Experience Tri-Cities Fall 2019

T H E T R I -C IT I ES COMMU NIT Y LI F E STYL E M AG AZIN E FALL 2019 F R EE

s t r A e Th ! e r u t l u +C Also inside: CANNING 101 Healthy year-round eating 14

RUBEN’S SHOES Not your average shoe store 32

JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD A naval architect and photographer 36

Fall 2019 | Volume 1 | Number 3 PUBLISHER

Laurel Publications

EDITOR / ART DIRECTOR

Laurel Ettinger

Alex

ADVERTISING / GENERAL MANAGER

Alex Whittaker

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Elisabeth Charmley Don Epp Phoography / doneppphotography.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Karen Andersen Samantha Agtarap Michelle Hopkins Laurie Jones Christina Martyn Jennifer McKinnon Rachelle Mellanby Lynn Oldenburg Hafez Panju

Embracing the arts Every season in the Tri-Cities is a great time of year to live in this community, but fall brings so many exciting things! Trail walks on beautiful crisp fall days, meeting a friend for a coffee on a rainy Saturday or gathering up the kids for a trip to the pumpkin patch. As the weather starts to turn, we thought it would be a wonderful time to celebrate the arts in the Tri-Cities. From great theatre and galleries, to live music and dance, there are many venues to visit and tons of opportunities to become involved in the area of the arts that pulls at your heart strings. In this ‘Issue Of The Arts’ we provide a small sampling of what lies in wait for you and your family. Have a wonderful fall season in the Tri-Cities! n

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ALL INQUIRIES Alex Whittaker | 604.760.7553 alex.whittaker@experiencetricities.ca Please visit our website: experiencetricities.ca experiencetricities experiencetricities exptricities

Published under license from Community Clicks Media Group Inc.

– Alex Whittaker

White Lotus Divine Healing metaphysical healing boutique, port moody

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ON THE COVER

Event photographer Don Epp captured singer Emerson Gestrin in action with Coastal Sound Children’s Choir.

FALL 2019

Contents

FOOD & CULTURE

OUTDOOR LIFE YOUR STYLE

6

Al fresco expansion of indoor creature comforts

17

Easy lunches for back to school

18

Demystifying diets

21

The art of pricing

HOME & FAMILY

26

Got the BTS blues?

29

Pets and Peeps

IN THE COMMUNITY

Canning 101

14

A tasty hobby for yearround healthy eating

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31

The majesty of nature

32

Ruben’s Shoes

36

The naval architectress

40

A local resident’s personal breast cancer journey

HEALTH & WELNESS

42

Yoga for parents with no time

45

Baby tooth talk EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

5

Evergreen Theatre Series: Screwball Comedy

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| FALL 2019

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FOOD & CULTURE

STICK THESE IN YOUR BACK POCKET – TICKETS THAT IS! ART AND CULTURE ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT YOUR OWN DOORSTEP

by L.D. Ettinger

T

ri-Cities art, music, theatre and dance aficionados– you are just moments away from opening day at the box office. So why are you just sitting there? Open your calendar and make some plans! These amazing ensembles and offering of classes for all ages, should make you very proud of your community and where you choose to call home.

Evergreen Cultural Centre This year David Mann celebrates his 11th season as the Performing Arts manager at Evergreen. “Putting the program together never ceases to be exciting and fun! I think you will find this year to be a varied and entertaining mix of high-quality performances, and I want to share them with you,” he says with excitement.

COURTESY EVERGREEN

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“The real fun begins with our Annual Season Celebration on September 14,2019, featuring the amazing MOTOWN SHOW! As always, this season contains a combination of well-known favourites, new discoveries and changes,” Mann says. “Returning favourites include magician Vitaly, musicians Marc Atkinson Trio (with Cameron Wilson), pianist Sarah Hagen with spoken word artist Brendan McLeod, fringe-favourite Charles Ross (One Man Pride & Prejudice), banjo player Jayme Stone, Ballet Victoria’s The Nutcracker, big swing band the Bruce James Orchestra, and crazy kids’ antics with DuffleBag Theatre,” he adds. >

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

7

IVAN OTIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Clockwise from above: CADENCE; Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish; A Christmas Carol.

“We have an entirely new series, called Power Classic Sundays, which brings classical chamber ensembles from all over North America to our stage for three Sunday afternoon concerts. We will be celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a concert from Beethoven Trio (and another concert to be announced in the fall of 2020); and we are celebrating Black History Month this February with Adanu Habobo: A Night of African Music and Dance,” says Mann.

“Our Theatre Series has grown into a powerhouse eight-show series of eclectic theatre productions – including a lot of great comedy! Highlights in our Theatre Series this year include Bed & Breakfast, Kim’s Convenience and The Shoplifters from the Arts Club Theatre Company, The Double Axe Murders from Rusticate Theatre, Person of Interest by Melody A. Johnson, Forever Plaid by First Impressions Theatre, Screwball Comedy by the folks at Royal Canadian Theatre Company and closing out the season, Receive and Process Theatre brings us Love/Sick,” he adds.

“Our TD Music Series includes eight artists entirely new to Evergreen, but there are a few in there I’m sure will become your next favourite musicians! This season includes The Dime Notes, Red-Dirt Skinners, Jayme Stone’s Folklife, Trio Varonezh and The Slocan Ramblers to name a few,”says Mann.

Evergreen Cultural Centre’s crowd favourites, Marcel and

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Elizabeth Bergmann are back with their eighth season of Musical Mornings with special guests Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Jasper Wood (violinist), and Jose Franch-Ballester (clarinet). Check out the lineup for all five shows on their website.

If you have young ones interested in theatre Evergreen’s Family Series – it will expand to four shows, and all tickets are $10 – which makes it a great deal for families.

This year’s lineup will include Sursaut Dance with their thoughtprovoking production of Me Squared.

DuffleBag Theatre returns with A Christmas Carol in November, Axis Theatre tells an indigenous tale with Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish. Monster Theatre will present We Now Know: The Complete History of Science . . . all in an hour!

“September is a great time to set up a full season of entertainment at Evergreen . . . however, you don’t have to pay full price, because we have all kinds of ways to allow you to save! There are affordable options for every show in our season,” Mann says.

Theatre Series Subscriptions: You can still save up to 20% off single tickets with a subscription, right up to the first show in October.

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Packages are available for the full series of eight shows (save 20%); the 6-7 Show Pack (up to 15%); and the 4-5 Show Pack (up to 10%).

Not only that, but subscribers to their Theatre Series also become Evergreen Members, which entitles the member to discounts on single tickets to events, registrations to programs and free admission to the Film Series.

