to take a trip with her to Turkey the following September. “You bet I want to go,” was McColman’s response. She used that trip as distraction and anticipation for it helped her through surgery and chemo. “But when I got home, it was really what goes up must come down,” she said. “I felt drained. Here I am missing body parts. I’ve got no hair.
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I had quit my job. My marriage had broken up. It wasn’t a good feeling.” McColman’s mind went to a dark place. But then she received a simple email that made her see the light at the end of the tunnel. “It was nothing out of the ordinary, it was from a friend who had signed off, ‘I love you Claire.’” This made something click. “I still am loved. There’s something to love about me. I am still cared about. It was just that one line. But the brain can really do numbers on you.” The Cowichan Family Life volunteer just returned from traveling to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. And recently, she’s shifted her focus on researching alternative methods to the mammogram. McColman had reconstructive surgery booked for Nov. 12. She wonders if she’s vain to have this surgery, taking tummy fat to rebuild the breast she lost. Some women choose not to. “I saw a woman at the cancer clinic in Victoria volunteering who had obviously one missing, as you could clearly tell through her T-Shirt,” McColman said. But not every individual deals with cancer the same way. Some join every event, every team, wear every pink shirt, ribbon and button. Then there are others who are more silent in their fight and shift their focus on other aspects of their life. That’s McColman. “This has been an experience of my life,” she said. “But it’s past-tense now. I don’t want this to define me.” Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
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Cowichan Good Life Magazine 19
From budget to high-end, culture to luxury, there is a Mexican vacation for everyone.
Story & photos by Peter W. Rusland
D
espite earthquakes, drug cartels and banditos, Mexico mostly remains an affordable holiday hot-spot for folks of all incomes, frequent visitors explain. That’s because Mexico is so darned big, friendly and fascinating, while our strong dollar buys about 12 pesos and a cold beer costs about $1.50. Options are huge for snowbirds buying or renting condos, time shares, or homes. Others flock to all-inclusive resorts, small hotels (about $30 nightly) and hostels ($10 or less) on the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts. For Cowichan travel veteran Roger Sparkes, Mexican familiarity breeds frequency. “You have to find a place you like, stay there a few times, and get to know it,” said Sparkes who spends winter months near Melaque. “You get to know people, and get yourself into the kind of situation you want.” He rents a beachfront, private condo for $1,000 a month, where he stores belongings and a car in the off-season. story continued on page 23 20 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
mexican
siesta
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 21
22 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
from page 20 A world of time-shares also awaits. Many That off-season, outside a peak season that travelers get sales pitches in return for a dinspans December through April, also brings ner or bottle of tequila. the best flight prices, said Sharon Viala of Folks at RCI declined to be interviewed. Whittome’s Travel. RCI has become one of the larger brokers of She cited $299 for an all inclusive Septem- timeshare-type programs across Mexico. ber stay at Puerto Vallarta’s four-star Royal “RCI is in the business of timeshare exDecameron. changes,” its website says. That includes flight, accommodations, food Its Points program sees members receive a and alcohol “but it could be two days of solid point allotment that can be applied to differrain. If you don’t mind the humidity, take ad- ent accommodations. vantage of low prices.” Its Weeks program, lets members exchange Mexico is a four-season sensation. their property’s shared time for another week Hurricane rains in late fall at an equivalent or lower can breed mosquitoes and “You have to find a place value property. Annual misery; spring forests and membership fees are revillages sprout lush flow- you like, stay there a few quired. ers, and loads of birds and Timeshares with an RCItimes, and get to know it.” affiliated developer let wildlife. The dry, peak season offers folks swap their timeshare predictable weather in the with other members. high-90s, with clear skies, Then there’s the Cadilon say, Cancun’s Mayan lac of Mexican lodgings: Riveria, or in Oaxaca’s desert regions. high-end condos. Higher elevations in Mexico City, and Gua- Vivian’s property listings offered an Ixtapa dalajara offer culture, architectural and artis- ocean view for US $355,000; and oceantic pursuits, without bugs. front highrise in Rosarito, Baja North for Big cities have smog, traffic, plenty of cops, $680,000; a 1,250 square foot Cancun condo and plenty to do. Accommodations also run for $175,000; and a one-bedroom pad in from pricey to budget — a peak-season nice Cabo for only $49,000. hotel near Mexico City’s El Centro costs But peso-pinching pensioner Sparkes wantabout $40 a night. ed a modest crib for maximum chilling. Many choices mean flight picks, explained “I’ve never had lots of money, and didn’t want Viala. “Prices depend on destination and to spend a lot on a hotel I basically sleep in.” when you go.” Part-time Cowichanian Deb Maike reported This winter offers Victoria to Baja’s Los Ca- excellent adventures house sitting — she’s bos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Huatulco. now rented an unfurnished, year-round Those places also offer hostels and cheap beach place for $200 a month. hotels for backpackers using budget travel And nothing beats face-to-face connections guides, such as Lonely Planet (off-season to find house-sitting work and other deals, flights only can be under $500; high season, said Maike who lives on a municipal pension about $900). and CPP. Basically, the older the traveller, the more re- “Many places are not available not on the net, sorts they use, indicated Viala. and you can negotiate your price depending “Seniors tend to go for all-inclusives because on length of your stay; there’s some wonderit’s easy for them. They don’t have to leave the ful, inexpensive accommodations through resort, and still have the sun and beach, and word of mouth.” everything provided.” Many people live in Mexico year-round But unlike Europe, Mexican tours aren’t that “because they can no longer afford to live in popular. “They want to relax and do it at their Canada on their pensions,” she said. own pace.” “During Mexico’s summer holidays, people Viala also put Mexico’s dangers into per- come to the coast from places like Mexico spective. City. They check into bungalows gringos “Are you comfortable walking the streets of rented in the winter for considerably more,” Victoria or Vancouver at three in the morn- she said, noting a plethora of rental pads. ing? You have to be cautious no matter where “It’s cheaper to rent year round because it all you are in this world.” averages out.”
