November 2009 Senior Living Magazine Vancouver Edition by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

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4 A Positive Voice

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Getting to know British Columbia’s Premier Gordon Campbell.

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8 Don’t Be Snookered by Great Gran’s Age

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The torchbearer at the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games picked up her sport at age 65.

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After a grueling application process, Julie and Ted Adamson ﬁnally call Canada home.

November 11 Lest We Forget

Cover: B.C.’s third-time Premier Gordon Campbell at Canada Place. Photo: Kevin McKay

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

common emotion among family caregivers is guilt:

• Not doing enough for the person they are caring for or not doing it well enough. • Feeling angry, resentful or frustrated about their situation. • Taking time off for themselves. • Not spending enough time with the person to whom they are providing care. • Not having enough time for other family members (children, spouse). • Living in another town and not being there when they are needed. • Bringing in outside help to assist them with caregiving. • Their family member moving into a care facility because they can no longer be safely cared for at home. Even the most effective caregiver can ﬁnd something to feel guilty about. Feelings of guilt, however, drain time, energy and emotion – all three of which are already at a premium for family caregivers. Guilt arises when there is a gap between the way family caregivers are and the way they perceive they should be. They spend time berating

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Reducing Your Feelings of Guilt

themselves for what they see as failure instead of focusing on the caring and compassion they bring to a family member’s situation. When energy is focused on how things “should” be, it’s more difﬁcult to ﬁnd solutions for the actual situation. Sometimes, guilt allows people to feel “good” while doing something that they judge as wrong or inappropriate. Or perhaps guilt comes from helplessness because they can’t do anything about their family member’s illness or disability. Look beyond the guilt. Caregivers should ask themselves, “Where are my guilty feelings coming from?” and “What are these feeling telling me?” Once those underlying feelings are recognized, we can see our situation from another perspective and address it directly as needed. Guilt is fostered by unrealistic expectations of what we are capable of doing, as well as what we imagine we should be doing. It is important to remind ourselves that we are doing the best we can at the time with what we know. Given the tools we had to work with, we used our best judgment and made caregiving decisions we truly

BY BARBARA SMALL

felt were in the best interest of all concerned. Sometimes guilt is the result of another person’s comments or actions. However, someone else cannot make us feel guilty if we are not already feeling that way internally. Their comment pushes a button we installed ourselves – so it highlights what we are already feeling. If we change our internal perceptions and expectations, and accept that we are doing our best, then they cannot trigger our guilt. Moving beyond guilt to acceptance and self-forgiveness will make us more relaxed and conﬁdent caregivers. Guilt seldom achieves any positive SL outcomes. Next month: Caregiving over the Holidays Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

FOREVER BY WILLIAM THOMAS

Odd, okay really stupid book titles

’ve written a number of books with odd titles designed to catch the reader’s eye. Guys Not Real Bright And Damn Proud Of It!, Hey! Is That Guy Dead Or Is He The Skip!?! (Apparently, I should have done a little more research for a book about curling.) The working title on the book about my mother Margaret was: All Humour Needs A Victim And Your Mother Should Come First. (I changed it, not because she didn’t like the title but because, even at the age of 89, she could still retain a lawyer.) I always thought Roseanne Barr’s critical line about men would make for an interesting title for a book. The main title would read: Only A Man Can Read A Map while the subtitle would add: Because Only A Man Can Imagine An Inch Equals Ten Miles. However, it never occurred to me that a boring book title could have such universal appeal. Britain’s Bookseller Magazine has just announced the winner of their Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year. Beating out four other strange cover headings, this year’s winner is The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60 Milligram Containers of Fromage Frais. The only way I’d buy this book is if it were printed on pages of fresh cheese, so I could eat it instead of read it. Close but no cigar, four other odd titles were short-listed for the award. The Large Sieve and Its Application fell through the cracks while Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring made the judges forget all about Watching Paint Dry. Strip and Knit With Style was right up there with Curbside Consultation of the Colon. This may be a ﬁne book but, as a rule, I always try to avoid a situation that involves a panhandler asking me to drop my pants. And by the way, Close But No Cigar would make a very good title for a book detailing the hundreds of times the CIA has tried unsuccessfully to kill Fidel Castro. Looking down the list of previous winners of Oddest Book Title of the Year is interesting. The Joy of Chickens sounds similar to The Joy of Sex, that runaway bestseller out many years ago and if it is about sex then it must have been written by a rooster. Last Chance at Love: Terminal Romances sounds pret-

ty grim. I imagine the bride wore black, the groom wore an IV drip and Father Kevorkian said: “You may now, and quickly, kiss the bride.” How To Avoid Huge Ships was deﬁnitely not written by a pirate from Somalia and Reusing Old Graves is no comfort to someone who was hoping for peace and quiet in the hereafter. Weeds in a Changing World doesn’t exactly ease the anxiety of those 200 suitcase nukes being sold and smuggled around the world. Double doses of Miracle-Gro couldn’t make that title appealing. From the shortest of odd titles Bombproof Your Horse (has to be authored by a roadside riding instructor in Iraq) to the longest People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves To Unsuspecting Bystanders And What To Do About It. That’s ridiculous! People who are dead but still moving know who they are. Their name tag ends with “Canadian Senator.” Living With Crazy Buttocks is an intriguing title for a book. High Performance Stiffened Structures is a book about industrial engineering and no, I will not make a joke about Madonna here. The most understated title by far is Population and Other Problems issued by China National Publications. Other problems? How about Home Recipes From Several Hundred Million Jobless Who Would Like To Wok The Leader Of The Chinese Communist Party Who Got Them Into This Economic Mess. Or, Thank God For Mao And Wal-Mart. Proceedings Of The Second International Workshop On Nude Mice is probably only of interest to those who attended the ﬁrst workshop. And they have all been chemically castrated at their own request. Let’s hope that American Bottom Archeology has nothing to do with man’s prostate and that The Theory of Lengthwise Rolling does not have a photo of Rick Mercer and Pierre SL Berton on the cover. William Thomas is the author of nine books of humour including Margaret and Me about his wee Irish mother. www.williamthomas.ca NOVEMBER 2009

STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN MCKAY

A POSITIVE VOICE O

n May 12, 2009, Gordon Campbell was elected as Premier of British Columbia for the third time, following victories in 2001 and 2005. This made Campbell the fourth politician in the history of the province to be elected for three consecutive terms, and the ﬁrst one since Bill Bennett in 1983. Campbell has won his seat in every election or byelection he has contended in, and in addition to his historic third term as premier of the province, he earlier served three consecutive terms as mayor of Vancouver. It would be fair, however, to say that this is not how the young Gordon Campbell envisioned his future. He laughs, saying, “Virtually none of my life [so far] was what I thought it would be.” To this day, he calls Vancouver home. “I was born in Vancouver in the Willow Pavilion at Vancouver General Hospital, I was raised in Vancouver, and aside from my four years at col4

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lege and two years overseas, I have lived here my entire life,” he says. Born January 12, 1948, he was the second child of Peggy and Charles Campbell. His sister Catherine was ﬁrst born, and brothers Robert and Michael followed. Tragedy struck the family when Gordon was 13. His father Charles, an internist and the Assistant Dean at the UBC faculty of medicine, died, and left the family without their breadwinner and the children without their father. “My mother was a school secretary in Vancouver,” Gordon recalls. “She took care of the four of us and though she had family in Montreal, she decided to keep us in B.C. My mom is my No. 1 hero. We were never well off but I never felt poor. My mom never left us in a position where we thought, ‘Gee, too bad for us.’” While growing up, Gordon worked at a variety of jobs, including paperboy and delivery boy for the university pharmacy. “My ﬁrst job was cleaning

the gutters at a local pool when I was six years old,” he says. “I worked the whole summer and made a total of $1.25. I had to borrow money from my parents just to buy a model (kit).” Following high school, Gordon headed off to university, though the route he took to get to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire was anything but direct. “I applied there because friends of friends of my father were playing bridge with my girlfriends parents and they were talking about universities. One of them decided to send me the Dartmouth calendar.” That summer, Gordon took a summer job in Montreal while living with his grandparents. “My aunt and uncle and I decided to drive down and have a look at the campus. It’s the classic picturesque New England college with the white buildings, up on a bit of a hill, with a quad in the middle and a beautiful steepled library. I fell in love with it and ﬁgured there is nothing wrong with applying.”