TD Music Series and Variety Series Sampler Packs: If you like to pick and choose from the concerts in Evergreen’s TD Music Series – or dance, theatre, magic, comedy, et cetera in their Variety Series – or maybe you want a mixed bag from both series – their Sampler Packs are the way to go. Choose a 7+ Show Pack (save 30%); 5-6 Show Pack (up to 25%); or 3-4 Show Pack (up to 20%). A few speciallypriced shows are excluded from the Sampler Packs – mainly shows that are already significantly lower in price.

Power Classic Sundays Series Subscriptions: Single adult tickets to this brand-new series of Sunday afternoon chamber music concerts are $35; however, with a subscription to all 3 concerts, you pay only $25 per concert. Student subscriptions save 15% off the single ticket price of $15.

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Left: Ysabella Choung’s MODU Exhibit, above: art students in front of the Port Moody Arts Centre.

Musical Mornings Subscriptions: Subscriptions to the five Musical Mornings Series concerts are 20% off the single ticket price.

Family Series: The terrific lineup of family shows is always affordable, with the Pay-What-You Can pricing ($10 minimum per person).

In conclusion, it pays to plan ahead and book your tickets through Evergreen’s various subscription and sample packs for the 2019/2020 season! Take the journey with Evergreen this season as they will engage with various communities, cultures, age groups and arts organizations – and of course, with you!

Don’t wait another minute to book your tickets: evergreenculturalcentre.ca

Port Moody Arts Centre Housed in the historic Old City Hall and Appleyard House buildings in the heart of Port Moody, the Port Moody Arts Centre is a cultural hub for arts and education.

With a mission to promote participation in the arts, the Arts Centre offers a wide range of classes in visual arts, ceramics, music, performing arts and more. It’s never too late to dive into a new skill, as classes are available for children, teens and adults.

The Arts Centre is also home to a free public art gallery, showcasing the work of emerging and established artists in a variety of mediums through a professionally curated exhibition program. >

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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Upcoming Highlights

Art 4 Life is a four-week exhibition and series of events centred around art and the endless possibilities of creative discovery. This exhibition brings together a variety of different art forms and disciplines, creating an expansive exploration of art that encourages curiosity and imagination.

This year, Art 4 Life will be on display during the Culture Days Activities, tying together the importance of art in a community, and the value of artistic education for youth. This exhibition is geared toward the young and the young-at-heart to generate cultural awareness, active participation and discussion, and cultivate artistic growth in the Tri-Cities community.

Opening Reception is Saturday September 28, 2019, 1:00-3:00pm Your Shoe, My Show: A Micro Epic Play is a fun 30-minute performance jam-packed with song and dance! Explore themes such as friendship, expressing and managing emotions, courage, and cooperation through music, songs, and movement presented by Rebel Haunt Theatre and the Port Moody Arts Centre.

October 5 and 19, 2019, 2:00pm. October 10, 2019, 7:00pm. Admission is free, reserve online.

Visit Port Moody Arts Centre at 2425 St Johns St, Port Moody, or online at pomoarts.ca to claim your seats!

Coastal Sound Music Academy What began more than 30 years ago as the Coquitlam School District Honour Choir, has grown to be Coastal Sound Music Academy, an essential part of the local cultural fabric. You may have already seen Coastal Sound Children’s Choir perform at Canada Day and holiday events around the Tri-Cities.

Based at Evergreen Cultural Centre and Blakeburn Elementary, Coastal Sound Music Academy offers holistic choral music education for everyone ages four to adult, through its eight choirs.

Transforming lives and building community through choral music Over the years, the values of Coastal Sound Music Academy have

DON EPP PHOTOGRAPHY

Artistic director Diana Clark is passionate about the organization.

“It feels like our mission is more important than ever: to build a sense of community and connection when there are so many isolating forces pulling humans apart from one another. No matter your background or age, everyone needs to feel connected, seen, understood and worthy.”

Over Coastal Sound’s past three decades, singers’ lives have been transformed by memorable adventures, travel, cultural exchanges and collaborations. The choristers have performed at the 2010 Olympics, Grey Cup, Canada Day ceremonies and special events.

Notable performances include singing with Sarah Brightman, Donny Osmond, opera star Judith Forst and with Michael Bublé on his holiday special.

That’s part of the fun of singing in a choir: no matter where you go in the world, you can meet and sing with other kindred spirits, and have instant friends! Music IS the universal language after all.

Singing together helps nurture our humanity, compassion and empathy for one another. A seemingly small action like creating music together can help make the world a better place, according to Clark and her team of conductors.

Clark explains, “When we join our individual and diverse voices together in song, all of our differences combine to create

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DON EPP PHOTOGRAPHY

been unwavering: to promote peace, joy, and connection through the pursuit of choral music excellence.

something greater than the sum of our individual parts. There is a positive energy created by the choir – a love and acceptance of each other. We gain insights and understanding of others and we explore our own unique gifts and how those gifts can help others. That’s empowering!”

Choristers say that Coastal Sound was like a second family at critical times in their lives, and many life-long friendships began in the rehearsals.

Thanks to a generous bursary program, singers can participate in the choir programs regardless of financial circumstances.

Clark’s enthusiasm is infectious. “I can’t rave enough about the value of choral singing in our lives, no matter how old we are. We don’t just learn how to sing with healthy technique, how to read music and how to be expressive through choral art, even though that’s all very good and important. Through singing choral music, we learn how to be good humans and how to appreciate each other. How to hold each other up when things get tough. How to recognize the gifts in ourselves and others that make for a greater ‘whole.’ How to contribute to the culture of our communities. How to be resilient when things don’t go as planned.”

May the whole world learn these ‘choir lessons’ too.

Contributing to the community Choirs will be singing at the Coquitlam Farmers’ Market on October 20.

In December, the choirs will be joined by Touch of Brass quintet. If you love a cappella singing, mark your calendars for May 9th, when the adult choir, DeCoro, backs up Canada’s premiere male vocal quartet CADENCE at Evergreen Cultural Centre.

Coastal Sound has just launched a Music Commissioning Fund so that new music can be created by Canadian composers and made available for choirs to sing. A generous donation by Coastal Sound’s founder Donna Otto and her husband David Spence, has ensured the success of this legacy project for years to come.

It’s never too late to join a choir! For more information visit coastalsoundmusic.com n

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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s s e r p x E Yourself with Music Lessons at the Port Moody Arts Centre

- Voice - Guitar - Violin - Theory - Piano 2425 St. Johns Street, Port Moody

COME SING WITH

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Celebrating 30 years Choral music education for all ages Register for the 2019-2020 season

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FOOD & CULTURE

CANNING 101 A TASTY HOBBY FOR YEAR-ROUND HEALTHY EATING

by Laurie Jones

W

hether you enjoy the farmers’ markets in your neighbourhood, or have your own garden or fruit trees, canning – or preserving as it is also known – is an easy way to access your favourite foods at any time of the year.

