November 2007 TM
Vancouver Island’s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine
Barbara Christofferson Embracing the Homeland
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LICENSED RESIDENTIAL CARE
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NOVEMBER 2007
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CELEBRATING SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY
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NOVEMBER 2007 Photo: Enise Olding
TM
COVER PHOTO: Actor Barbara Christofferson is taking on a new challenge by learning the bagpipes – an instrument close to her heart. See her story on page 6. Photo: Enise Olding
Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Sheriff Contributors Norman K. Archer, Tiffany Auvinen, John Azar, Carol Baird-Krul, Charlotte Cameron, Goldie Carlow, Judee Fong, Gipp Forster, Mayo McDonough, Pat Nichol, Janet Nicol, Enise Olding, Michael Rice, Holly Rowland, Vernice Shostal, Barbara Small, Peter J. Smith Design Barbara Risto, Bobbie Jo Sheriff Proofreader Allyson Mantle Advertising Manager Barry Risto For advertising information, call 479-4705 Ad Sales Staff IMG Innovative Media Group (Victoria) Mathieu Powell 250-704-6288 John Dubay 250-294-9700 Ann Lester (Nanaimo) 250-390-1805 Barry Risto (Vancouver) 250-479-4705 Shelley Ward (Comox Valley) 250-890-9212 Distribution Ron Bannerman, Don Cole, Gail Fattore, Jim Gahr, Lorraine Rhode, Barry Risto, Betty Risto, Sheila Rose Richardson,Tanya Turner Contact Information Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave.,Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Phone 250-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 E-mail (General) office@seniorlivingmag.com (Editorial) editor@seniorlivingmag.com Web site www.seniorlivingmag.com Subscriptions $32 (includes GST) for 10 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag.com Senior Living Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (10 issues per year), the Housing Guide (January & July) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (10 issues per year). Senior Living is the trademark of Stratis Publishing Ltd. ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)
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FEATURES 6 Learning the Pipes Barbara Christofferson has been touched by Scottish music all her life – now she’s learning the bagpipes.
12-19 Lest We Forget Vancouver Islanders share their memories.
Departments 10 VICTORIA’S PAST REVISITED The Antics of Charlie B
38 TASTY TRADITIONS Fond memories and heritage recipes
Columns
Been There, Done That Ron Butcher
4 The Family Caregiver
Waif to Waaf to Wife Veronica Butcher
26 Ask Goldie
Memories Still Burn Brightly Holly Rowland A Friar’s Journey from War to Peace Brother Paul Voisin
20 Embrace Aging Radio Moving On After a seven-year run, Embrace Aging Radio signs off.
24 Chasing Lavender Visiting lavender farms – a recent trend in West Coast agri-tourism.
30 A Talking Circle
Barbara Small Goldie Carlow
28 Scam Alert Mayo McDonough
29 Bygone Treasures Michael Rice
36 Courageous & Outrageous Pat Nichol
48 Reflections:Then and Now Gipp Forster
and...
Home Support Directory 34 Crossword 39 Classifieds 42 Events 44
The Gabriola Discussion Group have been meeting every Monday morning for 20 years – to chat.
40 Caring Homes Local seniors open their homes to troubled teens through a program at the Boys and Girls Club.
47 Mother Knows Best A breast cancer diagnosis changes one woman’s life – for the better.
SENIOR LIVING
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To Move or Not to Move?
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NEW K BOO
To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options
To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options
MAGAZINE
Published by Senior Living October 2007
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If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to diminishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you. • What residential options are available? • Define your current situation - What residential option is right for you? • How to research and assess Independent and Assisted Living residences. • What do Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities have to offer? • How much does it cost to live in an Assisted Living residence? What subsidies are available? • Thinking of moving in with family members? Questions to consider before making your decision. • Are there any other residential options besides Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities? • If you choose to stay in your own home, what are your options and what should you plan for? • Who can help you decide what you can or cannot afford? • Funding sources available to seniors - tax deductions, housing subsidies, home care subsidies, equipment loan programs, renovation grants, etc. • Selling your home - how to find the right realtor or relocation services to assist your move. • Downsizing - Where do you start? How do you proceed? • Adapting your home to meet your mobility needs - tips and suggestions • Hiring home care services; do it yourself or hire an agency? • Legal matters - how to make sure you receive the care you desire should you not be able to communicate due to some incapacitating condition • AND MUCH MORE Advice from professionals who are experts in the area of assisting seniors with their relocation
questions and concerns. A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best optionThis 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.
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EXPIRY DATE ________________ NOVEMBER 2007
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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER
S
ometimes the responsibilities of caregiving can feel overwhelming and be more than you can handle by yourself. Sharing the care is essential to the well-being of both the caregiver and care recipient. When you share the responsibility, you will have more time and energy to have a “normal” relationship with your family member or friend. Having the opportunity to interact more with others will also enrich the care recipient’s experience. Why is it so hard to ask for help? Despite family caregivers feeling overwhelmed with responsibility or unsure about the next step, they do not always ask for help or reject help when it is offered. Asking for help is often hard because we aren’t aware of our needs, we are fearful of being a bother, or we feel guilty for being unable to do it all ourselves. Beliefs, like, “no one can do this as well as I can,” or “no one should do this but me,” can also be obstacles to asking for help. It’s true. No one will do it the same as you, but that does not mean they cannot be helpful in their own way. Recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength and not weakness. It means you have an awareness of your situation and have come up with a proactive problem-solving approach to making your situation easier. Asking for help is a sign of strength because it acknowledges the challenge you face. It is a sign of strength because it requires putting your pride aside and acting in the best interest of your family member and yourself. First, you need to admit that having some help will make a difference to the care recipient’s quality of life and, therefore, yours as well. You need to define what help you need. Which tasks would be the easiest to ask others to do? Which do you really want to do yourself? And which, if any, can
When Asking For Help is Hard By Barbara Small
you afford to pay others to do? Discuss your needs with family members and friends who might be willing to share in the caregiving responsibilities. They may want to help, but don’t know how or when to intervene. Don’t be afraid to say “yes,” if someone offers to help. Have a list of errands or tasks you need help with. Focus on each person’s strength. Some may be better at personal care while others may be better able to help with yard work. Contact the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Home and Community Care Information Line (250-388-2273, 1-888-533-2273) to see what services such as home support, nutritional consultation, occupational therapy, etc. are available to assist you. There are also many businesses, community and volunteer agencies that offer services to reduce your load. People will not realize you need help if you do not explain your situation and ask for assistance. Remember, you have the right to ask for help. Everyone benefits. SL Next month: Supplies and equipment available to help with your caregiving.
Barbara Small is Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society.
The Family Caregiver column is brought to you by the generous sponsorship of ElderSafe Support Services
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he movie audience sat in rapt expectation as Rob Roy, arrested and taken to London, was led by a lone bagpiper, to his interview with the powers that be. A pause in the on-screen sound, much to the astonishment of the audience, gives way to a bright three-yearold voice saying, “that’s The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre!” And with that enthusiastic acknowledgement of a familiar Scottish tune, Barbara Christofferson’s lifelong love of Scottish music was well on its way. Barbara’s passion for Scottish music emerged early. Born in Calgary and raised in Camrose, Alberta, she grew up in a household that continued to embrace the customs and traditions brought by her parents from their home countries of Scotland and England. Her father, a piper and drummer, was raised in Scotland and through him she discovered both the customs and music of his homeland. As a child, Barbara learned the piano, but her father’s love of pipe playing stole into her heart. It was a long while, however, before she took up the challenge of learning how to play the bagpipes. At the end of a European school trip, Barbara, then 16, had the chance to visit Scotland. It would be her first visit to the country that had always beckoned her, and when she headed north on the train to meet her Campbell relatives, who lived near Edinburgh, she says, “I felt like I was going home.” Later, with a degree in modern languages, Barbara became a teacher. She taught school in Berlin, Switzerland and the Highlands of Scotland. She also travelled extensively with her husband as his work took them to many destinations including India, London and China. Barbara taught while abroad and in China offered workshops in cross-cultural communication. In 1973, in Red Deer, Alberta, Barbara taught drama and French. She always loved drama and theatre and participated in theatrical activities ever since she was a schoolgirl. She went to the Banff School of Fine Arts Centre and, eventually, gave up teaching to become an actor. Joining Equity, she chose Barbara Campbell Brown as her professional name. One of the highlights of her acting career was the role of Louise, the mother of Elizabeth Smart, in the play Memories of You by Wendy Lill, under the directorship of Sharon Pollock. More recently, and on Vancouver Island, Barbara was in the play Dried Flowers. She has an agent in Vancouver and looks forward to future acting roles. Not one to take it easy, Barbara was 50 when she started 6
By Enise Olding
Barbara Christofferson, dressed in her father’s Alberta tartan jacket, practises the bagpipes.
Photo: Enise Olding
co ve rs to ry
T
LEARNING THE PIPES
her PhD in Adult Education. She studied while travelling and though that didn’t make it any easier, Barbara says having a goal is very important. She advises, “keep your mind active if you are going to stay on top of things – keep your mind smart and keep using it.” Obtaining her PhD was the hardest challenge she’s pursued, says Barbara. Acting, on the other hand, is the easiest and learning the bagpipes falls somewhere in the middle. “It’s a challenge,” she says, “but I enjoy the music.” About three years ago, when Barbara and her husband, Ken, moved to Vancouver Island, they returned to one of the
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original old Bamberton homes they bought when they first moved to the Island in 1994. The garden was the perfect setting for their older daughter’s wedding two years ago. With the Campbell-Lamont-MacMillan family links, it was inevitable that touches of Scotland would be palpable at the event. Seeking the services of a piper for the ceremony, Barbara went to Pipe Major Gordon Pollock of the Cowichan Pipes and Drums, whom she had heard piping and knew “he was one of the best” she had ever heard. She met with him to discuss the music. Pollock was so impressed with her enthusiasm, he invited her to come to the weekly practice sessions, take lessons or just listen. She did. And she’s attended those sessions ever since. Barbara found it harder than she imagined. “It was so difficult, I almost quit.” But, at that discouraging time, she found her father’s chanter in a box amongst her mother’s belongings. Barbara took it as a sign and, with renewed vigour, continued her lessons. Sometimes she uses her father’s chanter, which is made of wood. Newer ones are made of plastic. The chanter, which looks somewhat like a recorder, has a ninenote scale and is used to learn and practise all tunes before they are played on the great Highland bagpipes. After about two years, Barbara made the big move to the bagpipes. “For me it is a huge commitment,” she says, and takes her studies to a completely different place. “It’s about stamina, as well as music,” she says. Having to keep the air to the drones constant and the bag of the instrument filled are very demanding, so Barbara works on building up her stamina and lung capacity. “I walk up Cobble Hill Mountain twice a week,” she grins. Apart from that, she practises five or six days a week for about 45 minutes. For constant encouragement and inspiration, Barbara says credit goes Godwit to Bill Grant “my mentor” and Carol Fowler “my Pipe Major” both of the Cowichan Pipes and Drums.
