INSPIRED senior living magazine CAPTIVATED BY WINTER ADVENTURE IN GRAND COUNTY
DECEMBER 2017
BURTON CUMMINGS
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS WITH LANGUAGE INSPIRED AMONG NATURE’S MAJESTY
“We all grow old, but I like to think like a teenager still mesmerized by the music.”
Inspiration for peopleWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM over 55 • www.seniorlivingmag.comDECEMBER 2017
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Life is beautiful here. Connie is a prolific artist who shares her passion by inspiring fellow residents.
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Stand Tall: Burton Cummings by John Thomson Winter Adventure in Grand County by Kate Robertson An Unforgettable Encounter by Nancy Schaaf Rocky Mountain High by Goody Niosi Breaking Language Barriers by Sherry Conly Among Nature’s Majesty by Marilyn Jones
FOREVER FIT 13 REBOOT 17 YOUR MONEY 24 FASHION 25 THE FAMILY CAREGIVER 34 MARKETPLACE 35 COURAGEOUS & OUTRAGEOUS Cover
BURTON CUMMINGS
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editor’s desk In Grade 3, our school staged a production of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. I was so excited to play the part of an orphan, and I can still remember seeing my dad in the audience. In high school, we did the play again. I’m as tone deaf as they come, but my height and tenacity garnered me the part of a pickpocket. It was still not a speaking part, but a promotion, nonetheless. What stays with me today about the performance is the song “Food Glorious Food.” I may have butchered the tune, but I nailed the cockney accent (so I think) and could emote all day long about… well, glorious food. Like many of us, food has played a starring role in my life. At times, I couldn’t get enough, and I was willing to try anything (save for the freshly caught and cooked bugs in Thailand). Other times, I felt genuine disdain, and food repulsed me. After reading Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman, I swore off food completely… for seven agonizing hours! Then there were times I gave little thought to what was on my plate. These days, the food on my plate has made a renaissance in my consciousness. I’ve never been a culinary whiz (the fact that my daughter taught herself to cook as a child speaks volumes), but when I recently adopted a whole foods plant-based way of eating, I had to either get in the kitchen or wither in salad purgatory. Now, I can spend hours scrolling through recipes on Pinterest, and my hubby and I love devouring the Food Network on a stormy Sunday afternoon. Some dishes have been surprisingly edible; others an unadulterated calamity unfit for canine consumption. I press on despite bitter protest (from man and dog). You see, food isn’t just food; it’s draped in habit, tradition and wideranging emotions. Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “It is easier to change a man’s religion than to change his diet.” I believe it! As Christmas approaches – a time of year steeped in family customs – I’ll be tempted by abundant delicacies that are sure to test my resolve. Those that win me over will be vetted through three levels of consideration: nutrition, compassion and environmental impact. For me, it’s a daunting, but worthwhile, undertaking. Like the orphans in Dickens’ classic, I will watch, smell and fantasize about magnificent food while I eat my self-imposed gruel and bide my time until the celebration madness passes. Merry Christmas… and bon appétite! | INSPIRED Senior Living, a proud member of
A new book of poetry is one of several interests that keeps this Canadian rock legend busy, but it’s the music that still holds his passion.
INSPIRED senior living magazine
Photo: Myron Beck Photography
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Publisher Barbara Risto Managing Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Office Manager 250-479-4705 office@seniorlivingmag.com Advertising Lorraine Brett 604-351-8497 | Kathie Wagner 250-479-4705 x 103 Head Office 3354 Tennyson Ave., Victoria, BC V8Z 3P6 | 250.479.4705 Subscriptions (12 issues): $32 includes GST, S&H. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. INSPIRED Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for compliance with all copyright laws related to materials they submit for publication. INSPIRED Senior Living is distributed free throughout British Columbia by Stratis Publishing Ltd. 12 issues per year. ISSN 23703881 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)
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Burton Cummings continues to perform and remains resolutely passionate about the music. Photos: BLC Collection
STAND TALL
BURTON CUMMINGS by JOHN THOMSON “I’ve worked on this poetry book for seven years now. It’s finally ready,” says former Guess Who lead singer Burton Cummings about his book of poetry entitled The Writings of B.L. Cummings. The collection of 52 stories in rhyme and free verse is available at www.burtoncummings.com “If it’s on any shelves, it’ll be next to e.e. cummings,” he laughs, pondering a release to book stores. “Then alphabetically, you’ll be first,” I say. “I guess that’s right,” he replies. 6 4
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His book of poetry is but one of many pursuits that keeps this Canadian icon busy in his California home with his wife of 35 years, Cheryl DeLuca. Sure, he’s surrounded by the Hollywood glitterati; he was hanging out with Alec Baldwin the other day; and he’s an avid comics and basketball cards collector – “I have Superman No. 1, 1939,” he says – but it’s the touring and the singing that occupies his time. “I’m still drawing crowds at almost 70 and I’ve got more work than I can handle,” he says. “I turn down gigs all
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the time.” Burton and his five-member band hit the North American casino and festival circuit about 50 times a year belting out the hits like “No Sugar Tonight,” “These Eyes” and “American Woman,” as well as more recent tunes like “A Fine State of Affairs” and “Break It to Them Gently.” “My audience is anywhere from 10- to 12- to 75-years old,” he says. “I’ve been on the radio so long it’s multi-generational now.” His last performance in British Columbia was at Richmond’s River Rock Casino on New Year’s Eve 2016. It was sold out. “American Woman is always received with huge cheers and standing ovations as is These Eyes,” says Burton. “In Canada, Break It to Them Gently is the one audiences want.” American Woman; it’s the song that put Burton and the Guess Who on the map. “That was a nice couple of minutes (in 1970) when we got that phone call and we realized it was No. 1 on Billboard,” he confirms. “Those were two or three minutes I wouldn’t mind reliving. That was quite something.” But that was then, and this is now. There will be no more Guess Who reunions in the future, he declares. Winnipeg was a hotbed of local bands in the 1960s and Burton, living with his mother, Rhonda, and his grandparents in Winnipeg’s north end, was caught up, like his peers, in the music of the day. “I used to stay up late with my little transistor radio and I could hear the classic songs that changed my life,” he says. Elvis and Chuck Berry were gods. “Fats Domino was my favourite,” he continues. His best friend, Ed Smith, was in a high school band called The Deverons, and young Burton desperately wanted to join. The Deverons were an instrumental band playing rollicking, upbeat music that didn’t need a vocalist. But the young high schooler persisted. “I was just turning 14 when I weaselled my way into that band,” he says. “I hung around the rec room where they were rehearsing, and I kept saying ‘hey, do you guys ever think of getting a singer? Boy, you guys could sure use a singer.’ After a while, I guess because I was so annoying, they were willing to try a few songs with me singing and, after a few months, I was kind of running everything, not as a manager but as the leader deciding what songs we were going to learn.” Burton was having a great time, but his grades suffered, so the principal told him he had better buckle down and forget about singing in that year’s operetta, a hallowed tradition at St. John’s High. For Burton, performing was his life. He desperately wanted to sing. There was only one alternative. “It forced me to quit school and, had I not quit, I wouldn’t have been in the Guess Who. So, in a way the principal did me
a favour by forbidding me to be in the operetta.” Now 17, out of school and devoted full-time to music, Burton was approached by another Winnipeg band called Chad Allen and the Expressions that wanted to replace its keyboard player. Burton accepted and met bassist Jim Kale, drummer Garry Patterson and lead guitar Randy Bachman. Since frontman Chad Allen was still singing lead, the newcomer was relegated to keyboards and singing two songs a night. When Allen left in May 1966 for college, Burton filled the position and the band became the Guess Who. “The first two years were a disaster,” he says. “We ended up in England in February of 1967, and we didn’t even have enough money to fly back to Winnipeg. Everything fell apart when we got there. I was 19, stranded in England, one year out of school and broke. I thought I had made a terrible mistake.” A two-year gig as the house band with a CBC-TV teen show, Let’s Go, kept the Guess Who alive. Burton and Bachman started to write their own material. “These Eyes” was written in his mother’s living room. “I hadn’t even left home yet,” he says. “American Woman” was written on the fly. “It was a guitar riff that Randy started playing,” says Burton. “The words came out of my head in a stream of consciousness and we ended up recording it later. More than the fame and the money, I wanted to make records,” he says. “We heard the Beatles from day one and the Beatles were the greatest thing to come along. That’s what Randy and I wanted to do, write songs like John and Paul.” The rest, as they say, is history: Twenty-three Canadian gold singles; eight Canadian multi-platinum albums; six Juno awards; one American platinum award; induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame; and the Order of Canada, which Burton received in December 2009. Now a bona fide rock star, Burton embraced the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. He doesn’t shy away from his self-indulgent past. “I did a lot of acid, smoked a lot of great hash, great weed. I barely even laid down till I was about 40,” he once told a Globe and Mail reporter. He was having fun. And then he wasn’t. The turnaround came in 1973. “It was starting to turn into a jazz fusion band, and they would wheel me out in front to sing the big hit singles. It was just bullshit towards the end. I wanted to write rock ‘n’ roll stuff. When we started doing that other stuff, I knew it was time to get the hell out of there. I wanted to keep it simple.” “I didn’t like what we were doing musically, and I wasn’t that friendly with everybody, so it just got uncomfortable.” Burton officially left the Guess Who in 1976 to pursue a solo career. His debut single “Stand Tall” hit No. 1 in Canada later that year.
