Senior Living Magazine Vancouver Edition May 2011 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

MAY 2011 TM

Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

Patti McGregor

Overcoming ButterďŹ&#x201A;ies

Estate Planning Issue

RVing the Rideau

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�� Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs. Over 500 senior residences and housing communities throughout BC are listed in this comprehensive directory. Compare services, amenities, and prices. Sort your selection by region, or type of care. This directory is published by Senior Living, a monthly magazine distributed to approximately 850 locations across BC.

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Senior Living’s online searchable senior housing directory is a perfect complement to its semi-annual senior housing special editions in February and August. Senior Living also publishes a 128 page book called “To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options.” We have sold over 3,000 copies of this book. No other magazine we know of has such a comprehensive, interconnected group of housing resources. For more information about any of these products or services, call (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Or email ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com

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MAY 2011

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Publisher’s

harities are a vital part of our community infrastructure. They seem to have always been there to fill the gaps in our society – whether it is for health research, protection of children, animals or at-risk adults. These intrepid organizations go where no one else dares. For this reason alone, they have my vote of support. Seniors are among those who frequently step up to the plate to give generously to these causes. Statistics Canada says that “those who give the most are more likely to be older.” They have also found through their research that the likelihood of being a major donor increases with age. For these reasons, we feel our particular readers and charities are a natural fit and so, twice a year, we provide charities with the opportunity to profile themselves in our magazine. Many of us have been touched or have had a close family member touched by cancer or other life debilitating disease. Many of us have family members with mental or physical limitations that demand extra support and care. Often it is a charity that provides the necessary services and support to see us through these difficult times. My personal passion is animals so I am very grateful for all those groups who help sick, injured, abandoned or abused animals. Each one of us, I’m sure, can find a cause that grips our heart and makes us want to help in some way. Regardless of the type of charity, they all need money in order to continue to do their work, so I encourage each and every one of you to give as generously as you can. Whether large or small, every donation helps. 2

SENIOR LIVING

FEATURES

COLUMNS 4 The Family Caregiver

6 Better With Age

by Barbara Small

A performer nearly all her life, Patti McGregor still gets a kick out of entertaining her audiences and making them smile.

18 Forever Young

ESTATE PLANNING SECTION

24 Ask Goldie

by William Thomas by Goldie Carlow

8 Creature Comforts

30 Have Fork, Will Travel

In retirement Richard Smith donates his time and energy to causes he’s passionate about – hockey and wildlife critters.

by Sally Jennings

31 BBB Scam Alert

10 Give Us This Day

by Lynda Pasacreta

Need at the Richmond Food Bank has risen 60 per cent since 2008 – far above the national average of 28 per cent.

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

13 Look Up! Look Way Up!

Delta residents, including those who belong to the Delta Naturalists’ Society, are committed to the protection of the environment.

16 Testamentary Charitable Gifts

Charities beneﬁt and taxes are reduced – a win-win.

20 Lost and Found

Cover Photo: Seasoned performer Patti McGregor has ﬁnally made the grade as an entertainer. Story page 6. Photo: Kevin McKay

Best friends in high school reconnect – after 50 years apart.

25 RVing the Rideau

The best way to experience the Rideau is from the water, but if you’re more of a landlubber, this is the tour for you. Senior Living (Vancouver & Lower Mainland) is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Advertising Manager Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff Mitch Desrochers 604-910-8100 Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-479-4705 ext 104 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Head Ofﬁce Contact Information: Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Phone 250-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com Subscriptions: $32 (includes HST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (12 issues per year) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (12 issues per year). ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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MAY 2011

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

The Financial Impact of Caregiving

amily caregiving comes with many costs, both economic and non-economic. The non-economic costs include the negative impact on the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of the caregiver. The economic or financial costs impact both the family caregiver and the care recipient and can include:

cies. If 24-hour care is required, some families will have to hire and pay for a live-in care provider. Out-of-pocket expenses: Caregivers may find themselves having to purchase products or equipment for the care recipient’s personal use: mobility aids, incontinence supplies, medical alert systems or bathroom safety equipment. These costs will vary dependent on the needs of the care recipient.

