Kamloops Connector August 2021

VOL. 30, NO. 4, AUGUST 2021 POWERED BY KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK | A PROUD PART OF ABERDEEN PUBLISHING

Wildfire smoke can affect your health Page 2

The Children’s Art Festival will go on: Page 3

Yet Another “Ism” or Two Page 9

Hot Enough for You? Page 10

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PENELOPE’S ROOM Page 11

Happy ! y a D BC

The calm before the storm

Linda Steinhammer submitted this idyllic photo of some ducks at a pond in West Highlands Park to KTW’s photo contest in June.

August 2021

Monday, August 2nd is B.C. Day, a day where we traditionally celebrate our beautiful province. Perhaps, in past years, we have gone on a special day trip to enjoy a nearby waterfall or done something crazy like book a rafting trip down some rapids in one of B.C.’s swollen rivers. Maybe we have gathered the family for a BBQ and s’mores around the firepit or taken a new boat for its maiden voyage past Riverside Park; possibly gone camping or fishing at your favourite spot or on a special hike that you’ve wanted to do for years.

Despite the fact our region is currently experiencing unprecedented wildfire

activity and most of us are stressed out and concerned about what is happening, hopefully we can eek out an opportunity during the long weekend to enjoy this province we call home.

While we find a way to enjoy the natural gifts of this amazing place in between the billowing smoke plumes, let’s ponder some of the ways we can turn this nightmare around. We can no longer take things for granted. Furthermore, let’s cheer on our firefighters and take care of our evacuees. Volunteer and donate if you can. Finally, be prepared. Pack a gobag and be ready just in case. No matter what, stay safe!

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2 AUGUST 2021

Wildfire smoke can affect your health Information from BC Centre for Disease Control

D

ifferent people respond differently to smoke, and some people are at higher risk of experiencing health effects.

The BCCDC recommends the following groups of people reduce their exposure to smoke: • People with pre-existing chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and diabetes • Women who are pregnant • Infants and small children • Elderly Healthy people can be affected by wildfire smoke too. Everyone responds differently, so listen to your body and reduce your exposure if the smoke is affecting you.

Wildfire smoke contains very small particles that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale.

These particles can cause irritation and inflammation, which can last until the air quality improves. Most symptoms are relatively mild, and can be managed without medical attention: • Sore throat • Eye irritation • Runny nose • Mild cough • Phlegm production • Wheezy breathing • Headaches Some people may experience more severe symptoms and should seek prompt medical attention. Call HealthLink BC (8-1-1), talk to your primary care physician or visit a

walk-in clinic if you’re experiencing: • Shortness of breath • Severe cough • Dizziness • Chest pain • Heart palpitations Reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air: • Use a portable HEPA air cleaner to filter the air in one area of your home • Visit public spaces such as community centres, libraries, and shopping malls which tend to have cleaner, cooler indoor air • Take it easy on smoky days because the harder you breathe, the more smoke you inhale • Drink lots of water to help reduce inflammation • If you are working outdoors, use an N95 respirator that has been properly fitted by occupational health and safety professionals.

People with pre-existing medical conditions should take extra precautions and should keep their rescue medications with them at all times. If you cannot get your symptoms under control, seek prompt medical attention.

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particles that interact and change as they move away from the fire. Of all the pollutants in wildfire smoke, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses the greatest risk to human health.

The microscopic soot particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they may cause inflammation

and irritation. Volatile organic compounds and other gases can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

The BCCDC has created fact sheets with more detailed information about wildfire smoke and its health impacts, including information on how to prepare for wildfire season. You can view and

download the fact sheets from the source webpage below.

• Health effects of wildfire smoke • How to prepare for the wildfire smoke season • Portable air cleaners for wildfire smoke • Wildfire smoke and air quality • The composition of wildfire smoke

• smoke and outdoor exercise • Wildfire smoke and Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) • Home-made box air fan filters • Face masks for wildfire smoke Source: http://www.bccdc.ca/ health-info/prevention-publichealth/wildfire-smoke

Graphic by Jen Burgess, Isoline Studios for BC Centre for Disease Control

UBCO sociologist discusses how to PREPARE for the emotional toll of wildfire evacuation The sense of communal safety and security can be lost in mere minutes Dr. Mary Ann Murphy has peered into the lives of families who have lost everything in a wildfire. She knows what haunts them, and what they would do differently if they had to evacuate again. She also knows how they took those first steps to recovery.

Dr. Murphy is an associate professor in the Faculty of Health and Social Development’s School of Social Work, and also teaches in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’ history and sociology department. Dr. Murphy has been examining the psychological and sociological impacts of wildfires on those who have lost their homes.

As the province grapples with the latest aggressive wildfire season and with the tragic loss of life and property for the people of Lytton, she searches for lessons from those who have survived wildfires in the past.

What kind of past experience from wildfires can we draw upon to learn about those coping with loss today?

Seventeen years ago, I led a UBC interdisciplinary study (Social Work, Photography, Nursing, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Science) with families who had lost their homes in the unprecedented Okanagan Mountain wildfire in 2003. That research led to a year-long exhibit at the Kelowna Museum and an article printed in the Hazmat journal in 2018.

This was one of the largest wildland-urban interface fires in Canadian history. This fire forever changed our landscape and our psyche, and deeply affected our communal sense of safety and security. We were interested in talking with families one year after the fire to find out how they were doing and to learn more about the depth and significance of the loss of cherished objects and their homes, as well as their experiences with evacuation and adjustment.

Why is it essential to understand these experiences?

While our museum exhibition has long been packed away, we vividly remember the families, stories and the trauma of those who — if they even had the opportunity — rushed to gather up belongings and protect their children and pets.

We still often think of these families, and have worked to impart their lessons to others, including a sense of what was really important.

For us, the “new normal” refers to their fortitude in grappling with adjustment and recovery — lessons of particular significance as the frequency and severity of fires only increases. We hope everyone will take time to empathize with the trauma they experienced, as well as what the Lytton and other evacuees are currently going through — which is nothing short of a monumental disruption to their lives.

You talked about the sense of guilt.

People desperately grabbed items as they were forced to evacuate their homes, but were saddened by what they had left behind.

There were important items that family members had forgotten as the ‘acute stress’ of the moment trumped logical thinking.

Later, they berated themselves for not taking computers, hard drives, the oldest objects in their homes, photographs, Christmas decorations, favourite clothing out of the laundry bin, collections and souvenirs, art work and important papers.

We also recall the profound guilt felt by those who left behind simple but irreplaceable mementos that represented deeply embedded memories — children’s trophies and stuffed animals, family heirlooms and old, inexpensive keepsakes that most represented what they cherished about their home and history.

Those items were forgotten in haste, while items like tennis racquets and food were saved.

Any tips on what people should do to be prepared. And the items they simply shouldn’t leave behind?

The families we spoke with mourned irreplaceable photos and the Christmas decorations no one thinks about in the heat.

Their advice was to prepare for fire season by making a list; taking a full video of every room in your house and pre-packing easy-to-grab bins with important objects and documents like passports and insurance papers, including the most treasured things in your home.

Think about whether things like jewelry or art work are insured, and whether or not these are things you would want to take with you.

Also, think about neighbours who may need assistance. Remember that you may have only a few minutes to leave.