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Snapshot with Burton Cummings
If you were to meet your 20-yearold self, what advice would you give him? “I would say don’t do those last two years with the Guess Who. I should have been a solo artist at the end of ’73, early ’74, instead of all the way to the end of ’76.”
In 1978, he emigrated to Sherman Oaks, California to continue his solo career, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots, and Winnipeg hasn’t forgotten him. “I still go back and walk my old neighbourhood and walk past the trees I climbed as a kid,” he says. The two neighbourhoods I grew up in have changed very, very little.” Business connections also tie him to the city. In 2006, he became a minority shareholder in Salisbury House, a Winnipeg family restaurant, famous for its “nips,” or specialty hamburgers. He also returns to play concerts at the Burton Cummings Theatre, a former vaudeville hall and movie palace named after him by its former owners in 2002. But it’s the Burton Cummings Community Centre that has a special significance for him. “It’s nice to have my name on that because I
to quit, you can quit. It’s as simple as that.” Burton has moved on in other ways, too. He’s happy to be playing his old tunes with his new band mates. He’s been with them for the past 16 years – six more than with his former Guess Who partners. “I still love the two hours on stage,” he says. “I have enough stuff for another double album. I’m definitely going to do another album, maybe a couple more.” As for his legacy, Burton and the Guess Who paved the way for other homegrown artists to break into the international scene. “We did it before CanCon,” he says, the federal ruling that made it mandatory for Canadian radio stations to play 35 per cent Canadian content. “At first, I thought it was weak and I thought that any self-respecting band didn’t need help from the government,
played there a million times with the Deverons when it was the West End Community Centre,” he says. “The day they put my name on it, I put my hands in cement. It was a pretty big deal.” “A lot of my soul is there, a lot of my memories,” he says about Winnipeg. “You only get one home town.” And although the visits have tapered off after his mother died in 2012, the city still has a special place in his heart. “I go back because I like it. All my firsts were there. I’m nostalgic. As a writer, I think it stimulates me. It serves the creativity.” The hard living, drug and booze-fuelled bad boy of Canadian rock has mellowed. “I’m so clean and straight these days, I’m boring. You want to quit drinking? Quit going to the fridge. If you want to quit smoking, throw them in the garbage. If you really want
but I changed my tune when I saw how it changed the Canadian music scene. Producers and engineers and artists started coming to Canada from other places, so it ended up being a good thing in the long run. It breathed new life into the Canadian music industry.” But enough about legacy. Burton wants to talk about the present. “I can keep doing concerts for another 10 or 15 years, if I keep my chops. I see the crowds getting bigger,” he says. I remind him that dancing around on stage isn’t what old people are supposed to do. “Old people, ha. Listen to me, I’m 70. We all grow old, but I like to think like a teenager still mesmerized by the music,” says the septuagenarian. “I’m still mesmerized by the music. Definitely.” |
Who or what has influenced you the most and why? “The Beatles. Did two guys ever bang out so many great songs in such a short time? Look at that legacy. It’s the songwriting.” What does courage mean to you? “Courage is trying to be true to yourself. You can put on airs, but real courage is walking up to the mirror and not being afraid or ashamed of what you see. Jim Morrison used to say, ‘when you realize your deepest fear, walk right up to it and stare it down.’” What does success mean to you? “Feeling you’ve accomplished something and you haven’t wasted your time. First and foremost, success is a sense of accomplishment.”
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WINTER ADVENTURE IN GRAND COUNTY by KATE ROBERTSON I manage to click off one photo of the snowmobile group before my phone dies from the cold. That’s what happens when you’re hanging out in the middle of winter at 3,600 metres near the summit of the Continental Divide. With more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain peaks over 3,048 metres, Colorado has the highest mean altitude of any of the US states. Snowmobile Adrenaline It had been close to a balmy -5 Celsius as we boarded our snowmobiles down in Winter Park at the Grand Adventure Snowmobile Tour meeting point. But the elevation there is only 2,780 metres. I had thought I might be overdressed in the big snowsuit and gloves provided. We rounded curves and blasted up the forested mountain on wide-groomed trails and, as we came to an open viewpoint, our guide pointed out Winter Park Ski Resort and other landmarks in the valley. It’s been years since I’d been on a snowmobile – so exhilarating to be in charge of the throttle (did you know the handle bars are heated now?). 10 8
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As we continued above treeline, the wind became intense and the temperature dropped (I was happy for the full suit then), so windy that in spots the powdery snow made visibility difficult. After our photo op at the top, we start our descent, stopping at points of interest like the Rollins Pass, a wagon and rail route that crossed the divide, a dilapidated trestle still visible. But settlers weren’t the first to use this area. Native Americans used this naturally low crossing area for game drives, rock wall blinds built to funnel large game like big horn sheep and elk up slope to waiting hunters. With the drone of the snowmobiles, we don’t spot any wildlife, but I’m told there is plenty here.
ABOVE | Continental Divide with Grand Adventure Snowmobile Tour. Photo: Grand Adventure
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Back to treeline (and warmth), our guide takes us on more challenging, single-track trails through groves of lodge pole pines and aspens before we finish the tour. Ski in the Sunshine The fun factor had started earlier that day at Winter Park Ski Resort when I clipped on skis and ventured out on the 3,081 acres of three inter-connected mountains. With 166 trails and 25 chair lifts, there are no line-ups, even though this is the closest destination resort to Denver. In operation for over 75 years, several of the trails are marked as historical with a commemorative sign, like Mary Jane territory, known for its bumps and spectacular tree-skiing, and so-named because a section was originally owned by Mary Jane, well-known madam of the evening during the gold rush days. By lunch time, I’m ravenous, and lunch options are numerous in the alpinestyle base village. Grand County is known for its beef as after the gold rush, ranching took over (it’s now the rodeo capital of the world), but nobody at Vertical Bistro bats an eye when I order the Herbivore Burger. Explore the Snowmobile Capital When I’d arrived three days earlier to Denver International Airport, only 90 minutes away, lower altitude adventures were planned to ensure acclimatization. The first day was exploring Grand Lake, a village of about 500 at 2,551 metres established in 1881 as a supply post for mining settlements. Located on the shores of Grand Lake, it’s the largest natural body of water in Colorado and a base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park. Known as the snowmobile capital of Colorado, there are hundreds of miles of trails here. You can even ride your snowmobile through town, where the main street is the original width for wagons and horse-tying posts, with pioneerstyle board sidewalks. This place oozes cowboy culture, and I keep expecting a John Wayne-ish character to walk into the street for a shoot-out at high noon (supposedly John Wayne had a vacation home here).