Cowichan Pipes an d Drums website: www.cowichanpip esanddrums.com Interested in learni ng how to play the bagpipes? Contact yo ur local pipe band for information on lesso ns and instrument rental. On one occasion, she decided to practise the pipes, staying in the car, while crossing on a B.C. Ferry. Sitting in her car, she was oblivious to her surroundings. When her husband returned to the car, she realized she had an audience. Someone in a nearby car called out to her husband, “she’s doing really well!” Barbara is comforted by the belief that it takes seven years to make a piper. “I’m in year two,” she says, “and one day, I want to play with Cowichan Pipe and Drums, to earn the uniform and wear their Drummond of Perth tartan, and actually march and play with the band.” SL
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VICTORIA’S Past REVISITED H
e painted the town red and his horse black. Born in 1846, Lord Charles Beresford (known to his friends as Charlie B) was the second son of the Fourth Marquis of Waterford, Ireland. When he joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1859, he received his training on HMS Britannia. His first posting was as a 19year-old midshipman onboard the Clio in Esquimalt. He only spent five months here, but in that time, he established a remarkable reputation. Charlie B, accustomed to fine living and riding the best Irish thoroughbreds, was able to supplement his seaman’s pay from his own personal fortune. However, the adventure of renting a cheap piebald pony to gallop the fivemile stretch between Esquimalt Harbour and the lively inner core of Victoria, appealed to him. And people smirked. So, Charlie painted the pony black. For a while, the animal looked impressive, especially on the day he raced the horse along Esquimalt Road in a cloud of dust, a squawking goose tucked under each arm and an irate farmer in hot pursuit. There was a sharp curve in the road and Charlie B found the geese a bit too much to handle, so he set them free,
The Antics of C
stopped his horse, burst into uncontrollable laughter and paid the fuming farmer. To mollify the man, whose temper was still flaming, Charlie B invited him to dine onboard the Clio that night as his honoured guest. That was typical of Charlie B – a rascal, a prankster with a genuine warm heart and generous temperament, which was why he was later described as the “most popular man in the navy.” Then, one day, it rained and the paint ran off his black pony. Charlie enjoyed the joke as much as those who made it a point of ridicule. His jokes were always harmless, although often outrageous, like the time he paraded a group of his friends into the dining room of one of Victoria’s most sedate and exclusive hotels. With the guests seated in their usual pose of quiet, dignified and sombre opulence, Charlie jumped on to one of the tables and announced that he was about to hold an auction. Patrons were aghast, as he sold off the entire contents of the hotel’s larder, for prices far below their market value, allowing only the sailors to bid. A pig was sold for a few shillings and a turkey for 50 cents. When the larder was empty, he gathered up all the items and took them back to the Clio,
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where the sailors feasted on a sumptuous meal – a welcome change from their usual fare of navy rations. The hotel owner was not the least perturbed. He had stood and watched the proceedings with a benign smile on his face. He knew what would happen next morning. Sure enough, Charlie B returned to the hotel and paid the owner handsomely. Only five months after he arrived in Victoria and near Christmas, he accidentally fell into the hold of the Clio, fracturing three ribs. The 19-year-old sailed back to England the same week. But his escapades weren’t over. In 1874, at age 25, he received his commission and that same year, still serving in the navy, he entered Parliament as the Conservative member for County Waterford, a seat he held for six years. Throughout his life, he had several stints in Parliament, representing a variety of constituencies, always campaigning for naval reform and better conditions for the men. Winston Churchill, however, was not impressed by Charlie’s performance in the House. He described Charlie B as “one of those orators of whom it is said that before they get up to speak they do not know what
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SENIOR LIVING
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of Charlie B they are going to say, when they are speaking they do not know what they are saying and when they have sat down they do not know what they have said.” In 1875, he was promoted to Commander and became aide-de-camp and close personal friend to the Prince of Wales – later, King Edward VII. But then a situation occurred that strained their relationship. Everyone knew of the Prince’s peccadillos. He was married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark and they lived at Marlborough House, but he had a legendary wandering eye for the ladies. He had his harem of sophisticated young ladies known as the “Marlborough House Set.” One of the Prince’s favourite paramours was Lady Daisy Brooke, the Countess of Warwick, known to her friends as “Babbling Brook.” It was only a matter of time before the beautiful chatterbox caught Charlie B’s eye and a romance ensued. His Royal Highness was clearly displeased, especially as Charlie himself was also married, at this time, to Mina, a woman with whom he was always deeply in love. Matters between he and the Prince soured further when it was discovered that Daisy was pregnant with Charlie’s baby. Mina had intercepted one of Dai-
By Norman K. Archer
sy’s letters to Charlie, which gave Mina the perfect instrument for blackmail to keep Daisy out of Charlie’s reach. Charlie cheerfully accepted the inevitable. His irrepressible high spirits, charming manner, stunning good looks and love of foolish fun made him the life and soul of every party. On one occasion, he had a wager with his friends at the St. James Club in London that he would walk naked through Hyde Park the next morning. Word spread and crowds gathered to watch as Charlie B arrived in a carriage from which the floorboards had been removed, strolling slowly through the park with only his head and feet visible. At a party in a rambling old country house one weekend, he caught the eye of a pretty girl with a nod and a wink. Later that night, trying to find his way through the dimly lit halls, he threw open one of the bedroom doors, jumped on the bed in a single bound and found himself astride the startled Bishop of Chester. But everybody liked him. Princess Alexandra called him her “Little Rascal” and Queen Victoria admitted that she found him “very funny.” But there was a serious side to Charlie B. No longer welcome in the Prince’s company, Charlie gave his total atten-
tion to the navy. In 1882, as Commander of the Condor, he played a key role in the siege of Alexandria, earning his nation’s praise with a phrase that stuck throughout his career, “Well done, Condor!” Then, in 1884, while commanding the Sophia, in the Nile Expedition and under heavy enemy fire, he was one of the main instruments in the relief of Khartoum, the occasion on which General Gordon lost his life. His exploits of daring on this occasion were reported in detail in the daily press and again, he was the nation’s darling. He only came back to Victoria once more before his death at age 73 in 1919. In 1911, as the recently retired Admiral of the Channel Fleet, he came to the new Empress Hotel to speak to the Canadian Club, whose members greeted him with a “tornado of enthusiasm.” But his speech made no reference to the larks of a 19-year-old midshipman who had painted the town red and his pony black 46 years before. SL Norman Archer is an historical city tour guide in Victoria and the author of Tales of Old Victoria.
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LEST WE FORGET Been There, Done That
D
istinguished Flying Cross, Canadian Forces Decorated and recipient of five other medals, Second World War Air Navigator Ron Butcher relates his experiences on the frontlines in his book, Been There, Done That: Through Treacherous Skies. Born in Sackville, New Brunswick before television, polio vaccine, frozen food, videos, contact lenses and the pill, a time when windshield wipers were hand-operated and cars were crank-started, Ron received his education in a four-room school that housed 11 grades. After school, when he wasn’t learning carpentry from his father, he spent his time on their two-acre hobby farm where a horse, two cows, some pigs and chickens kept him busy. Married in 1939, Ron joined the Air Force in 1942. “All my friends were in one of the Forces and I figured it was about time I got in,” says Ron. “It was obvious the Nazis were treating the people of Europe badly and they were treating their own people just as badly. If they were successful in defeating the world, they were going to have the whole world in a police state.” A year and a half of training readied the young Maritimer for overseas combat and his tour of duty. A tour included 30 bombing trips, unless they went missing – whichever came first. Ron recalls their 18th trip, a raid on Nuremburg, when he says he was nearly robbed of his 23rd birthday. On that dangerous mission, 108 of 795 bombers and 750 men did not return. Although Ron’s aircraft had 303 guns in the rear and upper turrets, they were considered peashooters compared to the German planes with their cannons that could stand off where the allied Lancaster Bomber couldn’t reach them. Ron’s plane returned, but it almost left him behind. During the flight, the pilot asked Ron to come out of his navigation space to help identify certain markers. Being away
from the dark, Ron would be able to better tell whether the markers belonged to the allies, or decoys that the Germans had lain on the ground to fool them. There was a slight difference between the bright chemicals the allies used and the duller ones the Germans used. While Ron identified markers as German decoys, aircraft were shot down all around, and the crew felt and heard shrapnel hit their own aircraft. When Ron returned to his seat, he first noticed that the cushion on his seat was missing. Next, he spotted the jagged hole through the seat. “I was shook up,” Ron says. “It took me three days to get my composure back.” Another close encounter was on a return trip from Berlin. The weather had changed, and fog interfered with their operations. They lost 25 aircraft on the operation and 30 more on their return to England. Ron’s plane ran out of fuel and had to land at another base. “By the time we reached the runway, the fuel was gone,” says Ron. “We had to be towed off.” Ron and his crew also participated in the Battle of Berlin and the Normandy invasion. During the war, casualties in Bomber Command were heavy. He cites the staggering statistics in his book: “76 per cent of the men involved were killed, injured, or became prisoners of war. Only 24 per cent survived
Photo: Peter J. Smith
By Vernice Shostal
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Photo: Peter J. Smith
the war unharmed, at least unharmed physically,â€? he says. After the war, Ron went back to the family carpentry business until 1951 when he rejoined the Air Force in the construction engineering branch. In that position, Ron and his family experienced life in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto and Greenwood, Nova Scotia. In 1971, he retired as Wing Commander. Three days later, an original member of the 1948 RCAF, Ron was back in the Forces as National General Manager. In 1976, once more retired from the Air Force, he joined his wife, Sybil, in Unique DĂŠcor Unlimited, a company started to make and sell free-form decorative ceramic products, which expanded to include military memorabilia products. Since the war, Ron has twice been faced with the tragedy of caring for a wife with terminal cancer. He says he got through the difficult times with the same attitude while he was navigating. “The problem is there. You have to face it. You have to get through it.â€? A globetrotter, Ron has travelled extensively in China, Thailand, Japan, India, Russia and Europe. In 2000, when Ron moved to Victoria to live near his daughter, British Columbia became the eighth province he has called home. The only provinces he hasn’t lived in are Alberta and Newfoundland. Finally, in Victoria, Ron met Veronica Bennett, a WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) who had been stationed only a few miles away from him during the Second World War. They were married in October 2002. They honeymooned on
a cruise to Australia and New Zealand. Working together, the couple enjoys writing and travelling. And they look forward to many more voyages and good times together. Been There, Done That: Through Treacherous Skies, published by Trafford retails for $24.95 and is available at Bolen Books, Munros, Ivy Books, Cadboro Bay Books, Bambinos, Tanner Books in Sidney and on the SL Internet at www.trafford.com
Seniors Serving Seniors Has answers to your questions about seniors’ services in Greater Victoria.
Phone 382-4331 Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Senior Link Information Line
Attend Our Free Lunch & Learn Series! Two volunteer groups starting Saturday, November 17th, 2007 & continuing Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings. APPLY EARLY online or call our office line.
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Waif to Waaf to Wife
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rom Veronica with Love (from WAIF to WAAF to WIFE) is a story of survival. Veronica BennetButcher, who entered a convent at the age of three, slept under a dining room table for protection during the war, served in the Air Force and lost loved ones, wonders how her life might have been different if the war had never happened. In her early life at the convent, Veronica didn’t often know why she was in trouble or why she was punished. At the age of six, she was expelled from the convent when she pirouetted down the chapel aisle in her white confirmation dress to the altar where she knelt to pray. Nevertheless, she believes the lessons she learned in the convent helped her through later adversities in life. When the war broke out on September 11, 1939, Veronica was already working at Twentieth Century Fox Furnishings, her first job, in the heart of London. At Fox, she packed up large swatches of material for distribution to the Twentieth Century Fox Film Studios, who chose the fabrics they wanted to use for their stage sets, draperies, or upholstery and carpeting. When the former postal clerk enlisted, Veronica moved into his job and she stayed until Twentieth Century was bombed. Her next job was as a hairdresser’s apprentice at a nearby beauty salon, where Veronica says she met many interesting movie stars. While Veronica’s father, a Canadian in the RAF, was away at war, the bombs rained down on London. Veronica and her mother slept on mattresses under the dining room table. They lived in blackouts. If any light escaped, an air raid warden who paraded around at night would bang on the door to tell them, “There’s a chink showing.” The only illumination during the night was from a radio, which they left on in case of emergency instructions. During the war years, Veronica became accustomed to changing living quarters and 14
jobs when the building she had worked in the day before disappeared into a pile of rubble overnight. Homes were destroyed and Underground stations became home to thousands of families who survived the raids, but lost their homes and all their possessions. The scariest part of the war was the “buzz bombs and the V2 rockets,” says Veronica. The V2 rockets were unmanned and travelled faster than the speed of sound, “so the damage was done before you heard them coming. With the buzz bombs, you heard the buzz and the minute the engine stopped, you knew it was going to drop, but you didn’t know where.” At 17 and a half (minimum age for joining the service), five feet tall and 98 pounds, Veronica joined the Air Force to become a flight mechanic, one of the first 100 of the Second World War. “Being in the services was safer than being a civilian,” she says. After the war, Veronica’s father brought the family back to Canada. Two years later, Veronica was back in the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) in England, this time as a drill instructor. Jet engine planes had replaced the propeller-driven Wellingtons she had worked on during the war, so her old job was obsolete. At age 24, Veronica met and married Tommy. Their daughter, Vivienne Sheila, came 13 months later. After seven years of marriage, the family moved to Victoria, where Veronica’s grandmother lived. Veronica and Tommy found employment with the B.C. Power Commission until B.C. Power and B.C. Hydro merged and their jobs were eliminated. Looking for a solution, Veronica sent out resumes across Canada and the United States. Jobs were scarce and the only response they received was a letter from Hawaii, where
Photos: Peter J. Smith
By Vernice Shostal
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they moved a few months after it received statehood. “Things happened in Hawaii that shouldn’t have happened,� says Veronica as she quietly wipes a tear from her eye. “One of them being that my daughter was killed. And I divorced my husband.� From Hawaii to Palm Springs, Arizona and Florida, Veronica spent 40 years in the United States before she moved back to Victoria, where, at age 77, she met decorated veteran RAF Command Officer Ron Butcher. Married now for five years, they travel extensively. Veronica’s Air Force motto, “Through adversity to the stars,� is her life motto as well. “If you believe in yourself,� says the Air Force veteran, “you can do almost anything.� Having reached the stars, Veronica enjoys her monthly WAAF luncheons, family and, most of all, the time she spends dining, dancing and travelling with Ron. SL From Veronica with Love (from WAIF to WAAF to WIFE), published by Trafford retails for $24.95 and is available at Bolen Books, Munros, Ivy Books, Cadboro Bay Books, Bambinos, Tanner Books in Sidney and on the Internet at www.trafford.com
Photos: Peter J. Smith
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A FRIAR’S JOURNEY FROM WAR TO PEACE A familiar figure in his brown cassock, Brother Paul Voisin begins his “work day” volunteering at the “9-10 Club” soup kitchen at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on the corner of Blanshard and View Streets. Launched over 20 years ago, the soup kitchen has quietly served Victoria’s poor and homeless through anonymous donations and willing volunteers. “The 9-10 Club provides a daily meal of a hearty homemade soup for the less fortunate,” says Brother Paul quietly. “But the need to provide a hot meal for the homeless has never lessened over time.” A caring and humble Franciscan friar whose faith is unwavering, began life on a sixth generation Alsatian family farm in St. Clements, Ontario. Farm life was hard work, but young Paul thrived. Still, he felt he needed to experience life away from the family farm. In 1942, he and the young men of St. Clements joined the military to fight the war in Europe. “It may sound strange, but the military life was preparation for my religious life,” says Paul with a grin. “Both require a lot of discipline and I thrive on the challenges. I was 19 years old and couldn’t wait to get into the military.” During basic training, there was a call for volunteers to join the paratroopers. Thinking this would get him into the war sooner, young Paul signed up for extensive training before being assigned to the First Canadian Parachute Battalion. His unit’s inaugural assignment was to parachute into Normandy on D-Day, six hours before the land and sea strikes by the Allies. “We parachuted in very low as we didn’t have back-up chutes. As it turned out, we landed in three feet of water. There were so many of us, we kept each other upright as we
Photo: Judee Fong
By Judee Fong
made our way to the beaches. The Germans weren’t aware of us, so we landed safely.” Private Voisin and his unit were to block the roads east of the landing beaches so the Germans couldn’t reach there while the Allied forces came ashore.