Can you explain why the grief for wildfire victims is so profound?

The victims we spoke with talked about living with the incredible loss of what was more than a structure — as every comfort, every family routine and ritual, everything familiar was turned upside down. They struggled with the loss of something that many people work, sacrifice, tend to and care about — not a house, but a home — a place that reflects yourself, a welcoming safe harbour, a site of shared history, comfort, celebrations and traditions.

But, as we have seen over the past few days, hope and help will come from the most unexpected places. While Lytton homes and the townsite have been burned, we are reminded of the reassuring words of those who left messages for the families we talked with. “The most wonderful thing was hearing how your community came together. It can be both your darkest and finest hour.”

Source: https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2021/07/20/ ubco-sociologist-discusses-how-toprepare-for-the-emotional-toll-of-wildfireevacuation/

AUGUST 2021 3

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The Children’s Art Festival will go on: The KAC is working quickly and tirelessly to put some version of Children’s Art Festival this fall

By Elizabeth Nygren, Kamloops Arts Council

A

lthough the possibility of a live, fully-fledged and in-person Children’s Art Festival is still up in the air, the Kamloops Art Council is confident in the return of the festival this fall. Whether it be online, at half capacity or full-on, the free, annual festival will return in September.

Brie Fernando, Program Coordinator at the KAC, said that the best-case scenario is a normal festival with as many activities as possible.

The KAC is prepared to adjust depending on comfort levels and public health orders in September.

“Right now, we’re still waiting for the green light to go ahead and then we can jump in and start [planning],” Fernando said. “It is a little bit of a shorter time span to organize than we would usually have but … I think we’ll pull it off and have a lot of fun. It’s something I really hope we get to see this year, especially with entering phase three and the easing of restrictions. I’d love to have that for the kids after these wild couple years they’ve had and give them that sense of fun and normalcy.”

Although the KAC is hopeful to have an in-person Children’s Art Festival this year, they recognize that there will be adjustments due

to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fernando said: “I know we may not be able to go completely back to normal at this point, but I still want to do as many engaging and interactive activities as we can for [the children]. I don’t know how many hands-on art booths we’d have, but that’s something we need to work on with the [City of Kamloops] as well.”

Fernando added that “some people might not be okay with going completely back to normal in a big crowd setting, so it’s definitely something to be mindful about when we’re planning.”

In a regular year, the Children’s Art Festival would take place at Riverside Park in the second or third week of September. The festival would normally include activities and performances for children and their families, and that is the hope for 2021.

“Normally it takes place during one of the earlier weekends in September and it’s a couple days of activities with some handson art projects to get the kids really involved and engaged,” Fernando said. “There are performers and interactive activities and it’s just a lot of fun for that time of year before they get back into school.”

Fernando also talked about the importance of the Children’s Art Festival, especially in a year such as this.

“I think especially after people have felt so isolated over the last couple of years,” Fernando said, “having this festival and bringing the community together is going to have that community engagement we’ve been missing out on.”

Luckily for the KAC, this event is always supported by funders and the City of Kamloops to make it a success each year.

“We have a lot of cooperation from the [City of Kamloops] and they support us,” Fernando said. “I know without the city and without our funders, it would be a lot more difficult.”

Regardless of what September holds, you can expect to see the Children’s Art Festival happening either on your screen or in the park with your family. The Kamloops Arts Council is excited to be bringing this event back, and as usual, offer it for free to the public!

“Even if it can’t be the fullblown Children’s Art Festival that we know and love, I’d still like to have something going on for [the children],” Fernando said.

A Historic Moment for our Nation

your voice in ottawa CATHY MCLEOD MP

I

t was a historic moment for our nation this month when Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General was appointed.

Queen Elizabeth II approved the choice of Mary Simon to be her representative on Crown matters, and there are hopes this decision will help Canada move forward on the path to reconciliation.

The day-school survivor and advocate for Inuit rights

has a history as a proven negotiator, having taken part in many important agreements like Meech Lake and Charlottetown.

She is a traditional speaker of the Inuktitut language and intends to learn French.

Speaking in Inuktitut and English, Simon described her appointment as an “inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation.”

I wish her much success in this important role.

While things are definitely opening up across the country in terms of pandemic restrictions being eased, precautions are still being taken at the House of Commons.

This includes the suspension of public tours of West Block, where MPs meet when Parliament is in session and conduct the business of running our nation.

In the interim, until in-

person public tours can be safety conducted, the Speaker of the House is taking people on a guided tour that requires no advance booking via a high-quality online video: https://player.vimeo. com/video/560467260 Built in 1865, the heritage building was redesigned between 2010-2015 so it could be a temporary place for MPs to meet and conduct business while Centre Block undergoes renovations, work expected to go on until 2030.

The renovated West Block is a modern wonder, retaining the beautiful brick and stone exterior, yet completely transformed inside. It even includes a glass ceiling with shutters that can open and close to allow in natural light while MPs meet and conduct business in the House of Commons chamber.

I encourage you to check out the five-minute video, it really is something to see.

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Well... darn!

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Just when we thought it was safe! Sorta. Maybe. We’ll see...

I don’t know about you, but I still feel a bit stunned about how the last few weeks have unfolded. I feel rather bummed and short-changed as well.

With large numbers of folks in B.C. actually getting their two doses of the COVID vaccine and numbers of infections declining, we My two cents were oh, so close to having Moneca Jantzen a great summer with fewer Editor restrictions.

It was all so promising and then that god-forsaken heat dome came and sat on top of us for a good week and primed us for the mother of all wildfire seasons.

Dousing the fires must be like playing a game of whacka-mole! As soon as one is out, another five crop up whether caused by lightning strikes, human error or even evil arsonists.

Can you even believe that anyone would purposely add to this mayhem?! It is hard to wrap one’s head around how many fires are being fought right now, not just in B.C. and our very own backyard, but across the country. We are indeed, in the thick of it. We have gone from one crisis to another and watch as other jurisdictions suffer devastating flooding or tornadoes while we wish we could share in just a bit of their rain.

A friend of mine that recently moved from Toronto to the Dominican Republic posted on Facebook that a cloud of Saharan sand(!) was forecasted to be headed their way the other day. I knew the Saharan Desert was encroaching on points south for decades but I didn’t realize that part of Timbuktu could come to you! Absolute craziness!

We all secretly chuckle at the over-eager TV news reporters that intentionally position themselves in harm’s way during a tornado, hurricane or tsunami, but the reality is, our weather is becoming bigger and bigger news if only because everything has become so extreme. Talking about the weather used to be a sign that a conversation was dead in the water. I would be surprised if anyone has managed to not discuss the weather in the last month.

The heart-rending images of the village of Lytton, just poof, gone and then the fire down the road in Juniper shattered my notion that because I lived within city limits I should be safe. A dozen or so years, safely ensconced in the middle of a downtown neighbourhood, I moved to a different area last year and now I’m not so sure. I find myself greedy for reports on the various fires raging around town and one in particular, because its simply too close for comfort. Never, in all my 30odd years living in Kamloops have I personally felt compelled to pack a go-bag. I did on this Canada Day and I suspect many of you finally did as well, regardless of what part of town you inhabit.