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On a hike on East Inlet Trail, established in 1913 to provide access from Grand Lake to nearby lakes, it’s sunny and quiet. There’s been enough traffic on the trail that snowshoes aren’t needed, but not so busy that there’s no wildlife, and we spot a female moose in the trees in Big Meadows munching on whatever she can find in the deep snow. Later, at Kawuneeche (land of coyotes) National Park Visitors Centre, we strap on snowshoes and join Ranger Sam Crane’s outing. He leads us on a loop, stopping at stunning lookouts to view the Vasquez and Indian Mountain Ranges and pointing out nature highlights like bear scratches and bites on trees. Back at my motel, I scare coyotes from the second-story landing upon my return. It’s that wild here. Dogsled at the Ranch The next day is dogsledding at Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies. The 16 sled dogs are mainly descendants of Yukon, otherwise called the Professor, because he taught most of the other dogs. These Alaskan Huskies are smaller than Siberian Huskies, yet they eat an incredible 4-6,000 calories a day. When it’s my turn, I jump on a tandem sled with “musher” Liv from Missouri who came to volunteer at the Y and then fell in love with the dogs and the sport. “These dogs were born to run,” Liv tells me in between shouts of gee (right) and haw (left) commands to Indigo and Juniper, the two lead dogs.
TOP LEFT | Snowshoe outing with Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park. BOTTOM LEFT | Dogsledding at Snow Mountain Ranch. Photos: Kate Robertson
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“They can actually run themselves to death, so must be well taken care of,” she continues as we make our way amazingly quickly around the 3.2-kilometre trail that winds through open meadows with breathtaking views of mountains on every side. This was a bucket-list experience for me. Ski the Nordic Trails Lunch is by a fireplace made from 27-million-year-old volcanic rock at the luxurious, but rustic, Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort. Here they’ve taken eating local to a whole new level, even raising their own wagyu cattle. The 2,400-hectare ranch has won awards for its 80 kilometres of groomed Nordic ski trails. At a group lesson, their resident expert checks my kick and glide: “Work on shifting your weight from side to side more,” she suggests, before she effortlessly glides away to tutor the next person. To finish the day is a much-needed massage. At the spa, situated on the quiet corner of a meadow, I sink into a plush lounging sofa in front of a crackling fireplace and think, if, as Henry David Thoreau said, “in wildness is the preservation of the world,” Grand County is doing its part. |
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If you are thinking of using a fitness tracker for weight-loss reasons, know that weight loss is not simply a matter of “calories in equal calories out.” We are all different, with individual factors affecting our weight loss that can’t be monitored or measured, such as health history, genetics, intestinal microbiota, or food allergies and sensitivities. Trackers are merely tools to provide estimates. They can make fitness fun and interesting, but they can’t measure your overall health or your self-worth! |
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Disadvantages: • Wearable devices and phone apps with more options can be expensive. • Measurement of calories, heart rate and sleep patterns (and sometimes even step count) is inaccurate and inconsistent. • The 10,000-step recommendation is misleading and misinforming. Number of steps is no indication you are burning fat or getting fit. Exercise intensity, even at fewer steps, is a bigger factor in burning fat and improving fitness than counting steps. Unfortunately, cheaper basic trackers won’t measure how hard you are exercising. • A phone app can drain your phone battery. And they’re not suitable or convenient for every activity, particularly swimming. • It’s easy to become obsessed with or controlled by the device (constantly monitoring and checking it).
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Advantages: • Basic trackers monitoring only steps and calories are very affordable at less than $50. • A phone app works just as well as a wearable tracker. Many of these apps are free and can track steps, as well as calories, and even sleep patterns. • They are useful to determine a benchmark and then build on it by setting goals.
• Wearable devices with compatible apps allow you to connect with others who can see your progress. This support and accountability may help you stick to your program.
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Wearable devices like FitBit® aren’t necessary if you are motivated and enjoy being physically active. But, over the last 10 years, encouraging sedentary people to move has improved with the introduction of these devices. They provide a fun, easy way to increase activity levels. Using an activity tracker is an individual choice. They can be motivating, especially for the “techie” types or those who need to measure and track results. Many enjoy them for friendly competitions with family and friends. There is no one tracker best for everyone. It depends on your needs and goals. Some devices simply track steps, suitable for general health/fitness goals or for those needing inspiration to get off the couch! For weight-loss needs, some offer calorie tracking. And distance runners or cyclists may want GPS capability. If you think you need a fitness tracker, consider that an estimated one third to one half of users abandon the device after only a few months. The reasons vary: boredom; no health improvement; or difficulty syncing with current devices. It may help to know some pros and cons before purchasing.
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AN UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER by NANCY J. SCHAAF I made a friend that will live in my heart forever when I experienced the highlight of my cruise, a dolphin encounter. The programs at Blue Lagoon Island offered a unique way for me to interact with incredible bottlenose dolphins. I learned about the behaviour, communication and biology of these wonderful creatures from a resident dolphin trainer who guided the experience. And, I formed a connection that will last a lifetime. Whether visitors are participating in one of the exciting and educational interactive animal programs or enjoying the pristine beach, a visit to this beautiful, secluded island is worth the trip. Surrounded by turquoise blue water, the unspoiled beach areas are shaded with thousands of native coconut palm trees and lush natural vegetation. This extraordinary private tropical island presents visitors with a glimpse of an untouched paradise and an opportunity to see native Bahamian animal life. It also provides the marine mammals, including dolphins and sea lions, with an all-natural ocean habitat. The friendly and curious dolphins fascinate me and there are many facilities around the world to provide visitors with an unforgettable meeting with these amazing animals. Sessions can occur in the ocean with wild dolphins or in a more controlled aquarium or reserve environment. Reputable tour operators leave the human contact decisions up to the dolphins. These interactive encounters – with a focus on safety for both the human and the dolphin – are meant to foster respect for these creatures. After booking a Caribbean cruise, I viewed the pos16 14
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sible excursions for the port of Nassau, Bahamas, and spotted the Dolphin Encounter. The description of the shallow-water contact appealed to me, and I immediately reserved my spot. Nassau was the first port for the ship and we arrived on a perfectly sunny and hot Bahamian day. I disembarked the ship and met the tour guide who escorted the group to a large, high-speed, double-decker catamaran for a scenic ride in Nassau’s Historic Harbour. This was an enjoyable journey offering views of Nassau, Paradise Island and other sites, including the homes of singer Beyoncé and golfer Tiger Woods. After the catamaran was docked at the island, I proceeded to the area for the bottlenose dolphin encounter. I placed my shoes, coverup, towels and other belongings in the available lockers, entered the dolphin area and sat on the side of a pool area with my legs dangling in the water. Several dolphins were swimming around and, at times, brushed against my legs. Two viewing stations were available and after approximately 30 people surrounded the shallow pool, the trainer began the session. She shared some educational information about the bottlenose dolphin and mentioned that professional photographs and video would be available for purchase.
ABOVE | Nancy Schaaf receives a kiss and a hug from Sebastian at the Blue Island Dolphin Encounter.
