Kamloops Connector May 2021

May 2021

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VOL. 30, NO. 1, MAY 2021 POWERED BY KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK | A PROUD PART OF ABERDEEN PUBLISHING

Buttergate: The Latest Controversy Plaguing Our Food System Page 2

The Rivertown Players will prevail!

Page 5

Seniors & their vintage cars Page 14

Larks and Owls Page 16

Moments Remembered Page 17

Make Mother’s Day Special M other’s Day is a great time of year to honour mothers and attempt to give back just a portion of the tireless love and devotion moms offer their children. Some children provide large gestures, while others feel it’s the little things that can help a mom feel appreciated. For those needing a little inspiration, consider these ideas. Obviously it will take a little more creativity to celebrate mom during COVID-19 if she isn’t already in your bubble, but do make sure to be careful no matter what you do as we cope with the race between the variants and the vaccines.

• Make or order a breakfast with her favourite morning treats and deliver it or have it delivered.

• Enjoy a movie together. Let

her pick the flick and share her favourite film with you, virtually or IRL if she’s in your bubble.

• Put together a collage of photos from moments you have shared with mom or your family and present it to her.

• Cook a meal together and learn about everyone’s favourite recipes or the family history. This is another thing you can do virtually.

• Give her a locket with your photo inside and have a duplicate you can wear containing her photo.

• Customize a coffee mug, tote bag or a blanket with a meaningful sentiment or photo.

• Treat mom to a day off from her chores. Tackle all of the jobs she normally does for the family.

• Bake a delicious dessert that mom will absolutely devour.

• Pamper mom with a gift card for her favourite nail salon

or spa treatment.

• Prepare a jar of mom’s favourite candies wrapped in pieces of paper that have loving sentiments written on them.

• Compile a playlist of songs and artists mom prefers and download them to her phone.

• Begin a charm bracelet tradition by purchasing a charm bracelet and a new charm each year that represents a meaningful memory you both shared.

• Write a new email each day with an inspirational quote or special words of love for mom.

• Tackle a task that she may not want to do herself, such as washing the exterior of her car and vacuuming the interior.

Mother’s Day gift ideas should come from the heart and can show mothers near and far how much they are appreciated and loved.

Ways to commemorate Mother’s Day when Mom has passed away People approach Mother’s Day in unique ways when their mother has been laid to rest. While Mother’s Day may be painful for people who have lost their mothers, there are ways to make the day special.

1. Take a heartfelt moment to really think about what made Mom tick and brought joy to her life. Pay homage to her in some significant way.

2. Get together with siblings or other family members

virtually and remember the happy times, comfort each other and laugh together.

3. Celebrate the day by doing things to ensure Mom’s spirit and personality live on.

4. Reminisce by looking through family albums.

5. Enjoy your favourite childhood meal and offer a toast in her honour.

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2 MAY 2021

Buttergate: The Latest Controversy Plaguing Our Food System By Sandra Frangiadakis, Kamloops Food Policy Council

I

n case you’ve had the feeling recently that your butter doesn’t melt the way it used to, you’re not alone, and you may be onto something. In a controversy dubbed “Buttergate,” Calgary baker and food blogger Julie Van Rosendaal exposed the use of palm fat additives by the Canadian dairy industry and came up with the theory that it is changing the consistency and melting point of our butter.

Rosendaal became curious when a number of people mentioned to her that they had noticed butter did not get soft at room temperature anymore

and was harder to spread on their toast or muffins.

She did a bit of research and found out that, “Palm fat is marketed to farmers as a way to boost output and increase the butterfat content of the resulting milk” and has become routinely added to dairy cow feed. She theorized that the addition of palm fat to the dairy cows’ diet has increased the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fat in the butter produced from that milk and made it stay more solid at room temperature.

According to the Dairy Farmers of Canada, “There are many different factors that can have subtle impacts on the taste, texture and the melting point of butter, including differences in a cow’s diet from one region to another or from one season to the next.”

They are doing everything they can to reassure Canadian consumers that our dairy farmers hold themselves to the highest standards and that our butter is healthy and safe.

Whether there is any truth

to the anecdotal accounts of harder-to-melt butter has yet to be proven, but this is about more than the quality of Canadian butter. A quick scan of recent opinion letters to The Globe and Mail shows that many Canadians are up in arms over this issue and feel they’ve been duped by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. The palm oil industry has come under increasing criticism in recent years for its devastating effects on the environment, including deforestation of valuable tropical rainforests and destruction of crucial orangutan habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia. Many people intentionally avoid any products with palm oil for environmental, animal welfare, and health reasons. To find out they’ve been inadvertently supporting the palm oil industry through consumption of dairy is not sitting well with a lot of folks.

Dairy Farmers of Canada is taking these consumer concerns seriously, and has created a working

group of experts, including representation from the Consumers Association of Canada, to look into the issue and make recommendations, and in the interim, is asking dairy farmers to consider alternatives to palm supplements.

This story serves as a reminder that the industrial food system is not set up for our benefit, and we often don’t really know what we’re eating. We can be quite sure that palm fat wasn’t chosen as a dairy cow feed additive with the health and welfare of

consumers in mind, but rather because it was a cost-effective alternative. And whether or not its use in dairy feed is found to be safe and healthy is not the main issue here. As consumers, we have the right to know what is in our food and how it is produced. In this case, it was just the curiosity and persistence of Ms. Rosendaal that brought the story to light and alerted the public to what was going on.

Dutch Baby Oven Pancake Buttery, delicious, and SO easy!

INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup flour 2 tbsp sugar pinch of salt 4 large eggs

METHOD

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add eggs, milk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.

Put the butter into a cast iron skillet and put in the oven for a few minutes to melt the butter. Watch it doesn’t burn. Remove the hot pan and pour in the pancake batter. Sprinkle with a handful of berries and return to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden. Serve immediately before it collapses!

Note: To make a savoury pancake, omit the sugar and vanilla, and top with grated cheese, herbs, and/or bacon bits instead of berries.

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MAY 2021 3

The Rivertown Players will prevail!

The possibilities are endless this summer for the popular children’s theatre troupe

By Elizabeth Nygren, Kamloops Arts Council

I

f you haven’t heard their name, you should sometime soon. The infamous Kamloops theatre troupe hopes to be back for another funfilled summer, whether that be online or inperson, performing free theatre for the children of Kamloops.

In the past, the Kamloops Rivertown Players have performed shows for children in parks all over Kamloops, moving from Riverside Park all the way up to Sun Peaks, but last year’s season completely flipped the switch on children’s theatre.

Having to adapt to a pandemic and a majority of the world moving online, the Rivertown Players adjusted their strategy and created free theatre online with live activities after each performance.

Morgan Benedict, a Rivertown Player from their 2020 season, considered the adaptation challenging but ultimately rewarding.

“It kind of pushed where I was comfortable with and it expanded my knowledge of working with groups

and working with varied experience levels of artists,” Benedict said.

She said that it helped to “build my knowledge and understanding of theatre and of different avenues that I may not have thought of before. I think I got a lot out of it.”

Although this was a season like none other, the Rivertown Players persevered to create the best possible shows for the children of Kamloops and beyond. By including puppets, songs and virtual elements, each of the four shows was different from one another, showcasing the Players’ personality and fostering creativity.

“We each wrote one show, and we made the costumes, the props, we figured out camera angles and we wrote the scripts and then we workshopped the scripts,” Benedict said.

“We filmed them, and we broadcasted them live and hosted and tried to make as many engagement activities within each stream as we could just to keep everything new and different and fresh.”

Benedict added that they were always busy as they also performed live shows at Sun Peaks and

participated in various workshops with trained professionals.

But more than just providing local children’s theatre for free, the Rivertown Players is an opportunity for young people to work in a field that they are interested in.

“It provides free theatre to children, but it also gives four young people work for the summer and work that they are wanting to be doing,” Benedict said. “It gives them something within a field that they are interested in and opportunity to learn and grow.”

This year’s season of the Rivertown Players promises to provide free theatre to children, whether that be virtual or in person. At this point, it’s hard to say what it will look like exactly, but regardless, you should keep an eye out for the great work that is sure to come! To stay up to date on what the Rivertown Players will get up to, check out their social media pages, @rivertownplayers on Instagram and Kamloops Arts Council’s Rivertown Players on Facebook.

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4 MAY 2021

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I resisted the temptation to discuss the pandemic here last month in this spot and I’m glad that I did, because some of what I would have said might have been premature. I think we were collectively feeling super optimistic with the arrival of vaccines combined with the promise and relief of spring.

While it has been an amazing spring, weather-wise, thus far, our excitement had to be My two cents tempered by further restrictions Moneca Jantzen and unwanted news that a third Editor wave of COVID-19 is upon us.

The vaccine rollout can’t happen fast enough with the variants lurking amongst us.

