Kamloops Connector August 2020

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Interior Savings Community Relief Fund Page 3

Urban Farm A Labour of Love Page 5 & 7

Swimmer’s Itch Page 7

Support to Local Indigenous Artists

The Way It Was Page 15

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You

Dr.Bonfonrie Henry keeping us informed

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2 | AUGUST 2020

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Planning a B.C. bucket list

By Teresa the Traveler

Editor’s Note: This story ran in The Connector a couple of years ago. Given the fact our travel options are mostly confined to our own province due to the widespread threat of COVID-19, it seemed logical to share Teresa Cline’s homegrown suggestions once more.

However, many of these suggestions remain offlimits during the pandemic.

Use this list to plan for safer times or do your research to ensure you won’t be disappointed when you get there. MANY OF THESE SITES ARE CLOSED. Happy trails, be kind and be safe.

How could one possibly reduce all the incredible things to see in B.C. into a short list? Finding a hidden gem in B.C. is like finding a needle in a stack of needles.

Our entire province is a hidden gem. B.C. must be experienced not just seen, so here are the top ten experiences on my B.C. Bucket List.

Take a Dam Tour With the abundance of water in B.C., it’s no surprise that our main source of electricity comes from hydro. B.C. Hydro operates 32 hydroelectric facilities that generate 95 percent of our province’s electricity.

A number of large hydroelectric dams are located on the Columbia and Peace Rivers including Mica Dam, Revelstoke Dam, Keenlyside Dam, WAC Bennett Dam, and the Duncan Dam. Many of the dams offer self-guided

10

dam tours that start in a museum and end on a viewing platform.

Gray Provincial Park, Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, Kinuseo Falls in Monkman Park and Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls and Alexander Falls near Whistler. However, there are hundreds of little known falls that you can swim in, slide down, walk behind, hike to and ice climb on.

9

Wine Your Way through B.C.

British Columbia is quickly gaining a reputation for producing some of the world’s best wines.

Our mild, dry climate is perfect for growing grapes.

Our wineries are spread throughout the Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Kootenays, Prince George, Thompson/Shuswap, and Lillooet. Visiting B.C. wineries is not just about sampling wine. Each winery offers a unique experience.

Some of my favourites include: Dirty Laundry – Located on the Summerland wine trail, this winery was built on the site of a historical laundry that catered to railway workers in the early 1900s. While waiting for their laundry clients could hang out in a secret room on the second floor where they could play cards, drink whiskey and enjoy the company of a woman.

Summerhill Winery – Located on the Kelowna wine trail, this winery offers pyramid-aged wine. They age their wine in a 4-storey replica of the Great Pyramid. The pyramid was built from marble imported from Egypt and follows the rules of sacred geometry.

In a taste test, 90 percent of people preferred pyramidaged wines to regular wine.

Mission Hill– Located on the Westside Wine trail near Kelowna, this winery has an outdoor

7

Photo submitted

Teresa Cline has made a business out of sharing her travels. The Connector asked her to compile a B.C. bucket list pointing to a number of must-see and must-do’s to help us celebrate beautiful B.C. amphitheatre. During the summer months they have outdoor concerts featuring artists like the Gypsy Kings and Chris Isaak.

Grey Monk – Located on the Lake Country wine trail, the Grey Monk winery is one of B.C.’s first and most prominent wineries.

Guests can enjoy fine cuisine and wine pairing on their beautiful outdoor covered deck overlooking the Okanagan Lake.

Ruby Blues – Located on the Naramata wine trail near Penticton, this fun winery features a custom painted hippy style

Volkswagen van, rock and roll music and custom designed red stilettos for sale.

You can book a wine tour or do a self-guided tour on the various wine trails.

8

Chase Waterfalls Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world are scattered throughout B.C. In fact, Della Falls in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island is among the tallest in Canada. It is mandatory for any waterfall enthusiast to visit the most popular falls such as Helmcken Falls in Wells

Take a Hike Every summer tourists from all over the world descend on our province to enjoy B.C.’s best hiking trails. We are home to seven national parks including Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, Kootenay National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Pacific Rim National Park, Gulf Islands National Park and Gwaii Haanas National Park. We also have many provincial and regional parks with plenty of marked trails.

My favourite hikes are the ones with a reward at the end. I have hiked to hoodoos, glaciers, alpine lakes, balancing rocks, dinosaur footprints, abandoned mines, caves, cliffs, hot springs and countless waterfalls. Some of my favourites include hiking through alpine lakes and meadows to the top of Trophy Mountain in Wells Gray Park, hiking to the glacier at Joffre Lakes near Pemberton and hiking though the Painted Bluffs on Kamloops Lake. I have hiked over 100 trails in B.C. and barely hit the tip of the iceberg. Visit one of our many tourist offices, grab some free trail maps and take a hike.

6

Explore an Abandoned Mine In 1858, gold was found along the banks of the Thompson River just east of Lytton, triggering the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. Victoria was transformed into a tent city as prospectors, speculators, land agents, and outfitters flooded in from around the world to seek their fortunes. B.C. has a rich mining history with abandoned mines scattered throughout the province waiting to be explored.

Some of these abandoned mines have been transformed into museums where people can learn about this golden time in B.C. history. Britannia Mine Museum in Howe Sound and Mascot Mine in Hedley are both well worth a visit.

5

ike along the B old Kettle Valley Railroad The Kettle Valley Railway opened in 1915. It operated across southern British Columbia, west of Midway to Rock Creek, and then north to Myra Canyon, down to Penticton over to Princeton, Coalmont, Brookmere, Coquihalla and finally to Hope where it connected to the main Canadian Pacific Railway line. It was abandoned in portions starting in 1961.

The surviving portion west of Penticton saw their last train in 1989. Much of the railroad’s original route has been converted to a multi-use recreational trail, known as the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. With countless trestles and tunnels and environs ranging from Continued on Page 10

Choose Chase ...to live and love T

he Village of Chase is a sweet small community on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake just 40 minutes East of Kamloops along the Trans Canada Highway.

Not only is Chase a safe community for people of all ages, it offers affordable real estate, a variety of amenities and quaint shops and cafes.

During this trying time of Covid-19, there is plenty of space in Chase to stretch out and physically distance, while enjoying a beautiful beach with playground equipment and a splash pad, shaded picnic

tables, and a wharf to catch the rays and view the beautiful scenery.

Chase offers two boat launches, a sweet 9-hole golf course, a skatepark, a curling rink, an ice arena and lots of trails and scenic outdoor experiences. Chase’s Lions Club provides a fully serviced RV park located right by the South Thompson River, and Chase Creek meanders through the Village, providing a calming, serene experience.

A short walk to Chase falls is a must for anyone visiting Chase – they are spectacular!

Just a short drive from Chase one can reach Neskonlith Lake Provincial campground, Adams Lake offers camping spots, and the North Shuswap is close by for beach walking, camping, cycling and ice cream. We can’t leave out the Flume Trail hike, the Adams River trail and our own Scatchard Mountain trails.

Whether you are visiting Chase, or settling down, Chase offers location, scenery, walkability, recreation, day to day amenities, and an atmosphere of community.

The Village of chase wishes everyone a

Happy BC day!

thanks to everyone for continuing to work as a team to ensure the Covid-19 virus does not win.

Thank you also for being kind and caring of each other while respecting our physical distancing.

Stay together while staying apart!

chasebc.ca

AUGUST 2020 | 3

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Credit Union launches Community Relief Fund

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With support from its members, Interior Savings has given a $150,000 financial boost to nonprofit organizations across the Thompson, Okanagan, Nicola regions.

The Credit Union launched its Community Relief Fund last month to help local non-profit organizations manage the extraordinary expenses they are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It began as a $100,000 commitment paired with an invitation to credit union members to top it up by investing in a Community Impact Term Deposit. For every dollar invested, the Credit Union promised to add another 2% to the fund, up to $50,000. With overwhelming support

from its members, the Fund quickly grew to $150,000.

“We’re not surprised that our members embraced the opportunity to lend a hand in our communities”, said Kathy Conway, CEO of Interior Savings. “It’s a critical time for our local non-profits. Our members’ support allows more money to be invested in our communities to help address the substantial pressure non-profits are facing as they modify their operations to serve those in need.”

According to Conway, “In the nearly one-hundred funding applications we received, two predominant themes emerged: a spike in requests for food assistance and a large gap in access to technology.”

Across the board, non-profits have had to increase their spending on protective equipment and sanitation supplies.

In addition, many have responded to as much as a 50% increase in requests for food assistance by spending more on food, packaging, and delivery to people’s homes. While others have had to purchase laptops, tablets and zoom subscriptions to continue safely supporting those who are struggling with or recovering from health challenges, trauma, abuse or family conflict. In many cases, non-profits have launched technology lending programs to ensure everyone in their community has a way to stay connected to their

support networks.

In total, forty-five nonprofit organizations from Clearwater to Osoyoos received grants ranging in size from $1500 to $7000.

In Kamloops, the following non-profit organizations were awarded grants: Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops, The Pregnancy Care Centre in Kamloops, A Way Home Kamloops Society, Kamloops Food Policy Council, Centre for Seniors Information in Kamloops, Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA, Kamloops Hospice Association, and the Kamloops Brain Injury Society.

A list of all recipients can be found on Interior Savings’ Local Matters blog.

3 strategies to beat the summer heat The dog days of summer can be challenging. As the mercury rises to potentially unhealthy heights, spending time outdoors can become less comfortable and even dangerous.

Finding ways to beat the summer heat can help people avoid injury and illness and ensure they still get to enjoy their summers. The following are three ways to beat the summer heat, though it’s important that seniors, pregnant women, parents of young children, and anyone with a preexisting health condition speak with their physicians about the precautions they should take before going outside on hot days.

1. Change your exercise routine, if necessary. Summer is a great time to exercise outdoors. However, it’s important that people who are used to working out in midday change their outdoor exercise routines on hot days. One tip recommends training early in the morning before the sun gets too high.