He was soon accepted at McGill but put on the waiting list for Dartmouth. Gordon’s uncle asked a friend, a Dartmouth graduate, to find out why he was only on the waiting list. The friend discovered that Gordon was in need of financial aid, and there was none available for Canadians. “So this guy, who I have never met to this day, decided he was going to call around to the Canadian Alumni of Dartmouth to see if they would put together a scholarship. They did and the college said, ‘Great. We’ll also give him a loan and a job.’” Though he entered the hallowed halls of higher learning with thoughts of becoming a doctor, like his father, Gordon soon changed his mind, eventually graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English with some courses in Urban Studies. He laughs, “I got to class, and this is very hard to believe for a lot of people, I actually had one English professor who totally turned me on to English while I was reading Paradise Lost. I was hooked on English. That’s what I liked.” With a degree in his pocket, Gordon returned to Vancouver and went to work at City Hall for the first time, working on the capital plan and in the social planning department. While there, he would meet two people who would go on to play vital roles in shaping Gordon Campbell, and influencing his life decisions. One was a young newly elected Alderman named Art Phillips and the other was a young woman named Nancy, whom he would marry a year later. The young newlyweds decided they wanted to expand their horizons so they agreed to work for CUSO for two years, teaching at a little Nigerian town called Yola, which is located near the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Gordon worked at the government secondary school with boys, while Nancy taught at the secondary school for girls. “I was paid $180 a month while I was there and we saved a quarter of that and sent it home,” he recalls. “Housing was provided and, at first, I lived in a

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traditional mud home with plaster on the outside walls and a large verandah overlooking either the sand or the river, depending on the season. It was spectacular but they felt it wasn’t appropriate for us, so they moved us into a 1960s prefab that didn’t have any of the allure of the traditional home. It was an exceptional experience.” Gordon enjoyed teaching English, History and General Studies to young men who ranged in age from about 13 to 24. “Any time you teach, you learn way more,” he says. “I remember getting my students to understand Mark

Anthony’s speech in Julius Caesar, the one that goes, ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ear’, and why it was such a moving speech. I was going through the speech when the bell rung, and I could tell I was doing a good job because they were transﬁxed. “When I ﬁnished, they all cheered and one student ran out of the classroom to the outside verandah and said, ‘Literature is too too interesting!’ It was one of my great teaching moments. You know when the class doesn’t move when the bell goes you’re doing okay.” Though the couple didn’t travel out-

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side of Africa during their tenure there, it was not all work for Gordon and Nancy. They made many new friends from around the world. “We travelled all around Nigeria and West Africa on a Honda 175, which is a pretty small bike,” he says. “We did it and it’s something I will never forget.” When they returned to Vancouver in 1973, Gordon spent the summer working for Alderman Art Phillips, who was preparing to make a bid to run for mayor. Gordon applied and was accepted into law school at UBC. That September, after only four days of classes, he had a revelation. “I remember sitting in my in-law’s sunroom on a rainy Sunday, reading torts and contracts and thinking, ‘this is really boring.’ I had spent the summer working around the city, on television ads, really interesting and exciting stuff. I phoned Art and told him I wasn’t sure I wanted to go on to law school. Art told me the election was on the 13th of December and that he would hire me until then. Then, if he was elected, he would hire me as his assistant. “I called the Dean of law school, who happened to have been my next door neighbour when I was a kid, and said, ‘Hey Curtis, I don’t think I should do this.” And he said, ‘Well, Gordy, I agree!’” In December, Phillips won the election and Gordon spent the next four years as his assistant, while Nancy obtained her teaching degree and started working in the Vancouver school district. Their first son Geoffrey came along in 1976, followed by Nicholas three years later. When Gordon wrapped up his work in the mayor’s office, he joined Marathon Realty and took classes at SFU in the evening, which earned him an MBA in 1978. Three years later, in 1981, he founded Citycore Development Corporation, where he stayed until he made the decision to run for political office in the Vancouver civic election. “The reason I ran in 1984 was that Expo ’86 was coming and all I heard from council was negative, and I

thought this was crazy. This is a great city and someone should be a positive voice,” he says. “When I decided to run, no one thought I could do it, but I was fortunate enough to get elected. I decided early on I was going to say what I thought and why I thought it.” After serving his term on council, Mike Harcourt decided to leave the Mayor’s seat and Gordon decided to give it a shot. “It made sense for me to run because if I lost, I could get my life clarified and go back to my business, and if I won, I could get my life clarified and leave my business and serve as mayor.” Gordon did win that election and went on to serve two more terms as a mayor who was a strong advocate for literacy. The tough times British Columbia went through in the 1990s were largely responsible for Gordon’s move into provincial politics. “I saw that we were losing opportunities, and the deeper into the ’90s we got, the more I could feel British Columbians getting down on themselves,” he says. “I remembered they used to have a kind of swagger, and they didn’t really have that then. I wanted to run because I thought it was important that my kids should know that this was a great place to live. Gordon Wilson decided he was going to have a leadership race and a lot of people encouraged me to run. I decided to try it and the rest is history.” While Gordon enjoys his life in the public eye, for the most part, he is willing to admit there is a heavy price to pay for living life in the fishbowl. “It is important that you try to get some personal time, and I do that, but I wouldn’t ever pretend that I have a lot. Having said that, when I was in business, I spent a lot of time on business. That’s the kind of person I am, putting a lot of myself into what I am doing.” Gordon and his family make sure to put time aside every Christmas season to get together. Even though they all lead busy lives, they are committed to seeing each other over the holidays, a time Gordon treasures. “That is the time we have no appointments, no phone calls,” he says. “It’s the family together and it’s a great time.” Gordon has been around politics long enough to know every politician faces a heavy demand on their personal time. Almost too late, he learned a lesson about the balance between public life and personal time. “When I ran for mayor, I remember telling my sons to please tell me if there was ever anything important enough for me to be at,” he recalls. “What’s interesting is they didn’t tell me. I think you have to be alive to these things yourself. I remember Nicholas saying to me, ‘I’d like you to come to a soccer game.’ Now, there were no soccer games he thought were important enough for me to go to, but every game was important for me to go to. That was my bad: I should have figured that out.” Fortunately, Gordon Campbell finally made it to one of his son’s games and subsequently made more time for his children while they were growing up. It was a hard lesson, but an important one. SL

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NOVEMBER 2009

Don’t be Snookered by Great-Gran’s Age

Photo: Rick Butler

BY IRENE BUTLER

orma Spencer, as the oldest participant in the 2009 Richmond BC Seniors Games, was bestowed the honour of torchbearer to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Oval. The Games, which took place in September, was the largest sports event ever held in the city, drawing over 3,800 athletes participating in 29 sports. To the strains of Chariots of Fire and in the company of MLA Rob Howard, Norma walked across the stage area of the crowded arena with the torch in one hand and a cane in the other. She appeared to be fragile, although her smiling eyes held a high-spirited twinkle. This 95-year-old great-grandma snooker player extraordinaire looked anything but frail at the tournament the next morning. Her cane hung idly on the back of a chair. Norma circled 8

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the table scrutinizing each shot, sinking ball after ball until she won gold in the Women’s 75+ age category. “I only started [playing] at age of 65,” she says. “I was a volunteer making sandwiches at a snooker match in a seniors centre. Some of the players called me over to try out a few shots. I was hooked, but never took the game seriously until 2000.” Since Norma became “serious” about playing snooker, she’s racked up a number of Seniors Games wins. These include: Gold in Kelowna 2000, Silver in Surrey 2001, Silver in Prince George 2002, Silver in Chilliwack 2003, Bronze in Penticton 2004, Bronze in Cowichan 2005, Bronze in Abbotsford 2006, Gold in Nanaimo 2007, (she missed the Games in Prince George in 2008) and Gold at this year’s Games. Norma was always sports minded.

Long before entering snooker tournaments, one of her favourite excursions was as a volunteer and spectator at the BC Seniors Games, since their inception in 1988. Born and raised on a farm near the hamlet of Crane Valley, Saskatchewan, physical activity and sports were a part of everyday life. Norma and her brother walked or rode horseback to a school either two-and-a-half miles [4 km] or four miles [6.4 km] away (depending on which school the lone teacher, covering an extensive rural area, was stationed at). During her school years, she zeroed in on softball, and some of her most memorable times were travelling to challenge other girl’s teams in the surrounding villages and towns. In her late teens, while kicking her heels up at a country dance, she met a suave, good-looking fellow named

Henry Spencer from the big town of Dunkirk (at least big compared to Crane Valley). She later exchanged vows with Henry in the living room of the same house where she was born and raised. The newlyweds moved to Expanse, a town at the end of the CPR line where Henry worked in the salt mine (now a ghost town with a commemorative plaque attached to a sizable rock, and the shell of the old post office and school). When their two prairie-born sons were still preschoolers the Spencers moved to North Vancouver, where Henry first worked at the shipyards, and later became a welder, while Norma added to the family income as a post office/drug store clerk. Her sports of choice during this time were bowling and swimming. They spent holidays camping, boating and fishing. After Henry retired in 1974, the couple fished for salmon off their 30-foot [9.1 m] boat in the Pacific, and spun around Canada and the U.S. in their truck camper. In 1991, they moved to Burnaby, where Norma still lives; her soulmate Henry passed on in 1999. Lawrence, Norma’s eldest son (aged 73) and his wife Barbara were at the snooker tournament cheering Mom on. They gave Norma two grandchildren, who in turn blessed Norma with five great-grandchildren. When her son Gary (70) married Fern, her three children from a previous marriage were lovingly added to Norma’s fold. Great-Grandma Norma believes keeping active and having fun are keys to longevity. She hops a Handy-Dart van en route to the Dogwood Pavilion Senior Centre in Coquitlam twice a week to keep her snooker game finetuned. She swims most mornings in the pool of her apartment complex. “My future plans are to keep busy and enjoy life with my family and friends, and,” she gleefully adds, “win more SL snooker tournaments.”

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To read more about the Senior Games, visit www.seniorlivingmag. com/bc-seniors-games-2009 NOVEMBER 2009

Between Friends EXCUSES

“I

’m too busy.” “I’m too old.” Do these words sound familiar? If so, how many times this week have you used or heard them? What if the “I’m too busy” was replaced with “I intend to take time for myself to live the life I came here to live, and to do it without ignoring my responsibilities as a parent, spouse or employee.” –Dr. Wayne Dyer I am referring to the excuses that are a reﬂection of our inner truth or deep personal consciousness. Repeating excuses is likely an old habit utilized as children and carried into adulthood. These short sayings can hold us to beliefs that we should have outgrown and examined much earlier in life. They became our truth without our questioning their validity. A common excuse is “I can’t change, I am the way that I am.” The truth is that we have the power of choice. We can change what we have come to believe about ourselves. Becoming aware of our declarations, analyzing each idea,

BY DOREEN BARBER

and scrutinizing our speech can result in a re-alignment of our thought processes. “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” –Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Listening closely to our conversation, and that of others, can reveal a lot about the direction our lives are taking. Excuses can reveal the bulk of what is not being said, and we can live so closely to half-truths that we do not consciously evaluate their impact on our lives. Stop. And listen. “Contemplation is the highest form of activity.” –Aristotle SL

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�� Newsletter for Senior Living Readers Newsletter for Senior Living Readers Designed to Inspire, Entertain and Inform.