Clearly, we are all chomping at the bit to socialize, travel, feel free again, to not have to live these tiny, little COVID lives.

It is important to not put too much pressure on ourselves while we go through this exceptional time. The main goal is to get through it without losing the plot. Hopefully, most of us have managed at least that and if not, we have sought help along the way. I have noticed that there are more and more offerings of free counseling as well as numerous local organizations that are continually facilitating acts of kindness and getting people what they need to get by. Even as the months have worn on and some people are reaching their breaking point, it is heartening to see that most are still capable of being generous and kind.

After so many months, my focus has finally turned, once more, to an earnest attempt to improve my health. I wish I hadn’t let the pandemic sidetrack my good intentions, but I’m not about to beat myself up. We’re all doing the best we can.

COVID and obesity are apparently not a good combination so while I’m in relatively good health despite my age and weight, I know I can do better if I can just overcome my hypothyroidism, arthritis, inflammation and menopause! This should be fun...

Body positivity is great, but not when things start to go wrong.

By the same token, thin people can have all of these problems as well so its not just about the weight. Frankly, I have been happy to see that some in the medical community are finally acknowledging the science behind obesity and recognizing what a complex issue it truly is. Blaming the victim serves no helpful purpose and it should be treated like any other health issue because we are not all sitting on the couch eating bonbons. Our bodies are genuinely not functioning properly and for us “lifers,” they never really have. But I digress, that’s entirely another topic and issue.

I am trying an eating plan that helps minimize inflammation and am also trying to work in more exercise despite my fatigue and bad knees. I won’t be running any marathons, but am doing some rowing workouts, walking and gardening. I look forward to going swimming again as well. So far so good. No miraculous improvements, of course, but I will persevere because it is necessary and the right thing to do. My routine was getting boring anyhow.

I even started sharing meals with my 83-year-old mother to mixed reviews. Most of the time she enjoys the offerings, however, as she’s an octogenarian, I respect her choice to enjoy the things she enjoys. Her favourite treats will remain on her menu—in moderation!

Ultimately there’s nothing big going on in my tiny little COVID life and it feels kind of lame as I watch all this crazy stuff going on in the world. I feel that all I can do is tend to the small things.

I keep the household running; let the dogs out at appropriate intervals; keep them from barking; juggle my work with daily chores and count my blessings that my family and I have a place to remain relatively safe and content.

Part of me wishes that I was doing something big and important, but I don’t know what that could be, so my number one job has been to just get through this the best way I know how. Thankfully there are other people that are capable of doing big, important things during this time, such as our amazing essential and front line workers. I guess the trick is if we keep our lives small, they can hopefully get through this thing safely too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there.

Everyone take good care and we’ll chat again next month.

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 Publisher Bob Doull General Manager Liz Spivey (778) 471-7537 publisher@connectornews.ca 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.

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MAY 2021 5

Time to Travel? Is it AWD vs 4WD for Love or Revenge? By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist Submitted by Heather Purnell

W

ith the increased number of people being vaccinated, and our pent up demand for getting out of our houses, it is no wonder that we are starting to dream about going on vacation. Whether it is a local staycation or a family rental, when it is safe to go, choose your best options.

Right now, staying close to home can be RV rentals, some bus and rail tours, and even vacation rental properties. Many of these local options are available and very safe - utilizing COVID protocols.

Remember, though, to always follow provincial recommendations!

Having said that, I know that a lot of people are talking about ‘revenge’ travel.

This is the type of travel where we are ‘getting back at this pandemic’ for being forced to stay home, so many people are planning their dream vacations. Are you thinking of your bucket list and when you

can travel? Do you want to celebrate your vaccination with a fantastic vacation?

Looking forward into 2022 and beyond, there are lots of options that will be incorporating CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of all travellers. Whether it will be a vaccine passport or bubble travel, the planning has already begun.

So many people are looking at multigenerational travel to recoup all the lost holidays and special occasions. This is a perfect time to start to plan that family vacation or cruise. Today, believe it or not, there are many cruises that are already sold out into 2022/2023. This is your chance to begin your planning and save that vacation option. It is your time to get back to making great memories again and it doesn’t cost anything to talk to your travel agent!

The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s online in Kamloops honors

Anne and Mel Campbell

T

he Alzheimer Society of B.C. is encouraging Kamloops residents to show people affected by dementia their support by registering and fundraising for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s.

The event is the Society’s largest fundraiser. This year, participants are encouraged to walk their own way throughout May, before joining together for an online celebration on Sunday, May 30. While participants are encouraged to participate in honor of people in their own lives who have been affected by dementia, they can also walk for the event’s dedicated honorees in Kamloops: Anne and Mel Campbell.

When Mel first started showing symptoms of memory loss, he received a referral to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. for support. Following Mel’s diagnosis of dementia, the couple moved from the Shuswap to Kamloops to be closer to family and resources, including the Alzheimer Society of B.C. where they attend Minds in Motion® sessions.

This turned out to be a pivotal factor in their dementia journey. The program has enabled Mel and Anne to meet people, build a support network and feel welcomed in their new community.

“At the beginning, Mel was hesitant to

talk about his diagnosis with anybody, even family and friends,” Anne says.

“Now that we’re in the program he’s come to accept it, because we’re in a group of people who are in similar circumstances. It’s become much easier to talk about the disease and accept the changes.”

Funds raised for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s help support the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s programs and services. To register for the Walk, participants can visit walkforalzheimers.ca, choose their local community and create a fundraising page to share with friends and family.

No matter where or when they walk (in accordance with current public health orders), participants will make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers.

I

get questions regarding the differences between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD (4 wheel drive). Identifying whether these options will enhance your driving experiences can have a major impact on what you purchase.

Originally 4WD systems were found on trucks, SUVs and off-road vehicles. They were heavy duty, quite sturdy with unlimited offroad use, but had the sophistication of a brick when travelling on good road. Early trucks had chain drive to all four wheels that provided great ground clearance, limited highway use, yet were a good 4WD system. Some people considered these early systems to be rather robust in their design and function.

The 4WD system, as named, was invented to provide direct power to all 4 wheels equally which was totally beneficial in adverse road conditions where traction was extremely limited. If the surface was smooth, quite often the ride was likened to riding like a dump truck. Some of the earlier vehicles used heavy-duty front hubs that had to be manually engaged which meant coming to a complete stop, going to each front wheel and manually locking them. This process also required a transfer case for the 4WD function to occur.

The AWD systems are similiar in purpose, which is to provide traction to all wheels when needed but are designed more to deliver power in milder use applications. Smaller SUV and car designs used a form of AWD which provided a form of intelligent traction application through the use of an automated transfer case. In some vehicles, power transfer was provided to each wheel which was monitored by a complicated computer system that would measure wheel speed differences while travelling. To help balance power to each wheel the ABS (anti-lock braking system) would apply to any given wheel that was experiencing excess rotating speed when compared to the other. The purpose of all this activity was to provide better vehicle control in adverse traction conditions.

There was a time when 4WD was considered tough, simplistic and robust, in turn the AWD systems were a little more functional but not as sturdy. Well like change, which is constant, both systems have utilized the characteristics of each other to the point where there is not such a great difference in what the target is. That target as mentioned earlier is to assist in better vehicle control.

Contact me with questions or concerns and practice COVID-19 measures. Just got my shot last week! bigsix8280@yahoo.ca

Thank you

Kamloops Volunteers for your resilient efforts this past year We can’t wait to properly recognize your contributions to our community.

Stay tuned for updates on a fall celebration event.

Kamloops.ca

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6 MAY 2021

E

The Miracle of Light Therapy

veryone knows about the importance of vitamin D from sunlight (from UV light, but few are aware that there is another type of light that may be just as vital to our health — red and nearinfrared light. Think it’s all just hype? Think again!

There are over 3,000 peer-reviewed scientific studies showing incredible health and anti-aging benefits of red and nearinfrared light therapy.

It’s not just any red light that delivers this

performance-optimizing boost. Wavelengths between 610 nanometers and 850 nanometers deliver the best biological response. For example, at 660 nanometers, the light is more quickly absorbed by the skin making it the go-to for cosmetic treatments that address signs of aging.

At 850 nanometers wavelength (near-infrared), it penetrates 1.5 inches deeper into your body significantly aiding with muscle recovery, joint pain,

and full body health.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is activated by light therapy. It works by stimulating cellular regeneration & anti-aging systems by activating cellular mitochondria that enhances the ATP, the source of energy for every cell in the body. Red light therapy also boosts circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your cells and tissues.

What does this mean?

When your cells are hit with the red light

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MAY 2021 7

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ave your retirement plans changed because of COVID-19?

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You might have been thinking about retiring early – can you still do so?

Even without a crisis, it’s not a bad idea to review your important life goals from time to time.