During the dog days of summer, early morning temperatures tend to be more mild than midday temperatures. That can reduce athletes’ risk of injury or illness, though it’s still important to avoid exercising in especially hot temperatures regardless of the time of day.

2. Practice passive cooling at night. Nightflushing is a passive cooling technique that involves opening the windows

in a home at night. Doing so can make indoor areas healthier and more comfortable for a home’s inhabitants during the dog days of summer. HVAC systems keep homes cool in summer, but over time hot and stale air can accumulate inside a home. If that air is not removed, a home can feel stuffy and airborne pollutants like carbon dioxide can reach potentially unhealthy levels. By opening their windows at night, homeowners can let that stale, potentially unhealthy air out and let the cool air of summer evenings in.

3. Stay hydrated. It’s easy to become dehydrated at any time of year, but especially so during the dog days of summer. The U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that the human body needs an average of three quarts of water per day on a normal day. However, conditions on mid- to late-summer days make it necessary for many people to consume more water than that, especially if they plan to spend time outdoors. On hot days, make sure you’re taking in more fluids than you’re losing. Take water with you when going outside, and be sure to rehydrate with more water when going back indoors.

Summer heat can be a formidable opponent, but it can be overcome in various ways.

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Book Review

By Marilyn Brown

Mistakes to Run With

By Yasuko Thanh Memoir, Hamish Hamilton Publisher, 2019, 257 pages

A

t fifteen, Yasuko, called “Suko” by friends, runs away from home. She survives by working the streets of Victoria and Vancouver, “Michelle” being her pseudonym and alter-ego.

She is escaping what she sees as a stifling homelife in Victoria. Her handsome, university-educated Vietnamese father finds employment in a shoe store. Disappointment permeates his existence.

Suko’s mom adores her son but is emotionally detached from her daughter.

Even though Suko is an honour student at school, recipient of prestigious awards in math and languages, accomplishments even earning her a meeting with the governor general, she is profoundly unhappy. A year later she is in trouble with the law, on probation.

Her psychologist is concerned for her: she has responses typical of “a neglected and deprived child … even in the most

basic physical areas.” As an adult looking back on tumultuous, dangerous years as a prostitute, she ruthlessly interrogates herself, analyzing why it took so long to reject a pattern of “ trying to find love in all the wrong places”, as a modern song says, choices of pimps and lovers guided by thinking “love involved self-sacrifice, … a noble suffering.”

Particularly hair-raising is the description of Avery, her pimp. He has other “girls” he “manages”, and even though he says he is committed to Suko and they live together as a couple, he has what Suko calls “wivesin-law” who “share” Avery. His outbursts of aggression against her are juxtaposed with moments of tenderness.

She sees good in him: she says neither of them are monsters, holding to the belief that he cares about her. Other unsatisfactory relationships follow.

In times of intense

stress, Suko finds numerous ways to inflict abuse on herself, including drugs, alcohol, and cutting.

Fortunately, Suko’s love of reading and, in particular, her passion for writing, are life-saving sources of power for her. Her children and hard-won literary successes get her through the muck of every-day living that she has endured.

This is not a light-hearted story, but Suko’s fierce determination to better herself, to grow as a writer, to be a loving mother, to succeed as a valued citizen, leave the reader in awe of this young woman’s strengths. This book is both raw and meaningful.

Mature themes. Explicit description. Violence.

Yasuko Thanh’s book, Mysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains, her debut novel, won many awards, including the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize.

The Gentle Warrior

By A.S. Byrd

An invisible dragon attacks our shores And where it passes leaves behind A deadly virus we’ve never seen before We have no weapons, what can we do But as before when panic reigns A guide comes forward and takes the reins Her smile is gentle, her voice is soft But her resolve is made of steel She bears a confidence we can feel She has no guns or rumbling tanks of war She has only science and common sense

She comes before us every day She takes our hand and leads the way The war will be hard, it will be long But with her help we will be strong But with passing time our will does sag We grow weary, our spirit’s flag That gentle voice again is heard It lifts our spirit’s to carry on Some will falter, some will fall But with her help, we’ll all stand tall Our Gentle Warrior – Dr, Bonnie Henry

Making my move!

And... we’re back!

Dayana (our designer) and I disappeared for three months thanks to COVID-19 but gratefully got to come back on our recall date at the end of June. Christopher Foulds and Lee Malbeuf, along with Linda Bolton kept things afloat while we were on the CERB train.

My two cents Under most Moneca Jantzen circumstances it would Editor have been lovely to have three solid months off work but in this reality it was mostly just stressful.

Many people are still very much stuck in that COVID-19 induced limbo so I acknowledge how fortunate I actually am. None of us knows what the immediate future holds, at least we can count on the sun rising each morning. We are all faced with making important basic choices about how we conduct ourselves during this unprecedented time.

Hopefully kindness and common sense will prevail.

For the first several weeks that I was off work, I was ok but eventually started to feel cut off and lonely. I seriously missed the social aspects of working and debated everyday how best to proceed. Do I wait it out and see what happens on my recall date or do I get proactive and find something else?

Clearly I opted to wait things out but that’s not to say I didn’t start to look around for other prospects.

Apparently the newspaper industry isn’t done with me quite yet and for this I am grateful.

Besides the support of friends when I got to feeling blue, something that really ended up saving me was a spontaneous decision to sell my house of 12 years.

The goal became finding something that would better suit my family­—including my mom—especially through the lense of COVID-19. The notion of resilience has become my modus operandi.

Since I was unemployed when I started this odyssey, I was actually quite skeptical that a real estate transaction or two was even possible, but I posed the question regardless. I went to my current lender and was told everything would hinge on how much I could get for my home. The numbers were good and there was a property of interest on the market so into the fray I plunged! My house basically sold before the for sale sign was even in the ground but I lost out on the house that lured me into the market. Timing is everything!

Fortunately, I found another house that was actually better and I beat out a competing offer. Then the trick became how to secure financing when my current lender decided that my employment status was problematic despite my good standing and even though I still had a good chance of being recalled to work. Thankfully I found a mortgage broker that was able to find a new lender and all has been chugging along relatively smoothly since. Coming back to work was just a bonus.

Anyone that has experienced the vortex that is buying and selling one’s home can probably relate.

Of all the times I have gone through this process, I would have to say this was perhaps the most stressful.

Thankfully I had an excellent realtor and mortgage broker and a few other key people along the way and my family’s dream is becoming a reality despite all odds.

COVID-19 has caused so much devastation in so many areas and continues to wreak havoc. I do hope for the majority of us that we perservere and find all the silver linings we can during this time. Buying and selling a house seemed counterintuitive in many ways but truthfully it gave me something positive to focus on when I was otherwise quite miserable. It has also served as a good example of how important it is to follow one’s dreams even when they seem impossible.

I think it is especially important in these times of uncertainty to think outside the box, hold fast to the things and people that inspire us to dream big and just keep on keeping on as best we can.

Oh and by the way, it’s great to be back!

Voices of Experience www.connectornews.ca Telephone: (250) 374-7467 Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Please address all correspondence to:

Kamloops Connector 1365B Dalhousie Drive Kamloops, BC V2C 5P6 Advertising Sales/Publisher: Linda Bolton (778) 471-7528 lbolton@ aberdeenpublishing.com Editor: Moneca Jantzen editor@connectornews.ca Graphic Designer: Dayana Rescigno creative@connectornews.ca Kamloops Connector is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve and entertain adults 45 and over.

We aim to publish on the last Friday of each month and copy/booking deadlines are either the 2nd or 3rd Thursdays of each month. Please request a publishing schedule for specific information.

Kamloops Connector is published by Kamloops This Week, part of the Aberdeen Publishing Group.

Letters to the Editor must be signed and have a phone number (your phone number will not be printed unless requested).

Other submissions are gratefully received although Kamloops Connector reserves the right to edit all material and to refuse any material deemed unsuitable for this publication. Articles, group and event listings will run in the newspaper as time and space permit.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Kamloops Connector.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Kamloops Connector, Kamloops This Week or the staff thereof.

Subscriptions are $35 per year in Canada.

Any error which appears in an advertisement will be adjusted as to only the amount of space in which the error occurred. The content of each advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser.

Kamloops Connector recommends prudent consumer discretion.

AUGUST 2020 | 5

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Urban Farm a Labour of Love Caitlin Quist Butler Urban Farm volunteer

natural response of many in our compassionate city.

While seeing the beautiful produce grow from seed to harvest is even more rewarding when knowing it goes to a good home, volunteering at the Butler Urban Farm is also a labour of love for many. Despite the long hot days (or rainy days for much of this season thus far), working with the land has always been an extremely enriching experience. While enjoying the outdoors, we get the chance to reconnect with our food system, our ecosystem, and our city. Not to mention the delicious veggies that come out of the farm which volunteers are also welcome to share in. I’ve

also had the opportunity to meet other volunteers (in a safe, socially distanced, outdoor environment) who I may not have normally crossed paths with. While weeding and planting we’ve shared stories, advice, and experiences - vegetable related and far beyond. The handson learning I’ve gained throughout the summer has guided my gardening attempts at home, and I must extend my endless gratitude to our farm manager Kevin Pankewich for answering millions of questions regarding soil health, tomato pruning, and whether or not something is a weed.

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Continued on Page 7 (Formerly Goessman Denture Clinic) ON OF B ATI RI OC

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Back in April I found myself looking ahead at a summer full of uncertainty.

I had unexpectedly returned home from a study abroad three months early and was eager to find a way to make the best use of this newly freed-up time. I was soon reminded of a project in our community which, though having existed for

several years, has seen a substantial increase in support this year. The Butler Urban Farm, a collaborative garden now under the leadership of the Kamloops Food Policy Council, sits on Kamloops’ Northshore across the street from the Food Bank. The farm seeks to grow produce for those who need it - whether it be the wonderful people running organizations like the Kamloops Covid Meal Train, or simply individuals in need of healthy produce.