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“We had machine guns fired at us from a short distance, but I never got hit,� he says. At this point in the war, the Germans were running out of men, so they were conscripting 14-year-old boys and over-40-year-old men. “These soldiers were inexperienced and poorly trained so their aim wasn’t the best,� he recalls. “They missed me by 15 feet. That’s when I found my deep relationship with God. When you truly believe, you lose all your fears and doubts.� Pausing, he quietly continues, “After the war, all the enlisted men from St. Clements returned home safely. I believed it was because everyone at home prayed for our safe return. Prayers are very powerful messages to God and He listened.� Paul served in the military for four years. “I loved the military. I took to it like a duck to water. It was the discipline, the regularity and the challenge.� But military life during peacetime was unappealing. The young man came home from the war, thinking he would marry and raise a family, but the parish priest suggested he should study for the priesthood. St. Clements is only 10 miles from Kitchener, where there is a large Mennonite community. As a young boy, Paul lived among the Mennonites and respected them as hard-working people. “From the Mennonites, I learned more practical theology than from anyone else. They are the only group who embraces the idea of faithfully living the Christian life. They willingly sacrifice the pleasures, comforts and conveniences of the modern world by choosing a simple life of hard work.� Perhaps influenced by the Mennonite life, Brother Paul decided to join the Trappist monks who are a cloistered order. But the Trappists suggested he would be of greater service if he joined the Franciscan Friars, who went out to serve the people. Brother Paul joined the Franciscans in 1950. While at the Friary in Trail, Brother Paul discovered he had multiple sclerosis. He asked to be placed in Victoria for this was the best climate for the disease. He believes his deep faith, regular exercise and striving for a healthy diet has kept his health from declining over the past 50 years. “I have walked about Victoria for 35 years. The multiple sclerosis and age is slowing me down as I now walk only four miles each day,� says the gentle 84 year old. In Victoria, the Franciscans have three brothers and two fathers who regularly visit hospitals, shut-ins, extended care facilities, prisons, the mentally ill and wherever their services are needed. Unlike the others at the Franciscan Priory who wear secular clothing, Brother Paul still wears the traditional brown robe. “If you give willingly from the heart, desiring nothing in return, then you have learned humility. Without humility, there is no true charity,� he says. “I choose to serve God with my total being – wearing my brown robe is my way of showing this.� Donations for the 9-10 Club are gratefully accepted at St. Andrew’s Cathedral’s parish office. Call 388-5571 for more inSL formation.
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MEMORIES STILL BURN BRIGHTLY
By Holly Rowland
M
emories, like old soldiers, never die. And as an “old soldier,” my memories burn brighter as Remembrance Day rolls around after 62 long years. Memories of yesterday and six months ago fade into oblivion for so many of us veterans, but those of the Second World War are as bright as they were then. Perhaps the best and the worst ones are ever present, and the indifferent ones have faded away like old soldiers years ago. The Canadian Women’s Army Corps, more widely known as the CWAC, was formed in 1941 to answer the Canadian Army’s need for manpower and the demand for paramilitary groups to render official uniformed services. The CWAC was separate from and supplementary to the Canadian Militia until 1942, when it was officially integrated with the Army and put under military law. I’ll never forget the day when I joined the CWAC in Calgary, Alberta. I had always dreamed of becoming a soldier, like my father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather. But it wasn’t until that day, when I swore allegiance to the King, signed the papers, received my Official Army Number and began my life as a Private, that my dreams came true.
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The author proudly shows off her army boots. What a Heinz 57 bunch of females we were, gathered together waiting for transportation to our barracks. I can still see them all! An attractive model from Vancouver, smartly dressed and wearing high heel shoes, plus a slouch hat. Most others in sweaters and skirts, just one wearing slacks. Ages varied from 18 to late 30s, only one looked to be in her early 40s, and even the hair was varied in length, from very short to very long. Finally, after what seemed to be
an eternity, our transportation arrived – a huge open truck! We had trouble climbing up and in, particularly the former model with her tight skirt and high heels, but we all made it. When we passed a group of soldiers, there was a sound of whistles. Not from them. From us! In just a few short hours, we had become soldiers. My only worry? That I would forget my new Military Number 13401! Basic Training was a drag! Never could one be so dead tired in one’s whole life. How did the men stand it, and theirs was far more physical? I have a vivid memory of helping put up curtains (we must have used sheets) around the toilets and bathtubs as girls were much more modest in those days. Lining up to receive our first uniforms, we were beginning to look like real CWACS. In those days, my shoe size was 3 1/2 and the military didn’t stock shoes that small, so I had to wait until mine came from Toronto. The Basic Training Centre was north of Edmonton in a small place called Vermillion, where I must have looked ridiculously out of place wearing full khaki uniform from top to almost toe – feet encased in brown Cuban heel pumps with bows on the toes. When we went on a 12-mile
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route march over unpaved roads, those shoes nearly killed me. The thought struck me then, and it still strikes me now, that the songs we sang as we marched along those dusty roads were the same songs our fathers had sung in the First World War. We will hear those songs once again when Remembrance Day draws near this year. Fast track to 1944, I was a CSM, a Sergeant Major, believe it or not! I relied on the prolific advice “on how to become an efficient one” of the Regimental Sergeant Major at Currie barracks, who took me under his wing. From time to time, he insisted on taking me on his inspections around the Barracks, and many a generous taste of the Officer’s steak was shared along with his memories of his service in “the Mother Country and the Empire.” The soldiers called him “Dogface,” but I always admired him. Sadly, the girls were afraid of him. We’ve all heard the expression “He’s too big for his boots.” Well that happened to me a short time after I rose through the ranks to CSM. I had admired the sound of the men’s boots as they marched around the Parade Square and found that I could have similar but smaller metal pieces placed on my shoes. They sounded so smart and so soldierly until, one day, when Brigadier Harvey was paying an Official Visit to my Commanding Officer and I was able to put them to the test. Brigadier Harvey was like the pictureperfect Brigadier one only sees in old British films – tall and trim, with a young face, dark eyebrows and white hair, plus riding britches and gleaming riding boots (He was a Cavalry Officer); the epitome of a British General. Naturally, all the girls had crushes on him. I waited in the Orderly Room for my Commanding Officer to summon me, replied with a booming “Ma’am,” and proceeded down the corridor, left, right, clickity-tick, until I swung around the doorway and my feet took off from under me. I slid into the office on my bottom! There they stood, my O.C., the
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Adjutant of Currie Barracks and, seated at the desk, Brigadier Harvey, and there I sat, not knowing whether to salute sitting down or when I got up. All I can remember is the expression of great amusement in his dark brown eyes and a gentle twitch of his moustache. Today, memories keep flooding in. The onslaught of a sandstorm in Calgary during a precision drill presented before an audience of hundreds, while our hats, as well as theirs, blew away. A little dog tearing at my mike cable as I delivered an impassioned speech during a Recruiting Tour of Canada with the two CWAC Bands. The welldressed couple who pushed a baby pram through the rubble of a bombed German town. The smell of death that came from the shell-devastated ruins of Dutch and German communities. Or, the sight
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The author at the Peace Monument in Ottawa during her service in the CWAC.
of many young officers, from all three Canadian services, gambling away their paycheques on our way home on the Queen Elizabeth. The joy of sharing a heel of rye and three bottles of beer with an old friend, the late Col. Squi W. of Seniors In the Canadian Scottish, and a man whose Motion take name forgot in the broom closet on the the SOSI Van to Nanaimo Queen Elizabeth. Tears on the faces of toold seevets a show as they salute their mates from a war fought so many years ago. There were 21,624 female volunteers in the CWAC during the Second World War. Many more served in the Women’s R.C.A.F and the WRENS. Today, 25,684 women veterans remain from all three services, and the average age is 83. These women set the stage for integration of women into Canada’s postwar Armed Forces. As the old song SL goes, “God Bless ‘em all.” SL
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Embrace Aging Radio MOVING ON
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mbrace Aging Radio is in transition. After a seven year run, Embrace Aging Radio (formerly Forever Young) will no longer be a weekly feature on CFUV, University of Victoria campus and community radio. October 4, 2007 was the last weekly Embrace Aging Radio show broadcast over the airwaves at 101.9 FM. Forever Young began in the fall of 2000 with Des Lynch and a crew consisting of Bev Fairhurst, Peter Blenkinsop and Dave Richards. Fairhurst was involved for all seven years and remarkably only missed four shows over that period. Her role as music director, soundboard wizard and program log master was invaluable. By allowing hosts to concentrate on their guests, Fairhurst’s involvement helped make interviews much more focused and compelling. I came to the show as a guest in 2002 and ended up staying. After Lynch left the show, a theme structure was introduced and a producer/co-host was recruited for each theme. The initial Stepping Out theme shows were produced and co-hosted by Maureen Burgess. She was followed for a short while by Lisa Veefkind and Pat Nichol was the last producer/host of Stepping out. Seniors Serving Seniors’ Jane Sheaff was the first and only producer/host of the Seniors’ Organization theme shows. Sheaff provided representatives of over 30 organizations the opportunity to showcase their services. Barry Thomas produced the first Issues theme shows. As the area representative for CARP, Canada’s Association for the 50 Plus, he had an in-depth awareness of the many issues facing seniors and their families. Rick Hoogendoorn and then Joy McKerr of Lifestyle Changes followed Thomas. Forever Young was renamed Embrace Aging Radio in early 2006 in collaboration with the Embrace Aging Festival that took
By John Azar
place in March of that year. The show took an active part in this wonderful month-long series of events sponsored by the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation. Two terrific Embrace Aging Radio Club shows were recently produced. John Azar hosted a show at The Well at Brentwood Bay United Church (featuring “The Wellians”). The show produced at the Dawson Heights housing campus was hosted by Susan Elrington of Life Tales (www.lifetale.ca). Each show had an in-house planning and production crew, known as “the Happy Gang” at Dawson Heights. Approximately 25 people participated at each centre. Participants also produced and performed the music. The Embrace Aging Radio/Senior Living Magazine character productions were a highlight. Whenever there was a fifth Thursday in a month, a “character” was featured in a magazine article and on air. Six people who had demonstrated great character in their lives were featured. Besides the crewmembers, there are many people and organizations to thank for the success of Embrace Aging Radio. Thanks to the management, staff and volunteers of CFUV, University of Victoria campus and community radio for their co-operation and assistance over the years. They run a great operation. Our greatest appreciation is extended to all the people who participated on our shows as guests, supporters and listeners. For the past seven years, listeners have tuned in to Embrace Aging Radio, Community Radio for Sagers on CFUV at 101.9 FM, 104.3 on Cable and over the Internet at cfuv.uvic.ca This is John Azar saying “so long for now.” Watch the pages of Senior Living magazine for news of Embrace Aging’s return on Internet-based radio. John Azar is the co-ordinating producer of Embrace Aging Radio. SL
NOVEMBER 2007
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Chasing Lavender D
rive around the low-lying bay and follow well-marked signs up a winding hill past occasional homes and farms. A mix of cedar and maple trees line the island road and at your back is a panoramic view of low-forested mountains down to a sparkling blue sea. Finally, there is the scent of lavender. You have arrived at Sacred Mountain Lavender Farm, only a five-minute drive from Fulford Harbour’s ferry landing on Salt Spring Island. The quiet side of the largest Gulf Island, it is easily reached in 40 minutes by B.C. Ferry from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. Salt Spring’s south end has long been popular cottage country for Victoria residents, and Islanders’ layered history is visible on the fading grave markers outside old stone churches. “We wanted out of the city,” says Jacqueline Sutton, looking out on the rows of lavender at Sacred Mountain from her and husband Ben’s back porch. Previously residents of Vancouver,
“People working together”
the couple moved to Salt Spring Island in 1999 and planted lavender on their 35-acre property in the fall of 2001. “It took us two and half years to find this farm,” Jacqueline says. “We knew this was the one.” Why a boutique lavender farm? “It felt right,” Jacqueline says. “The Gulf Islands is drought-proof and lavender, as a crop, is deer proof. Really, lavender picked us.” In recent years lavender farms have appeared in southwest British Columbia, dotting the Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. Visitors to these boutique farms are welcome to wander the fields when the lavender blooms in May and June; their distinct fragrance lingers until the end of September. B.C.’s neighbour in Sequim, Washington claims to be the “lavender capital” of North America with eight farms participating in a three-day lavender festival every July. The West Coast’s temperate climate is partly responsible for this recent trend in
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Photos: Janet Nicol
By Janet Nicol
agri-tourism. After all, lavender’s origins trace back to the sunny climes of the Mediterranean. The Suttons grow two acres of English, French and Spanish lavender and run a gift shop selling handcrafted items as well as lavender plants. Part of the self-guided tour for visitors includes a look inside the drying shed where bouquets of lavender hang in rows from the rafters. Below the lavender fields is a corral of horses, adding to the beauty of the rural landscape. (The horses are part of a unique counselling service called Windhorse, offered by Jacqueline and her associate Leslie Ross.) The Suttons steam distill the lavender to make oil, and Jacqueline notes its many healing attributes. “It can be used as an antiseptic, for deep relaxation, as an anti-depressant and to help with sleeping,” she says. “You can also rub lavender oil on your ankles to prevent car sickness.” Jacqueline has known one customer who applied lavender cream to her skin with good results following radiation treatments for cancer. “Lavender cream has been used for years on burn patients in England,” Ben adds. “It isn’t a new idea.” The Suttons also recommend lavender as an insect repellant - and even apply it to their horses. “Lavender gives so much,” Jacque-
SENIOR LIVING
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Photos: Janet Nicol
line says. “With its colours and shapes plants. and its uses for healing, eating and déTo grow this perennial, the soil must cor.” be well-drained – no soggy roots – and The Romans used lavender to scent lots of sun is required. “Prune vigortheir baths. In fact, the word is derived ously,” Ben recommends. from the Latin “lavare,” which means, The Suttons formed a work party of “to wash.” In the dark ages, it was friends to plant lavender back in 2001. hoped lavender would The invitation happened ward off the bubonic to fall on September 11th, plague. During the First the day terrorist attacked World War, lavender the United States. “Everywater was used overone still came,” Jacqueline seas to disinfect hospital says. “Lavender has a way floors, walls and other of drawing people in.” surfaces. Very few lavender For insomnia, Jacfarms follow the whole queline recommends a process, but Sacred Mountouch of lavender oil on tain is involved in every a pillow cover. It won’t step from handpicking the stain. Or to cover eyes lavender to handcrafting with a lavender sachet the products. “eye pillow.” While researching lavender farms in “Use English lavender in cooking, England, Jacqueline was inspired by an Jacqueline recommends. Other types encounter with a 92-year-old woman. contain too much camphor.” The floral “She farms four acres of lavenders and flavour is common in Middle Eastern keeps bees,” Jacqueline recalls of the food, she says, but even the English remarkable Shropshire widow. used lavender in their jelly during Still, Jacqueline says lavender farms Shakespeare’s time. are a “big investment of On Salt Spring Istime and Lavender farm land, lavender is an money.” s on the Gu lands, Vancou lf Isver Island an ingredient enjoyed There is d in the Okanagan ar e generally o in cafés and shops a spiritual pen from June to Septe mber. Check selling cheese, gequality to with local growers or contact lato ice cream, tea the farming To B.C. toll-fre e at 1-800-4 urism and cookies. of this flower 35-5622 or online at www.hellobc The Suttons’ and at Sacred .com Salt Spring Is land Lavende farm is nestled in Mountain, the tival, every Ju r Fesly 1 at Sacre the foothills of fields blend d Mountain Lavende r Farm, 401 Mount Tuam and harmoniously M usgrave Road, Salt S pring Island its soil contains with nearby 250-6532315 www.s acredmounta quartz crystal. landmarks – a inlavender.com “People tell us Shinto temSequim Lave n the soil gives the ple, Buddhist quim, Washin der Festival – Segt o n plants a special monastery and S ta te July 18, 19 and 20, 877-6 81-3035 (to energy,” JacCoast Salish ll-free) www.lavend erfestival.co queline says. graveyard. m The plants Jacqueline are organically invites people to grown. Woven plastic called landscape “come and feel fabric is spread between the rows to healed” in her and Ben’s fields, where stop weeds from growing, Ben ex- the lavender’s fragrance and colours plains. The fabric also allows water will leave guests with “a sense of wellto circulate and helps stimulate the being.” SL
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ASK
Photo: Jason van der Valk
Goldie
B a
By Goldie Carlow, M.Ed
Dear Goldie: I need your advice. Recently, I became reacquainted with a former fiancé I was engaged to in my late teens. A whirlwind type of romance, it fizzled when he went overseas with the army. We lost contact and went our separate ways. Now he has turned up, a widower with a family and, as it turns out, I am widowed with a family. My problem is that he wants to continue the old romance where we left off. I enjoy his company as a friend but do not want an intimate relationship. Any romance we once shared is long gone. I enjoy single life. What should I do? M.W. Dear M.W.: You sound like a sensible person. This situation needs serious consideration. Each of you has spent a lifetime unknown to the other. You need time to become reacquainted. Remain friends for now and explain to your Romeo that you are strangers, at this point, and not the carefree teenagers he recalls. If you spend time together, having good conversations and sharing social events, you will be in a better position
to form an opinion about your future relationship. As will he. If it is going to be a positive relationship, it needs a good foundation. It may be that only friendship will develop and we can never have too many friends. The important issue here is time. Either way, do not rush into a decision. Good luck!