It’s going to be a long, hot, tense summer. I am now addicted to watching apps on my phone constantly, as I monitor everything from KTW news stories; other news outlets; @ kamscan on Twitter; the TNRD website; BC Wildfire Service; FlightRadar24 - a live flight tracker; NASA’s Fire Map; Facebook group updates and weather forecasts. It has been hard to get enough sleep.

I anticipate that much as we became used to the ‘new normal’ of life with COVID, we will begin to adapt to this crazy fire season. Depending on where you live and how close you’ve come to being directly affected beyond the smoke in the air, we will adjust and relax a bit as the summer wears on and we observe our firefighters pulling off miracles daily and keeping us safe time and time again. We can also turn our focus and energy towards helping those that have already lost so much or that have had to get out of harms way while our heros do their jobs. In the meantime, stay safe and reach out for help if you need it.

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.

We aim to publish on the last Wednesday 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.

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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.

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Reasons why you should hire a professional company for your exterior detailing

Zone 8, 55+ BC Games Remembers, and Looks Forward Submitted by Linda Haas

T

here have been accidents and illnesses of late that make us sad for lives cut short. But we remember one of our own who lived 97 years, inspiring us all and making us happy to have known him.

This is Wilf Schneider, long time member of the BC Seniors Games Society and valued asset to Zone 8. He moved to Kamloops in 1974 to work until his retirement in 1983.

But he didn’t retire from community activity. Not only an enthusiastic participant in the Games, Wilf helped with fund raisers and sat on the Board of Directors as Sport Event Coordinator

first for Track and Field, then for Floor Curling. He regularly attended monthly meetings and made many valuable suggestions. In 2004, Wilf received the Joe Ziebert Award for distinguished service to Zone 8.

As mentioned in his obituary, Wilf will be remembered for his easy smile and sense of humour, quiet wisdom, willingness to help those in need, and dedication to family and friends.

Thank you, Wilf Schneider.

We are still hopeful we will be able to have an in-person Annual General Meeting in October, and maybe

even a meeting in September. Stay tuned.

Zone 8 wishes everybody who has enjoyed participating in the 55+ BC Games, who will be newly qualified as aged 55 + in 2022, and who may be interested in next year’s Games in Victoria, a safe, healthy and enjoyable rest of the summer.

And if you have been feeling overwhelmed by the weather or lingering COVID news, perhaps we can relate to this quote: “There have been times when I lose half of my mind and the other half goes to find it.”

Don’t forget to stay active!

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he importance of getting the exterior of your home or business professionally detailed regularly can sometimes be overlooked.

Clean windows are proven to decrease anxiety, stress and energy costs as well as increasing mood, focus, and natural sunlight. Not only does this help preserve the value of your property long term, but it also

gets rid of any natural keep your home and/ to safely and efficiently and/or man-made or business spotless detail your surfaces to elements that can live and safe providing total make them look years on the outside of your customer satisfaction. younger. This helps structure that can work Professional window extend the life of your their way in. cleaning staff are home or business, by Leaves may leave you courteous, well-trained removing bacteria and breathless, but did you and stand behind their other harmful agents know they impede the work with a guarantee. that can break down the flow of water in your When you hire a eavestrough causing integrity of the exterior professional window spill overs potentially by causing cracks, and exterior detailing damaging siding and chips, and stains. company, they have the the structure of your tools and knowledge home or business! Not only do they pose a threat to your home’s longevity but during summer months, they are also a fire risk.

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Protect your finances from “cyberthieves”

RESPs for your kids and grandkids Chianne V Jones Financial Advisor

1315 Summit Dr., Unit 4a Kamloops, BC V2C 5R9 250-374-1882

www.ed wa rd j o nes .ca MKT-5894C-C

financial focus CHIANNE V. JONES Financial Advisor

Y

2021

Payment Dates for Old Age Security & the Canada Pension Plan

If you have signed up for direct deposit, your Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments will be automatically deposited in your bank account on these dates:

January 27 February 24 March 29 April 28 May 27 June 28

July 28 August 27 September 28 October 27 November 26 December 22

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

ou’ve no doubt heard reports of personal data being stolen and used for financial fraud – anything from online shopping on your credit cards to actual theft from your financial accounts. This problem won’t go away anytime soon – but you can take steps to defend yourself.

Here are a few suggestions: • Use multifactor authentication or other extra security options with online accounts Many of your online accounts offer extra security by giving you the option to prove your identity in different ways. With multifactor authentication, you must provide at least two different factors to prove your identity when you log in to an account. This additional layer of security provides you with much greater protection.

• Be creative with passwords Create different passwords for work,

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.

financial services sites, social media and email – and give each password some length and complexity.

Consider passphrases – actual words combined with symbols and numbers (for example, “ThisIsAPassphrase!

2468”), for sites that allow them.

• Protect your computer and your key data Keep your antivirus software updated. And don’t install bootleg or unlicensed software, which could infect your computer with a virus.

Also, back up your important data.

• Watch out for fake websites or apps When making financial transactions, be sure you’re on the website of your bank or financial institution – and not on a fake site established by hackers. Your financial statements should have the legitimate website, so bookmark it and use it when doing anything with your accounts.

Also, be careful when downloading apps – stick with those from established providers such as Google Play or the App Store.

• Avoid “over-sharing” on social media Cyberthieves constantly stalk social media platforms for information they can use to commit their crimes. You can help stymie them by limiting what you share online.

It’s a good idea to keep

your full name, address and birthday private.

You might also avoid discussing your plans for upcoming vacations.

And review your privacy settings periodically so that only people you know or approve can see your information.

• Limit use of public Wi-Fi Hackers often set up their own Wi-Fi networks in public areas, such as the computers found in hotel business centers.

Ask an employee for the name of the legitimate network. And even when you use it, log off when you’re finished.

• Don’t take the bait of “phishers.

Cyberthieves go “phishing” for sensitive information – usernames, passwords and account numbers – by sending communications, such as emails, purporting to be from a business or financial institution with which you often do business. They may claim your account was “suspended” or that an “unauthorized transaction” was made,

and you’ll be asked to click on a link that takes you to what appears to be the company’s website.

If you go along with this request, you could find malicious software being downloaded on your computer. Legitimate businesses generally won’t ask for account numbers or passwords unless you initiate the transaction.

Other signs of phishing include threatening language, “urgent” requests, misspelled words or odd word choices. If an email looks suspicious to you, delete it without opening it.

This list is not exhaustive, but by putting these steps to work, you can at least reduce the risk of becoming victimized by cybercriminals.

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Privacy settings to change on Facebook

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

I

n today’s age, privacy seems to be more and more illusive, especially on social media. Facebook has made private lives public.

These settings can help

keep your life private.

To start, click on the three lines and scroll down to privacy shortcuts. It’ll take you to the privacy area, go to see more privacy settings. You can check your activity area for who can see your posts, stories and even who can send you messages. The last setting is kind of a big one, letting search engines link to your profile. If your settings are set to public this can be a gold mine of personal information for all sorts of people. One I recommend is limiting who can see past posts, this cannot be undone and will set all your old posts to friends only.

If you want certain posts public you will need to go

to it and change it back to public.

Getting to what we share online, information is power online. I always tell my clients not to share certain things publicly no matter what. Some of these things are: vacation dates, personal details like birthplace or old house addresses, these are a huge no-no. I suggest not posting these online public or private posts. Telling people when you won’t be home for an extended period is always risky online because you never know who might be watching.

