INSPIRED 55+ lifestyle magazine
NOVEMBER 2018
AUTHOR LOUISE PENNY VOLUNTEERS & DONORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE EMBARKING ON ADVENTURE IN AUSTRALIA’S OUTBACK WHAT TIPS THE BALANCE ON THE HEALTH SCALE: EXERCISE OR NUTRITION?
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Bestselling Author Louise Penny by Kate Robertson Fun on Fundy by Jane Cassie Caring for Those that Care for Others by Toni O’Keeffe For the Love of Art by Pat Preston Personal Experience Leads to Board Presidency by Toni O’Keeffe Feeding the Children by Charlotte Sheldrake A Moving Ceremony at the Memorial Chamber by Hans Tammemagi Be Open to “Reaching Out” by James Ellsworth Are You Retired Yet? by Marcel Strigberger Getting Your Affairs in Order by Janet McMaster
FOREVER FIT 32 TRAVEL 34 REBOOT 40 FAMILY CAREGIVER 42 MARKETPLACE 43 COURAGEOUS & OUTRAGEOUS
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55+ lifestyle magazine
Cover AUTHOR LOUISE PENNY Though she writes about crime, Louise’s underlying message is that goodness exists. Her latest novel, Kingdom of the Blind, will be released later this month. Photo by Jean-François Bérubé 4 2
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Publisher Barbara Risto Managing Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Office Assistant Shannon Nichols 250-479-4705 office@seniorlivingmag.com Advertising Sales Kathie Wagner 250-479-4705 x 103 Head Office 3354 Tennyson Ave., Victoria, BC V8Z 3P6 | 250-479-4705 Subscriptions (12 issues): $33.60 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 Magazine 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 Magazine is distributed free throughout British Columbia by Stratis Publishing Ltd. 12 issues per year. ISSN 2370-3881 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)
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Bestselling author Louise Penny with her dog Trudy. Photos: Jean-François Bérubé
LOUISE PENNY: FROM THE GREAT SILENCE TO FAME by KATE RORERTSON Louise Penny makes writing bestselling books look easy. After all, since she published her first mystery novel, Still Life, 13 years ago, she’s banged out an amazing book a year in her Armand Gamache series. Her fourteenth, Kingdom of the Blind, will be released this month. Louise’s novels aren’t going unnoticed in the literary world either, winning international recognition and awards. Number 13, Glass Houses, hit No. 1 on the New York Times and Globe and Mail lists, won the Agatha Award for best novel, the Left Coast Crime award, and was the Library Reads choice for August of 2017, just to name a few. One of those enviable folks who knew from a young age what they wanted to be when they grew up, Louise knew she wanted to be a writer when she first read Charlotte’s Web as a child. Before that, she had been afraid of spiders, and after reading E.B. White’s beloved novel, recognized the power of words to help and heal. 6 4
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It was only after a career as a journalist and a broadcaster with CBC that everything aligned for Louise to sit down and start fulfilling her dream of writing a novel. She’d married Michael Whitehead, the love of her life, moved to the Eastern Townships (which became the setting for her books), and met a great group of women who encouraged her to risk failure. After a false start at attempting to write a historically-based novel, Louise switched to mystery and her first novel, Still Life, was born. Even then though, things didn’t go smoothly, and like many great writers, she was turned down by publisher after publisher. “I got to the stage where there was nobody else,” she says. “I had been turned down by everyone. And I didn’t get rejection letters, I got silence. Nobody even bothered to write back to say ‘no’… that’s not true, there was one letter that said ‘no’ – it was actually scrawled across my own letter. So, I had run out of options.” Louise continues, “I had entered a contest that I hadn’t forgotten that I’d entered, but I thought the deadline had long passed, and obviously more silence. I didn’t know where else to turn. It was
heartbreaking when this Great Silence happened.” At that point, Louise had given up and given in to self-doubt. “I remember looking at the manuscript and thinking I’m going to put it in a shoebox and stick it under the bed to let my heirs worry about it because there’s nothing else I can do.” As serendipity would have it, however, that same week Louise got an email from the contest organizers for the Crime Writers’ Association in the UK, the contest for the best unpublished crime novel that she had entered. The deadline hadn’t passed, and she had been short-listed out of 800 entries world-wide. This was Louise’s big break: “I didn’t win, I ended up coming in second, but it was enough to bring me to the attention of a literary agent, and then this book, that nobody wanted, was suddenly sold around the world. That was Still Life, essentially unchanged, and it went on to win all sorts of awards. It was an eye-opener – you hear about things like that, like the famous case of A Confederacy of Dunces, and other cases where novels have been turned down and then end up finding a publisher and being a success.” Louise freely divulges that her protagonist, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is based on her husband (who passed away in 2016), a good and moral character. “Initially, the main character was going to be Clara,” Louise says, “and then Gamache appeared so fully formed that when I realized the series was going to have a future, I figured he was probably better positioned to carry the role than Clara. I was afraid with Clara that people would grow a little weary of her. I felt that a cop in a crime series would be a more natural fit. Why I didn’t choose a female cop, I honestly can’t explain. Although, because he was inspired by my husband, I may have chosen Gamache, so I could always feel close to my husband.” When Louise’s husband died, continuing to write about Gamache felt heart-warming, and she confides she’s a bit surprised it hasn’t evolved into a more difficult experience because of the loss. “Actually,” she shares, “grasping onto Gamache because of the loss of Michael has lessened, and it’s become much more natural and normal. It’s a very comforting feeling. Gamache isn’t Michael, and Michael wasn’t Gamache, but there are qualities that they share which is very calming and comforting to be in that company. While writing about situations, I know exactly what Michael would have done in that same situation and, strangely, or perhaps not, it’s pretty similar, except for the gun play, to what Gamache would do.” Upon a second’s contemplation, Louise concludes that even the gunplay would have been similar. “Gamache hates guns, he puts the gun down. Michael was a healer as well. What Michael had – that Gamache also does, among many other things – was integrity. He also didn’t take things personally. I can take things personally – I can be very sensitive. It’s not that Michael was insensitive to others, but someone could say something incredibly rude to him and it would roll right off him. He wasn’t insensitive to the fact that he’d just been insulted, but he didn’t take it at all personally. He had such a good, clear sense of who he was, and I just admire that so much.” “And, honestly, I don’t find it difficult writing from the male
perspective,” Louise continues. “I think it’s because Gamache is a humanist and most of the people in the series are humanists – not necessarily Jews, Christians or Muslims. They are humanists. They believe in and love their fellow man, and I think that’s what makes it fairly easy to write, because as humans we share – whether we’re man, woman, Black, Asian or Caucasian – at our core the desire for the same thing. We want to belong, we want to love, we want to be loved.” Although Louise humbly admits that she’s not sure if men would say she’s nailing the male perspective, she has done onstage presentations with male police officers who have read her novels. “Never once did they say ‘no, that’s not the way it is.’ In fact, it’s kind of the opposite where they’ve talked about the way I’ve described Gamache’s emotions, or Jean Guy’s emotions, when dreadful things happen and colleagues are put in danger, and these cops have told me that’s what it’s like to hear that one of their own has been put in danger.” What Louise does find surprising, especially with the early books in the series, is that women have said that men like Gamache cannot exist. “I find that clearly more of a statement about their own experiences, than about Gamache. Because I know they exist, I was married to one. And when I look around, most of the men in my life, while not necessarily as remarkable as Gamache, have integrity and they are decent human beings who are struggling. What I don’t have in my life is all the characters – the brutal characters – that you often read about in crime fiction. That seems like more of a fiction than what I’m writing about.” Despite the loss of her husband, Louise has no plans to move from their house in the village of Knowlton, Québec, the inspiration for the Three Pines fictional setting for her series (many of Louise’s fans actually travel to Knowlton to see the setting firsthand). She also assures that even if she made a move, it wouldn’t necessarily change the setting of the series. “I travel a lot now. Initially for the first few books, I felt I had to be at home in order to write the books. Now I don’t because Three Pines has become part of my DNA. I know what the cold feels like, and the rain. I know the spring. I come back here not necessarily because it’s my literary roots; I come back because I INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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Snapshot with Louise Penny
If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give to her? “The advice I would give her is ‘be young, enjoy life.’ I’ve felt so old all my life and now, at the age of 60, I look back at my 20-yearold self and just wish I’d had more fun, been more lighthearted, worn silly clothes, taken some chances. I’ve been so bound for most of my life. It’s only in the last number of years that I’ve been free of the bounds of what others think of me. I wish I could go back and tell myself just don’t worry about what others think; just be yourself.” Who or what has influenced you the most, and why? “I would have to say being an alcoholic and then being in recovery. Finding a 12-step program. That obviously changed my life. I went one day – I wanted to die, and later that same day, I wanted to live after that first meeting. I didn’t know how to live, I didn’t know how it was going to happen necessarily, but I had hope. You know when you stand on that abyss in despair, on the verge of killing yourself, and then you find hope, I mean that is a life-changing experience. I’ve never forgotten that. The gratitude and awareness that comes with that.” What are you most grateful for? “Clearly, my sobriety I’m most grateful for; but wrapped up in that is loving. Being able to love. And not necessarily being loved. I’ve been loved. I’m very fortunate I’ve been loved a lot in my life. It took me a long time to recognize that, but I have. But really, it was learning in my 30s to love and that I could love. That was a gift.” What does success mean to you? “Freedom. I have freedom of choice now; I can choose things that when I was struggling – and I certainly went through not just emotional struggles, but financial struggles – I could not. I had no choice – I was indentured to a job; I was indentured to not very nice people I had to be around and smile and tug my forelock. Also, contentment. In the end, it’s not really how many people read the book or how much money you make, it’s how content you are. I think some people feel that happiness equates with a certain amount of ignorance. I don’t. The happiest people I know are people who have been through hell and come out the other side.” | 8
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love it, this is home, this is where I want to be buried.” Some mystery writers grow tired of their characters and switch to a new series like Agatha Christie did with her Poirot and Miss Marple novels, but Louise assures that she can’t imagine changing her protagonist or moving away from crime novels. “My novels are really clearly and proudly crime novels, but they are not really about the crime,” she says. “They really allow one to explore all sorts of issues and themes about being human that I find interesting. I don’t feel I need to find something else. I don’t feel at all limited by the characters, or by the fact that it’s crime fiction. And I also don’t have any other ideas – that’s the limiting factor,” she jokes, “but really, no, I will happily spend the rest of my life with Gamache, and then die before he does, which is really good – I’m guaranteed that.” It’s apparent that Louise loves doing what she’s doing. At 60, she’s nowhere near considering retirement. When pressed on how she might know down the road when she’s written her last book, Louise doesn’t have the answer. “You know, so often it’s the person who really should be stepping back that is the last person to know. I’m hoping I’ll be like Sue Grafton or Agatha Christie and die with a pen in my hand. You know… or drop face first onto my laptop. I mean, some days it’s hard – many days it’s hard – where I just think I can’t do this anymore. I’m exhausted, it’s too hard, I can’t, it’s not fun anymore. And, in fact, it isn’t fun for that day or that week, because it’s just really hard work, but it becomes fun again. And it’s also what I do.” “Every now and then, when I do consider it, just because I’m in that mood, I think honestly, what else am I going to do? I’m 60 years of age, and I have 25 more good years ahead of me. What am I going to do? Stare at the television? Which I can do for quite a while! But a year of that and it’s time to do something else.” Although, at first, Louise had a contract that stipulated a book a year, she’s continued the habit. Even after her husband died, she thought she would take a year off. “I did take a number of months off,” Louise shares, “but then, not telling anyone, I just quietly started writing again. I just woke up one morning and sat down – I had an idea anyway. I didn’t tell anyone for six months.” Over the years, writing has become easier for Louise, but her later work has become more complex than the original novels. “So, what has happened is that there is still performance fear there, not as much for sure, as there was in the beginning, so it’s a much more of a pleasant experience. I’m not one of those people who is at their most creative when they’re terrified. I really need to be in a place of calm and confidence because this is hard enough. I used to be afraid that I couldn’t write a book because I didn’t know how to – even after I’d written a couple, it still seemed like magic. Now I know it’s not magic. It’s just hard work and discipline.” “But the fear now is that I want it to be worth people’s time. I want it to be worth the money that people shell out for these books. And I want it to be worthy of these characters. These characters have given me such a great life, and they deserve to be well treated by me. I don’t want to seem too precious about it, but it’s the relationship that I feel I have to them. So yeah, the fear is that the book won’t be as good as it should be – not that it won’t be written.” |
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Nature Trust Property: Bummers Flats Photo: Graham Osborne
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FUN ON FUNDY by JANE CASSIE During this visit to Canada’s East Coast, I’m not surprised to find out that the Bay of Fundy is one of North America’s seven wonders. The 320-kilometre-long waterway divides the province of Nova Scotia from New Brunswick and is home to rare whales, semi-precious minerals and the world’s highest tides. The amount of daily water that goes in and out of this geological wonder surpasses the combined flow of all the freshwater rivers on our planet. Yes, this gem has deservedly earned the accolades. Although we could join others and kayak the islandspeckled bays, where seals and porpoises hang out, or hop on a zodiac ride for whale of a time, we decide to view the craggy coastlines, dramatic rock faces and other local treasures while being grounded to Mother Earth. Here are three of our favourite tromping spots. THE FUNDY TRAIL PARKWAY This 2,559-hectare playground and parkway in New Brunswick is a short drive from the quaint seaside town of St. Martins. A 19km winding roadway that weaves over the rugged terrain and loops around the picturesque coast is host to 20 scenic outlooks, and each one is steeped with visual rewards. Some boast vistas of steep-sided cliffs, others scalloped beaches, and many with picnic tables where you can relax and drink in beautiful backdrops of the immense Fundy Bay. 10 8
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Over our three-hour visit, we cling to a cabled ladder that descends the steep hillside near Fuller Falls, jostle over an 84-metre suspension bridge that spans Salmon River, check out the interpretive centre where there’s an overview of this area’s once-thriving, long-gone logging community, trek to Flower Pot Rocks, an intriguing flora-topped, rocky column that was created by years of erosive tidal force and hike a few of the many trails that loop around this lovely landscape. And while we’re led through second-growth stands, across boardwalks and bridges and down steps to expansive sandy strips, heartier hikers choose to hoof the Fundy Footpath, a jaunt that’s less travelled but acclaimed by Explore Magazine to be one of the 50 best hikes in the world. This challenging walk-in-thewilderness hugs the coastline and threads through this pretty parkway all the way to our next must-see: the neighbouring Fundy National Park.