Roger Sparkes
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Roger’s
Mexico Tips: • Be courteous to everyone. • Use your Canadian debit card, get exchange rates at bank ATMs; take out as much cash as possible, use hotel safes. • Visit older parts of town for interesting shops, eateries, arts and culture. • Try different hotels • Water: Don’t drink it, toothbrushing is OK • Food: The more customers inside, the better. “Tacos are the best bargain in Mexico.” • Buy produce off the back of trucks. • Travel health insurance is vital. Mexico’s doctors and dentists are well trained. • Shop in local grocery stores • Explore the bus system; long-distance coaches have air conditioning and movies. Cowichan Good Life Magazine 23
Bill Keserich has spent the past 33 years as volunteer chairman of the Cowichan Valley Soccer Association. photo: Andrew Leong
volunteering
Benefits of keeping busy after work many, opportunities endless
for a happy retirement
by Ann Andersen
M
ary Ann Deacon simply shakes her head when fellow seniors say they’re bored. “There’s so much to do here,” she says. And Deacon’s not just talking about the Cowichan region’s myriad indoor and outdoor recreational and artistic opportunities: she’s talking about volunteering to help enrich lives in the community. It’s a fact: seniors with time to spare need look no further than volunteering for a rewarding and satisfying community experience. 24 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
And they’ll feel better for it, says George Stratemeyer, executive director of Volunteer Cowichan, the 35-year-old community organization that hosts an online volunteer matching site. “Volunteers live healthier, happier lives,” Stratemeyer says, referring to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Volunteer Canada. “We know from studies that older adults who volunteer experience few stress-related illnesses and have a higher quality of life.” Seniors who volunteer are less likely to feel isolated, he explains. “The caring and respect that occurs in social relationships and the resulting
sense of satisfaction and well-being seem to act as a buffer against health problems.” And according to Volunteer Cowichan’s volunteer directory (www.volunteercowichan.bc.ca) opportunities abound – whatever your interests and skills. The site lists possibilities — with contact information — in two dozen categories including health, gardening, drivers, guides, greeters, board members, sports and recreation. So, to stay healthy, happy and stress-free longer, volunteering with something you like seems to be the key. Whether it’s working continuously with a single organization — like Bill Keserich’s Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
33 years as chairman of the Cowichan Valley Soccer Association, or former teacher Leslie Sjobjerg’s 31 years with the Cowichan Music Festival; or a few years with several organizations in order to meet people and try new things — like current Cowichan Hospital Thrift Store volunteer Lynda Giles — all say volunteering is a healthy, learning experience. “I’m a people person; I enjoy people,” says Deacon, a former nurse and teacher currently involved with the Elder College and Cowichan Valley Hospice Society boards. She also volunteers with Hospice on vigils and with Friends of Cowichan Theatre. “I don’t understand when people say they’re bored,” she says conceding that a real challenge is saying ‘No.’ “It’s sometimes hard to fit in the housework,” she laughs. “Volunteering is modeling positive behavior for children and grandchildren,” Deacon says. Keserich, too, cites role-modeling as an important element of volunteering. “As a kid, I had role models myself. Now, my children and grandchildren ask me
“We know from studies that older adults who volunteer experience few stress-related illnesses and have a higher quality of life.”
George Stratemeyer ‘How come you know so many people in the community?’” he says. And a visitor to the Sherman Road soccer fields on Saturdays only has to listen in for a short while as the cheerful, hard-working soccer promoter greets everyone by name. “It’s important to celebrate every day after 60,” says Giles, a relative newcomer to the valley, who moved here eight years ago from Ontario. During her career, Giles worked in a retirement facility and has discovered
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she enjoys working with seniors in positions she’s found by searching the Volunteer Cowichan database. in the past few years, she’s worked with Cowichan Hospice and Friendly Visitors. “I enjoy working with seniors; we can learn a lot from each other,” she says. She feels privileged to be part of their lives, she adds, noting volunteerism’s many rewards. “The seniors I’ve met have enriched my life more than I’ve enriched theirs.” Deacon cites helping Elder College find its feet has been rewarding. She and another former teacher Sadie Hudspith joined the Elder College board some years ago when the organization’s future seemed uncertain. “We said to one another ‘We can do it, can’t we?’ and years later, we’re still here,” she says. Another bonus, she says, is matching courses with instructors. She cited a recent occasion with Elder College. “I asked a former teacher if she’d teach a course on (recent Nobel Prize winner) Alice Munro. She said ‘I’d love to.’ That was truly rewarding.”