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living adjustments). you’ll be traveling past COVID-19, we In regard to your extensively or might see a sizable investments and pursuing expensive shift in the geography retirement accounts, activities, you might you’ll need to establish of the workplace. not be able to afford In any case, if your a withdrawal rate to retire as early as feelings about work that’s appropriate for someone with more the length of time you have changed in some modest ambitions. expect to be retired.

Of course, there’s no way, leading you to So, by adjusting these “right” or “wrong” think you could work variables – taking way of living in longer than originally these benefits earlier retirement – we all planned, you’d likely have our own dreams or later, taking more gain some financial or less money from and preferences. But advantages. You’d be aware that different your retirement make more money, for accounts – you can lifestyles do carry starters, but you’d also help determine if the different price tags keep building your retirement date you – and have different had in mind is viable. effects on when you Registered Retirement • Your feelings can retire securely.

Savings Plan (RRSP) about work • Sources of and Tax Free Savings Your goals are not retirement income Account (TFSA), static – theySee can page 2 for financial Obviously, a key and youlisting. could even change in response advisor factor in knowing possibly delay taking to any number of whether you can government pension reasons, both external retire early is the benefits. amount of retirement and personal. When The pandemic may you first decided income you can rely you wanted to retire on. So, you’ll have lead to a reevaluation early, you might have to assess all your of many financial been motivated by, sources: including goals – and taking If you’re insurance, among other things, advertising government pension early retirement might a wearinessremove of your Member SIPC. plans (CPP/QPP and be one of them. By current job. But has OAS) as well as your thinking carefully that changed over own investments time? Have you found about your situation and an employer and your options, you new challenges that sponsored plan if can come up with a you at work? you have one. The PAGE 1interest OF 2 Or, if you were forced course of action that’s amounts you receive by the pandemic to from these sources right for you. work remotely, did will depend on a Member Canadian you actually enjoy variety of factors.

Investor Protection the arrangement and For government Fund. Member want to continue it? pension plans, the – Investment After all, many longer you wait Industry Regulatory employers have until collecting, the Organization of found that their larger your monthly workers can be just as Canada. payments (although

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www.connectornews.ca

8 MAY 2021

TRAVEL

EVERYWHERE

An unassuming bird

attractiveness of a young woman or pet name for your love (when you are ready) interest. Context and intonation gauged heavily if the term was intended as dismissive or affectionate.

For beauty lies in the Say “YES” to new adventure eye of the beholder, Heather Purnell kamloops birdwatch and with birds there Vacation Consultant is never a more true NAOMI BIRKENHEAD 250-318-9940 • hpurnell@expediacruises.ca statement. Females 5-1380 Summit Dr., Kamloops, BC are often forgotten idden amongst and underappreciated the chaotic in the avian world by patterns us bipedal humanoids laid forth by nature’s due to their lack network of grasses, of vibrant and branches, leaves, ornamental plumage. flowers and trees, lives Sexual Dichromatism a bird that often goes and Plumage unnoticed. Its plumage Dimorphism are often muted; a mixture of driving forces behind dull browns, grays, our fascination and beiges and whites, will to venture into shields it from prying the wild to witness eyes, sharpened talons, the showy array of and gnashing teeth. It’s colour dash about. adapted overtime to Research tends to be blend in and draw as little attention to itself as driven by this male dominate trait. The possible.

In the 19th Century, impact female birds have on the overall “bird” was often a KLEO’S KLEO’S KLEO’S survival of a species is term of endearment PHARMACY widely understudied. originating from PHARMACY PHARMACY Scientists have only the UK, used to recently begun to describe a young girl Kleo’s Pharmacy dive into the female or child.

During the Remedy’sRx contribution to a 50s through to the celebrates species evolution 70s this eventually and sustainability. morphed into a Aspects like descriptive slang Come see us for tips intended understanding that word to insinuate the to help women welcome any

H

KLEO’S PHARMACY

even in monogamous pairs during wintering seasons, the sexes may split and reside in different environments and ecological zones. The notion of protecting a singular or particular habitat translates into species conservation now needs to be reevaluated.

The complexity behind beauty in nature when applied to survival is fascinating. Females are well known for being duller, less gaudy and muted compared to their male counterparts.

But it is not just the presence of colour that is important.

Its richness and dept is also taken into account. New studies are immerging relating immune response to pigment clarity in males and females. Birds also have four cones to see colour allowing the ultraviolet spectrum to shimmer across their plumage. Does this light wave, which is invisible to us, reveal a secretive beauty in both sexes that aid in copulation

KLEO’S KLEO’S KLEO’S PHARMACY PHARMACY PHARMAC

Mother’s Day

ect yourself and your family. No appointment necessary. health changes with yourself and your family. No appointment necessary. dectyour family . related No appointment necessary.

“COVID-19 PROTOCOL IN PLACE” confidence!

90BTrans 1967 East Trans Hwy Canada Hwy 1967 East Canada 1967 Trans Canada Hwy4A4 Canada Hwy Kamloops, BC V2C oops,East BC V2C 4A4 778-765-1444 • 778-765-1444 oops, BC V2C 4A4 4

Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm Mon Fri: 10am 9am Mon -- Fri: 5pm Saturday: 9am ---6pm 3pm Saturday: 2pm Saturday: 10am 9am --3pm

choice; illuminating a hidden billboard advertising ones unique genetic blueprint?

Our own human conceptions of what beauty infers, I believe hinders our ability to interpret its role and overlook the dominate role females can play in evolution and adaptation. Over time it is thought females lost their vibrancy and even song as a means to protect and ensure a greater survival rate of oneself and offspring. So don’t judge a book by its cover. The ability and importance of one’s contribution to society development and reasoning for individual imprinting and pairing cannot be defined by the simple surface judgments.

The next time a “bird” wanders across your path, take a moment to observe them on a deeper level and maybe in time they will reveal their own secret splendor to you.

Stay Curious Kamloops!

Speaking of death

Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm Saturday: 9am - 3pm Submitted by Erin Chambers

fully, to share our stories, Death isn’t something we invite it into our lives.

The word ‘death’ elicits necessary. rotect yourself and your family. No appointment allowing others to share n can ‘fix. ’ Ironically, the minute we many types of reactions. rotect yourself and your family. No appointment necessary. d your family .had oneNo appointment theirs and to value what we We can, however, start are born, death becomes a right now, “COVID-19 PROTOCOL INYouPLACE”

0B 1967 East Trans Canada Hwy 0B 1967 East Trans Canada Hwy Canada Hwy amloops, BC V2C 4A4 amloops, BC V2C 4A4 • 778-765-1444 A4 “I am a Holistic Life & Health Coach.

Erin Chambers

Specifically, I am a Compassion Coach— empowering my clients to discover themselves and live with purpose.

I am also a Death Coach. I hold space for people, allowing room to express oneself in whatever way is right in that moment”.

An End of Life Doula & Holistic Life & Health Coach beforeyourlastbreath@gmail.com

didn’t you? Just reading that word brought forth a thought, a memory, perhaps even a limiting belief.

For some, the topic may bring up raw emotions.

Some people are curious.

Too commonly the word ‘death’ causes fear. It’s become a taboo in our society that we aren’t allowed to talk about or we feel anxious or panic that, if we do, we will unknowingly

part of our story. Why does

conversations and, in

have while we are here in

to say when presented with the situation of this eventuality. We stutter, we pause, we turn away. Sometimes we desperately try to ‘fix’ it or unknowingly dismiss someone’s feelings telling them, “it will get better.”

‘death thing.’ it will become a little less scary and maybe a bit better understood.

I invite and encourage you to talk about death, partly to relieve any fears— if you have them, but also, in discussing this subject, it encourages us to live more

Not sure how to start that conversation? As an end of life coach, I run workshops, facilitate meetings and coach people in all walks of life on this subject. Please contact me to learn more at beforeyourlastbreath@ gmail.com.

doing so, allow ourselves to this moment. death scare us so much?

Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm are places to explore the only similarity -There Perhaps, part of the Mon Fri: 9am 6pm Mon Fri: 9 Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm discuss death, we just in all of our journeys. answer lies3pm in our lack of Saturday: 9am need to create more Although it may still opportunity to speak about Saturday: Saturday: 2pm Saturday: 10am 9am --3pm 9 opportunities to do so. remain mysterious, this it. We don’t know what

www.connectornews.ca

MAY 2021 9

Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale returns as The Mixed Bag Edition

T

he Kamloops Symphony’s perennially popular semi-annual fundraiser, Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale, is being “remixed” for its return next month. The Mixed Bag Edition will be running from Wednesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 15.