For those new to the canning world, there are two types of processing – boiling and pressure cooking.

Although time consuming, the process is simple for both. The most important part is following the rules of canning to ensure the preserving process is done right,

14 EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES

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and for your own personal safety when handling hot glass and food.

Water bath canning To get started on your path to canning, use a large stock pot with a lid and a metal rack inserted on the bottom. Check jars and lids for cracks or uneven surfaces before using to ensure proper seals.

Here are the easy steps to get started: 1. Wash jars well with soap and water or use your dishwasher.

Keep them in 180° water to avoid cracking when hot foods are added.

Lids and bands should remain at room temperature for ease of use.

2. Prepare foods for canning using a favourite recipe. (Vegetables have a higher acid content and should be canned using a pressure cooker.)

3. Use a jar lifter to remove heated glass and fill one at a time using a jar funnel. Leave headspace as recommended and use a bubble remover or spatula to release any air.

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IN A JAM? If you don’t have access to fresh fruit, frozen fruit from the grocery store is a great next-best option for jams and preserves – a great option for midwinter blackberry jam cravings.

DOUBLE SMOKED BACON AND TOMATO JAM INFUSED WITH XFOUR HANDCRAFTED BC VODKA

4. Wipe the rim and threads of the jars to remove any excess food. Add lid, ensuring the seal has connected.

Apply band and immerse jars in the canner, ensuring they are covered by 1-2 inches of water. Cover pot with the lid and bring to a boil for the recommended time.

5. Remove from heat and take off lid, allowing jars to rest for five minutes. Using jar lifter, take jars from canning pot and place on a towel. Leave for 12 to 24 hours to avoid breakage with temperature change.

6. Make sure the lid is sealed correctly by pressing on the top checking for movement, or popping.

Remove the bands and check to see if lids lift. If so, refrigerate immediately. If the seal is tight, jars can be kept in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months. Store rings for future use. >

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Dice: 1 pound of double smoked bacon 1 medium Spanish onion Mince one clove of fresh garlic 1 kg of fresh local Heirloom cherry tomatoes Sautee onion with bacon to add flavour. Cook on medium heat until bacon is cooked and onion is soft. Add garlic and stir. Toss in the tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Add: 325 ml of brown sugar 60 ml of good-quality apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp of finely chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp of red pepper flakes Bring back to a boil stirring continually. Reduce heat to simmer and cook over low heat for 1.5 hours or until the mixture turns into a thick relish.

Add: 125 ml of XFour Handcrafted BC

Vodka and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, remove from heat and let cool. Fill small jars that have been in a water bath to kill bacteria. Place lid on jar and tighten. Cool on the counter until you hear a pop in the lid – this mean it has been sealed.

Enjoy on top of your favourite smoked fish, chicken, pork, lamb or with grilled vegetables. Store in the refrigerator once opened.

From the kitchen of Chef Marcus VonAlbrecht Member of the Culinary Hall of Fame President – MAVA Foods Ltd. To see more information on the award-winning XFour Handcrafted BC Vodka, go to www.vonalbrecht. com/about-us. o

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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DILL PICKLES, BILL WINDSOR Ingredients: Pickling cukes Garlic Dill weed Jalapeño peppers (optional) Brine: 6 cups vinegar 12 cups water 12 tbsp pickling salt 8 tbsp sugar Method: Mix brine ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil.

Sterilize quart jars and lids.

Fill each with five to eight cloves of garlic, cukes and dill.

Pour hot brine into jars and seal.

Place sealed jars into preheated 300oF oven for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool. 

PICKLED SALMON, BILL WINDSOR Day one ingredients: 2 sockeye salmon Kosher salt Method: Skin and debone the salmon.

Slice each side into approximately six to eight pieces per side.

Generously coat all pieces on both sides with kosher salt.

Store in an air tight tupperware container in the fridge for one month.

Day 30 Make the brine: 9 cups white vinegar 5 cups water 4 cups sugar 1/3 cup pickling spice Add ingredients to a large stock pot. Warm to dissolve the sugar. Store in fridge overnight.

Day 31 Today is canning day!

Thoroughly wash and rinse the salmon to remove the salt.

Soak in fresh water for 3 hours and change the water every hour.

Slice the salmon into small, bite-sized strips.

Slice 4 medium/large white onions, then cut the slices in half.

Arrange 10-12 quart size jars.

Fill the jars with equal parts of salmon and onion. Fill each jar with brine. Store in the fridge for one week before ready.

Keep refrigerated. n

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the grocery store mid-week to get that one item you need for lunch or dinner. In addition, doing some of the prep work ahead of time, like chopping vegetables, can save time later.

Tip 2: Involve your kids (or partner) Including your kids in planning weekly meals and food preparation will give them the sense of control and autonomy in what they eat.

Of course, it is up to us as parents to set some guidelines (“No, you can’t have potato chips as your veggie serving!”) but allowing them to choose within guidelines that you set can help those lunches get eaten!

FOOD & CULTURE

Easy lunches for back to school

by Samantha Agtarap

S

eptember is synonymous with new routines and the feeling of a fresh start, much like January. This also likely means a return to making lunches for everyone and along with busy evenings. Lunch-making duty can seem time consuming, and frustrating if food is coming home uneaten. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The key to quick and healthy lunches, or any meal, is to keep it simple! You can reduce the time you spend making lunch, reduce food waste, and eat a satisfying and healthy meal with a bit of planning.

Here are some tips to make the whole process smoother:

Tip 1: Plan the week Depending on your family’s schedule, planning lunch and dinner meals ahead of time can reduce some of the stress around getting healthy meals on the table in a timely manner. Planning will also reduce trips to

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Tip 3: Pick a protein and build your meal around it It can be hard to decide what you or your kids feel like eating. In the interests of keeping it simple, pick a protein you (or they enjoy) and build your meal around it. For example, left over chicken can be made into a chicken Caesar salad – all you need is the cooked chicken, some lettuce (any kind, although romaine is the best), red onion, parmesan cheese and some dressing. Or chicken plus any veggies you have in the fridge with some olive oil-based dressing, like the Primal Kitchen brand, and lunch is ready in 5 minutes.

Tip 4: Make extra servings of dinner When the weather turns cool, it can be comforting and enjoyable to have warm food at lunch. By investing in a good quality thermos and making extra dinner portions, leftovers can be a quick and easy lunch the next day.