ABOVE | The author and her husband, Brent, on a hike at Dickson Falls. RIGHT | A beautiful view of the Bay of Fundy and Flower Pot Rock. PAGE 10 | (l. to r.) Jane and Brent on the suspension bridge; Brent prepares for a lobster feast at Collins. Photos: Jane & Brent Cassie
Dining recommendation: Sea Side Restaurant – “Award Winning CHOWDER” is posted in bold lettering over this diner’s entranceway, and that’s what you’ll get along with a front row ocean view. You can’t miss it on Bay Road in St. Martins. FUNDY NATIONAL PARK Calling all campers, swimmers, beachcombers and birdwatchers. This recreation icon offers something for everyone, especially us hikers! Twelve kilometres of shoreline rims this verdant oasis and 120 kilometres of trails meander through it – ranging in everything from easy-peasy loops to a 50-kilometre pulse-raiser. Some squiggle through forest thickets, others lead to empty beaches, a few along tranquil riverbeds. With a yearning to traipse by a waterfall (of which there are 25 to choose from) we go with the most accessible one in the park, a 1.5km circular route that takes us to Dickson Falls. A lengthy boardwalk stretches out beyond a Fundy Shore lookout and leads us through a Hansel-and-Gretel-feel forest to a cool, lush valley. Instead of breadcrumbs, like in the childhood fairy tale, interpretive signs direct our way. And our final reward? No, not to a candy-coated witch’s house, but those beautiful cascading falls.
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Although not nearly as whimsical, our second jaunt for the day, Matthew’s Head, is a trail that combines the park’s natural beauty and cultural history. From Herring Cove Road, we wander through a forest grove to an old wagon road where there are remnants of a nineteenth century homestead. Up until 1974 this area was known as the local potato farm and experiments of the crops led to the Shepody potato, one of the preferred varieties that we’ve recently enjoyed beneath our poutine. Beyond, is (once again) that picturesque Bay of Fundy along with more of those floral-topped rocks. As pretty as they are, we soon discover this is just a sampling of what’s in store at our next and final Fundy must-see, the popular tourist stop of Hopewell Rocks. Dining recommendation: Collins Lobster Shop in Alma – You can’t come to this neck of the woods without putting on a bib and digging into some lobster. Take your pick from this shop’s big holding tank and enjoy!
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their green flower tops visible. And it’s even harder to imagine that this happens not just once a day, but every six hours. But then again, this is the awe-inspiring Bay of Fundy and one of North America’s seven wonders. Dining recommendation: Tides Restaurant – Ocean views are a given from any seat in this diner. The Seafood linguini is loaded with fresh shellfish, and the lobster stuffed chicken breast is out of this world. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ bay-of-fundy
HOPEWELL ROCKS It’s a good idea to check the tidal charts before venturing to this favourite Fundy haunt. Because of its location, at the farthest end of this massive bay, this is where you’ll witness the greatest tidal fluctuation. If you come at high tide make sure to bring along your kayak or row boat, as the water level can rise as high as a fivestorey building. If you arrive at low tide, like a drained bathtub, this empty basin reveals a line-up of spectacular sandstone formations that have been carved by the tidal action over thousands of years. An informative visitors centre provides us with more indepth explanation and overview, and scaffolding-like stairs take us from the upper trails and viewing platform to the sandy ocean floor below. From here, we gaze up at eroded cliffs, wander beneath rocky archways, pose in front of animal-shaped sea stacks and breathe in the salty air while strolling the two-kilometre sandy beach. It’s hard to believe that after the tide comes in all these amazing monoliths will be submerged, with only
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CARING FOR THOSE THAT CARE FOR OTHERS by TONI O’KEEFFE Growing up in Duncan, BC, Faith Magwood was introduced to the concept of philanthropy and community service at an early age. Her parents, both active community volunteers, inspired Faith’s volunteer efforts and her commitment to community, which has now spanned eight decades. At 80, Faith continues to give of her time, talent and her voice to the Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC). For over 30 years she has been a passionate advocate in support of family caregivers. Family caregivers are those unpaid heroes that care for adult children, parents, spouses, relatives or friends that are unable to safely care for themselves due to a sudden or gradual disability brought about by accident or illness. Faith’s involvement with FCBC began in the early ’80s when she and colleague Helen Simpson co-founded the organization. To this day, FCBC continues to provide information and emotional support to those caring for family members and friends across BC. Faith was working as a social worker in the Gorge Road Hospital in 1983. “The residents were well cared for and I provided what support I could in my professional capacity, but I could see that more was needed,” she says. “Family caregivers were emotionally and physically fatigued from trying to care for those they loved while still managing the busy day-to-day aspects of their own lives, jobs and other family obligations.”
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She recalls a day when a young woman walked into her office and burst into tears. “This woman was struggling with the decline of her father’s health,” says Faith. “Like many caregivers, she felt guilt, resentment and stress as she struggled to balance her and her mother’s life with what was happening with her father.” Faith was touched and knew she had to do something. After years of researching, holding information meetings and working from her kitchen table over many cups of tea, the Family Caregivers Network Society (FCNS) of Victoria was born. In 1989, the first Board of Directors was put in place and a Director hired. Although the name changed along the way, the thrust of the organization remains the same. They continue to provide information, referrals, a lending library, a bi-monthly newsletter and educational events for those in need. According to Barb MacLean, Executive Director, “When an individual’s health deteriorates the first person they turn to for support is a family member or close friend. These individuals become the primary caregiver, coordinating physical, emotion-
ABOVE | Faith Magwood and Helen Simpson co-founded the Family Caregivers of BC in the ’80s. Photo: Barb MacLean
al, financial and personal care. Without support and assistance, the role of family caregiver can become a lonely and isolating job,” says MacLean. “Thanks to Faith, this support is now in place in BC.” Faith acknowledges Island Health (previously VIHA) and its efforts to recognize the need and provide funding to support family caregivers. “Both Island Health and the Ministry of Health have been incredibly supportive of our efforts. They have recognized that the need will continue to grow as the population ages and society deals with more complex health issues.” According to information provided by Island Health, currently over one million people in BC are struggling to provide care for a family member or friend. Information available from the Mayo Clinic in the US suggests that one in three adults in that country provide care to family or friends as informal caregivers. The clinic also cites caregiver stress as an emerging health issue across North America. “More caregivers are struggling and are exhausted trying to care for aging, ailing or disabled loved ones,” says Faith. “Care at home has become much more complicated. Caregivers are providing injections, monitoring and managing intravenous lines, medications and personal hygiene. At the same time, they have jobs to go to and other family and life responsibilities.” “Faith has been a loyal champion and advocate to improve support for caregivers,” says MacLean. “Although she retired from her social worker position in 1999, she has continued to support FCBC.” “As both a volunteer and donor, Faith inspires others by doing,” MacLean continues. “She has been a pillar and cornerstone for the growth of FCBC. She is a lifetime member and has been a donor for the entire life of the organization. It is because of her vision that we exist at all.” In 2016, Faith was presented with the Valued Elder Recognition Award (VERA) for her 30-year commitment to FCBC. The nomination for the award acknowledged Faith for her energy and persuasive style in influencing hundreds of health professionals and community agencies, so family caregivers and their well-being would be recognized as just as important as the patient’s. Faith says she is not quite as hands on as she used to be. She now enjoys time in her garden and relishes days spent with her 13 great-grandchildren, six grandchildren and two children. She is also a bell ringer and has travelled the world bell ringing for weddings, church services, funerals and competitions. “It’s important to stay active and involved,” she says. “I will continue to be an enthusiastic cheerleader for FCBC. We will all need care at some point in our lives. Knowing that the people caring for us have the support they need to cope will make all the difference for them – and for us.” Family Caregivers of British Columbia is a registered nonprofit dedicated 100 per cent to supporting family caregivers. |
Caregiving You don’t have to do it alone
There are over 1 million British Columbians caring for family, friends and neighbours. Our resources, education & support help you give care to your loved ones. Today, we need your help to meet tomorrow’s needs. Please donate so no one cares alone. Your gift will help caring families stay strong contact us at 250-384-0408
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To find out more about FCBC or to volunteer or donate, visit: www.familycaregiversbc.ca To find more information related to care for caregivers and seniors, visit Island Health’s website at www.viha.ca INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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FOR THE LOVE OF ART by PAT PRESTON The West Coast demands to be captured in art – painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography and ceramics. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria houses a variety of art with pieces from across Canada and Asia that exemplify these diverse forms of creativity. And the Gallery Associates have, throughout their 66-year history, provided resources to ensure the Gallery continues to display them to the public. The Gallery Associates are volunteers who love art, collect art and support the Gallery and its role in the community. The 130-member body promotes and supports the Gallery through fundraising events and programs. And, as the exhibitions and acquisitions they promote and fund change, so do their audiences and the volunteers themselves. The 16 women who formed the then Women’s Committee back in 1952 shunned “social” meetings but were committed, instead, to work. Victoria was a “formal” city then – gloves, hats and pearls were de rigueur. Today the formality and pearls have disappeared, but the hard work and dedication remain. The Gallery Associates come from a variety of backgrounds – the army, modelling and science. Sometimes called “the originals,” they remain its backbone. Now others, younger but just as enthusiastic, are joining as new members and bringing a new set of skills and ideas. Karin Johnson is the youngest new member. Born in Chicago, she relocated to Victoria after a stint as an associate auctioneer on cruise ships. “My interest in art began at age 10 when I first started painting and has run the gamut from art sales and collection development back to my painting again,” she says. “Being part of the cultural community was an important part of my life in Chicago and I joined the Gallery Associates to get involved with arts and culture in my new city.” She now works 16 14
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at the Gallery, thanks to a referral from the Gallery Associates. Norma Fitzsimmons, 96, is the senior member of the group. She ran a flower shop for 50 years, initiated the city’s annual “flower count” of February blooms and then sent the count across Canada. “The media loved to receive boxes of daffodils along with the count,” she says with a grin. Her efforts to attract cruise ships to Victoria were highlighted by her presenting roses to the female passengers when the first passenger (cruise) ships arrived in 1969. Her interest in flowers continues as she brings floral arrangements to each meeting of the Gallery Associates. She joined 20 years ago and helped with themed teas and fashion shows before being named an Honorary Member of the Gallery and Associates in 1997. “I still love going to meetings and talking to others,” says Norma. “I know I’ve fulfilled my fundraising responsibilities over the years. And I enjoyed it all.” Relocating from Vancouver to Victoria in 2015, David Sproule, 81, is proof that a newcomer to the city with energy and a passion for Canadian art can integrate quickly into Gallery Associates’ fundraising activities. “I first learned about the Gallery Associates on a gallery trip to Japan and I immediately wanted to join,” he says. “I knew it would be a good way to learn more about art and the Gallery and an opportunity for art-loving folks like me to have a community.”