Because the traditional two-week format is classified as an event, and therefore not permitted under current public health orders, shoppers will instead be given the opportunity to pre-order a curated bag of books for pickup. Shoppers can order their bag of books online from kamloopssymphony. com and pick up their order from 444 Seymour Street between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm from May 12 to 15. The categories of these curated “mixed bag” collections are: General Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Romance, and Home & Garden. A bag of 8 books will cost $10, and a bag of 20 books will cost $20.

“Of course, we are very disappointed

A Virtual Choir Spring Fling

not to be able to continue with our regular record-breaking format of the sale,” says Executive Director Daniel Mills, “But in a year already full of experimentation, we are ready and willing to give this new format a go, and hope that book and symphony lovers alike will support us.”

Donations of gently used books will also be gratefully accepted at 444 Seymour Street from May 12 to 15 between 10 am and 2 pm. Volunteers will not accept dirty or tattered books, magazines, Readers Digest, encyclopedias, textbooks, VHS tapes, or cassettes. COVID restrictions prevent volunteers and staff from providing any physical on-site assistance with donations.

Running consistently since 1997, the sale was spearheaded by Barb Corbishley who was one of the KSO’s board members at the time. After her unfortunate passing, it was named Barb’s Used Book & Music Sale in her honour.

The Cantabile Singers of Kamloops are thrilled to announce a free, online concert presentation, A Virtual Choir Spring Fling, which will be live on Saturday, May 15 at 7:30 pm on the choir’s YouTube channel, http://bit.ly/ cantabile-youtube. The singers will all be recording themselves in isolation, with the individual videos being compiled together into a virtual choir performance. There will also be several solo performances from members of the choir, along with 1 or 2 small groups, adding some variety to the concert experience.

Ryan Noakes, the choir’s director, says “We are very happy to have this virtual option to keep us at least somewhat active. Though recording yourself in isolation is pretty much the antithesis of what singing in a choir is about, we can still manage to make music together, just a little bit differently. It is hard to describe how heartwarming it is to hear the end result of these individual recordings coming together; the whole being so much more than just the sum of its parts.”

Emulating a live performance, the resulting video will premiere on the

choir’s YouTube channel at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 15. Audience members who watch the premiere will see the performance play through in real-time, just like a live stream, and can participate in the live chat while watching. The video will continue to be available to view after the premiere.

Join the choir for a musical celebration of the spring! This online performance is presented completely free of charge.

May You Do Something for Zone 8 55+ BC Games? By Linda Haas Of course you may! Even though the Games are still on hold until September 2022, you can increasingly practice your sport/ activity as restrictions ease, you can try out another activity, you can keep in touch with people face to masked face if conditions allow, and/or by telephone or through cyberspace.

Communication is more than important, it is vital to our overall well-being. And don’t forget newspapers, like Kamloops This Week and The Connector.

Another way of communicating is to acknowledge the contributions of persons who make special efforts on behalf of an organization. Zone 8 has such an acknowledgement known as the Joe Ziebert Award. Joe Ziebert moved to Kamloops in 1944 and passed away in 1991. He was active in the business community and was president and chairman of many organizations. On

retirement, he became an advocate for Seniors, and was instrumental in the development of Seniors’ housing in Kamloops.

We present this award to people in recognition not only for their work in Zone 8 of the BC Seniors Games Society, but also for promoting the 55+ BC Games. The recipient in 2019 should have been recognized in Nov. 2019, but could not attend the meeting, so we postponed it until March 2020. Well, the live meeting couldn’t happen. Realizing it was unfair to wait any longer, Zone 8 presented the award virtually to Phil Maher at the March 18, 2021 ZOOM meeting.

In normal times, we would have a photo of the awarding. But in our creative times, we have included a photo of Phil at our 2013 Zone 8 picnic.

Phil has done a great job of being sport coordinator for dragon boating, as First Vice-President, and

even standing in for absent secretary to take minutes, all of which he continues to do well. Thanks, Phil, for your continuing service to Zone 8, 55+ BC Games.

Looking forward to a return to normalcy sooner rather than later, I’m getting back to the series of steps in Jeff Herring’s “10 ways to stop procrastinating.” Step 7 is: Watch your language!

Be careful about, and pay attention to, the way in which you talk to yourself about procrastinating.

Change statements like “I’ll just put this off for a little while; I deserve a break.” into “I deserve to get this done so I can have it off my mind and have more time to enjoy my life.”

What has been going full tilt since the beginning of April is Zone 8’s Virtual Auction. By April 15th, there were 14 registered bidders, and 29 items on the virtual auction block. If you have been procrastinating, you have

until 7pm on May 7 to make your bid, and help out the 55+ folk in Zone 8. If you haven’t registered yet and need the link, contact president Peter Hughes 250-471-1805 or zone8pres@ 55plusbcgames.org It’s an exciting new venture and you can still be part of it!

As you probably know, the 2021 55+ BC Games in the Greater Victoria area have now been postponed to 2022.

Zone 8 is appealing to you. If you believe in the Games and what they have meant for you over the years, please purchase a $20.00 membership for 2021 to help us show the government that our members care about quality physical activity opportunities across the province for the 55+ demographic.

Until we meet again, in person or via cyberspace, stay safe and keep healthy.

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www.connectornews.ca

10 MAY 2021

Motorcycle, Bicycle and Pedestrian Season – Safety in the Streets

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hroughout winter, motorists developed specific driving habits, including watching for snow and ice on roadways. With spring fast approaching, the warmer weather yields an influx of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The issue is that motorists are not yet prepared to be alert for this influx, often resulting in accidents. The question that follows is what should you

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is likely hidden damage that can cause a further accident or injury or strand you down the road. Also, once a helmet has been in a crash, it is no longer safe to use.

As such, you should arrange for the cycle to be collected by someone you know or by a tow truck. Tow trucks can collect bicycles if necessary.

Once medical assistance is rendered, call ICBC dial-a-claim and provide a statement regarding the accident and your injuries.

Most B.C. residents have Part 7 Accident Recovery Benefits under ICBC. These benefits are effective immediately and provide access to rehabilitation treatments, including massage and physiotherapy.

Most treatment providers can bill ICBC directly with your claim number.

The benefits also provide reimbursement for out-ofpocket expenses, including mileage or transportation to attend appointments,

prescription costs and ambulance costs. If you are the primary homemaker of your household, you may also receive assistance with household tasks. Finally, if your injuries prevent you from working for a period, weekly disability benefits are available to cover lost wages.

These types of accidents are usually fraught with complications regarding who is at fault. Therefore, it is advisable to contact a lawyer right away.

Collecting evidence promptly and seeing a lawyer for initial advice can mean the difference between being able to prove your claim and receiving coverage or being denied and forced to fight for your rights. A lawyer can also help navigate the very complicated system of dispute with ICBC.

McLeod team members looking beyond election

SERVICES

Escorted Transportation

do if you are a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist who is struck by a vehicle?

The impact when a vehicle hits an individual is substantial, often resulting in spinal cord injuries, broken bones and concussions. With adrenaline pumping after an accident, people are often more injured than they think. As such, it is important to remain still and seek medical attention, even if you believe you are fine. Ask bystanders to take pictures of the scene, including where the vehicle is stopped, where you were struck and where you landed. Additionally, write down the name and contact information of the driver, and the licence plate number, color, make and model of their vehicle.

For cyclists and motorcyclists, it is never a good idea to get back on your cycle and ride it home.

Regardless of injuries, there

your voice in ottawa CATHY MCLEOD MP

W

e don’t know when the next federal election will occur, but when it does, my office will shut down for good as I have decided not to seek re-election.

Whoever becomes the next MP will hire their own staff, which may include members of my

current team, or they may be fresh faces. This means some of my staff will not wait it out to see what happens after the election, instead they will move on to new job opportunities sooner than later.

Kamloops constituency assistant Jennifer Heselton and my executive assistant in Ottawa, Stephanie Rennick, are both branching out into new horizons.

Stephanie was my first hire when I started as a new MP in federal politics nearly 13 years ago. It is the best decision I ever made to have someone with her experience in the political realm, having worked for an MP in Alberta for many years prior.

She could be counted on at all hours, resourceful and determined to find solutions to the most challenging of situations, like getting up in the middle of the night to phone India as COVID broke out last spring, in order to liaise with Global Affairs and help bring constituents home.

Stephanie has started a job with another MP who intends to run in the next election.

Jennifer, who was a key figure in my Kamloops office for 10 years, is leaving at the end of the month to use her excellent customer service skills in a new role with the Government of Canada.

Jennifer, known for her

cheery phone and inperson greetings, always wanted to go the extra mile for constituents, leaving no stone unturned for solutions.

I will miss them both and wish them the best on their new paths, confident they will serve with the same professionalism they brought to my offices.