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Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Keeping your freedom to drive means taking care of your skills and your health
on the
road again Story & photos by Peter W. Rusland
L
ike other skills, driving can get rusty as we age. That’s why Victoria sent a letter a few years ago to Cowichan driver Doreen Green, advising she get medically checked to ensure she was physically roadworthy. Green, 84, happily yielded. “I didn’t have to go for a road test, or write a test. My doctor said I’m quite capable of carrying on,” she said of having her eyesight, blood pressure and other things checked. “All my friends are driving much more carefully than ever before because if you lose your driver’s licence, you lose your
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
independence.” Weather is also a big matter to mature motorists. “Lots of seniors don’t drive at night, particularly a wet night in the winter isn’t good; ice is the worst one.” Green proudly said she’s accident free after starting to drive at around age 19. So is Pat Shaw, 89, who started driving at age 28. The RAF war veteran said seniors shouldn’t fear a driving test for road safety, and family should suggest it. “If their skills are slipping they should suggest doing something about it.” Right, said Shirley Kolompar, owner the Cowichan School of Motoring. She started behind the wheel 40-odd years ago, and urged motorists of all
ages, particularly seniors, to take a refresher course to keep themselves sharp. “It wouldn’t hurt anyone to come for a refresher. We don’t take driver’s licences away, that’s up to the Motor Vehicles Branch,” she said. However, Victoria should start questioning one’s driving skills earlier than age 80, indicated Kolompar. “It’s very unfair for the government to wait until someone’s 80, and maybe has had a stroke, to all of a sudden say they have to come for a driver’s course. “It needs to start earlier; maybe going for a road test every five years when you renew your licence. story continued on page 28 Cowichan Good Life Magazine 27
from page 27 “Laws change all the time and people don’t keep up with them.” That’s why seniors, and younger drivers, can develop bad habits — maybe due to injury or medical conditions — while awareness of new road regulations drops through the cracks. Physicians may refer their patients for a brush-up “and we send a report back to the doctor.” “If they’ve had an accident, or a stroke or heart attack, doctors are required to report them,” Kolompar said of creeping hazards. “How severe was their stroke, and how is their memory if they have dementia?” Those and more are discussed at the CSM. “With all students, we do a 90-minute driving assessment so the instructor can see where the student’s at,” she said, citing common faults seniors can develop. “Often they’re going too slow, too fast, not doing shoulder checks, and their observation isn’t that good.” Some in the 80s age group have never had a road test. “Some didn’t even have a road test when they got their driver’s licence; some have never parallel parked in their lives,” she said. Signalling skills, and highway merging moves may also have eroded for some golden-agers. “Roundabouts are another one — even some young drivers don’t know how to use them.” The provincial road test is only about 45 minutes long, and seniors have good days and bad days, Kolompar said of folks needing to retest. But getting aging parents into a driving school, after years of motoring, can be a pleasure or a pain, depending on their attitude. “Some seniors dig in their heels, and don’t want to be here; others are absolutely great, and come with wonderful attitudes. “Often, seniors aren’t as bad a driver as their kids think they are.” Assessing road smarts is a big part of safe motoring, signalled Green. “I also keep my fingers crossed, and be very careful.”
28 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Pat Shaw, 89, is accident-free, and suggests seniors get necessary testing if their skills start slipping.
“All my friends are driving much more carefully than ever before because if you lose your driver’s licence, you lose your independence.”
Doreen Green
Keeping seniors
ROADSAFE • There are 11,000 drivers age 55 and older in Cowichan, ICBC states • As drivers age, the higher the stats their licence can be cancelled for medical fitness reasons — then chances drop. 2009 to 2011 saw 3.85% of licences pulled for drivers ages 16 to 34; 65-69, 2.68%; age 75-79, 10.6%; 80-84, 22%; 85-89, 17.2%; 90-94, 4.1%. • B.C.’s Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles monitors drivers of all ages to ensure they are fit and able to drive safely. • At age 80, and every two years thereafter, drivers must be assessed by their doctor and submit a medical report to the OSMV. • If a driver older than 80 has no medical concerns that might affect their driving, they must renew their license every five years. • If drivers are considered fit to drive, with no limiting conditions or restrictions, there is no reason to deny them their ability to drive. • The Superintendent may require a driver to take a vision test, a functional driving assessment, a road test, or complete a medical or other examination to determine fitness to drive. Visit http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/medical-fitness/index.htm Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Cowichan Food Connection Fundraiser Eight dollars from every purchase of this beautiful E.J. Hughes 2014 Calendar will be donated to the CFC to keep the bread van rolling. Delivering bread for school lunch programmes, bread & veggies to food banks and bread for valley seniors.
Makes a great gift!
19
$
95 +TAXES
A big ‘thank you ‘ to Michael & Janet from Excellent Frameworks & the E.J. Hughes Gallery for making this years 2014 E.J. Hughes calendar sale possible!
Find the 2014 E.J. Hughes Calendar at these local businesses
Sears Duncan Chemainus Visitor Centre Ladysmith Pharmasave Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn OK Tire Station Street Gallery The Salvation Army Duncan Farmhouse Poulty Uncle Albert’s Home Furnishings M&M Meat Shops Duncan Maxwells Auto Parts Cobble Stone Barber Oilcheck Duncan
Serious Coffee (Cowichan Commons) Isherwood Autobody Galletta Market, Crofton BC Forest Discovery Centre TD Repairs, Chemainus Morning Mist, Cowichan Bay Island Bakery, Cobble Hill Coffee on the Moon Original Joes Lordco Autoparts Duncan & Ladysmith Solitaire Press
Duncan Christian School Christian Reform Church Excellent Frameworks Ladysmith Chronicle Brentwood College Shawnigan Lake School Village Chippery, Shawnigan Lake Prevost Veterinary Startline Physiotherapy Crepevine Restaurant, Duncan Flagship Ford
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Enter at www.cowichannewsleader.com/contests Deadline for submissions is November 25 at noon. Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 29
when being
CLOSE counts When it comes to happy retirement, Jerry Melissa just keeps pitching ringers
30 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Story & photos by Don Bodger
J
erry Melissa played his cards right and that’s enabled him to play golf, horseshoes and whatever else he’s wanted during his retirement years. The long-time valley educator socked his money away, utilized a decent pension and is now reaping the benefits by spending part of the year down south and the other half at his Youbou home with wife Eileen after downsizing and retiring. “I’ve been very fortunate,’’ conceded Melissa, 71. He heeded some advice many years ago about how to make the most of his retirement and followed the game plan so he’s enjoying all the rewards now. “Upon retirement from the workforce in 1997, I returned to horseshoes and golf,’’ Melissa indicated. Since then, he’s won four more B.C. horseshoe championships to go with the ones he earned previously and was director of golf at Yuma, Arizona’s Cocopah Golf and R.V. Resort from 2007 to 2013. Melissa also won horseshoe tournaments throughout Arizona, California and Nevada. Last winter, he resigned as director of golf in Arizona to devote more time to his horseshoes again. He’s now renting a place and wintering in Hemet, California and has already enrolled in five prestigious tournaments.
