Special Features - Senior Resources 2018

this is the

life

Living 55+

• Athletics • Entrepreneurs • Entertainers • Academics

SEMIAHMOO OLD BOYS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Oceana PARC presentation centre opening soon!

Active, vibrant and independent. Welcome to retirement living at Oceana PARC. Visit the presentation centre at the Semiahmoo Shopping Centre at 1701-152 St, Surrey BC. This is your chance to live in one of White Rock’s newest and most vibrant retirement communities.

For more information, call Deb at 604.290.6954.

Presentation Centre opening June 2018.

parcliving.ca/oceana 2

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

contents

this

life

• SPRING 2018

is the

8

Publisher Dwayne Weidendorf publisher@peacearchnews.com Editor Lance Peverley editor@peacearchnews.com Sales Manager Steve Scott steve.scott@blackpress.ca Contributors

4

15

Boaz Joseph photo ON THE COVER: They might not move like they used to, but the Semiahmoo Old Boys are still as competitive as ever on the rugby pitch.

21

• Alex Browne • Nick Greenizan • Tracy Holmes

NUMBERS GAME Renowned mathematician Robert Langlands credits his success to one specific moment back at Semiahmoo High School.

This Is The Life is published by the Peace Arch News Suite 200 2411 160 St. Surrey, BC V3Z 0C8 Tel: 604-531-1711 Fax: 604-531-7977 www.peacearchnews.com

STEPPING UP For a date with Canada’s most-demanding Dragons, Surrey’s Norm Bradley is putting his best feet forward.

Distributed free to select households in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

SINGING OUT The Maple Leaf Singers (above) love to share the joy of music, whether performing for shut-ins, special events or fundraisers.

A CLINICALLY PROVEN MATTRESS TO IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY AND OVERALL WELLNESS

CLINICALLY PROVEN: • Improved sleep quality • Reduction in pain • Reduction in soreness • Increased sleep efficiency • Increased blood flow Naturally rejuvenates & restores while you sleep

IGNITE SERIES • Pocket Coil Technology • 15 Year Warranty

QUEEN MATTRESS STARTING AT

1129

$

366 Night Comfort Exchange

Increases oxygen & energy levels as you sleep

RADIANCE SERIES

NATURAL SERIES

• Ecotex /Latex

• 100% Latex

• 20 Year Warranty

• Pure Wool/ Cotton • 25 Year Warranty

For over 400 Testimonials Visit: ironmanmattress.ca

Mattress Gallery www.wrmattress.com

604-385-0112

2390 -152nd St., South Surrey

*Items may not be exactly as illustrated.

(Corner of 24th Ave / 152nd Street)

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

3

A

Robert Langlands, on the day he was announced as winner of the 2018 Abel Prize. (Dan Komoda/ Institute for Advanced Study photo)

NICE PLACE to grow up

Celebrated mathematician credits Semiahmoo teacher with changing life’s path

A

Story by Tracy Holmes

s a teen, Robert Langlands never gave much thought to a post-secondary education.

In fact, growing up in White Rock, in a suite above the family’s lumber business, he didn’t even plan on finishing high school – he had an idea to hitchhike.

“I intended to leave high school as soon as I could,” Langlands said in an interview last month from his home in New Jersey.

“Because everyone did it.”

More than 60 years later, Langlands remains grateful to one high school teacher at Semiahmoo High School. Mr. Vogler, he said,

4

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

convinced him to try a different path, and even took an hour out of class time to make his case.

“He said to me that I should go to university. For various reasons… I took his remarks seriously. I studied very hard, I took the examination, I even won a scholarship,” Langlands said.

“It was kind of a very abrupt decision, towards the end of my high school days, to go to university. I’ve always been very grateful to Mr. Vogler. I wanted to go and thank him personally, but I never had occasion to do so.”

It would seem Vogler had good instincts.

d / )

I’ve always been very grateful to Mr. Vogler. I wanted to go and thank him… but I never had occasion to do so.

These days, Langlands is compared to Albert Einstein, and has been honoured many times over the years – most recently last month – for his proclivity in mathematics.

Scholars worldwide credit him with creating “a completely new way of thinking about mathematics.”

Langlands, 81, said he chose math as his major “just because it was the only thing I knew about.”

Just how much he knew about it grabbed the world’s attention in 1967. That’s when Langlands suggested that two previously unlinked fields of mathematics were indeed connected.

He outlined his insights in a 17-page letter to French mathematician André Weil.

“If you are willing to read it as pure speculation I would appreciate that,” the then-31-year-old wrote, according to details on the Abel Prize website. “If not – I am sure you have a waste basket handy.”

The letter was written 10 years after Langlands had “pretty much left White Rock

continued on page 6

Robert Langlands (top centre) with the rest of Semiahmoo High School student council in 1952/53. (Photo courtesy White Rock Museum & Archives)

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Plan for the future while enjoying your wealth today Life is meant to be lived in the moment. But a bit of planning can go a long way towards ensuring that you continue living life to the fullest – today and in the future.

Linda has the knowledge, experience and resources to help you create your plan.

Contact us today to arrange a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.

Linda Holmes, BBA, CIM, FMA Investment Advisor & Financial Planner linda.holmes@rbc.com | 604-535-3854

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©2018 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved. 18_90810_TUR_002

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

5

Langlands Millwork & Builders’ Supplies. (Photo courtesy White Rock Museum & Archives)

for good” – although the first two of his four children were born in the seaside city, one in 1958 and the second in 1959, and he returned about once a year after that until his parents died.

Chatting two weeks after he was announced

as winner of the 2018 Abel Prize, Langlands said the field is one that hasn’t failed to fascinate him in the 50 years-plus that he has been studying it.