Until the election, whenever that may be, myself and my strong team will continue to serve KamloopsThompson-Cariboo constituents: In Kamloops, that’s Ellen Mason, Tracy Gilchrist and Virika Miller; in 100 Mile, Anita Price; and in Ottawa, Mike Friesen.

www.connectornews.ca

MAY 2021 11

The KSO shines light on string family

Marina - Credit Matthew Perrin

T

he Kamloops Symphony’s eighth concert experience of the season, Voilà Viola, will shine a light on the sometimes-forgotten yet always exquisitely beautiful member of the string family: the viola.

This performance will be available to view online starting Friday, April 23, remaining available to watch on-demand until Saturday, May 22.

Both intimate and beguiling, the viola is tragically under-utilized as a solo instrument. Joining the KSO to showcase the magnificence of this delightful instrument

is highly sought-after Canadian soloist, Marina Thibeault. Named Radio-Canada’s classical “Revelation” for 201617, Marina has delighted audiences across Canada, the United States, and Europe with her elegant, spellbinding performances and engaging presence.

Marina holds numerous honours and distinctions, including prizes from the Père-Lindsay Foundation, first prize in the string category of Prix d’Europe, the Radio-Canada “Young Artist” prize, and a special prize at the Beethoven Hradec International Viola Competition. She has studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, and McGill University. She is currently completing her doctoral degree with Women in Music as a primary topic, and Sports Psychology Applied to elite musicians as a secondary topic. A certified Sivananda yoga instructor, she integrates mindfulness techniques into her

teaching and playing.

Marina will be joining the orchestra to perform the ethereal and folkloric Viola Concerto by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks.

Rounding out the program for this adventurous concert experience is Concerto for Strings by Nino Rota, best known for his awardwinning soundtrack to The Godfather, and Norweigan composer Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite, a collection of delightfully fresh baroque-style dances with a Romantic twist.

Tickets for Voilà Viola are $15 for an Individual and $25 for a Household Pass, with a special $5 COVID price also available.

All tickets can be purchased from Kamloops Live! Box Office at 250-374-5483 or www.kamloopslive.ca.

Tickets are still available for the KSO’s Charlie Parker w/ Strings, the genre-bending exploration of the seminal recording session by Jazz legend Charlie Parker.

The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents

“Amadeus”

T

he program for the Chamber Musicians of Kamloops concert “Amadeus” will feature works for soprano, flute, piano and string trio, composed by the child prodigy and master of composition Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Please join the Heritage Quintet ( Catharine Dochstader, flute; Cvetozar Vutev, violin; Annette Dominick, viola; Laure Matiakh, cello; and Curtis Howell, piano) and guest soprano Bianke Ede as they explore works of this musical genius.

This concert will be live-streamed Saturday, May 29, at 7:30 PM Available online until 10:00 PM on Saturday, June 12.

Tickets (available through Eventbrite) $15 and $10 for students and CMK members.

More details and ticket information are available at chambermusiciansofkamloops.org.

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12 MAY 2021

Happy Mothers’ Day to all the amazing mothers in our community. chasebc.ca

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ACROSS 1. Beast on an ice floe, perhaps 5. ChapStick, basically 9. Quite dingy 13. ì West Side Storyî song 14. M exican crock pot 15. Vancouver Marathon, for one 16. B reak-in alert 17. D .H. Lawrenceís New Mexico retreat 18. Q ueenís only daughter 19. C reepy little critter that was determined to reach new heights 22. F ood colouring, basically 23. E very last bit 24. M end socks 25. Tiny bit of land in the lake 27. G round squirrel 31. ì He ___ got a clue.î 34. M orseís creation 36. I , to Greeks 37. D etermined critterís planned route 40. S eesaw sitter of nursery rhyme 41. G orillas and chimps 42. Abominable snowmen 43. S kin-related 45. P acks of paper 47. B oats similar to Noahís 49. S mash into

50. Illinoisí Windy City, briefly 53. Event that ruined the critterís carefully laid plans 58. Berry thatís a health food fad 59. Cunning trick 60. Impact sounds 61. Queen of Heartsí specialty 62. Wing-shaped 63. Lease to new tenants 64. Catch sight of 65. Tiny Japanese coins, once 66. Shaggy Nepalese beasts DOWN 1. Like pretzels 2. Rub away 3. Light and open 4. Verbally tear into 5. Target for some openers 6. ìAh, ëtwas not to be.î 7. Andrew ___ Webber 8. One rubbing you the right way?

9. Underneath the sink fixtures 10. South African currency 11. Common adolescent affliction 12. Contents of a sixpack 13. Motel employee 20. Sick

21. Paid athlete 25. Total lack of compassion 26. Bellhop, at times 28. Sound from an owl 29. Delicate little sewing box 30. Large vermin 31. Tinted 32. Altarís area 33. Big movie celebrity 35. Military runaways 38. One way to avoid a shouting match 39. Feature of most crossword grids 44. Rainbow shape 46. Contented sigh 48. Amused look 50. Make the hull watertight 51. Stashes away 52. Part of CNIB 53. Prom partner, e.g.

54. Starchy Andean root veggies 55. Twist out of shape 56. Flashy showmanship 57. Tall flightless Bolivian

www.connectornews.ca

MAY 2021 13

Merritt Senior Centre

MAY 2021

The Merrit Seniors Association

Calendar of Events

250-378-3763 • 1675 Tutill Court | Nellie Holuboch, President

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

*Health restrictions are changing day to day so please call the centre for information* *Call the centre for more information regarding times etc. 250 378 3763* ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE 2

9

16

23

30

Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

4

3

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 11

10

Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

13

12

18

17

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

2

WEDNESDAY

4

3

Foot Care (by appt. only) 9

MAY 2021

Calendar of Events

Foot Care (by appt. only) 16

Foot Care (by appt. only) 23

Foot Care (by appt. only) 30

31

SATURDAY

1

5

6

7

8

12

13

14

15

19

20

21

22

26

27

28

29

Foot Care (by appt. only) 25

24

FRIDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 18

17

THURSDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 11

10

29

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

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

TUESDAY

28

27

26

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

22

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

Seniors’ Resource Centre - Salmon Arm SUNDAY

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SUDOKU

Book Review

By Marilyn Brown

Burnt Sugar

By Avni Doshi

Abrams press, 2021, fiction, 231 pages “I would be lying if I said my mother’s misery has never given me pleasure,” states the young woman narrator, Ankara. Just one incident between the two that gives a glimpse of what the teen-aged daughter had to deal with happens when the older woman compares her body to her teenage daughter’s, “…declaring with certainty that my ugliness would surpass hers when I reached my forties.” The mother-daughter tension is palpable, annihilating the stereotype of unconditional maternal love.

Antara remembers her mother, Tara, leaving her husband to flee to the nearby ashram, a religious retreat, becoming the favourite of the leader there. Antara as a very young child with keen observation skills survives, with the help of a woman who was herself at one time the maharaja’s favourite. Nevertheless, the memories are disturbing.

Antara matures as a woman and an artist, an intelligent woman with her own peculiarities, including a distinct abhorrence of disorder and sloppiness. When she marries and then becomes pregnant, her sense of her own worth is undermined by her mother, mother-in-law, and even her husband. She is repelled by the changes in her own body, lack of sleep and exhaustion amplifying the mess and disruption of having a baby.

Postpartum depression claims her, the anxiety visceral. She doubts her own sanity. At the same time, her mother is losing her memory: Antara regrets that there are fewer opportunities “… to baste her in guilt” over past cruelties. Her mother becomes the responsibility of the daughter.

The novel plays with perspective, a theme of mirrors, perhaps suggesting family members, particularly the mothers and daughters, are reflections of each other, including the newborn baby daughter.

Burnt Sugar immerses the reader in the sights, sounds, tempo and atmosphere of India. The plot moves quickly. The author, Avni Doshi, was born in the United States and frequently visited India, home of her maternal grandmother’s family in Pune. Doshi is the mother of two children. She has a Masters of Art in art history, from the University College, London, England, and lives in Dubai. Burnt Sugar was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in 2020. Recommended.

Beauty

By A.S Byrd

Our world has beauty if you but stop and look You will see it there in the little babbling brook Or that little bird that greets the spring And from a bough you hear it sing In the rose that opens wide its welcoming arms To lure the fluttering butterfly with all its charms The magnificent stag that poses in the evening dusk Or the far off mountain with its crown of snow In the light of a silvery moon see how it glows But beauty goes beyond this world of ours You see it there in the midnight stars But there is another beauty we know is there For it describes the love of those who really care The ones with gentle hands care for the old The ones who teach the little ones how to live The ones who say those magic words ‘I forgive’ The stranger who reaches out a helping hand And those who risk their lives, to protect our land There are many more I can’t name them all But when there is a need they answer the call To pen your eyes to the beauty that is everywhere Just imagine how stark our world would be if it wasn’t there

www.connectornews.ca

14 MAY 2021

Seniors & their vintage cars Dennis Coates

By Dick Parkes,

Kamloops chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada

Y

ou may have heard of Dennis Coates, a well-respected local lawyer since 1968, Queen’s Counsel, hockey team owner and supporter, pub owner, etc. What is probably not so well known is that Dennis has been a collector car owner for over 50 years, and that he is also the only surviving charter member of the Kamloops Chapter of the Vintage Car Club (VCCC), joining when the Chapter was inaugurated in 1972. In the ensuing years, Dennis amassed an impressive array of collector vehicles, but most of them have now been passed on and some are still being enjoyed by family members.