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
During the summer, Melissa won 12 tournaments in B.C. and placed second twice. “The difference in both tournaments was one ringer,’’ he noted. Melissa also placed fifth in a strong field at the Canadian championships, averaging 63%. “I currently maintain a 61% ringer average despite a damaged right shoulder that must be replaced this spring,’’ he pointed out. While Melissa’s at his Youbou home from April to November, he can be seen riding his Harley to the Youbou Little League Recreation Park during the week. “I practise one hour a day and encourage anyone interested in the game to join me,’’ he indicated. Melissa just departed for the southern climes but before leaving he spent time with his protege, Lindsay Hodgins, a Grade 12 Cowichan Secondary School student who’s become quite serious and good at the game. “I’ll drive miles to give her a game if she wants,’’ said Melissa. “It’s nice to see.’’ Hodgins started playing four years ago and just naturally crossed paths with horseshoe fanatic Melissa along the way. “She had a style which was very unique and very effective,’’ said Melissa. “As she grew taller, she became stronger and she was just overpowering the peg. All of a sudden, she decided to go to the stand-up.’’ story continued on page 32
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 31
from page 31 That worked wonders and Melissa is proud as punch that she won the World Junior Championship. Melissa meets with her at the Hodgins home where her grandpa Wayne is another aficionado of the sport and the three have a great time together. “What I like about her, nothing bothers her,’’ said Melissa. “If I have two ringers on, it doesn’t bother her.’’ Horseshoes may not carry the glamour of other sports, but Melissa has done well by it. “There’s no money in the game, but there certainly is a lot of bragging rights and you can see the world,’’ he said. “It’s great.’’ There have been long gaps in the game for Melissa, but he actually started playing horseshoes in 1972-73, giving up golf for a while at the time. “My dad loved the game, but he was very poor at it,’’ said Melissa. Unlike his dad, Melissa found instant success in the game at the old Ladysmith Horseshoe Club at Transfer Beach that was one of the island’s best for a long time. “I practised an hour a day from Sept. 30 to May Day weekend,’’ he said. “I went from 0% to 60%. I became an A player right off the bat.’’ His horseshoe experience at that time went on until 1983 before he took a break. Melissa coached girls’ and boys’ softball teams and was also involved in ball for many years as an umpire. Throw in his time as a minor hockey executive, bowling and even a one-year stint at curling and Melissa is the epitome of an avid sportsman for life.
“There’s no money in the game, but there certainly is a lot of bragging rights and you can see the world.’’
Jerry Melissa
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Cowichan Seniors Resource Directory The Cowichan News Leader Pictorial would like to thank and acknowledge the efforts of the Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation and its volunteers for compiling this resource directory. It has been edited for space limitations by the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial and in no way is meant to be considered comprehensive. Content inquiries should be sent to: publisher@cowichannewsleader.com A more comprehensive directory is available at: www.cowichanseniors.ca
Aboriginal Health Ts’ewulten Health Centre 5768 Allenby Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-746-6184
South Cowichan Community Policing Office Julie Rosenthal, Program Coordinator #120-2720 Mill Bay Rd. Phone: 250-929-7222
Adult Day Programs Chemainus Health Care Centre Adult Day Program Phone: 250-246-3291 Providence Farm Gloria Bond, SAGC Program Coordinator 1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-746-9668 Waldon House Day Program 2041 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan use entrace off Maple Bay Rd. Phone: 250-737-2037
Community Policing Cowichan Community Policing Advisory Society Donna Brooks, President, 2012/13 6060 Canada Ave., Duncan Phone: c/o 250-701-9146 Duncan Community Policing Office Carol-Ann Rolls, Volunteer Prog. & Services 3-149 Canada Ave. Duncan Phone: 250-701-9145 Chemainus Community Policing Office 9847 Willow St. Chemainus, BC Phone: 250-246-4382 Cowichan Bay Community Policing Office 1721 E Cowichan Bay Rd., Cowichan Bay Phone: 250-701-1961
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Compassionate Care Compassionate Connections Lorraine Demers Tel: (250) 748-1317
Computer Help eGurus Technology Tutors Gary Marshall Toll Free: 1–855–832–4878 Tel: 250-709–4291
Hearing HealthcareIn Home Act Hearing & Audiology Inc. Leslie A. Peterson, Registered Audiologist Phone: 250–597–4228
Home Adaptations & Repairs Ease-Ability Renovations & Construction Ltd. Dan Nugent Tel: 250-743-1955 1-866-708-3273 (EASE) Cell 250-588-6843 Handy Mum Home Improvements, Repairs & Maintenance Dominique Daviau 970 Shawnigan Mill Bay Rd. Phone: 250-510-3552
Home Garden & Yard Care Lush Eco Lawns John Close 3054 Biscay Rd. Duncan, BC Phone: 250-597-0408 The Barwicks Keith and Katherine Barwick Phone: 250–743–3363
Crisis Line Support
Home Physiotherapy
Vancouver Island Crisis Line 1–888–494–3888 Emotional support and access to Island-wide community resources. The crisis line operates 24/7/365.