Cook once, eat twice!

Bento-style lunch boxes like PlanetBox or YumBox can also help keep lunch organized. Overall, the key to easy meals is to keep it simple and fill the meal with healthy proteins, vegetables and fruits that your family enjoys eating. Busy lives require easy meals, lunch included!

For more information visit engineeredbodies.ca.

n

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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FOOD & CULTURE

DEMYSTIFYING FOUR POPULAR DIETS

WHICH DIET IS BEST FOR YOU – WE GIVE YOU THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH

by Michelle Hopkins

W

e all have that aha moment, that instant when we tell ourselves, enough is enough, I need to lose weight. Sure, we all know how we should eat healthier, but it’s really hard to resist temptations like a big, juicy burger or a slice of sinfully delicious chocolate cake! It’s no surprise that eating well is still difficult for many of us.

If you are truly committed, you might now you asking yourself, which diet will help you win the battle of the bulge? Keto, Atkins, Mediterranean or Paleo? . . . it’s enough to make one want to grab a donut.

Experience Tri-Cities reviews some of the pros and cons of each.

ith -fat, low-carb, w consists of high eto K nd hi Keto: This diet ry be protein. The theo of nt ou am o l (t al s a sm ohydrate rely restrict carb is that if you seve ketosis – a h nt), you will reac two to five per ce body into using that thrust your metabolic state is usually a downside, Keto e th On . el fu r fo fat on such e it’s hard to stay us ca be fix m er short-t d risk of include increase ns Co . et di e iv a restrict vere fatigue. teoporosis and se kidney stones, os

Atkins: One of th e granddaddies of low carb diets, th is diet, rich in pr otein and health fat, is split into y four phases, in w hi ch you gradually increase your co nsumption of go od carbs to 20 pe cent. Pros includ r e improvements in blood sugar levels, “good” H DL cholesterol, triglycerides an other health mar d kers. On the cons , eating so much protein can caus e severe constip ation, bad breath fatigue and dehy , dration.

Mediterranean : Touted by the World Health Organization an d backed by a lo t of science, this internationally popular plant-b ased diet is hear healthy and said t to decrease your risk of cancer, diabetes and othe r chronic diseas es. Best of all, it features some se riously delicious food. This diet encourages daily consumption of vegetables, frui whole grains an ts, d healthy fats; w eekly portions of fish and seafoo d, poultry, bean s and eggs; moderated dair y products and ve ry little red mea There are really t. no health cons to this diet.

diet, Paleo is ed the caveman Paleo: Also dubb ein, including lean animal prot basically rich in s, as well as ega-3 fatty acid om in ch ri d oo af se ts. Lots of great bles and raw nu ta ge ve , ts ui fr , idered eggs fits as this is cons ne be y or at m m anti-infla preservatives, or ee of additives, it a “clean” diet fr sh on this diet as might feel sluggi u Yo s. al ic n . em ts ch y produc e grains or dair doesn’t encourag

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EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

19

Easy to make fall wreath.

1

2

3

4

Source cuttings Wire into shape Reinforce shape Add hang loop

5 Continue to add greenery

Wire decorations in layers

T a d a !

6 www.portmoodyflowers.ca

HOME & FAMILY

The art of pricing

by Hafez Panju

T

hat’s right, pricing a home is more art than it is science.

That is because no two homes are alike. Even in a condo building, two homes that have the exact same square footage will still have differences that can affect the potential market value. When pricing a home, it is important to consider as many similar properties as possible.

The market can change very quickly, and many factors can change a market in either direction. When considering comparable homes, it is

also important to look at the most recent sales. Although it is important to understand the competition, anyone can ask whatever price they wish, therefore, it does not mean the home is worth the asking price. The value of a home is what someone has agreed to purchase that home for. Therefore, a potential market value of a home is the most recent comparable sales.

Once these factors are considered then the ‘art’ part is adjusting for differences such as home size, lot

size, condition, views and other subjective factors that affect value.

There are many other factors that should be considered when trying to determine a potential listing price.

The more information you consider, the more informed you will be and the better educated you will become when considering what your list price can be. ■

Looking to Buy or Sell Real Estate in the Greater Vancouver area?

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EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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Windsor Plywood Coquitlam So Much

e M o r Than A Plywood Store!

Doors, Flooring, Moulding, Stair Parts, Decking and more. Something for every room in your home!

2700 BARNET HWY, COQUITLAM

Phone: 604-941-1768

Visit us online at: www.windsor-plywood.com

Monday-Friday: 7am - 6pm Saturday: 8:30am - 5pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm Closed All Holidays

Home and Health Care Services for Seniors For your family’s peace of mind, we will take care of your loved one’s needs, just so they will be able to grow old, in their own homes, healthy and happy.

Just Like Family is a local company, servicing the Tricities, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge areas. We provide Home and Health Care services for seniors, including: •Personal care services for daily living activities •Overnight and 24/7 live-in services •Companionship, meal preparation and housekeeping •Dementia (Alzheimer’s) care, palliative care, cancer care •Post-operative care and more . . .

•Bonded and insured caregivers •Services in several languages

For more information please call us (24/7) at 604.704.5115 or visit our website at www.justlikefamily.ca

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Available at your Tri-Cities Grocer www.bigmountainfoods.com

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Sundays and Holidays 11:00am – 5:00pm

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IN THE ‘HOOD WITH COQUITLAM CHRYSLER, PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1976

Thanks for joining Coquitlam Chrysler at the Four Wheel Drive Association’s Show ‘n Shine; Four Wheel Drive Association’s Wheelers of Tomorrow; Canada Day at Lafarge Lake; United Rentals Golf Tournament and the Mayor’s Classic Golf Tournament.

At Coquitlam Chrysler, we believe in the community we serve. Since opening in 1976, Coquitlam Chrysler has been a pillar of the community through sponsoring local events and organizations. As trusted members of the Coquitlam business community, local sports teams – such as the Coquitlam Express and Port Moody Panthers – are just a few of the sponsorships we’ve built deep connections with.

We would love to see you at our dealership for one of our weekend BBQs. Coquitlam Chrysler knows how to have fun! We’re at our best when we’re at our busiest, so let our friendly staff and knowledgeable experts help you relax and enjoy the experience.

We have everything you need, whether you’re looking for a new or used vehicle, servicing the one you already own, or just want to stop by and say hi. Have fun, stay local and love the beautiful city we call home.

ROBERTO DAVID

HOME & FAMILY

Got the BTS blues?