“I’ve never been tired of it,” he said. “There’s been times when I thought it was tired of me.

“You’re supposed to create mathematics.

You may feel… that you didn’t have it in you and maybe you should try something else,” he explained.

“So, that has happened. It has happened only once.”

Are You Living With

Arthritic Pain?

Advanced Physiotherapy Provides: • Leading expertise in orthopedic-rheumatology • Personalized treatment plans designed for optimal results • State of the art equipment • Easy patient access • Free parking

What Are the Benefits of Moving to a Retirement Home?

The benefits are numerous. While you may feel you are not “ready” yet, ask yourself what are the concerns if you wait: • Reduced or non-existent human interaction; • Loneliness and depression; • Confusion and memory loss; • Feelings of being a burden to family/friends; • Loss of ability to pursue hobbies; • Difficulties with household chores & maintenance; • Overwhelmed with everyday tasks, buying groceries & transportation to appointments; • Anxiety about falls and safety due to loss of mobility, hearing and sight; • Loss of appetite – inadequate nutrition and hydration; • Assistance, if any, from care aides only on a scheduled basis.

Making the move can make your life easier, healthier, happier and enhance independence.

Concord is a small loving and supportive community that benefits body, soul and spirit!

So what are you waiting for?

15869 Pacific Ave, White Rock, BC concordretirementresidence@shaw.ca Find out what sets us apart Call today for a tour & complimentary lunch

… It’s home by the Sea!

6

604-531-6198

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

“Where Doctors Go” TM

Patrick P. Embley, Physiotherapist Corporation

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME • NO REFERRAL REQUIRED OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK, MONDAY TO SATURDAY 15125 Russell Ave, White Rock www.advancedphysio.ca | info@advancedphysio.ca

Book Today 604-541-9245

)

That happening led to a year teaching math in Turkey, an experience Langlands said he has “always appreciated.”

“My children probably didn’t appreciate it,” he said. “For me, it was a very, very good thing to do. I learned things that I didn’t know. It was also a time I wasn’t getting (to) where I wanted.

“After a year, things continued as before.”

Born in New Westminster, Langlands said he has “a lot of interesting memories of White Rock (and) of the people I knew as a child.

“It was a nice place to grow up,” he said.

Housing was cheap at that time and was largely vacation housing – a point Langlands described as “the distinguishing feature of White Rock at the time.”

“A lot of the people there didn’t have much money, were there for some reason. A lot of the people I knew… were rather poor,” he said.

He remembers spending a lot of time working in the family’s lumberyard on Marine Drive, sunning on the pier, walking along the waterfront tracks and hanging out on the boardwalk that led to the pier.

“I don’t like to think what that Washington road looks like now without that boardwalk,” Langlands said.

Langlands also remembers a stint he did

I’ve never been tired of (mathematics). There’s been times when I thought it was tired of me. as a customs officer, between his third and fourth year at UBC. He described the job, which entailed riding the passenger train

south, then carrying out customs inspections on the northbound route, as “cushy.”

After UBC, Langlands went to Yale, then on to teach at Princeton. He was an associate professor at the time he wrote his letter to Weil; he is currently professor emeritus at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study.

He has been married more than 60 years, to his high-school sweetheart, Charlotte.

Meeting her, Langlands said, “was a decisive event in my life.”

Langlands said he retired about five years ago, but took on “proving a mathematical theorem” shortly after that. The project has consumed him for the five years since, but he is determined it will be his last.

“Once it’s gone, then I won’t be working any more,” he said, adding he hopes to finish in the next couple of weeks, ahead of his granddaughter’s upcoming wedding. “I don’t want to start another five-year project, for obvious reasons.

“I would like to think about other things.”

Langlands is to receive his Abel Prize – which includes a cash prize equal to about US$800,000 – from King Harald V in a May 22 ceremony in Oslo.

Langlands didn’t want to disclose who he planned to share the award with, preferring they “find out themselves… when the money comes to them from Oslo.”

The Choice is Always Yours Retirement Communities • Variety of Suite Styles • Pet Friendly • Social Activities • Close to Shops and Services

Call today for more information A Canadian Owned Company

15340-17th Avenue Surrey 604-531-7470

15366-17th Avenue Surrey 604-531-1160 unicarehomes.com

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

7

Glory days

By Nick Greenizan

They’ve logged a lot of miles on the rugby pitch through the years, but members of the Semiahmoo Old Boys have never lost their love of the game 88 Peace Peace Arch Arch News News

|| THIS THIS IS IS THE THE LIFE LIFE || 2018 2018

M

embers of the Semiahmoo Old Boys rugby club are out to prove that rugby isn’t just a young man’s game.

Sure, the sport is a physical one – injuries, both serious and minor, can afflict even those in their sporting prime, let alone players who are a few years older; and yes, members are self-aware enough to splash a slogan across their website – “The older we get, the better we were” – that serves as a nod to the players’ age… err, experience.

The theme across the rest of the site – and the club itself – is similarly lighthearted and fun; the team’s “About Us” page, for example, lists beer-drinking and talking about the “glory days” amongst the benefits of joining the group.

But make no mistake – the players are serious about rugby once they step onto the pitch.

“We always say that Old Boys rugby isn’t all about winning, it’s about participating, but you ask anybody out there, and they want to win the game,” said Matt Falkner, 53, who plays for the team and also serves as the organization’s president.

For safety’s sake, and competitive balance, players wear different-coloured shorts during games, depending on their age.

Players under 50 years old wear white

Semiahmoo Old Boys club president Matt Falkner, at the team’s home field at South Surrey Athletic Park.