Home Physiotherapy Heidi Bovey, Physiotherapist Phone: 250–701–8876
Equipment Loans Canadian Red Cross 2–5855 York Rd., Duncan Phone: 250–748–2111 Fax: 250–748–2163
Grandparents Support Parent Support Services Society of BC Sandi Halvorsen, Program Coordinator Phone: 1-877-345-9777
Hair Care Services Barb Stewart’s Mobile Hair Salon Barb Stewart Phone: 250-483-5043 or 250-715-6568
Home Support – Private About Time Homecare & Nursing Services Patrick Summers, Manager 104–394 Duncan Street, Duncan Phone: 250–748–0513 Angel Helping Hands Homecare & Companionship Val Taylor, Owner/Operator #6-1040 Trunk Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-746-9946 Harmony Health Care Ltd. John McAlorum, RN, Dir. of Operations Unit 2A–2753 Charlotte Rd. Duncan, Phone: 250-701-9990
Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Chris Wilkinson, Director Phone: 250-748-4357 Pacific Live-in Caregivers Robin Smith, Owner Box 1771, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1B3 Phone: 250-616-2346 Unique Home Health Care Marsha Todd, Director, Co-ordinator 121 Station Street, Duncan Phone: 250-715-1094 We Care Home Health Services 205-149 Ingram St. Duncan, BC Phone: 250-746-9224
Home Support – Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) Duncan Home and Community Care 121 Ingram St. Duncan Phone: 250-737-2004
House Cleaning Island Domestic Services Sharon Moore, Owner PO Box 232, Honeymoon Bay Phone: 250-710-0864
Housing – Non-Profit, Low Cost Abbeyfield Houses Society of Duncan Marilyn Day, President 5905 Indian Rd. Duncan Phone: 250-597-0677 Duncan Kiwanis Village Society Contact Ron Coulter 355 Day Rd. Duncan Phone: 250-748-4135
Housing – Private Acacia Ty Mawr Jerri Maw, Director of Care 2655 Shawnigan Lake Rd. Phone: 250-743-2124 ext 106 Alpenrose Laura & Bill Loftus 2267 Lochsyde Drive, Duncan Phone: 250-748-3803
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 33
Cowichan Seniors Resource Directory Housing – Private continued
International Health Care
Biscay Manor Pauline Goetz 3034 Biscay Road Duncan, BC Phone: 250 746-4173
International Health Care Providers T. Rand Collins, PhD, MD Phone: 250-732-6603
Deertrail Cottage Inc. Laurie Gillis, Owner/Manager 1711 Escarpment Way Duncan Phone: 250-746-9641 Dovehill House Marguerite Moskalyk 3326 Creegan Dr., Chemainus Phone: 250-416-0332 Heritage Manor Care Home Tanya Mosure, Owner 1051 College St. Duncan, Phone: 250-748-3488 Lynn’s Senior Care Lynn Scott, RCA 5085 Jones Rd. Ladysmith Phone: 250-245-3391 Nana’s Guest House Sandy Baker, Owner 57 Park Rd., Lake Cowichan Phone: 250–749–3326 Pioneer House Bed & Breakfast Alberta Schneider, Owner 6470 Burnett Place, Duncan Phone: 250–746–8280 Sherwood House Audrey Norman, Manager 280 Government St. Duncan Phone: 250-710-8882 Wedgwood House Linda Fonck, Manager 256 Government St. Duncan Phone: 250-746-9808 Villa del Sol Carol Reid, RN 647 Frayne Rd. Mill Bay Phone: 250-743-7061
Housing — Vancouver Island Health Authority For details about Assisted Living and Residential Care please phone VIHA’s Home and Community Care at 250-737-2004. 34 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Meals and Nutrition Gloria’s Food Service Gloria Ramsey Phone: 250-748-9216 Meals on Wheels c/o Cowichan Home Support 20-127 Ingram St. Duncan Phone: 250-737-2004
Men’s Support West Coast Men’s Support Society Grant Waldman 213-80 Station St., Duncan, BC 250-597-2801
Mental Health Support Duncan Mental Health and Seniors Cindy Patrick 3088 Gibbins Rd. Duncan Phone: 250-709-3040
Moving & Downsizing Every Detail Jane Sheppard 2093 Calais Rd. Duncan Phone: 250-748-3626 Forget-Me-Not Assistants Tammi King, Transition Facilitator Phone: 250-710-7173
Music Therapy Programs Creative Music Programs For Today’s Senior Andrew McCormack Phone: 250–737–1888
Non Profit Societies – Senior Services Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society Ranjana Basu, Coordinator Shawnigan Lake Phone: 250-743-7621
Cowichan Intercultural Society Deborah Conner, Executive Director 205–394 Duncan St., Duncan Phone: 250–748–3112
South End Seniors Contact: Herb Kerry Park Recreation Centre 1035 Shawnigan–Mill Bay Road Phone: 250-743-1171
Cowichan Valley Hospice Society Shelley Kuecks, Client Intake Coordinator 3122 Gibbins Rd. Duncan Phone: 250-701-4242
Valley Seniors Organization of Duncan Don King, President 198 Government Street, Duncan Phone: 250-746-4433
St. John Ambulance Lori McNeil, Branch Manager 205-169 Craig St. Duncan Phone: 250-746-4058 Volunteer Cowichan Georg Stratemeyer, Coordinator 1 Kenneth Place Duncan Phone: 250-748-2133
Pet Care — Homestay Homestay Pet Care Leslie Sutton 3081 Seahaven Road, Chemainus BC V0R 1K2 Email: leslie@homestaypetcare. com
Seniors Groups Chemainus Seniors Drop In Centre Society Murray Shafer, President 9824 Willow Street, Chemainus Phone: 250-246-2111 Crofton Seniors Society Christine Hale, President 1507 Joan Street, Crofton Phone: 250-246-2455 Elder College Jennifer Carmichael, Recreation Programmer 2687 James Street, Duncan Phone: 250-746-0414 or 250-748-7529 to register Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society Cora Maier, President 220 High Street, Ladysmith Phone: 250–245–8885 Lake Cowichan Seniors Centre Jackie Jack, President 55 Coronation Street, Lake Cowichan Phone: 250-749-6121
Young Seniors Action Group Society 1652 Shawnigan–Mill Bay Road, Shawnigan Lake, BC Phone: 250–743–5178 or 250–743–8344
Service BC and Service Canada Service BC Programs Marty Nelson 5785 Duncan St. Duncan, BC Phone: 250-746-1226 Service Canada Centre Linda Granger 211 Jubilee St. Duncan Phone: 1-800-622-6232