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Designed to Inspire, Entertain and Inform.

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This month you will see some interWEBSITE EXPANSION esting INTERACTIVE additions to This month you will see some interour website. We will be adding an esting INTERACTIVE additions EVENTS section, where the com-to our website. Weinformation will be adding an munity can post about EVENTS section, where upcoming events. We will the alsocombe munityacan post component information called about adding “social” upcoming events. Wevisitors will alsocan be “SPEAK OUT” where adding a “social” component called post articles and comments. “SPEAK OUT” where visitors can articles and to comments. Apost FRESH LOOK our Readers Newsletter. Tell us what you think... A FRESH LOOK to our Readers Newsletter. Tell us what you think...

My intention is to live forever. So far, so good!

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This will be something inspirational, like the Tiger TITLEblurb on the Business Newsletter. Blah, Woods This will be something inspirational, likelife. the ITiger Blah, blah....And that’s how I look at my will Woods the Business Newsletter. Blah, I be betterblurb as a on golfer, I will be better as a person, Blah, blah....And that’s how I look at my life. I will will be better as a father, I will be a better husband, as aas golfer, I willThat’s be better a person, I I be willbetter be better a friend. the as beauty of tomorrow. There better asas a father, I willThe be alessons better husband, iswill nobe such thing a setback. I learn today I will apI will be better as a friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow. There ply tomorrow, and I will be better.” is no suchWoods thing as a setback. The lessons I learn today I will ap-Tiger ply tomorrow, and I will be better.” -Tiger Woods

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Anotherisinspiring blurb....personal growth,inetc. Goliath thesuccessful problem you havere�rement currently front • inspiring ar�cles on you David think of the story ofone David and Goliath, ASK A PROFESSIONAL of“Ifyou. needed only slingshot and Goliath the problem in travel front felled hisisproblem. Thenyou he have got tocurrently go and onto other • seasonal recipes • computer, gardening �ps ASK Aposted PROFESSIONAL New articles this month: of you. David only each one slingshot problems. The needed point is that one of usand needs felled his problem. Then he got to go ontoon other • a new Sudoku puzzle every month to focus that magnifying glass of attention one Article 1 by Advertiser A New articles posted this month: problems. Thesolve pointit,isthen that go each onenext of usthing.” needs speciﬁc thing, to the Article 2 by Advertiser B updates on changes to our magazine orHansen website to focus that magnifying glass of attention on one Article 1 by• Advertiser A - Mark Victor Article 3 by Advertiser C thing, solve it, then go to the next thing.” Article 2 by Advertiser B Article 4 by Advertiser • surveys toD secure yourspeciﬁc input • contests toVictor enter for prizes - Mark Hansen Article 3 by Advertiser C Article 4 • by Advertiser YOUR HEALTH - Herbal Remedies For Anxiety And lists ofD our most recent senior-focused adver�sers Stress WELCOME NEW ADVERTISERES YOUR HEALTH ar�cles - Herbal Remedies For website. Anxiety And • listsNEW ofADVERTISERES our most recent advice onhealth, our This has something on wellness, may be pharmaStress WELCOME We welcome these new businesses to ceuticals, cosmetics, herbal options, etc. Put article on This has something on wellness, health,videos may be pharmaSenior Living. It’s because to of their sup• access interes�ng websites and online website to track We welcome these new businesses to

port that we can bring you this magaceuticals, cosmetics, herbal options, etc. Put article on [READ MORE] Senior Living. It’sWe because of their supzine every month. encourage you, website to track portreader, that we bringknow you this magathe tocan let them through [READ MORE] zine every month.ofWe encourage HOME REPAIRS (POST-WINTER) YOUR patronage their business you, that the appreciate reader, to let them We will do a section that’s related to home renovations, you them asknow well. through HOME REPAIRS (POST-WINTER) YOUR patronage of their business that repairs, etc. Handyman tips, etc. We will put these articles Advertiser A We will do a section that’s related to home renovations, you appreciate them as well. on our website to track them. Advertiser B repairs, etc. Handyman tips, etc. We will put these articles Advertiser A [READ MORE] Advertiser C on our website to track them. Advertiser B Advertiser D [READ MORE] Advertiser C HOW IS YOUR LIFE? SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & FULL LOWER MAINLAND Advertiser D This is an inspirational, motivational article designed to be

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THE SUNSET WATCHER by Barry Proud

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REFLECTIONS, REJECTIONS AND OTHER BREAKFAST FOODS

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A collection of Gipp Forster’s published columns in Senior Living magazine, with other unpublished writings thrown in for good measure.

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EMBRACE THE JOURNEY - A Care Giver’s Story by Valerie Green

The very personal story of her own journey as a care giver to her elderly parents. Relevant for numerous adult children who are faced with a similar challenge. 96 pages.

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By Patricia O’Connor

The search for the truth behind the reported death of the mother of top model Annie O’Hanlon. Annie receives an urgent call from journalist Dermot Moore who believes her mother Jacqueline is still alive.

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MY PATCHWORK LIFE by Patricia O’Connor

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THE SPOILS OF ANGEL’S WAR by Dave Sheed

The story unfolds in England at the beginning of WWII. Angela Gibson, affectionately known as Angel, ﬁnds out that it isn’t always the plans that we make for our life, sometimes it’s the plans that life makes for us that determines the course of our life. 144 pages.

IDENTITY THEFT: In Your Good Name by George Greenwood

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RED TOMATOES by Les MacNeill

In 2001, a brutal attack while sailing the South Paciﬁc, left Les MacNeill with 8 skull fractures, severe brain trauma, and a ruptured eye. Although not expected to live, he wrote this story of the trip, his recovery, and how he lives with his injuries. 100 pages. Price $14.95

NUDE ON A FENCE by Eliza Hemingway

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NATURE’S BOUNTY: Why certain foods are so good for you by Dr. Bala Naidoo

Reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and obesity by choosing your food carefully. 176 pages.

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By choosing your food properly, you can reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and obesity. 168 pages.

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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. 188 pages.

Price $10.00

NOVEMBER 2009

Scratching the Surface: Australia BY ENISE OLDING

Photo: John van

den Hengel

Photo: Enise Olding

With its historic bridge, n 1787, the first fleet myriad sailboats, ferleft Portsmouth, England with its ries and other watercraft on sun sparkled water load of convict passenagainst a backdrop of gers bound for what is deep blue sky it was one now called Australia. Capof those unforgettable tain Arthur Phillip aboard magic moments. HMS Sirius was not taken No short travel article with Botany Bay and went could do justice to the on to find one of the finest variety of delights that harbours in the world, in Sydney offers from the which a thousand sail of readily available incredthe line might ride in perfect security the finest harible array of internaSunset Hamilton Island, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland bour in the world, a place tional cuisine to the 19th now simply called Sydney. century Queen Victoria Their journey of over eight months con- rial our walking routes took us past Building (QVB). This remarkable site trasts sharply with our direct 15-hour many notable historic buildings and we occupies a whole city block, with its 25-minute Vancouver to Sydney flight, gradually became immersed in the es- centre dome, magnificent stained glass which after a few movies, meals and sence of the city. First off was a three- and superb shops, to the 30-hectare snoozes deposited us on the other side hour boat tour of the harbour, with its Royal Botanic Gardens, which embrac254 km of shoreline and 54 sq km of es Farm Cove, to its 37 sandy beaches. of the world. We’d booked the flight, four days water, to better orient ourselves. Hav- There’s no lack of information on this stay in Sydney, New South Wales, and ing viewed such destinations as the clean, modern, historic and fascinating had tickets to a performance at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the vibrant city, though even combined they likely Sydney Opera House, and that was Darling Harbour area and the Rocks only scratch the surface. Flying direct from Sydney to Hamilit. The plan was to spend four days in from the water, we set off to visit them Sydney and then figure out where to by foot making good use of the many ton Island in Queenslands Whitsunday go for the remainder of our three-week walkways, which provide an endlessly Islands, the temperature notched up a visit. The land Down Under offers an changing panorama of stunning views few degrees and now, to us, it was hot endless variety of travel experiences of the city and harbour. summer weather. Beaches, boats, brilThe iconic Sydney Opera but, with the help of a local travel proliantly coloured birds, palm trees, fessional, we decided to visit the Great House is an obvious mustOne of the Barrier Reef and then the wet tropical see destination and we had House loungeSydney Opera the harbour s overlooking tickets to a concert on a rainforest area. and the brid ge. It was autumn in Australia and al- Sunday afternoon. At interthough leaves were swirling underfoot, mission, midst a very movthe weather was spring/summer warm to ing performance of music us, and less packed with visitors. Dark- by Mozart performed by ness comes by early evening, so we full orchestra and comstarted each day promptly and explored plete with 300-voice the city by foot, ferry, rail and bus. Ho- choir, we sipped bubbly telled near historic Hyde Park with its while standing in the upArchibald Fountain, mature trees, grand per lounge overlooking walkways and Art Deco Anzac Memo- the magnificent harbour. 12