(Nick Greenizan photo) shorts – which means full contact, both tackling and being tackled.

Players between 50 and 60 wear black, which is still full contact, but the different colour, Falkner says, “is just a bit of a

Art Knapp Surrey 4391 King George Blvd., S. Surrey

604-596-9201 artknappsurrey.com

reminder for the individual that’s about to tackle you – a bit of a respect thing.”

For the 60-plus crowd, red shorts are worn, which means players can be “wrapped up”

continued on page 10

Hours: 9am – 5:30pm every day, including holidays Leave the car at home, bus stops right in front of our store.

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

9

TIME TO MAKE A MOVE CONSIDERING DOWNSIZING TO A CONDO OR PERHAPS A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY?

CALL MARLENE NASH, SRES

604-763-3713 604-531-4000

YOUR SOUTH SURREY/ WHITE ROCK SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST • KNOWLEDGABLE • COMPASSIONATE • UNDERSTANDING • EXPERIENCED (20+ YEARS HELPING SENIORS MOVE!!)

Peace Arch Hospice Society ...a special kind of caring

Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness?

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one?

We offer many programs and services - all free of charge - to help ease the pain and stress.

Some of the services we offer:

• Individual and Family Counselling by Registered Clinical Counsellors • Adult Grief Groups - Drop In & Closed • 1-1 Support by specially trained Volunteers • Bereavement Walking Group • 1-1 Relaxation Sessions • 24 Hour Vigil Services For more information Phone: 604-531-7484 Email: contactus@pahospicesociety.org or visit: www.peacearchhospice.org Peace Arch Hospice Society • 15435-16A Ave • Surrey, BC • V4A 1T2 • Registered Charitable #: 11929 7513 RR0001

10

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

Semiahmoo Old Boys’ Andrew Harvey tries to fend off a tackle from an Abbotsford Originals player during a 2011 game. (File photo) but not tackled to the ground in the traditional sense.

Players over 70 wear yellow, and are “tackled” simply by touch, and the same goes for the rare 80-plus player – like the late ‘Doc’ Narod, a former Old Boy who passed away in 2014, and played rugby until he was 86.

Of course, colour choice is not a hard and fast rule – it’s up to the individual.

For example, Falkner notes that 79-year-old Jim Armstrong refuses to wear the yellow shorts, and instead sticks with red.

“He’s been known to get the odd tackle in still, too,” said Falkner.

Prior to each game, the two teams will try and co-ordinate lineups so that players of similar

ages are “marked” against each other on the same side of the field, to avoid any physical mismatches.

The majority of the club’s registered players – which number over 40, not including more casual players who just show up for Thursday night touch-rugby sessions, but not weekend games – come from rugby backgrounds, either with local clubs such as the South Surrey/White Rock-based Bayside Sharks, or going further back, to high school teams.

But a rare few, Falkner notes, simply pick up the sport later in life.

“Some guys are just natural athletes, and come from other sports, maybe football or soccer,” he explained.

“Some waited until they were in their mid-40s or early 50s, in fact. They just come out for the camaraderie, the sheer enjoyment of it.”

The Semiahmoo Old Boys – or SOBs, as they’re often called – have been around in their current form since 1993, and, Falkner explained, were originally an extension of the Semiahmoo Rugby Club, which itself started in 1982 as “a school-boy team” made of up ex-Semiahmoo high-schoolers.

The Old Boys – who began as the Old Bulls, before the name was changed – currently play in the over-38 Pacific Northwest Old Boys Rugby League, which has teams from Kelowna to Seattle.

Age-wise, the Old Boys’ roster is quite a mix, with players in their late 30s and 40s – some recently removed from senior men’s competition – playing alongside more experienced teammates who are still hitting the field well into their 60s and 70s, including Armstrong, who is among the team’s elder statesmen.

Some players, Falkner adds, have been around since Day 1.

And as the website suggests, off-the-field activities are just as important as the games themselves.

Each year, the team tours somewhere – sometimes to

play rugby, other times to watch an international competition of some kind. This year, San Francisco – for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens event – is on the menu.

Also this year, the SOBs will also play host to a touring team from Japan.

The Japanese side and the Old Boys will play two games May 1 at South Surrey Athletic Park.

The first game, Falkner said, will be a 40-plus contest, while the second game will be strictly for players 60 and older.

Tours aside, Falkner says SOBs are frequent spectators at Bayside Sharks’ men’s games – “We like to come out and support them, and put some money behind the bar,” he said – though he’s quick to add that he and a few other Old Boys have been pressed into action with the Sharks for a half here or there this past season.

“We know what we’re doing, we just don’t have the speed that we used to. But it’s all up here,” he said, tapping his head.

That said, Falkner is noncommittal when asked if he can see himself playing well into his senior years, as Narod did and Armstrong continues to do.

“I’m the kind of person where if I can’t play properly, I won’t play, and I’m starting to wear down a little too much,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ll make it to the red shorts.”

ACUPUNCTURE and HERBAL MEDICINE SPECIALIZING IN..

• Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis • Allergies, Cold & Flu, Sinus Conditions, Asthma • Digestive Problems / IBS , Hemorrhoids • Epilepsy, Migraines, Headaches, Dizziness • Hot Flashes , Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Fatigue, Insomnia • Infertility, Menstrual Problems and Pre-Menopausal S ymptoms • Pain Relief and Soft Tissue Injuries • Urinary Infectio n/I ncontinence • Weight Loss, Smoking and Other Addictions Very Eff ec tive Herbal Formulas for Cold & Flu FREE CONSU LTATION Includes checking your pulse and reading your tongue

Feng Li, M.D .