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There were three groups of 10 in my section. When it was my group’s turn, I waded into the waist-deep water and stood upon a platform. This setup enabled the dolphin to swim right up next to the people. The first encounter involved a dolphin kiss. I knelt, and the dolphin named Sebastian swam up and planted a kiss on my cheek while the photographer took a photo. It has become a treasured memento. After each member of the group received a kiss, we stood, and the dolphin swam nearby each one of us who petted its back. On the second pass, we stroked the pink tummy, which felt soft. The trainer explained the reason for the silky texture: a dolphin totally sheds its skin cells often enough that the new skin feels silky. On the next pass, Sebastian opened his mouth (rostrum) and everyone touched the approximately 80 conically-shaped teeth. The trainer informed us that dolphins do not chew their food, but use the teeth to grasp prey prior to swallowing it whole. Everyone had the opportunity to hold a small fish up in the air for Sebastian to eat. After each interaction, Sebastian swam away and usually did a jump or flip and then returned for his well-deserved applause. Dolphins generally weigh 500 pounds, grow up to nine feet, and can swim up to 40 km/h. As Sebastian liked to “talk” to his audience, we heard his vocalizations, which consisted of clicks, whistles and buzzes. My favourite interaction involved encircling my arms around Sebastian to hug him and then grasping his pectoral fins (flippers) to dance. Sebastian seemed to enjoy that, as well. Kissing the dolphin on his rostrum was a humorous image as many of the group had strange expressions on their faces for this experience! Near the end of the encounter, Sebastian presented me with a special moment. On one of his returns, after flipping and diving, he swam up to me, opened his rostrum and showed a rock about the size of my fist. The trainer said, “He brought you a present.” I removed the rock and carried this special dolphin gift home as a keepsake. After the program, Sebastian swam around, lifted his tail into the air and waved goodbye to his new friends. The trainer reminded us several times
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that Sebastian was free to interact or not. The choice was the dolphins to make. If they’re hovering nearby, perhaps they are satisfying their own curiosity. I believe the amiable dolphins are enjoying the visits as much as the humans. The acrobatic movements performed by the dolphins utilize their natural abilities. Sometimes, Sebastian swam around outside the water reserve area, but always returned for more contact with humans. To interact with this magnificent creature and learn about the dolphins was thrilling. It was an unforgettable experience I will always treasure. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www. seniorlivingmag.com/articles/dolphinencounter
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Our 65th Anniversary serving the needs of physically disabled throughout B.C. Our Mission is to help fund & support organizations and individuals facing challenges, and improve quality of life and independence.
Help us to help others! Our Accomplishments include: •Technology for independent living •Noble House •Education programs •Support of Ronald McDonald House
Please support our programs! www.kinsmenfoundationofbc.ca Thank you for 65 years of support!! We have a variety of ways that you can help!! For more info, Email: kinsmenfoundationofbc@shaw.ca 18 16
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Nancy J. Schaaf taught English/Literature for 25 years and earned a RN license and worked as a school nurse and as a correctional nurse. She published two genealogy books on her family history and several articles have been published in various magazines. She enjoys writing, golf, travel, reading and skydiving.
REBOOT
world with our gifts. “It’s about love,” she concludes, “and trusting yourself to be who you really are.”
by VERENA FOXX MARLEE HOSHO ROSS is an ordained Zen chaplain, and says she is now “doing the work that I’m meant to do.” A graduate of comparative religions and philosophy from University of Toronto’s Trinity College, Marlee says she was always been interested in the study of language and stories, and that interest led her to an earlier career as a Speech Language Pathologist in Vancouver schools. “The thread of who we are runs through us; it’s already there and it shapes our character,” she says. “Now, I am a great lover of both language and silence.” Marlee acknowledges it takes great courage to grow older and embrace age as an “enlarging,” not “diminishing” experience. “It’s a time of great vitality,” she says, acknowledging the importance of managing and nurturing physical energy to open mental and emotional space to live alongside others and to serve the
MAURO AZZANO noticed, when he returned my call, that the last four digits of my phone number spell my surname. “Images stick with you,” says the perceptive author of four Ian McBriar murder mystery novels. He “writes” scenes in his head as he runs to and from work as a network analyst in Richmond. The first story came to him from a real-life event he witnessed when, as a late teen, he was delivering pizzas in Toronto. Forty years later, he finally had to tell it, and that’s when the first book emerged in print. “Only you can stop you,” says Mauro, who still teaches college part-time and runs half-marathons regularly. “If you’re breathing, you are capable of change.” Mauro also happens to be the trickster “Father Christmas” responsible for decorating the Lions Gate Bridge lions from 1994-2011 in memory of a close friend. Of pursuing your dreams, he says, “Never give up!” |
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH by GOODY NIOSI Simon and I topped the last of the four summits on PocaI was 69 when I met and fell in love with Simon, who was 20 terra Ridge in Kananaskis Country. Done, done and done! years my junior. I fought it – after all, 20 years is a big gap – but So much easier than the guidebook had implied: cross a Simon fell in love too, so we chose to jump off the metaphorical logjam, head up through trees to an alpine meadow, top cliff and take a big chance on creating an “us” out of two strongly four summits and then head down the other side. Well, we independent individuals. knocked that off in less than three hours, almost half the Six months later, we took an even bigger gamble, committime predicted. ting not only to each other but also to a summer of adventure. We Feeling proud of ourselves we looked ahead – and purchased a 35-foot motor home and set off from Vancouver Island straight up. There, in front of us, was a massive wall of to explore the Rocky Mountains, where Simon had lived for many scree and rock towering hundreds of metres above us. years. I’d been an avid hiker all my life; Simon was only begin“I wonder what that is?” I mused. ning to re-introduce himself to the high alpine. Simon stared at it intently. “Thank god we don’t have to go We started gently in Whistler, hiking to Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi there,” he said. Long pause. “I think I see people moving.” Lake and Rainbow Lake, often through melting early-summer “No way,” I said. “I think those are just rocks.” snow. After a brief pause in the Okanagan, where I decided to “No, they’re moving.” solo the High Ridge Trail and became a buffet lunch for hordes of Another long pause. “Ohhhh – yeah – they are.” mosquitoes, we tackled Jade Pass at the top of Mount Revelstoke. We stared a while longer and turned to each other. “Uh-oh.” We’d been warned by park rangers that the pass was still snow“I’m not going up there,” Simon said. covered and not entirely safe. “Well,” I suggested, “We could just go as far as we feel Oh pish-posh, I said. Up we went until we encountered exposed comfortable.” rocks covered in part by snow, making it difficult to navigate the It turned out that the fourth summit we were standing on was actually only the first summit – the other bumps along the way were just that – bumps. The true ridge was in front of us. And so, we hiked on, and not for the first time in our ABOVE | Hiker Goody Niosi has a passion for climbing – and testing her limits. three-month Rocky Mountain adventure, scrambled past Simon’s vertigo issues to go far beyond where both of us PAGE 22 | Goody and her husband, Simon, pause to take a photo during one had expected to go. of their many Rocky Mountain hikes. Photos: Simon Lindley 20 18
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steep slopes. But we did, with a certain amount of tricky manoeuvring and bum sliding. The reward at the top: views of the gem-like frozen lake and a mountain goat perched overhead. It was at our campground near Revelstoke that I encountered the second person who thought I was Simon’s mother. Simon had the perfect answer for those situations: “I’m the older one,” he said. “Goody is the young one. I can barely keep up with her.” Was it any wonder I loved this man? But his statement also made me think. It was true that most of my life I had hiked with friends who were 15 to 20 years younger. I am blessed to be fit, healthy and strong. Good genes? Perhaps. But I have always attributed my health to attitude. I love being outdoors, climbing higher and longer, pushing myself, chasing adventures, revelling in highmountain bliss and seeking out the joy of nature. I expect I’ll be doing this when I’m 90. After Revelstoke, we pushed on to Glacier National Park where we hiked Glacier View and Asulkan, another high-
ridge hike ending on glacial moraine – another hike where Simon pushed himself past his vertigo to the place where the ice-born winds blew, and the frozen icefield toe reached down toward us from its rocky bowl. In Yoho, we hiked Simon’s favourite: the Iceline. Hours of peaks, glaciers, tarns and views made our hearts soar. We challenged ourselves in Banff with Sentinel Pass, a long switchback that ended on a wind-swept ridge at the base of Temple Mountain. And then we drove