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

swimming pools, shuttle buses and wonderful food choices gave us the perfect spot for some R & R. But it was to the Great Barrier Reef that we were drawn, and a full day was needed. Aboard the FantaSea high-speed catamaran, we cruised through the Whitsunday Islands to the Coral Sea, receiving snorkelling information and scuba experience options, had one-on-one discussions with marine biologists as to what to expect upon arrival and what protocol is required when at the reef and saw filmed footage of the area. But the actual experience surpassed even what we were anticipating after all that orientation. We rode in the semi-sub accompanied by a marine biologist who explained what it was we were seeing, we viewed the scuba diving lesson from the underwater observatory and we indulged in a sumptuous lunch. But, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef was the best experience. Not knowing a single soul on the entire continent was a good thing, as we had to clad ourselves in stinger suits before going into the water. These lightweight, form clinging body suits with hoods and mitts offer protection against jelly fish and, in particular, the minute but deadly Irukandji. Looking alarmingly like a lumpy uncooked sausage in an insipidly pale pink number, I joined my aqua-clad husband and, once we’d gotten over laughing at appearance we entered the marvellous world of the reef. We participated in sailing the 60-foot [18.3 m] former racing yacht Banjo Paterson a few days later as we headed out to the seven-kilometre white silica sand Whitehaven beach on Whitsunday Island. Unspoiled and quiet, this ribbon of beach with its crystal clear water and lush foliage is considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Beyond ideal, it is a place to simply be, wander slowly and marvel. The marine biologist on board prepared us for more snorkelling at Chalkies Beach with its fringing reef and soft corals (this time in more figure flattering neoprene suits). This is where we hovered over a turtle watching it munch un-

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den Hengel

perturbed on bottom grasses and explored the corals. Well fed, full of satisfaction at the wonders of this beautiful area and sailing gently back to the mainland, we learned about the real AB Banjo Paterson (1864-1941). He was the famous bush poet who penned Clancy of the Overﬂow and Waltzing Matilda. His image appears on the Australian $10 bill against the copy protection micro printing background of the words from The Man from Snowy River. Once on the mainland and in a rental car, we head north to Cairns. Acres of sugar cane, banana plantations, cane train tracks and trucks, and towns rest in heat and humid-

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Photo: John van den Hengel

van Photo: John

rikeets Rainbow Lo

ity seemingly unchanged since the 1950s. Off the main road, we headed into small communities meeting friendly and welcoming people like those in Babinda, Queensland who told us theirs was the wettest town on earth, and to be sure to take the crocodile warnings seriously. We visited lonely beaches and, indeed, the further north we went, the bigger and more detailed beach notices became – crocodile warnings, stinger warnings, and cassowary warnings. We didn’t see anyone swimming, but we noticed the stinger nets at popular swim sites, and we never did see the legendary monstrously large cassowary bird. Sister city to Sidney, B.C., Cairns is the gateway to tropical Queensland and from here we headed into the wet tropical rainforests. An unforgettably long day with our guide Wayne took us into The Daintree and to Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where the rainforest meets the reef. Meandering up the Daintree River, our guide pointed out crocodiles basking on the mudﬂats, snakes coiled in tree branches and a baby croc resting on an overhanging branch. A ﬁve-metre-long ancient male croc swam eerily along the bank and a later boat reported that he headed to that branch, knocked off the baby croc and then ate it. Thus, we learned a little more about the habits of crocodiles. Interpretive walks through deeply shaded and densely

The author on the white-silica sands of “Whitehaven Beach” on the eastern side of uninhabited Whitsunday Island.

wooded areas revealed the secrets of the vines, canopies and life within the rainforests. Showing us an idiot fruit, Wayne explains that it comes from an ancient flowering tree native to The Daintree for 120 million years, the Ribbonwood or Idiospermum Australiense. We ended the day hot, sweaty, entranced and humbled at the ancient nature we’d experienced at Cape Tribulation, our furthest point north on this trip. Back along the winding coast road, past the magnificent northern beaches, we headed back into Cairns for a day of recovery before making our way to Kuranda, a village in the rainforest 300 metres above sea level. Taking the seven-and-a-half-kilometre Skyrail gondola journey up over the forest, we could now see the forest canopy we have been viewing from the ground on our tour with Wayne the day before and appreciated it even more. A former hippy refuge, Kuranda is now a tourist haven with shops, restaurants, a birdworld, koala gardens and butterfly sanctuary. We headed away from the hubbub and were rewarded by finding a winding street, which evoked the 1960s and lead us to a drumming circle. A variety of musicians with an array of instruments were engaged in one of their impromptu musical gatherings. We also found Jimmy Boongar Edwards in his rambling studio eagerly chatting with people about his art and what it represented. Having learned from his grandparents about the bush and his tribal peoples, he’s spent most of his life painting the stories that were told to him. Built for the gold rush, the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway with its heritage carriages took us back to Cairns through the Barron Gorge by way of 15 tunnels, around 93 curves, alongside waterfalls and over bridges. A flight to Sydney, then another to Vancouver and we arrive amazingly the same time we left (due to the international date line) with a strong hankering to return to Australia. We had, like many of the guidebooks, just scratched the surface of what that great land Down SL Under has to offer.

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LITTLE MOUNTAIN NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE LONDON DRUGS - 1187 ROBSON MAIN ENTRANCE RACK MAIN ST SKYTRAIN STN MAPLE MEDICAL CLINIC MARPOLE COMMUNITY CENTRE MARPOLE LIBRARY MEDICAL CLINIC - 1280 GRANVILLE MERCATO MALL MID-MAIN COMM HEALTH CENTRE MT PLEASANT COMMUNITY CENTRE MT PLEASANT NGHBRHD HOUSE NANAIMO SKY TRAIN STN OAKRIDGE LIBRARY OAKRIDGE SENIOR’S CENTRE O’KEEFE SENIOR LIVING APT PARKVIEW TERRACE PHARMASAVE 595 BURRARD PLATINUM CARE RAYCAM COMMUNITY CENTRE RENFREW COMMUNITY CENTRE RENFREW PUBLIC LIBRARY RENFREW SKY TRAIN STN RICHMOND/VAN HEALTH UNIT RILEY PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE RILEY PARK LIBRARY ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE ROYAL CENTRE MEDICAL RUPERT SKYTRAIN STN SHANNON OAKS SHOPPERS DRUG MART SIDNEY MANOR SINCLAIR CENTRE SORRENTO MARKET STADIUM SKYTRAIN STN S GRANVILLE PARK LODGE S GRANVILLE SENIOR’S CENTRE

SOUTH HILL LIBRARY SOUTHVIEW HEIGHTS AND TERRACE ST PAUL HOSPITAL STRATHCONA COMMUNITY CENTRE STRATHCONA LIBRARY THUNDERBIRD COMMUNITY CENTRE TROUT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTRE UBC HOSPITAL VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY VGH EMERGENCY WATERFRONT SKY TRAIN STN WEST END AQUATIC CENTRE WEST END SENIORS NETWORK WEST POINT GREY PUBLIC LIBRARY YMCA COMMUNITY SERVICES WEST VANCOUVER AMICA AT WEST VANCOUVER BUS STOP 2002 PARK ROYAL BUS STOP 2051 PARK ROYAL GLENEAGLES COMMUNITY CENTRE HOLLYBURN HOUSE SUPER VALU WEST VAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY WEST VANCOUVER COMM CENTRE WHITE ROCK HOME INSTEAD PACIFIC CARLTON SUNNYSIDE MANOR THE PENINSULA RESORT RETIREMENT LIVING

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VANCOUVER ISLAND EDITION DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT VANCOUVER ISLAND BC

VANCOUVER EDITION DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT MAINLAND BC

Recommend a Distribution Location Near You! Senior Living is looking for convenient, high trafﬁc distribution locations throughout the Greater Vancouver region. If you know of a place of business or activity centre that would be a convenient location for interested readers to pick up our magazine, let us know. Email: ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Phone 1-877-479-4705 NOVEMBER 2009

s we were gathering material for this Planned Giving edition and talking to charities, it became clear that many are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn – some more than others. But almost all have experienced changes in the sources of their funding and the giving habits of their donors and supporters. A recent survey of charities and foundations indicated drops in funding this year of about 35 per cent on average. This drop mostly reﬂects donations from private individuals. Some, however, are reeling from government or funding agency cuts as deep as 90 per cent. Some charities, whose funding depends primarily on agency or government funding, have even had to close their doors. Those that have a mix of agency, government and private funding seem to have weathered the storm the best. In a few cases, a cut in one source was covered

BY BARBARA RISTO, PUBLISHER

by an increase from another source – but those were rare situations. Catriona Johnson, Executive Director of the Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre (VEPC) says their organization’s summer newsletter attracted 20 per cent less than it did last year but saw an increase in pledge amounts for their recent SuperWalk for Parkinson’s. She attributes this to the extra hard work of teams to bring in donations this year. John Hughes, Manager of Operations and Development for Craigdarroch Castle says, “We’ve just completed our high season and the donation boxes look to be down about 35-40 per cent, at this point. Those that have visited are spending less in the gift shop and are by-passing the donation boxes or putting less in.” John hopes to see an improvement as they go into their Christmas program but is afraid they may still come up short this year.

Your gift today ensure the

wishes of tomorrow.

We are dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Numerous charities depend on funding from foundations but even that resource has dwindled. The investments overseen by foundations are producing less interest than before and with less money to hand out, are having to make some critical decisions about who they will fund and for how much. Jane Sheaff, Executive Director Seniors Serving Seniors says donations from private sources have remained constant, but grants from foundations were down 90 per cent. Luckily, they were able to secure funding from another source so services and operational hours did not need to be cut this year. Vancouver Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in B.C. They fund a variety of community initiatives province-wide from arts and culture to education, from environment to children and youth, from animal welfare to health and medical research and social

Photograph by Denise Rowe ©, PhotoSensitive

PLANNED GIVING

Charities Need You to Give

Kevin Connell with his wife, Mariette. Kevin is now in remission after treatment of a multiple myeloma, a rare cancer.

Embrace giving. Join the ﬁght against cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society is your best investment in the cancer cause. Your courageous gift brings hope to thousands of people by funding outstanding research projects every year. A gift in your Will, stock or cash is tax deductible and goes directly to the ﬁght against cancer. For immediate attention, please contact Toni Andreola at tandreola@bc.cancer.ca or 1 800-663-2524 (Ext. 293). Ask for a free copy of Your Personal Estate and Will Planning Guide.