Owner (China )

Acupuncture & Natural Healing

1481 Johnston Rd, White Rock 604.538.9367 fengliacupuncture.com

Moving?

WE CAN HELP YOU! We accept donations of..

Adult clothing, accessories, artwork, household decor, small furniture, lamps & more.

Volunteer Opportunities Available.

For details call us today!

COME VISIT OUR NEW STORE!

Thrift Store

www.peacearchhospice.org 15562 - 24th Ave.

604-538-7600

Semiahmoo Old Boys’ Doc Narod passed away in 2014, but played rugby until he was 86 years old. (File photo)

…a special kind of caring

Monday - Friday 10 -5 Saturday 10-4 Closed Sundays & Stat Holidays

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

11

E

Better at Home is funded by the government of British Columbia and manged by United Way

12

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

E

Caregiving & Employment – Finding a Better Balance

very year, approximately one million British Columbians provide care for a family member. Most are women 45 years or older, 28% of whom are ‘sandwiched’ between childrearing and caregiving.

According to Sue McIntosh, Executive Director of Seniors Come Share Society, most of these caregivers are also holding down a full-time job. The stress and anxiety of trying to be all things to all people, is enormous.

“The caregivers’ own physical and emotional wellbeing is at risk. They’re often socially isolated because of the time commitment involved, and face financial burdens due to costs of care, and missed work. That’s why we provide a variety of programs to support caregivers. They just can’t do it without help, especially if the person they care for has a serious or long-term health issue or disability.”

Caregivers statistically miss 44% of days of work, 15% will reduce hours of work, and 10% have to leave the workforce all together. - CARP Support from Employers Employers can play a crucial role.

“It’s important to recognize that the impact of caregiving is – and will continue to be, as our population ages a workplace issue,” McIntosh explains, “35% of the Canadian workforce provides care for a family member or a friend.

Many miss work, and some have to leave their jobs altogether.”

McIntosh says that employers can: • Offer flexible work hours, job sharing and unpaid/paid leave • Provide in-house resources about available community supports • Refer to community support resources • Share and explore practices with other companies • Review existing or create policies that meet employees’ needs, including wellness programs, assistance programs, compassionate leave, flexible hours and telework • Attend the Seniors Come Share Society Business after Business May 24 at 5 p.m.

More information is available online at the Canadian Human Rights Commission www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca and at Canada.ca/caregivers.

Statistics Tell the Story Caregivers are defined as individuals who take on an unpaid caring role for someone who requires assistance because of a physical or cognitive condition, injury, or chronic life limiting illness.

• Unpaid caregivers provide between 70-75% of at-home care in Canada, at an estimated economic contribution of $26 million yearly.

• Caregiver support enables people to stay at home longer, with a higher quality of life.

• The most common conditions involving caregivers are cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental illness and degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

• About 1 million British Columbians, are now 65 years or older. This population will double by 2041, to 1 in 3 British Columbians. Add increasing life expectancies, declining birth rates, and an increase in nontraditional families, caregivers will be fewer, and required for longer periods of time.

Resources available through Seniors Come Share Society • Caregiver Support & Education: various supports for those caring for family members and friends • Information & Referral: In person, by phone or through the Seniors Resource Directory • Friendly Visitor: one-on-one social visits, or telephone reassurance calls • Peers Reaching Out: partnering volunteers with seniors who need to reconnect with the community • Better at Home: non-medical support for seniors to stay in the home longer • Tech Buddies: educates seniors to enhance their technological skills • Many more programs that promote engaging, educating and empowering the older adults in our community.

Sources Portrait of Caregivers, Statistics Canada 2016 Circle of Care: Supporting Family Caregivers in BC, A Policy Paper by BC’s Doctors, October 2016 Canadian Association of Retired Persons

604-531-9400 • www.comeshare.ca

Put Your Feet In Our Hands!

• Exceptional footwear for comfort, walking, business, and dress • Orthopedic footwear for diabetes, arthritis, bunions, and swelling • Professional Shoe Fitting • Custom Orthotics made in our On-Site Laboratory • Orthopedic Modifications LIKE US ON

strides pedorthics #109-1656 Martin Dr., South Surrey 604.538.8276 • www.strides.ca

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

13

We Use Modern Technology To Improve Your Oral Health South Point Dental uses the latest technologies to provide you the most effective, efficient, safe, and comfortable treatments available.

Here are a few of the solutions we offer: • Laser Diagnostics • Digital X-Rays • VELscope Oral Cancer Screening

• Laser Therapy • HealOzone • Digital Communications

Conscious Oral Sedation is a procedure where you are given a prescribed medication orally. It can make you feel like time is passing without anxiety, and relaxed during your visit. Oral sedation can be used for any kind of dental procedure. If you have any questions about this or any other treatment, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to talk to you.

South Point Dental is experienced in administrating sedation dentistry to help patients have a comfortable experience.

Contact us for a sedation consultation today!

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME Our team speaks Cantonese, Farsi and Punjabi.

Contact us if you have any questions or inquiries!

604-535-8880

SENIORS SAVE BIG Every Tuesday

10% Off Meat Items only

We are happy to announce Dr. Gorjestani as a new member of our team.

65 years and older

SOUTH POINT DENTAL CENTRE (604) 535-8880 123DENTIST.COM MEMBER info@southpointdental.ca www.southpointdental.ca #830 - 3041 152nd Street, Surrey (next to Save-On-Foods at the South Point Exchange)

IN WHITE ROCK

SENIORS SPECIALS

Rick has spent more than 30 years living and working as a successful lawyer in White Rock and South Surrey, and building personal relationships with each client along the way.