MAKE-OVER TO QUALIFY FOR CONSIDERATION Hair length needs to be near shoulder length or longer, you must attend styling appointments in Victoria 1-2 weeks prior to the show, and be absolutely willing to cooperate with our stylists and show staff. You will complete your makeover transformation at our upcoming 55+ Lifestyle Show in Victoria on March 13, 2018 where you will be presented on stage. Your photos and story will be featured in INSPIRED Senior Living. Email your photo and story BEFORE JAN 15, 2018 to publisher@seniorlivingmag.com
into Kananaskis, where we drank in the wonders of Burstall Pass, Buller Pass and Chester Lake. For me, there was one “must-do” for the entire trip: Mount Assiniboine from Sunshine Meadows. Thirty years previously, I had stood at the trailhead, looking down that lengthy path, longing to set foot on it. But on that occasion, it was not to be. I’d never forgotten that beautiful place and when I’d told Simon about it, he said without one moment’s hesitation: we’re going. And so, on a chilly morning that threat-
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ened rain, we parked at Sunshine, took the shuttle to the trailhead, strapped on our enormous backpacks, and headed straight uphill. It was difficult from the start. I’d insisted on carrying all the food. My pack, weighing in at about 34 pounds, exceeded onethird my body weight – the rule of thumb backpackers use for what they can comfortably carry. When Simon saw how much I was struggling, he offered to take some weight from me. But he was already carrying the tent. “No,” I said. “I can do this.” Two hours into our 23-kilometre trek to Og Lake, I was hurting. But I was also stubborn. I wasn’t just Simon’s wife now – I was his hiking partner and I was going to carry my weight (literally and figuratively), no matter what. Despite my aches and pains, I was aware that this was one of my dreams and it was coming true. Pain and bliss – completely intermingled – along with mist, rain and chilling winds. The sight of Lake Og as evening fell was one of the prettiest things I had ever seen. The next day, we arrived at Lake Magog at the foot of Mount Assiniboine and it was everything I dreamt it would be. We hiked all day around the lakes, falling asleep that night to the sound of a torrential downpour buffeting our tent. The next morning, we pulled up stakes, thinking to hike halfway back. But the campsite was full and, as it began to rain again, we made the rash decision to tramp back to the trailhead – 32 kilometres before the last shuttle left near six p.m. The long trek with full backpacks included a steep 600-metre ascent of Citadel Pass.
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We made it – with 45 minutes to spare. I may have been aching and sore, but I was also deliriously happy and secure in the knowledge that 30 years ago, I couldn’t have done it any better. On my seventieth birthday at the end of the summer, we made an epic trek to Gwillam Lakes high in the Valhallas. While Simon had spent the season pushing past height challenge, I’d also stretched my comfort zone, reaffirming, beyond doubt, that age truly is just a number. |
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Investors don’t usually think of insurance as part of their investment strategy, but they should. An individual’s insurance needs change over the years. In the past decade, insurance products have become increasingly innovative in the number of ways these needs can be accommodated. Specialized health care and illness insurance as well as wealth and estate planning insurance options enable investors to protect themselves during their lifetime. Additionally, insurance can offer legitimate ways to maximize retirement savings and minimize estate tax liability. Insurance becomes part of an investment strategy when it protects you against loss of health or income. It can also protect your ability to save and invest for the future. From an investor’s perspective, the type of insurance you buy can be determined by asking the 8:50 AM same basic questions you’d need to ask regarding any investment decision: Will it have real value when I need it? Do I understand what I’m buying? And what is my “return on investment”? Various kinds of health and care insurance are of growing investor importance. Disability and critical illness insurance can be of real value to investors building a savings or investment portfolio and who need some protection from premature withdrawal of funds as a result of a prolonged illness or disability. Insurance can be an important part of any investment strategy, especially if it means you’re able to sleep better at night. Investors need to be perfectly clear on how their insurance protects them, and the conditions and terms under which they can expect to make a successful claim. During the financial planning process, your focus on insurance products will prepare and protect you and your family for the future. |
Chris Mills can be reached at 604-659-8061 or chris.mills@ raymondjames.ca Chris Mills is a financial advisor with Raymond James Ltd. The views of the author do not necessarily reflect those of Raymond James. This article is for information only. Raymond James Ltd., member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
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Photos: Angela Junker
HOLIDAY HAIR by ANGELA JUNKER One of the best times of the year to dress up and let yourself indulge in a little extra glam is during Christmas. With reds and berries as the hot colour trends, and velvet as the “it” fabric this season, there are a variety of avenues to experiment with a little extra pizzazz when it comes to fashion. Not to be forgotten – and equally as important – is your hair. Oftentimes, a classy updo is the style of choice for Christmas parties and special events, but according to Sheena Riach of Raymond Salon, that is not the case this year. In fact, the classic updo is the furthest thing from fashion trends this holiday season. “There are two distinct and very popular styles women are asking for right now,” says Riach. “They either want a pixie cut with long bangs, for a clean and minimalist look, or they want the sexy beach waves.” Wait, what? Pixie cuts and beach waves? In the winter? Riach nods, “Pixie cuts, especially, are huge. Women are also embracing the gray. What’s really hot is the silver/gray/ mauve look; a bit of a mauve wash with the silver that looks soft, but is young and stylish.” Riach says many women over 50 are looking to stop colouring and find a cut to show off the silver and gray without aging themselves in the process. That’s why the pixie cut is so popular. “You won’t see women go gray with long hair. They’ll embrace the silver and gray but cut their hair in a stylish cut, like the pixie, because it’s sassy and sexy,” she explains. It’s the minimalist look they’re after, paired with neutral makeup. The focus is on one bright feature, which is either lips or eyelashes. False eyelashes are extraordinarily in demand along with those pixie cuts for a classy, modern, clean look. Then there are those who are going in the opposite direction with blonde beach waves for longer hairstyles. “Oh, we are absolutely working big hair. Extensions are really popular. This seems to be a big year for beach
waves and sexy à la Raquel Welch,” says Riach. She is careful to note that the blonde is not a Barbie-doll blonde that ends up inadvertently aging women, but the right shade to lighten and enhance their look. Short and sassy, long and wavy, women today are not looking at age the way their mothers did when it comes to styling their hair. “Everything is geared towards being sexy right now,” she says. “And why not? Women are embracing these years like never before. They are self-confident and not afraid to work it.” Whether it is the office Christmas party, or a night on the town with friends to celebrate the season, women are looking for more of a glow this year. In a sensual red velvet dress and flattering hairstyle, they’re sure to find it. |
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BREAKING LANGUAGE BARRIERS by SHERRY CONLY Former diplomat, author, business owner, polyglot, husband, father and grandfather Steve Kaufmann never stops learning and growing. Undeniably motivated, he studies language up to five hours a day, listening while attending to his daily chores and errands. He now speaks 16 languages as a result of this self-guided learning. Born in Sweden to Czechoslovakian parents, Steve grew up in the English-speaking area of Montreal and never learned French despite spending his formative years on the edge of English and French Canada. Steve pursued his post-secondary education at L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris, France, which cracked his world wide open. After completing university, he lived in Hong Kong from 1968-1969, learning Mandarin while building a career as a Canadian Trade Commissioner. After China, Steve lived in Japan from 1971-1974 while working with a major Canadian lumber export company, the basis for his own lumber company K.P Wood. Of course, he became fluent in Japanese during that time. Steve and his wife have two sons, both successful professionals today. In fact, younger son Mark works alongside Steve as an indispensable asset to his companies. A number of years ago, Steve was working on his Cantonese by listening to a local Cantonese radio station at his home in Vancouver. A story came on about a recent 28 26
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immigrant from China who had his life savings stolen at the airport upon his arrival in Canada. The young man was a graduate of a top technical institute in China, so Steve thought he might be able to offer him a job and help him get on his feet. It turns out there was quite a language barrier between the new employee and the rest of the staff, so Steve had the software engineers create a basic translation program. This led to a lightbulb moment, and the development of much more complicated software – forging a path to the online language training business he and Mark run today. Since then, linguistics has become a large part of Steve’s life, especially in the last 10 years. He has written two books on the subject, the first titled The Linguist: A Personal Guide to Language Learning and the second, The Way of the Linguist: A Language Learning Odyssey. He’s currently drafting a third book, All the Way to Fluency, which will serve as a guide for others learning additional languages using his process of listening and breaking the language down into small, manageable chunks.