Posting pictures on vacation is great but make sure it’s set to friends only.

As for birthplaces or old

addresses; if I were looking for personal information then you provided a jumping off point. Even a picture of an old car can provide an answer to a question.

Over sharing has managed to get more than a few people (young and old) in hot water at home and at work. In the case of public posts never say anything you wouldn’t in a room of strangers. Online those strangers are listening to those details and making notes. Remember, truth is subjective online so don’t make it easy for the scammers. Got a tech question? Ask away!

250-318-7977 jreade@gmail.com

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Happy B.C. Day August 2nd, 2021

2021 Hot Night in the City

Jessica MARVIN 250.374.3022

je-matt@hotmail.com JessicaMattRealEstate.ca

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26th Annual Show & Shine Downtown Kamloops The 26th Hot Nite in the City event has been celebrated in Downtown Kamloops for 25 years. The Directors are optimistic the show and shine car show will return this August 2021.

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Saturday Markets

200 block of St Paul St. 8:30 am – 12:30 pm 400 block of Victoria St. in front of the TNRD Library 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Powwow Arbour 345 Powwow Trail, 345 Powwow Trail 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

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Taken for Granted

kamloops birdwatch NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

A

s we gaze out into the crisp blue skies rising above the sage hills and churning confluence of the Thompson River, the majestic and slow moving forms of the American white pelican are barely discernible. Every year they make a migratory stopover around our desert region. But have we grown to expect them and not marvel and appreciate their presence?

The American white pelican is actually

considered a provincially endangered species.

Globally its numbers are stable, but for our beautiful western province it is fast becoming a rarity, with around 1100 remaining, and half that are breeding pairs. For the vastness of area in our province for providing favourable habitat for feeding, there is only one place this graceful, yet delicate creature nests.

Stum Lake, north of Alexis Creek on the Chilcotin Plateau, is closed every year from March 31 to August 31st to protect the nesting colonies of the White Pelican. Serious loss of species and breeding seasons have occurred from disturbances such as boating, aircrafts flying at low elevation, noise disturbances from discharging fire arms and from the natural curiosity of humans meandering about.

White Pelicans have very demanding requirements in picking a nesting colony.

It must be an isolated lake, with an island that has a considerable water barrier to avoid mammal predation, yet no risk of rising levels to flood the grounds. There must be sufficient sources of lakes or low lying marshes surrounding them so they can feed.

This is not their only setback. Unlike a lot of other avians, Pelicans do not reach sexual maturity until they are three years of age and tend to rear only a single chick. Having any breeding setbacks therefore becomes detrimental to their overall population.

I know that for myself, I often get too caught up in the watch and forget to remain educated on the facts of preserving and acknowledging the delicate existence we all have on this earth. Yes, we may see this truly stunning creature soar above our skies and bob calmly across some of the open waters, but that doesn’t

represent the entirety of their life. It doesn’t portray their needs or conditions required for survival. It is only a glimpse into their seemingly routine and effortless migratory life cycle.

This is just a natural tendency though. Human fault we could say. Taking something for granted extends into so many aspects of our lives and it wanders hand in hand with a selfish companion.

We often seek what we want; even if it is as harmless an intention of viewing an incredible creation, and don’t engage past our own intentions.

So as we all revel in the marvels that this earth holds I encourage you all to take a moment and wonder what we can do to give back and extend ours, and their time, to be the best it can be.

No act of kindness and consideration is too small.

Stay Curious Kamloops!

Yet Another “Ism” or Two

The inside story WENDY WESEEN

S

enior Week was in June. I missed that. Somehow with overwhelming evidence and awareness highlighted by the pandemic, everyone matters, and inequities and inequalities were perpetuated by prejudice and discrimination in the world, Sexism, racism, and unmarked graves of children at the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc residential school in Kamloops called horrible attention to the preciousness of every child. There are no words that can express the immensity of sorrow and inconceivable reality of the legacy of the residential school system.

We shouldn’t have had to declare every child matters that way.

This column started as a tribute to the elderly in recognition of Senior Week, but I needed to express the horror of discovery of the children’s graves before I move to the distressing state of senior housing and care also magnified by the COVID crisis. The focus of this issue waned after the first flurry revealed the lack of standards and government attention to long term care and senior housing. In the 80s, senior housing and elder care came under examination and now current longterm care has become the focus. Still, a whole aging population, people in-between living in their own homes and LTC if it becomes needed, have few choices other than private and frightfully expensive residences. I’m grateful and fortunate to be able to afford mine and have coughed up privileged savings, except I won’t be leaving any to my offspring, and face the hidden costs of a downsized healthcare system.

I hate the idea of my

taxes being used to fund things I am morally against. I sense there might have been an underlying attitude at the beginning of the pandemic of “thank goodness it’s only the old folk.” I’m sensitive to these attitudes and though not labeled as such, they are the result of ageism.

I could make an argument that it’s not only a matter of ageism, but also sexism. Men have a shorter life span than women and leave spouses alone for the last 10-15 years of their lives. Now I’ve said the word ageism and another boogie is out of the closet. That it is the way society thinks about old people and results in inadequate and unaffordable senior living, often absent of preventive support services such as diabetic clinics, footcare that could prevent amputations, blood pressure clinics, dietary services, mental health services, and coordination of health care services.

Instead, there’s an absence of aging in place philosophies at a time when families have been geographically separated from each other to meet

the engine of the economy.

Policies and practices have not replaced the services taken away by that engine.

Though kinships have been weakened, families are still expected to pick up elder care by their children (sometimes called the sandwich generation).

Designed to meet the purchasing needs of a market economy, both men and women work outside the home, making them unavailable and overwhelmed by a system that has abandoned the elderly and off-loaded health care.

Looking into the future - the “what if” syndrome, wanting answers we can’t have with the same old leadership and short-term solutions is very predominant for people my age. Ageism is not just a matter of people calling the elderly “Dearie,” or “Hon,” it’s a loss of autonomy that has been apprehended by a culture and economy, a reduction of choices that discriminates against the elderly and their families, rendering both generations powerless and at the mercy of politics and the economy.

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10 AUGUST 2021

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etween the pandemic, wildfires and heatwaves we have all been spending a lot of time at home and considering what is the most valuable to us in an emergency.

Property damage to its main structures can occur with the rising heat – your foundation and roof are both susceptible to warping, damage and deterioration in a sustained heatwave, as can hardwood floors and pipes. Extreme heat is often an excluded coverage in most homeowner and renter insurance policies, but routine inspection of these home structures can catch any potential damage before it becomes a problem and remedial steps can be taken. It can also be added to insurance policies for an

additional cost.

Virtually every homeowner or renter insurance policy covers damage caused by fire, even if the fire began on a neighbouring property or land. Damage to vehicles is usually covered under its own comprehensive coverage through ICBC, if you have purchased that. This coverage is not mandatory in BC, so it is prudent to check with your broker to be sure you have the appropriate insurance for your own needs.

Water or smoke damage is also usually covered if it arises from a fire or from firefighting efforts but it is always best to have your insurance broker confirm the same. The language in most insurance policies is complicated and technical.

We all have some form of smart phone or tablet these days, or know someone who does like a child or grandchild. Put that camera to use and take photos of everything that you own for future evidence to your insurance company or government agency in the event that you suffer loss or damage to your personal property.