• Will and Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Litigation • Family Law - Marriage and Separation Agreements, Trials • Real Estate Law, including Residential Conveyances and Mortgages • General Corporate, including Employment Law 1321 Johnston Road White Rock, BC V4B 3Z2 • 604-536-5002

14

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

N

v

c f n m –

m w –

PENNY LANE SALON

Richard Cleveland

M h

4 0ALL%SEROVICFES F

ALL NATURAL ORGANIC MEN & WOMEN DESIGNER HAIRCUTS Roller Sets • Colour • Foils Highlights • Up Do’s

Change your style & Love your Look with designs by New York Hair Stylist Esperanza! (Mention this Ad)

Hours of Operation:

Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm / Mon by Appointment Only 15156 Roper Ave. Salon 1 (604) 541-9200 • Cell 1(778) 840-9443 pennylanesalon15156@gmail.com

Making his pitch Norm Bradley is setting foot in the Dragons’ Den Story and photos by Tracy Holmes

N

orm Bradley says if he were 20 years younger, he’d be “going 20 different ways” with a business idea he put into action while vacationing in Mexico two years ago.

But at 71, Bradley is content to stay the course when it comes to the summer footwear he’s developed for people who need orthotics. That is, unless creatures of mythical proportions – Dragons, to be precise – recommend otherwise.

Bradley, a retired foundry manager and metallurgical engineer, was to learn this week if his Cabo Comfort line of sandals – which have a patented pocket in the sole

continued on page 16

Norm Bradley with some of his early product prototypes, prior to his Cabo Comfort sandal line.

Serving White Rock/South Surrey for 25 years

Downsizing? Need help with furniture sizing, furniture placement? We can help!

Made locally – Our furniture is 100% Solid wood for Dining – Bedroom – Living Room – Office Custom Made Sofas – Choose your style – Choose your fabric – Custom made just for you

Come in for a chance to win a $250 Gift Certificate

www.wynwoodfurniture.ca | 604.535.9003 #1 - 2320 King George Blvd, South Surrey 2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

15

specifically for personal orthotics – piques the interest of some of the country’s most astute entrepreneurs.

He stepped into the Dragon’s Den with it on April 26.

“My pitch is I’m a 71-year-old, lateblooming entrepreneur,” Bradley said a couple of weeks before heading to Toronto for the audition, the outcome of which he isn’t allowed to share prior to the show airing in September.

“I’m going to be pretty open to what they want to do.”

Bradley’s journey to the stage, as his sandalline name suggests, began in Cabo, Mexico, during a trip he and his wife Debbie made to visit their daughter.

Bradley has worn orthotics in his shoes for about a decade, but on this trip, he finally had enough of always having to wear closed shoes in hot weather, and decided to do something about it.

While a switch to memory-foam sandals quickly led to regret – “after two days, I got such severe foot pain,” he said – it also was Bradley’s first step towards his new business.

Refusing to return to wearing runners, Bradley said he took his orthotics inserts and “strap-taped” them to his sandals.

The look wasn’t exactly high-fashion – “people got a big kick out of it,” he said – but it did the trick.

Norm Bradley with his granddaughters Hayley, 6, and Madison, 8, in his home office.

WE OFFER CONSULTATIONS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

AND WELLNESS CENTRE

Grandview Dental is currently accepting new patients for both Implant Placement and General Dentistry with Dr. Afshin Emami.

Call today to book your appointment!

If you need to replace a missing tooth, and aren’t sure what the best option is, you should be considering dental implants

Dr. Afshin Emami

604-541-9919

Dr. Emami is currently accepting new patients call & book your Implant consultation today!

Dental Implants give you the following benefits: ✓ They are more durable & last a lifetime ✓ They look and feel like your natural teeth ✓ You can eat whatever you want, worry-free ✓ No other teeth are affected, as opposed to bridges ✓ They are fixed in place, so when you eat, talk or laugh ✓ You don’t need to remove them or use adhesive to keep them in place

16

Dr. Emami, General Dentist, comes with over 15 years of dental experience. He graduated from the prestigious Dalhousie Dental School in Nova Scotia, and he has since dedicated his practice to excellence in dentistry.

Dr. Emami is a sustaining member of the Canadian Dental Association, BC Dental Association and the college of Dental Surgeons of BC. His dental knowledge brings a multitude of dental procedures including oral sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, laser-assisted dentistry and implant dentistry. His passion for patient care has been demonstrated in providing oral health care services for under-privileged in a number of well-established charity organizations. In addition, he provided dental care to war vetrans as well as volunteered in dental research.

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

And, the idea stuck. On his return home, Bradley set to designing a sandal for people who wear orthotics.

Bradley said he initially just wanted to sell his patent rights, but quickly learned it wasn’t as easy as it might sound. Everyone he contacted in the industry “always pitched it back to me,” he said of his idea.

And, “it’s really hard to get a hold of the right people.”

“That’s really why I applied to Dragon’s Den. I wanted to get them onboard to do that, because they have contacts to open the doors.”

Bradley said he has invested countless hours of “sweat equity” and travel time into researching the best materials, where to have the sandals manufactured, making connections and testing the prototypes.

“We always get them in size eight… and give them the torture test,” he said. “If I didn’t like something, I was sure somebody else wouldn’t.”

Now, he’s sure he’s got the recipe right.

“They’re so good, you’ll get sick of them… before you’re ever going to wear them out.”

The first shipment of Cabo Comfort footwear arrived at Bradley’s door in December. They’re available online, including on Amazon, and are to be in stores this spring, at Ronson’s in South Surrey and both The Right Shoe and Lady Sport in Vancouver, he said.