Service Clubs Arbutus Travel Club c/o Corry Salmen Phone: 250-701-0965 Chemainus Masonic Lodge #114 Pat Fyffe, Secretary 3052 Hawthorne St., Chemainus Phone: 250-246-3579 Cowichan Toastmaster’s Club #950 Bill Smith, Club President Phone: 250–701-1705 Duncan Kiwanis Club Ron Colter 365 Day Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-748-4135 Duncan Lion’s Club P.O. Box 52, Duncan, BC V9L 3X1 Duncan Masonic Lodge #33 Bob Crawford, Secretary 163 Canada Ave., Duncan, BC Phone: 250-748-1028
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Cowichan Seniors Resource Directory Service Clubs continued Duncan Order of the Eastern Star, Sunset Chapter Ann Vossberg Phone: 250-748-9480 Elks Club of Duncan Terry W Sayce, Exalted Ruler P.O. Box 277, Duncan Phone: 250-746-6812 Fraternal Order of Eagles, Chemainus-Crofton #4400 Merv Brown / Bill Yearly, Sec P.O. Box 45, Chemainus, BC V0R 1K0 Phone: 250-246-3401 Fraternal Order of Eagles, Duncan #2546 Tracy Norman, Secretary 2965 Jacob Road, Duncan Phone: 250-746-7100 Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ladysmith #2101 P.O. Box 640, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A5 Phone: 250-245-3183
Rotary Club, Chemainus Richard Nelson, President P.O. Box 297, Chemainus, V0R 1K0 Phone: 250-245-4549
Women of the Moose Pat King PO Box 371, Duncan, BC V9L 3X5 Phone: 250-746-7382
Rotary Club, Duncan Roger Hart, Secretary P.O. Box 473, Duncan, V9L 3X8 Phone: 250-715-3039
Support Societies, Disease Related
Rotary, Duncan Daybreak Holger Heitland, President www.clubrunner.ca/ duncandaybreak/ Rotary Club, Ladysmith Michael Furlot, Secretary P.O. Box 875, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A6 Phone: 250-245-5771 or 250-2452052 Rotary Club, South Cowichan Peter Dicken, President P.O. Box 241, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0 Phone: 250-743-6727 www.southcowichanrotary.org
Kinsmen Club of Duncan Barry Toporowski, President Email: duncankinsmen@gmail.com
Royal Canadian Legion, Chemainus Branch #191 Marianne Mann, Office Manager P.O. Box 423, Chemainus, BC V0R 1K0 Phone: 250-246-4532
Ladysmith Kinsmen Club Duck Patterson, Life Member P.O. Box 324, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A3 Phone: 250-245-2263
Royal Canadian Legion, Cowichan Branch #53 Bruce MacDonald, President Kenneth St., Duncan, BC V9L 1N3 Phone: 250-746-5013
Ladysmith Masonic Lodge #21 Joel Chiri, Secretary P.O. Box 261, Ladysmith, V9G 1A2 Phone: 250-245-4797
Royal Canadian Legion, Ladysmith Branch #171 Georgina Lorette, Secretary Allyson Wagner, Secretary P.O. Box 219, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A2 Phone: 250-245-3031 or 250-245-2273
Lion’s Club of Duncan Housing Society P.O. Box 52, Duncan, BC V9L 3X1 Phone: 250-748-1044 Lion’s Club of Ladysmith Jim Masyk, Secretary P.O. Box 2293, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1B8 Phone: 250-245-4049 Mill Bay Masonic Lodge #107 2748 Lashburn Rd. Mill Bay, BC
Royal Canadian Legion, Lake Cowichan Branch #210 Sam Jones, Bar Manager P.O. Box 603, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 Phone: 250-749-6041 Royal Canadian Legion, Shawnigan Lake Branch #134 1652 Shawnigan-MillBay Rd Phone: 250-743-4621
Alzheimer Society of BC Jane Hope Phone:1-800-462-2833 Canadian Cancer Society Maureen Hyde 100-394 Duncan St., Duncan Phone: 250-746-4134 Canadian Red Cross H.E.L.P. Program 2–5855 York Rd., Duncan, BC Phone: 250–748–2111 Fax: 250–748–2163 Cowichan Valley Arthritis Society Jan Norwood Box 942, Duncan, BC V9L 3Y8 Phone: 250-748-2481 Diabetes Education Program Kathy Park 121 Ingram St., Duncan Phone: 250-737-2004 Duncan Mental Health and Seniors Cindy Patrick 3088 Gibbins Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-709-3040 Heart and Stroke Foundation Janice Krall, Area Manager 401-495 Dunsmuir St., Nanaimo Phone: 1-888-754-5274
Stroke Recovery Assoc.Cowichan Valley Branch Cowichan Valley Public Library 2687 James St., Duncan Phone: 250–246-4952 Support Group for Low Vision Seniors Karen McClinchey Phone: 250-746-6041
Therapy Dog Visits Therapy Dog Visitation Program, St. John Ambulance 205–169 Craig St. Duncan Phone: 250–746–4058
Transportation Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation 135 Third St., Duncan Phone: 250-715-6481 Cowichan Valley Regional Transit #3-5280 Polkey Rd., Duncan Phone: 250-746-9899 Web: www.busonline.ca handyDart 1 Kenneth Place, Duncan Phone: 250-748-1230 Wheels for Wellness Society 1894 Bolt Avenue, Comox Phone: 250-338-0196
For more details and updates go to:
www.cowichanseniors.ca
Cowichan Independent Living “Your Disability Resource Centre”
Medical Equipment Loans Sales & Batteries Visit us and see our full range of Medical equipment & scooter batteries. Charity donation receipts are available. PARKING PERMITS INFORMATION ADVOCACY PEER SUPPORT
103 - 121 First St
(by Coffee on The Moon) Duncan, BC V9L 1R1
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
Kidney Foundation Heather Johnson, Director of Programs 200-4940 Canada Way, Burnaby Phone: 1-800-567-8112
250-746-3930 Ext. 107 medicalequipment@cvilrc.bc.ca www.cvilrc.bc.ca
Cowichan Good Life Magazine 35
REDEFINING
retirement by Patrick Hrushowy
W