ABOVE | (l. to r.) David Sproule, Yvonne Mackenzie, Norma Fitzsimmons, Karin Johnson and Sita Ferri cheering for the annual House Tour, waving bookmarks. TOC | (l. to r.) Gallery Associates Joni Hockert, Marie Wardell, Mona Chai and Nancy Newton. Photos: Cindy Trytten
As a former army officer, public servant and senior manager for SkyTrain in Vancouver, he’s added his skills to the annual House Tour committee while participating in art tours and educational programs. Mona Chai, 62, joined the Gallery Associates this year. “As an art lover and newcomer to Victoria, visiting the Gallery comes to me naturally. I became a member immediately,” she explains. “I am happy to meet new friends who share and enjoy the same art-related interests.” Born in Shanghai, Mona arrived in Victoria via Toronto. She paints regularly and excels in Chinese calligraphy and brush painting. “I enjoy working hard to contribute to and support the Associates and the Gallery.” Growing up in California, Joni Hockert, 62, moved first to Nova Scotia then to Victoria three years ago. Her mother was a talented artist as are several other family members. “My first attempt at painting was in elementary school when I brought home a piece I was proud of,” she says. “My mother praised my drawing of a tree when I had painted a cow. That was the pinnacle of my artistry.” She joined the Gallery Associates “to be with people who share my love of art, to support the Gallery and to expand my knowledge of local art.” Born in Trinidad, Sita Ferri, 73, came to Victoria from Ottawa and soon became a docent for small children visiting the Gallery. Four years later she was looking for a change and the Gallery Associates seemed like a good fit. Her involvement has included art appraisals, the lecture series and the House Tour. “The diversity, talent and various backgrounds that members offer and the interaction and friendship within the group is fulfilling and most rewarding.” Dedication and long service don’t do justice to three of the Gallery Associates who saw retirement as an opportunity to become involved in activities they had always loved. Marie Wardell, 83, the longest standing member of the Gallery Associates has been an associate for 55 years, serving as president and chairing “most every committee over the years.” Her interest in art began at school.
“Art was the only subject in which I excelled,” she says. “I have painted in most media, as a Sunday painter only. My life has been made much richer because of the Gallery Associates.” Nancy Newton, as sophisticated and elegant today as she was throughout her modelling career, ran the coat check at Government House for 27 years before retiring this year. The program raises funds for the Associates according to the number of coats checked at each public event (about 44 a year) held at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence. Now 90, Nancy estimates “about 150-plus volunteers joined me in hanging more than 2,800 coats this year.” She proves it’s never too late to start something new. Thirty-five years ago, Yvonne Mackenzie brought her design experience to the Gallery Associates. Since then she has assisted with most major fundraising events, including the annual Paint-in event featuring artists showing, selling and demonstrating their art outdoors, fashion shows and House Tours. “I love my current volunteer activity,” she says. “I invite artists to show and demonstrate their work in the gardens of homes on the House Tour. I started this tentatively not knowing how artists would react. But soon they were selling work and meeting people who then began following their progress and spreading the word about the art they’d experienced.” Newest to the group is Eleanor Bell, 73, who joined in August after moving from Nanoose Bay. As an owner and operator of a Canadiana Art Gallery in Calgary for seven years, she became familiar with a variety of Canadian artists and began collecting their work. When she lived in Perth, Australia for a dozen years, she owned and operated a gallery for five years. “I joined the Gallery and the Gallery Associates to become familiar with local art and artists and, now that I am retired, to volunteer and support the Gallery,” she says. “I like being surrounded by beautiful things.” Combined, these 10 volunteers have already contributed an amazing 170 years to the Gallery Associates – an incredible contribution to the Gallery and its many “beautiful things” as well as to the people of Greater Victoria. |
LET ART INSPIRE OTHERS AS IT HAS INSPIRED YOU.
Show what matters most to you by making a legacy gift to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. For more info contact: Megan Landels at mlandels@aggv.ca or 250-384-4171 ext. 227
aggv.ca JACK SHADBOLT | ITALIAN WATERFRONT TOWN (DETAIL) | CANADIAN, 20TH CENTURY, 1961 | OIL, 65 X 81 CM | GIFT OF OLIVE HERITAGE
INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE LEADS TO BOARD PRESIDENCY by TONI O’KEEFFE John Thomas knows firsthand what it’s like to navigate the health care system and end-of-life care for an aging parent. He was first introduced to the work of the Eldercare Foundation when his father, Robert (Bob) Thomas, became a resident in Victoria’s Glengarry Hospital in 2011. “My father had fallen and hurt his back,” says John. “While he was in rehabilitation to recover, he fell again and broke his femur. At this point, his mental state began to deteriorate and our family decided that the move to Glengarry was necessary.” John was a regular visitor, spending countless hours with his father during Bob’s two years in Glengarry before Bob passed away at the age of 92. While Bob was living in Glengarry, his son began to understand the important work done by the Eldercare Foundation to support the quality of life for older adults across Vancouver Island. “The Eldercare Foundation, in partnership with donors, works hard to ensure citizens in the community are supported through aging to end-of-life with respect and dignity,” says John. “The Foundation achieves this by raising funds for specialized equipment, home enhancements, community support, research and education.” When Bob’s condition became critical and end-of-life was approaching, the family wanted their father to pass in peace. So, Bob was moved from his shared room to a private space for his end-of-life care. John recalls eight long days and nights as he and his family spent their final moments with their father. “The room was confined, stark, no view to the outside world, stuffy, noisy, with uncomfortable furniture and a bathroom that was inconveniently located down the hall,” he says. “This is not the type of a place any of us should spend our finals days. Let me be clear,” adds John, “the 18 16
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staff were wonderful and attentive. The care my father received in those final days was exceptional. It was the space, the environment, which was lacking the peace or tranquility that should be present when any of us take our last breath.” After conversations with his family, and in Bob’s memory, the family decided to embark on a fundraising campaign to improve the aesthetics for Glengarry residents that were transitioning to end-of-life care. With an initial $5,000 donation from the Thomas family, $28,000 was raised to transform a former storage room into a new end-of-life-comfort care room. The room opened in June 2015. When not being used for end-of-life care, the room is used as a family visiting room. “This is a private, comfortable and quiet
ABOVE | (Top to Bottom): The Eldercare Foundation’s Board President John Thomas in the room dedicated in his father’s honour at Victoria’s Glengarry Hospital. The Robert D. Thomas Memorial Comfort Care Room, a family visiting space and end-of-life care room. Photos: Eldercare File Photos
space,” says John. “It is furnished with a sofa-bed for family members, a television and stereo so residents can listen to their favourite music or watch home movies. It is also equipped with a kitchenette to make a cup of tea or prepare a patient’s favourite food.” The Robert D. Thomas Memorial Comfort Care Room is a space where families can share their final days and memories together. The room is located close to the committed health care workers at Glengarry that provide support to end-of–life patients. John didn’t stop at raising funds for the comfort room. He wanted to do more to help improve the quality of life for elders beyond Glengarry. To that end, he became involved as an Eldercare Foundation member to help improve the conditions for elders in care and raise funds. “My father was a great man and a wonderful dad. He worked as a professional engineer in forestry for 42 years. He also served in England for three years with the Canadian Air Force as an airframe technician from 1942-1945. He then attended UBC engineering to get his degree,” says John. “My parents built a wonderful life together raising five children. My father deserved better in his last few days. That’s why I got involved.” “The odds of any of us or our loved ones ending up in care is high,” John adds. “The Eldercare Foundation is helping to ensure that seniors in care have an improved quality of life and tranquil end of life.” According to Eldercare Foundation Executive Director Lori McLeod, John’s support and commitment to the Foundation is having a positive ripple effect. “John is a champion, an advocate and a voice for end-of-life support for the elderly,” she says. “He has been generous with his time, his expertise and his pocketbook in helping the community understand the important work that is being done by the Eldercare Foundation. He is willing to jump in and do whatever needs to be done. This includes organizing and hosting a whiskey-tasting event that raised over $5,000 in March 2018.” McLeod adds that John’s expertise as a financial planner is an asset to the Eldercare finance committee. He was elected to serve on the Eldercare Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2014. He then rose to the position of Vice President and at the Foundation’s AGM in September 2017, he was elected President, a position he still holds. “John is a passionate and generous volunteer,” says McLeod. “He is hard to say ‘no’ to. His strong leadership skill is an asset as the Foundation undertakes to raise $1M by December 31, 2018.” “We have one of the oldest populations in the country living on Vancouver Island,” says John. “As citizens age, the challenge to provide quality end-of-life care will continue to increase. These are our parents, our aunts and uncles and our friends and, one day, it will be us.” John is a retired investment advisor that lives in Victoria. He is an avid paddler, rugby fan, and loves to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren. | To learn more about the Eldercare Foundation or to donate, visit https://gvef.org
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FEEDING THE CHILDREN by CHARLOTTE SHELDRAKE The irony of children going to school hungry in the heart of one of BC’s most acclaimed food and wine regions is not lost on Fatima Da Silva, chef-operator of the vineyard-based gourmet restaurant Vinoteca, just outside Duncan on Vancouver Island. Many would be surprised and appalled at the statistics showing the rate of child poverty in the Cowichan Valley to be among the highest in the province; Fatima was moved to direct action. She is the driving force behind a school meal program, which, in less than two years, has gone from providing breakfasts to 80 children in one school to serving over 900 children in nine schools. And more schools across the district are lining up to be included. In the process, with her two co-founders, Anita Carroll and Dina Holbrook, Fatima established Nourish Cowichan Society, a registered charity, inspired 30 volunteers and raised more than $200,000 from the local community. Children are hungry. This was not something Fatima expected to hear in Canada. Yet, we are the only G7 country that does not have a national school food program (according to the World Food Program, Canada is ranked 37th of 41 countries in providing healthy food for children). Fatima has seen the effects of hunger first hand; when she immigrated to Canada 30 years ago, food insecurity and malnutrition rates in her home country, Mozambique, were over 50 per cent. But she was shocked when a Cowichan Valley principal described how many of his students lacked the focus to learn, how some couldn’t even muster the energy to play during recess because they hadn’t eaten a nutritional meal in days. For Fatima this is about, “basic nutrition. It’s not a privilege, it’s a right.” In her 50s, when many of us are looking towards retirement as well-deserved me time, Fatima is unabashedly empire building, setting her sights on an expansive school food program replete with an on-site commercial kitchen, school gardens and food literacy programs for parents and teachers, as well as school children. She is the powerhouse behind an effort that has caught the valley by storm, bringing together volunteers, businesses and the school district to respond to a national issue at the local grassroots level. Nourish is wholly run by volunteers. The Board does all the administrative and organizational work, much of it landing on the shoulders of Fatima and Anita (President and Board Secretary, respectively). This is in addition to the core business – food preparation. Fatima is the hands-on manager, chief cook and bottle washer working with a small cadre of volunteers (including the occasional conscription of her 20 18
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restaurant staff). The two-days-per-week production schedule is organized by function, reflecting the constraints of the small kitchen space: one day to make between 350–500 muffins, 200–250 waffles, and assorted jams, sauces and dips; the next day to prepare and assemble sandwiches, burritos and snack packs. Her time commitment to Nourish runs over 30 hours per week. Anita describes Fatima as having a huge heart and a wicked sense of humour. “She’s a lovely woman who wants to make a difference.” As a community nurse and public health educator, Anita was able to add specifics about the effects of poverty and hunger on children: falling asleep in class; coming late to school; suffering stomach pains; and being easily agitated, with poor follow through. She has seen a kindergarten child “eat leaves and twigs because he was so hungry.” Fatima’s response: “What kind of breakfast do they need?” It is a running joke with her friends and staff that Fatima, emphatically not a morning person, who like many restaurant people often doesn’t go to bed ’til long after midnight, and with no children of her own, found herself the first few weeks getting up before six in the morning to make breakfast for nearly 100 school children. That first dark winter morning en route to the kitchen, “I cursed all the way driving in!” Growing up in Mozambique, Fatima says living in a community meant taking care of each other. “No way would you see your neighbour starving.” She found that same commitment in her new Canadian parents who share her birth mother’s philosophy, “to be a better person every day.” Their support, and their expectations, are integral to Fatima’s success in the Nourish project – and in life – and are part of the foundation underpinning her deep faith in humanity. She is amazed at the conversation this project has started in the community, and her conviction that people will step up when