Open cupboards and drawers and take a photo.

Lay out all of your jewelry and snap some pictures.

Photograph your computers and televisions, furniture, paintings and decorations.

Your patio furniture, shed and garage contents – including sporting equipment. Photograph your appliances, tools and equipment, and make sure to include photos of the serial numbers. Take photos of the front, back and sides of your home, your vehicles and licence plates, as well as important papers such as insurance documents and identification.

Once you have those photos, back them up in cloud storage as well as on a flash drive or email them to yourself so you have future access. Put the flash drive in your purse, as you are always likely to have that with you in an emergency.

Doing this inventory of your assets will also give you time to consider what is really necessary and valuable in an emergency and be familiar with their locations.

Make a list of what you plan to take with you if you are evacuated and keep that list accessible. The main items are usually what are not easily replaced – passports, jewelry, old photo albums, original artwork. Also,

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Just think about it—plus 47 degrees for Kamloops is HOT! These following two chemicals have become my best friend when I have to travel. They are Tetrafluoroethane and Dichlorodifluoromethane or more commonly called R-134A and R-12. Both of these are refrigerants used in our vehicles air conditioning (a/c) systems to cool the air in the passenger compartment.

R-12 has been phased out since 1993 because of its impact on the ozone layer. R134A is also being replaced by R- 1234yf because of it’s high global warming potential.

Just for the record one can’t cool air but what is done is the removal of heat.

If heat, which is a form of energy, is taken out of the equation you are left with cool. Same as if you remove money you have poverty, if you remove light you have dark and if you remove wet you have dry. Money, light and wet are all forms of energy that we use for various purposes.

An engine stays within a

temperate operating range by removing heat from the coolant through the use of a radiator. The radiator is exposed to a good air flow that takes away the heat leaving the coolant cooler so it can go back in the engine and pick up more heat generated by the running of the engine.

An air conditioning system works the same way with the use of an evaporator, which is like a mini radiator. The refrigerant, when exposed to the warm incoming air, absorbs a large amount of the heat energy, thus allowing cooler air to enter the passenger area.

This item, as previously mentioned, is called an evaporator because the a/c coolant changes state from a liquid to a gas which we call evaporization.

Water, when it absorbs enough energy to evaporate, uses 970 times more energy than if it only got warmer 1 degree on the Fahrenheit scale. This is called a change of state.

Suddenly the function of the evaporator is quite

having a disaster safety kit near the exit is also advisable and prudent, containing emergency rations and necessities like first aid, water, non-perishable food, can opener, flashlight and batteries, cash, clothing and medication. Finally, have a meeting place for all family members already planned ahead, as disasters don’t always happen when everyone is home and all together.

Finally, check your home insurance to be sure that there are no exclusions or limitations for temperature extremes, publicly declared emergencies, wildfires, water or smoke damage, food spoilage or looting. Even if your home doesn’t burn, significant water damage can occur from the efforts to put out a fire or from the neighbouring smoke.

Food may spoil while you are evacuated and looting is not unheard of in evacuated neighbourhoods.

No one likes to think about dealing with an emergency, but if you have a plan and take steps to insure and document your personal property then you give yourself the best chance to recover if the worst case scenario does happen.

By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

significant in heat removal, a small item that does a big job. The hot refrigerant gas is pumped to the front of the vehicle, to a component called a condenser, located in front of the radiator.

Here the heat is dumped into the passing air and the gas a/c condenses back to a liquid. It’s the same idea as a glass of ice water makes the moisture around the glass condense into a liquid by removing the heat. In essence, the a/c system absorbs heat and dumps it in a continuous cycle and all we feel is incoming cool air.

How does this affect us? More vehicles have interior cabin filters. If they are restricted or dirty you will not get proper airflow. Another concern is smell. If the system, when in a/c mode, is smelly, it’s inlet air compartment area may be plugged up with leaves which rot and we know what that is like.

There is a drain hole to allow evaporated liquid to drain out, it also may be plugged and you may get liquid just under the

glove box. It can be easily cleaned out. Sometimes when a vehicle is parked and running the a/c, a puddle of water may form just behind the right front tire. It is totally normal, just water draining out of the evaporator housing.

Another concern is when I see campers or pickup trucks with the spare tire tied to the front grill of the vehicle. This is a prime candidate for over heating and poor a/c performance.

For those vehicles that have a temperature gauge on the dash please be sure to note if it really starts to rise when going up hilly areas like the Coquihalla especially under a load. If too warm is indicated, pull over and run the engine around 2000 rpm, this will allow the cooling system to catch up to bring down the temperature.

Please do not take off the radiator cap at this time! You will get a severe burn.

Any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at bigsix8280@yahoo.cam.

AUGUST 2021 11

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PENELOPE’S ROOM I

Creative Writing by Rita Joan Dozlaw

n the ‘60s, long after Christina Olsen’s death, Artist Andrew Wyeth’s 1948 painting of ‘Her Room’ sold for $65,000.00. It was the highest price ever paid by a museum for a work by a living American artist.

Although, in 1920, the lonely war-widow Maria would never know of the famous artist and his work, she had unwittingly but similarly decorated a room in her house in Staunton, Virginia.

Down at the end of the hall, the room with twin windows overlooked the countryside. The windows faced a portrait, on the opposite wall, of the Virginia-born U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Ivy climbed near the see-through café curtains; framed prints of flowers hung on the walls; and, floral motifs on the wallpaper exuded wonder and appeal—like an indoor garden does with its Southern exposure.

It was a charming guest room.

A white iron-framed mirror reflected a stripepapered wall behind a small white table which held a conch shell from a far-away seaside. Inside the drawer, a book of poetry and a family Bible were handy for a guest’s leisure hours. A child-size chair held a ruffled pillow and beckoned with its wide-open arms, ‘come to me and I will caress you too.’

At the kitchen table, near a berry bucket on the floor, Maria sat to slit an envelope’s wings open with a brass letter-opener shaped like a mini-sword with an ornate swirl handle. Fine script over the folds of notepaper

read: “My dear sister, Maria.

I’ll arrive by train when the sun goes down on your birthday. Simon and his friends are rebuilding our barn which went up in flames a fort-night ago.

Our help-mate Sarah will cook for the men.”

Maria held the letter close to her throat as tears welled in her eyes.

“I’ll do the mending, spring cleaning and, of course, gardening which you sometimes struggle to do. You’re strong but won’t admit that the carriage accident left one of your legs crippled. I will always try to help you, sis. I’m tall and can reach your window panes.

I’ll organize your pantry if you let me. Consider me your birthday blessing, Maria. I am certainly no special gift, but perhaps I can give you my time and helping hands. Cherishing you, my baby sister.

(Signed) Penelope.”

Maria returned to the guest room glad she’d finished crocheting the dust ruffle encircling the single bed. Tones of rose matched those of the privacy curtain over the French door. A polished silver comb, brush and hand-mirror set were positioned on a doily by the lamp.

Early morning, on the day Penelope was to arrive, Maria gazed out the dusty kitchen window at the barely snow-capped mountains while sunshine filtered through the clouded glass. Her bad leg always felt better in the warm weather. Hoping for signs of spring, she made idle plans.

Suddenly, a bird swooped down and crashed against the pane

mistaking its reflections for the tree-lined field. It fluttered to the ground before her eyes; the sight sickened her.