ABOVE | Despite a busy travel schedule, linguist Steve Kaufmann (photographed in Crete, Greece) remains physically active every day. Photo: Mark Zhang
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An expert on linguistics – through his online presence as well as talks and presentations worldwide – Steve is breaking down language barriers and helping thousands of people succeed on their journey to learn. Today, there are more than 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. “We spend our lives learning, and there’s no reason it needs to stop when you’re a certain age, whether that’s 50 or 95, or 105,” he says. “However, there has to be a spark somewhere. Even if it’s a small spark, once it gets going, that interest will grow, and if you’re prepared to put the time in, it’s amazing what you can learn.” Steve’s philosophy about learning language revolves around making learning enjoyable. Bypassing drills, grammar rules and tedious studying, this method of learning is based on combining individual interests and passions with learning vocabulary, both actively and passively. For instance, if you like to cook, you might start by reading recipe blogs or watching vlogs in your chosen language. You can also learn anywhere, anytime; Steve likes to cross-country ski while listening to audio books. Above all, he asserts that the learning process is more natural when you are interested in the subject matter; reading, hearing and seeing the language in action helps it to stick, making success much more likely. “So much focus is put on grammar rules that it becomes deeply confusing for many students, who may think they just cannot learn another language,” says Steve. “As a result, students leave high school unable to speak French, despite being in French classes for years.” This also applies to immigrants, who may not have learned English or French despite having lived in Canada for decades. They get confused early on, decide they cannot learn another language, and they spend their lives being unable to fully assimilate. Anyone, any age, from any background can learn a new language. Being too old, or not being able to learn is just not the case, according to Steve, who has learned some of the world’s most complex languages. He’s working hard to master Hebrew, a notoriously difficult dialect, and
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though it’s a huge challenge, he knows he can do it based on past success. Many of his students feel the same, and report that once they start learning, doors open. “It’s like anything,” says Steve. “Once you discover you can do it, you discover how much fun it is. You begin to realize how wonderful it is to be able to access these cultures and history through language learning.” Not simply one to learn language, Steve wants to immerse himself in all facets of it and has a thoroughly stamped passport as a regular keynote speaker at
polyglot conferences around the world. He travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia as a guest speaker, and he and his wife stayed in Ukraine for three weeks taking in the culture. This fall, they visited Israel and Greece together, taking the time to really see the countries and experience the lifestyle. This was after travelling to South America in March 2017, and Vietnam, Myanmar and Korea in spring 2016. “If you expose the brain to experience, it will start picking things up. It’s constantly processing this experience,
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and we’re continually creating new neurons to respond to new experiences,” he says. “We’re constantly learning, whether we like it or not.” All the more reason to try something new. It doesn’t need to be language – it can be a new sport, a craft, any kind of hobby you like. As well as juggling businesses and a packed travel schedule, Steve is very active, playing ice hockey, golf, hiking, and he tries to do something physical every day. He even tried Cross-Fit, but admits it was a bit intense for his liking. But he tried it, and he’s fine with that, accepting that not everything is going to be a fit. “We all want to learn new things and explore new things. It’s the learning process in itself that is the reward,” he says. “If we have a task that is a little bit difficult and we manage to achieve whatever it may be, there’s a great sense of satisfaction. That’s what keeps you going forward. Time and effort will lead to success, which leads to greater motivation.” | To learn more, visit Steve Kaufmann’s blog at www.thelinguist.com
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Legacy Gifts Help Keep the Vancouver Symphony Playing!
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Your gift in a Will can provide comfort and support to those facing terminal illness and the loved ones they leave behind.
When you include a legacy gift to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, you become a member of the Stradivarius Legacy Circle, and help to keep glorious, symphonic music playing for generations to come. Call Mary Butterfield, Director, Individual & Legacy Giving for more information about Legacy gifts and benefits to you, or to join the Stradivarius Legacy Circle if you have already included the VSO in your estate plans.
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Activities At RetiRement concepts emphAsize choice Ask most individuals what the definition of a fulfilling life is and they are likely to respond with one that is filled with activity. Findings from studies in recent years have shown that happier people lead active lives, and it doesn’t matter how involved or inconsequential those activities might be.
For those residents looking to enjoy scenery outside of a Retirement Concepts community, they can take part in field trips organized on a weekly basis. The field trips are sometimes simple bus trips in the country and other times include shopping or dining in the city.
At Retirement Concepts, recreational activities are organized with fulfillment in mind. Every community, features a diverse range of activities that are tailored to the needs and preferences of the residents.
The list of other options is long and ranges from discussion groups and trivia game nights to religious services and special occasion celebrations. The emphasis on these trips and all activities planning is always about choice.
Dancing is a common activity incorporated into Retirement Concepts community, schedules. Besides being an obvious social opportunity, dancing is a fun, physical activity that has even been known to improve brain function on a variety of levels.
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2017-08-14 2:12 PM
AMONG NATURE’S MAJESTY by MARILYN JONES Walking through a Milkwood forest with my guide Tiaan van Dyk is more Hansel and Gretel than I imagined South Africa to be. The branches bend and twist like the fingers of an evil old witch. Suddenly Tiaan puts up his hand to tell me to stop. Just ahead are a bushbuck antelope and her tiny offspring. Time stands still. In this moment of being so close, I am totally captivated. This is the magic of South Africa – its animals, its landscape, its people. I have three wonderful wildlife experiences while in this magical land: a nature reserve, an ocean cruise and a safari. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Two hours south of Cape Town, almost to Africa’s southern tip, are the seaside town of Gansbaai and Grootbos 32 30
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
Private Nature Reserve, where I see the bushbuck and her calf. What started as a bed and breakfast built on the fynbos slopes overlooking Walker Bay has turned into an eco-lodge for travellers from around the world. Set in 2,500 hectares of botanical and wildlife treasures, Grootbos offers several ways to explore its nature reserve, including nature walks, scenic drives and horseback riding. In this pristine fynbos kingdom and ancient forests, there are 791 plant species, 118 bird species, 29 mammals and 21 amphibians – some of which are under threat of extinction. Guests stay in freestanding suites or a private villa. My suite is located in the enchanting Milkwood forest and has a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Grootbos arranged a whale watching cruise with nearby Dyer Island Cruises. This day is the first time I hear the term “Marine Big 5,” which includes whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins. The waterfront is abuzz with passengers talking about their hope of seeing all five. We set off mid-morning. The crew is everywhere with binoculars scanning the horizon. Passengers choose to be on the main deck or the upper deck. I decide on the upper vantage point. Once we get out into open waters the crew starts pointing out whales in the distance. They are hard to photograph, but we all see them. A few come to the boat, as does a lone African penguin. Then the ship pulls up close to an area with thousands of fur seals; a prime feeding area for them. The water looks like it is boiling with the seals diving in to catch fish. On the rocks, they sun themselves and sleep. The beauty of the scene is mesmerizing. On the way back, we see a shark cage ship, where passengers put on wetsuits and get into the cage suspended on the side of the boat. We watch as the sharks circle the cage. The area is known as shark alley and great whites are often seen here. Our tally for the day? Four of the Marine Big 5 and, lucky for me, on a pleasure cruise later on in my visit, I see dolphins as well.