Contact us at: Make-A-Wish BC & Yukon tel. 604 688 7944 toll-free 1 866 277 9474 bcchapter@makeawish.ca www.makeawishbc.ca 18

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

cancer.ca

PLANNED GIVING

issues. They hold over 1200 endowment funds for individuals, families, non-profits and corporations. In 2008, they distributed almost $60 million to community projects across B.C. Lisa Pullan, Vice President, Development and Donor Services, says Vancouver Foundation has seen a decrease in contributions from donors of about 35 per cent since the economic downturn. “To add to that, we’ve had many more organizations applying to us for grants as they’ve experienced greater demands for their services, struggles with shifts in government funding, and are challenged with their own fundraising efforts. “We made a decision to continuing fund community projects as much as we could this year, despite the reduced intake of donations and the declines in our investment fund. We felt that now, more than ever, communities and their charities needed our support,” says Lisa. “Regardless of the amount we have available to fund worthy community projects, our staff and volunteers scrutinize and evaluate each grant request closely. This process gives us the confidence that we’re making the most effective use of the dollars. With less available to grant this year, the importance of that process has been underscored.” Despite the decreases in contributions, they’ve still managed to do relatively well in this climate, says Lisa. “Vancouver Foundation has a 66-year history in the community, and many generous donors with tremendous foresight have left gifts in their wills to support the community. They’re interested in leaving a positive legacy, and a gift that will endure in perpetuity.” Most of the non-profits surveyed said their donations usually increase in the final quarter of the year. The Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre, for example, usually sees an increase in donations around the holiday season, and attendance goes up a bit during the last couple of weeks in December at Craigdarroch Castle, with families taking advantage of their Christmas music program. Many charitable organizations hope that this year’s Christmas season will help shore up the shortfall. “I think it is a time when we look at our own families and realize how lucky we are,” says Catriona from VEPC. “I think it is also a

period that people associate with giving.” Traditionally, the last quarter of the calendar year is also the busiest in terms of donations for Vancouver Foundation. This year has been a troublesome time for charities. As they struggle to carry on their work, they are being called upon to do more – with less. As we approach the end of 2009, we at Senior Living encourage everyone to give as generously as you can to the charities that are meaningful to you. Some readers may be in a position to bequeath entire estates to charity, while others may struggle to come up with just $10 – but if we all give what we can (even volunteer time), we can make a difference. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” As we approach the ﬁnal months of 2009, let’s all see what we can do to make a difference for the charities in our comSL munities.

NOVEMBER 2009

PLANNED GIVING

A Generous Spirit

eraldine Cunningham PhD exudes Irish humour, optimism and strength. Her hallmark twinkling eyes and mischievous smile belie a life of hard work and unwavering dedication to the cause of mental illness and outreach through public education for families. In 2001, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, the Governor General of Canada, decorated her with the meritorious service medal. The honour, bestowed for a lifetime of service, recognized unique and extraordinary contributions that led to the betterment of quality of life for all Canadian families touched by the tragedy of mental illness. Dr. Cunningham’s work has helped people around the globe: Africa, Bermuda, Hungary, Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, Ireland, India, Greece and many parts of Russia. Funded by herself, her family and later by The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation based in Toronto, Dr. Cunningham’s efforts sprung from grief following the sudden 1981 passing of her daughter Sarah at the age of 22. Schizophrenia was named as the cause of death. Using the foundation of a nursing degree, earned in 1952, Geri, as she likes to be called, took action following her daughter’s death. She returned to university where she earned a second degree – this one in the specialized ﬁeld of psychiatry. She ultimately

BY JACKIE BYRN

worked in the University of British Columbia Department of Psychiatry unit, which studied and researched “ﬁrst psychotic breaks.” Realizing there were serious gaps both in mental health services for families and communications protocols between medical professionals and families, Geri set about creating educational programs and a manual for families and consumers of medical services for the mentally ill. Her focus was to explain the biochemistry of mental illness, as well as the importance of medication when indicated to create balanced mental states. The creation of support groups for family members, as well as siblings, was also a feature of her agenda. “It was an idea whose time had come,” she says about her groundbreaking work. Geri’s sound fundraising efforts centred on the Emerald Ball event, founded in 1988, in Vancouver and later held in Winnipeg and Toronto. The event, which continued for 18 years, resulted in the creation of a UBC Chair in Schizophrenia. Not surprising is the recent honour bestowed on this energetic 70-something Vancouver-based senior. Geri has been selected as one of 100 notable Canadians of Irish lineage whose names will appear on the proposed Ireland Monument. As a descendant of Patrick

Cunningham, who came to Canada in 1768 from Sligo Ireland, Geri radiates what is known as “Irish Spirit.” Focusing on a “healthier and greener way of life,” Geri, along with her sons Peter and Spencer, operates Bradley Organic Farms. She plays “a spirited and devoted” role in the farm, which is named after Geri’s now deceased mother, who passed away at age 96. Longevity through community building, friendship and connection seems to run in the family. With an active mother as role model, Geri forges on with regular ﬁtness workouts at a nearby gym. A passion for freshly prepared inventive meals and good company spurs Geri on in the kitchen, which has always been a place of relaxation and fun. Whether the menu is an elegant chicken curry or just casseroles of peasant-style cabbage rolls, guests are always treated royally “Chez Geri.” One recent guest, dazzled by the prized meritorious service medal, asked and was granted the honour of wearing the splendid decoration as he enjoyed an elegant light supper at Geri’s table. Geri completed her studies for a PhD in “Mental Health Management and the Importance of Early Intervention.” She is a member of the International Honour Society of Nursing and SL Lamba Phi sorority.

Decide Today to Help Tomorrow You can help the 1 in 10 Canadians living with liver disease by supporting the Canadian Liver Foundation in your financial and estate planning. Call us or visit www.liver.ca to find out more about donating stocks or RRSPs, making will bequests or gifts of life insurance. To request a planned giving kit, email plannedgiving@liver.ca

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

PLANNED GIVING

Charitable Giving Strategies BY ANDREW COVELL, CSA, WEALTH MANAGER

or most people, charitable giving involves annual donations to worthy charities. Typically, these gifts are made out of income. Increasingly, however, Canadians are making gifts from assets as part of an overall financial and estate plan. These kind of exceptional gifts involve careful planning and can produce significant tax savings. With tax incentives introduced since 1996, the federal government has given taxpayers a choice. The choice is about how individuals wish to support society and the amount of tax they wish to pay. It is now possible to eliminate the taxation on up to 75 per cent of net annual income during a person’s life and up to 100 per cent with gifts made at death. The process of gift planning balances charitable and legacy goals with other factors such as financial, tax and family needs. Using planning tools such as wills, trusts and insurance, it is possible to create larger benefits for a charity and generate greater tax advantages for the individual. One of the most tax-effective simple strategies involves gifts of public securities. Gifts of appreciated public stocks, bonds, mutual fund units or shares to a public charity or private foundation are eligible for an extra tax incentive on top of the regular credit. The capital gains are eliminated, rather than the regular rate of 50 per cent when sold. In addition, taxpayers receive a tax credit, which is typically equal to the highest marginal tax rate in their province of residence. Sell security & Donate Cash

Donate

Security

Value of security/donation

$10,000 $10,000

Cost of security

$5,000

Taxable capital gain@ 50%

$2,500

Tax on gain @45%

$1,125

Tax credit @45%

$4,500

Net tax savings

$3,375

$5,625

This table compares the tax conse-

quences of donating cash proceeds of sold securities versus donating securities in-kind. The marginal tax and tax credit rates are assumed to be 45 per cent for illustration purposes. Unfortunately, some people’s public securities have depreciated because of the turmoil in capital markets over the last two years. Of course, any gift will have value to the recipient charity. When individuals donate a security with a capital loss, they can claim the capital loss on their tax return and receive a tax receipt for the gift. Other common ways of giving include charitable bequests, gifts of annuities and insurance, designations of capital property or RRSPs and, the most straightforward gift of all, cash. Charitable gift annuities, for example, can provide signiﬁcant income for life and enable donors to make a special gift.

A good financial and estate plan that includes charitable gifting can be difficult to implement. It is important to put personal and family needs at the centre of the planning process and then consider giving. Charitable gifts are irrevocable – once given, they are not returned. Also, it is sometimes hard to choose charities and commit large gifts. A charitable gift is shaped by an individual’s values and personal priorities. Tax savings enable gifts, but they should be the servant of a person’s values and priorities. When establishing estate plans, it is therefore important for individuals to review their personal experiences and the charities that are important to them. Through consultation with legal, tax and financial advisors, an informed decision can then be made, which balances personal and family needs with philanthropic planning. SL

��

PLAN TO END VIOLENCE

EVA BC is a registered charitable provincial organization that provides support and training to 220 programs across BC who offer counselling and other practical services for those who have been traumatized by sexual and/or domestic violence. We are a leader who also undertakes research, develops and distributes resources and tools, educates the public, develops standards for the provision of safety based services and fosters the development of coordinated responses with all the relevant sectors in British Columbia. Your gift will help us support BC communities to end domestic and sexual violence and to create a legacy of safety and hope. For information call: 604 633-2506 or visit www.endingviolence.org EVA BC - SERVING BC COMMUNITIES FOR 18 YEARS