ABOVE | Fatima Da Silva dedicates more than 30 hours a week to providing meals to hungry school children in the Cowichan Valley. Photo: Charlotte Sheldrake
they see the need has been more than confirmed. One of the Nourish Board members asked her to imagine a time when people say that children used to go to school hungry. Fatima’s eyes light up as she considers the potential, “What if this is the community that will make that change?” One of the greatest challenges, aside from the sheer logistics and constraints of providing all that food from a small kitchen with only volunteers and no formal infrastructure, is the emotional rollercoaster of the work. She tries to stay away from the individual stories and the immensity of the problem, but sometimes it’s hard. Early on, one day alone in the kitchen prepping before the volunteers arrived, she was overcome with the realization that the children might not, probably did not, know that there was a community out there – this group of individuals, volunteers, supporters and businesses – who cared about them. “That crushed me,” she says. “How do you have hope if nobody tells you they care about you?” The answer came the next day when a volunteer relayed the story of how a student had told her that he was only coming to school for the breakfast. This is what sustains Fatima. “He knows there’s a grandma out there who’s going to bring him food.” These days Fatima isn’t cursing on the drive into the kitchen, she’s singing. “I’m working more, sleeping less, singing more!” | To learn more about Nourish Cowichan Society, visit www. NourishCowichan.ca
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A MOVING CEREMONY AT THE MEMORIAL CHAMBER by HANS TAMMEMAGI “In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.” These powerfully sad lines, written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915 while entrenched in the bloody battlefront in Ypres, Belgium, are inscribed on a wall in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This is appropriate, for the Chamber is considered the “holiest spot on Canadian soil.” Parliament Hill in Ottawa is more than just a hill and cluster of magnificent sandstone buildings, it is the heart of Canada. Crowning the Hill is the Peace Tower, which was built just after the First World War as a memorial to Canada’s role in that war. The soaring Gothic lines symbolize both victory and peace. The slender Peace Tower with its carillon, observatory deck, dominant gargoyles and topped by the Canadian flag, is magnificent. But the Memorial Chamber, a small room near its base, is its soul. This beautiful room conveys the dignity 22 20
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and grace of a Gothic cathedral but is also steeped in emotional memories of the years of suffering and sacrifice of the First World War. A special ceremony held every day forms a personal connection between the living today and those who passed away defending our country. No one leaves with dry eyes. Entering the chapel through great wrought-iron gates the mood turns sombre and you are transported back to a horrible time. Everything is steeped in memories of the great bloodbath that took place between 1914 and 1918. The Chamber was designed as a national shrine to Canadians who gave their lives during the war in France and Flanders. The stones in the Chamber come from Canada’s allies: the pale white walls are made of stone from France, the altar is white limestone
ABOVE | Frank and Jean Cummins and their granddaughter, Arielle, gaze at the Book of Remembrance and the name Frank Cummins – the grandfather of Frank and the great-great-grandfather of Arielle – in the Memorial Chamber. TOC | A uniformed guard bows before the altar that holds the book of WWI. Photo: Hans Tammemagi
from England, and the altar steps are black marble from Belgium. The floor is of stone from the battlefields where Canadians fought, which forms the shape of a large cross. The stone is inlaid with shell casings and inscribed with the names of major battles including Ypres, Mont Sorel, Vimy Ridge, Amiens and the Somme. The ceiling is high and vaulted. Stained glass windows allow sombre light to enter through three walls. Over the entrance doorway are carved the heads of animals including a dog, horse and carrier pigeons that served the troops during the war. You are immersed in graceful beauty and memories, memories, memories. The poem, “In Flanders Fields” is carved into the east wall. A shiver will run down your spine as you read the lines in this peaceful spot and imagine the horrors that McCrae and his comrades experienced. “We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.” The Altar of Remembrance dominates the centre of the Chamber; it is ornately carved with the arms of Canada and bears a gold-framed glass casket. On the altar rests a Book of Remembrance, which contains the names of all the Canadians
who died in World War I, inscribed in calligraphy and arranged alphabetically. Because the bodies of these Canadians were buried in cemeteries in France and Belgium, the purpose of the Book of Remembrance was to record and commemorate these people in this special place in their own country. Initially, only those who perished in World War I were enshrined, but subsequently six more volumes were produced. Together, the seven Books of Remembrance contain more than 118,000 names of all Canadians who have died in wars since 1867. These include the names of those who fell in both world wars; those who died in 1884-1902, which includes the Nile Expedition and the Boer War; those who perished while serving in the Merchant Navy; those who died in the Korean War; and to Newfoundlanders who died from 1867 to 1949, before the Colony joined Canada. The seven volumes are placed on the central altar and side tables around the circumference of the room. All the books are open so the names on the pages are visible. A special ceremony, which builds a link between past and present on a very personal level, is held in the Chamber every morning. The pages in the Books of Remembrance are turned in such a way that every name is visible at least once a year. An appointment can be made to be present when a specific name appears. Frank and Jean Cummins and their granddaughter, Arielle, recently visited the Memorial Chamber with the goal of
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seeing the name of Frank’s grandfather, also named Frank Cummins, in the Book of Remembrance. He died on August 17, 1917, from stray shrapnel and was buried at age 34 in a French cemetery. “Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.”
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At 11:00 am, a uniformed guard entered the Chamber, stood before the Altar, bowed, saluted and turned the page in the book for World War I. He repeated the process for each Book of Remembrance going around the Chamber in a counterclockwise direction. After he left, the room was silent as the Cummins family stepped up to the Altar of Remembrance with bowed heads and gazed at the Book of Remembrance and the name Frank Cummins, the grandfather of Frank and the greatgreat-grandfather of Arielle. It was a sad and moving moment. So many like Frank Cummins paid the ultimate price for us to live in peace and security, and the Memorial Chamber helps ensure their sacrifice does not go unremembered or unappreciated. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ memorial-chamber-ottawa
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INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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BE OPEN TO “REACHING OUT” by JAMES ELLSWORTH Aldo Nazarko spent his formative years in war-torn northeastern Italy in the Adriatic city of Fiume. As a young person, he was a refugee and “displaced person.” In all his eight decades, however, he never felt like a DP or even misplaced. Self-described as a curious and trusting person, Aldo has embraced life with all the vicissitudes thrown his way. He emerged from upheaval and separation and approached it to pursue possibilities and share the results. Now Aldo lives in a modest townhouse in Victoria. He and his wife, Linda, exude warmth and friendliness. Aldo tells his narrative humbly and Linda occasionally clarifies answers, while out of sight in the basement and the office, important artifacts bear witness to a full life. Those mementoes point to a phoenix-like journey. By the time he was 14, Aldo and his family had experienced Fascist rule, Nazi-occupation and Allied bombing; the ceding of their city Fiume to a different country, forcing displacement of the family to 10 different refugee camps up and down Italy and Germany; a six-month convalescence in a sanatorium for suspected tuberculosis; the absence of a father for almost a year who was earning enough money in Canada to send for his family; and a trans-Atlantic boat crossing (1951) with his mother and brothers to Pier 21 in Halifax and then Port Arthur, now Thunder Bay, Ontario. Linda adds, “For the Italians of Fiume, it was a veritable Diaspora.” Family and Friends are Lodestones to Connections Perhaps it was the optimism of his growing up, of knowing things seem to work out for the better, that gave him his outlook. Aldo admits he was receptive to the encouragement to grab those possibilities by family and friends. They were like magnets to adventures rather than risks. His father was an instrumental role model. Vladimir Nazarko, a Polish émigré, did what was necessary to secure his family’s Italian nationality in a trou26 24
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bled and diverse city. So, he joined the Italian army and served in Eritrea thus obtaining his citizenship. He also worked as a lumberjack in Canada to pay off his immigration contract early and then worked in the shipyards of Thunder Bay afterwards in his preferred skilled profession, plumbing and as a steam fitting engineer. Vlado grabbed his chances and also gave back, volunteering to the Fiume shipyard fire brigade, for instance. It was important to keep and support family and friends. Aldo and his first wife, Shirley, moved to Vancouver from Toronto in 1967, their “centennial project,” he muses. An aunt lived in Victoria, their preference, but his firm (Royal Typewriters) didn’t have an office there. A decade later, he quit that job, but not Vancouver, and became a postal worker in 1976 as he approached 40. Also, he and his wife opened an art-deco curio shop, The Airmail, an adventure which broadened their scope. Exercising his penchant for history, Aldo took the name and the logo from a 1933 Canada Post brochure. They also acted on suggestions to attend art-deco conventions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, where he rubbed shoulders with Barbra Streisand and Andy Warhol. Streisand bought some vintage glass after haggling over prices but left an autographed photo as extra compensation. Warhol would not touch any items but got others to hold them up while he made enquires, saying “What are handlers for?” Unfortunately, Shirley died of lung cancer in 1986. By then, they had moved to Victoria at last (1980). He met Linda in 1988 and they married in 1993 in Rome’s historic Trastevere, of course. Aldo retired in 1997 after working for Canada Post for 21 years. He engrossed himself in gathering family
ABOVE | Aldo Nazarko houses his family’s history and artifacts that bear witness to a full life. Photo: James Ellsworth
documents, as well as addressing his huge record and movie collections. But, always open to possibilities, a friend gave him six months of untrammeled retirement before recruiting Aldo to volunteer for Meals On Wheels, becoming the social contact for shut-ins for 10 years. He also volunteers (nine years and counting) at a soup kitchen (the 9-10 Club at St. Andrew’s Cathedral). Generous with his time, Aldo willingly shares his private passions with others too. Aldo has a love of music and his extensive collection attests to it. He’s active with it too. He’s been a member of Pacific Opera Victoria for more than 30 years (he often interviews members of the cast on his radio show). Yes, he got involved with a radio station dedicated to cultural diversity, CFUV. When they were requesting new programming, Linda mentioned that he should share his collection with others. The gauntlet was picked up; Aldo did a demo and has been hosting “Off The Beaten Track” for 16 years. He describes the program as a homage to diversity, playing all genres. In fact, he feels he is channeling Clyde Gilmour, CBC’s long-time host of Gilmour’s Albums, and calls his new avocation “radio without borders.” Aldo avows, “The radio show is a labour of love; if it had been my profession, I never would have retired from it.” “What’s Past is Prologue” (The Tempest, Shakespeare) Throughout it all, Aldo’s indomitable spirit rose to make and take opportunities. “Sometimes it’s just luck, the right place at the right time, but you have to be receptive too,” he says. “I
Make your will a testament to your love of knowledge.
met a guy who loaded jukeboxes and asked to help him. We became friends and I got to keep some 45s. That’s how the collection started and who could have predicted where it would lead.” His latest project developed serendipitously also. His aunt asked him to write a family history and the project consumed him for a decade, delving into relationships, historical figures and events. He was surprised how much the young ones in the family were interested too. An editor saw promise in the work but not without numerous fact-checks and rewritings. The memoir he says, “has been a project that has brought my life full circle.” Typical of Aldo, however, the circle spins in new directions of experience and sharing. The result is a published memoir, A River of Oranges, which was launched in September in an overflowing café of friends and relatives. His granddaughter used the event to inspire a painting. The family is now excited about book marketing and signing, interviews and reviews. And so, Aldo contemplates how being receptive and trusting, and attuned to history, continue to bear fruit: • a navy chaplain he befriended at Esquimalt arranged Aldo and Linda’s wedding in a 13th century basilica in Rome • hearing country music for the first time, Web Pierce’s Jailhouse Now, after arriving in Canada, the experience led to a record collection, and ultimately his radio host avocation • trusting that some advice is worth following such as The Airmail, a music demo, and a writing course all opened doors
CHAMPIONS WANTED Leave a Legacy for BC Children and Families
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Leaving a gift in your will to Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon will provide accommodation and support for 2,000 families with seriously ill children each year at our 73 room house.