Except for fire wood and mail, Maria hadn’t been outside much.

Steadying herself, she reached the screen door and saw that a bush had broken the impact of the bird’s fall. Taken aback by the balmy air, her heart quickened. Unsure of her legs, she carefully made her way to the injured creature, leaned down and cupped the stunned feathery ball in her hand.

Grabbing onto the bush she found strength she hadn’t felt all winter and promptly straightened up. Putting her lips near the bird, she whispered breathlessly, “Precious.”

She spoke softly to it.

“I watched patchy blades of grass appear and thin gophers scurry by the window. Flocks of birds like you have returned to feast and sing in these trees. I’ve seen irresistible shadows of lilac over the valley and realized life is exploding everywhere… but one life was missing out here! This season is for everything and everyone… and to think I was almost late! Little warbler, thank you.”

With that, Maria lifted her arms acknowledging spring and as she did, the tiny awaking bird sprung from her gentle grasp and hovered a moment as if to say, ‘We’ve all been out here waiting for you, Maria?’

“If it were not for you,” the birthday girl sang, “I would not be outside on this beautiful spring day! You tapped on my window, like the divine hand of the Creator,

inviting me outside to experience Mother Nature’s beauty. This has not been created for all but one, so thank you!”

Back inside, Maria took a yellow buttercup to the guest room and pressed it between the pages of the book of poems and opened the windows a crack. Her finger tips glided over the texture of the bedspread’s colours and designs. Then, she fidgeted with the ecru lace along the edge of the elegant pillow sham. It had been carefully ironed as for a princess… and she knew Penelope would feel like one when she laid her head on the starched linen.

On her thirty-ninth birthday, Maria welcomed Penelope and proudly led her to her room. They sat on the side of the bed together and, like they had done traditionally as children, randomly opened the book of poems and the family Bible. Then, each one read a verse of poetry and a verse of scripture.

“You first.”

Obliging, Penelope hummed a verse from ‘Song of Myself’ by Walt Whitman from his book ‘Leaves of Grass.’ “This minute that comes to me over the past decillions, there is no better than it and now... With music strong I come…”

Their hands clutched together as Maria read from the book of Isaiah.

“Lift your eyes and look.

Who created all this? Out of love, great power and mighty strength, [from the Creator] not one is missing’... not even you,” Maria added, wrapping her arms around her sister.

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12 AUGUST 2021

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ACROSS 1. Pre-TV broadcast medium 6. Finished 10. Affluent 14. Where the Jets play 15. Teutonic invader of Rome 16. S eesaw sitter of nursery rhyme 17. That persistent feeling that you’ll win the lottery, say 20. L etters before one’s stage name 21. Where to start a golf hole 22. L oud hullabaloo 23. B ig fib 25. R etain the rights to 26. The images that you keep seeing of you winning the marathon 32. F ender bender result 36. K eats’ “___ to a Nightingale” 37. G rocery store walkway 38. L ike vision made unclear with tears 39. S ound of lapping waves 41. Took a seat 42. E agle’s nest 43. B asil-garlic pasta sauce 44. S tupid blunder 46. Ticked-off feeling 47. L ocality 48. Where the things in this puzzle are likely to really be

50. T ry to catch some rays 52. Lady’s maiden name indicator 53. Bank’s wellprotected room 55. ___ la Ronge, SK 57. Stereotypical lion’s name 60. You receiving a Nobel prize or getting a star on the Walk of Fame, for example 64. Elizabeth’s daughter 65. Big name in space exploration 66. Where Delhi is 67. Sewing gettogethers 68. Looks at closely 69. Dishevelled DOWN 1. Not cooked 2. Opera singer’s solo 3. Office furniture 4. Breathe in 5. Klutzy type 6. Gawk at 7. Cast a ballot 8. Addis Ababaís location (abbr.)

9. Horned endangered beasts 10. Put new life into 11. Ancient Egyptian goddess 12. Walking aid 13. Bear’s greeting?

18. Organs men lack 19. “Right this minute!”

24. Nevada’s neighbour 26. Father, informally

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

33.

34.

35.

38.

40.

45.

48.

49.

51.

53.

54.

55.

56.

58.

59.

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61.

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Lazy sort “___ porridge hot...”

German steel centre Wing-shaped ___-Goldwyn-Mayer Weird and creepy Nigerian currency Wooded Dance studio rail Laws on the books It’s found in a pound Chant a mantra ___ Curtis, onetime cosmetics giant Baba who said “Open Sesame” Climbing plant Common teen skin disorder Do surgery using a beam of light “___, poor Yorick!”

Segments of a curling game Name seen in many elevators Beatlemania adjective MP’s dissenting yell ___ and vigour Speak out loud

AUGUST 2021 13

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Merritt Senior Centre

AUGUST 2021

The Merrit Seniors Association

Calendar of Events

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

SUNDAY

1

MONDAY

2

TUESDAY

3

WEDNESDAY

4

THURSDAY

5

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 8

15

22

29

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

10

9

31

30

21

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 27

26

25

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

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

14

20

19

18

24

23

7

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

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

SATURDAY

13

12

11

17

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6

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

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

FRIDAY

28

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

31

AUGUST 2021

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

Calendar of Events

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

SUNDAY

1

MONDAY

2

TUESDAY

3

Foot Care (by appt. only) 8

10

9

Foot Care (by appt. only) 22

Foot Care (by appt. only) 29

30

5

FRIDAY

6

SATURDAY

11

12

13

14

18

19

20

21

25

26

27

28

Foot Care (by appt. only)

31

Foot Care (by appt. only)

SUDOKU 31

7

Foot Care (by appt. only) 24

23

THURSDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 17

16

4

Foot Care (by appt. only)

Foot Care (by appt. only) 15

WEDNESDAY

By Marilyn Brown

Klara and the Sun

By Kazuo Ishiguro

Knopf Canada, 2021 Science Fiction, 305 pages

K

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

Seniors’ Resource Centre - Salmon Arm

Book Review lara, a newly minted Artificial Friend (AF), is delighted that she now has her turn to stand in the store window; she yearns to be a child’s personal assistant, to go to a welcoming home. The store window offers visibility, and importantly, access to the Sun and his nourishment. Newer AF models arrive, the B3s, and even though earlier there were glitches in their power systems, they are faster. Some families choose the prestige of the newest model, but the store manager senses that Klara is observant, intuitive, and perfect for the right child. That child is Josie, a spunky but seriously ill child. Josie’s Mother challenges Klara to recall specific physical details of her daughter. Klara’s answers are spot on.

Josie and Rick are friends who, when children, make a plan for their future together. Now as teens their plan is complicated by the disparity of status between the two: Josie comes from the “right” background: parents with professional skills, money, and the drive to make sure that Josie has the future she deserves. Rick, however, is not one of the “unlifted,” not genetically altered, unlikely to be eligible for further education or advancement.

When Josie’s health continues to decline, those who love her move to action. Klara is about to take a great risk to help her. Mother considers how to further make use of Klara to assuage the grief that will come if Josie passes away.