NOVEMBER 2009

A Classic By the Bay

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

fondly referred to him simply as “Old Black Joe.” Today, a seafood restaurant on Thurlow and Robson Streets is named for Joe Fortes and, in 1927, ﬁve years after his death, a memorial in the form of a drinking fountain was erected near where he once lived by the beach. The words “Little Children Loved Him” adorn the fountain. Sylvia Goldstein was, therefore, taught by the best and her strong swimming abilities soon gained her much acclaim, including winning a prestigious race between English Bay and Kitsilano Beach. After completing a degree at the University of British Columbia, Sylvia moved with her family to California in the 1920s. By then, the Sylvia Court Apartments, like many other buildings and homes in the area, had fallen on hard times. Over 2,000 homes went into foreclosure leading into The Great Depression. In 1936, the Sylvia, then in receivership, was transformed into an apartment hotel and by the beginning of the Second World War, many of the suites had been converted into single rooms in order to accommodate the crews of the merchant marine. Long before that, however, young Sylvia Goldstein returned to Vancouver. While taking a boat trip with a group of Jewish singles, she caught the attention of her future husband, Harry Ablowitz, by diving off the boat into False Creek. The couple were married in 1928 and settled in North Vancouver. Together, they later founded the Harry Ablowitz Realty Company. Both Sylvia and Harry Ablowitz were active in the Vancouver business community and in numerous Jewish organizations. Sylvia sat on the board of many Jewish community groups and helped to establish the Jewish Community Centre, the Louis Brier Home, a hospital at Oak and 41st Avenue and a golf course. She was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women and, until her mid-’90s, was still volunteering her services with the Jewish Family Service Agency, doing telephone checks for isolated seniors. Meanwhile, her namesake hotel was undergoing changes. After the Second World War, the number of permanent residents in the hotel began to decrease. In 1954, the hotel opened Photo: Valerie Green

ne of Vancouver’s best kept secrets for a weekend getaway is The Sylvia Hotel, an historic building located alongside Stanley Park in English Bay. The hotel has been a significant Vancouver landmark for almost a century. Guests who visit The Sylvia today come for the special old-world charm of the squeaky elevators and the unique-style rooms and suites. Two ancient, thronelike chairs grace the foyer as you enter the hotel and, everywhere you look, there is a strong sense of history. In addition, visitors savour first-class meals in the Beachside Dining Room with its adjoining Bistro and cocktail lounge overlooking the beauty of English Bay. Certainly, the same Sylvia guests return each year and their frequent visits are due to outstanding service supplied by a friendly, unchanging staff, who are all a part of the charm of a bygone era. But who was Sylvia, the lady for whom the hotel was originally named? Sylvia Goldstein was the 12-year-old daughter of Abraham and Sarah Goldstein. In 1912, her father, a Vancouver developer, hired Seattle architect, W.P. White, to design a prestigious apartment building in English Bay. It was constructed by Booker, Campbell and Whipple Construction and was to be called the Sylvia Court Apartments in honour of Goldstein’s daughter. At that time, it was also the tallest building in downtown Vancouver. And, like the landmark building named for her, young Sylvia Goldstein also grew up to become a bit of a legend in her own lifetime. Sylvia, the Goldsteins’ eldest daughter, spent her childhood in Vancouver’s West End. She was an especially strong swimmer and practised regularly in the waters of English Bay under the tutelage of Joe Fortes, Vancouver’s first official lifeguard. Barbados-born Seraphim (Joe) Fortes arrived in Vancouver via England in 1885 aboard the Robert Kerr and soon became a well-loved Vancouver citizen. His work included being a shoeshine boy, a handyman and a porter before becoming a bartender at the popular Bodega Saloon. Once he had settled in his cabin in English Bay, the beach became his home where he loved to teach swimming to children who

BY VALERIE GREEN

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Archival Co llection

Interesting events have been connected to The Sylvia throughout its long history. For example, a stray cat who wandered into the hotel one day and liked it so much it decided to check in permanently, became the inspiration behind two popular children’s books entitled Mr. Got To Go, written by Lois Simmie and illustrated by Cynthia Nugent. The Sylvia still welcomes guests with pets today. Many famous people have also graced the halls of The Sylvia. They include English poet and novelist Malcolm Lowry, known best for his novel Under The Volcano; poet Robert Service, best-known for his writings on the Canadian North including The Shooting of Dan McGrew; Roderick Haig-Brown, Canadian writer and conservationist; and ﬁlm actor Errol Flynn, famous for his swashbuckling roles in many Hollywood ﬁlms. When Flynn came to Vancouver, he frequently stayed at The Sylvia and, in 1959, died in a friend’s West End apartment not far from the hotel. If you visit The Sylvia Photo: Sylvia Hotel

the very first cocktail bar in Vancouver and, until 1958, was still the tallest building in the West End. The brick and terracotta exterior had been softened somewhat through the years by the growth of the Virginia creeper covering its starkness and adding an old-world charm to the grand old lady by the Bay. By the 1960s, The Sylvia had also become a full-service hotel. Prior to the building boom in the West End during the 1960s, The Sylvia’s dining room, then on the eighth floor, had a restaurant slogan of “first-class dining in the sky,” It was later relocated to ground floor level. By then, The Sylvia was under new ownership. Norman Sawers and his daughter, Jill Davies, still own the hotel today. And, in 1976, the Sylvia Hotel was designated as a Heritage Building, ensuring its survival as a landmark building in English Bay for years to come. When Sylvia (Goldstein) Ablowitz passed away at the age of 102 in April of 2002, the hotel flew its flag at half-mast.

today, you can fantasize about whether you are staying in the room where one of these notables once slept. The hotel management is currently asking past guests for “Memories” on their website at www.sylviahotel.com. These tales are being collected for the hotel’s centennial year celebration in SL 2012.

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Lest We Forget D

ecember 9, 1966 will forever be etched in the memory of Herb Hamm. That unforgettable day was when a telegram arrived at the Westminster Regiment from overseas announcing that the regiment had just had the title “Royal” bestowed upon it from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. What followed was “quite the celebration,” says Herb in his understated style. “It was a tremendous honour, and we were all delighted because it was a scarce title.” The Canadian Armed Forces has a distinguished history of soldiers who fought valiantly in both world wars and continue to do so today. Locally, The Royal Westminster Regiment proudly traces its roots back to November 21, 1863 when the New Westminster Rifle Company Number One was formed as the first militia unit raised in British Columbia. Herb, the former commanding officer of the regiment for many years, also calls New Westminster home. Born at the Royal Columbian Hospital in November 1930 meant he was too young to serve in the Second World War, though he did spend time with the Army Cadets while attending high school. His father, who worked helping to dredge the Fraser River, joined the army and went overseas to Europe, a decision that had a positive influence on Herb, the eldest of five children. “I also had two uncles serving,” says Herb. “All boys were into this stuff because it was wartime, and I had always liked that kind of stuff.” While growing up, Herb played a lot of basketball and some soccer, but one activity he really enjoyed was sailing. “I had a high school friend named Dickie who really liked sailing,” he says. “He invited me to come along one time, and I was hooked. We spent a lot of time sailing little two-men boats down at Crescent Beach.” Herb also worked part time at Fraser Mills on weekends prior to graduating and attending classes at UBC for a couple of years. But a university education was not in the cards. Instead, Herb got an advertising job with The Columbian newspaper. He worked his way up through the system, eventually leaving the paper 34 years later as director of the company. This trait of working his way up to the top would also be a hallmark of Herb’s second career as a reservist. “When I was in Grade 12, we put on a one-act play in our school and also invited the Vagabond Players and a few others to do the same that evening,” he recalls. “The Vagabond Players approached me and asked me to join them, which I did gladly. I had no illusions about why they wanted me. I knew my greatest talent was that I was six feet tall and a young man.” This decision would lead to a long and storied relationship 24

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN MCKAY

with the regiment. “When I was about 24, a fellow cast member was in the regiment and asked me if I would like to come along and try it. So, I joined the militia, the reserve forces as a private and became a corporal a year later. I stayed for another year before they suggested I take a junior non-commissioned officer course.” The course consisted of two summers of field training and staff work for the rest of the year. Herb gained the rank of officer cadet, followed by second lieutenant and then lieutenant. “All of this happened during evenings, on weekends and at summer camps. It was an interesting time. I met plenty of interesting people who became great friends.” Herb also found time to go on a blind date in 1959 with a woman named Jean, whom he would marry the following March. They bought a home in New Westminster and raised three daughters. All the while, Herb continued to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming a lieutenant-colonel and commanding officer of the regiment on January 1, 1964, a post he held for four years.

In May 1967, George Pearkes, the lieutenant-governor of British Columbia, invited the entire regiment to Victoria to receive their new colours. “We had quite a weekend,” says Herb. “We had a parade before the banquet with the lieutenant-governor and Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s cousin, who presented us with our new colours that were handmade of silk in England. There was another dinner afterwards followed by a young people’s ball for people under 40.” In 1968, Herb left the regiment to serve as aid-de-camp for the next lieutenant-governor, Jack Nicholson. He did that for three years before returning to the regiment to serve as commanding officer for two additional years. His military career would last for seven more years. “In 1973, I went to the Militia Area Pacific Headquarters in Vancouver at Jericho, working for a year overseeing all the officer training in Vancouver. At the end of the year, I was promoted to colonel, responsible for all the Vancouver District Militia.” Following one more lateral move, Herb was promoted to brigadier-general and commander of all the militia in B.C. – a position he held until his retirement from military service in 1979. Wanting to make a clean break, Herb spent the next 14 years serving on the Library Board and then the Police Commission before returning to the regiment as curator of the museum around 1993, a position he still holds. “I had no formal training, but I have learned a lot,” he says. “I am still learning today. I am also the president of the Royal Westminster Regiment Historical Society and secretary of the Royal Westminster Regiment Association, so they keep me busy. I also just finished a five-year stint as president of the Senior Services Society.” Herb has a small staff of volunteers to work at the museum with him, mostly former members of the regiment. They open the museum Tuesdays and Thursdays during the daytime and by appointment for groups. Because of his long and distinguished involvement with the regiment, Herb is proud to speak about the honours the regiment has accumulated over the years – from its early involvement in the Chilcotin War to their presence in Afghanistan today. Two members have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour that is bestowed for valour in the face of the enemy. In the First World War, it was Corporal Filip Konowal, and in the Second World War, Major Jack Mahony. In addition to this, Herb proudly adds, “During the First World War, only 16 people in all of Canada won three medals of bravery, and the 47th Battalion, our predecessor, had two of the men.” The regiment continued with its record of distinguished service during the Second World War. In addition to the Victoria Cross, “The Westminster Regiment Motor Battalion was under enemy fire for 232 days during the war, which was more than any other Canadian unit. They also never failed to take an assigned objective and, once it was taken, they were never knocked off. It is a good history and it keeps us on our toes today.” The regiment was involved in almost every major Canadian

AUGUST 2009 VANCOUVER

Senior Living Special Housing Edition Contains articles pertaining to senior housing. Find out more about

• senior housing options and alternatives • how to determine what kind of housing is right for you • how other seniors are managing their housing • professionals, services and products available to seniors who are living independently (aging in place) • and much more

TO ORDER a copy... Please mail a cheque for $5.25 ($5 plus GST), along with your name, phone number and address, to Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1. We will mail you a copy of this special housing edition upon receipt of payment.