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Contact us for information: 604-736-2957 plannedgiving@rmhbc.ca www.rmhbc.ca
INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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University hearing study seeks participants.
To learn more, visit www.ariveroforanges.ca Connect Hearing, with hearing researcher Professor Kathy Pichora-Fuller at the University of Toronto, seeks participants who are over 50 years of age and have never worn hearing aids for a hearing study investigating factors that can influence better hearing. All participants will have a hearing test provided at no charge and if appropriate, the clinician may discuss hearing rehabilitation options including hearing aids. Qualifying participants may also receive a demo of the latest hearing technology. The data collected from this study will be used to further our understanding of hearing loss and improve life-changing hearing healthcare across Canada. Why participate in the hearing study? Hearing problems typically result from damage to the ear and researchers have spent decades trying to understand the biology behind hearing loss. More importantly, researchers now realize the need to better understand how hearing loss affects your everyday life*. In this new hearing study,
Professor Pichora-Fuller and her team are trying to find out how people learn to live with hearing loss and how new solutions could help these people take action sooner and live life more fully. It is estimated that 46% of people aged 45 to 87 have some degree of hearing loss1, but most do not seek treatment right away. In fact, the average person with hearing loss will wait ten years before seeking help2. This is because at the beginning stages of hearing loss people often find they can “get by” without help, however as the problem worsens this becomes increasingly harder to do. For some people this loss of clarity is only a problem at noisy restaurants or in the car, but for others it makes listening a struggle throughout the entire day. By studying people who have difficulty hearing in noise or with television, we hope to identify key factors impacting these difficulties and further understand their influence on the treatment process.
CLIENT: CHCA
“It is an opportunity like no other.” - Parents of a Zajac Ranch Camper
Make a diFference.
If you are over 50 years of age and have never worn hearing aids, you can register to be a part of this new hearing study† by calling: 1.888.242.4892 or visiting connecthearing.ca/hearing-study.
Remember Zajac Ranch for Children in your will. Leave a legacy.
* Pichora-Fuller, M. K. (2016). How social psychological factors may modulate auditory and cognitive functioning during listening. Ear and Hearing, 37, 92S-100S. † Study participants must be over 50 years of age and have never worn hearing aids. No fees and no purchase necessary. Registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC. VAC, WCB accepted. 1. Cruickshanks, K. L., Wiley, T. L., Tweed, T. S., Klein, B. E. K., Klein, R, Mares-Perlman, J. A., & Nondahl, D. M. (1998). Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Older Adults in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin: The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 148 (9), 879-886. 2. National Institutes of Health. (2010).
ZajacRanch.com 604.739.0444 info@zajac.com
28 NOVEMBER 2018 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM 26 10/20/17 MODIFICATION DATE: August 17, 2018 2:54 PM OUTPUT DATE: 08/20/18 PROOF #
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• running with his aunt’s request to tell the Nazarko story for the family will now reach a larger audience • travelling back to Fiume reconnected him to long-lost relatives and family history, as well as opening up the loveliness of the Dalmatian coast to travel • meeting Margaret MacMillan at a book signing of Paris 1919 led to a cherished inscription and discussion about Fiume • feeling the spirit of ancestors in the office with him, a “good and fulfilling emotion,” he says. For Aldo, openness and sharing has made his life and his retirement eventful, inspired and active, all because of a willingness to reach out. As Kate Atkinson wrote in her Whitbread Award novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, “the past isn’t what you leave behind; it’s what you take with you.” |
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SYMPHONIC MATINÉES WITH THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY Symphony Sundays Sundays, 2pm at the Orpheum NOV 4 MAR 17 MAY 5 JUN 2
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Help keep the Vancouver Symphony playing! CONSIDER LEAVING A LEGACY GIFT 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. 604.684.9100 ext. 238 or mary@vancouversymphony.ca INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018 29
ARE YOU RETIRED YET? by MARCEL STRIGBERGER “Are you retired yet?” was the most common question people would ask me before I closed my law practice. The second most common question was, “When are you retiring?” I actually stopped practicing in early 2017, after a brief stint of 43 years. I have since been focusing on my ongoing humour writing and speaking career. This leads me to the third most common comment, “Lawyer and humour? Isn’t that an oxymoron?” (It’s good to know what the public thinks about lawyers.) How and why did I transition? Ah huh! The Big Bang of both careers started one afternoon in Grade 2 when my mother took me to my physician. Upon arrival his receptionist said he was ill. When I got to my class, the teacher asked where I had been. Innocently I replied, “I went to the doctor, but the doctor was sick.” The kids broke out in uncontrollable laughter. Doctors do not get sick. They’re superhuman. I felt exhilarated by the laughter. It was a magic lotuslike elixir. But the teacher was not amused. She said, “Trying to be funny?” She punished me. I had to write out 20 times, “I will not joke around.” I thought that was unfair. There and then my law career started. Sort of. I wanted to pursue fairness passionately. But what profession deals with justice? At age seven I had never heard of lawyers. That laughter buzz stayed with me and I became the class clown. On one occasion another teacher said to me, “You should go with your mother to a psychiatrist.” I responded, “What’s wrong with my mother? That comment got me ejected from the class. The injustices continued. But the ensuing laughter from my classmates was well worth the consequences. Not long after Perry Mason came along on television. I was enthralled by his character. People are accused of a crime they did not commit, they hire a lawyer, and he proves they’re innocent. I’m in. I’ll show those teachers. Near the end of my undergrad years at McGill, I realized my career path was a toss-up between law school and the comedy world. I loved both options but felt I had to focus 30 28
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on one. Comedy it was. I took a year off and freelanced for the CBC. I also applied to law school in the unlikely event I could not make a living freelance writing. The unlikely event became likely. I got called to the Bar of Ontario in March 1974, BC (before computers). My passion for comedy and humour, however, was unabated. I contributed stuff for publications, legal and non, including the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. As well I published my first book, Birth, Death and Other Trivialities: A Humourous Philosophical Look at the Human Condition. In the late ’70s, Yuk Yuks and other comedy clubs came along, and I spent several years having the time of my life doing stand-up, sharing the stage with the likes of unknown comics such as Howie Mandel, Bob Saget and Jim Carrey. I was tempted to move down to LA, as they did, and take my chances but I did not think my good wife and three small kids would appreciate me closing my practice and risking financial ruin. I did various gigs, including a most memorable appearance at a conference of the Ontario Superior Court Judges’ Association. This was the first time judges reacted to my presentation with applause (it was also the last time). I experienced that Grade 2 buzz moment feeling big time. And I even got paid for it (as opposed to being made to write out some nasty sentence 20 times). A litigation and divorce law practice can tax your time and nerves. We have good days and bad days. I was indeed making justice happen on the good days. But the bad days kept me up in the middle of the night, ruminating about my cases and concurrently lamenting that they kept me from freely pursuing my labour of love, namely bringing humour to the planet. As I was nearing age 70, I thought about that adage, the best time to plant an oak tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is today. Was age an issue? I noted that Winston Churchill became PM, hitting the big time at age 66. And Colonel Harland Sanders sold his first franchise while in his 60s. Even Stalin reached his prime as a senior. I, of course, had a different product to offer than Churchill; and certainly different than Stalin. At least my name wasn’t Harland. My No. 1 son, Daniel, an insurance lawyer, gave me subtle
hints, such as, “Stop practicing. You’re old.” I have since revised my Will. The emotional problem was making my announcement to friends and colleagues and my most able and loyal assistant. (I can freely say that now; she can’t hit me for a raise.) As for the logistics, fortunately, Daniel was able to take over my clients. (He’s back in my Will.) Since my practice termination, I have had the pleasure and leisure of launching my new book, Poutine on the Orient Express: An Irreverent Look at Travel. I am riding the star that came along that afternoon in Grade 2, enjoying the ride and ready to go where it takes me for as long as my higher authority wants it to fly. I am not retired. I have planted that oak tree and I am nurturing it. | Marcel Strigberger, retired from his litigation practice, continues the more serious practice of humorous author and speaker. Marcel is the author of two books, which can be found on Amazon, iBooks and through Indigo and other retailers. For more info, visit www.marcelshumour.com
How would you like to be remembered? Be a celebrated guardian of Canadian wildlife. We have a special title for those who name us in their will or estate plans: Wilderness Guardians. But we can only give benefits if you let us know your intent. Join today. Notify us. See the benefits.* *Benefits: personalized updates, guided field trips and more...
Learn more at: WildernessCommittee.org/legacy
Michelle Johnson Victoria (250) 388-9292 Vancouver (778) 708-9179
46 E. 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1J4 1-800-661-9453 (toll free) plan@wildernesscommittee.org
INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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GETTING YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER by JANET MCMASTER My brother-in-law, Kevin, passed away unexpectedly at the relatively young age of 59. He never married and did not have any children, and much to our dismay, we discovered after he died that he did not have a will. Thus, my husband and I began a lengthy and complicated journey looking after the affairs of a family member who passes away without a will. While most people would agree that having an up-todate will is a good thing, it is surprising how many of us never get around to doing this. While it requires some work, likely some costs, and it means facing one’s own mortality, the benefits for the family that you leave behind cannot be emphasized enough. When a person passes away without a will, they die “intestate,” and the relevant legislation in each province governs what will be done. In BC, this legislation is the Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA). In our case, we had been to a lawyer who specializes in wills and estate planning to discuss our own wills the week before Kevin passed away. We were fortunate to have met this competent lawyer when we did, and we ended up putting our own estate planning on hold for several months while she provided expert guidance to us about the myriad of tasks involved in looking after someone’s estate. The first thing that needed to be done was making the final arrangements and deciding about cremation or burial, funeral or memorial service, etc. When people do not make any of these arrangements or let their wishes be known before they pass away, it leaves the family guessing about what the person would have liked. So, in addition to the upset of a loved one passing away suddenly, the family is faced with the additional stress of making decisions that may or may not be what the deceased would have wanted. Assuming there is a family member who is willing to take on the task of becoming an administrator of the estate, then an application for a Grant of Administration must be completed and submitted to the Supreme Court of BC Registry. (If a family member is not willing to do this, then the estate will be administered by the Public Guardian and Trustee.) A key component of the Grant of Administration is a detailed balance sheet of the deceased’s financial af32 30
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fairs, listing all of their assets and liabilities. The difficulty of doing this depends on how organized the person was and how easy it is to find all the necessary records, as well as on the complexity of their financial affairs. Once the paperwork has been submitted, there can be a waiting period of several months before the Grant of Administration is approved. Technically speaking, the administrator does not have any legal authority to act until this approval has been received; however, we found that there were several things that could be done in the interim period with the agreement of other family members. This included such tasks as applying for life insurance and other death benefits, as well as cleaning out the home and personal effects and preparing the home to be listed for sale. When it came to dealing with banks and other companies while we were waiting for the Grant of Administration to be approved, we discovered there was a large diversity of responses to our requests. We were very fortunate that a few key people understood that we were acting in good faith and went out of their way to help us administer the estate, while others would not even talk to us until we had the final approval. Once the Grant of Administration has been approved, then the remainder of the estate can be settled; i.e. properties and other assets can be sold, and the estate can be distributed. In BC, the rules of intestate succession are stipulated in WESA, and the distributions depend on whether there is a surviving spouse, any children or grandchildren, and other relatives. Most people have definite ideas about how they would like their assets distributed after they are gone, but when they pass away without a will, the distribution is governed by WESA and may not be what they would have wanted. If there are no surviving relatives as stipulated in WESA’s rules of intestate succession, then the total value of the estate goes to the government, a final disposition that few people would be happy about! The administration of an estate can take up two years or more, depending on the complexity. Our lawyer recommended that we keep detailed records of all the hours that we spent looking after the estate, and it did not take long for the hours to start adding up. There is a provision in WESA for the administrator to charge the estate a fee up to a certain percentage of the value of the estate if they choose to do so, and keeping track of one’s hours is very helpful, if one decides to do this.