Dear Goldie: After 50 years in a wonderful marriage, my husband died suddenly of a heart attack. I am finding it difficult to go on. What can you advise me to do? I have a good family. V.S. Dear V.S.: I am sorry to hear about your sudden loss. Hopefully, your caring family can help you through this sad time in your life. One of the reasons you feel so helpless is that the wife is frequently the nurturing person in the marriage and when the husband dies, she loses that role. You need time to grieve the loss of a good partner. However, it is important that, in the near future, you give thought to a new role in your life. Many widows find volunteering a
rewarding occupation, and there are so many people who need the help. Take your time to get over the shock of losing your husband. You will gradually realize you still have a life to live and a new role to fulfill. SL
SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRES Victoria 250-382-4331 Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331 Sidney 250-655-4402 Courtenay/Comox 250-334-9917 Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607 Port Hardy 250-949-5110
Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. E-mail questions or comments to editor@seniorlivingmag.com or send a letter to Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2C1.
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Seabridge for Senior Living • October 2007 Edition • Sales Rep: Mathieu Powell If any file issues, please contact Angela Robak at 386-9941 or email: artfulideas@shaw.ca
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With your FREE membership card, you can visit any of the businesses registered on the Senior Living Readership Club website and qualify for the special discount or offer listed. HAWAIIAN TOUCH MASSAGE 353 Milton St. Nanaimo BC (250)755-3032
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SENIOR LIVING READERSHIP CLUB APPLICATION FORM FREE membership cards available to Senior Living readers who are at least 55 years of age. Members of the READERSHIP CLUB will enjoy: • Discounts or Special Offers from registered local businesses across Vancouver Island • Automatic entry in Club prize draws Information provided will be held confidential by Senior Living magazine. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
NAME ___________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________ POSTAL CODE ________________ PHONE _____________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS __________________________________________________________ BIRTH DATE _____________________________ (MUST BE 55 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER) Mail Application Form to: Senior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Please allow 2 weeks for delivery of your card. NOVEMBER 2007 27
10/23/2007 3:52:53 PM
SCAM ALERT by Mayo McDonough
TIME TO BE CHARITABLE
A
s another year-end approaches, many people may consider what charities to donate to before 2007 comes to a close. It is important to research charities you may be unfamiliar with – and to make sure they are legitimate – before giving them your hard earned money. Fraudulent charities are often designed to sound similar to legitimate charities to fool consumers. Registered charities can be found on the Canadian Revenue Agency website (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/). You can also access information on the site that addresses donations as tax shelters. But be wary of charities that stress their value as a tax shelter. If you have time, it’s a good idea to visit the charity’s office or website to learn more about their work and how much of
each donation goes to the program, rather than charity administration. Regardless of how you do your research, check out the charity, make sure it’s legitimate, and that you support the work it does. Every year, consumers need to watch for new scams. This year, it’s the “EU Humanitarian Grant” scam. Thanks to Georgette Whitehead of Campbell River, who first alerted us to this offer to help donors direct special grants to the charity of their choice. The catch is that donors have to pay added fees so the grant can be directed to their favourite charity. Once the scammers get the money, the grant never materializes. The legitimate European Commission provides grants and funding for programs, but e-mails sent out from the similar sounding “EU Humanitarian Grant” are a scam. It has circulated in England and Europe for a few months, but recently migrated to Vancouver Island. The BBB offers these suggestions regarding donations: 1. Do not give cash. Always contribute by cheque and make it payable to the charity, not the individual collecting the donation. 2. Keep records of your donations (receipts, cancelled cheques and bank statements) so you can document your charitable giving at tax time. 3. Don’t be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. 4. Check out the organization with the Canadian Revenue Agency or the United Way. 5. If you receive unwanted charity mail and phone calls, contact the Canadian Marketing Association at www.thecma.org or toll-free at 1-800-267-8805 and ask to be added to their “Do Not Contact” service. SL
Mayo McDonough is the Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island. If you believe you have been the target or victim of a scam, please call the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island at 386-6348 in Greater Victoria or at 1-877-826-4222 elsewhere on the Island, so others can benefit from your experience. E-mail info@bbbvanisland.org 28
SENIOR LIVING
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BYGONE Treasures
Military Memories
C
harlie was a soldier for a short time in all too brief a life. For me, Charlie’s story started while I browsed one evening on eBay Ireland, and found a listing for a World War One Canadian military medal. It was the Canadian Memorial Cross, presented to wives, sweethearts and other next of kin of Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in active service. When I purchased the medal, I asked the seller if there were any other items connected with the cross, and was told he had no idea where it came from and that he’d found it in a box of “bits and bobs.” The medal arrived with its faded ribbon, engraved on the back to “C.H. Preston 69779.” A quick visit to the website for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirmed the soldier died on July 6, 1916, was interred in Belgium, and that his next of kin were unknown. Wanting to know more, I researched World War One attestation (enlistment) papers on file at the Archives of Canada. Charles Henry Preston was born on August 5, 1896 in Birmingham, England. When he enlisted, he was a labourer, signing up on November 24, 1914, some three months after the war started. Interestingly, there was a next of kin shown, but with a different surname, and his mailing address was shown as a small farming community, showing he’d enlisted once the harvest was in. I thought, “different surname, farming community. I wonder if this is Anne of Green Gables stuff. Perhaps he was an immigrant boy?” Computers and websites with 24-hour access are a wonderful addiction. Searching “home child” sites, I found that Charlie (as I was now calling him) had been sent to the Colonies, at 10, aboard the Allen Line steamship SS Carthaginian from Liverpool on May 11, 1907, arriving in Halifax. He had come from the Middlemore Waifs and Strays Society Home in Birmingham, with all he owned in a cloth bag and a cardboard suitcase, along with 19 other children, all destined for new lives in Canada. And, as we know now, Charlie, aged 19, gave up his life for King and Country on the battlefield at Ypres. There were 9,900 Commonwealth soldiers buried at Lijssenthoek Cemetery, and Charlie became number 9,901. Charlie’s story leads me into the area of collecting military memorabilia. If you have items handed down from older generations or items you’ve acquired from your own service, you may wish to pass them on to future generations. Take time to write down these items’ history. Keep medal groups together – don’t split them among various relatives, as this diminishes the story behind them. While medals from the Great War and earlier are named, those from the Second World War are not, and separating a group may result in not knowing where a soldier served. Also,
keep any paper items related to the soldier such as a paybook, enlistment or discharge papers, By Michael Rice logbooks or diaries. Within the medals category, there are valour awards (such as the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal), campaign medals (for taking part, such as the War Medal), for serving in a particular theatre of war, (such as the Africa Star), and for long service and good conduct. While valour awards are the most valuable and the most sought after, many collectors seek out awards to particular military units like Scottish battalions, Machine Gun Corps or Mounted Rifles. Beyond medals and badges lies a vast range of other interesting items, from swagger sticks to officers’ swords, from gas masks to little booklets cautioning the soldier on how to behave in foreign countries, from censored letters from Prisoners of War to old photos of aircrews and shipmates long forgotten. All of these have value, and there are collectors who love to acquire and research them. Often times, sadly, there is no one left in a family who has the knowledge or interest in retaining any of these. A contractor friend at a recent house call spotted a mounted set of medals thrown in a dumpster. Upon enquiry, he was told, “That’s just dirty old war stuff. Take it!” Be assured they have now found a new home where they are respected and admired. I continue to research Charlie’s story, and now have a photo of the orphanage where he spent much of his boyhood. My goal is to locate a snapshot of Charlie to mount alongside his medal, in honour of a brave young lad who never came home. If readers would like assistance in identifying medals, badges or other military memorabilia from Canada or elsewhere in the SL British Empire, please e-mail me. Next time: Christmas Collectibles Send comments and suggestions for future columns to Michael Rice at Box 86, Saanichton B.C. V8M 2C3 or fenian@shaw.ca In partnership with the Kiwanis Club, Pearkes Recreation Centre’s 7th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale will be held Friday, November 16, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. and Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The show will feature over 300 tables of antiques, collectibles, stamps, coins, furniture and china. Musical entertainment, fashion show, door prizes. Vintage cars on site. Verbal appraisals by appointment Saturday only. $10/item or 3/$25. Call 595-3133 between 9 a.m.–noon, Mon.–Thurs. to pre-book appointment. All other info, call 475-7124. Proceeds benefit Saanich Youth Programs. Admission $3. Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Road, Victoria. NOVEMBER 2007
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A Talking Circle
By Carol Baird-Krul
R
esearch has or not, to talk, listen proven that and share their ideas a variety of about anything and activities, both physieverything. cal and mental, have Members, some untold benefits as peoof whom have been ple age. Relationships coming since the first made while involved meeting, listen carein these activities also fully to each other’s keep the participants speeches and while connected to their they often agree with community. As noted the thoughts or comby medical corresponments of the speakdent Dr. Emily Senay, er, on occasion they The Gabriola Discussion Group meets every Monday morning. “There are no hard have been known to answers when it comes to the benefits According to long-time member Ted respectfully disagree. of a regular brain workout. But there is Wilson, the speakers are “bright people� “Participation in the Group teaches growing evidence that mentally-stimu- who come from varied educational and us tolerance and flexibility,� says Ted. lating leisure activities can reduce the experiential backgrounds and range in “It enables one to pick out the important risk of dementia and help maintain good age from youngsters in their ’60s and point in another person’s argument, it cognition as people age.� ’70s, to the “Grande Dame,� vibrant keeps us on our toes, and it helps us keep Researchers are not sure why mental and eloquent 99-year-old Lorna Pentz. up with what is going on in the world. activity improves. They theorize, how- Simply put, they are a group of like- Getting people out to say something ever, that challenges involving some minded individuals who come together from their own research or thoughts is sort of mental gymnastics may keep the in the pursuit of good conversation and a good thing and helps prevent mental cells of the brain healthy and less prone to share ideas. inertia.� to damage through disease. The morning follows a similar patAbout 20 years ago, Bob Rhodes, One such beneficial activity thrives having enjoyed being part of a regular tern each week, with the first hour of the on Gabriola Island every Monday morn- discussion group in his previous town, meeting led by that week’s idea expoing. In this group, a microphone, or decided he’d start a group, along with nent starting the discussion. Everyone modern-day Talking Stick, is passed a couple of friends, in his new commu- has an opportunity to speak on the topic, around the circle when the Gabriola Dis- nity. And so, for the last two decades, even guests, before breaking for coffee cussion Group meets. The members lis- each Monday morning from 10 until or tea, socializing and some of whatever ten as each one speaks thoughtfully and 12, a group of Gabriola seniors meet, delicious “goodie� Howard Colston has 0!43 3,6) /CT PDF 0knowledgeably on a pre-agreed topic. concocted. The second hour has an open come rain or shine, holiday weekends
• WEDDINGS • MEMORIALS • SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
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SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 30
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format when a more freewheeling conversation on the day’s subject can continue, or one of the coffee break chats can become a group conversation. Finally, near the end of the morning’s second hour, the topic to be discussed the following week is decided upon when members propose subjects or questions, the merits of which the group discuss and then decide on by consensus. One such recent topic discussed, was “The Pros and Cons of Island Living for Seniors.� Without exception, each person spoke about the relaxed, helpful and personal sense of community island living gave them, compared to living in an urban centre. Several spoke of the quiet and serene surroundings, yet still being able to be active and continuing to be part of the community. And while the cons seemed, on the surface, to be major – medical concerns and ferry costs – they shrunk in comparison to the sense of belonging they all feel as each member waxed poetic on the pros of island living for a senior. The group’s topics of discussion run the gamut: ideology, philosophy, civic issues, and favourite childhood movies, the meaning of a word, life and all things to do with it. Some members speak “off the cuff� while others have notes. Some relate to the topic personally, others are more esoteric. Some speak humorously, others seriously, but all put a great deal of thought and effort into speaking directly and succinctly to the topic. “[The group] helps us to feel we are part of the community, we get to meet people and it keeps our minds and our bodies active,� says Bob. As people grow older, they often feel more stressed physically, emotionally and mentally by the rapid changes around them. Activities and groups such as the Gabriola Discussion Group do what no medicine can – it helps keep the participants involved and forever young.