MINDFULLY MANAGING THE BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON

by Lynn Oldenburg

T

he long summer days have now faded and it is time to transition our thoughts to the fall season and the responsibilities of back to school commitments. This can be an overwhelming month for kids and parents, as we once again step back into the weekly schedule. For some kids it can be a time of excitement, new friends, new teachers, but for others the unknown and possible changes can be a very scary situation. Not all kids welcome the change that September brings, so as parents, it is essential to cultivate a presence of calm and proactive planning within this month. Help your kids to feel prepared, confident and ready for the changes that occur in a new school year.

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As a mom of two I found the transition from August to September to be chaotic and stressful. I always found myself exhausted – balancing the demands of the school needs along with my work schedule. For years I moved in a state of unconsciousness from one activity to another. One year I realized that I actually had a choice as to how to navigate all the responsibilities!

I soon recognized that I could manage these tasks mindfully while interacting with my kids in a more loving manner that enabled all of us to enjoy the journey as much as the activities.

Here are some tips that can help you to create enjoyable back to school experiences:

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1. Stop procrastinating! At the end of August, I would frantically run around to different stores to search for all the required school supplies. By this time, most stores run out of supplies.

Suggestion: Review leftover supplies in June and create a list of what you will still require for the first day of school. Schools do offer a school supply package that you can pre purchase at the end of the school year.

Ensure you start supply shopping by mid to end of July.

2. Sports and extracurricular activities. Signing up and registering for after school activities can be time consuming and the costs can really add up. One year I made the mistake of choosing an activity for my son without communicating with him prior to registering.

This was his first swim lesson and he would not go into the water.

Suggestion: It is important to have a conversation with your kids prior to signing them up for these activities.

Be clear with what you are able to afford and how many programs you can physically manage without impacting the emotional balance of the family. Empowering your child with the decision making supports self confidence and can instil a feeling of comfort. If it is available, take them to a ‘try it out free’ sport session.

3. How to stay on top of all the events and still appreciate the present moment? For years I was moving so fast that I never recognized the importance of appreciating each day as it came. As my kids grew older I realized that I didn’t remember many of the milestones from their school and sport events. I believe I was creating a lot of stress for myself and inadvertently transferring that energy to my kids.

4. Planning ahead to manage the weekly schedule.

Living in the present moment does not mean you can’t plan ahead.

Suggestion: Creating a weekly or monthly calendar of events can support peace of mind. Invite the whole family into the process, and get as creative as you like. If you are a technological family, there are many products out there, including your smart phone, that can help to alert you to all your family events.

5. Find time to enjoy nature and create beautiful memories. Getting out of the car as much as possible, can lessen stress and improve your state of being.

Making outdoor activities a priority in your week really benefits the human body by reducing stress, improving mood and boosting the immune system.

Suggestion: Taking a bus, walking or riding bikes to school can be a wonderful experience in September when the weather is still very pleasant. Many schools promote programs that coordinate families to connect through walking or biking to school together.

Depending on your child’s age and your own work commitments you may only be able to take on one or two of these suggestions, and that is perfectly ok.

Even a small shift in how we perceive this busy month will create the change we want to see, resulting in a more balanced way to live our lives. Remember to slow down, find the quiet moments and really enjoy the whole journey! n

Suggestion: Be a role model for them, stay grounded, create moments of stillness and teach them how to manage their own emotions with breath. Focusing on the breath can help quiet the nervous system, allowing the stress or anxiety to dissipate. A simple practice of staying present, focusing on a long breath in, to the count of four and a long breath out, to the count of six, can really shift their feelings.

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HOME & FAMILY

PETS AND PEEPS

THE DOS AND DON’TS WITH KIDS AND PUPPIES

by Rachelle Mellanby

Play Pals When children are playing on the ground, place puppy in a crate or encloser beside them. This will keep the puppy from jumping and biting and teach her to lie calmly while they play. Leave treats by her crate and every so often give one to your puppy for behaving. When it’s time to play with your puppy, play ‘pig in the middle’ game versus chase or romping. If the latter, it will most likely end in tears.

Up close and personal Introducing body handling has many benefits. For one, it makes grooming and vet trips less stressful.

Involving your kids teaches them to handle your puppy gently, while she gets used to the feeling of touch in a controlled, positive setting. Brushing her is a great start.

If your pup has any sensitivity towards body handling you should contact a professional.

Face averted to avoid eye contact

Body tense and stiff Wide open eyes

Panting

Body turned away from girl

Let sleeping dogs lie When a dog is sleeping, teach kids to DO NOT disturb.

I suggest putting a blanket over the crate to help remove the temptation. Monitor crawling babies at all times. They love to grab tails and ears and not all dogs are comfortable with this. An Exersaucer is a great way to keep a toddler on a higher level from your sleeping canine.

Man’s Best Friend has limits too If your dog resource-guards or has known triggers, watch for physical warning signs – your dog could be stressed and may bite. Behaviours to look for include: licking their lips, blinking rapidly, avoiding eye contact,

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“Please don’t hug me, this makes me feel trapped and stressed!”

trying to get away and panting heavily. If this is the case, never have the kids scold her behaviour. Instead, intervene and redirect your puppy to a quieter place in the house or move the kids elsewhere.

If you are considering getting a family dog, do know they come with a lot of work, especially with young kids.

But, once you have some essential training and a safe household routine in place, the bond and fun they both will have together is worth it!

Happy Tails Everyone!.

■

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IN THE COMMUNITY

THE MAJESTY OF NATURE

by Rick Glumac , MLA for Port Moody – Coquitlam

W

hile paddling my canoe through the morning mist, my children spotted an eagle overhead. Circling, circling, and then without warning, it dove at the speed of light toward the water before us.

Within mere seconds it was again high in the sky, this time clutching it’s catch.

This majestic, awe-inspiring moment is just one of many I have shared with my children. We also love visiting with the beaver family that’s made their home in a local waterway.

In fact, we cannot go for a walk around the community without stopping in to see if they are out and about. We also enjoy visiting Mossom Creek Hatchery, the forested surroundings seemingly a world away from the bustle of city life. My daughter recently participated in fin clipping there and we’ve all learned so much about what it takes to rebuild healthy salmon stocks in a creek where the wild salmon have disappeared. Connecting with nature in all these ways is so important to me and reminds me of why I got involved in politics in the first place.

Growing up in Port Alberni, my dad impressed upon me from an early age the importance of appreciating and respecting our natural world. It was in the soft light of our early morning fishing trips I was able to slow my mind, listen

to the birds and breathe the stillness. These moments of connection are still how I recharge and I want to make sure my children, and my children’s children have the same opportunities to experience nature.