While it was a relief when the final clearance was received from the Canada Revenue Agency, the legal bills were paid, and the remaining funds distributed among family members, there still were lingering thoughts that this whole process would have been so much easier if Kevin had gotten his affairs in order and made a will before he passed away. A friend that has had a lot of experience dealing with these types of situations told us that he thought anyone who passes away without a will should be reincarnated and must look after someone else’s affairs in their next life, so they could truly appreciate what a complicated mess they left behind. While I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, I certainly understand now that having an up-to-date will is the only way you can be sure your wishes will be looked after and that your estate will be distributed in the way you would like after you are gone. | For additional information, visit www. nidus.ca
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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
When you invest in The Cridge Centre for the Family, you give a gift of hope, security, and love. Your gift supports abused women, brain injury survivors, young parents, families of children with special needs, seniors, children, and those in need of affordable housing.
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
Visit cridge.org/give or phone 250-995-6419 to plan your gift. Serving those in need since 1873 … because love is the bottom line. INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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NUTRITION SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST PRIORITY
Forever Fit
by EVE LEES
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (250) 753‐6911 admin@cvims.org cvims.org
SUPPORTING NEWCOMERS TO CANADA
Recent research at UBC indicates exercise among older athletes is not reliable to lower cardiovascular risk factors. Some of the older athletes participating in this study still had high blood pressure or high cholesterol, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease. This strongly suggests diet and lifestyle habits (and, yes, genetics too) are just as important – perhaps more so – than your exercise program. This does not mean you should not exercise and focus on diet only. We need to move: many bodily processes that we can’t voluntarily control are facilitated by movement. And it doesn’t matter what activity you do – just do something regularly. But first, we have to fuel those physical movements. Food is our “fuel,” giving us the energy and the desire to move. And food also provides the “tools” (nutrients) that make our bodies function properly. Without those nutrients, you may risk more than just low energy. You risk developing problems with sleeping, thinking clearly, dealing with stress, maintaining a healthy body weight, illness and many other symptoms of poor nutrition. Nutrient-rich foods provide the foundation that everything else is built upon – and not just your physical needs. It’s for your mental health as well: your brain can’t function without nutrition (food). Ergo, you will suffer from sleeping problems, difficulty focusing or concentrating, inability to handle stressful situations, you might even suffer depression (research confirms depression can be linked to poor nutrition). Whole, unrefined foods contain far more nutrients than foods that are refined. More often, choose to eat these nutrientrich foods that our bodies depend on: whole foods that aren’t as tampered with or changed by humans. Choose an apple as a snack instead of a cookie or sports bar. Try to eat more vegetables and fruit. Include a moderate amount of root vegetables, nuts and seeds, cooked whole grains, as well as natural meat and dairy choices. A common health complaint is, “I am so tired.” Fuel and nourish your body sensibly and you will have the energy to get off the couch. |
A former newspaper editor, Eve Lees is a Nutrition Coach and has been a Health Researcher, Writer and Speaker for over 30 years. www.artnews-healthnews.com 34 32
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© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
Years ago I began my fitness career as an instructor and personal trainer. I coached my clients to improve their health with physical activity. It was gratifying to witness their positive health changes. However, after I studied nutrition and added nutrition coaching to their exercise programs, they improved even more. I particularly noticed their increase in energy. But more impressively, their dietary changes were positively affecting all aspects of their lives. They were sleeping deeper and longer; their ability to concentrate improved; they were thinking more clearly; and they were calmer and less emotional. It became easier for some to lose weight, and several even said they felt “cleaner and lighter inside” (no more constipation!). Nutrition seemed a bigger factor for their good health than being physically active.
© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
FAMILIES.
What will you leave behind?
FRIENDS.
Leaving a legacy in your Will creates a lasting future for refugees and displaced people who have lost everything but hope.
HOMES. JOBS. SCHOOLS. HEALTH. COMMUNITY. MEMORIES. THEY LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND.
Donating a gift to UNHCR through your Will means your generosity will help those fleeing from violence and persecution to survive, recover and build better futures. Your compassion will live on in the world’s most vulnerable people. Your gift—which does not affect your current financial status, and can have significant tax benefits for your estate—can be in the form of money or securities. With committed funds in place, your legacy gift allows UNHCR to continue to innovate and expand our long-term plans with confidence. It also means we can respond immediately to any refugee crisis.
Have questions? Let’s talk. Please email us at: plannedgiving@unhcr.ca
www.unhcr.ca/legacy INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018 to35 With your help, we provide shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance. We help safeguard human rights by offering safety, documentation and access education and skills. And, we develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home and improve their future.
AUSTRALIA’S OUTBACK: RED ROADS AND STICKYBEAKS by IAN CARTER “I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains … Her beauty and her terror The wide brown land for me!” My Country –Dorothea Mackellar (1904) “I have some bad news,” said Bongo. “That Underground Dugout Motel I promised at White Cliffs is closed for renovation, but parts may still be open for a fast stickybeak.” Although this Canadian has made more than a dozen trips to Australia, I continue to be reminded that although we both speak “The Queen’s English,” there are endless variations on the theme. Bongo explained that a stickybeak is Aussie slang for prying or snooping: there was going to be plenty of that over the next fortnight or so. Everyone in Australia has a nickname. And Ron – my daughter’s father-in-law and travel mate – is known as “Bongo” to his mates. Bongo spent 12 months planning our adventure through The Outback of New South Wales. He guaranteed sights and sounds that few Australians, and perhaps no Canadian, had ever experienced. Although each of us has more than seven decades under our belts, we can still dream of open roads and bold journeys. “Guaranteed to be hot out there!” warned Bongo. This explorer planned every Australian visit to escape Canadian winters… so a mid-summer February road trip was the only option. When we hit the road on a blistering hot day, I was not deterred. I felt like an early explorer in an alien land. RED DUST, WOOLSHEDS AND FOSSICKING FOR OPALS “You’ve got the good country today, boys… with the flies and dust you’ll be running home!” We laughed and ignored that casual comment as we pulled away from a Sydney petrol station on the appropriately named Pioneer Way. The route of the first explorers led us past the Blue Mountains and over the Great Dividing Range. We travelled along early roads, past bridges, dams and toll houses that were originally built by convicts who carved out 36 34
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primitive paths into the endless “never-never” beyond the coastline. These were the earliest stage coach runs doing a healthy trade during Australia’s gold rush days. Clouds of sulphur-crested cockatoos swarmed our windshield while the car radio blasted Dolly Parton wannabees, crop reports, race results and yodelling cowboys serenading stockmen and drovers in local cattle stations. Tales of bushrangers, stage coaches and the biggest gold heist in Australia’s history (at 2,719 troy ounces!) tickled our imaginations as we immersed ourselves in the spirit of this frontier country. Every stop on the journey kept us busy photographing classic heritage buildings of every style: worker’s tin “sheds” from the gold rush of the 1860s, Art Deco theatres and banks, and oversized frontier pubs with intricate iron tracery on upper floor verandahs. We averaged 300-400km on dead flat roads for the first few days. Each day ended with an evening meal in a village pub where we shared a schooner (that uniquely Aussie beer glass) and stories with locals anxious to spin tales both real and imagined. Folks like Peter Byrne entertained us, eager to talk about his life as a sheep buyer for the Australian WoolNetwork. He wove quite a yarn. We are now 1000km northwest of Sydney, and have slowed down after surviving a flat tire, mobs of kangaroos running suicide attempts across red dust roads, and 200km of unsealed roads finally arriving at historic Kinchega Woolshed in isolated Menindee. The
ABOVE | Open roads and bold journeys. RIGHT | Campbell the Swaggie – one of Australia’s last travelling bush poets – shares stories with Bongo (centre) and the author. PAGE 36 | Outback roads can be lethal for kangaroos (and drivers!), but orphaned joeys are in good hands in this isolated police station. TOC | Silverton, NSW has been the scene for more than 140 films and commercials thanks to goldrush relics such as The Silverton Hotel. Photos: Ian Carter
site is totally deserted, surrounded by sheep and cattle stations, each about 40,500 hectares in size run by the same families for generations. We were ambushed by a family of kangaroos hanging out in the shade of this astonishing structure built in 1875 of corrugated iron and river red gum. In 97 years of operation, six million sheep were sheared in this vast and well-preserved classic piece of Australian pastoral heritage. The sweet smell of lanolin still lingers in the brutal heat, 50 years after the last shearing in 1967, reminding me that “Shearers never go to Hell… they’ve already been there.” It was another pre-dawn start as we continued north on Opal Miner’s Way to White Cliffs. We were warned: “Now you be taking it easy this morning, mates, there’ll be kangaroos on that road.” Not surprisingly, within a few kilometres several ’roos pounced out of the darkness… those startling moments can really focus a driver and his co-pilot! White Cliffs is the site of the first commercial opal field in Australia discovered by a kangaroo harvester in 1889 – population peaking at 5,000. Today we discover about 100 “battlers,” many of whom are running away from life’s struggles, only to fight a new battle in a hostile land. It is a captivating town despite
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12 days | 11 nights | 10 breakfasts | 6 dinners
Price includes a $100 early booking bonus per person exclusive from Vision Travel BOOK BY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Kamloops (250) 851-0211
Richmond (604) 273-1811
Vernon (250) 542-5371
Victoria (250) 412-1888
OR EMAIL US AT RICHMOND@VISIONTRAVEL.CA
Consumer Protection BC License # 73523 *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy, tour inclusions and available options may vary based on departure date. Speak with a Vision Travel advisor for dates, pricing, and availability.
LET PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS BE YOUR LEGACY TO THE WORLD Your belief in human rights for all, forever, can live on.
its small, dusty and ramshackle appearance with more that 50,000 abandoned opal mines in the midst of an eerie moonscape where emus and kangaroos wander through town. Locals are friendly, quirky and welcoming in this near-ghost town once renowned for the best opals in the world. We are but two road warriors on a road less travelled. I’m feeling privileged. As Bongo predicted, The Underground Motel was closed for renovations, but we were treated to a tour of the highly impressive underground White House Bed and Breakfast, where we were met by proud owners Lindsay White and Cree Marshall. They make an ideal team with Lindsay, a former sheep classer, digger and prospector, and Cree, a talented artist and interior designer. Lindsay has been digging at this site for over 50 years. The dugout features lots of light, cool fresh air, stunning art work
Join us as a Human Rights Guardian by leaving a gift in your Will to Amnesty International and be an enduring voice for freedom and justice.