Klara and the Sun is set in the future, a story told to the reader by Klara, the Artificial Friend, so there are a number of challenges for the human reader trying to understand what is going on. Klara does not “see” the way humans do, so the reader tries to interpret what Klara is sharing, and Klara is constantly trying to interpret “us,” learning as she goes. Part of the fun of reading this book is noting how Klara is maturing, as well as Josie. Klara, a capable entity, may help determine the answer to the core question: what makes a human, human?

Kazuo Ishiguro is the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature for his novel The Remains of the Day and is a Booker Prize winner. He is the author of eight other works of fiction, three of which were made into films. He was born in Japan and lives in Britain.

KAMLOOPS’ BEST SELECTION OF VQA WINES AND BC CRAFT BEER Let’s Celebrate BC Day

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14 AUGUST 2021

Walk Gently

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

Colouring outside the lines

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Happy BC Day

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T

he large cardboard box was the right size. I was hopeful.

I lifted the upside down box to reveal the bright blue pottery bird bath I had been eyeing for nearly a month. My smile was nearly as big as the bow on the box!

Our summer heat waves have impacted many of us in different ways, and the birds and the bees have suffered, too. I longed to tuck a bird bath into the corner of our gardens so that they might find a bit of respite.

Three days later I picked my gift up to take it out to the garden. I had walked about six steps when the base fell away from the top, shattering on our floor. My gift broke! And something in me broke, too. I fell on to the nearby sofa sobbing.

Frayed nerves. Stored grief. Hopes deferred. A

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something tips us over the edge and we break.

We are moving through a time of great uncertainty, which for most of us is a journey through uncharted territory. We’ve never experienced a worldwide pandemic that has impacted us so deeply.

There are no easy answers to our questions, no easy solutions to our grief, despair and frustration. We have not walked this path before.

I find some consolation in the words of Scottish poet and pastor George MacDonald: Do not hurry as you walk with grief; it does not help.

Walk slowly, pausing often: do not hurry as you walk with grief…

Be gentle with the one who walks with grief.

If it is you, be gentle with yourself.

Swiftly forgive, walk slowly pausing often.

Take time, be gentle.

Now is a great time to practice walking in gentleness with ourselves and with one another, to practice forgiveness and forbearance, not allowing

our frustration to flare into flames of anger that can devastate those in its path.

We are all walking with grief. We are all broken at some level. Walk gently – with yourself and with others. When you pause often you might catch glimpses of hope in the midst of this difficult time.

The base of that bird bath is broken, but with a little imagination and creativity, the basin now sits atop a weighted garbage can. Filled with water it has become a place of refreshment for the many birds in our neighbourhood. I hope even the bees can find a place to land and rehydrate.

Brokenness forces us to look at the world with a different lens. Creativity and imagination can help us to find solutions, imperfect though they may be. And walking, literally and even gently, can help lift our spirits.

Walk gently this month.

With yourself. With others. We don’t know what brokenness others are experiencing. We may not even know how close to breaking we are. Walk gently.

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sense of futility. I had reached my breaking point, and it all poured out with my tears.

It has now been 17 months since COVID-19 shut down the world we knew. Nearly a year and a half of mask wearing, staying at home, not seeing or hugging our families and other beloveds. Some of us have reached the breaking point. Some have been broken.

Scores of us celebrated the day we received our second vaccine – and again on the 14th day after. But our vaccines don’t guarantee immunity.

Several friends have contracted COVID even though double vaccinated.

One of my friends died from COVID complications before she could get her second vaccine. The new variants keep us playing a guessing game as to whether this virus will continue limiting us into a third year.

And then, as if COVID wasn’t enough, we get hit with a heat bubble, record setting temperatures, devastating wildfires and smoke. Tempers are flaring alongside the fires, frustrations are rising, and we don’t know what to do with all of the swirling emotions and grief until

ask drake DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director

A

lice has a lot on her mind.

Murray just died.

She and Murray have been together a long time, through ups and downs. Now Murray’s gone and Alice is an emotional train wreck.

She’s dealing with her children’s reactions as well as those of many other friends and family.

The phone won’t stop

ringing and she finds herself telling everyone the same thing over and over. It’s exhausting.

Alice has other things on her mind as well. She’s a bit reluctant to talk about it with family and friends, perhaps it would seem a little heartless to do so while everyone is going through this initial stage of grief. Just the same, Alice is worried about something that no one else seems to be thinking about right now: MONEY. Murray and Alice were both receiving Old Age Security and Canada Pension. “What happens now?” she asks herself.

Alice came to see me a couple of days later and we started to discuss Murray’s wishes. “He just wanted to be cremated,” said Alice. “Of course, we will honour his

wishes” I replied. A few minutes later I brought up a subject that seemed to catch Alice a bit by surprise. “Would you like me to notify Old Age Security and Canada Pension about Murray?”

I asked her. Alice thought for a minute and then said, “Do you have to?” I think she was hoping that if no one said anything Murray’s cheques might continue to go into his account for months and perhaps years.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

“Someone has to notify Service Canada about Murray’s passing, Alice.”

I said, “and I’ll do it for you at no charge if you’d like.” I explained that the government wouldn’t take too kindly to not being notified. I filled out form number SC ISP-1201 (2016-01-27) E for Alice

and she signed it. “I’ll fax this to Service Canada right away, Alice,” I said.

Alice was curious about how this form and the process worked. “It’s quite simple” I said. “I indicate Murray’s date of death on the form we send to Service Canada. Service Canada will no longer send Murray’s OAS and CPP starting in the month AFTER Murray’s death.

Because Murray died on August 2nd, Service Canada will issue his OAS and CPP for August.

Had he died on July 31st or before, there would have been no cheques for Murray in August or beyond.” Alice seemed only a bit relieved. “What about after August?” she asked.

We’ll cover that in next month’s column.

AUGUST 2021 15

www.connectornews.ca

Organizing for the end To be kind to those you leave behind

everything organized SHAWN FERGUSON Everything Organized

I

wanted to touch base on an issue that happens a lot—not being prepared for Death.

Now saying this I doesn’t mean shopping for the box and taking some test runs to see if they are comfortable. I mean preparing your Executor for the time. I realize that most people will have their Will and different important information tucked away for safe keeping, but the issue is where.

Now I see scenarios like this often— “Ok I know there is a Will

and Stocks etc. but we have NO IDEA where to look and we don’t know if there is a safety deposit box or where!”

Normally the documents and information needed to proceed with an estate are eventually found, but this can be a very stressful and extensive search and I have seen on a number of occasions where the information was never found and this can make an already emotionally taxing time worse by compounding it with trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle that is missing half the pieces.

You don’t have to tell the person your trusting with your affairs all of your wishes now, but to let them know where the information will be kept and how to access this information is very important. Don’t forget to include banking information and any investments that may not be in your normal bank accounts.

Also for any items of value in your home, keep your receipt or information on pieces that the family may not know the value of or the attachment to the family

the item may have.

For many Executors I have talked to once they have performed the duties of an Executor once, most have responded quite passionately “Never AGAIN!” and this is normally due to trying to piece that jigsaw puzzle together all while looking for lost pieces.

There are some stresses we all have to deal with in life, but added stress at these times can be minimized with just a little effort now. Trust me, it will be highly appreciated.

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 half hour consult in Kamloops.