But when I think about their future, I can’t help but worry about the effects of climate change: rising sea levels, extreme weather, increasing wildfires and the loss of species. Despite the enormity of these challenges I’ve always believed that people can turn things around. But it takes action from each and every one of us, from individuals, to governments, to innovative clean technology companies on the cusp of transformative change.

I’m proud to be a part of a government that has put forward a climate plan, CleanBC, with some of the strongest climate policies in North America. It’s a comprehensive strategy outlining how we are going to transform the way we construct buildings, get around our communities, and grow our economy. We are putting our province on a path to a stronger, more sustainable future.

Charting the way forward is no easy task, but the moments we spend in nature can help to recharge us and keep us strong and positive about the road ahead. I know that if we continue working together, we can do amazing things.

Read more about our climate change strategy at cleanbc.gov.bc.ca ■

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IN THE COMMUNITY

RUBEN’S SHOES IT’S NOT YOUR AVERAGE SHOE COMPANY

by Jennifer McKinnon

I

t’s funny, I meet Desiree Dupuis at Gallagher’s in Port Moody, and literally the first few minutes of her interview we discussed nothing except Kelly Strongitharm, her business partner and long-time friend since high school.

This is no surprise as I know Dupuis (I’ll refer to her as Des moving forward) as the selfless individual she is, and from her outstanding presence and work throughout the chamber and the Tri-Cities community. Recently, in fact, Des was the recipient of the prestigious award of Tri-Cities Chamber Member of the Year.

Both growing up in Aldergrove, Des and Kelly lost two of their good friends in high school, followed by a car accident they were in together, that solidified and strengthened their relationship. Although postsecondary brought them to different directions, it was becoming roommates some years later, that brought them together for their business partnership and a charitable society that will become their legacy.

It was in 2003 when Kelly started sponsoring Ruben,

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a young boy from the Dominican Republic, that their true purpose and direction was born. Des remembers the impact of seeing Ruben’s pictures over the years and watching him grow up. And when Kelly went on vacation in to the Dominican with her mom and arranged to meet the young boy she had been sponsoring the last few years, she uncovered a devastating barrier. Children throughout the Dominican who are without shoes, are unable to attend school due to this.

Ruben’s Shoes began It was 2013 when Kelly came to Des with the idea of Ruben Shoes.

Kelly’s mission was to collect a couple hundred pairs of shoes and she asked Des to help her. “My

first thought was no, you’re crazy,” Des chuckles thinking back on the beginning. “Of course, I agreed to help her. Within six months we had collected over 14,000 pairs of shoes to send to the Dominican Republic, with a big part coming from the support of the TriCities community.”

After a published article in the Province about Ruben Shoes, they were contacted by a woman, Louise, in Alberta. Louise was the founder of the Dominican Starfish Foundation in the Dominican Republic and had been collecting shoes and goods in Alberta. “Louise was trying to figure out how to get her supplies overseas and googled container/Dominican and found our article. It ended up being a huge blessing because she became the receiver of the container of our 14,000 pairs of shoes.”

Des then reached out to her good friend Graham Robins, CEO of A&A Freight Forwarding, and they were able to cover the cost of the first container shipment to the Dominican Republic.

The collection of an abundance of shoes led Kelly, Des and four other friends to the Dominican to give shoes.>

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Along the way in partnership with the Dominican Starfish, they were able to fundraise and build a new home for four families. Returning from their trip, Kelly, Des, the current chair of their board, Kristy, re-evaluated their mission and with the help of their friend and strong community partner, Carlo Zarrillo, they realized that the team fundamentally believed that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and from there determined to focus their effort solely on helping break down the barrier for children to access education believing that ‘all kids deserve the opportunity to education.’

Even larger strides It was Des and Kelly’s next trip to the Dominican that they met Aris Toribio. Aris was running a small private school for 24 students in a community village where there were no other schools for the kids.

It was a constant financial struggle day-to-day as families were unable to afford tuition. Aris told us a story of a girl, Dacheline, who had recently lost both of her parents and was being cared for by her aunt.

Dacheline was being pulled from

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school as her aunt was unable to cover the $2.50 a day it cost to get to school on a moto-taxi. Des knew of a family in Canada that wanted to be a part of a sponsor program if Ruben’s Shoes ever created one. And so, with that, Ruben’s Shoes’ Education Sponsorship Program was created. Dacheline was the first recipient and, within six months, the education of all 24 of Aris’ students were sponsored from Canada.

As their Education Sponsorship program grew to over 100 students, Ruben’s Shoes continuously raised money to rebuild and add additions to the school to allow for the increase in capacity from 24 students to now 200 students.

With the growth of their school and Education Sponsorship Program along with continuation of shipping over 60,000 pairs of gently-used shoes around the world, in 2018, they created their ‘Ruben’s Ruckus’ fundraiser. As shoe drives through local elementary schools have been such a strong pillar towards Ruben’s Shoes’ success (who received charitable status in 2018) Des and Kelly wanted to come up with an event that these junior philanthropists could continue to

contribute to and enjoy. It’s been their second year of having 400 kids at Coquitlam Centre Park. The children face and overcome 12 different obstacles all in support of helping other kids, just like them, access education. The registrants go out and get pledges prior to the event, but also, the success of Ruben’s Ruckus, which raises over $40,000 net proceeds for Ruben’s Shoes, would not be without the consistent support of their community partners like Haraman Development Inc., TD bank, Phoenix Truck and Crane, Ocean Trailer, A&A Freight Forwarding, PocoCrossFit and Tire Craft.

Des and Kelly are currently building a secondary school down the road from the elementary school in the Dominican Republic.

They have purchased the land and are raising money for the rest of the project, with a goal to open August 2020. The school(s) have financial viability and sustainability through Ruben’s Shoes Education Sponsorship Program which not only ensures each student has the means of transportation, school supplies, shoes and a uniform to attend school, also provides employment for their 16 teachers and staff. 100% of the funds from the Education Sponsorship Program goes towards operating the school.

Mission – To deliver access to education to the millions of children around the world living without it.

Do you want to help? Des and Kelly are looking for donors and philanthropists to help build a legacy. Contact Desiree@ rubensshoes.com n

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Above: Arrival in dock, washing the ship down, 4250 TEU Container Vessel, Lahore Express, Keppel Tuas Yard, Singapore, 2016.

Right: Elisabeth and Mao standing next to the propeller, 8500 TEU Container Vessel CSCL Africa, China, Zhoushan Island, 2014.