With this space, we hope to both lend a hand to our fellow Kamloopsians, and increase our community resiliency. In times such as these, working together to support one another is crucial, and has been the

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Okonomiyaki (Japanese Cabbage Pancake) A very simple version of this frugal and delicious meal, which can be fancied up with endless variations and garnishes INGREDIENTS “One Pancake”: • 2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage • 1 egg • Milk to moisten (about ½ cup) • Salt and pepper to taste • Flour (about ½ cup) • Oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

Mix cabbage gently with egg and milk until it’s all moistened and liquid is evenly distributed. The cabbage should be very wet with a little extra liquid in the bottom of the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle ½ cup of flour over and gently mix in until evenly distributed. The mixture should be wet but not runny. If there’s too much liquid, sprinkle on more flour until the mixture starts to stick together.

Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a heavy frying pan over medium heat. Tip the mixture into the pan and form into a pancake about 2cm thick. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown and then carefully flip the pancake and cook the second side for a few minutes until it’s also golden brown and the pancake is cooked through. (The cabbage should still be a little crunchy.)

Serve with your choice of: grated cheese, Okonomi sauce, mayonnaise, chopped green onions, bonito flakes, bacon bits, hot sauce, toasted sesame seeds.

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Be alert to scams related to the pandemic the country pitching in to help others. On the other, a small number of people are trying to take advantage of the situation. How can you guard against these scam artists? For starters, be aware of three common scams connected to the virus.

1. Websites claiming to help and track the financial focus pandemic – Look out for LILI A SEERY websites that claim to Financial Advisor help you work remotely or provide financial resources On one hand, the to the afflicted. These coronavirus (COVID-19) sites may try to trick you has brought out the best into giving up personal information, donate money in usx with across 3.5” 2.5” |people Maximum Font Size: 30 pt

or load malware onto your computer. Don’t trust information technology (IT) “helpdesk” agents you don’t know. And check out any obscure organization claiming to help virus victims through a reputable charity evaluator, such as charityintelligence.ca.

2. Products claiming to prevent or cure the disease – When there’s a real treatment for the virus, it will be big news, and the news will come from an organization like the Government of Canada. Until then, ignore any claims of “miracle”

cures. Not only will they waste your money, but, if you click on attachments from “phishing” emails advertising these fake cures, you could end up supplying crooks with your sensitive data.

3. Financial help or “perfect” investments – The coronavirus has caused two separate, but related, areas of stress. The first is the health concern, and the second is the financial and investment component. The enormous volatility of the financial markets has caused much concern among investors,

and scammers are seizing the opportunity to offer financial assistance or “risk-free” or “guaranteed” investments “perfect” for this particular time. Again, responding to these types of offers can bring you nothing but trouble. Your best move is to stick with a long-term investment strategy based on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

One more suggestion: Warn your older relatives and friends about the increased potential for scams. Older adults are usually the most susceptible

to fraud, and now, when they may be more isolated than before, they may well be even more vulnerable.

Urge them not to make any sudden, out-of-theordinary financial moves.

Edward Jones takes fraud prevention seriously.

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Ride Sharing: Read the Fine Print

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The Supreme Court of Canada just released a judgment ruling in favour of Uber drivers and their ability to sue Uber in Court in Canada.

When a driver signed up online to be an Uber driver in Canada, they agreed to a long, complicated contract that included settling any disputes with Uber in an expensive arbitration process in the Netherlands.

The cost to commence that process was $14,500 USD in upfront fees (even for a small dispute) and the proceedings would take place in the Netherlands.

The cost did not include legal fees, travel or accommodation. The driver earned less than $14,500 USD a year as an Uber driver.

The Court held that this was not fair to the driver because there was unequal bargaining power between the driver and Uber, who wrote the contract and left no room to negotiate its terms. The driver was thus permitted to commence his claim against Uber in the Canadian Courts but

it took many years and thousands of dollars to obtain that permission.

This is important for Kamloops to take note of, as we have a new ride share company that began operations on July 1 called Kabu. Being a Kabu driver is a popular income subsidy for people who have a car and may not be working regular 9-5 jobs. Students and retirees often find this work enjoyable and a great way to earn extra money.

Unlike Uber, Kabu is a B.C. company and offers its drivers a benefits package tantamount to being an employee. Also, the profit the drivers retain is stated to be 80 percent.

On the Kabu App, you can sign up to be a driver or set up an account to use the services. Similarly to Uber,

there is a standard form Contract to sign that limits your rights as a passenger or a driver that you need to be aware of in case of a dispute with Kabu.

The Contract says that in the event of a dispute, it must be dealt with by arbitration in Vancouver, B.C. It goes on to say that even if the arbitration converts to a court action, trial by jury is prohibited.

Commencing an Arbitration in Vancouver can cost from $500 to $3,000 in upfront fees and so it is still very expensive and that cost does not cover legal advice or representation, travel, accommodation, cost of the arbitrator and facility fees.

The total cost of arbitration is thousands of dollars.

This is important to know

what is required in the event you have a dispute with Kabu as a driver or customer.

What all of this means is that it is very important to read all of the paragraphs of a contract before agreeing to its terms, particularly a standard form online contract that governs a person’s rights during their employment.

If there are portions that are unclear, it is worth spending the time to see a lawyer and have the terms of the contract explained to you so you are aware of any potential consequences or limitations that will affect you in the future. A little foresight can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

AUGUST 2020 | 7

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Urban Farm

a Labour of Love

Continued from Page 5

Making the farm successful has required many hours of trial and error, tireless efforts on the part of the volunteers, our partner organizations, the KFPC, and our farm manager. It allows creativity and community vision to flourish, and collaborative thought and action to create a remarkable display of community spirit. We enthusiastically encourage any interested

community members to join the project. Whether or not you have previous gardening experience, this farm is a wonderful place to learn and experiment.

We grow a wide variety of plants, from potatoes to chickpeas. We’ve planted wild asparagus seedlings, we have a herb garden, a wildflower garden, and with the support of the Kamloops Naturalist Club we have a native plant

garden on the horizon.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from this experience is the vast wealth of knowledge and resources our community holds. In sharing these with one another, we see the multiplier effect in action - leading to increased growth and capacity Kamloops-wide.

Building our community food sovereignty protects us in times of crises. It

allows us to protect and support ourselves when the unexpected occurs.

And equally as important, it makes our community more vibrant, connected, and abundant.

To find out about produce donations, volunteering, or any other info about the Butler Urban Farm, contact sandra@kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com.

Coping with swimmer’s itch

HEALTH MATTERS MISSAGH MANSHADI Pharmacist

S

wimmer’s itch,” “clam-digger’s itch,” or “duck itch” is usually caused by an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that burrow under your skin, yet cannot survive in humans and die almost immediately. These parasites are released from infected snails into lakes, and ponds. These microscopic parasites then infect some birds and mammals. The adult parasite lives within the blood of infected birds such as duck and geese and certain mammals like raccoons. The parasites produce eggs that are passed in the feces of infected birds or mammals.

When the feces of birds and mammals enter the water, eggs gets into the warm water and the eggs will hatch to larvae. These larvae swim and look for certain types of snails.

The infected snail releases another type of larvae into the water and the life cycles continue.

Upon contact with these parasites, symptoms of burning, tingling or itching

can happen within minutes or days. Lesions may appear as small reddish pimples or may develop into a blister. Scratching can cause a secondary bacterial infection.

Itching may last up to 5 days but will eventually go away on its own. In most cases you can see your pharmacist for treatments and this condition does not require a doctor visit. I usually recommend mixing little bit of hydrocortisone and llidocane in the palm of your hand and apply to affected area. This also works perfectly for mosquito bites.

You can also use cool compresses, apply vinegar, baking soda paste or bathe in epsom salts, baking soda or colloidal oatmeal.

Larvae are more likely to be present in shallow water by the shoreline.

Children are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade, and play in the shallow water.

Make sure to towel well all over and dry each time when children and yourself are leaving the water. It would be best to shower and towel dry, however showers may not be accessible to all the lakesides and camp grounds.

Have a good summer and remember swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. Also swimmer’s itch is not the only rash that may occur after swimming in fresh or salt water.

Trusted Advice, Wholesome Care

MANSHADI TH

Serving Kamloops and area for 20 years 100% independent and locally owned

MANSHADI PHARMACY

2 Locations North Shore

374 Tranquille Road

250-434-2526

South Shore

477 St. Paul Street

250-372-2223

8 | AUGUST 2020

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Caring for someone living with dementia takes a tremendous toll on a care partner’s physical and emotional health. To help Kamloops caregivers, the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C. is teaming up with geriatric psychiatrist and certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Dr. Elisabeth Drance, to provide two free online educational workshops later this month.

Elisabeth Drance has been working with Providence Health Care’s Dementia Caregiver Resilience Team since its inception in 2017. She has seen the benefit of mindfulness practice in her own life throughout her caregiving journey with both parents, and is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry with the department of Psychiatry at UBC. “We are often distracted when we are in conversation with our family member – thinking about the next thing to get done, or the last challenging interaction we just had.

This means that often we aren’t mentally present when trying to connect! I like to call this “mindless care” and it often doesn’t go well.”

Mindfulness – being truly attentive to the present moment experience without judgment – supports self-care for the caregiver, and supports interactions that are more wise and aware.

Both of these benefits will be explored in the first seminar “Building resilience for the dementia journey: Mindfulness practice as a skill for self-care through the care partnering experience.” This session takes place on Wednesday, July 15 at 2 p.m.

The second session will focus on the essential skill of self-compassion for dementia caregivers. Supporting a family member with cognitive change inevitably leads to challenges and missteps. Selfcompassion helps care partners to rebound from these events with greater effectiveness.

This webinar is entitled “Self compassion: A key skill for building resilience on the dementia caregiving journey” and will be held on Wednesday, August 5 at 2 p.m.

Following the webinars, recordings of the sessions will be available to watch at alzbc. org/webinars.

Attend a webinar The Society hosts free dementia education webinars every week for anyone affected by dementia or interested in learning more.

