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Health and Fitness Winter Activities Retirement Living

WINTER 2016

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Penticton Western News

Noble volunteer Western News Staff

Marge noble was a volunteer at the inaugural bC Winter games held in Penticton in 1978 and has returned in a similar role for the Penticton 2016 bC Winter games.

Submitted photo

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For Marge Noble, volunteering for the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games shows how life can come full circle. The long-time Penticton resident will volunteer as a host for gymnastics in the Penticton Community Centre gymnasium. But this isn’t her first BC Games experience. Noble was the host chair back in 1978, when Penticton hosted the inaugural BC Games — an initiative launched under Premier Bill Bennett. His vision for the Games was to provide “an opportunity to bring all parts of B.C. together, large and small communities, in the spirit of sport and friendship.” Bennett served as the premier of B.C. between 1975-1986 and passed away on Dec. 4, 2015. “Bill Bennett and his MLAs felt this was the community that should kick this off. We were blazing new trails into making this a success. We could see the vision,” Noble said. “We were outside during the Games when he approached and he welcomed us. I found him

very warm,” Noble said. “He was such an Okanagan man, so it must have been very gratifying to be at the first Games in Penticton. He was very complimentary.” For Noble, hosting the BC Games in Penticton was an opportunity to learn new skills and raise the profile of the community. “At that time, we felt we were a special community and handed this opportunity that was a tremendous project for Penticton and the province,” she said. Noble brought together 32 friends and acquaintances, gathering in her living room and describing the opportunity to help out with a historic event for Penticton and the Province of B.C. as well. “They all took it to heart,” said Noble. “It gave us an outlet as wives and mothers.” The hostesses were given pre-training, including a two-day course from the Ministry of Tourism at the time, as well as bright uniforms to help visitors identify them at venues. Once the Games began, Noble recalls her hostess team were everywhere at all times — helping to make

sure athletes received 8,000 boxed lunches and were on track to eat other meals provided by the then Penticton Inn. That was the basics; once they were on site, it was dealing with anything that came up. “We became the troubleshooters for the Games,” she said. “We were really well organized and rose to the occasion.” “Back then, there was no cooking available at the Peach Bowl. No cellphones, no computers, nothing,” she laughed. “We made the best of the tools we had to work with. But everyone pulled out all the stops. You can’t put a price tag on what volunteers do, really.” The first BC Games drew national attention, televised by BCTV (now Global BC) and CKLK. Special wishes were also relayed from the Prime Minister’s Office — then occupied by Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Thirty-seven years later, another Trudeau sits in the PMO, the Games are set to return to Penticton and the South Okanagan, and Noble is helping out in the Games office leading up to February. See GAMES on PG. 3

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Marge Noble holding a photo of herself (right) and Mary-ann lancaster meeting Premier bill bennett at the games held in Penticton in 1978.

Western News file photo

BC Winter Games comes full circle for volunteer

From GAMES on PG. 2 “I’m a grandmother now, and I see what the BC Games does not only for my granddaughter, but the mark it makes on all the athletes’ lives,” she said. “It’s so fun to be part of a team.”

Volunteers needed

Penticton’s got game – do you? Penticton needs volunteers to help prepare to host the BC Winter Games from Feb. 25 to 28, 2016. This undertaking will bring over

2,000 young athletes, coaches, officials and families to the South Okanagan, resulting in significant economic impact for local businesses. Hundreds of helping hands are needed to make this event a success. Areas most in need of volunteers are: accommodations, security, food services (prep cooks, etc.), promotions (photography, writing) You can sign up online at www.bcgames. org or give the Games office a call at 250492-2026.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Penticton Western News

Rabbitte finds zest Us for life on the hill

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Mark Brett Western News

At age 88, Vince Rabbitte is not over the hill. In fact, he’s usually on top of it. Every winter when ski season rolls around the Penticton octogenarian trades his tennis shoes for ski boots and heads for the hills. At least three times a week Rabbitte, a retired high school teacher originally from New Zealand, gets to enjoy a little downhill fun and exhilaration. A popular face, even behind his multi-coloured fire iridium goggles, he gets warm greetings from regulars of all ages who frequent Apex Mountain. “The freedom of coming down the ski runs with the wind in your face is part of it, but it’s the whole atmosphere,” said Rabbitte, pausing for a moment. “I think sometimes when you look at the snow and the trees and the mountains beyond you really see a part of creation. “The other side is the energy you get from being