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IN THE COMMUNITY

ELISABETH CHARMLEY THE JOURNEY OF A NAVAL ARCHITECTRESS

by Jennifer McKinnon | photography by Elizabeth Charmley

E

lisabeth Charmley is a local resident of Port Moody, working for the world’s largest container ship manager in Vancouver, that owns and operates a fleet of 107 container ships. These ships range in size from small feeder vessels with a cargo capacity of 2500 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) to some of the largest ships in the world, with a cargo capacity of 14,000 TEU. These ships can carry anywhere from a couple thousand up to 14,000 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) twenty-foot shipping containers, and are anywhere from two to four times the length of an American sized football field.

The department Charmley works in within her organization is quite unique. She has the privilege of applying her expertise as a naval architect to the ships for both new build projects and technical operational issues. On the new build side of things, project work ranges from technical specification negotiations, plan approval and onsite plan verification. With global regulations clamping down on the emission of greenhouse gasses, much of Charmley’s work focuses on reducing the overall fuel consumption of the fleet.

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Ships this size can consume anywhere from 50 to 200 metric tons of a fuel per day. That’s the equivalent space of almost 30 elephants!

Currently, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the governing body for the maritime community of the United Nations (UN) – has set a resolution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2050, and as an industry expert in her field, Charmley takes pride in being able to work directly to help the IMO meet this resolution.

Projects Charmley has led include retrofits of the hydrodynamic devices of the ships, including the bulbous bow and propeller refits and implementation of software to optimize the vessels performance during operation such as draft trim optimization.

One of the projects Charmley currently leads which is key to reducing fuel consumption, is the biofouling management project. This project helps to reduce the frictional drag of a ship by application of paint on the portion of the ship’s hull submerged in sea water that prevents marine growth (algae, grass, barnacles) from growing on the ship. >

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During the early years of her career, Charmley spent up to half the year traveling in China, Europe and Singapore to attend the vessels in dock. During this time on site, she began photographing the ships and noticed the ships hulls were covered with various degrees of marine growth. Back in the office, she began to correlate the observed condition to the reported daily fuel consumption and was able to determine a best practice guide on which paints to select in order to consume the least amount of fuel. This project soon turned into a major part of her job, as fuel savings from proper paint selection ranged anywhere from five to 12 per cent.

This on-site experience combined with her technical expertise, has resulted in Charmley becoming a recognized industry expert in biofouling management.

As part of her industry involvement, she chairs a task group for the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) with members from all corners of the world, who are currently writing the world’s first standard to govern dry dock hull surface maintenance.

This work will be used by the IMO to advise the global shipping community on action to take to meet the 2050 resolution.

As our discussion on Charmley’s work comes to a close, I’m curious to know how this all started. She is quick to reminisce about her childhood days learning to sail on Rocky Point Harbour and her early love of photography.

However, I quickly learn that despite having reached a

tangible level of success in her adult life, Charmley’s origins have a rocky beginning. Her childhood was cut short and her family shattered after her parent’s divorce. For many years she helped pay rent and buy groceries for her family, before finally leaving home when her mother decided she could no longer afford to keep her there.

Through a mutual connection, Charmley was able to meet a practicing naval architect and after several days of job shadowing, she realized she needed to change course. After a two-year apprenticeship under a senior naval architect, Charmley moved to St. John’s Newfoundland, where she spent the next five years studying engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She completed internships in Halifax, Vancouver and Norway, and also met her husband.

Despite the years spent with a hungry belly, scraping by to pay tuition and wondering if she’d ever make it, slowly, her life began to come together and point towards something more promising – graduation.

Overcoming the barriers to get where she is today has made Charmley a top expert in her field, a resilient and respected employee and a compassionate wife and mother.

If you want to follow along her naval architecture adventures, you can find her at navalarchitectress.com or on Instagram @naval_architectress. n

Left: Ready for launch, Elisabeth second from left in white boiler suit. 4250 TEU Container Vessel Dubai Express, Cantiere del Mediterraneo, Naples, Italy, 2015. Below, from left: New propeller moving into position, 13,000 TEU Container Vessel, COSCO Pride, Xinya Shipyard, Zhoushan, China 2015; Applying the marking paint, 10,000 TEU Container Vessel, Seaspan Bravo, Wengchong Shipyard, Guangzhou, China 2019; Looking up the anchor chain, 4250 TEU Container Vessel, Seaspan Chiwan, Cantiere del Mediterraneo, Naples, Italy, 2015.

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EMILY RUSSELL IN THE COMMUNITY

Up close and personal with Bonita Zarrillo HER JOURNEY, HER FIGHT, HER ADVOCACY

by Jennifer McKinnon

W

ith Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up in October, Bonita Zarrillo, wife, mother, city councillor, federal NDP candidate and advocate for gender equality and social justice shares her journey.

“Let’s talk about what advocating for ourselves really looks like,” Bonita says to me, as a long-time connected friend in our community. “One out of eight women are going to hear this diagnosis in their life time.” Although the statistics are startling, and Bonita admits her first thought was that she was going to die from this, she hopes to share her journey as a positive spin with a hopeful story.

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Bonita acknowledges that it hasn’t been easy. “I noticed a change in my breast size and doctors dismissed it as aging. I was 46 at the time.” Mammograms had shown no trace of anything, but when her size continued to change, Bonita pushed forward and finally received an ultrasound two years later. Her appointment was scheduled in September and her call back from that appointment . . . January the following year. The doctors apologized that her file ‘had slipped through the cracks.’

The biopsy showed that her tumour had doubled in size during those five months of waiting. Bonita stresses the importance of selfadvocating. “My cancer was lobular, undetectable to touch and mammograms. But I knew. I knew something was not right. You have to listen to your body and you have to fight for what you believe.”

This stays true in all aspects of Bonita’s life.

Bonita credits some of her drive and strength to being a Soroptimist with the Tri-Cities (which means ‘best for women’). “When I joined the Soroptimists, I realized that I was a part of something bigger than myself,” Bonita confesses.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization that improves the life of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

In 2015, Bonita was invited to the United Nations Commission on the status of women but was unable to attend due to her surgeries, opting for a double mastectomy in June

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that year. Fortunately, the next year she was given another opportunity, and that year’s focus was violence against women. After three days of presentations she couldn’t hear any more stories. Although Bonita was completely shocked and distraught from the information she had learned through her time in the UN, something became very clear to her. “The best way to move in a progressive direction for women is to get men involved and on the same page,” Bonita shared. And so, with that the Soroptimists’ Walk-a-Mile in the Tri-Cities was

born. “Walk-a-Mile is an easy, non-threatening way to engage men in the conversation around women and violence, equality, pay gaps, et cetera and raise the issue of how women are valued differently in the community.

The community has been amazing embracing the conversation and we are confident there’s a continual conversation going on.”