ABOVE | Elephants walk along a pond where they stop to drink and eat. PAGE 32 | For brave visitors, shark cage cruises allow them to get up close for a heart-pounding experience. Photos: Marilyn Jones
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Royal Malewane Royal Malewane is a short drive from Hoedspruit Airport and a world away from everyday life – unless you live in the South African bush. Voted one of the top 50 resorts in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers in 2016, the lodge is a perfect base for game drives. It is one of eight lodges located in Thornybush Private Game Reserve near Kruger National Park. The reserve is open to another reserve that is open to the national park. This allows access to a much larger area for animals to roam including the Big 5 (elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and leopards) and impalas, wild dogs, dwarf mongoose, several species of antelope and exotic birds. My guide Noelle van Muiden and her tracker, Lawrence, travel all over more than 15,000 hectares in search of animals. “There are more than 60 types of mammals, more than 300 different birds and approximately 150 different species of trees and shrubs,” says Noelle as we bounce along in search of our next sighting. Game drives take place early morning and late afternoon when the animals are most active, and the light is perfect for photographing them. Understanding animal movement and communicating with other guides as well as Lawrence’s incredible sight and listening abilities, the pair usually has a plan when we climb up into the truck and set out on an adventure. One morning, Noelle is driving down a road when Lawrence says simply, “Owl.” She backs up, gets out her binocu-
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lars and can’t see it. Then she gets out of the truck and invites her four passengers to get out and look. None of us see it until it moves and eventually flies away. How he saw it while we are moving still boggles my mind. On another occasion he says, “I hear elephants drinking.” Noelle drives slowly off-road through thickets and brush until we come to a pond where a dozen elephants are drinking water. We sit in the truck along the water’s edge watching and photographing the amazing scene. One elephant comes quite close to me and looks me in the eyes before moving on. Others begin to eat from trees lining the pond. Lawrence often spots lion tracks and can recognize when they were made. We see several lions on our game drives. One day, we come across a mother rhino and her baby resting in the road. We wait until they move off, photographing the youngster yawning before following his mother into the underbrush. We come upon zebras and giraffes; gazelles and nyala antelope; baboons, Cape buffalo, monkeys and wart hogs. It is at dusk and the sun is setting when we see two leopards
eating their freshly killed prey. We watch and wait until one comes out into the open a little. “How do you put a feeling to the experience?” asks Director and Head Ranger Juan Pinto one day just after lunch. Indeed; there are no words to describe A Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options the feeling of being in the presence To Move or This 128 page book provides helpful, easy to read information and of these majestic animals in the wild, Not to Move? suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions whether it’s a bushbuck, mighty whale or they need to make. Whether you decide to stay in your home or move, magnificent leopard. this book will help you navigate to where you want to be. South Africa beckons you to come, NAME___________________________________________________________ O N L.9Y5 enjoy, learn and remember. |
To Move or Not to Move? For some, the right decision might be to stay right where downsize your possessions you are, but and look at acquiring support services to fill whatever need arises — such as help with shopping, meals, household chores, preparing personal care, or getting around. Others may determine the responsibility of looking after their current residence is too great and they would like to move to a place where they still have a high degree of independenc e but access to staff to take care of the things that are proving to be a bit of a headache. There are also those whose health and safety is enough of a concern to them that they want to live in a place with all the supports and services necessary to give them the peace of mind they are currently lacking.
How to manage any of these scenarios, is what this book offers. It will give you insight into each option, the pros and cons to expect, and how to navigate the process of going from where you are now, to where you want to be.
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To Move or Not to Move?
Are you a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving? Perhaps the maintenanc e of your current home is more difficult due to diminishing ability or energy. Or you may want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibili ty. In either case, this book will help you ask the important questions and find the solution that is right for you.
British Columbia edition
INSP IRED senior living magazine
Send cheques to: Senior Living, 3354 Tennyson Ave., Victoria BC V8Z 3P6 Or call 1-877-479-4705 (ext 100) to order with credit card.
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For IF YOU GO information and more spectacular wildlife photos, visit www. seniorlivingmag.com/articles/south-africa-wildlife
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The Value of Peer Support By Wendy Johnstone family caregivers participate in peer support, there is an overall improvement in health, and decreased feelings of isolation and depression. Peer support provides caregivers dedicated time and space to be with other caregivers dealing with similar issues, a place to receive and give support and a safe place to vent. Support groups allow caregivers to focus on their needs, not just the needs of the care recipient. It aligns with the philosophy when the oxygen mask drops in an airplane cabin. We always put on our own mask first before helping the person who needs us.
“New to the caregiver support group, I was so nervous and skeptical about attending. My doctor suggested I give it a try. They were all strangers to me; I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open up about my wife’s disease. As I walked to my car after the meeting, I felt a big weight lifted from my shoulders. The difference: even though my role as a caregiver was unchanged, I knew I wasn’t alone anymore. I came as a stranger, but I left feeling like I was part of a family.”
A
family caregiver is a family member or friend who gives unpaid care to an adult either at home or in a facility, who has a physical or mental health condition, chronic illness or frailty due to aging. Twenty-eight per cent of British Columbians are caregivers; the majority are woman and almost 90 per cent of caregivers provide support and care for over a year. There are many different perspectives about what is most important to people providing care, ranging from training, support, education, counselling and so forth. Often, the value of peer support is overlooked. Caregivers seek peer support at different stages in their caregiving role. Often linked with positive longterm health and wellness, research shows that when
Caregivers who attend support groups will tell you it isn’t all “airy fairy” talk about feelings. Support groups are invaluable places to hear specific tips on navigating the system and how adjusting one’s approach can be a game changer. Participants often say they truly listen to another’s perspective or ideas because “they get it.” Peer support emphasizes preventing caregiver burnout and the idea that family caregivers can directly impact the well being of the person they are caring for. It’s common for family caregivers and their care recipients to have differing perspectives; having a group of people who understand what you are going through is priceless. Start by calling the Family Caregivers of BC’s toll-free (in BC) Caregiver Support line at 1-877-520-3267. | Wendy Johnstone is a Gerontologist and a consultant with Family Caregivers of British Columbia in Victoria, BC.
Are you still struggling? Visit our website for more information for caregiver resources, webinars, articles, one-on-one support and more! Visit us at familycaregiversbc.ca. We’re here to help.
Caregiver Support Line 1 877 520 3267 36 34
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Office 250 384 0408 Hours: 8:30am-4:00pm www.familycaregiversbc.ca WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
Marketplace COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@telus.net Victoria FOOTCARE: Happy, Healthy Feet make a Happy, Healthy Person. The more the merrier. Call FootNurse Marcia R.N.,B. Sc.N. 250-686-3081. DOWNSIZING?
OVERWHELMED?