The schedule includes: * Building caregiver resilience for

the dementia journey: The gift of mindfulness (Wednesday, July 15, 2 p.m.): Join Dr. Elisabeth Drance for a hands-on introduction to mindfulness practice, and the benefits to the care partner and the person they are supporting. * Caregiving during COVID-19 (Wednesday, July 22, 2 p.m.): An overview of tips and strategies for families coping with dementia-related challenges that may arise because of COVID-19. * Building caregiver resilience for the dementia journey: The skill of selfcompassion (Wednesday, August 5, 2 p.m.): Join Dr. Elisabeth Drance to explore the concept of self-compassion and practice skills to help with dementia care partnering. * Understanding dementia (Wednesday, August 12, 2 p.m.): Learn how dementia affects a person’s brain and behaviour, as well as the disease’s impact on family. * Understanding communication (Wednesday, August 19, 2 p.m.): Explore how communication is affected by dementia and learn effective communication strategies.

To register for any of these webinars, please visit alzbc.org/webinars.

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is here to help The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is committed to ensuring that people affected by dementia have the confidence and skills to live the best life possible. First Link® dementia support is the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s suite of programs and services designed to help them. First Link® is available throughout the progression of the disease, from diagnosis (or before) to endof-life care.

Connect to First Link® by asking your health-care provider for a referral or by calling the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033. The Helpline is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Information and support is also available in Punjabi (1-833-674-5003) and in Cantonese or Mandarin (1-833-674-5007), available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AUGUST 2020 | 9

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Mike Alexander brings support to Local Indigenous Artists

A micro-grant has been made available to emerging indigenous artists.

By Shay Paul , Kamloops Arts Council Mike Alexander, one of Kamloops’ most successful emerging indigenous artists, is now giving back to the community by offering an indigenouscentered arts grant to the public. This grant is geared towards First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and Non-Status artists who are looking to make the next step in their artistic journey. This $250 micro-grant will be awarded annually to two successful applicants in the Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo Region, in partnership with the Kamloops Arts Council.

Alexander uses his art to communicate and share his thoughts and feelings with the world; he finds solace in his art, as many other artists can relate. This type of creative freedom is something that people should have access to, but not everyone always does. Alexander has also done extensive work with the Kamloops Outreach Program, which brings art into various social sectors as an introduction to art therapy and how creative outlets can further develop emotional exploration and communication.

Alexander is no stranger to how art can empower the individual, and he believes that everyone should have the opportunity to explore how art can empower them. “The thing that

changed [me] for the better was art,” Alexander stated in an interview when asked what inspired him to create the grant. “I’m not really good with people, or communication, but art can account for my passion over my fear.”

This ideology is also important in regards for people with indigenous backgrounds. Historically, indigenous people have utilized their creative outlets within their everyday tasks. In today’s day and age, a lot of those practices have been set to the side to better fit into the fast-paced western society. Traditions and cultures are just beginning to re-establish in this modern-era, and Mike Alexander recognizes that and encourages that growth.

Alexander is also determined to raise the indigenous arts community out of its complaisance. He has experienced how the indigenous arts community in Kamloops is reserved and hesitant, but he has also seen how indigenous artists are not sought after by the local arts community. “It’s important that artists are being appreciated and supported in their community. The indigenous art community in Kamloops seems sort of overlooked.” Alexander knows there are plenty of indigenous artists in the area, but they don’t seem to be in the same spaces that attract the Kamloops art scene.

Finding a way to bring these artists into the Kamloops spotlight was the largest motive for creating this microgrant. Alexander wants to provide an opportunity for fresh, new indigenous talent to enter the Kamloops art scene. He wants to give them a head start and a helping hand towards creating

something stunning.

“Indigenous artists aren’t being looked for. They aren’t being appreciated.

I want to draw these folks out. Show me what you got!” The ideal applicant would be just starting their career, has shown a great amount of dedication and passion towards their practice, and is eager to build industry skills and professionalism to further their artistic career.

To make this grant possible for emerging artists, Alexander will be donating 5% of the proceeds from his work.

The Kamloops Arts Council will manage the applications and will award two micro-grants to successful applicants every year. Terri Hadwin, KAC Executive Director says, “The Board was unanimous in the decision to move ahead with this partnership of an Indigenous Artist Grant, we are thankful that Mike has chosen Kamloops as his home and that he is so committed to the growth of indigenous art presence and the development of indigenous artists skills in our beautiful city. Thank you Mike for working with us to make this grant an available opportunity for emerging artists.”

“I want to see people stoked,” Alexander says, “I want to see that they decide to go big with a project and transform it into something they can really enjoy doing. I know it’s not a lot of money, but I want people to feel for today, it will help turn your dream into a reality.”

Follow the Kamloops Arts Council social media and website for the upcoming grant announcement at kamloopsarts.ca.

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10 | AUGUST 2020

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How many have you visited?

Continued from Page 2

B.C. Day August 3rd, 2020

250-372-1234 • info@cfselaw.ca

Downtown Kamloops - #300-272 Victoria St.

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Comfort Keepers

cool mountain forests to Canada’s only pocket desert, the 600 km KVR route offers cyclists the adventure of a lifetime. Some of the must see sections of this trail are the Myra Canyon Trestles in Kelowna, the Othello Tunnels near Hope and the Kettle Valley Steam Railway near Summerland where people can hop aboard an authentic steam engine.

4

Find the Perfect Place to Paddle Kayaking and canoeing are popular sports for British Columbians and one of the best ways to explore our many lakes and waterways. At the top of any paddlers bucket list is the 7-day long canoe circuit through Bowron Provincial Park in the Cariboo Mountains. This 116 km route traverses multiple lakes and rivers with short portages between waterways. For those wanting a day trip, Clearwater Lake in Wells Gray Park, the Lightning Lakes in Manning Park and Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park are all must-paddle lakes that provide boat rentals. There are hundreds of other lakes large and small (and many with free camping) waiting to be explored.

3

Uncover B.C.’s Hidden History British Columbia is a treasure trove of hidden history. Discover the history of the First Nations, the fur trading posts, gold rushes, railroad construction, ranching and farming in B.C. There are lots of museums, ghost towns and outposts waiting to be explored. Some of the major attractions include: Fort Langley (a former fur trading post), Barkerville (a gold rush town in the Cariboo),

Hat Creek Ranch (a coach house near Cache Creek), O’Keefe’s Ranch (near Vernon), Fort Steele (a gold rush boom town in the Kootenays) and Secwepemc Museum in Kamloops.

Step back in time to the Wild West with a stage coach ride, a western photo shoot or a court trial with Judge Begby the Hanging Judge. Try your hand at gold panning or just wander through the preserved buildings, check out the artifacts or climb inside an indigenous winter pit house. Next time you go on a B.C. road trip be sure to check out some of the many historical sites along the way.

2

Drive Through a Lava Bed Some of our most unique hidden gems are located in Northern B.C. One of my favourites is Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park in the Nass River valley. Located about 80 kilometres north of Terrace, this is the site of Canada’s most recent volcanic eruption around 1700, A.D. The park was established in 1992 and is the first in B.C. to be jointly managed by the government and a First Nation. A self-guided driving tour will take you to waterfalls, pools, cinder cones, tree moulds, lava tubes, spatter cones, a lava-dammed lake, caves and other features created by the lava flows. The park serves as a memorial to the 2,000 people killed in this geological disaster. Large lava flows dammed the Nass River and destroyed the two Nisga villages of Wii Lax K’abit and Lax Ksiluux.

If you are lucky you may even spot a Spirit Bear. This rare subspecies of the American black bear is officially called the Kermode bear. It lives in the Central and North Coast regions

of British Columbia. While most Kermode bears are black, there are between 100 and 500 completely white bears. Local tradition considers it good luck to spot a white Spirit Bear. If you don’t spot one, you can always visit Clover the Spirit Bear at the Kamloops Wildlife Park.

1

Soak in a Natural Hot Spring There is nothing more blissful than a soak in a natural hot spring.

B.C. has a wealth of hot springs.

Some have been commercially developed and others remain hidden in the forests near rivers. British Columbians love to pack up their RVs and take one of the Hot Spring Circle Routes. Hot Spring Resorts such as Fairmont, Radium, Nakusp, and Halcyon offer RV and camping spots.

My favourites are the little known undeveloped hot springs. I like to keep these secret but I will share one of the better known ones with you.

Lussier Hot Springs are located next to the Lussier River in Whiteswan Provincial Park. The springs are accessed by a dusty gravel road. From the parking area a short walk down to the river takes you to the pools. Pools built into rock terraces collect the water while maintaining a natural feel.

For more information, visit www.

TeresatheTraveler.ca or pick up a Teresa the Traveler book at Chapters in Kamloops. Titles include: Take a Hike, Chasing Waterfalls, Perfect Places to Paddle, Hidden History, Wine Your Way through the Interior of B.C. and Waterfalls, Hot Springs and Swimming Holes.

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Glover’s Medicine Centre Pharmacy offers a variety of health solutions. We’re an independent pharmacy, catering to the entire family. Our pharmacists play a unique role in providing personalized health care, we do much more than just fill prescriptions; we also provide health care and health advice to parents, children, and families on topics ranging from prenatal vitamins to maintaining a healthy weight to infant care.

Located in Kamloops, you can find us right next door to a medical walk-in clinic.

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Give us a call or drop by our pharmacy and see for yourself how we may be able to help.

AUGUST 2020 | 11

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What’s in a name?

kamloops birdwatch NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

A

pparently everything!

Growing up, like many others, I developed a fondness for Ian Fleming’s films. The phrase “Shaken not stirred” becoming an iconic line synonymous with the smooth talking, suave womanizer, James Bond. But the origin behind this legendary name is actually born from the simple love for birds.

James Bond was a noted ornithologist born January 4th, 1900 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, he took up a position with a banking firm but his interest for nature propelled him to endeavor with the Academy of Natural Sciences to the Amazon.

He eventually became the curator of Ornithology and an expert in Caribbean birds. In the early 30s he wrote “Birds of the West Indies” which became one of the books favoured

by Ian Fleming, who was an avid birder/watcher himself.