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 31
SL
...The place to go when you want to hear better. • Free Hearing Evaluations • 60 Day Trial Period • 3 Year Warranties Available • Repairs To All Makes • World Wide Service
• Satisfaction Guaranteed • Many Insurance Plans Accepted • DVA Taps Providers • Service Provider For WCB • Over 60 Years’ Experience
Call Today To Schedule Your Free Consultation.
Beltone Hearing Care Centres
www.beltone.com Helping the world hear better
Victoria (downtown) 383-3323 • Victoria (Hillside) 370-5199 • Sidney 665-3310 • Duncan 746-4246 • Nanaimo 756-9900 • Parksville 954-2246 • Port Alberni 723-5091 Courtenay 334-4044 • Campbell River 286-6250 • Powell River 459-0597
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NOVEMBER 2007
31
10/23/2007 3:52:58 PM
Visit Senior Living’s Online Bookstore Discover a Selection of Books by Senior Authors and on Topics of Interest to Seniors Reflections, Rejections and Other Breakfast Foods
To Move or Not to Move?
ISBN 978-0-9783948-1-3
A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you. Advice from professionals who are experts in the area of assisting seniors with their relocation questions and concerns. Published by Senior Living October 2007. 128 pages. Softcover. Now selling for $9.95
ISBN 978-0-9783948-0-6
Nude on a Fence
ISBN 978-0-9698170-3-1
by Eliza Hemingway Fourteen short stories about people in compromising situations similar to being caught nude on a fence. Some are humorous, others poignant. Three were previously published, one in Tonto Short Stories, England. The book was a winning finalist for USA Best Books Award 2007. Published 2006. 269 pages. 8.25” x 5.25” Softcover. Price $17.95
by Gipp Forster A collection of Gipp Forster’s published columns in Senior Living magazine, with other unpublished writings thrown in for good measure. A unique blend of humor and nostalgia, Gipp’s writings touch your heart in such an irresistible way, you will want to buy not only a copy for yourself, but as a wonderful gift for friends and family members. 128 pages. Softcover. Published by Senior Living October 2007. Price: $14.95
Gipp Forster’s Collected Ramblings by Gipp Forster A collage of over 150 anecdotes and insightful ruminations on life’s experiences, first aired on C-FAX radio, now provided in print format for your reading enjoyment. “Gipp writes with that light touch that nudges the conscience and the funnybone at the same time.” - Roy Bonisteel. Published 1989. 188 pages. 5.5” x 8.5” Softcover. Book Price $10 ISBN 0-9694240
Nature’s Bounty: Why certain foods are so good for you
ISBN 1-55430-015-0
by Dr. Bala Naidoo A collection of articles on fruits, vegetables, beverages and other miscellaneous topics, covering the latest research on the health benefits of fibre, omega-3 fats, folates, antioxidants and other phytonutrients. It shows how to reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and obesity by choosing your food carefully. Published 2004. 176 pages. 5.25” x 8” Softcover. Price $21.95
Nature’s Bounty: More about foods for a longer and healthier life
ISBN 1-4196-1140-2
by Dr. Bala Naidoo A collection of articles on fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and other foods. It illustrates the health benefits of fibre, omega-3 fats, folates and other vitamins, antioxidants and other phytonutrients. It shows how, by choosing your food properly, you can reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and obesity. Published 2005. 168 pages. 5.25” x 8” Softcover. Price $21.95
CDs Gipp Forster’s Christmas Vol 1 by Gipp Forster An hour-long tapestry of voice and music. For maximum enjoyment we suggest you listen in a room lit only by a crackling fire and a sparkling Christmas tree, while snuggled under a comfy Christmas quilt and sipping from a steamy mug of hot cocoa topped with sweet whipped cream. Gently falling snow optional. CD Price $16 Also available on tape. Tape Price $13
Gipp Forster’s Christmas Vol 2: Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Gipp Forster Another nostalgic and memorable selection of seasonal words written and narrated by Gipp Forster, accompanied by musical selections to enhance your listening experience. If you enjoyed Vol. 1, you will certainly want to add Gipp’s second CD to your Christmas collection. CD Price $16 Not available on tape.
GST and Shipping Costs will apply. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery
Purchase these items online at
32
SENIOR LIVING
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 32
www.seniorlivingmag.com 10/23/2007 3:52:58 PM
LIVE IN THE HEART OF OAK BAY. In a place that’s all heart.
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Carlton House of Oak Bay was custom designed for the people of this community and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Owned and managed locally, Carlton House is every inch a labour of love, with care and attention to detail visible in every corner of this elegant and inviting senior’s residence. Follow your heart, to Carlton House. Contact us for a personal visit today. Call Seona Stephen at 595-1914 | www.carltonhouse.ca
AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE
CH019.indd 1
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Senior Celebration 2008 Festival ( PRESENTED BY
March 14, 2008
MAGAZINE
.
10am-4pm)
Pearkes Recreation Centre 3100 Tillicum Rd., Victoria BC
Senior Living magazine invites you to participate as a Senior Exhibitor at our 3rd annual Senior Celebration Festival. The Senior Celebration Festival showcases the multiple talents and achievements of seniors, inspiring and motivating other seniors or near-seniors to expand their interests and activities. • authors • athletes • artists • hobbyists • musicians • singers • dancers • storytellers • historians • collectors • clubs, etc. Applicants should be age 65 or older. $25 registration fee. Other fees may apply. To get an Application Package, please call (250)479-4705 or email office@seniorlivingmag.com
ed -
Limited booths available. Please apply as soon as possible.
NOVEMBER 2007
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HOME SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTORY A concise reference guide of services and products offered by businesses and organizations on Vancouver Island that make it easier for seniors to stay longer in their own homes. t 3FBM &TUBUF 5SBOTGFST t .PSUHBHF 3FmOBODFT
Your Mobile Denturist HOME & HOSPITAL CALLS All Denture Services
/PUBSZ 1VCMJD â&#x20AC;˘ Companionship â&#x20AC;˘ Meal Prep. â&#x20AC;˘ Housekeeping â&#x20AC;˘ Shopping UBOEFSTPO!OPUBSJFT CD DB XXX TBBOJDIOPUBSZ DB â&#x20AC;˘ Errands â&#x20AC;˘ Respite & Personal Care
If you need our services, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll come to you. Call to set an appointment. Your Notary Public - Good Company to Keep
Tom Anderson Notary Public 727-0909 300-1095 McKenzie Ave.
tanderson@notaries.bc.ca www.saanichnotary.ca
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Moving? Downsizing?
ROBIN ROZEL Denturist
We Can Help Get You Moving! SENIOR RELOCATION SERVICES
727-8477
Call Today for a Free Consultation
PROVIDING DENTURE CARE DIRECTLY TO YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONE SINCE 1994
Live safely and independently in your own home www.bclifeline.com
Contact one of the Lifeline Programs on Vancouver Island
(250)240-2816
â&#x20AC;˘ Reasonable Rates â&#x20AC;˘ Insured
Parksville, Nanaimo and Surrounding Areas
Angel Companion Services
Helping make life just a little easier We are caring, devoted, very reliable, and are always here for you! â&#x20AC;˘ Companionship â&#x20AC;˘ Errands â&#x20AC;˘ Light housekeeping â&#x20AC;˘ Shopping And much more! Greater Victoria 250-888-6523 angelcompanions@gmail.com
Lifeline Victoria Medical Alert 475-6415 ext.7783 South Vancouver Island to Malahat and Ladysmith
Comox Valley Lifeline Society 1-866-205-6160 North Island, Cowichan Valley and Chemainus/Crofton
WeCare ofďŹ ces on the Island welcome new clients and are there to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
250-389-0202
250-740-0035
250-746-9224
250-334-8531
Victoria/Sidney/Sooke Cowichan Valley
Nanaimo
Comox Valley
250-830-1140 Campbell River
Where peace of mind has a home address TM
Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Independent. We help.
Nanaimo Lifeline Program 753-3566 or 248-2332 ext.3208 Mid Island, Cassidy to Bowser
PROFESSIONAL NURSING, PERSONAL CARE AND HOMEMAKING
Home Care
We have qualiďŹ ed staff available for all your needs. Where you need us. When you need us.
24 Hrs 7 Days a Week (250) 480-1666 E-Mail: RN@a1HomeCare.ca
www.a1HomeCare.ca
With our equipment, you CAN stay at home! Providing trusted personal care, homemaking, post operation and palliative care since 1995. As members of the Better Business Bureau you can always count on ElderSafe for the highest quality professional, caring and compassionate home support.
â&#x20AC;˘ BATH LIFTS â&#x20AC;˘ PORCH LIFTS â&#x20AC;˘ GRAB BARS â&#x20AC;˘ WALKERS â&#x20AC;˘ STAIR LIFTS â&#x20AC;˘ WHEELCHAIRS â&#x20AC;˘ LIFT & RECLINE CHAIRS
Free In-Home Assessments
Victoria 385-0444xSidney 654-0444 Call 34 today for a free in-home assessment SENIOR LIVING
4
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Someone to watch over you.â&#x20AC;?
Live-in caregivers, housekeepers/cooks, shopping & errands, medically trained, ďŹ&#x201A;uent in English, extremely capable.
ElderSafe Support Services www.eldersafe.com
Stewartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nannies & Caregivers
GREATER VICTORIA 250-384-8000 NORTH ISLAND 1-800-667-1406
For only $1,080/mo ($500/mo tax deductible) youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have peace of mind! 390-0778 or 619-8041
SENIOR LIVING
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TORY
ations on .
Homecare and security for your loved ones.
Our professional live-in caregivers provide personal care and quality of life at an affordable rate. Call M. Harris BSc.N.
R.N. (ret.)
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250-479-2456
TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN THIS DIRECTORY, CALL 250-479-4705 â&#x20AC;˘ ECONOMICAL ADVERTISING â&#x20AC;˘ 12-MONTH EXPOSURE â&#x20AC;˘ A HANDY REFERENCE GUIDE FOR READERS
CAREGIVER CONNECTION caregiverconnection@rogers.com
Add that
0-% 803-% $)"3. to YOUR garden â&#x20AC;˘ Executive Homes & Corporate Landscaping â&#x20AC;˘ Classic Old World Statuary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all types and sizes to ďŹ t your landscaping requirements â&#x20AC;˘ Hand-ďŹ nished Grand Fountains â&#x20AC;˘ Full catalogue available on-line at www.classicrockgarden.com
Garden Ornaments 2046-B Keating Cross Rd (250) 544-4999
Participation in Senior Living Readership Club - Present your membership card to receive your senior discount.
â&#x20AC;˘
Pat Bay Hwy at Sayward Rd (250) 744-2225
Come browse through our extensive selection â&#x20AC;˘ fountains â&#x20AC;˘ birdbaths â&#x20AC;˘ statues â&#x20AC;˘ tables â&#x20AC;˘ benches â&#x20AC;˘ planters and MORE!
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your feet tell a story about your life and health.â&#x20AC;?
(250) 390-0430 Annie Kuznicki, RN, BSN
â&#x20AC;˘ CertiďŹ ed Foot Care Nurse â&#x20AC;˘ CertiďŹ ed Nurse Continence Advisor
Foot Care ReďŹ&#x201A;exology Ionic Foot Bath Blue Cross coverage for nursing services to Veterans
Mobile Service in Nanaimo & surrounding area
Call ahead for Store Hours at both locations
NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN
Visit our new store on Pat Bay Hwy, at Sayward Rd. (north side of Elk Lake) NOVEMBER 2007 35 APRIL 2005
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 35
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10/23/2007 3:53:02 PM
Courageous
By Pat Nichol
Outrageous
The Unfamiliar Road The road of life on which we travel is an unfamiliar road, Changing each minute. We need courage to take each step, to turn every corner. That courage can be found If we look deep within ourselves And in that looking accept what we find with all its imperfections and its gracelessness. Then can we be sure our footsteps will not falter As we take each step and turn every corner along the unfamiliar road. –R.A.Y. 1977
W
Photo: Frances Litman
e will spend more days of our lives as elders than we spend as children, as students, or as builders of family and career. We engage the journey of what Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi, author of From Age-ing to Sage-ing, calls “eldering.” In our late mid-life, when we are often at the peak of our vitality, we may live through cycles of regeneration for as many as 50 years. Modern technology and healthcare advancements mean there is a reasonable possibility that many of us will be blowing out candles on our 100th birthday cake. As shown in this poem, we have very little in the way
of road signs or infrastructure. There are no courses or onthe-job training to be a wise elder. We must use our own innate wisdom; build networks and share knowledge, experience and skills to help us become who we are meant to be. However, we cannot do it at the pace of previous times. Information that once became obsolete in 18 months is now obsolete in a much shorter time. The corners and the steps are closer together than they have ever been. So the answers are: 1. Build mutual support communities – no one is an “I”-land. 2. Develop Elder Wisdom – Share the knowledge, the wisdom and the caring learned over the years. 3. Champion the future – our grandchildren and future grandchildren are going to need all the help they can get navigating their own roads. As we travel down this unfamiliar road, may we be the connection between the heritage of the past and the creation of a legacy that this and future generations will be proud to call our own. All of this must begin somewhere, and what better place than in your heart and mind. This is the harvest time, the autumn of our lives – let’s make it an Indian summer. SL Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. She makes her home in Victoria, but travels the world. She can be reached at www.patnichol.com
19 Day Panama Canal Cruise April 20 - May 9, 2008
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PO CPBSE UIF i/PSXFHJBO 4VO
MIAMI • At Sea • Roatan, Honduras • At Sea • Puerto Limon, Costa Rica • At Sea • Cartagena, Colombia • Transit Panama Canal • 3 Days at Sea • Acapulco • Manzanillo • 3 Days at Sea • San Francisco • At Sea • Victoria • VANCOUVER Non View Stateroom from $2,416 Ocean View Stateroom from $2,826 Balcony Stateroom from $3,465 INCLUDES: US Dollars per person, Air Vancouver to Miami, ALL Transfers, Call 1 night pre-cruise - hotel in Florida, ALL Port, Gov’t and Air Taxes
e-mail: cruiseexperts@telus.net • website: www.yourcruiseexperts.com #102 - 3150 Island Hwy., Nanaimo, BC V9T 1V9
36
Ships’ Registry: Bahamas
Your Cruise Experts! (250)758-7893 or 1-800-465-7245 4FSWJOH 7BODPVWFS *TMBOE TJODF
SENIOR LIVING
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 36
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Winter’s coming ...