Bonita’s diagnosis at that time in her life, was devastating. “All I could think about was that I have so much more to do in my life. I was just starting to come into myself – this can not be happening,” she said. Her tears show her strength and exhaustion reminiscing with me through this heart-breaking part of her diagnosis. This is when I see the true selfless hero in my friend.

Her concern is not just for herself, but other women who find themselves in similar situations at similar times of their lives. Bonita shares, “It’s not just myself, but for all women hearing the diagnosis. After we’ve done our child-bearing, years spent sacrificing ourselves for our careers, homes and kids, and we finally get to have some freedom and then this happens?” This is just one barrier that impacts women. Bonita says that her cancer journey has magnified her support and passion for women’s rights.

In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bonita offers her words of advice and encouragement.

“Remember everyone’s journey is different. Breast cancer is not a death sentence. The technology available now is incredible. Listen to your body and always advocate for yourself.”

TINA-LOUISE HARRIS

The road for her journey has been anything but smooth, siting many inefficiencies in an overwhelmed medical system. Bonita also suggests making even just light exercise a part of your weekly routine. “They say that exercise can drastically reduce the probability of breast cancer. One of the greatest things to do is start a routine, even if it’s just walking. You don’t have to find time every day, one day a week is better than nothing. Chips make chunks.” n

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

YOGA FOR PARENTS WHO DON’T HAVE TIME FOR YOGA CLASS

by Karen Andersen

A

woman rushed in for class the other day, barely having caught her breath, she blurted out, “I’m kind of on-call. I may have to leave class suddenly, my kid just won’t take a bottle . . . only . . . well, you know [pointing down at her chest].” Then she flashed a strained grin, and hurried into the studio.

Chris, my husband and partner in our yoga studio, and I exchanged a smile, silently reminiscing on how recently we’d passed through this stage ourselves. With the stopwatch ticking, she hoped to eke out an experience to feel more like herself again. But when family comes first, how do we support ourselves too?

Before kids, my yoga practice (and you can insert any practice you do for self-maintenance or improvement here) was the time I spent fully dedicated to postures, breathing exercises and meditation. It happened in a planned niche of time, doing purposeful things, while hoping for intended effects of self-improvement or at least maintenance.

of one’s impulsive response. It’s compassion, it’s wisdom, it’s being a good friend, partner, employer, or parent. The formal practices bring us to uncomfortable spaces, we hold there for a little while, then release into the mystery of the outcome.

In realtime life, it works in a similar way. No matter how many times I’ve said ‘we’re leaving the house in five minutes,’ the kids’ shoes and jackets are still strewn on the floor. I pause to notice what I’m feeling and what I really want to say (or yell.) It’s not comfortable. I try to breathe more deeply, to feel the scope of this situation in the scheme of things. No matter how hard I try to mitigate or facilitate, things are probably going to happen differently than I planned.

And with having a family, these opportunities to practice yoga arise more often than I ever imagined.

There are wonders to be extolled over being deliberate and doing things with a purpose. There is virtue in seeking time for yourself alone. But now, what I find most valuable about yoga is what happens in the unintentional messy spaces of relational life.

The mother I spoke of did make it through the yoga class, a small victory for her. An embodied, premeditated practice will nourish you for when your efforts are needed most, and help clear the exhaust built up from a hard day. But if you can’t do that today, don’t forget that there needs to be no separation between our practices alone and those embedded in interconnected life. Remember that you are doing your best.

A big part of yoga is noticing what is really going on (what is heard, seen, felt, thought), and getting ahead

For more information visit kushalayoga.com | karen@ kushalayoga.com n

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HEALTH & WELLNESS COURTESY CANADIAN PAEDIATRIC SOCIETY

BABY TOOTH TALK

LITTLE TEETH NEED JUST AS MUCH TLC!

by Christina Martyn, RDH, BHSc

I

n a world where parents have information at their fingertips, they strive to help their children achieve optimal health in all ways. With this in mind, it is important to address the ways that baby teeth and oral health in general can affect their children’s overall health. Baby teeth, if not properly cared for, can affect the rest of their body, as well as damage the adult teeth forming above. If children lose baby teeth prematurely it may hinder their speech and mouth development, while additionally losing space for the adult teeth to erupt properly. Therefore, cavity prevention is critical in preserving tooth health. Children tend to be more susceptible to cavities due to different risk factors than adults.

not realize that starchy foods (crackers) are converted to sugar in the mouth. Therefore, constant snacking continually exposes teeth to sugars and acids that create tooth decay. While bringing out the toothbrush after every snack is not realistic, drinking water after snacks can helps rinse away some of the cavity causing offenders. Child-friendly dental products containing xylitol (such as sugar-free lollipops) can also help prevent cavities by neutralizing the snack-induced, bacteria-friendly environment.

Daily brushing can be more easily achieved with an electric toothbrush for those kids who don’t sit still for long, ensuring the most effectiveness in the smallest amount of time. Floss sticks are another little cheat to help remove bacteria from between the teeth.

‘Baby bottle decay’ is characterized by an aggressive spread of decay due to the use of milk bottles in bed.

As the little one falls asleep, milk sugars sit along the gumline and destroy teeth. A simple solution can be transitioning to warm water in night time bottles, or quickly brushing their teeth after they have finished a milk bottle (it may be easier to access their teeth while they are sleeping too!)

Another risk factor includes children’s tendency to constantly snack throughout the day. Many people do

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COURTESY PORT MOODY STATION DENTAL

A trick to get babies used to brushing is to use a warm wash cloth to rub their gums at night, creating a routine of oral care for the arrival of the first tooth. As soon as your baby gets their first tooth, it is time to start with a toothbrush and tiny amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

Any new tooth in the mouth is not fully developed or hardened and requires mineral absorption to strengthen them. In small amounts, fluoride is the gold standard for this task, however, there are other options to help with this mineralizing process as well (a paste including milk-based proteins called Recaldent or treederived options, like Xylitol).

In summary, prevention is key to health in every part of the body, including the mouth. Find a fun dental team that can help you and your family get the healthiest, most beautiful smiles! n

EXPERIENCE TRI-CITIES | FALL 2019

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Belvedere Seniors Living is known for diverse programs & services that suit our residents’ needs and desires. Residences at Belvedere offers you a choice of recreational activities that enable you to maintain your lifestyle while ensuring your safety, security and health. Belvedere Care Centre offers a variety of specialized care options including dementia services along with innovative responses to the care needs of our seniors. We consistently focus on their well-being to maximize their independence.

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From award-winning theatre + family-friendly live performances, magic shows, and music concerts to our public Art Gallery, visual + performing arts classes, and free community events all season long, we’re proud to be at the centre of the Tri-Cities arts community.