Ian Fleming wrote to James Bond’s wife Mary Bond, a fellow author herself, to inform her of his Identity theft, but Bond himself did not know of his name sake until the late sixties when the books and films gained popularity.

In 1964, Ian Fleming was blessed with a surprise encounter, ironically, while Bond visited Goldeneye in Jamaica. Ian offered up his own name in exchange, and suggested it be used if James discovered a horrible species of bird! Sadly only six months later Mr. Fleming passed away.

Throughout much of Ian Flemings work, there are tributes to the man he admired and his work with birds. In Dr. No there is a large sanctuary on his

Bahamas Island based upon the ornithological research of the true James Bond; a colony of Roseate Spoonbills, a species protected by the NAS, can be seen. A copy of You Only Live Twice, signed “To the real James Bond”, was auctioned off in 2008 garnering $84,000; while Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day can be seen studying a copy of “Birds of the West Indies” and later introduces himself to Jinx, as an Ornithologist.

While Pierce’s portrayal was for the purpose of misleading, Bond himself was truly a credit to discovering the North American Origins of many Caribbean birds, disproving the notion they

Photo: Jerry Freilich

Ornithologist James Bond at the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia in 1974.

23rd Annual SCT&I Charity Golf Tournament is Teeing Off in Benefit of RIH

The South Central Trucking and Industry Charity (SCT&I) Golf Tournament, recognized as one of the most successful golf charity events in Kamloops, is entering its 23rd year. Proceeds benefit the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). Funds raised will be used to purchase much needed and essential beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These beds are used for patients on life support or requiring other life saving measures. Special mattresses which allow for increased blood flow and airflow immensely increase patient comfort and help speed recovery.

To comply with

provincial COVID-19 regulations, the set-up this year will be a little different.

In order to avoid large gatherings, golfers now can play their favorite course and make a donation to support the cause.

Take photos and hashtag #roundforrih #SCT&I and tag us on social media @ rihfound & on Facebook or email Shanah.skjeie@ interiorhealth.ca to be entered in to win $500!

We are also planning to have a day of appreciation for our major sponsors that have been supporting us over the years at Rivershore Estate and Golf Links on August 28th.

over $2 million toward patient care equipment for various departments at RIH, including: OR, Emergency Room and Trauma Centre, Cancer Centre Chemotherapy Treatment Area, a 2nd CT Scanner Campaign, and a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Thank you in advance for your valued support.

For more information please contact Shanah Skjeie at shanah.skjeie@ interiorhealth.ca.

Happy B.C. Day

Support Small Businesses

were native to the South.

He later resolved that the boundary between North and South American species lies off the coast of Venezuela, which is now known as the Bond Line.

There are many amazing men and women whose names are connected to the preservation of birds and understanding their nature, behavior and beauty. I hope this continues to inspire you to seek out not just the birds, but the amazing stories and legends about those who dedicated their lives to bringing us knowledge about the wonderful avian world.

In addition, anyone, player or not, can purchase raffle and 50/50 tickets.

Raffle prizes include fantastic bundles from local business including: Abbott Wealth Management, Norkam Mechanical Group & Sandbar Grill, Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and Sparkling Hill, Tirecraft, WestJet & KPMG, and The Lash & Brown Studio.

To purchase raffle and 50/50 tickets, please visit: trellis.org/scti The SCT&I Charity Golf Tournament, through its previous events, has raised

“Shop Local”

While we slowly open up our world

Keep 2 metres apart from others when outside your home

GET OUT & ENJOY

the Great Outdoors!!!

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”

TODD

STONE

MLA Kamloops-South Thompson 446 Victoria Street Kamloops, BC V2C 2A7 todd.stone.mla@leg.bc.ca toddstonemla.ca 250-374-2880

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MLA Kamloops-North Thompson 618B Tranquille Road Kamloops, BC V2B 3H6 peter.milobar.mla@leg.bc.ca petermilobarmla.ca 250-554-5413

12 | AUGUST 2020

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Restoration Rust Repair

By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

A

few days ago I pulled my restored 1970 Pontiac Acadian out of the garage to give it a little run from sitting for so long. I remember the day 14 years ago when it was finished and how good it felt to have it done.

I also remember how the car looked when I first got it, there was just a little tiny bit of rust at the fenders and the bottom of the doors but it couldn’t be too bad.

SURPRISE! When I started getting into it the metal, cancer (rust), was everywhere and I do mean everywhere. When I was finished two years later I realized the only reusable sheet metal had been the hood, the roof, and the trunk!

Everything else I had to replace or drastically modify to repair.

My greatest concern at the start of the venture was how will I repair all the rust and who could I talk to for good advice?

Fortunately a fellow instructor who taught auto body and had his own shop offered to assist and to also exchange work for work.

To do rust repair correctly, it must be performed by someone with a good head for metallurgy, fabrication, and welding skills.

When repairing a dented fender on a newer or non-rust affected vehicle it is a straightforward job of removing the damaged part and replacing it with a new one and then off to the painter. In England, that person is called a “fitter,” someone who follows instructions and “fits” new pieces on the vehicle.

A rust repair specialist doesn’t happen overnight, much skill has to be invested in not only performing the services but also in understanding preventative measures to keep the rust gone.

They must also have

the experience of taking into account where the vehicle will be driven and in what environment, the type of material of the substrate (aluminum, sheet metal, stainless steel, fibreglass, plastics), what government environmental regulations have to be adhered to and what paint to use.

In talking to a local body shop that specializes in complete vehicle restorations and rust repair they informed me about the importance of correcting rust damage before it gets too bad. What you may see on the surface is literally just the tip of the “rust berg.”

There is way more damage underneath and in the immediate surrounding area.

Rock chips can be the start of something tragic and a little bit of touch-up paint is the quickest way to minimize damage. If a repaint is required, be

careful of those who profess to just be able to blow on a little paint after a light sanding.

I have witnessed too many times where a full panel, door, or a fender was the correct repair especially when planning to keep the vehicle. Be prepared— there will be expenses for a correct repair.

To borrow an expression, “work performed can be fast, cheap or professional,” but you are only allowed to pick two.

Be sure to discuss the required repairs with a body shop that does restorations and also don’t hesitate to go to a car show and ask various owners what was done to bring the lovely finished vehicle to the point that it’s in now. *FYI - Be sure to practice COVID-19 precautions during your information gathering.

Any questions or concerns send to bigsix8280@yahoo.ca.

Ha B.C ppy .D ay

GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDE AND GET GOLFING!!!

Work off that Covid extra weight...

ENTER TO WIN TWO ROUNDS OF GOLF @ THE DUNES Mail or drop off your entry to: Kamloops Connector, 1365B Dalhousie Dr., Kamloops, BC V2C 5P6 or email your details with “The Dunes Contest” to win@connectornews.ca. Random draw from entries submitted for the contest. One entry per household. Draw date: Friday, August 7 at 9:00 am.

Prize must be accepted as awarded. Winners will be called to arrange pick up of their prize.

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AUGUST 2020 | 13

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What’s “Normal” for Zone 8 of the BC Seniors Games Society?

By Linda Haas

A

lthough these days are called “the new normal’, we hope that next year will look more like the normal normal for 55+ BC Games folk. We all certainly miss the regular activities that have been put on hold, as well as the socialization and camaraderie that accompany sport participation, general meetings, and fund-raisers.

We trust you have been able to maintain some sort of physical involvement and social interaction that will help enable you to resume your favourite competitive or cooperative efforts that will set you up for a more fulfilling year in 2021.

Normally, the next Zone 8 get-together would be in September. However, our normal meeting place at Tk’emlups is not available and other sites that would allow social distancing don’t look promising either. We do need to have an Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 15th. Location of this meeting will be determined by availability of a venue for our group size. Hopefully, our normal location, the Chief Louis Center, will be reopened by

then, although there will be no lunch or fundraiser following to which we normally look forward.

Please check the October issue of The Connector to confirm how and where this meeting will take place.

In the meantime, think about the positions that will need to be filled for the following 2 years: President, 2nd VicePresident/Registrar, and Zone 8 Director (liaison with provincial BCSGS Board). The incumbents, Peter Hughes, Heather Sinclair, and Monty Kilborn, are willing to continue, but there may also be nominations from the floor (real or virtual).

Sport and area reps and executive members have all been registered as BCSGS members and will be eligible to vote at our AGM. We will also need a Chairperson for the Merchandise Committee as Bill Smedley, who has done a great job looking after the purchase and sales of Zone 8 logowear, is retiring from the position. Please contact Peter 778-471-1805 or zone8pres.peterhughes@ shaw.ca if you can assist us, and for more information.

The BCSGS AGM will still take place September 17th as it would have had the Richmond Games been happening, only via Zoom. Six delegates from each of 12 zones and the BCSGS executive normally attend. This year, Peter, Phil, Monty, Linda, and Linda from Zone 8 executive will be virtual attendees, and two more delegates are being recruited.

As per normal, Zone 8 wishes everybody who has enjoyed participating in the 55+ BC Games, and who may be interested in next year’s Games in Victoria, a safe, healthy and enjoyable rest of the summer. Don’t forget to stay active, as this senior reminds us: As we grow older, you know how important exercise is. Here is what I did: I started by standing outside the house and, with a five-pound potato sack in each hand, extended my arms straight out to my sides and held them there as long as I could. After a few weeks, I moved up to 10-pound potato sacks, then 50-pound potato sacks, and finally I got to where I could lift a 100-pound

UPDATE on Seniors’ Community Centre at Desert Gardens Submitted by Penny Ouchi We hope everyone is staying healthy, safe and calm.

We truly miss all of you, however we are currently uncertain of when we will re-open.

Due to the ongoing concerns of the spread of COVID-19, the Seniors’ Centre at Desert Gardens is erring on the side of caution and choosing to remain closed, as we are strongly committed to helping protect the health and safety of our members, clients, residents, supporters and everyone in our community.

We are continuing to monitor the situation for updated information and recommendations from the Provincial

Government, Provincial Health, Interior Health and Worksafe B.C. The office is being monitored for calls, emails and questions from you.

We thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We hope you are staying connected to your family, friends and loved ones during these unprecedented times.

Seniors’ Community Centre at Desert Gardens would like to thank everyone that is working hard to protect and serve our Community. You are all heros!

Please stay calm, healthy and safe as we eagerly await the day we can open our doors to see and serve you once again.

potato sack in each hand and hold my arms straight out for more than a full minute!

Next, I started putting a few potatoes IN the sacks, but I would caution you not to overdo it at this level.

NORTHILLS IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED / LIMITED HOURS IN BROCK

SUDOKU

14 | AUGUST 2020

www.connectornews.ca

Happy B.C. Day Beat the heat with Clearwater Seniors’ Activities MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Calendar of Events

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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As well as activities listed in the calendar, check out more exercise programs, Sharon’s Gardening tips, beekeeping video, Guitar lessons and more.

Clearwater Community Recreation and Healthy Living Program in Facebook.

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Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia @ 10:30 am

Writer’s Circle (Discussions and submissions by email).

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BC DAY 11

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Sit & Be Fit with Sabine @10:30 18

Sit & Be Fit with Sabine @10:30

Sit & Be Fit with Sabine @10:30 am Sit & Be Fit with Sabine @10:30 am 31 30

Writer’s Circle (Discussions and submissions by email).

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TUESDAY

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CLOSED - BC DAY 10

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 17

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Income Tax Drop Off Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 28 27 Foot Care 26 (by appt. only) Income Tax Drop Off Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Foot Care 18 (by appt. only)

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Foot Care 19 (by appt. only)

MONDAY

TUESDAY

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BC DAY 9

10

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Fitness Class 4 with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Art Group 10:00 am Fitness Class 11 with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Art Group 10:00 am Fitness Class 18 with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Art Group 10:00 am Fitness Class 25 with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Art Group 10:00 am

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Fitness Class with Carmen 9:00 am Cancelled (Anglemont Community Rise ‘n Shine Breakfast Centre Parking Lot) Fitness Class with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Fitness Class with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot) Fitness Class with Carmen 9:00 am (Anglemont Community Centre Parking Lot)

dual roller shades are a great option. Dual roller shades allow light to be regulated very well and can completely blackout your bedroom to stop that early morning sun from peaking through.

How nice would it be if your window coverings were programmable?

Well that is now a reality.

Motorized roller shades can be controlled with a remote or set to open and close at specific times of the day. This is a great privacy option for the evenings when it gets dark or works as a home security addition to make your home look occupied when on vacation.

If you have any more questions roller shades or other window coverings please stop by or give mE a call. Remember to stay cool this summer!

15

Calendar of Events

Squilax/Anglemont

R

oller shades are a great alternative to traditional blinds.

Roller shades offer a clean and uncluttered look that is a perfect fit for modern or classic homes. By adding drapes or curtains in conjunction with the roller shades, one can dress the look up to gain some elegance or leave the roller shades by themselves to achieve a more simple and modern

look. With hundreds of fabric and colour options, roller shades can fit any style that you are looking for. Unleash your creativity and mix and match.

A great advantage to having roller shades is the energy efficient component of them. Many of the manufacturers now make roller shades with solar screens or special fabrics that are able to block out UV rays and reduce the heat penetration from outside. The exterior side of the roller shade is reflective while the interior side still allows light through. The result is light still coming into the home while blocking out the rays that could fade your furniture.

If the amount of light coming into a room is a concern, such as a bedroom, installing

8

AUGUST 2020

Lakeview Centre

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1

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Lakeview Community Centre Society SUNDAY

SATURDAY

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Foot Care 12 (by appt. only)

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Foot Care 11 (by appt. only)

Income Tax Drop Off 30 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 31

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Foot Care 5 (by appt. only)

23 Income Tax Drop Off 24 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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6

Foot Care 4 (by appt. only)

Income Tax Drop Off 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Foot Care 25 (by appt. only)

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Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am

Calendar of Events

Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1H1 | Phone 250-832-7000 Fax 250-833-0550

Flooring SHAWN VANDERWAL Nufloors

AUGUST 2020

320A Second Ave. NE (Office Hours: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm) MONDAY

15

Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am

Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia @ 10:30 am

Seniors’ Resource Centre - Salmon Arm SUNDAY

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Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am

Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia @ 10:30 am

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3rd Sunday Social 12:30 pm (Wells Gray Inn)

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Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am

Photo by Gordon Gore

SUNDAY

roller shades

AUGUST 2020

Virtual Options through Clearwater Community Recreation and Healthy Living Program in Facebook.

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in a place where each person (resident) can live a meaningful life and reach their own personal potential through services that individualizes their own experiences.

The Hamlets at Westsyde in Kamloops provides residential care and an active, independent living community. Our resident-centered care philosophy provides a focus on resident personal choice and dignity. In addition to taking care of your loved ones assisted living needs, our variety of amenities creates a community where health and happiness are a way of life.

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AUGUST 2020 | 15

www.connectornews.ca

The Way It Was

By Trudy Frisk

W

e humans are social creatures.

After months of lock downs, social distancing, and selfisolation, we want to go back to the way it was.

Many of us miss, most of all, the casual, informal chats with friends at local coffee shops.

And that’s ironic because, when these fast food eateries first opened, they’d have met the social distancing guidelines.

The A&W, first of its kind, came to Canada in 1956. It offered no indoor dining nor drive through.

It was drive in only.

Patrons drove to the restaurants, parked in designated rows, waited for a ‘car hop’ (always female) to come to their car, take their orders and payment, return to the kitchen, then bring out their orders on a metal tray. The driver then rolled down his/her window a bit, the tray was clipped on to it, the driver handed out individual meals, and munching began. When the meals were finished the same car hop returned to take back dishes. Businesses which followed A&W adopted the

same format.

Any socializing was in the car. Expanding one’s bubble had to be done elsewhere.

In the park, maybe, or at a dance later.

The A&W and its successors were immediately successful.

‘Take the family out for lunch without everyone dressing up? Of course!’

‘Take a girl for an affordable meal before a movie? just you two? Sure thing!’

One difficulty: customers had to have cars.

Except in Kamloops, B.C. When the first A&W opened in 1963, in Valleyview, it also served customers who arrived on horseback.

In 1963, Kamloops was still a semi-rural town, surrounded by apple orchards, market gardens and hop fields. Just beyond them were some of the finest ranches in B.C. Where there are ranches there are horses. In fact, many town residents had acreages large enough to stable and pasture their own horses at home.

That’s how fourteen year old Kerri Colquhoun and her mare, April Hannah, came to be steady customers at the A&W. April, and another horse

had been traded in on a truck at Dearborn Motors.

Gordon Gamble, owner of the dealership, remembered Bill Colquhoun was looking for a horse for Kerri and called him. Interested?

Kerri had to be asked only once. They were off to see the horse. April, was a registered three quarters Arab and one quarter hunter thorough-bred with a sense of her own worth.

Kerri’s dad put her up on April’s back. “She crowhopped and I went flying.”

Kerri thought her mother would say that was the end of it, but she didn’t. April was a lady-like horse.

“If she saw we were headed for the A&W, she relieved herself before we got there.”

Kerri, her friend Rae Campbell and their horses became familiar figures at the A&W. “No one ever questioned our mode of transportation.”

It certainly helped that their mutual friend Carole Bellos, a car-hop at the A&W, was from a ranching family. The Bellos family owned the Willow Ranch located between Kamloops and Merritt. Along with cattle the Willow Ranch raised quarter horses.

When the Bellos family sold the Willow Ranch and bought property in Knutsford, Mr. Bellos brought the whole horse herd down the highway to their new home outside Kamloops.

Carole’s ranching background meant she was perfectly comfortable in her new job as car/horse-hop with customers who were astride horses instead of secluded in automobiles.

Kerri remembers, “We had no trouble being served

our usual hamburger and mug of root beer while on horseback.” One out of town customer had never seen such a sight.

He insisted on a photo of Carole taking their order in front of the restaurant.

Years later the A&W and similar restaurants offered inside dining rooms where people have become used to mingling, being part of a group of friends who might not even live in the same neighbourhood. It’s added an important option for

society.

No wonder we miss each other. (The drive-through isn’t the same. Food doesn’t replace conversation.)

Will we go back to the way it was? Probably not with horses, though one should never underestimate horses nor their riders.

These restaurants are important to the social well-being and happiness of many Canadians.

We look forward to their coffee & our chats.

Wills ON Wheels WE ARE OPEN AND READY TO ASSIST YOU DURING COVID-19 WITH YOUR: • Wills • Probates • Powers of Attorney • Representation Agreements

We are following protocols regarding sanitizing and social distancing

Toni Vuteva

250-374-3737 • info@GLmail.ca

Lawyer

GIBRALTAR LAW

202-444 VICTORIA ST., KAMLOOPS V2C 2A7

Merritt Senior Centre

AUGUST 2020

The Merrit Seniors Association

Calendar of Events

1675 Tutill Court | Bob Leech, President

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

($1 per day fee for all activities to cover cost of sanitizing) ALL Covid-19 rules for “Physical Distancing” will be observed

BC DAY 9

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23

30 Photo submitted.

Good service at Kamloops’ first A & W (c. 1963) Foreground: Kerri Colquhoun, on horseback. Car (horse) hop: Carole Bellos.

Background: Rae Campbell on horseback.

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Exercise Class 10 10:00 - 11 am Pool/Snooker 11:00 am - 1 pm Exercise Class 17 10:00 - 11 am Pool/Snooker 11:00 am - 1 pm Exercise Class 24 10:00 - 11 am Pool/Snooker 11:00 am - 1 pm 31

B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm

Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm

11

B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm

Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm

Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm 26

Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm

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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am

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Floor Shuffleboard 1:00 - 3 pm

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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am

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Floor Shuffleboard 1:00 - 3 pm

7

Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am

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Floor Shuffleboard 1:00 - 3 pm 19

25

B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm

Floor Shuffleboard 1:00 - 3 pm 12

18

B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm

6

5

Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am

wHat makes Us dIFFeRent? PLENTY! 210 Lansdowne st., kamLoops

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16 | AUGUST 2020

www.connectornews.ca

The Beginning of the End The inside story WENDY WESEEN

Ah! August! The beginning of the last month of summer! Did we have summer? A favourite holiday month – a time to spend at the lake, make that once-in-a lifetime trip into the exotic and ancestral world, visit far away friends and family renewing bonds, eat forbidden food and drink, see locations where our passionate interests are rooted, and most hopefully release the stress of hectic lives we live.