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

Please email him at Shawn@ everythingorganized.net

Kitchen Tile Trends

Flooring SHAWN VANDERWAL Nufloors Kitchen Tile Backsplash Ideas A tiled kitchen backsplash is the perfect opportunity to take advantage and experiment with colour and pattern. It is also a fairly small canvas so it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the place people gather the most, so why not add a touch of personality and create a focal point that is unique to you?

Whether you are looking for a custom-design or a classic finish, here are a couple of inspiring ideas that should spark your imagination and help you create the kitchen of your dreams.

Marble Tile I know what you are thinking.

We opened with “doesn’t have to cost a fortune” and dive right into talking about marble tile!

While marble tile does tend to be a little higher in cost, remember that kitchen backsplashes do not, typically, require large tile square footage. Consequently, some marble tiles work out to be very similar in price to other types of wall tile. Now if you love the look of marble but are working with a tighter budget there are hundreds of polished porcelain tiles made to look exactly like real marble that will give your kitchen the same look and feel at a fraction of the cost.

Geometric & Texture When it comes to backsplashes, tile shape can be as important as colour. Keeping an open mind to shapes such as pickets, hexagons,

diamonds, triangles, arabesque, wave and many others can add a big style element to your kitchen.

As a rule of thumb, the closer you match the grout colour to the tile colour the more the pattern will disappear versus the more contrast from grout to tile colour, the more the pattern will be accentuated. If you prefer a more classic rectangle for your backsplash then you can add a bit of extra style through texture.

There are many tiles, both in a glossy and matte finish that come with a bit of texture that can modernize the kitchen without getting too crazy.

When it comes time to choose a backsplash tile, a great place to start is on the internet. Getting ideas to which types of tile look you prefer is a great starting point in the process and helps to cut down on being overwhelmed by the many different options on the market. As always if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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16 AUGUST 2021

BABY BOOM STARTING TO FALL ON DEAF EARS and they wear out – kind of like a football player’s bad knees after years of more-than-average use.

Baby Boomers have lived their lives to the fullest and they have worked those hair cells really hard,

but hearing aids are not just for old people they are for people who want to stay active longer - when we don’t hear well, we tune out, and when we tune out, life is not quite as much fun. If you or someone you love has

concerns about hearing, please don’t wait to get the kind of help that will let you enjoy everyday pleasures, like listening to your loved ones, or your favourite album.

HEARING AID MYTHS EXPOSED

The hearing industry has been ready for the boomers for many years, and not just with constant advances in the area of hearing aids, but with an understanding of this aging group and their resistance to coming to terms with hearing loss.

Things in the hearing industry have come a long way since the time of our current baby boomers’ youth, when being ‘deaf ’ also meant being ‘dumb,’ and carried a terrible social stigma. One of the biggest things some people face as they realize they are losing their hearing is overcoming feeling old or stupid.

But, if we think about it, when someone says something and we don’t hear it properly and reply incorrectly, well, that’s when we feel stupid. Thanks to todays advanced technology, no one needs to feel that way.

Less than 15 years ago I had a hearing aid manufacturer representative come to our office talking about up-and-coming technology that would one day let us hear our Walkmans through our hearing aids. Well that day is here and with the assistive devices that go with hearing aids today, we

can now stream Bluetooth devices directly through our hearing aids! We can go about our daily business while streaming our music, TV and phones through our hearing aids and no one else has to hear it.

When we program hearing aids, we program them with specific parameters and built-in safety according to each individual’s need.

When listening through a hearing aid, we have the ability to fine-tune it just like the graphic equalizers in our cars back in the 80’s. We program your hearing aid so it’s specifically improving your particular hearing loss.

For Baby Boomers with hearing loss, it’s not just about natural aging; unfortunately it’s often a result of choices. The number one reason for hearing loss is hair loss - as we age, our hair falls out, and the nerve hairs inside your cochlea also fall out. These hairs are what send sound signals to our brain, so years of rock concerts and loud music booming in vehicles, or working in a noisy environment, cause those hair cells to go back-and-forth, backand-forth, back-and-forth

Sometimes we love to mislead ourselves by believing what we want to believe or believing what others tell us to believe. As Dr. H. Gustav Mueller once said, “You have to hear what you don’t want to hear to know what you don’t want to hear.” For example, did you know that Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb? Or did you know that cracking your knuckles really doesn’t lead to arthritis and that Thomas Crapper didn’t really invent the toilet? There are a lot of examples of beliefs that we assume to be accurate, but it’s good every now and then to reevaluate what we think we know.

So how is your hearing knowledge? For many of us, it’s time to learn about some of the misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids.

MYTH: Hearing loss affects only “old people” and is merely a sign of aging.

TRUTH: Actually, it is the reverse of what most people think. 65% of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age.

Hearing loss affects all age groups.

MYTH: If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.

TRUTH: Only 13% of

physicians routinely screen for hearing loss uring a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in quiet environments, like a doctor’s office or examining room, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem.

Without special training and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be, and can be, very difficult for your doctor to even realize you have a hearing problem.

MYTH: My hearing loss is normal for my age.

TRUTH: Although it may be more common for loss at your age, it is not necessarily normal. But…isn’t it strange how we look at things? It happens to be “NORMAL” for overweight people to have high blood pressure.

That doesn’t mean they should not receive treatment for the problem.

MYTH: I can wait until my hearing gets a lot worse before I have to do something about it.

TRUTH: The longer a person waits to take care of their hearing, the less a hearing aid will do for them in the future. You may suffer auditory deprivation, a possible speech impediment, and remember- untreated

hearing loss carries the same symptoms as Alzheimer’s disease.

MYTH: My hearing loss is not that big of a deal. I can live with it. TRUTH: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, hearing loss is listed as the third leading cause of health problems in individuals over the age of 50. Arthritis and Hypertension are one and two.

MYTH: My hearing loss does not affect anyone except me.

TRUTH: Your hearing affects everyone around you, including the ones who love you the most.

MYTH: Hearing aids are too expensive.

TRUTH: Some flat screen televisions sell for $8,000 or more, but this doesn’t make us say, “All TVs are too expensive.” Just like TVs, hearing aids range in cost depending on features and performance. You can almost always find hearing aids that fit your budget and lifestyle. The value of better hearing and a better life is almost always well worth the cost.

MYTH: You can save money buying hearing aids online.

TRUTH: You wouldn’t purchase a pair of prescription glasses on the internet without consulting your eye doctor, because your glasses need to fit your vision loss.

Buying hearing aids is the

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

same. Sure, visiting a hearing specialist may be more costly, but take into account what you get for the price.

You can be confident that you get the right hearing aid with the right fitting and settings, along with follow-up care, adjustments, cleanings, instructions, repair services, and more.

It’s well worth it.

MYTH: I have friends that wear hearing aids and it does not seem to help them.

TRUTH: It is true that some people do not do as well as others with hearing aids. Just remember this: we all do not get the same eyesight clarity with glasses, but we still do not want to be without them. The longer you wait to correct your hearing; the less you will get in return. You have one set of ears – take care of them.

If you feel you have a hearing loss, you’re not alone. What keeps you alone is not finding the help that is needed to correct the situation. Help is just a phone call away. If you or someone you know is suffering from this debilitating problem, please contact us today for a hearing exam. We can guide you in the direction you need to go for proper hearing care.

For confirmation of the information provided above and any additional facts see: http://list25. com/25-popular-myths-debunked/5/ and www.betterhearing.org.