Learn more at amnesty.ca/legacy
INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018 AI_17_55PlusAd_ST8555c_Final.indd 1
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and beautiful furnishings made of recycled materials – clearly a labour of love. There were moments when I simply stared into that vast, dry, inhospitable place and wondered what draws people to do battle out here at the edge of the world. So many warriors. So many stories. ROCK ART, FLYING DOCTORS AND MAD MAX It was another pre-dawn start as we headed for Mutawintji National Park still dodging huge ’roos bouncing out of pitch-black darkness over 175km of unsealed, bone-shattering, corrugated red roads. Morning sunshine greeted us as we approached the front gate. A shell-shocked Bongo – driver extraordinaire – mumbled, “Is that a mirage or am I seeing things?” as a family of emus slowly meandered across the road in front of us. We met up with Paul Burton, a friendly and highly knowledgeable tour guide with Tri State Safaris. Paul calls Mutawintji Heritage site one of the country’s most sacred Aboriginal locations, the spiritual home for the local Aboriginal people. “I just love every visit,” says Paul, “even though very hot days can be difficult…
45°C in the shade means a tough tour. It’s a magical place with water its secret ingredient.” Paul led two interpretive walks within a restricted access site to reveal 8,000-year-old Aboriginal rock engravings and cave paintings of red and yellow ochre hand stencils, dingo paws and tally marks. This sacred site is the “real” Australia. A place of wonder and excitement. An ancient land that captures the spirit of this sunburnt country. Broken Hill was another tale. This is one of the few places in the Outback easily accessed by tourists on The Great Southern Railway. This “Capital of the Outback” is the premier whistle stop for the iconic Indian Pacific, which bisects the continent from Sydney in the east to Perth in the west. In fact, I would recommend Broken Hill for any visitor to Sydney looking for a shorter first-time Australian Outback destination. It is Australia’s boldest Outback town, described by an early explorer as “some of the most broken and desolate land ever seen.” The massive heap of mine tailings that forms the backdrop for town 38 36
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centre can be initially unsettling, but it becomes the familiar symbol of this desert frontier town, site of the world’s largest silverlead-zinc lodes. Street signs bear names like Silver, Mercury and Carbon, each a showcase of stunning architectural styles. The School of the Air is proud of its claim to be the world’s largest classroom, and the Memorial Museum dedicated to more than 800 miners who lost their lives working on the Broken Hill mines is a touching tribute to their sacrifice. Other unique sites include The Royal Flying Doctor Service, home to an aircraft hangar to service the world’s largest aeromedical operation to more than eight million people living in rural and remote Australia. Filmmakers and artists are attracted to nearby Silverton to capture its unique setting. This frontier town predates Broken Hill. Originally the site of the Daydream Mine, it now seems little more than an abandoned movie set. Naturally we dropped by the famous Silverton Hotel and checked out crazy Mad Max memorabilia. A TRI STATE SAFARI – CORNER COUNTRY, DINGO FENCES AND A PAR 3 We learned quickly that “Lollipop 4-WDR” – our compact sedan – was no match for either the road surfaces or the grazing animals that continued to compete with us for the right of way! Sheep insisted on crossing the road in single file from one side to another, emus gallop across in twos and threes, feral goats prance in a manic scurry, wombats freeze, and cattle simply stand and stare, most often in the middle of the road. As we prepared to leave for the hottest and most isolated dot on our map, we were cautioned again by a petrol station attendant in Tibooburra: “I run into 50 kangaroos a year on that road… watch how you go, boys!” But Cameron Corner was reason enough to risk this road trip – the ultimate Outback destination – the pinnacle for the two of us. Not unlike Mount Everest, you go because it’s there. So here we were in Queensland, at a site bearing a New South Wales postal address and a South Australian phone number. This is the point where three states meet, home to a boundary pillar, the world’s longest dingo fence (5,500km), a single road house pub with its own golf course, and cold beer. We had not passed another vehicle on the 160km of unsealed road that delivered us to the front door of the roadhouse. We were the sole roadhouse patrons. A lone publican sat at the end of bar. He introduced himself as “Shithead” and poured us a schooner. This is the Outback. Shithead explained that he hoped they’d never pave that 160km of road: “We love the real Outback and want to share it with those who do the work to get here.” We were now 2,000km from Sydney and Bongo had already delivered on his promise: surely no Canadian had ever played the Cameron Corner Tristate Golf Course… three holes in each state! That evening we shared another schooner with “Heffo,” a “roughrider” who works at the Wanaaring Wild Goat Mustering Station, a huge operation “back o’ Bourke,” an expression immortalized for Australians, meaning “in the middle of nowhere.” Heffo had just spent the day on a 142,000-hectare station mustering about 100 feral goats using scooters and a small fixed-wing aircraft. Tomorrow would bring even more surprises.
604-596-9670 pitmartours.com
info@pitmartours.com Butchart Gardens and Chemainus Theatre December 4-6 | 3 Days Join us on Vancouver Island as we experience the spectacular Butchart Gardens Christmas lights and the Chemainus Festival Theatre. Highlights include amazing light displays of Butchart Gardens, a live production of Little Women at the Chemainus Theatre with their famous lunch buffet and the Christmas lights of Ladysmith. $745 Cdn pp dble occ. plus GST. Warm Beach and Leavenworth Dec 13-16 | 4 Days Only 10 seats left! This itinerary is guaranteed to lift your spirits and send you into the Christmas season with joy in your heart. We have included a dinner theatre at Warm Beach Camp that is covered in dazzling light displays and the holiday sounds of Victorian Carolers. A horse drawn sleigh ride, the lighting Festival in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA and a traditional Bavarian dinner are all included on this tour. $875 Cdn pp dble occ. No GST. Selling Fast!
DOOR-TO-DOOR PICK UP AND RETURN WITHIN THE LOWER MAINLAND CALL FOR YOUR 2019 BROCHURE TRAVEL PROTECTION BOB & TERESA MARSHALL
LET YOUR LEGACY BE WILD
Your legacy gift alleviates wildlife suffering caused by human activities. The partnership between supporters and our expert medical team treats 5,000 injured and orphaned animals every year. Your generous legacy is a tribute to your compassion to the wellbeing of wildlife! Learn how you can leave a gift. Call us at 604.526.2747 ext. 506 giving@wildliferescue.ca www.wildliferescue.ca INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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You can always be there for them.
Give a second chance at a happy life. . . there is no better gift you can give to a wild animal in need. Include a gift in your Will or designate a life insurance policy to the BC SPCA to set wings flapping! Visit us today at spca.bc.ca/foreverguardian or contact Yolanda Benoit ybenoit@spca.bc.ca 1.800.665.1868
G’DAY, G’DAY AND HOW’RE YA GOIN’? “You’ll need a relay phone out there, mate… take mine in case you break down! Just leave it at the pub in Hungerford when you arrive, and somebody will get it back to me. And call me when you get to Bourke,” offered Kerrie, owner of our tiny cement block bunkhouse after surveying our lollipop. So here we were “back o’ Bourke” in the endless Outback… no mobile service, no internet, running desert roads on a loaner relay. Luckily, we arrived safely in Hungerford for the phone drop-off, but the pub was closed. We were relieved to meet a Senior Constable with Queensland Police Service, the lone occupant of the only other building in town. She was carrying a baby kangaroo in a blanket and explained that she spent her time retrieving lost tourists, issuing gun licenses, arresting poachers who shoot anything in Sturt National Park, and caring for orphaned “joeys” in her Kangaroo Nursery. What a special memory to carry away as we made tracks for Bourke. Legendary Australian poet Henry Lawson once said, “If you know Bourke, you know Australia.” This town sits on the edge of the Outback “miles from anywhere, but the centre of everything.” The Back O’ Bourke Exhibition Centre is all about the legends: Afghan cameleers, swagmen, Aboriginal massacres, bush poets, and death and destruction in a windswept wasteland where the expected rain never comes. Bongo – a man of his word – had saved a magic moment for the final leg. He had arranged to return to a shearer’s
Our View on Independent Seniors Living: The view from our deck is awe-inspiring. Inside, you can count on dedication to caring for your aging but still independent loved ones. Clean, modern, bright suites; housekeeping support; healthy, homecooked meals (including the best soups in town); an activity and recreation program; VIHA care aide services available in-house 7 days a week; secure, safe, supportive, and friendly environment. Oak Tree Manor is located in the heart of downtown Nanaimo, and is also the most affordable seniors independent living facility in the area. Give us a call or drop us an email to set up an opportunity to discuss whether OTM is a good fit for your loved one.
Email: enjoylife@oaktreemanor.ca
Your legacy could be her childhood. “We joined the Legacy Circle and included Variety in our will with an estate gift so our legacy can live on through improving the lives of children. There is no greater gift than childhood.” - BARBARA AND BOB STEWART
variety.bc.ca
Want to learn how to leave a gift in your estate to Variety? Contact Jennifer at 604.268.4038 or jennifer.shang@variety.bc.ca
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shed where he and his survey crew camped more than 50 years ago. We were welcomed to Wuttagoona Homestead by Ken Cain and his son, Damien, who work their station at the back edge of Bourke. Ken had just shown us the original shearer’s quarters, a collection of fossils found in his front yard, and 40,000-year-old aboriginal rock paintings in a cave hidden at the back of his property. “It’s about place,” says Ken. “Some folks think this is just a desert, but it’s beautiful, mate! It’s all I know… it’s part of me.” And now it’s part of me. Prolific author Patricia Adam-Smith wrote, “The Outback is a thing of the Australian mind.” She’s right. It was a magnificent roadshow, Bongo. Cheers, mate! | For IF YOU GO information, visit www. seniorlivingmag.com/australia-outback Ian Carter is a retired educator and mental health professional, published author, inveterate world traveller, freelance writer and photographer. He welcomes contact: heritagematters@bellaliant.net
Travel that starts at your door! PRICES INCLUDE AIRFARE FROM VICTORIA AND ALL TAX
Cowichan Green Community presents… Free Workshops in Duncan! November 7th Health and Wellness in Retirement November 14th Succession Planning 6:00pm-7:00pm Located at the Cowichan Incubator Seed Farm at 2431 Beverly Street, look for the green building! To register for a workshop please contact kat@cowichangreencommunity.org or call 250-748-8506
Winter Mountain Train New Orleans—Southern Style Harrison Hot Springs Vancouver Shen Yun & Chinese Culture New York, New York! Okanagan Spring
7 Days 8 Days 4 Days 3 Days
Dec 6 Jan 9 March 4 March 22
7 Days April 24 5 Days May 10
$3199 $3899 $1095 $1095
Save Up To $250 Early Booking
$3999 $1699
250.590.0811 1.844.590.0811 www.MileZeroTours.com Prices listed are per person from Victoria based on double occupancy and include airfare and all tax Mile Zero Tours Ltd. 208 620 View Street, Victoria V8W 1J6 BC Reg #67275
Can You Please Help? Critter Care Wildlife Society provides short and long-term care to native mammal species and, through rehabilitation and public education, helps prevent suffering of injured and orphaned wildlife.
Critter Care Wildlife Society 481 216th Street | Langley, B.C. V2Z 1R6 INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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REBOOT by VERENA FOXX PEPPA MARTIN sees the world through the frame of a photographer’s lens. “I am perpetually hungry to delight the eye,” says the former advertising agency owner. “I needed to step aside from that and pursue my own love of photography that began in the alchemy of the darkroom when I was 15.” Peppa, now VP of the BC Association of Travel Writers and recently appointed Chair of the Global Chapter of the Association of Women Art Dealers, opened her photo gallery, Truth and Beauty, in Vancouver in 2005. It has been exhibiting international photographers both digitally and in group shows, including Henri Robideau in November, ever since. “There is so much good work to choose from,” says the innovative gallerist who is continuously travelling, writing, portfolio reviewing, curating and just seeing. “I’m a culture vulture, and I just need to keep shooting, looking and thinking.” Peppa takes one day a week for a photo-shoot field trip in her nearby environs. And she’ll be doing much more of that when she takes a Peppa Martin self-designed sabbatical in London in 2020.
MOREEN COBB and MACREE, her Cockapoo companion, spend one afternoon a week at Vancouver’s BC Cancer Agency, visiting patients and staff as volunteers with their Pet Therapy Programme. “I’m doing this because of the incredible treatment I received at the agency,” says Moreen, a cancer survivor. “I wanted to give back.” She tells of the joyous exchanges between her pet and both patients and administrative staff who invite the connection. Ten volunteer dog-and-owner teams are screened and well-trained, both off and onsite, prior to starting their visits. Since retiring as an educational specialist with the Surrey School Board some years ago, Moreen has also followed a childhood dream of building, decorating and furnishing her own dollhouse. “It’s an ongoing project,” says the San Francisco native, explaining that Moreen Cobb and Macree she keeps a spreadsheet of all the inventory. “It’s easy to pack a miniature candelabra in Finland, or a tiny clay pot in Mexico, so my friends are all involved in this project.” Moreen further incorporates her home interior design skills by working part time with Estate Property Services, a professional service for seniors and estate executors who are downsizing or moving their loved ones’ homes. |
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
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NOVEMBER 2018 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
Please visit our website under “How to Help” at
www.niwra.org
BN119060549RR0001
Leave a Legacy of Good Health An estate gift is powerful.