Apex MountAin ResoRt regular Vince Rabbitte enjoys hitting the hill at least three times a week. At 88 years old, he is proof you are as young as you feel. Mark Brett/Western news

around young people and I think thirdly the discussions you have in the coffee shop.” Rabbitte actually began skiing in 1945 in his homeland of New Zealand where he worked for 60 years as a teacher before moving to Penticton after retiring in 1991. “Back in those days, when I first started, the skis didn’t even have edges and they had kind of a spring binding and the leather boots would often come

out,” said Rabbitte. The Penticton resident is fast-paced proof you are as young as you feel and a body in motion stays in motion, especially on a slippery slope. “Plus the energy I get saves me from taking medication and that saves me thousands of dollars. They’ll pump anything into you these days.” And even though he’s getting older, he’s still getting better. See SKIER on PG. 5

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Penticton Western News Wednesday, January 20, 2016

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Living life on his edges From SKIER on PG. 4

“Skiing’s been one of the most elusive sports for me to master but actually, yesterday, my skiing improved,” he said. “My turning is much better, I’m more aggressive, I’m more confident. I even went to the top of the mountain, but my older legs aren’t quite as good on the steeper stuff now. Once I get down to say the blue runs or well-groomed black run I can do it quite OK.” Sticking to his philosophical roots, Rabbitte, who has a PhD in physical education, believes in zen and the sport of skiing and incorporated that during his many years of instruction with the Apex snow school. His most recent publication, Skiing, Competing and Winning has had worldwide circulation. “Vince wrote the book on the philosophy of skiing. He

Vince Rabbitte 88, glides down the one of the runs at apex Mountain Resort recently. For years the Penticton resident worked as an instructor at the mountain’s snow school and still loves getting out several times a week. Mark brett/Western news

is just a very passionate skier,” said Apex general manager James Shalman. “He’s loved by everybody and still gets out there all the time. He loves to bring the different philosophies of skiing and movement, the physics of it. He is a fun and entertaining man.” Fun is the key element in what ever Rabbitte does and is what he feels is

missing in sports, especially at the higher levels of hockey and football. “True, certain people are going to be tops in tennis but they don’t beat the other fellow over the head with their racquet. They try to get better to win,” he said. And even though he is retired, Rabbitte is not neglectful of his domestic duties: “I do house-

work on Thursdays and it makes me anxious to get up there (Apex) tomorrow. Cleaning the toilet isn’t as exciting as skiing down the slopes, but it has to be done.” But it’s standing on the top of the mountain where his life and the world around him truly comes into focus and where he plans to be for as long as he can.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Penticton Western News

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Submitted photo

Concerned about Memory Loss? Submitted

The Medical Arts Health Research Group announced that adults in the Penticton area will be able to participate in an annual memory testing program as part of a new community-based study. This study is based on work done by the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) at the University of Waterloo researching how best to support dementia patients, caregivers and their families. The study has been recently approved by an ethics review board and Dr. Robert Williams of Kelowna, will be the primary investigator. Some data suggests that early awareness and knowledge of people’s memory “scores” can help them better cope and access resources within the community sooner — which could be helpful. Memory loss is a critical issue for our health care system. Each year more than 4.6 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed worldwide and between 6 per cent and 15 per cent of Canadians aged 65 years and older live with Alzheimer’s disease

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Through these tests, we hope to provide important information which will help patients and caregivers make the best decisions for their care and wellbeing – Donna Benson and other forms of dementia. Most cases are diagnosed in adults over the age of 65. With Penticton having the highest concentration of seniors in Canada (23.9 per cent), and Kelowna and Vernon in the top six communities with seniors in Canada, it’s an ideal place to study the impact that “awareness” will have on patient and caregiver well-being. Those adults over 50 years of age who are wondering or concerned about memory and wish to participate in the study, will be tested every year at no cost. There are spaces for 20 patients. “Through these tests, we hope to provide important information which will help patients and caregivers make the best decisions for their care and well-being.”

said Donna Benson, founder of Medical Arts Health Research Group. For more information and to see if you or friend or family member would be eligible for the study please call 1-888-736-0665 or visit the web at HealthResearch.ca. Medical Arts Health Research Group offer clinical and psycho-social studies to the residents of the Kootenays, South Okanagan, Central Okanagan, Kamloops and Vancouver areas from their clinics. They partner with patient volunteers with conditions such as memory loss, Alzheimer’s, angina, atrial fibrillation, asthma, cardiovascular disease, COPD, diabetes, foot ulcers, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, tinnitus and many others.