VIEW ONLINE for Free... You can view the complete special housing edition on our website -- look for the Vancouver August 2009 Edition at www.seniorlivingmag.com NOVEMBER 2009

skirmish during both world wars including Vimy Ridge, Somme, Ypres, Passchendaele, and Flanders among many more. During the First World War nearly 900 men from the unit lost their lives, while more than 170 were killed in action during the Second World War. Those were the last casualties suffered by the regiment until Master Corporal Bason died in Afghanistan in 2008. Today, the regiment deploys about 30 reservists to the mission in Afghanistan at any one time. “The missions last six months and we have two groups of reservists training at any time. Each group gets trained for a year before being sent off.” Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery had a special relationship with the regiment. Herb remembers, “When Montgomery was given his first command in India, when he was a colonel, we had a strong affiliation with one of the units he commanded. Later, in Italy he was in command of the Eighth Army, of which we were part, until he was called back to England to plan D-Day. After the war, he was Chief of the Imperial Defense Forces, and he would travel around the world to visit all the bases. Now the regiment has one of Field Marshal Montgomery’s jackets on display in the museum – just one of the many exhibits and artifacts that serve as reminders of the sacrifices made by brave men and women to ensure that we can enjoy the freedoms we often take SL for granted.

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To make an appointment to visit the museum, call 604-526-5116.

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$30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Add Logo - $25 extra. Red spot color 10% extra. Plus 5% GST. All Classiﬁed ads must be prepaid. Cheque or Credit Card accepted. Toll Free 1-877-479-4705 Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave.,Victoria BC V8T 2C1 RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

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Find out what’s happening in your area at the click of a button or post your community event to our website for FREE. Arts, music, dance, festivals, seminars, outdoor activities, and more.

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

BBB Better Better Better Better

Business Business Business Business

Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau

SCAM ALERT

BY LYNDA PASACRETA

Scareware Attacks on the Rise

omputer experts are reporting that “scareware” attacks are on the rise. Scareware is a sneaky technique used by hackers to steal personal information and spread viruses. Hackers have recently exploited companies like Google, Twitter and the New York Times as part of a massive scareware attack on consumers. In mid-September, visitors to the New York Times’ website suddenly received a pop-up window that looked like a message from their own computer warning that their computer had been infected with a virus. The user was then told to visit a website to purchase and download antivirus software that would ﬁx the problem. The supposed antivirus software actually installed even more viruses and malware onto the computer, and the user’s credit card number was now in the hands of hackers. The same scenario on the New York Times website is playing out all over the Internet. According to Computer World Magazine, hackers are not only using pop-up ads, they are also “poisoning Google search results.” Hackers monitor the news and hot topics online and, through search engine optimization techniques, are able to ensure that their websites make the top results. Victims who click on the fake search results receive a scareware pop up. Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips for computer users to protect their computers from a scareware attack: Never let your guard down. A scareware attack can happen on trusted news sites like the Victoria Times Colonist

and New York Times, in search engines results from Google, and now even on Twitter. Protect your computer. Install updates to your operating system, purchase antivirus software from a name you trust and keep that software upto-date. Also, make sure all security patches and updates are installed for your web browser and programs like Adobe Flash Player. Take immediate action during an attack. If you receive a scareware pop-up window, experts recommend forcing the window to close through your task manager. To do this, hold down ctrl,

alt, and delete at the same time, open your task manager, ﬁnd the browser in the list of running programs and click “end task.” Finally, run an antivirus scan with legitimate, trusted software. For more advice on ﬁghting off hackers and staying safe online, visit www.mbc.bbb.org SL Lynda Pasacreta is President of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C. Contact the BBB to check a company report or Buyers’ Tip before you purchase or invest. www.bbbvan.org or 604-6822711. To contact Lynda Pasacreta, e-mail her at president@bbbvan.org

NOVEMBER 2009

Mind GAMES

Crossword PUZZLE Across 1. Humanitarian principles 11. Western pact 12. Completed 13. Supplement 14. Firmament 16. Addition 18. Composition in verse 19. Inhabitant of Denmark 20. Untidy 21. Lament 22. Youths 26. Bends downward 27. Wrong 31. Way out 32. The lowest female singing voice 33. Wander 34. Alcoholic drink of fermented honey 35. An Egyptian descended from the ancient Egyptians

36. Dull 37. Cushions 40. Propagative part of a plant 42. Beginning 43. Management 45. Whirlpool 46. Monkey 47. Crews 52. Moolah 53. Blessing 56. Mother of Isaac 57. Single unit 58. Departing 59. Structure for storing grain 60. Synchronize 61. Majestic 62. Not asked

Down 2. Untie 3. Created

4. Minute particle 5. Not (preďŹ x) 6. Expression of appreciation 7. First man 8. Not one 9. Taverns 10. Obvserves 13. Edible fruit 14. Islands between Hawaii and Australia 15. Something that causes fermentation 17. Compound tissue in vascular plants 19. Debutante 23. Person who wields an ax 24. Eats to a plan 25. Declare 28. Got up 29. Ran with long easy stride 30. SatisďŹ ed 36. Castle water pits 38. Male friend 39. Look happy 41. Approaching death 44. Make lace 48. The Orient 49. Melody 50. Germinated grain used in brewing 51. Foot covering 53. Male children 54. Hog sound 55. A single time 58. General Services Administration ANSWERS

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Photo: Jason van der Valk

ASK

Goldie

BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: I am a 60-year-old widow still living in my own home. Financially, I am secure with a good pension. My husband died five years ago after many happy years together. We never had children but I have a sister, brother and several nieces and nephews I’m in touch with frequently. My problem is that an old love from my 20s has returned to my life and wants to resume a relationship. We were engaged during the war but, when he was overseas, he found someone else and married her. The marriage lasted two years. I was heartbroken but later realized the man I finally married was far more trustworthy and reliable. We had a wonderful marriage. I enjoyed the company of my former fiancé but can’t forget what he did to me. Life is lonely, at times, and I wonder if we could still find some happiness together. –J.L. Dear J.L.: You are lonely and because you once loved this person, you would like to have this relationship again to ease your loneliness. However, you must not confuse the two people in your past. Your former love was unreliable. Your husband was honest and concerned about your happiness and welfare. Loneliness is usually caused by a lack of involvement with other people. Start inquiring about the volunteer groups in your community. Helping others can minimize your own problems and give you greater insight into human relationships. There are many instances where you could make a difference in some person’s life just by being there for him or her. In turn, your own life becomes more fulfilled. There is no rush to marry again; especially to someone you do not completely trust. You can make new friends as a volunteer and find lasting relationships. You may even find a reliable partner about whom you will feel no doubts. Dear Goldie: Last fall, I returned to university to complete a degree. It was a wonderful experience. The freedom from family problems while I was studying was an unexpected reward. Also, I became close friends with a female student in the same circumstances as me. Although we are both in our 50s, it feels like we are in our 20s again. We both plan to be back for courses next summer and look forward to carefree time together. Goldie, so far, it has only been friendship, but we have a great time together. Am I naive to assume we are not playing with fire? We both love our spouses and children dearly. –R.S.

Dear R.S.: Yes, I do think you are both playing with fire. It’s up to the two of you whether you are burned or not. At this point in your life, I’m sure you are aware that you can’t throw responsibility out the window. It sounds like both of you experienced an unexpected relief from the challenges of family life while at school again. That is normal. But both of your families also made sacrifices so you and your friend could return to school and that is foremost in this situation. If you look into the eyes of your trusting partners and children, you will find the answer. I hope both of you make the SL right decision. Best of luck.

Senior Peer Counselling Centres (Lower Mainland) New Westminster 604-519-1064 North Vancouver 604-987-8138 Burnaby 604-291-2258 Richmond 604-279-7034 Vancouver West End 604-669-7339 Coquitlam – Tri-Cities 604-945-4480 Vancouver Westside 604-736-3588

Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. Send letters to Senior Living, Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2C1.

Are you a Care Giver or expect to be one?

You are not alone! Embrace the Journey - A Care Giver’s Story

96 pages Softcover 5.5” x 8.5” Price $14.95

Valerie Green’s personal story as a care giver to her elderly parents is the most relevant book on “aging in place” I have read to date. It provides a powerful insight into the challenges faced by every care giver. It unveils the challenges, heartaches, struggles and agonizing decisions that often need to be made along the way. If you are currently a care giver, or anticipate being one in the near future, this book is a must-read. - Publisher Barbara Risto, Senior Living magazine

To order, please send cheque for $19.84 ($14.95 plus $3.95 S&H & GST) payable to Senior Living. Please include your clearly written shipping address and phone number. MAIL TO: Embrace Book Offer c/o Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

Allow two weeks for shipping.