Ronald A. Postings
Ken Blunt
Denturist
Denturist (Sidney Only)
• Full & Partial Dentures • Denture Over Implants • Relines & Repairs
• All Dental Plans Accepted • No Referral Necessary NEW PATIENTS WELCOME
2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
Don’t despair! Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
383-7227
655-7009
If No Answer Call 656-0883
3937 Quadra Street, Victoria (2 blocks S of McKenzie Ave.)
24004 PP walkingclub ad
If No Answer Call 656-0883
9/14/07
Communitee Denture Clinic #3 - 2227 James White Blvd, Sidney Thrifty 9:41 AM(Behind Page 1 Foods)
... can affect anyone, and in these northern climes, it’s pretty common. If you suffer from the winter blues, consider a quality Canadian made S.A.D. light from Northern Lights Technologies.
Modern Family Pharmacy has a variety of styles to suit your decor, lifestyle, and budget. Come talk to us about your options.
modern family pharmacy 1530 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay
Put Your Best Foot Forward ENJOY A HEALTHY WALK IN A SAFE, CLIMATE-CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. Each participant will receive: • A handbook full of tips on getting started safely • Personal activity cards to record distances walked • Awards to recognize personal milestones • Bi-annual newsletter with helpful information and nutrition tips • New incentives prizes every year and the opportunity to make new friends
Register today by calling 1-888-473-4636 *The Hearts in Motion™ Walking Clubs are a Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon program designed to encourage people to participate in regular physical activity by walking.
(beside & just north of the Coast Westerly Hotel, across from Joe Klassens Grill)
250.338.5665 Professional Healthcare. Personal Service. Greg Oksanen - pharmacist/owner Serving the Comox Valley for 20 years. NOVEMBER 2007
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 37
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10/23/2007 3:53:04 PM
TASTY Traditions
By Charlotte Cameron
Her infinite patience would have been needed to pick rosehips in the fall. This I learned on my own five acres on Gabriola Island when I reached high through the thorns to pluck the juiciest hips. My aunt frugally mashed the cooked hips and squeezed the juice through a cloth bag to make her jelly, but I find this isn’t necessary. I simply boil up the rosehips and strain off the amber liquid, like extra virgin-olive oil. There are many recipes for rosehip jelly, jam and purée, but I like this best for its jewel-like look. Rosehip Jelly (with pectin supplied by wild apples)
ROSEHIP JELLY
M
y great-aunt harvested rose petals in her own backyard. She boiled them to a mush, then modeled, and dried the resulting dough into beads the size of jawbreakers. She lived to be 101, and before she died, she showed me a necklace of these black beads, which she kept in her trunk. As the fragrance of roses reached me, I imagined memories the smell might have aroused.
Play your cards right.
Join in on your favourite games at Evergreen. Courtenay Recreation, Florence Filberg Centre Phone 250 338-1000
www.everg reenseniorsclub .org
SENIORS HAVE FUN AT UVIC!
Enjoy these short courses in November:
Place 3 cups of hips and 1 cup of quartered wild apples in pot. Cover with water. Boil until tender. Drain the juice into a large measuring cup or bowl. Add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 full cups of sugar for each pint of juice. Boil for two to three minutes, while stirring. Bottle in clean jars. Note: If, for some reason, the jelly doesn’t set, the juice SL can be used in stews for an extra boost of vitamin C.
Life Span Counselling Providing effective strategies for managing each stage and phase of your life. For boomers and seniors
Are you experiencing: • problems with life transitions? • depression? • retirement related stress or confusion? • loss of direction or purpose? • aging related concerns? • changing relationships?
Sonja Lindquist, B.S.W., B.A., M.Sc is a counselor and certified retirement coach who specializes in working with the life issues that impact boomers and seniors. Sonja works with clients at her office at #4-321 Wesley St., Nanaimo, or by phone, or online. Please call Sonja at 729-9193 for an appointment.
U?
WHY NOT
TANGO AND FILM: Mondays, November 5 to 26 (4 sessions, $65 + GST) FREE TALK –SACRED GREENSPACES IN VICTORIA: Tuesday, November 15 WRITING THE MEMOIR: Saturdays, November 17 & 24 (2 sessions, $130 + GST)
CONTINUING STUDIES 38
Call 472-4747 to register or visit us at www.continuingstudies.uvic.ca
SENIOR LIVING
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Crossword PUZZLE Across
1. Hogs 5. Bother (3,2) 10. Plagiarize 14. Economy 15. Parasite 16. Price spread (2-2) 17. Female name 18. Vacuous 19. It will 20. Perversion 22. Forest anew 23. Deport 24. Weaver birds 28. Resistance unit 30. Agitate 34. Complaint 35. Passion 37. Exoduses 38. Lamp 39. Woody climbing plants, usually tropical
Mind GAMES 40. Holler 42. German city 43. Stray 44. Deals 47. Publish 52. City in Iowa (4,4) 56. Fortifying 57. Malevolent 58. Russian villa 60. Raise 61. Load up 62. Restore an outlaw (2-3) 63. Illness 64. Sleigh 65. Places at an angle 66. Irritant
Down 1. Intrinsically (3,2) 2. Mountaineer’s implement (3,2) 3. South Indian language 4. Sluggard
5. Light 6. Evening (literary) 7. Dolorous 8. Skin condition 9. Larceny 10. Insect sound 11. Ritual 12. Troubles 13. Ludwig ---------, Austrian physicist of constant fame 21. Respective 25. Records 26. Derived from propylene 27. Blackout 28. Aces 29. Charter 30. Gulls 31. Successor 32. At variance 33. Family 36. American Transport Service 41. Reuse 45. Ribbed 46. Mid-length skirts 48. Junk 49. Blockade 50. Two-toed sloths 51. White fish-eating bird 53. Ellipse 54. All-encompassing 55. Multi-occupancy prison cell 56. Regulations 59. Protective membrane for eyes
ANSWERS
NOVEMBER 2007
SENIOR_LIVING_ISLAND_NOV07.indd 39
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10/23/2007 3:53:05 PM
CARING HOMES
CARING HOMES T
By Vernice Shostal
The Laurs feel the program is ideal for seniors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m 64, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 65,â&#x20AC;? says Maggie, pointing to Neil. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re companions. The Case Worker brings the youth into your home, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to you whether you keep them.â&#x20AC;? The youth has the same option. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Janet Guthrie, who now works in the office of the Boys and Girls Club, and her husband, Mark, have been in the program for more than a decade. Over 90 youths have lived in their home. Janet and Mark got involved in the program when their daughter worked with someone in the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Mom and Dad would be excellent to do that because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re great parents,â&#x20AC;? said their daughter, so they contacted the program and had the interview and got involved. Janet explains some of the programs: Connections is where the youth is under House Arrest. Turnaround is where the youth is on probation, so they come into Janet Guthrie your home and they have a Court Ordered Curfew. Turning Point is a program for youth with issues of sexual exploitation. Janet and Mark also piloted a parenting program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe in unconditional love and support,â&#x20AC;? says Janet. She recalls a detox youth who is their best success story. She had been kicked out of every foster home and every Care Home, but the Guthries connected with her and she connected with them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We call her our daughter and she has two children now and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living a wonderfully, clean life. She has an amazing partner and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s given us two beautiful grandchildren,â&#x20AC;? says Janet. Janet and Mark have introduced youth to lacrosse and hockey; however, Janet says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very much a stay-at-home,
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SENIOR LIVING
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Photos: Peter J. Smith
he Boys and Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria provide Care Homes for teens between the ages of 13 and 18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the greatMaggie and Neil Laur est thing,â&#x20AC;? says Maggie Laur, who, with her husband Neil, and their dog, Penny, have provided a home for 45 teens over the last 10 years. Empty nesters Maggie and Neil were advised by their son, a sergeant in the greater Victoria Police services, that providing a Care Home for teens would be the perfect answer for them. Care families are contracted on a per diem fee to provide shelter, support, food, transportation and recreational activities. Each youth has a caseworker with 24-7 emergency support. Although teens usually stay with the Laurs for four months, one girl stayed for a year and a half. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was hard core, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one that we fell in love with,â&#x20AC;? says Maggie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got her at the age of 15. At that time, she was 85 pounds. We brought her in and I built her up to 143 pounds.â&#x20AC;? When the girl left, she gave Maggie a statue of an angel. The girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother and grandparents thanked the Laurs for saving her life. Among their success stories, Maggie and Neil welcomed a 21-year-old from Mental Health. Instead of putting him in prison, where he should have gone at age 21, the government brought in a new program to see if the young man could adjust to city life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now he has his own apartment,â&#x20AC;? says Maggie, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working in construction.â&#x20AC;? Retired from 35 years in the military, Neil kept his gym membership, which he attends regularly and takes their youth, if they want to go. Neil also works with teens in his workshop, where they build birdhouses, bookends, trucks, cars, wooden toys, jigsaw puzzles or whatever they want.
watch movies, play games with the youth kind of family. Other than Shamrock Lacrosse season or Grizzlies Hockey season, we are homebodies.”
Photos: Peter J. Smith
Born in Scotland, Ann Quayle immigrated to Canada when she was 11. She and her husband, Bruce, a retired carpenter and birdwatcher, have supported The Boys and Girls Club for nine years. The Quayles work with their teens by guiding them in their daily preparations, ensuring they’re up early enough to have a shower, eat breakfast and be on time for the bus. In the evening, they discuss what’s scheduled for the following day and see what needs to be done in preparation for the day, such as making a lunch, having clean clothes to wear, knowing what bus to catch, showing them how to do their laundry, encouraging them to write appointments on their calendar and how to manage their money. They also spend time playing darts, board games, watching movies and taking the youth to the beach. Flexibility, patience and a good sense of humour are qualities Ann and Bruce find contribute to success with their teens, many of who have kept in contact with them after leaving. Some have gone back to school; others have jobs and are looking after themselves. Ann says they feel good about providing a safe and caring place for the teens and the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives. “By being involved in this program, we believe we’re part of the solution rather than just complaining.” Seniors interested in giving back to the community while supplementing their pension income can e-mail the Boys and Girls Club at turnabout@bgcvic. Bruce and Ann Quayle org or call 3705925 to view a SL DVD, or check out their website at www.bgcvic.org
People Who Care
Kids need
Boys & Girls Clubs
www.bgcvic.org
A Great Christmas Gift! Reflections, Rejections, and Other Breakfast Foods
Reflection3Fs,KFDUJPOT
st Foods
and Other Breakfa
Limited Edition
MAGAZINE
& Unpublished Writings A Collection of Published nist Gipp Forster by Senior Living Colum
128 pages Softcover Published by Senior Living
Limited Edition!!
A collection of Gipp Forster’s published columns in Senior Living magazine, with other unpublished writings thrown in for good measure. A unique blend of humor and nostalgia, Gipp’s writings touch your heart in such an irresistible way, you will want to buy not only a copy for yourself, but as a wonderful gift for friends and family members. Price: $14.95
Book Signing Special Events Meet Gipp Forster in Person! Join us at these Locations. Sunrise Senior Living Sat. Nov 10
1-3pm For more info: (250)383-1366 Ross Place Thurs. Nov 15 10am-noon 2638 Ross Lane, Victoria For more info: (250)360-7563 Sat. Nov 17 1:30-3:30pm The Kensington 3965 Shelbourne St., Victoria For more info: (250)477-1232 Wed. Nov 21 2:30-4pm The Wellesley 2800 Blanshard St., Victoria For more info: (250)383-9099 ext 207 Shannon Oaks Wed. Nov 28 1:30-3:30 2000 Goldsmith St., Victoria For more info: ((250)595-6257 920 Humboldt St. Victoria
To book a tour of any of these residences, please call for more information.
“Reflections” MAIL-IN ORDER FORM Name_______________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________ City_________________________________ Prov ___________ Postal Code_______________ Phone _____________________ Email _______________________________________________
[ Tax free income [ Short term placements [ Build your retirement fund [ Variety of needs while helping youth [ 24 hour emergency in transition support
____ BOOKS @ $14.95 each = $____________ SHIPPING (FIRST BOOK $3.95; ADD’L BOOKS $1.95 EACH) = $____________ SUBTOTAL = $____________ GST (6% on above SUBTOTAL) = $____________ Please allow 2 weeks for shipping. TOTAL = $____________ ___ CHEQUE (make payable to Senior Living) ___ CREDIT CARD ____VISA ____MC ____AMEX CARD NUMBER ______________________________ EXPIRY DATE ________________ NAME ON CARD _____________________________
Call 250.370.5925 for more information on becoming a Care Home
Mail to: Gipp Forster Book Offer c/o Senior Living Box 153, 1581–H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1
are looking for people who care about kids... Sometimes youth need extra help to get them through the rough patches. Our Care Families provide a safe place to come home to.