hat is retirement today? Are Baby Boomers prepared for it? Is it about money, lifestyle or working longer? What should people be thinking about beyond the amount of money tucked away for retirement? Increasingly, those reaching the traditional retirement age of 65 engage in a transition rather than a rapid cessation of paid work. And the reason is pretty simple: more than half the population nearing that fateful time does not have sufficient savings to maintain anything near their pre-retirement lifestyle. All of this points to the need for some pretty serious thinking and planning by both governments and institutions, and those moving into the so-called golden years. This is top-of-mind stuff for financial planner and aging adviser Chuck Thompson, past chair of the Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation and current board member. Thompson is also a certified professional consultant on aging. He and other local professionals, who provide services that seniors increasing demand, have formed the Intelligent Aging Advisory Panel. The group recently completed a day-long session where they offered to educate seniors on matters they may be concerned about. For Thompson, retirement savings are extremely important and he is cognizant of studies that show boomers are generally not well-prepared for ending work at or around age 65. But, he cautions, those studies are based on people wanting to more or less maintain their lifestyle. If the money is not there, certain serious choices will have to be made. For many people lifestyle maintenance means keeping up the level of consumerism they have been accustomed to. “We have to keep on buying junk,” 36 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Lack of a nest egg, shifting family dynamic gives over-65 a new meaning for the Baby Boomer generation
Thompson said. “We want this to continue and that is expensive.” A recent study done for the Bank of Montreal showed boomers anticipate the need for a $658,000 retirement nest egg but report having put away only about $228,000 on average. That’s a whopping $430,000 shortfall. Options are limited to overcome this hurdle and about 70% realize retirement will have to be delayed and at least some form of part-time work taken on. About onethird in the study reported they expect to have to sell their home and another 19% plan to rent out part of their home. Thompson says these are important issues and people will face all kinds of changes and choices.
“The more you use your brain the better off you are. That is why you want to keep working.”
Chuck Thompson But money itself is just one of the challenges aging creates. He quotes statistics that are jaw-dropping. For instance, one in five people entering retirement age today will live to age 95. In Canada there are 1,000 people turning 65 each and every day. That means each and every day there are 200 more people who will reach age 95. “People will be living longer and will be living longer with incapacity,” he said. He points out that the numbers show that for every couple retiring, one of the pair will require up to 10 years of support for incapacity from another individual before they die. And, Thompson adds: “The person providing the care will be 65 per cent more likely to require care themselves.” At what age is that likely to occur? Thompson suggests if an individual largely escapes serious health issues in their life,
the onset of incapacity is likely to kick in during the mid-to-late 70s. This brings on another serious challenge: who will care for boomers as they age? An American study says shifting demographics mean aging boomers will have fewer friends and family to take care of them into their 80s. This will exacerbate the emotional and financial pressures weighing on families. Thompson concurs: “The family dynamic has changed tremendously; family pitching in to help is much less likely to occur.” While this is a challenge for the retiree, it represents an enormous opportunity to create businesses around incapacity care, Thompson says. Another reality is that government options for providing aging support are narrowing. Studies show as the boomer demographic bulge works its way through the system, there will be a much smaller cohort of productively employed people to carry the tax load. All of this suggests to Thompson society will be changing its view and definition of retirement. Working is not such a bad thing, says Thompson. “Why sit at home? The important thing for all of us is to feel useful.” Thompson had his own experience with an aging mother that ultimately prompted him to get involved with aging issues. The Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation exists to identify the gaps in services for seniors, encourages others to fill those gaps, and steps in to fill them itself where required. The foundation is involved in or supports the following programs: Stroke Recovery Association outreach program, Boost Your Brain Power, Cowichan Family Caregiver’s Society Keeping in Touch program, Volunteer Driving Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters – Seniors In-School Mentoring Program. Thompson is really big on the Brain Power program. “The more you use your brain the better off you are,” he said. “That is why you want to keep working.” Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
the
mongrillian
Mongolian stir fry the speciality at Berkey’s Corner restaurant
S
ince opening The Mongrillian restaurant in November 2011, owner and head chef Ha Tran says “it’s stronger and stronger.’’ “Now it’s been three years, there’s a lot of people knowing about it,’’ he says. Mongrillian essentially means Mongolian stir-fry and that’s the specialty of the restaurant located at Berkey’s Corner. “You kind of pick and choose what you like and I cook it up,’’ says Tran, 54, who was born in Vietnam and went to Malaysia at the age of 23 before coming to Canada and winding up in Fort St. John. “Everything has to be fresh and clean. I’ve got about 37 different veggies and meat and seafood.’’ There’s also a variety of sauces from mild to medium to smokin’ hot to go with it. Tran says people like having a choice of what food they want in their stir fry, rather than being “stuck’’ with certain items.