Dennis grew up on a farm in Osoyoos

and purchased his first car, a 1930 Model A Ford pickup, for $50. Although only 14 years of age at the time, he learned to drive the Model A around the farm and on the local back roads. Around that time, Osoyoos did not have a high school and Dennis then bought a 1940 Ford 2-door sedan to drive to school in neighbouring Oliver, followed up by a 1950 Meteor.

Upon finishing high school, he moved on to UBC, and obtained his Law degree in 1968. He had two job offers and ended up in Kamloops, starting his career with Rudi Morelli’s firm, specializing in corporate, commercial and hospitality legal matters, and he has been here ever since.

He had purchased his first collector car, a 1957 MGA, while attending UBC,

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Dennis and his 1962 MGA roadster and then traded up to a 1962 MGA roadster, which is the only car still left from his collection. This car has been restored by Dennis and is used regularly in the summer for pleasure drives, but surprisingly only has 62,000 miles on the odometer. The next cars acquired were an Austin Healey 100-6 roadster and then, one of his favourites, a 1952 MGYB 4-door sedan. The MGYB was an old car even when new, still with the typically British leather upholstery, walnut dashboard, freestanding headlights and tiny 4-cylinder engine. They were very rare to begin with and even more scarce in Canada, but that was one of his favourites. A 1951 MGTD roadster came along next and he restored that car himself. Other foreign cars acquired through the years included a 1958 Mercedes 220S sedan (now owned by his son) and two Jaguars, an XKE coupe and a 1957 MK VII sedan, or saloon, in English-speak. Dennis then tackled two other restoration projects including a 1930 Model A Ford cabriolet and a 1926 Model T Ford roadster pickup, which has been passed on to his grandson. Another 1926 Model T touring car was restored and used by the Calgary Centennials hockey team for promotions. And lastly, there was a 1947 Chrysler sedan that was dolled up as a period taxi and used to promote the pub of which Dennis was a part owner. A few years back Dennis owned some acreage near the Rivershore Golf Course and most of these cars were stored there, but that property has been sold along with all of the cars, except for

the 1962 MGA roadster.

Dennis has a long-distance relationship with his partner, Lynda Johnston, who lives in Kelowna, but they also share a place at the Coast. Lynda is a retired schoolteacher, but is involved in the business world and Dennis had told me that she loves to go for drives with him in the MGA. Although this column is intended to feature stories about vintage cars, it is difficult to talk about Dennis’ life without dwelling on his involvement with hockey.

Many years ago he teamed up with Scotty Munro to purchase the Langley Lords and Vancouver Nats hockey teams from Nat Bailey of White Spot fame, and then brought the team to town as the Kamloops Chiefs. This team eventually moved to Seattle and then Dennis organized a local group to bring the New Westminster Bruins to Kamloops as the Junior Oilers, which morphed into the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers were, of course, later sold to Tom Gaglardi and partners and the proceeds were placed under the care of the Kamloops Sport Society. Dennis is very proud that this society is able to distribute millions of dollars to local sporting causes and still retain more funds on hand for future donations than they started with.

At 78 years of age Dennis still works half time and tells me that he is never going to retire. Although he has downsized to living in a condo, he is looking forward to another summer of touring in his gorgeous little red MGA roadster.

1926 Model T Ford roadster pickup

1957 roadster

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MAY 2021 15

How to get the most out of your home

everything organized SHAWN FERGUSON Everything Organized

W

e are in strange times right now with a pandemic going on and yet the housing market is on fire. I’ve been hearing from a lot of people that are unsure what to do and doing some tire kicking so I thought I’d add some thoughts.

With the market so high a person is sure to do well when selling the old family home but then what? Do they rent to see if the market will lower or do they buy

their next downsized home in a market flooded with competition or just stay put and see what will happen?

With any decision there is risk but for some people waiting on this pandemic to be over has put people into a place where they have to decide now. One thing the founder used to say to clients all the time was “Do you want to be in the driver’s seat making the decisions or in the passenger seat asking what is going to happen?” and many of my calls lately have been from family members asking for help for someone that waited too long to downsize and to prepare for that next step.

It is hard on these contracts because we are dealing with a person’s items from a lifetime without their help to separate the treasures from the clutter. When this task is left to family members, often it’s a sweeping gesture what to do with all of the items as their plate is full and clutter is something in the way at this time. With our experience, we separate what we think would be meaningful, but much is missed,

I am sure.

Being organized is great throughout life, but as we age it is so much more important to have your life organized to assist you and your family. When a home is organized it sells better and usually for more money. It’s easier to make those decisions if it is time to downsize a home and it also makes aging at home easier if the family has to take over.

Clutter is a burden to carry and for many it controls their lives and decisions.

Regardless, if you are wanting to remove some clutter from a spare room to regain some space or if you are downsizing a huge home with many outbuildings so that you can start your next adventure, we can help you. This pandemic showed us that our plans and lives can change in an instant so the best time to get organized is TODAY, and I do mean Everything Organized.

Do you have a topic that you would like Shawn to write about?

Please email him at Shawn@ everythingorganized.net

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“Green” Flooring industry as in addition to price and performance, consumers are also asking about “green” or environmentally friendly options.

Lets take a look at a couple products that fit this category.

Flooring SHAWN VANDERWAL Nufloors

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reen flooring is a question we, at Nufloors, often get asked about.

Over the past number of years consumers seem to be paying a bit more attention to how and where products are made.

This holds true in the flooring

Cork When you think of cork your mind usually goes straight to bulletin boards or wine but hopefully after reading this, cork will come to mind when thinking about flooring. Cork is a great flooring option because of its acoustic, temperature and impact benefits. Since cork is dense it helps to not only insulate against heat/cold, but provide both physical and sound cushion underfoot. Because of these attractive properties cork can often be found on the back of vinyl plank as well. The “green” appeal to cork is that it is a natural product. Cork comes from harvesting the bark off living cork oak trees. Since

the tree does not have to be cut down this sustainable practice can be repeated as the bark grows back!

Wool Carpet Wool carpet is a small fraction of the market but, dare we say, the most interesting. And for those who may not have heard of wool carpet, it is definitely a thing. Wool carpet is made by shearing sheep and collecting the wool. The wool is then run through numerous steps in order to eventually turn the wool into yarn and finally use the yarn to tuft and weave carpet. This type of carpet looks amazing and is very sustainable as sheep are always growing wool. When you pair a wool carpet over a wool underlayment you end up walking on a stylish, comfortable and completely “green” floor.

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16 MAY 2021

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ts one of the fundamental natural differences. Larks and Owls. Morning creatures and evening creatures. Innate biorhythms governed by light affect plants, birds and animals.

Other species seem quite content with the situation. That’s probably because all members of a species are either diurnal (day) or nocturnal (night). Sure, there may be an occasional wolf which resists going out to hunt with the pack at night, but peer pressure would soon change its mind. Possibly some laggard deer object to browsing at 5 a.m. in the relative safety of the herd. They don’t last long.

No, the problem arises when the two opposing behaviours, natural cycles over which we have no control, occur in the same species, as they do in humans. Opposites must attract.

Larks and owls always seem to team up, leading to controversy, misunderstanding and downright heated arguments.

But, since we’re both here, there must be some evolutionary advantage, don’t you think?

Well, when we were hunters, we were active when the game was, which meant being on the trail in the morning or early evening.

More likely early morning. No rational hunter would want to cut up a carcass and drag it back to camp while followed closely by a cave lion or pack of jackals in the gathering dusk. Morning was an advantageous time.

The coming of agriculture didn’t change the routine much.

Nobody has to tell a farmer about the benefits of getting up and at ‘em early in the day.

Cut that hay at first light. It’s comfortable for the man on the mower and the hay has a good chance of drying in the sun during the day. The same goes for picking crops; once the overnight moisture’s dried, the earlier, the better.

Ask any dairy cow if she’d prefer a longer sleep to an early milking and you’ll get a resounding “moo.”

Range cattle solve the problem themselves. They graze until it’s too hot, then settle down together under a large tree to chew their cuds and doze away the afternoon. Bovine siestas!

Of course, for most of human history, natural light was all the

Story By Trudy Frisk light we had to work by so our ancestors took advantage of it.