NOVEMBER 2007
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ClassiďŹ eds COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, RolleiďŹ&#x201A;ex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike (250)383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@telus.net
CUBA - Spanish Studies in Cuba (Havana). University age to seniors $3000 Cdn for 7 weeks. Hotel with breakfast and dinner, tuition. Flights not included. 250-478-0494 ssic@telus.net
WWW.SENIORS101.CA Vancouver Island retirement guide includes recreation and travel, real estate, investments and health care information. www.seniors101.ca
SNOWBIRD? Wanted, reliable senior(s) to enjoy my 2 bdr. furnished apt. in James Bay. Period of mid Jan.- Mar.31/08. NS, NP. $975./mo. includes utilities. (250)294-0366, e-mail: starlady2007@gmail.com
WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumulations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 652-9412 or e-mail fenian@shaw.ca
LOVELY GROUNDFLOOR self contained suite in private home on waterfront. Sleeps 2-3. Close to beach/all amenities. From $750 pw. Tel 250-390-1805 e-mail ann@seniorlivingmag.com
HAIRSTYLIST has a private and comfortable studio in her Sidney home. Christine offers a full, professional service. Special senior rates. Please call 882-4247.
SENIORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ADVOCATE, Ms Toni Graeme. Helping seniors adjust to life changes: Loneliness, need to move, sadness and more. 250-656-0537 tgraeme@shaw.ca
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU of Vancouver Island is located at 220 - 1175 Cook Street, Victoria BC V8V 4A1. Toll-free phone line for Up-Island 1-877-826-4222 (South Island dial 386-6348). www.bbbvanisland. org E-mail: info@bbbvanisland.org
AVID COLLECTOR is looking to purchase your old comic book collection. Cash paid. Please call Chad 592-1163.
M.V. AURORA EXPLORER Freight Boat Cruises. Go where no big cruise ship will ever go â&#x20AC;&#x153;off the beaten trackâ&#x20AC;?, in coastal British Columbia. 5 day cruises, max 12 passengers. www. marinelinktours.com, info@marinelinktours. com, Phone 250-286-3347. HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE - Do you need a little assistance? Meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, errands, or respite. We also hire seniors. Call Alistair 382-6565.
Gentle Living Cleaning Service By Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Lo Mobile Services Insured and Bonded
Home Office Moving Post Reno
Call Pablo 389-1690 We use environmentally friendly products
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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $95. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $180. Add Logo - $25 extra Plus 6% GST. All ClassiďŹ ed ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque or Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave.,Victoria BC V8T 2C1
LAKEVIEW MEMORIAL GARDENS, Kelowna, BC private sale double niche plot $1750. PH 250-758-0238 Nanaimo. PERSONALS RETIRED SWF N/S Social Drinker 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Loves dancing, traveling, camping, boating. Have coffee with respectful gentleman in 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Phone: 474:0353 CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Nice, outgoing senior lady seeking 70+ honest & friendly senior gentleman for companionship and ladies for friendship.Phone: 665-6422
Want to reach Vancouver Readers? ClassiďŹ eds are now available in our Vancouver & Lower Mainland Senior Living magazine. Follow same submission process as for Island.
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BC Cancer Agency CARE & RESEARCH
ASTHMATICS WANTED Help us ďŹ nd the answer
Asthmatics wanted for a study at the BC Cancer Agency. If you are between the ages of 45 and 74 you may be eligible to participate. For more information please call
Vancouver area 604-675-8097 Vanc. Island 250-519-5720 or 1-800-670-3322 local 5720
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10/23/2007 3:53:14 PM
Going to the dentist can be a marvellous experience! ! UNIQUE PRACTICE PUTS THE '%.4,% INTO $%.4!, “A visit to the dentist should be a pleasurable and healing experience. It all boils down to a very simple formula - excellent individualized oral care on a willing, happy and relaxed patient. My most important mission in dentistry is to show people they can truly look forward to coming to the dentist.”
Focus on Sensitive Patients Stress-reducing relaxation techniques & environment • Metal free crowns, bridges, dentures • porcelain veneers • amalgam removal
Call 389-0669 to book a CONSULTATION with Dr. Deanna Geddo
Integrated Dental Studio
PRESERVE
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your Dignity and Financial Security
(If not, perhaps it’s time for a visit) We’re eager to share the good news with you. In addition to an outstanding service experience, Island Hearing now also guarantees the best value in the hearing aid industry, anywhere in Canada. Period. To experience it for yourself, call 1-800-563-HEAR today to book your FREE hearing test and 90-day hearing aid trial on any of our products.
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Long Term Care Insurance Can Protect Your Life Style Not ALL Long Term Care Insurance is Created Equal Call Me to Learn the Difference • You receive the entire benefit for which you paid • The benefit is paid directly to your bank account • No receipts required
MOFFATT FINANCIAL SERVICES Robb Moffatt, C.S.A. Insurance Broker
1914 Meredith Rd., Nanaimo Please drop in and join us for Veteran’s Appreciation Day November 9th!
1-800-563-HEAR (4327) www.islandhearing.com
(250) 758-3131 Toll-Free 1-866-758-3131 Member of the Senior Living Readership Club
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“I continue to make house calls.” NOVEMBER 2007
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St, Nanaimo. For more info, 250-754-8550 or www.porttheatre.com
ART ART GALLERY OF GREATER VICTORIA Until Nov 11: Folk Yarns: Japanese Textiles. A large collection of stunning folk textiles reflect the everyday lives of the humble classes of Japan during the 19th & 20th centuries. Until Nov 18: Woodblock Prints of Kiyoshi Saito (19071997). Kiyoshi was the first modern Japanese printmaker to become popular in the West and is credited with being one of the main reasons why modern Japanese prints became a major success all over the world. AGGV, 1040 Moss St. For more info, 384-4101 or www.aggv.bc.ca
STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR Nov 23, 24 & 25
FAIRS & FESTS ST AIDAN’S ANNUAL BAZAAR Nov 3 Jewelry, Books, Silent Auction, Preserves, Baking, Sewing, Knitting Handcrafted Gifts, Christmas store, Plants, Pet Products and so much more. Lunch $7. St Aidan’s United Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s Street (Richmond and Cedar Hill X Rd). 10am-2pm. Admission free. Wheelchair accessible. ATM available on site. For more info, call Marilyn 479-5676.
FUNDRAISERS
The artists of Metchosin and East Sooke open their studios for the Fall Stinking Fish Studio Tour. The self-guided tour offers rich artistic diversity. Daily 10am-5pm. For more info, 4742676 or www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com
VISIONS CHRISTMAS ART STUDIO TOUR & SHOW Nov 24 & 25 Enjoy an experience of visiting artists in their home studios and sharing in a taste of arts found only in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Shop for that one-of-a-kind Christmas gift from awardwinning artists. 10am-5pm. Free self-guided tour. Pick up tour maps at Visitors Centres or libraries in the Cowichan Valley. For more info www.visionsarttour.ca
DANCE THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF TURKEY Nov 21 & 22
A NIGHT OF MUSIC Nov 3
A benefit concert for WIN (Women In Need). Catherine Bootsman – soprano, Sally Taylor – piano and guests. 8pm. The Truth Centre, 1201 Fort St. For more info, call 595-6890.
2007 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES SHOW & SALE Nov 16 & 17 Over 300 tables of antiques, collectibles, stamps, coins, furniture and china. Entertainment, fashion show, Door Prizes, vintage cars on site. Fri, 5-9pm, Sat, 10am-4pm. Admission $3. Verbal Appraisals available by appointment Sat only. $10/item, or 3/$25. To pre-book, call 595-3133 Mon-Thurs, 9am-12 noon. Proceeds will benefit Saanich Youth Programs. Pearkes Recreation Center, 3100 Tillicum Rd. All other info, call 475-7124.
MISC
Perform their ancient ritual of Sema, or whirling, regarded as one of the world’s most exquisite and enduring spiritual ceremonies. The beauty of this ceremony will move and deeply touch contemporary audiences. Wed, 8pm. UVic Centre, Farquhar Auditorium, Victoria. Tickets $42. For more info, 721-8480 or www.auditorium. uvic.ca. Thurs, 7:30pm. Port Theatre, 125 Front
To avoid disappointment, check ahead to make sure the event you want to attend is still happening. If you have an event listing seniors might like to know about, e-mail info to office@seniorlivingmag.com
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AN EVENING WITH DAN JASON Nov 14 Awareness Film Night and the Community Health Initiative present the Vancouver Island premiere of “Gardens of Destiny” a documentary film by Jocelyn Demers. This film takes the viewer on a tour of the stunning Salt Spring Island saving garden of Dan Jason, head of the Seed and Plant Sanctuary of Canada. Various experts are interviewed on the positive health and environmental aspects of organic agriculture. By donation. 7pm. Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Rd, Sooke. For more info www.saltspringseeds.com
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VICTORIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Nov 22 Speaker Ann-Lee Switzer will discuss how some recently discovered writings of Emily Carr came to life in Switzer’s new book, This and That. Visitors welcome. 7:30pm. James Bay New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies St. For more info, call Anne Moon 480-1061.
20TH ANNUAL “CELEBRATE-A-LIFE” Dec 5–16 Take a few moments out of the bustle of the busy holiday season to honour family or friends who have died. Trained Victoria Hospice volunteers staff this annual Dec tradition. Hillside Centre, 1644 Hillside Ave – daily during mall hours. Sun, Dec 16, the Celebrate-A-Life Memorial Service will be held at UVic’s Interfaith Chapel at 4pm. Open to all. Admission free. For more info, call 952-5723.
MUSIC JAMMIN’ WITH U-JAM Nov 2 U-JAM is pleased to announce a new program for amateur vocalists and instrumentalists of all skill levels. The goal will be to encourage musicians who share an interest and love for jazz and develop skills in ensemble performance. 7pm. Tom Lee Music, new Recital Hall, #1052401 Millstream Rd. To register, contact Rose McGuire 598-8763 or roseworks@shaw.ca
ABSOLUTE GENIUS Nov 2 & 3 Simon Leung conducts, Pablo Diemecke concert master. Program: Mozart Litaniae Lauretanae – KV109 for choir. Bach Concerto E Major with Pablo Diemecke solo violin. Beethoven Septet. Fri, 7:30pm at Shoal Centre, 10030 Resthaven Dr, Sidney. Sat, 7:30pm at St Andrews Cathedral, 740 View St. For more info, call Clara 658-3073.
A CELEBRATION OF YOUNG ARTISTS Nov 3 & 4 Under the baton of conductor Norman Nelson, the program features the winner of the Sooke Philharmonic’s Don Chrysler Concerto Competition for Young Musicians. Tickets/Seniors $15. Nov 3, 8pm – Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Ave. Nov 4, 2:30pm – Sooke Community Theatre, 6218 Sooke Rd. A portion from each ticket sold for the Victoria concert will be donated to Victoria School District No 61, the
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SENIOR LIVING
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Sooke concert to Sooke School District No 62, to support music programs. For more info, call 642-2849.
THE PLENTIFUL MUSE Nov 25
The world-travelled Continuum Consort (flute, soprano, viola & lute) presents a cornucopia music muse of art songs, spanning 17th & 21st centuries. Meet-the-artists reception to follow. 2pm. St Michael & All Angels Anglican Church, 2858 Mill Street, Chemainus. Tickets $20, group rates available. For more info, call 250-748-8196.
WESTSHORE COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND Welcomes New Players. Join Greater Victoria’s newest musical ensemble, bringing together musicians of all ages. Rehearsals are Tues 7-9:30pm at Pilgrim United Church 3319 Painter Rd. Bring your band instrument and rekindle your passion. Call Mike 474-3999.
OUTDOORS GARDEN CITY WANDERERS Nov 3 – 5/10 km walks (rated 2A). Meet at Fairfield Community Centre, 1335 Thurlow Road. For info, call Wendy 370-2445. Nov 10 – 5/10 km walks (rated 1A). Meet at Fisherman’s Wharf, Dallas Road & Erie Street. For info, call Wendy 598-9390. Nov 18 – 5/10 km walks (rated 1A). Meet at Harbour Towers Hotel, 345 Quebec Street. For info, call Jaya 381-8365. Registration at 9:30am, walk 10am. Tues Evening Walks Nov 6, 13, 20 and 27. For info, call Gail 477-4472. Wed Evening Walks Nov 7, 14, 21 and 28. For info, call Murray 721-3065. Meet at Running Room, Broadmead Shopping Centre. Registration 5:45pm, walk 6:00pm.
SPEAKERS/SEMINARS/ WORKSHOPS OSTEOPOROSIS SUPPORT GROUP Nov 5 Walking is so important, especially when we live in a region where it can be practised almost every day. Presentation by Tora Cameron, a certified Nordic Walking Instructor. 7pm. $2 drop-in. James Bay New Horizons Seniors Centre, 234 Menzies St. For more info, call 479-2212.
COOKING FOR YOUR LIFE Nov 6–28 A Registered Dietitian and a Chef will have folks preparing delicious, nutritious meals to help manage or decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Each course runs for four consecutive evenings from 6:30–9:30pm. Series 1 (Wed, Nov 7-28) at Bayside Middle School, 1101 Newton Place. Series 2 (Tues, Nov 6-27) at Colquitz Middle School, 505 Dumeresq. Cost $75. For more info, call Canadian Diabetes Assoc 382-5454 ext 222.
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STRONG SENIORS; STRONG COMMUNITY PROJECT We encourage self-reliant seniors to make informed decisions in dealing with families, health care professionals and people they do business with. Communicating with Family and Friends – Nov 7, 1pm-3pm Saanich Silver Threads, 286 Hampton Road. Contact Sue McCauley 382-3151. Nov 21, 1pm-3pm James Bay Community Project, 547 Michigan St. Contact Catriona Campbell or Nancy Blenkiron 388-7844. How to be a Well-Informed Consumer – Nov 8, 1pm-3pm Saanich Silver Threads. Contact Sue McCauley 382-3151. Nov 28, 1pm-3pm James Bay Community Project. Contact Catriona Campbell or Nancy Blenkiron 388-7844. How to Use the BBB Complaint Process – Nov 14, 1pm-3pm Saanich Silver Threads. Contact Sue McCauley 3823151. Communicating Effectively with Care Providers – Nov 15, 1pm-3pm Saanich Silver Threads. Contact Sue McCauley 382-3151.
VICTORIA FLOWER ARRANGERS GUILD Nov 13 Christmas Social. Entertainment and good food. New members and visitors welcome. Parlour Show (judged) – Margaret Leeuw. (No meeting in December). 7:30pm. Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Rd. For more info, call 652-9334.