Dream Downsizing can take the stress out of a move. Sorting, packing, unpacking, advising, and more. Free estimate call Cathy 250-634-3207. Or visit us online at DreamDownsizing.com BBB Need homecare for your loved one? Choose a company with HEART! CAREGiversSM with HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE are thoroughly trained in dementia care, bonded and insured to provide customized homecare for your family’s needs. Book a complimentary care consultation: 250-382-6565 or visit www.HomeInstead.com/victoriabc
SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or email sexeducator@telus.net CHANGING PLACES Downsizing and relocation specialists SINCE 1991. Moving? Aging in place? Need help? Don’t know where to start? Let us take care of all the details from start to finish. Call Jane 250-721-4490 Victoria and the Island for a free estimate www.changingplaces.ca
THINKING OF DOWNSIZING YOUR CURRENT HOME? OVERWHELMED?
We can help! Sell your home with us and we will assist with professional downsizing & move management services. Norm de Wit ReMax Camosun - Oak Bay C. 250.858.8560 O. 250.370.7788
Single Seniors Meet & Greet • Victoria Wednesdays • 9:30-11am Location varies. Join our weekly newsletter to get current info. Our weekly gathering has 20 -30 people. Come see if it’s a fit for you!
CORNERSTONE SENIORS ADVOCACY
Assisting Seniors through life’s changes. Specializing in Transitional Moves, Downsizing, Estate Clear Out & Sale of Assets. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 250.858.8560 www.cornerstoneadvocacy.com
ALWAYS GREAT FEET. Nanaimo’s professional mobile foot care nurses. Debbie Mason LPN and John Patterson LPN. Home, facility, and hospital visits. Experienced, qualified nursing foot care for toenails, corns, calluses and ingrown nails. Direct billing for DVA clients. Call 250-390-9266. WANTED: Old stereo/audio equipment. Any condition. Amplifiers, turntables, speakers, receivers etc. Honest/friendly. Victoria and V.I. Call Bob, 250-896-2268, northtowns26@gmail.com WANTED Scandinavian Mid Century Furniture from the 50’s & 60’s. Teak, rosewood, leather, and chrome pieces any condition. 250-380-7022. Send an email to lacknerwayne@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS Dec 10 - Pender Isl. Christmas Concert Dec 11 - Tsawwassen Mills Shopping Dec 13 - Christmas at The Kensington We request participants to get to know each other by attending our group meetings prior to signing up for a trip.
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DEBI’S MOBILE HAIR SERVICES
in the comfort of your home for everyone in your family. Serving the Victoria area. Please call Debi at 250-477-7505.
GENTLE LOVING TOUCH by a certified bodyworker to rekindle trust, passion, and sensuality. For all genders. First session half price. call Ed at 250-667-8624 or thetouchingcure@gmail.com WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, old photographs, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca
10% Senior Discount! Specializing in seniors moves in Victoria BC since 1975.
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 1 Year (12 issues) for $33.60 (GST & S&H incl.)
Full packing services available. Ask about Free Storage options. Free Estimates.
Call to Book: (250) 475-0022
www.BarrysMoving.com
OR
2 Years (24 issues) for $44.10 (GST & S&H incl.)
CDN residents only • INTL call 250-479-4705 Name
Address
Basic: $45 for 20 words + 5% GST $1.75/extra word. Red color 10% Ads must be paid at time of booking Phone: 250-479-4705 ext 100 office@seniorlivingmag.com
Marketplace ADVERTISING WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
City Prov
Postal Code
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Send cheque to: Senior Living 3354 Tennyson Ave., Victoria, BC V8Z 3P6 Questions? Call 250-479-4705 ext 100 OCTOBER 2009 39
DECEMBER 2017
37 35
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP “Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness.” –Richard Bach During this Christmas season, keep this thought in mind: material gifts are immaterial. Often the best presents we can give to each other are a willing ear, an open heart and shared laughter. The gift of friendship, in other words. The gift of sharing friendship is simply being a friend when a friend is needed; guaranteed to make our lives better and make us feel more fulfilled. During this final month of the year, when most people are rushing about malls trying to find the perfect gift for Aunt Millie, Uncle Wilfred and 14 nieces and nephews, be an island of tranquility for all your harried friends. It can be as simple as sharing a cup of ginger tea and a cookie on a grey, rainy morning. Know that when two or more gather in friendship, there is no darkness. When you venture out on your own holiday errands, offer a kind word or a smile to each person with whom you interact: the cashier who, hours into her shift, is still smiling despite aching feet; or the homeless person who needs a warm word, as well as a warm scarf to get him through another day. Make this season about more than expensive wares and glitzy wrapping, make it about connecting with others. If you
Courageous
&
ever believed in the magic of Santa Claus, share that magic again by sharby PAT NICHOL ing kind words and a smile. Santa Claus represents the giving heart we are all capable of having throughout the year. If gift-giving brings you joy, in addition to trinkets this year, share the gift of your time and friendship. Even though it may mean something different for each of us, at this time of year, friendship simply means being together. And when being together physically is not possible, be together in your hearts. My small family is scattered around the world this year, from the remote community of Ymir, BC to the distant and exotic Ubud in Bali. So, our Christmas will be together in spirit and love – if not in person. I wish you all love, peace and friendship this season. |
Outrageous
Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Connect with her at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit Pat’s website at patnichol.ca
WIldlIfe legaCIes If you are interested in making a living Will or leaving a legacy in your Will to North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, please email us at wildlife@niwra.org for a brochure & video.
We provide care to critically sick, injured and orphaned wildlife such as eagles, owls, song birds and black bears. Help care for these animals by partnering with us through your legacy gift or donation.
THEY DEPEND ON US, AND WE DEPEND ON YOU...
THaNK YOU fOR YOUR sUPPORT!
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre 250-248-8543 Box 364, 1240 Leffler Road Errington, BC
38 36
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
Please visit our website under “How to Help” at
www.niwra.org WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
BN119060549RR0001
Senior Living... The Berwick Way™ At Berwick Retirement Communities, you will enjoy an unparalleled standard of living at a superior value. Creating a wonderful environment where residents enjoy exceptional services from friendly staff is The Berwick Way. Find out more about The Berwick Way™ – Ask one of our Senior Living Experts Today!
www.BerwickRetirement.com V I C TO R I A | N A N A I M O | C O M OX | K A M LO O P S | C A M P B E L L R I V E R Proud to be BC owned and operated JOB BRC-17779 CLIENT: BERWICK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY PUBLICATION: SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE INSERTION DATE: TBD TRIM: 7.25X4.75 PREPARED BY: ECLIPSE CREATIVE INC. @ 250-382-1103
With your gift, kids like Cohen can reach their full potential.
It’s simple and profound to see a smile on an elderly face that moments before was looking sad. Every day the Eldercare Foundation, with your help, brings smiles with small things like music therapy and art programs and big things like specialty equipment to restore mobility and independence. Please donate today and ensure our elderly are treated with the respect they deserve.
Please
give generously.
Without you the smiles fade quickly.
Leave a legacy in your will today to champion the health of every Island family for years to come.
250-370-5664 gvef.org 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC V8T 2B7
Contact Jessica Bell at 250-519-6721 or visit islandkidsfirst.ca to start a conversation.
WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
ECF • Bring Smiles Back
DECEMBER 2017
39
I didn’t expect to bring Bella with me.
At Amica you can always feel at home. Expect premium amenities and personalized service with a range of care options. You can even bring your pet.
Independent Living
•
Supportive Living
•
Assisted Living
•
Memory Care (New)
Expect More.
TM
Discover which of our seven communities is right for you. Book a visit online at amica.ca
Mature Lifestyles All BC insertion: july & aug 1 Living community: WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM 40 9338AMI_ALL_BC_Inspired_Snr_Bella_7.25X9.75_FA.indd INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING pub: INSPIRED Senior
riddochcommunications #545 67 mowat ave • toronto • 416.515.7562
2017-06-19 11:19 AM