The patented pocket Bradley developed for people who use orthotics.

Bradley described the market for his sandals as “very huge.”

“There’s nothing else (comparable) available.”

Interest in his company has grown as news of his invite to the Dragons Den stage spread, he noted.

“It’s amazing, I don’t know how people find out,” he said. “I’ve got people phoning me now, I’ve got people wanting to invest in the company. Everybody’s coming out of the woodwork.

“I won’t make any deals until I’m on Dragons Den and see what happens.”

Bradley believes Dragons Arlene Dickinson and Jim Treliving are most likely to be interested in getting involved. Determined to put his best foot forward, he’s been practising

his pitch in front of his granddaughters, Madison and Hayley.

He named the women’s sandal style after Madison, he said, and the men’s after his grandson, Jackson.

“I didn’t think Norm was a good name for a sandal,” he quipped.

Whatever happens with the Dragons, Bradley says the experience will be positive.

“Just by getting on, your business grows,” he said. “You have to look at it like you’re doing an infomercial for your product. Being on TV is just the side benefit.”

Asked what advice he had for others considering venturing into business, Bradley said be prepared for the long haul.

“You gotta have a lot of staying power,” he said. “There’s just to a lot of people to help you. Just keep plodding away.”

The Internet, he added, is a great resource.

Bradley said while he is ready to “just work on one thing” in life, and to enjoy all the things retirement is supposed to include, like more travel and time with family, he’s not quite ready to pass the torch on his sandal line. Or rather, the line is not ready for him to pass the torch.

“It’s going to be successful before I back out of it,” Bradley said.

“I wouldn’t want to just sit and do nothing,” he added. “Looking back… it’s all part of the experience.”

2018 Spring/Summer Eyewear & Sunwear Collections are now in:

YOUR EYES ARE PRECIOUS, LET US LOOK AFTER THEM! ◊ Eye Exams [Babies to Seniors] ◊ Advanced Tests: 3D OCT/Retinal Scans ◊ Holistic Eyecare & Nutriceuticals ◊ 1 Hr. Optical Lab

◊ Free Styleyes Consultation ◊ Children’s Eyewear ◊ Quality European Eyewear & Sunglasses ◊ Luxury & Hand-Made Eyewear Specialist

Dr. G.K. Bains, BSc, MSc, OD, MCOptom Optometric Corp. *See store for details.

Buy 1 Complete Pair - *Get 2nd Frame Free & 50% off Lenses!!

YOUR VISION – YOUR HEALTH – YOUR WELLBEING...

2 - 3248 King George Blvd, (Next door to Choices, South Surrey) Tel: 778-294-2236 www.royallondonoptometry.com 2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

17

For the Time of your Life...

Our pre-need team is here to help.

DANCE!

Mike Garisto Pre-Need Counsellor m.garisto@KearneyFS.com 604-312-9799

Nelson Pluff Pre-Need Counsellor n.pluff@KearneyFS.com 236-889-7486

· Canadian Family Owned

Couples and Singles Welcome Gift Certificates Available

· · Many Service Options at a Reasonable Cost Over 110 Years of Compassionate Service

· Proudly Serving the Lower Mainland at 4 convenient locations: Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Cloverdale

15151 Russell Ave. White Rock • 604-542-1900 dance@arthurmurray.ca • www.arthurmurray.ca

CLOVERDALE 17667 - 57th Avenue | 604.574.2603

18

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

www.KearneyFS.com

Stay active, keep busy this spring tone through this weekly class at ThirdSpace (1381 George St.) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Thursdays. Visit ourthirdspace.com.

n Oneness Gogos car-trunk and plant sale, rescheduled to April 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crescent Legion, 2643 128 St. Proceeds to the Stephen Lewis Grandmothers Campaign.

n White Rock/South Surrey Newcomers Club All women who have moved to White Rock/ South Surrey or have experienced a significant life change in the last three years are welcome to meet the first Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church.

n Floral Circle Group/White Rock & District Garden Club will be presenting 15 different theme gardens. Semiahmoo Shopping Centre, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 28. For more information, contact 604-538-8858. n Walk for Alzheimer’s it’s estimated 70,000 British Columbians are affected by dementia.

Show them your support by registering today for the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s, in support of the Alzheimer Society of BC. The Walk for White Rock, Surrey, North Delta will be held Sunday, May 6 at Eaglequest Golf Course (7778 152nd St.). Start a team, join a team, donate or sponsor at www. walkforalzheimers.ca. n Salvation Army White Rock hosts a twoonie lunch for adults/seniors, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays at 15417 Roper Ave. Includes puzzles, loom knitting, games and fellowship. n White Rock Garden Club meets second Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m., Cranley Hall.

Guests are welcome. Each monthly meeting

The White Rock Garden Club meets monthy. offers either a floral show or a speaker. For more information, contact 778-846-5076. n Community Dinners Peninsula United Church (formerly First United) community dinners are now offered on the second and fourth Monday of the month at Star of the Sea Hall (15262 Pacific Ave.). Doors open at 4:30 p.m., by donation. n Free tax clinic offered by Salvation Army White Rock through April, for low-income individuals and families living in White Rock and South Surrey. For info or to book an appointment, call 604-531-7314 or 604-802-4302. n Chair-Based Exercise improve muscle

AGELESS

n Interfaith Devotions every Sunday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (call 604-536-4477) and Tuesday at 7 p.m. (778-294-7503). Join prayer and worship amongst other faith backgrounds. n Sit and Stitch Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., ThirdSpace (1-1381 George St.). n Macular Degeneration, Low Vision support group meets monthly, fourth Thursday from 1-3 p.m. Join to learn how to live with vision lost. For info, call Jane 604-536-5247. n Women’s Probus Club a social club for all retired and semi-retired women, holds regular meetings the last Wednesday of the month at White Rock Baptist Church 1657-140 Street, South Surrey, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For further information, call Sharon at 604-536-5294.