That’s changed. Ancient flint knappers may have needed good strong sun, but artificial light keeps modern factories going round the clock. Even farmers, with lights on their equipment, can be out in the fields before dawn and long after dark. But, old habits linger.

If the evolutionary benefits of larks are so obvious, what about us owls? What part did we play in the success of humanity?

For, here we are. If you doubt it, wake one of us, when we’re not ready and the grumping will convince you.

Larks have a certain cheery smugness which, coupled with their belief that they, alone, keep the wheels turning, makes us even crankier. “Why, I was up at 5:30,” you’ll hear them say.

The unspoken, “While you were lolling in bed, you lazy wretch.” is understood. “It’s the most beautiful time of day,” they insist.

“All the birds are up.”

Well, I’ve been up at 5:30 and it is lovely, and the birds, as promised, are chirping. I feed them, tour the garden, and, like a sensible person, go back for a longer snooze.

It’s not that owls aren’t productive; in fact most of us have day jobs. We just don’t want to go for a nice 10k run at 4:30 or whenever it’s dawn. We don’t like to do complicated mathematics, bake a cake or install a new floor before our bodies and minds are awake and ready.

Now there’s medical evidence that we shouldn’t. Recent research at the Mayo Clinic proves that human blood vessels are less flexible in the early morning.

Experiments, done on healthy young people, showed that flexibility was reduced by more than 40 percent at 6 a.m. By 11 a.m it returns to normal.

Heart attacks and strokes are more likely to occur in the early morning.

So, we owls are just following our body’s instructions. “Take it easy. No sudden moves. By about 11 a.m. you’ll be ready to go!”

So, you ask, even if it’s natural, what good are owls? Well, I think we kept the tribe together. Have you noticed that larks aren’t the most sociable creatures? They’re

just so pleased, the busy little creatures, to be grabbing the first gazelle or leading the dawn climb up Mt. Whitney, but, come 8 p.m., they’re in the tent mumbling “Keep it down out there!” as the rest of us sit around the campfire inventing new verses to Kumbaya.

It was likely just the same in pioneer times. After a hard day fording rivers and finding trails, some of the westward migrants must have wanted to tune up the banjo and sing a few choruses of “The Old Chisholm Trail” or “The Red River Valley.” It was a chance to chat a bit with your neighbour without yelling at him to get his ox-cart out of the way. I’ll just bet the larks threatened to come out with a whip and shut the whole party down. Some things never change.

What good did we do in ancient times? I believe owls were the artists and philosophers, the shaman, priests and teachers.

After all, to observe the movement of stars and planets in the night sky, one has to be awake to see them, and have leisure to calculate their orbits. It’s possible, but it’s not likely, that one can devise a totem mask or spirited dance while hunting or plowing.

And, who but the shaman had the time to consider the meaning of life, and the significance of other creatures and their spirits to the tribe? Food was essential to the group but so were the social and religious bonds that made them a community.

I think owls composed ballads, told stories, and created ceremonies which united the tribe and kept their history alive, and were just as important for survival as physical nourishment.

Owls were probably regarded with suspicion then, too. After all, they were abroad in the dark, studying strange matters, when decent larks were safely in bed.

Odd or not, owls expressed the legends and beliefs of their people, as writers, actors, painters, and musicians still do today; just as long as we’re not awakened too early.

www.connectornews.ca

MAY 2021 17

Moments Remembered Creative Writing by Rita Joan Dozlaw

I

n Ray’s excitement over his newfangled camera, he fidgeted and skimmed the handbook. He’d previously sorted through frames of figures and landscapes and was unnerved to notice, as usual, evidence of poor print quality. With updated equipment he’d improve his craft and work with a new vision for his favourite portfolio of ageless and aging faces.

He was confident his collection titled, ‘Wisdom Years’ would grow with sharp candid shots of elders strolling tree-lined, park-side trails. Unlike the old, his new equipment would pick up stunning details of sunlight and shadows, colours and shapes.

Electing to concentrate on older subjects, Ray liked that they were genuinely approachable.

More importantly, they pulled his emotions into his work—similar to when a sweet-smelling baby, cradled in its mother’s arms, draws him in. He couldn’t resist the subtle aromas of powder, soap or lotions in combo with the scent of garden blooms and fresh air. It was uncanny to Ray that his nose sensed a great photoop quicker than his eyes could.

Facial expressions told a million stories. With purpose, Ray zeroed in on faces highlighting the joys of being ‘forever resilient.’ With no trickery or air-brushing, the photo-paper images authenticated his subjects.

The intentional exposure of fine calligraphy-like lines, drawn by age over sun-worshipper’s sunken cheeks, uncovered layers of personal traits.

Capturing furrowed brows, crows-feet and laugh lines further led to a

subject’s innate truths and, because of characteristics such as these, Ray’s shots identified lifepatterns, personalities and feelings. Peering through his camera at drooped shoulders, evidence of work-weary tolls on one’s life, automatically jumpstarted the hobbyist’s heart to pulse with empathy.

With a lot on his mind, he shuffled along a trail frequented by elderly nature lovers. They leaned on walking poles, slouched on their derrieres upon polished memorial park benches and were comfortable with no time restraints. This meant Ray could take his time checking out the perks of his new camera, locating backgrounds and spotting the most endearing subjects.

It was natural for him to ease into conversations.

He sensed folks had a lot to tell and they longed for listeners. His insatiable curiosity for their stories subtly invaded his artistic hours so he reminded himself, I’m out here to get work done! Focus on capturing their stories in the lens! The fact was others, who have time to linger patiently, would be privileged to learn the rich backstories told, at times, through fits of forgetfulness or hearing impairments.

Near a gazebo someone very colourful and old sat very still… perfect, with eyes closed against the sun and she’s got a kitten! Ray broke the silence, “Excuse me, Ma’am,” he apologized, “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I believe we’ve met… have we not?”

“What was that you just said, sonny boy? Just where do you think we’ve met? If that was yer best pick-up line, it was pretty pathetic.”

“Can I do this?” He

asked, without waiting for an answer, as he squatted and focused on her floppybrimmed hat and clicked away. “I’m capturing your million dollar smile! You know it’s worth that much, right?”

“It better be! I paid a million bucks to keep these wretched old pearly whites!”

Grinning, Ray aimed at the grey and orange halloweenish scarf. It appeared creepy choking her double chin and crinkly robin’s throat like a boa constrictor. Angling his camera, first at her pet, and then at the pigeontoed black sneakers with turquoise tongues and red shoestrings, he thought, what a hoot! Under a rustcoloured jacket flaring open in the breeze, a starched sailor shirt had nautical stripes and its silver buttons glinted in the sun. A wild-patterned knitted throw draped over hidden knobby knees. Zooming in, the camera scoped out two water-hose-green lumps clumped together behind the kitten. Those rubbergloved hands could easily plunge that poor kitty into steaming sudsy dishwater!

Ray’s thoughts amused him and, as if she heard them, she chuckled.

Oops, a clumsy rubbery claw lost grip of the cane and splinters caught on the ratty wool. Fearing that third leg would fall out of reach to the grass, the claws struggled unsuccessfully to free it.

Ray probed to help. But, a sailor she was and spat out her version of a drunken sailor’s expletive to ward off the photographer. Not finished with him, she followed her colourful language with, “So, don’t man-handle or tamper with me, sonny!”

He nodded respectfully.

A green fist grabbed the

lap-size throw and gave it a mighty yank frightening the kitten. An exasperated scowl buried itself in cat hair. Sensing she was being stared at, the little old lady flung her hands in the air like green hornets and shot a menacing look at the photographer while hot tears dribbled slowly down her cheeks like wax off a candle. It moved Ray to see her upset enough to weep. Suddenly, the kitten sprang from her lap and knocked the cane to the ground. It landed free as a jagged dead limb off an old tree.

Ray collected the kitten and cane, handed them over and steadied the camera for one last shot…

I have to get those warped wet cheeks. From under the bonnet’s frayed brim, strands of hair with split ends snuck onto her apple cheeks. Her hair’s catching the sun’s grow-light, Ray’s artistic mind mused. At that very moment, the little boy inside the heart of that dignified middleaged photographer pictured the feisty kittenlady as being beautiful… once upon a time. And, positively to him, she still was when she smiled through those tears! Click.

The following week, Ray’s self-assigned task was to photograph grammas and great grammas celebrating Mother’s Day in a seniors’ home. Taking a chance on embarrassing the old lady from the park, who he immediately recognized, he gave her a gift. When unwrapping the framed portrait Ray had taken, a row of pearly whites flashed and misty eyes lit up… with joy, from his beloved ninety year old mother.

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18 MAY 2021

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They follow him out of the store into the parking lot.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

He turns on her.

“None of your business. Leave me alone.”