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The first days of the New Year are upon us and perhaps you are one of the many who have been thinking about becoming tobacco free in 2016. What an amazing gift to give to yourself, your family and friends! Approximately 550,000 British Columbians smoke and over 70 per cent of those people say they wish they could quit. Many British Columbians are planning to quit smoking this year so you are not alone. Making a plan to quit can increase your chances of success. Make sure your plan includes a quit date to help you get started on your tobacco free journey and be sure to tell the supportive people in your life when that day is. If

you have tried to quit before, think about what worked, what did not work and how you might use that information to make your next quit attempt your last one. Past attempts are real learning opportunities so stay positive and plan one step at and time. Support and resources are available and can bolster your success. QuitNow offers free personalized support to British Columbians 24 hours a day. They can provide the tools and support to help increase your chances of quitting. They can be reached online at www.quitnow.ca or by calling 1-877-455-2233 or by texting QUITNOW to 654321. The B.C. Smoking Cessation Program offers British

Columbians access to nicotine replacement therapy in the form of patches or gum to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. Joining the program is easy simply visit any community pharmacy in the province and ask to join B.C Smoking Cessation Program. Don’t forget your health care provider can also be a great support so be sure to tell them your plans to become smoke free and ask how they can support you. In addition to many health benefits, quitting can save a person $3,500 in the first year if they have smoked a pack a day. Remember to be kind to yourself and reward yourself for being tobacco free. Cheryl Sidenberg is the Tobacco Reduction Co-ordinator with Interior Health.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Penticton Western News

South Okanagan Seniors Wellness Society Services for Seniors ❄ Information and Referral Services ❄ Friendly Visiting / Tele-friend Program ❄ Better at Home Program 330 Ellis Street ❄ Group Social Opportunities Penticton, BC V2A 4L7 ❄ Volunteer Opportunities Ph: 250-487-7455 www.seniorswellnesssociety.com

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Former mP Fred King of Kaleden is also a patron of the South okanagan Similkameen medical Foundation board.

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Former MP Fred King is no stranger to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. After serving for more than 20 years as a foundation director following his retirement from politics, King was honoured as a permanent patron to the board. King, now in his early 90s, joined the foundation board in 1989, a year after the end of his years in Ottawa as Member of Parliament for the riding of OkanaganSimilkameen. “Anything I’ve contributed to the foundation is rather minor,” he said humbly. Some of the earliest fundraising events reflected the infancy of the organization. “We would have yard sales in the back of the hospital,” he recalled. “If we made $600 — we thought: ‘Wow, that’s wonderful!’”

That modest start changed when the board hired a professional fundraiser in Frank Belden, the foundation’s first executive-director. Janice Perrino succeeded Belden in 2004. “With the advent of Frank Belden, the board became less involved in the day-to-day details and more involved in the policy decisions,” he said. “I think that was an improvement and the present team is fantastic.” One can’t understate the importance of the Foundation’s role in acquiring the latest medical equipment for Penticton Regional Hospital, King said. “It’s a vital element of the local health system.” King admitted the Foundation’s current campaign to raise $20 million for medical equipment for the $325-million Patient Care Tower at PRH is a big challenge. “It’s an ominous challenge, but a wonderful oppor-

tunity — health care being what it is in the community,” he said. “It’s essential, especially with the growing percentage of seniors.” King has no doubt the entire community will support the foundation’s current drive. Construction of the new tower is set to begin this spring. King also has a personal connection with long-term health care. He spent 18 months in hospital after returning home to Canada following the Second World War, suffering from tuberculosis in his right lung. While recovering in hospital in Kamloops, he met Audrey and the couple married in 1948. Audrey passed away of heart complications in 2013 at age 92. Longevity is common in the King family. Fred’s father, Kaleden pioneer Billy King, lived until age 102 and his brother, Ron lived to be 95.

Out & About Opportunities for seniors to build friendships while enjoying arts, cultural, community and social events and activities. Sign up for free with no obligations and you will receive a monthly calendar of events. There are no expectations, you choose what interests you. Some events are free. Participants are responsible for the cost of events that require ticket purchase, entry fees or cost of meals. We take care of the details such as the purchase of tickets and provide low cost transportation if required.

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