NOVEMBER 2009

THE INTERVIEW

t last, two years after submitting our application for permanent residence in Canada, I was requested to attend an interview in Sydney. My profession as a librarian was awarded more points on the immigration assessment scale than my husband Ted’s career in architecture, thus determining that I would be the applicant. Before allowing myself to feel too smug, I was reminded that this was merely due to the economic circumstances in Canada at that time. Our score on the points scale, while not sufficient to ensure us entry, was enough to warrant an interview in which further points, if any, would be awarded. The responsibility for pleading our case rested with me: a daunting thought. As we prepared to fly to Sydney from Western Australia, our emotions swung back and forth. Our initial confidence that our earlier years in Canada and our knowledge of the country would ensure us success was closely followed by the fear that being close to retirement age would exclude us. It was our dream, our determination, to live out our retirement in British Columbia. After many years in the heat, dust and remoteness of Western Australia, we longed for mountains, lakes, cool fresh air and closer proximity to our children and grandchildren. We knew Canada well having met and married in Toronto. Despite moving on to other parts of the world, we had returned from time to time and had travelled from coast to coast. We saw the Maple Leaf flag introduced, went to Expo in Montreal, to hockey in Maple Leaf Gardens, and to Prince Edward Island before there was a bridge. Canada was in our life experiences and our memories so, having 30

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

The author and her husband Ted Adamson

decided there was nothing to lose, we had begun the application process, fortunately not knowing the long road ahead. The frustration of waiting for a response caused a few sleepless nights. Had the application, with enclosed payment, arrived? We had been advised not to inquire unless we had not had a response within 12 months. That is a long time in which to be anxious. Just before the year was up, however, we were notified that our application had been received and the process had begun. Then came another long wait, leading up to the interview. We arrived in Sydney two days early to get the lay of the land and find the Canadian Immigration Office, which serves the South Pacific region. Our days were filled with sightseeing, enjoying the beaches and historical sites and trying not to contemplate disappointment. This would have been the logical time to come up with a Plan B. Finally, it was the day and the time. I felt surprisingly calm as I walked through the door, and hoped I could relate on some level to the interviewing officer to give myself the best chance of success. The faces of other applicants gave nothing away as they emerged from their interviews. Just as I began to feel uneasy, my name was called and the folder of documents I had been asked to provide was taken from me. In a small office, a smiling young woman shook my hand firmly and introduced herself as Catherine. The interview began. At first, there were the expected questions. “Why Canada?” “What will you do there?” As we moved on to education, Catherine was particularly interested in my experiences as a

Photo: Greg Adamson

BY JULIE ADAMSON

mature university student, a subsequent career in librarianship and my love for the work. As we talked, she entered information on her computer and commented, “That is a wonderful story!” After more typing and conversation, there was suddenly and unexpectedly, the hoped-for magical words: “I’m going to let you go, you know, Canada can do with people like you.” My hands shook. I could hardly speak for the lump in my throat. “Really?” I asked. “Really truly,” Catherine replied and with a few flourishes, she finished typing. “There. It’s done.” It was hard to know what to say, how to thank her. She had been so much more than an officer doing her job. Her interest and encouragement had provided every opportunity for me to tell my story and our hopes for the future. Catherine then asked what I would say to my husband. I knew he would see the result by my face and I predicted that we both would shed a few tears. “Crying is fine,” she said and only then did she reveal that before I entered her office she had wondered how she would tell me that I didn’t have enough points. We had talked for so long that the office had closed and several doors had to be unlocked to let me out. As I said goodbye, Catherine gave me a firm warm hug of congratulations and wished us good luck. I met Ted as arranged, happy tears were shed and, over a late lunch, I told him every detail. Of course, that was not the end of the story. There were medical examinations and more forms to fill in than I could believe would ever be read, but now we knew that our new life in Canada was in sight. At last we could look back on the previous two years of information gathering and form filling with some humour, and free of the frustration and anxiety that had, at times, almost made us give up the whole endeavour. When one is near retirement age and is asked for every address lived at since age 18, and every place of employment and salary earned, it is a challenge. Thanks to diaries, old address books and friends with long memories, the in-

formation was gradually compiled. Next came police clearance from every country in which we had resided. For nomads like us, born in different countries and resident in several others during our working lives, it was time consuming and challenging. Many letters back and forth, ﬁngerprints taken and signatures obtained. I marvel now at our patience and, for the most part, optimism. Nine months passed before we had all the required information. The medicals provided some humour as well as anxiety. Two doctors in our city were registered to examine prospective immigrants to Canada and the one we chose had a brusque nurse of a certain age. She was overworked, had bad legs and was not prepared to put up with nonsense from anyone, doctor or patients. After a series of tests and X-rays, Nurse No-Nonsense called me at work one day and without preamble announced, “You have TB and your husband has an enlarged heart.” I did not endear myself to her when I laughed

but I knew that both conditions were highly unlikely. The tests were repeated with some additional gruelling ones thrown in and this time the results showed that we would not be a drain on Canada’s health services. On our last visit to the doctor, Nurse showed her softer side and wished us a safe journey. I hope she enjoyed the postcard we sent her from B.C. Seven years have passed since Ted and I flew from Australia to Los Angeles for a happy family reunion, then on to Vancouver where an immigration officer photographed us and stamped our passports. “Welcome. You are now officially permanent residents of Canada.” It was a moment to savour. Life in B.C. has met all our expectations. We have come full circle from the days of our youth, our meeting and marriage in Toronto. The interview with Catherine will always remain crystal clear in my memory as it set the scene for our future. Two years and nine months of preparation and planning was SL worth every second.

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Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

THE COLLECTORS have travelled my three score dating back to the early ’40s, old and 10 years plus and, all in all, books, coins, CDs, DVDs and a maslife has been very good to me. sive Christmas collection. Add to that, My dog no longer growls at me when 12 empty tubes of Bengay, but I’m I come in the door. My grown kids not sure that’s part of a collection. We listen to my advice. They don’t fol- have all of Kahil Gibran’s books, some low it, but they listen to it. Every now Norman Rockwell books, an Andy and then, my grandchildren recognize Capp collection, a Calvin and Hobbs me and ask what I’m doing here. And collection and the list goes on! We even though I started with nothing, I even have a collection of Senior Living still have most of it! magazines! My wife says she likes to My wife thinks I’m wonderful. It keep track of the Ask Goldie column, and laughter, joy and sorrow, seriouswas only yesterday when I had men- in case I should ever write in. She says ness and humour, gain and loss, regret tioned one of my accomplishments she would recognize it if it was me. I and reward; all the things that make that she said to me; “Aren’t you Mr. don’t write letters much anymore, so I two lives one, and cause us to go on Wonderful!” I don’t need despite the circumstances. a pacemaker yet, but I We’ll bring that collection But our most valuable collection is still try to keep pace with with us when we leave my maker. My knees this tired old earth. Not years... They’re woven of many things: may buckle while my much good to anyone else, Tears and laughter, joy and sorrow, belt won’t, but that’s why I guess, but precious to the scooters and liposuction collectors. seriousness and humour, gain and loss, were created! No sir, I guess I won’t regret and reward; all the things that No matter what hapcomplain about the cards pens, I try to keep a posilife has dealt me. Times and make two lives one. tive outlook by saying: circumstances may not al“Don’t give up! All is not ways have been happy, but lost!” Then my wife asks, “If all is not guess she or Goldie won’t have worry. at no time were they ever dull. Tomorlost, what have I done with it?” I’m not In fact, I don’t write too much of any- row is another day, and if I’m here to always sure she understands me. thing anymore, other than my column experience it, I’m going to greet it with Because of certain ailments, I can and one love poem a year to my wife a smile! I’m going to run in its valleys no longer cut the grass, but I can still on her birthday. Now and then, she and rest by its springs. If the good Lord smell it after another cuts it or after a sends a love poem to me. I think we’re decides to create a new day for me, spring rain. Yes sir, all in all, life has getting closer; she no longer begins it then I’m going to rejoice and be glad been pretty good to me. with: “To whom it may concern” but in it. I’m going to be contemplative My wife and I have many earthly actually uses my name! and still. My wife just raised her glass treasures, but when we’re gone, they’ll But our most valuable collection is of orange juice and said: “Hear, Hear!” probably just be junk to someone else. years. Between the two of us, we have Then she got up and left the room. I Not all, but some. But it’s been fun over 140 of them! Not all together, of wonder if it is because I said: “Where? collecting them. Wine glasses, three or course, but those that we have spent Where?” four sets of dishes. We have ﬁgurines, together are golden and priceless. Life is good, but it sure can be conRockwell plates, old Reader’s Digests They’re woven of many things: Tears fusing at times. SL

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

BC EDITION

Published by Senior Living

JANUARY 2009

14.95 Buy it now! �

REG. PRICE: $

ONLY

9.95

To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options

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 option. This 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

ORDER FORM - “To Move” Name_______________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________ City_________________________________ Prov ___________ Postal Code_______________ Phone _____________________

___ CHEQUE (make payable to Senior Living) ___ CREDIT CARD

____VISA ____MC ____AMEX

CARD NUMBER _________________________________________ EXPIRY DATE ________________ NAME ON CARD ________________________________________

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Mail to: “To Move” Book Offer c/o Senior Living Box 153, 1581–H Hillside Ave., = $____________ Victoria BC V8T 2C1

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SHIPPING $3.95 FIRST BOOK, $1.95 PER ADDITIONAL BOOK = $____________ SUBTOTAL

= $____________

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Shipping rates apply to British Columbia addresses ONLY. To have book mailed to addresses outside of BC, please call Senior Living 250-479-4705 for shipping costs. Please allow 2 weeks for shipping.

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