With current travel restrictions, many will seek alternate, closer and safe

ways to rest and renew.

I cannot help but think about my own vacation and travel history and ponder about the loss of travel in my new reincarnation as a disabled person, and the loss of travel options in all our vacations this year. I was born a wanderer and wonderer, a Thursday’s child with far to go, and lucky for me was able to travel extensively. Last month I promised you something other than COVID crisis thoughts. “Perhaps a funny or interesting story,” I said.

But to abandon the COVID as a subject for this column, I needed to find my satchel of travel postcard stories and honour the word count limits of a column. Here goes: A long time ago in a far away odd and curious land, her mind visioned an organ grinder monkey with a multi-coloured striped vest and tiny blue buttons pumping a concertina, hurtling critical notes of a contrary melody into the four corners of her brain.

After her children grew up

wrong doing until after the age of fourteen. Women observed their gendered world, had their backs up against the walls and sat around the periphery of the market like black lions in a pride of their children twisting themselves into their mother’s bodies.

She spied a monkey with soulful eyes peering over the shoulder of a man wearing a creamy silk shift over washed-out blue jeans,

and on the verge of ending a marriage, she and her husband bugged their eyes at the panoramic view of Jemaa-el-Fna market in Marrakesh, Morocco.

It was hotter than Hades but in her family, women don’t sweat, they bloom, and though she was wearing a sleeveless blouse and knee highs capris, she sweated like a lamb roasting on a spit, getting ready for Ramadan. A cloud of flies and mélange of scents radiated from unfamiliar spices, racks of meat and fish, mounds of fruit and open jars of incense arranged on stalls and wagons. A whirl of pearl-grey pigeons flew from trees to ground and back, scavenging morsels newly dropped on the cement of the giant square. Boys scurried and scattered through the crowd, trying to kick the pigeons, stealing and mugging for photographs, knowing in their Islamic world they couldn’t go to hell for their

looking very much like a contemporary Jesus. The man was rail thin but his pointed bones confirmed a body was buried in the roomy shift. The monkey met her eyes as if he already knew her, jumped to the ground and leaped into her arms, almost knocking her off her feet. The silky ribbon man conjured up a camera, took a photograph with the monkey’s arms wrapped around her neck.

Her husband in his turn held the monkey’s scrawny body, a scruffy water rat in disguise, and fretted the monkey might have lice and instantly began scratching his arms. She bought the ten dollar photos, thought they were worth a louse or two. Four years later, she didn’t even know where the photographs were.

If you could take any vacation you wanted what would it be? Why?

Jemaa-el-Fna Town Square, Marrakesh, Morocco

The COVID pandemic and filing taxes The COVID pandemic has changed the way so many organizations operate, including the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

To make it easier for people to get their taxes done on time this year, both tax filing and payment deadlines were extended.

So instead of having to file personal taxes by April 30, 2020 most individuals were allowed to file them by June 1, with a deadline to pay any amounts owing by September 1, 2020 But the tax filing deadline is not only important for avoiding interest if taxes are owed, but for seniors, to avoid a disruption of benefits like the guaranteed income supplement (GIS). This is because eligibility for both GIS and GST credits is based on a person’s income, which is defined by your annual tax filing. So if you haven’t filed your taxes on time, even if your earnings are zero, your GIS and GST payments will be impacted because the CRA doesn’t know what your income is. Tax filings are also used to calculate how much benefit pay you receive, so you see why it is important to get them done.

For those who need help filing their taxes, current or previous years, there are free tax clinics in Kamloops for modest-income individuals (under $35,000 for a single person, under $45,000 for a family of two) with simple returns. These CRA-trained volunteers can be reached via: • The Centre for Seniors Information (25 – 700 Tranquille Road, 250-554-4145, taxprogram@csikamloops.ca) • The CSI Activity Centre (9A – 1800 Tranquille Road, 778-470-6000, info@csikamloops.ca) • The Mustard Seed (778-765-4824, barb.taxes18@gmail.com) The first two are open for walk-ins, and taxes are done at the Mustard Seed by appointment.

People in other communities needing help with taxes can call our office and we will try to find someone to assist.

I hope you enjoy a safe and healthy summer, and make sure those taxes are done!

Cathy McLeod, MP

6-275 Seymour Street, Kamloops, BC cathy.mcleod.c1@parl.gc.ca | 250-851-4991 www.cathymcleod.ca

Happy B.C. Day

AUGUST 2020 | 17

www.connectornews.ca

Summertime Bumbling Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw

F

our months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenny figured she’d bumbled around long enough. So, when the brand new activity centre finally opened, her curiosity about the exercise classes led her to the membership drive.

Volunteers and instructors were available to suggest appropriate age-related fitness work-outs for every level of fitness. It was time for folks to come out of those lackadaisical days of the pandemic and get some cardio.

Plump and sassy Jenny bought in to the hype over the ‘Young-at-Heart’ sessions. The sales pitches were too convincing to ignore, so she took out a membership. The following Saturday morning, she showed up with some neighbors from her senior complex and met Arnold, a volunteer assigned to lead a class. He was new to the centre and didn’t know his way around, but when he found the right room and looked over the group, he was quite surprised.

With a throaty chuckle, he welcomed them.

“I’m happy to see such a keen group! I’m very impressed,” he said. The participants’ eyebrows shot up at the sight of the slim dude with the bulging biceps and colorful form-fitting get-up. Jenny thought to herself, He’s impressed with us? I wonder why.

“I think you’ll enjoy working out to the beat of the cool music I brought,” he said confidently. “We’ll begin with some easy rhythmic clapping overhead. Then, you’ll march on the spot. After a few minutes of this mild cardio you’ll be ready for the real work. Do you follow me?”

Everyone nodded. Arnold closed the door and handed out ‘exercise equipment.’

“I didn’t know we would work with these things,” Jenny frowned, trying not to furrow her brow too much because she looked old enough as it was without bringing on more wrinkles. She sure didn’t want that fit young fellow to guess she was uncomfortable with ‘equipment’! So, without hesitation, she strapped the

set of weight-bands around her wrists.

Meanwhile, Arnold adjusted the volume. You could hear it clear down the hall. It was fast; maybe, too fast but, along with the rest, Jenny was a good sport and attempted to do as instructed.

Within a moment or two, Arnold noticed everyone’s weary arms hung limply by their sides and the whole class appeared troubled.

“Enough for now.” He moved on to the next stage of the routine and distributed ankle weights while re-assuring his lessthan enthusiastic group that the warm-up actions were designed for participants to get the feel of weighted limbs. “It’s optional.”

Some disillusioned members backed off and sat on the sidelines. Jenny had difficulty securing the Velcro of the awkward weights around her ankles, and she wasn’t the only one struggling just to bend down. The room filled with gut-wrenching ‘ughs’ and other utterings through gritted teeth. Shaking her head, she confided to a class mate, “I’m more out of shape than I thought. It’s a work-out just to get these things on!”

“Me too. I didn’t know we’d be using weights!”

Arnold, overheard the chatter. “You’ll do fine,” he encouraged with a knowing look, and stood before them with an invitation to enter ‘the zone’.

“We’ll start here in a lineup, and march in a circular direction to find our ‘working zone’ in terms of keeping up with the beat of the music. Am I clear?”

With puzzled faces, the group shuffled their way into line.

“Remember to stay in synch with the beat as much as possible,” he advised as he turned the volume up. “Give it your best effort! Over your heads, hands up; now, march people, stand tall, chests out – get those knees up! You’re getting ready for the big game!”

“What?” The class eyeballed each other and Jenny laughed it off.

The staggeringly fastpaced music resembled the chaotic flight pattern of a

big, fuzzy, black bee drunk on pollen. The classic piece accompanied the exercisers’ moans and groans and, although the hundreds of staccato notes brought on some laughter, a good number of classmates lost their sense of humor.

Instead of waving overhead, they threw their hands up in despair.

Needless to say, many were incensed at the unrealistic warm-up. Someone with nerve hollered, “Turn that irritating noise down… off, preferably! We can’t keep up to that!”

Their leader watched them stumble awkwardly back to the chairs against the wall and collapse on them as their nervous giggling melted into distain. He sympathised. “A bit much is it?”

We’re just not used to this,” Jenny responded speaking loudly over the music for the whole group’s sake.

The music hit a crescendo as a knock came at the door. Waiting on the other side, a crowd of boys were up to no-good in the hall. The kid who knocked said, “We hear that supercool music; this must be our class!” Feeling their oats, a dozen kids rushed past Arnold into the room.

“Did you guys sign in?”

“Yeah!”

Just then, an accredited keep-fit instructor showed up. “These boys registered for your ‘Hardy & Healthy’ beginners weight-training program!” She stormed, “they’ve been waiting in Room 8!”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes! This is Room 3; I’m the instructor for these ‘Young-At-Heart’ seniors!”

She turned and apologized to the bewildered folks.

“I’m sorry I’m late; I’ll explain later,” she said. The group immediately tore off the uncomfortable wrist and ankle weights.

“Good grief,” the misdirected volunteer-guy groaned as he looked at the number over the doorway.

“Whoops.” He shrank in embarrassment and sheepishly apologized. “I’m sorry I put you through those hard paces; really, I’m so sorry!”

Quickly turning his attention to the raucous

youngsters, he ordered, “Outta here, you guys. I’ll see you down in Room 8.

Go!” He grabbed his duffle bag, loaded the weights and took his CD of Remsky

Korsakov’s phenomenal, feverishly-fast composition, ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ off the player!