Nathalie Paulin soprano
Daniel Cabena countertenor
Isaiah Bell tenor
Stephen Hegedus bass-baritone
8pm Fri, Dec 7, 2018 | The Orpheum
Your vision ensures a lifetime of excellent healthcare for future generations.
Vancouver Chamber Choir and Orchestra Pacifica Singers | Nathalie Paulin, soprano Daniel Cabena, countertenor | Isaiah Bell, tenor Stephen Hegedus, bass-baritone | Jon Washburn, conductor
To start a conversation, call Beth Cairns at 250-519-1750 or visit victoriahf.ca
In this 48th season of the Choir, Jon Washburn will conduct his 48th performance of Messiah, Vancouver’s perennial Christmas favourite. It features the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers, Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and a stellar roster of Canadian vocal soloists.
1.855.985.ARTS (2787) vancouverchamberchoir.com
We grant wishes because wishes change lives.
LEAVE A LEGACY OF HOPE
Keygan, 13 lymphoma I wish for a gaming computer!
MAKE-A-WISHÂŽ BC & YUKON www.makeawishbc.ca 604.688.7944 bcchapter@makeawish.ca INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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By Wendy Johnstone
Safe Medication Use
Medications, both prescribed and over-thecounter, have the potential to improve health and well-being. Many people use medication to help them treat symptoms to assist in leading meaningful and independent lives. But, when not taken properly, they can sometimes cause other health-related problems. Drug-related illness is the primary reason for up to two-thirds of all hospital admissions and emergency room visits in Canada.
your pharmacist. Include all vitamins, natural remedies and over-the-counter prescriptions. There are various methods for an up-to-date medication record, but the simplest version is paper and pen. Keeping your medication record up to date is one of the best ways to avoid drug-related illnesses. The Canadian Deprescribing Network suggests five questions to ask your pharmacist, physician, specialist and/or nurse about medication being prescribed: 1. Why am I taking this medication? 2. What are the potential benefits and harms of this medication? 3. Can it affect my memory or cause me to fall? 4. Can I stop or reduce the dose of this medication (i.e. deprescribing)? 5. Who do I follow-up with and when?
Seniors take more medication than any other segment of the population. There is an increase in the incidence of chronic or acute illness with age and seniors are more likely to suffer from conditions where drugs are a primary option for treatment. The physiological changes that accompany aging increase seniors’ sensitivity to medications’ absorption rate and the ability to metabolize and eliminate medications. Seniors are also taking several prescription and non-prescription medications simultaneously resulting in more exposure to the risk of adverse reactions from unnecessary or inappropriate treatment and the misuse of medicine.
It’s also important to know if existing medication will interfere with new medications being prescribed and to understand how you’ll know if the medication is working (or not working!) and how long should you take it. It’s up to you or a caregiver to monitor any changes and report them back to your family doctor. Some illnesses can be managed through lifestyle changes. a conversation with your health care Drug-related illness Start professional on ways to manage symptoms is the primary reason without a prescription.
for up to two-thirds of all hospital admissions and emergency room visits in Canada.
The risk of drug-related issues increases for seniors when: • they live alone; • more than five medications (including non-prescription) are being managed; • they have problems with their memory; • they receive different prescriptions from different doctors; • and medications are filled at different pharmacies. Communication is the best medicine for safe medication use.
Sticking to one pharmacy is also a very simple way to reduce your risk of medication mismanagement. Ask for yearly review of your prescriptions with your family doctor, especially if you are taking several drugs and over-the-counter medications.
For more information, visit the Canadian Deprescribing Network (www.deprescribingnetwork.ca) and Safe Medication Use in Canada (www.safemedicationuse.ca). You can also order a medication record booklet by going to www.knowledgeisthebestmedicine.org | Wendy Johnstone is a Gerontologist and a consultant with Family Caregivers of British Columbia in Victoria, BC.
Bring a current list of all medications being taken to all health care appointments, hospital visits and when seeing
Join Us For Our Caregiver Webinars Add a Pharmacist to Your Care Team - Nov 13, 2018 Building Cooperative Relationships - Nov 29, 2018 Let us help you find more resources.We’re here to help.
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www.familycaregiversbc.ca Caregiver Support Line 1-877-520-3267 NOVEMBER 2018 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM Office: 250-384-0408 Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
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 MEDICAL FOOTCARE - corns,calluses, lesions, nail cutting & debridement. Offered at Ross Bay Health Centre. Colette Polard RN, BSN - call 250-477-5433. 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 miss-
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
KIM’S PROFESSIONAL FOOTCARE, experienced certified mobile foot
care nurse serving Nanaimo and surrounding area. www.kimsfootcare.ca. Direct billing for DVA. Call Kim @ 778-674-0475.
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
FOOTCARE: Happy, Healthy Feet make Happy, Healthy People. The more the merrier. Call FootNurse Marcia R.N.,B. Sc.N. 250-686-3081.
DOWNSIZING & ESTATE ORGANIZING: Less clutter = more serenity,
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.
KULEA LOVE: Companions to appointments, recreational, social activities to seniors and people in community feeling lonely and isolated. Victoria 250-216-3039 778-410-2460 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.
Basic: $49 for 20 words + 5% GST $2.25/extra word. Red color 10% Ads must be paid at time of booking Phone: 250-479-4705 ext 100 office@seniorlivingmag.com
Marketplace ADVERTISING
Meet & Greet • Victoria Wednesdays • 9:30-11am Location varies. Join our weekly newsletter to get current info.
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
ing 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
Single Seniors
clarity, freedom! www.GoodbyeClutter.ca. Providing peace of mind for 17+ years. 604-683-0898.
WANTED Danish Mid-Century Furniture from the 50’s & 60’s. Teak & rosewood, pieces any condition. Wanted records & LPs - jazz, blues, classic rock. 250-3807022. lacknerwayne@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS November 7 - Silver Threads November 14 - Somerset House November 21 - The Kensington, feat "For the Love of Africa" speaker November 28 - Uptown Bistro
Stay informed. Join our weekly email newsletter. Email singleseniors17@gmail.com SPONSORED BY
INSPIRED Magazine senior living DOWNSIZING? OVERWHELMED?
Dream Downsizing can take the stress out of a move. Sorting, packing, unpacking, advising, and more. Free estimate call Lucy 250-634-3207. Or visit us online at DreamDownsizing.com BBB
VALLEY VIEW MEMORIAL GARDENS: For sale in Surrey 4 plots togeth-
ANSWERS WITHIN: Want to reconnect the intimacy and desire to be with the one you love? I can help you get that back on track. Mimi 250-858-5899 BA, RHT and Certified Sex Therapist: answerswithinhypnotherapy.com.
WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, old
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
er in Heritage West Garden section. Call Colin 604-590-6210, clcrabbe@gmail.com
photographs, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca
We take care of everything for your stress-free move.
From downsizing, packing & unpacking, to full set up of new home including hanging pictures. We hire the moving company to load and deliver to your new home.
12 issues for $33.60 | 24 issues for $44.20 (includes tax & Canada ONLY S&H)
Moving to Nanaimo Seniors Village, Comox Valley Seniors Village or Casa Loma? Call us to see if the cost of your move is covered.
Name _________________________ Address ________________________ _______________________________ City ___________________________ Prov _____ Postal Code ___________
Delaney Relocation & Home Support Services 250-339-1188
Make cheque payable to: Senior Living 3354 Tennyson Avenue Victoria BC V8Z 3P6 INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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Courageous
LIVING LEGENDS Legends are living among us! Over the past year, the James Bay New Horizons Society (JBNHS) hosted a series of coffee chats with 24 “Living Legends” in Victoria. Funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, this interactive program allowed small groups of people to spend time celebrating the extraordinary in an ordinary person’s life. Coffee and a 10-15 minute intro was followed by a question and answer session. On the last Saturday of September approximately 45 people came together for the unveiling of the final product – a book highlighting the contributions of the 18 women and six men identified as “Living Legends” in the community. Interestingly, when approached, almost all the legends responded with “that couldn’t be me, there must be someone else.” The response was that each of us is a living legend. There were three themes that seemed to come through in each of the discussions. 1. Ubuntu – being open and available to others, affirming of others. Ubuntu can be translated as “I am because we are.” 2. A coming together of several of the ism’s that cause challenges in our lives: ageism, sexism, ableism. And how they are overcome. 3. Change and transition – those born in the ’20s through the ’60s have lived through many huge changes in society. In this book, we meet Victorians over 55 who have lived a life
&
of rebellion, resolved conflicts, escaped a totalitarian regime, saw wars through a soldier’s camera lens, was an international street musician, a philosopher, an artist who painted by PAT NICHOL at both the north and the south poles, a woman whose middle name is volunteer, a philosopher and a person living with multiple sclerosis. There was also the luckiest kid in the world, an entertainer. Just a few of the 24 “Living Legends.” On that sunny Saturday afternoon, a certificate and a copy of the book was presented to each of the people who had shared their stories for the book. Copies can be purchased at the James Bay New Horizon Society at 234 Menzies. On September 30, 2018, I was presented with a certificate that stated that I, Pat Nichol, am a Living Legend. A shock, but I have the certificate to prove it. A wonderful way to celebrate the extraordinary in an ordinary life. |
Outrageous
Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her by email at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit Pat’s website at patnichol.ca
What’s on YOUR Bucket List? Book Now & Save
Book Now & Save up to
Per Person
Per Person
$500
$100
Costa Rica
Departure Oct 26, 2019 9 Days • 14 Meals Discover the magic of this natural tropical paradise. Highlights: San Jose, Coffee Plantation, Guanacaste, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano & Cruise, Cano Negro Refuge, Zarcero. Hosted by INSPIRED Columnist Pat Nichol*.
Australia & New Zealand
Departure February 25, 2020 15 Days • 21 Meals Join the Publisher of INSPIRED Magazine* on this spectacular trip down under. Highlights: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Milford Sound, Merino Sheep Farm.
INFORMATION SESSION: Come find out more about these trips! Thursday, January 17
•
2pm
•
Victoria, BC
RSVP visionyyj@visiontravel.ca or call 250.412.1888
Oberammergau 2020 Passion Play Departure July 8, 2020
LIMITED SEATS.
11 Days • 16 Meals
Performed once a decade in the Bavarian hamlet of Oberammergau. Combined with an Imperial Cities Tour to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague & Munich, this is an epic travel experience you don’t want to miss. Must book before Feb 12, 2019.
For Pricing and Reservations, call Vision Travel Victoria 250-412-1888 • Vancouver 604-687-8836 • Richmond 604-273-1811 • Vernon 250-542-5371 • Kamloops 250-851-0211 For more about INSPIRED Magazine sponsored tours, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/tours 46 NOVEMBER 2018 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
*with minimum 15 passengers travelling
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
Make a Testament to your Faith Focusing on the future together with The United Church of Canada Having wisely stewarded your resources, you’re now seeking to invest in your church long after you’re gone. Please know that we offer a full spectrum of planned giving opportunities that will enable you to fulfill your philanthropic goals and support the ongoing work of your beloved church. —————
Please call a personal Gift Planning Consultant at 1 866 340-8223
WEBSITE
unitedchurchfoundation.ca EMAIL
legacy@united-church.ca
INSPIRED | NOVEMBER 2018
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The Harrisons, Langley’s Premier Retirement Living Communities
Independent & Assisted Living
Why do we people love living at a Harrison Residence?
Retirement living just doesn’t get better than this.
The Harrisons Offer; Complete Condo-style Suites, Chef Prepared Meals, Active Lifestyle Options, Assistance 24/7 if needed, Outstanding Essentials, Amazing Amenities, Wonderful Optional Services and so much more! Harrison Landing 20899 Douglas Crescent Langley, BC V3A 9L3 604.530.7075 www.harrisonlanding.com 48
NOVEMBER 2018 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
Harrison Pointe 21616 -52 Avenue Langley, BC V2Y 1L7 604.530.1101 www.harrisonpointe.ca
The Harrisons