B. s esco C. #1 rt com ed tour pany !

Escorted Tours

ADVENTURE tours

(604) 542-5566

A division of Mandate Tours & Transportation Inc.

FEW SEATS

Incredible Iceland Blue Lagoon, The Golden Circle, Skogarfoss Waterfall, etc.

June 15 - 24 18 incl. meals

dbl: $8,177.00

Whistler, Tyax, Quaaout Lodges - Sea-to-Sky, Chilcotin, & High Country Regions June 24 - 29

13 incl. meals

dbl: $2,398.00

Newfoundland & Labr.

One of the World’s most impressive travel destinations June 25 - July 10 32 incl. meals

dbl: $7,199.00

Sooke, Port Renfrew & Salt Spring Island Pacific Spirit Marine Park Jul 16-19 & Aug 20-23

8 incl. meals

dbl: $1,545.00

FEW SEATS Haida Gwaii Jul 13 - 19 17 meals $3,564.00 Glacier Nat. Park. & Waterton Lakes Jul 26 - Aug 2 14 meals $2,749.00 Canadian Maritimes N.S., P.E.I., & N.B. Jul 22 - Aug 2 23 meals $5,812.00 Desolation Sound Cruise Prideaux Haven, etc. Aug 2 - 5 9 meals $1,507.00 Grizzly Bears of Knight Inlet FEW SEATS Jul 25 - 29 10 meals $2,412.00 BC’s Inside Passage & Rail Circle Tour Aug 9 - 15 11 meals $2,778.00

agelessadventures.com

260 - 1959 152nd Street, South Surrey, B.C. V4A 9E3

Prices include home pick-up and all taxes

2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

19

L I V E

WWW.GEORGIANSQUAREDENTAL.COM

info@georgiansquaredental.com

604-385-0074

GRAND OPENING Dental exams and cleaning • Crowns and bridges • Digital X-rays Invisalign • Veneers • Wisdom Teeth • Implants • RCTs • Dentures

30

Every Wednesday is SENIORS DAY!

THE COUNTER % OVER PRODUCTS

WHAT TO EXPECT

(Value $100) or Custom take home

By Appointment 10:00am - 7:00pm 09:00am - 5:00pm 10:00am - 7:00pm 09:00am - 5:00pm 09:00am - 3:00pm Closed

www.pharmasavegateway.com

PHARMASAVE GATEWAY *Offer valid for LIMITED TIME with complete Oral Exam, X-rays and Cleaning

376 - 175A Street, Surrey BC Phone: (604) 542-4646 Fax: (604) 542-3661

4 Ave 3a Ave

Dufferin Park

Pacific Gateway Village Pharmasave

3 Ave 2 B Ave

175 a St

GEORGIAN SQUARE DENTAL 101E -1440 George Street, White Rock, BC V4B 4A3

Call us today or stop by.

We look forward to serving you.

Whitening Kit

176 Street

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Electric toothbrush

174 St

OPEN EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS

FREE

Attentive Pharmacists Providing Patient Focused Clinical Services FREE Medicine Delivery Ample & Easily Accessible Parking

173 A St

CALL US TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

with your Pharmasave Rewards Card

It’s easy to enroll and we’re here to help.

WALK-INS & EMERGENCIES WELCOME

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING

W I T H

MAKE PHARMASAVE GATEWAY YOUR PREFERRED PHARMACY

OFF

FAMILY DEN TISTRY

NEW PATIENTS!

W E L L

2A Ave

Independent & Seniors Life Care

You are Welcome!

• Welcoming seniors seeking modestly priced accommodation.

• Social and health programs to suit your interests.

• Brand new and recently opened.

• Services and supports designed with you in mind.

• Attractive & spacious Independent Living & Seniors Life Care suites available.

• Chef prepared nutritious meals. B.C. owned and family operated.

• Join us for a delicious dinner, our treat!

For more information and to book your tour please call Mardie:

604.542.6200 Ext.112 email: suncrestbc@telus.net Join us for a delicious lunch, our treat!

belvederebc.com

2567 King George Boulevard, South Surrey, B.C. V4P 0E9

20

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

A resident says: “One Million Thanks for appreciation for the very friendly dedication provided to me with smiling faces”.

Dynamic vocalists

emote with more motion

Maple Leaf Singers’ spring show marks 50 years of entertaining

By Alex Browne

I

t was when the Maple Leaf Singers were being highlighted at the B.C. Pavilion at Expo ’86 that New Westminster-based founders George and Marie Gillis made a discovery.

As the couple’s son, Rob Gillis – assistant music director (and soon to be the group’s new conductor) – remembers it, a glitch in the schedule led to an impromptu performance by the group without music books in hand.

“That’s when they discovered the choir didn’t need the music, and for the first time the choir stopped using it and converted into a show-choir, and started doing all of the choreography – that was a huge change in direction,” he said.

Rob Gillis grew up with the Maple Leaf Singers.

Today, the Maple Leaf Singers – celebrating their 50th year in existence, with 50 members ranging in age from 18 to 80 – are known throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for their dynamic shows, musical

versatility and a highly accessible repertoire that includes everything from show tunes, ballads and pop hits to rock n’ roll, jazz and gospel.