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THEATRE TWELVE ANGRY MEN Nov 29 & 30 Presented by the Mercury Players. 8pm. Tickets $10 available at the door or call 250-748-5598. The Mercury Theatre, Brae Rd, Duncan.
NORTH ISLAND EVENTS KIDNEY FOUNDATION MEETING Nov 6 Jeremy Zinger, Zajac Ranch for Kids. 7pm. Kiwanis House, 1233 Kiwanis Cres, Nanaimo. For more info, Marian 250-758-4561.
17th ANNUAL McGIRR RANDERSON CRAFT & GIFT SALE Nov 9 & 10
Bake table, door prizes, raffle baskets, over 100 crafters. Admission $1. Fri, 6-9pm. Sat, 10am4pm. Dover Bay High School, 6135 McGirr Rd, Nanaimo. For more info, call Karen 756-0360.
LEAVE A LEGACY Nov 9 Regional charities and professional advisors present a unique informational half-day seminar. $5, includes lunch and refreshments. Reservations recommended. The Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, Qualicum Beach. To register, call 250-755-7640, or on-line www.equipforlife.com
ABKHAZI GARDENS Nov 17 – Art of the Journal – a reading by Patrick Lane. Nov 18 – Poetry & Fiction – Authors Tim Lilburn, Maleea Acker and Linda Rogers. Nov 24 – Gardeners Read – Des Kennedy, Carolyn Herriot and Anny Scoones. Nov 25 – Join Mara Jernigan, Sinclair Phillips, Luke Young & Lana Popham in a lively discussion about cookbooks, local food and its future. 1-3pm. Stay for tea. Admission by donation. Limited seating, call to reserve. Abkhazi Gardens, 1964 Fairfield Rd. For more info, call 598-8096.
HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE INFO EVENING Dec 11 Do you or somebody you care about have questions about end-of-life care options? Panel discussion led by a nurse and counsellor from Victoria Hospice. Open to all. Free admission. Volunteer drivers available. 7-8:30 pm. Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas off Mckenzie near Pat Bay Highway. For more info or to book a ride, call 370-8813.
MEET THE ARTIST Until Nov 12 Paintings by Clive Powsey – watercolour, landscape artist. The Old School House, 112 Fern Rd West, Qualicum Beach. Mon, 12-4:30pm. Tues to Sat, 10am-4:30pm. For more info, call 250-752-6133 or www.theoldschoolhouse.org
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR & TEA Nov 17 Delicious refreshments, home baking, gifts. Admission $6. 1-3pm. Brechin United Church, 1998 Estevan, Nanaimo. For more info, call Joanne Robertson 755-1590.
BOOK LAUNCH Nov 24 A Heinous Holly Book Launch for the Holiday Season. Come meet Senior Living writer C.J. Papoutsis and Nanaimo-born writer J.C. Szasz at Vancouver Island Regional Library, 2:30 pm. Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch, 90 Commercial Street, Nanaimo. For more info, Valerie Grace 250-753-1154, ext. 222 or www.virl.bc.ca
VICTORIA IN NATIONAL EYES Nov 7 Seminal Moments and New Initiatives – lecture by Pat Bovey on the post-war visual art scene in Victoria and its importance in the national perspective. 7:30pm. $8 per lecture/$25 for series. Book your seat – space is limited. Abkhazi Gardens, 1964 Fairfield Rd. For more info, call 598-8096. NOVEMBER 2007
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Senior-Friendly Services? Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
This can be YOUR GUARANTEE when you work with a CERTIFIED SENIOR ADVISOR (CSA) . ®
CSA’s are professionals from a variety of industries and services who have made the commitment and the investment to learn more about the processes of aging so that they can provide even greater levels of effective, sensitive, and relevant service to their mature clients. From Caregiving, Estate Planning, Spirituality, to Ethics, CSA’s study 24 different topics about aging. CSA’s must sign a Code of Professional Responsibility to commit to a higher standard of service, and must participate in a program of on-going continuing education.
CSA’s realize that “A life well lived deserves professionals well trained!” When you choose a professional who has earned the CSA designation, you can rest assured that you are working with someone who has committed to addressing the issues that are important to you. You are to be treated with respect, honesty and understanding. This is a relationship you can trust, and a referral you can make with confidence.
People First. Products Second. Seniors ALWAYS.
Make sure all professionals who serve you have obtained their Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® designation.
You deserve no less.
CAROLE J. FARLEY, CSA
www.YoungAtHeartTravelClub.com
“Fun on the Fly for Over Fifty-Fives” (250)896-2109 Guaranteed Income with capital protection • Estate planning Bob Unwin PFP Senior Investment Executive at Scotia McLeod
(250)389-2110
MICHAEL D. FURLOT
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE Non-medical companionship & home care
REAL ESTATE AGENT
TANYA STERLING, CA, CSA KPMG LLP
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty Phone: (250) 592-4422 Toll Free 1 800 263-4753
(250)480-3562 • trsterling@kpmg.ca
CHERI CRAUSE, CFP, CSA
BARRY RISTO
Real Estate Agent
(250)245-2052 • Ladysmith
(250)382-6565 victoria@homeinstead.com
bob_unwin@scotiamcleod.com
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty Phone: (250) 592-4422 Toll Free 1 800 263-4753
Financial, Retirement & Estate Planning
Publisher, Senior Living magazine
Ad Sales - Vancouver (250)744-9545 or (604)807-8208 barryristo@seniorlivingmag.com
Rick Hoogendoorn, CSA
MATHIEU POWELL
Sales Rep, Senior Living magazine
Ad Sales - Vancouver Island (South) (250)704-6288 mpowell@seniorlivingmag.com
Obtain the CSA designation Your Way! 1) Live Class, 2) Self-Study Correspondence, or 3) Fast Start – Live Class with Self-Study. To learn more about our course offerings, go to 46 SENIOR LIVING www.CanadaCSA.com or call our toll free number at 1-877-272-9066
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Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
10/23/2007 3:53:17 PM
Mother Knows Best
By Tiffany Auvinen
A
fter three years of consistent nagging, Kathy Santini’s mother finally convinced her to have her first-ever mammogram when she was 43 years old in 1999. Kathy’s doctor discovered she had breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death (29 per cent) and the No. 1 cancer cause of death for women under 50. “I felt like I just wanted to run when I was getting my biopsy,” says Kathy, who is among one in nine women who develop breast cancer in their lifetime. “Once my doctor told me I had cancer, I couldn’t absorb any information.” This year in B.C., an estimated 2,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, Kathy is cancer-free and an advocate for mammograms. She gets a check-up once a year to ensure her health. The Canadian Cancer Society suggests that women should be familiar with their breasts so they know what is normal or abnormal for them. Many women find their own cancers, and an awareness of what is normal for their breasts was an important factor. Women should look and feel for any changes in their breasts, but don’t need to follow a particular technique or schedule. “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn’t living life to its fullest,” says Kathy. “My mother had told me that cancer is a gift wrapped in ugly wrapping paper. Now I understand what she meant because I’ve made a lot of changes in my life.” She used to work in communications for the government and newspapers on Vancouver Island. After finishing her cancer treatments, Kathy did humanitarian work in Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. She even had the opportunity to spend the last week of her mother’s life caring for her at her sister’s home, a time she describes as magical. Kathy also went sailing through the Caribbean and the Bahamas. After making huge life changes, she then decided to take a course to become
a life and business coach. “It’s all about empowering people to make the best choices in their lives,” she says. Kathy has also written a book called, Live Your Best Life Now!: The Cancer Survivor’s Guide to Creating a Happy, Meaningful Life. Kathy is living proof there’s a wonderful life to be lived after cancer. What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women. It can also be found in men but this is rare. Almost all breast cancers start in the glandular tissue of the breast and are known as adenocarcinomas. Cancer cells may start within the ducts (ductal carcinoma) or lobules (lobular carcinoma). Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the cancer cells may be very small and found only in the ducts or lobules and are called in situ cancers. If diagnosed before the cells have invaded the surrounding tissue, there is no risk of them spreading after they have been removed. Most in situ cancers are diagnosed with mammograms because they do not form a lump. When the cancer spreads out of the duct or lobule, it is called an invasive cancer and may still be treated effectively if diagnosed early.
Prevention Based on the Canadian Cancer Society’s current knowledge, opportunities for women to reduce breast cancer risk include: eating a healthy diet, physical activity, healthy body weight maintenance, minimizing alcohol consumption and avoiding non-essential hormones. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer For most women, finding a lump in their breast is the most common sign of breast cancer. If it’s tender but not painful, it’s usually a symptom of a benign condition and should be checked by a doctor. A lump is sometimes found during a clinical breast examination or at a mammogram. Other signs might include a lump or swelling in the armpit; changes in breast size or shape; dimpling or puckering of the skin, or thickening and dimpling skin – sometimes called orange peel. Redness, swelling and increased warmth in the affected breast; inverted nipple, and crusting or scaling on the nipple, can also be signs of breast cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life for people living with cancer. Visit www.cancer.ca to learn more. SL
NOVEMBER 2007
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Reflections
by gipp forster
THEN & NOW
F
riendship is a wonderful and marvellous thing. But, at times, I find it hard to define. I think I have quite a few friends, but I’m never quite sure. A friend – at least I’m pretty sure he is – called me a while ago to invite me to go to Nootka Sound on a fishing trip as his guest. I was flattered. But then he said, “You’re the fifteenth person I’ve called.” “How many friends do you have?” I asked. “Fourteen,” he answered. “Oh!” I replied. But went fishing anyway. I have another friend (?) who when sending me a note, letter or greeting card always adds after his signature, “Your Only Friend.” Many years ago, another guy I considered my friend asked me to be the third base on a baseball team he was forming. I was glad he could see through my extra pounds to the hidden athlete within. I thanked him, but told him I didn’t play baseball very well. There was a moment of silence and then he said, “You misunderstand. We want you to be third base!” There’s an old saying: “If you can count a true friend for each finger on each hand, and an enemy for each thumb, then you have been blessed.” But I remember people saying to me numerous times, “You’re all thumbs.” I
wonder now if they were trying to tell me something. The lady who delivers our mail always has a cheerful greeting and a smile. I like to think of her as my friend. My across-the-street neighbour has been my friend for over 10 years now, even if he doesn’t think I wash my car often enough. He washes his a couple times a week! It hardly has a chance to dry before it gets wet again. There’s another guy who constantly borrows money from me. Each time I loan him some, he says, “Thanks. You are a good friend.” I know I am or I wouldn’t loan him the money. But I’m not sure about him, he never pays me back! It is said friendship is golden. No one ever mentions the rust. For me, the greatest definition of friendship can be found, for the most part, in people we have never met. They remain golden and will never gather rust. They are so numerous, they can’t be counted. They are friends who allow me and others to celebrate our past and who stand guard over our future. Some will remain forever young, while others are even older than me. Each year, their ranks are depleted as many trade this world for another. But there are always young men and women who step up to take their place. These are real friends, true friends.
Order your Gipp Forster books, tape or CDs today from Senior Living’s Online Bookstore
www.seniorlivingmag.com Gift Yourself! Also a thoughtful and inspiring Christmas or Birthday gift for family or friends. CDs - Gipp Forster’s Christmas Vol. 1 $16 - Gipp Forster’s Christmas Vol. 2 $16 BOOKS - “Gipp Forster’s Collected Ramblings” $10 - (New Release) “Reflections, Rejections and Other Breakfast Foods $14.95 GST and Shipping Costs will apply. Allow 2 weeks for delivery.
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Photo: Krystle Wiseman
FRIENDSHIP
Not only friends to you and me, but also friends to generations yet unborn. For the most part, we don’t even know their names, or they ours. Yet still, they go when the call comes. Some laid down their lives so we could take the deep breath of freedom whenever we chose. And usually, they only come to mind once a year. We spend the legacy they gave us with wild abandon, most of the time forgetting the cost and the sacrifice. At least I know I do. Some people don’t take the time to ponder the full meaning of friendship for an hour, let alone a single day throughout the year. A friendship, when asked to go the ultimate mile, was given without too much thought of self and without hesitation. So, I guess if I want to delve into the depths of what friendship truly is and what friendship truly means, I need go no further than a day that is set aside to honour the greatest friendship ever offered. I don’t know and didn’t know their names, nor do they or did they know mine. But they were and are my friends. They were there when I needed them. The Bible says, no greater thing can one person do for another than to lay down their life for a friend. Every November 11th, we are reminded of this. Its definition is plain. No one can say they have no friends. SL Freedom verifies that we do.
SENIOR LIVING
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10/23/2007 3:53:18 PM
“Finding a friend is the best discovery of all”
Berwick House Victoria (250) 721-4062
–Chinese Proverb Independence, Comfort, Security and Companionship, this is what we offer at Berwick Retirement Communities. We provide you with a spacious apartment to furnish as you wish, do all the cooking and weekly cleaning, plan optional social and recreational activities for your enjoyment 7 days a week, and even provide good neighbours to share your time with. We're here to help you stay healthy, active
Berwick On The Lake Nanaimo (250) 729-7995 Berwick On The Park Kamloops (250) 377-7275 Berwick Comox Valley Comox (250) 339-1690 Berwick Royal Oak [Opening Spring 2008] (250) 386-4680
and inspired to live life to the fullest! Island Owned & Managed www.berwickrc.com
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A C M LM ON O V OS ST E- T RU IN C C EA OM TIO RL PL N Y ET 20 E 08
EXPERIENCE NANAIMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
Construction is nearing completion of an enriching full-service rental retirement community. Opening in late 2007, Origin at Longwood boasts a tranquil forested setting with elegant dining, wellness spa featuring a fitness centre and indoor pool, among many other amenities. Origin at Longwood is designed to promote an enriching and vibrant lifestyle. Origin at Longwood Leasing Centre Longwood Station, #5-5769 Turner Road
751-7755 www.origin.ca
2 BEDROOM SUITES STILL AVAILABLE PROUDLY MANAGED BY
DEVELOPED BY
www.origin.ca
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10/23/2007 2:48:34 PM