“I’m not here to Colouring outside the lines confront you. I am REV. LEANN BLACKERT here because I’m Wild Church worried about you,” she responds.

He begins screaming he stands in line at her, yelling with her two incoherently and she boys, waiting hears him refer to his for a checkout to mother. She knows. open. Suddenly a man “Did your mother die begins yelling at the of COVID?” she asks. checkout clerk, his voice He begins crying. escalating. Her boys “Yes, she died look at her, wide eyed. yesterday,” he says, When the employee sobbing. directs them to continue “I am so sorry,” she to the checkout where says as she stands near this confrontation is him, bearing witness as happening, they are his pain and fear and reluctant. She leads anger release through them over, assuring his sobs. them it will be okay, “Thank you, thank and asks the man if you,” he finally says, everything is okay. adding. “I guess I owe The man’s anger the clerk an apology.” grows and his voice “Yes, you really do. gets louder. She begins I’ll go back in with you putting her items on to do that.” the belt. Suddenly the He turns to her boys man screams and runs and says, “Your mother out of the store, leaving is an amazing woman.” his bags behind. She It takes great wisdom pauses, then asks if to understand that she can leave her items anger is usually a mask so that she can follow worn to hide deeper him. Her boys ask why emotions. It takes she wants to do this. courage to follow up “Because I think he is on that, expressing not okay, and I want to genuine concern for check on him.” that angry person.

S

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As we move into spring, the season of hope, when we all thought our year of pandemic life would soon be over thanks to time and vaccines, it has been disheartening, even discouraging, to watch the number of cases escalating again as new strains take root in our region. Emotions are rising, too. Fatigue, fear, anger, frustration, despair, mixed with small glimmers of hope. It has been a year of tremendous challenge in so many ways, and it looks like those challenges will continue for another season – maybe two.

Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.

These are the words Dr Bonnie Henry first offered us just over a year ago. We still need to draw on those reserves of kindness, calmness and safeness.

COVID-19, perhaps more than any other disease, has called us to truly care for one another – to wear a mask, not necessarily to protect ourselves, but to protect those with whom we come into contact. To endure the restrictions, knowing it eases the pressures on health care and essential workers. To be patient with one another as we all seek to find our

way in this different world. It demonstrates for us that we are truly interconnected, not just with one another, but also with the natural world. And it reminds us why nearly every faith group in this world has a commandment to love your neighbour as you love yourself.

“Your mother is an amazing woman.”

I would add these three words to Dr Henry’s advice: Be amazing. When we are able to be kind, be calm, be safe, and we are able to find ways to truly love our neighbours, then we truly are amazing!

So be amazing! Let’s help each other get through this complex and difficult time.

Rev LeAnn Blackert works with Michele Walker and Lesly Comrie in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan (wildchurchbc.org).

She lives in an evolving world and finds her own understanding of God/Great Mystery/ Holiness also evolving, and loves exploring questions of faith in a community of seekers.

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MAY 2021 19

Reality Works I

The inside story WENDY WESEEN

Over my rich life, my philosophy has come down to the serenity prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

suffer when I want life to be OTHER than it is.

My brother says, “denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.”

I laugh because it’s usually regarding something he thinks I won’t accept as reality when he thinks I should. In hindsight, there’s been quite a few times when I became self-aware of my inability to accept reality when his comments were dead on. It didn’t mean I didn’t feel defensive and I nearly always came up with something I thought he was denying. It’s human nature I guess to defend ourselves when we feel attacked in any way. Nevertheless, I remember a very tragic event in my life when my brother woke me up, and made all the difference in my life. Generally speaking, however, offering advice or defining what is “best for me” is a dangerous thing

and constitutes meddling to my mind, because in the end, we can never know another person’s whole truth. In fact, none of us often even know what the truth is for ourselves.

Here is a different way of looking at it. Denial is self-protective. It usually happens when something horrendous or tragic happens to us.

Bereavement/grief experts inform us that the first step of grief is disbelief: this can’t be happening or this was not supposed to happen. That’s one of those moments when we become aware that having control over life is often an illusion but denial gives us time and space to adjust until we are emotionally ready to accept the reality with which we are faced.

These days, in a world of anti-vaxers and conspiracy

theorists, we are faced with confusion, rebellion and ulterior motives such as power, personal motivations, selfishness and the indulgence of self-entitlement. Denial can allow individuals and mob mentality to express the right to opinion and the rights of the individual above those of a global community to the point of violence and to the detriment of their fellow human beings.

We live in a time of demands for human rights for all ethnicities, genders, colour, ages, and sexual preferences. It has been a long time coming. Now if we could just suspend opinions, stay open minded and listen to knowledge already acquired, we might get somewhere that is humane, compassion and kind.

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Kamloops Realty

What’s happening to Murray’s final resting place?

DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director

or some other place.

He definitely would not want to be in the cemetery. I often hear comments like “My father and mother are buried in the cemetery but we never go to visit them.” Sometimes I wonder how often they go up Murray’s mountain. Maybe visitation is – pardon the expression – a dying trend.

The irony here is that the cemetery seems to be grappling with an anticipated lack of space for future burials and inurnments. At the same time they are facing a big underutilization of the cemetery for cremations.

Perhaps they should also explore how to make cemeteries more appealing, a place where Alice and many others like her would want to visit and connect with their dearly departed Murray. I wonder what that cemetery would look like.

1 This article references a study you can find online at: https://bit. ly/3xdxcZN

Jessica MARVIN 250.374.3022

je-matt@hotmail.com JessicaMattRealEstate.ca

250.319.8784 mmatt@shaw.ca

RealEstateKamloops.ca Member of Kamloops Chamber of Commerce

(Formerly Goessman Denture Clinic) ON OF B ATI RI OC

COLUMBIA SH TI

L

ate last year the City of Kamloops commissioned a local planning company to take a look at Hillside Cemetery in Kamloops.1 The City’s main concern was that the cemetery seems to be nearing capacity. They wanted guidance on what they can do to avoid running out of space.

Currently, Hillside cemetery buries (in plots and in mausoleum crypts) about 70 bodies a year. That trend is forecast to rise to about 110 interments in the next ten years.

Conversely, Hillside Cemetery inters about 185 urns a year; the forecast is for the

the phrase “their final resting place?” That’s the idea of a cemetery.

People once thought – many, perhaps, still do – that when Murray dies he should be laid to rest.

As we’ve just seen, if Murray’s body is buried there is almost a 100 percent chance he’ll end up at Hillside. Clearly, however, the numbers listed above indicate that Murray’s urn has little chance of ending up at Hillside; he will not likely ‘rest in peace’ in the cemetery. He’s far more likely to end up scattered on the mountain, in the river, on the golf course or in the family’s backyard.

This suggests that many people don’t associate Murray’s final resting place with a cemetery at all. Maybe cost plays some part in Alice’s decision to scatter Murray’s ashes or to keep them at home. But many people over the years have told me that they believe Murray would prefer to be scattered near his favourite fishing hole,

NTURIST AS DE S

ask drake

number of inurnments to rise to about 270 by the year 2030.

So, dear reader, you might be asking, if there are 70 full burials and 185 urn interments in Kamloops per year, does that mean about 255 people die in Kamloops annually? No, the actual number is somewhere between 900 and 1,000 people who die in Kamloops per year. So, what happens to the 630 to 730 people who don’t end up in the cemetery?

Perhaps you won’t be surprised to learn that almost everyone who is buried in Kamloops ends up at Hillside Cemetery; the law forbids Alice to bury Murray’s body in the backyard. That leaves us with the vast number of people who are cremated but don’t end up in the cemetery. These people are sometimes scattered in various places of meaning to the family. Some urns are kept in the family home (perhaps on the mantle, perhaps in the closet).

Do you remember

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20 MAY 2021

Know someone with Hearing Loss?

Do’s and don’ts of communicating with someone with hearing loss Do you know someone with hearing loss? If so, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure communicating with them isn’t hindered.

Do’s

Don’ts

1. Do get the person’s attention before you begin talking. It can be as simple as saying their name so they know they should pay attention.

2. Do repeat things if asked and try rephrasing it to provide more information about the topic.

3. Do move closer to the person if you are in a noisy place or more than six feet away.

4. Do use facial expressions and gestures to help augment communication.

5. Do recommend they go get their hearing tested by a hearing healthcare professional.

1. Don’t try to talk to someone from different room. Sound doesn’t know how to travel around corners and through doors.

2. Don’t yell. It changes your voice and face and can make reading cues from your face difficult.

3. Don’t cover your mouth as you speak.

4. Don’t say “never mind.” It is dismissive and excludes the person from the conversation when they were just trying to understand.

5. Don’t speak extra slow. It doesn’t help the hearing impaired to hear any better and can make lip-reading harder.

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 call us from your cell phone when you arrive or come and knock on the door and we would 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