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
You’ve got to taste
this
with
Don Bodger “Everyone is different,’’ he says. “Even in a family, a kid doesn’t like an onion. They don’t have to pick the onion. “It fits the whole family. They’re excited about it. They grab a bowl and ‘I like this, I like that.’’’ The average cost is $10 to $12 per meal and soup comes with it. The selected items are weighed and then the price is determined at $9.99 per pound. Those who aren’t into Mongolian stir fry have many other menu choices. “I do have some Vietnamese food and some Chinese food,’’ says Tran. And there’s even burgers such as the Ultimate Mongrillian that includes a quarter pound of beef, a fried egg, bacon, caramelized onions and mushrooms with cheddar cheese on a sesame bun with lettuce and tomato, served with fries, for the big appetite that goes for $10.95. Tran’s background in the restaurant busi-
ness is extensive, particularly when he lived in Nanaimo for 10 years from 1986 to ‘96. “In Nanaimo, I had three of them at one time — too much for me,’’ he says. Tran, who has two grown children, has been in Duncan since ‘96. He’s owned the block on the corner of Cowichan Lake and Sherman Roads and ran a gas bar and convenience store before closing it down to concentrate on the restaurant and a laundromat. Tran and his wife work at the restaurant and have two other employees. “I like it. I really enjoy it,’’ he says. “The customers they’ve been in here before, they always come back for it. We have new people every day.’’ Tran says the Mongolian stir fry concept is unique. “The whole island, nobody has it,’’ he says. Choices include: chick peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, Thai and regular mushrooms, red onions, water chestnuts and much more. “I’ve got a little bit of everything,’’ says Tran. He bills the food as “fresh, healthy and delicious.’’ The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner six days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cowichan Good Life Magazine 37
You can help change the law and save some lives Deceased donors can save the lives of up to eight people, and help dozens more
A
re you an organ and tissue donor? I thought I was. I remember many years ago agreeing to become one when I was renewing my driver’s licence. But after talking to Shelley Hunt and Jessica Royan, and noticing it no longer indicated that I was a donor on my licence, I wasn’t so sure. “Canada’s organ donation rate is among the world’s worst,” Jessica told me. “It’s become a national crisis and people are needlessly suffering and dying because of it.” Since people are no longer asked if they’d like to be a donor when registering for car insurance, there has been a significant decline in donors, yet the need for them has continued to increase. When Shelley and Jess learned of our nation’s plight, and the fact a minuscule 15 out of every million people actually become organ donors, they decided to create the “Because I Can Project” to accomplish two things: create awareness about Canada’s organ shortage, and petition for a change to the registration process. The compassionate young women, and their new project partner Levi Sampson, 38 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
On a Brighter Note with Lori Welbourne
are proposing an opt-out program since it has been so successful in other countries. “Spain is ranked as the world’s highest for organ donations,” Jessica said. “They are an excellent model for Canada and other countries like the United States that desperately need a better system as well.” With a new legislation recognizing each person of a legal age is a presumed organ donor, this would mean people would have to de-register their name if they didn’t want to participate. “This wouldn’t impinge on a person’s right to decide the fate of their organs,” she said. “But since 95% of people say they would accept an organ if they needed one, and nearly the same amount say they would want to be a donor in the event of their own death, it makes more sense to assume most people would want in than out.” Deceased donors can save the lives of up to eight people, and help dozens more. Shelley, the mother of two young children, isn’t waiting until she dies before
becoming a donor, though. She signed up to anonymously donate her kidney. Since meeting a five-year-old boy named Aiden who is in extreme need of one himself, she is now in a partner exchange with him. “I’m not a match,” she said. “But because we’re partnered, that means that as soon as I’m able to give my kidney to someone, he will be moved to the top of the list and get one as well.” Shelley has received some criticism and concern for risking her life, but after extensive research on becoming a live donor, she is confident in her decision and the safety of the procedure. “It might seem crazy, but it will actually put me in a safer position than most other Canadians. When you become a live donor, you’re automatically moved to the top of the list, and if I ever need an organ in the future, I’ll get one sooner.” My friend Debbie Dupasquier donated her kidney to her mother a couple of years ago, and my friend David Knowles donated his kidney to his daughter a few years before that. In both cases the operations were a huge success. Please go to BecauseICanProject. com and check to see if you’re a donor. I was pleased to find out that I still am. Please also sign the petition provided on the site to change registration to the opt-out program. Once this happens, as in Spain, waiting lists will cease to exist in our country. Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013
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Cowichan Good Life Magazine 39
A SignAture ColleCtion for those who seek out the best in design.
Visit this participating dealer for more information about the Alustra® Collection.
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40 Cowichan Good Life Magazine
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial November 2013