With more than 12 shows each year, the group delivers upbeat, no-fee entertainment for special events, private bookings and fundraisers – in many cases bringing their music to shut-ins or those who otherwise would not see such a performance.

Now one of the Vancouver area’s oldest choirs and the longest-standing member of the BC Choral Federation, the group continues to draw members from the White Rock, Surrey and Langley region, as well as regularly performing in the area.

continued on page 22

Local denture services providing experienced care by our professional team of Denturists for all your denture needs.

Conveniently located in the Semiahmoo Mall.

Call today to book an appointment

604 - 536-6711

Ms. Sonia Raeisi Denturist

• Relines • Repairs • Complete • Partial and Impant Dentures

Ms. Zoe Juckes Denturist

1711 - 152nd Street, Surrey - Inside the Mall 2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

21

The 50-strong Maple Leaf Singers perform more than 12 high-energy concerts a year – often for audiences who would not otherwise get to see a fully choreographed theatre-style show. (Contributed photo)

Performing with the singers put me in touch with the seniors community – which has had a major influence on me choosing my current career.

That included a full-house show April 18 at the Peninsula Seniors’ Residence in South Surrey, where Gillis is a general manager for Sienna Senior Living (which also includes overseeing the Pacifica Seniors Residence).

But their biggest performance of the year will be the upcoming Solid Gold, their 50th anniversary extravaganza, which comes to New Westminster’s Massey Theatre Saturday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 27, at 2 p.m.

Included will be songs by the Hollies, the Beatles, the Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Billy Joel, and house-shaking specialties like Rock This Town and You Can’t Stop The Beat – as well as the rousing gospel of Hallelujah, By and By and Swinging With The Saints, to the haunting melodies of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Shenandoah and the Water Is Wide.

“It’s the best of the best from 50 years of performing, including one of the songs that was in the first show in 1968 – The Happy Wanderer,” Gillis said.

“You name it, we’ve got it – there’s all kinds of stuff in there. It’s songs we know that have been crowd-pleasers over the years. Putting a show together this year was more of a challenge this year than in previous years, with all this great music to choose from.”

Gillis was singer and bass player with the Vancouver-based corporate and club band the Blue Meenies for 26 years.

A decade ago, he and his wife Josie decided it was time to join the Maple Leaf Singers as full-time singing members. Last year, Gillis stepped up to become assistant to musical director Wilson Fowlie, who has conducted the group for 17 years since Gillis’s father retired in 2000, and this year he will succeed Fowlie following the latter’s retirement.

Gillis’s history with the group started a lot earlier, of course.

“I grew up with the Maple Leaf Singers,” he said. “(The group) was put together when I was one year old,” he said, adding that his dad fused the short-lived Gillis Chorale, a small group that rehearsed out of their home, with the Maple Leaf Choir, which

22

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018

had been seeking a new conductor.

Relatability to audiences was always a concern, Gillis said, noting that his dad was insistent on calling the new group the Maple Leaf Singers. “‘We don’t want people thinking it’s a choir,’ he said.”

Another principle has also been consistent from the beginning, said Gillis – who first started playing percussion and singing with the group when he was eight.

“It’s a community choir – we play theatre-quality shows for people who can’t always get out to theatres,” he said.

“Performing with the singers put me in touch with the seniors community – which has had a major influence on me choosing my current career.”

Fortunately, although both of his parents retired from the choir, they still remain highly involved, Gillis added.

“While dad stopped conducting, my mom, to this day, is still sewing all our costumes – at the ripe age of 85,” he chuckled.

Recruiting new singers is an ongoing and highly necessary process, Gillis said, and singers are always invited to try out for the group (for more information, visit the website, mapleleafsingers.com).

“It’s only by getting new people that we can ensure that this will go on,” he said.

“The biggest strengths of the Maple Leaf Singers are the members’ sense of family, our joy in and love of singing, and the sense of contributing to the community.”

Gillis notes that the organization is a registered not-for-profit society.

“It costs us money to be involved and real passion and devotion to rehearse and perform – the big spring show allows us to do what we do in the community, to raise the funds to provide the service we do.”

The Massey Theatre is located at 735 8 Ave., New Westminster.

Tickets ($25, youth and students $15) are available from 778-2454445 or at the website, and special group pricing is available.

p

DONATE We gratefully receive the following clean, gently used items: • Furniture, Home Furnishings, Housewares • Collectibles • Vintage and Jewellery • Clothing and Accessories for women, men, and youth • Books, Records, CDs, DVDs, Games • Craft items, Notions, Yarn, and Fabrics • Hardware, Yard and Garden items • And so much more...

North Bluff Rd

North Bluff Rd

16 Ave TD Canada Trust

Johnston Rd

What May I Donate?

NEW LOCATION! Nature’s Fare Mkts White Rock

Foster St

Are you downsizing?

Moving?

Packing up an estate?

Penguin Meat Supply Ltd.

World Serve Thrift Store White Rock

Located on the lower level Russell Ave

WR Beach Beer Company

1524 Foster St

Located in Central Plaza

Looking for Gently Used Furniture

• Shop • Donate • Volunteer 1524 Foster St Located in Central Plaza • White Rock • 778-294-6800 SHOP: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm DONATE: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm • Saturday 9am to 3pm www.worldservethriftstore.ca 2018 | THIS IS THE LIFE | Peace Arch News

23

In partnership with the City of White Rock + White Rock Firefighters Charity Association

OPENING THIS SUMMER! JOIN THE MOVEMENT! Help White Rock + South Surrey be the healthiest community possible.

MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY! peacearchfoundation pahfoundation pahfoundation.ca 604.535.4520 24

Peace Arch News | THIS IS THE LIFE | 2018