Meanwhile, the seniors couldn’t move from their

chairs. They didn’t dare try; you know seniors… they were beat and bellylaughing too hard to get up.

City of Kamloops

HEALTHY LANDSCAPES, HEALTHY LIVING Pest Control Tips Use a BTK biological insecticide spray for caterpillar pests like leafrollers.

Keep beneficial insects happy in your yard by selecting a variety of plants and providing a source of water with stones for landing.

Consider mixing clover with your grass to outcompete weeds and attract beneficial insects that feed on garden pests.

To learn how to maintain a healthy landscape while complying with Pesticide Use Control Bylaw No. 26-4, visit our website or call 250-828-3317.

Kamloops.ca/IPM

18 | AUGUST 2020

www.connectornews.ca

See you on the playground Colouring outside the lines REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

Slowly, cautiously, the black cat crept across the yard, low to the ground, one paw following another, movement barely detectable. One step, two steps, then a pause – a long pause – before another step. My eyes follow the domesticated panther’s gaze to the spot where a small black squirrel, gnawing on the twig of a maple tree, sits at the base of the tree. Suddenly, the squirrel takes two quick steps away from the tree,

Church Directory UNITED CHURCHES OF CANADA Kamloops United Church

www.kamloopsunited.ca 421 St. Paul St. • Sundays 10 am Rev. Dr. Michael Caveney

Mt. Paul United Church

www.mtpauluc.ca 140 Laburnum St. • Sundays 10 am

Plura Hills United Church

www.plurahillsunited.com 2090 Pacific Way • Sundays 10 am

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turns, runs back, skitters up about a foot off the ground and back flips to the ground, somersaults and races around the base of the tree.

When I look back the cat is sitting, no longer stalking, now an observer as well. Over and over the little squirrel picks up the stick, chews for a bit, then hops, somersaults, jumps, races up the tree and back down to begin again.

The power of play! As July turns to August our summer days are waning, but there’s still time for play. The uncertain days of pandemic, the long days of sheltering, the questions around the efficacy of masks, the stress of shopping with many who don’t safely social distance, not being able to visit family members and hug friends. With all the stressors this pandemic has brought into our lives the power of play to refresh and revive our spirits is

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were smitten with water.

They waded after frogs and splashed with abandon while I worked at the algae.

My brother-in-law called out from the shade, “Hey, who is the biggest kid here?”

I can’t deny it – I’ve never outgrown my desire to play in the mud. But isn’t play the way we get limbered up for the work of the world? My sister defended my pond-raking with the reminder that it was sacred play.

Sacred play. Chewing on a stick to savour the small sweet drops of maple water.

Rolling somersaults in gleeful abandon as a black cat sits and watches. Ravens flying in formation before barrel rolling across the breeze. Swallows swooping and diving along the silty bluffs. The animals speak of the joy that play brings.

Wading barefoot along the edge of a pond. Or a lake.

Or splashing with abandon.

Riding a bike. Weaving a daisy chain necklace.

Flying a kite. Riding a swing or a merry-go-round or a teeter totter. Speeding down a slippery shiny slide.

Summer days are built for playing. We cannot fully engage in the work of the world if we forget to limber up with times of play. Race you to the swing set!

Rev LeAnn Blackert is in ministry with the new Wild Church in Kamloops (wildchurchbc.org), where she works with Michele Walker and Lesly Comrie.

LeAnn is spending her “stay home” time with her partner and two cats. She enjoys walking local trails in, watching unsuspecting wild creatures frolic and play, swinging with abandon and connecting with her Wild Church community, whether online or live on the land. She yearns to build a network committed to creating abundant life for all of creation, both human and more than human.

Murray and Alice want to prepay

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invaluable.

The Biblical character, Job, lived under a myriad of stressors. Tucked in his story of trauma and grief and death is this little verse: But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

The animals, the birds, the plants, they are teachers if we stop to pay attention.

Who better to teach us the power of play than cats and squirrels!

In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer describes the work of clearing a pond on her newly purchased property. The pond was suffocating under a heavy load of algae and she worked for years to restore it to a healthy functioning watershed. She writes: When my sister came to visit, her kids, raised in the dry California hills,

ask drake DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director

Alice and Murray came by the other day. “I want to prepay my cremation,” said Alice, “And Murray does too.”

“Well,” I said, “I’ll help you any way that I can. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”

Alice said that would be fine. Murray stared out the window, probably wishing he were on the golf course.

“First,” I said, “Can you give me an idea as to your wishes when the time comes?”

Alice replied “We both want

to be cremated, with no formal service. Our family will have a little celebration for us in the back yard.”

Murray nodded in complete agreement.

“Okay,” I said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a financial question. Do you and Murray receive Canada Pension?”

“Oh yes,” said Alice, “I worked for years here in Kamloops, and Murray spent his working life at the mill.

We both get the CPP. ” You might wonder why I asked Alice and Murray about the Canada Pension.

It’s because, based on their contribution to the CPP, it appears both Murray and Alice will be eligible to receive the $2,500 Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit when they die.

This led me to my next question. “Murray and Alice, the cost for your cremation will be less than $2,500 for each of you. The money to pay for it is already in

place because of the CPP Death Benefit. In light of this information, do you still want to prepay your cremation?”

Alice and Murray thought for a minute. Then Alice said “We didn’t want our daughter to have to worry about anything when we were gone, so we thought we’d get everything in order.”

A lot of parents feel the same way; they want their family to have ‘peace of mind’ when they’re gone.

Over the years I have handed out hundreds of ‘Drake’s Easy As 1-2-3 Planning Sheet’. I believe – along with a Will – filling out the 1-2-3 Planning Sheet is the most important thing you can do to save your family stress when you die. It takes most people less than five minutes to complete and it’s free. Pick one up at our funeral home or download it from our website, DrakeCremation.com. That will give your children peace

of mind. Having a Will and the 1-2-3 Sheet in place is, in my opinion, more important (for most people) than prepaying.

“I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t prepay your cremation,” I said to Alice and Murray, “But there are some other things you should perhaps think about before you decide whether or not to prepay. For example, what happens to your money? What if you move to a new city? What costs are guaranteed and what costs aren’t guaranteed?”

Alice and Murray took Drake’s Easy as 1-2-3 Planning Sheets home and filled them out. Actually, I think Alice filled out Murray’s while he went golfing. A few days later they brought the Easy as 1-2-3 Planning Sheets back. But this time they had some questions of their own about prepaying. We’ll cover those next month.

AUGUST 2020 | 19

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Restore, Renew, Reuse!

everything organized SHAWN FERGUSON Everything Organized

When organizing is requested we will normally start by downsizing a home to see what truly needs to be organized. More often than not the areas you have to keep items in has items that can be downsized so these items are taking up valuable room that could be used for the items you truly want and need. So yes we must downsize before we can hope to get Everything Organized, but quite often items get downsized that could be fixed up or repurposed into something that could be used in your new layout.

Organizing does not mean that you have to go

buy all new systems or items to keep your home organized. A lot of times we are getting rid of items that could be used just because a colour doesn’t match or because it’s original purpose isn’t required.

With a coat of paint, tightening of screws and sometimes some thinking outside of the box we can bring new life to items destined for the landfill.

One thing I’ve noticed is my career as an organizer is that there is a lot of items in this world. Now saying this it’s sometimes disappointing to see an antique modified but if it keeps it out of the landfill I’m all for it! In a world filled with so many items it’s nice to see people trying to fix and make new again items that would otherwise be thrown away. It’s sad to see the amount of stuff that goes to a landfill and many times these items are still quite good and often with some TLC these items can be new again.

Now not all items will work in your home so in the act of saving items from going to an already

filled landfill let’s try to sell these items and if that’s not your thing please donate them. Saying this I’ve been told time and time again a charity wouldn’t take their items but charities are all quite different. Some charities take furniture some take small items but it’s rare for one charity to take all of your items so look around. Call your charities and see what they take and what they need, animal shelters, missions and such are always in need so start there and work your way out and don’t forget the Restore that will take all of your building materials!

Shawn Ferguson is a Professional Organizer in Kamloops, BC. He specializes in Senior Transition, Downsizing, www.everythingorganized. net, Facebook https://www. facebook.com/everythingorganizedkamloops/ or call (250) 377-7601 for a free ½ hr consult in Kamloops.

Do you have a topic that you would like Shawn to write about? Please email him at Shawn@everythingorganized.net

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Seniors Learn to Curl: Saturday October 3 An introduction to the sport of Curling for seniors. Includes registration for a half season in our Tuesday Thursday seniors league. Cost is $99.00 plus GST Tuesday/Thursday Seniors League: An excellent way to stay fit and make friends. Have fun Curling every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

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20 | AUGUST 2020

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HELP A LOVED ONE WITH HEARING LOSS You can make a difference

Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person who has it. It also affects spouses, family members and friends.

How hearing loss affects loved ones

How you can help...

Increased frustration: Loud TVs, constantly repeating yourself, or having to “translate” for your loved one can be frustrating.

• Gently remind them of their hearing loss every time you “translate” or repeat something for them

Heightened concern and worry: Hearing loss increases the risk of falls, injuries and missed warning sounds — which increases everyone’s worry and stress.

• Encourage them to visit a hearing professional to get their hearing tested and their questions answered

Recurring miscommunication: When instructions or information get lost in translation, the chance for mistakes and misunderstandings grows.

• Talk to your loved one about their hearing concerns

• Offer to schedule and attend a hearing consultation with them • Remind them they have nothing to lose and potentially so much to gain by seeing a hearing professional

Sadness: Watching a loved one gradually withdraw from the people and activities they love can be painful and sad.

Hearing testing, hearing aid fittings and hearing aid programming by appointment only.

PLEASE CALL 250-372-3090 TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT. Drop in for a cleaning! Please knock and we will be happy to assist you.

414 Arrowstone Drive Kamloops, BC 250.372.3090 Toll Free 1.877.718.2211 Email: info@kamloopshearingaidcentre.ca or online at:

www.KamloopsHearingAidCentre.ca Find us on facebook: /KamloopsHearingAidCentre