BY BARBARA SMALL

Employment: Almost 70 per cent of Predicting the costs you may incur as family caregivers are trying to balance the demands of a job and their careHousehold adaptations: Changes a family caregiver is difficult – just as giving responsibilities. One in four may need to be made to the home where it is to predict when and how you may caregivers has had to make significant the care recipient is living in order to suddenly become a caregiver. Preparachanges to their work situation, which make it more accessible, such as ramps tion in advance by both the care recipihas impacted their income. for wheelchairs, stair lifts or making the ent and caregiver is essential to help mediate this financial impact. These changes can include reduced bathroom safe and accessible. Regardless of the type of caregiving hours, a leave of absence, job loss, situation, an effective early retirement or financial plan needs to loss of benefits and consider the many scepension. Some famiPredicting the costs you may incur as a family narios that may arise and lies may also have to caregiver is difﬁcult – just as it is to predict when the costs that may be incope with the loss of Some options to the care recipient’s and how you may suddenly become a caregiver. curred. consider include critical income due to illness illness or long-term care or disability. insurance, use of RRSPs, Home Care and other medical Facility placement: The time may reverse mortgages or home equity loans. care not covered or subsidized by the come when the person you are caring Speak to a financial advisor or your health authority: The local health au- for can no longer stay safely in his or bank for more information. Tax credits thority provides services to help clients her own home and may need to move are also available to offset some of these SL stay safely in their home for as long as to an assisted living residence or resi- expenses. possible. These services are meant to dential care facility. supplement the client’s efforts to care Similar to the home support services Next month: Long distance caregiving for themselves with the assistance of mentioned above, your health authorfamily and friends. ity will conduct a financial assessment The health authority will conduct a to determine if your family member is Barbara Small is the Program financial assessment to determine the eligible for subsidy. If not, private care Development Coordinator for Family extent of eligibility for the care recipi- residences are available. Their monthCaregivers’ Network Society located ent to receive subsidized care. Home ly cost can range from $1,500–$5,000 in Victoria, BC. support services canatalso be purchased dependent on the amount of care needFrank Wong the war www.familycaregiversnetwork.org through memorial private inhome support agen- ed and other services provided. Chinatown. 4

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MAY 2011

Better With Age Arts & Entertainment

BY KEVIN MCKAY

SENIOR LIVING

Photo: Kevin McKay

hree years after retiring, musician and entertainer Patti McGregor has recently brought to the stage My Scandalous Life, And Maybe Yours – a one-woman show she wrote and performs for adoring audiences. In addition to the show, Patti is also a solo artist and part of a duo, with musical partner Susie Francis, called Canadian Suburban. For more than 10 years, she was part of the Pearly Show Band, an English music hall group. She has toured through Western Canada, backing up Linda Jones and Company, directed and produced musical productions, produced and hosted nearly 400 monthly cable television shows and performed extensively in trios. For her work with Delta Cable, Patti won the “Above and Beyond” Award in 2009 – one of many honours. Though she had a musical upbringing in rural Alberta, Patti’s first experience as part of a performing group happened when she was just 14. “There was this local musician who played guitar in some bands,” she recalls. “I had started playing guitar a couple of years earlier, but he was so good he just had me mesmerized with his ability. He had a niece who was our friend and they asked my twin sister Faye and I to join them. He coached us to sing together and took us around and entered us in talent shows and competitions. It was such a hoot!” Patti, Faye and her two older brothers grew up in the era before television and, when she was young, they only listened to the daily news on the radio while it was hooked up to the car battery because they didn’t have electricity. Entertainment was singing songs or making music with family and friends. Patti started taking piano lessons from the Royal Conservatory when she was eight. “In the second year I was taking piano lessons, my dad used to come in from his farm work because he wanted someone to chord along while he played his fiddle. He looked upon it as a game as he would play the tune and call out the chord changes while I tried to keep up on the piano. His attitude was so marvellous and it became absolutely contagious figuring out the chords. My mother was trained in Classical while my father was Bluegrass. What I fell in love with was Swing, which was right down the middle.” Once Patti turned 10, the family was able to use the radio more often, which she and her sister loved. “Mom went back to work so the rest of us pitched in to help around the house. Faye and I would play the radio as

loud as we could while we worked. Later, we would listen for a song we liked and would take turns writing one of the lines of lyrics until we had the whole song. The next time we heard it, I would figure out the key it was being played in and start working on the chords. I was so grateful to have this wonderful sister to share things with.” From a stint in Edmonton and Vancouver, Patti and her second husband moved to Delta where she has resided and carved out a life for herself. In addition to her performing and raising two children, Patti worked for the Ladner Arts Council for 18 years and then managed the Tsawwassen Art Centre for the seven years prior to her retirement. Two honours particularly special for Patti were having a theatre named after her by the Delta Arts Council and receiving the Governor General’s Award for outstanding contributions to the community of Delta in 1993. “It was recognition for all the volunteer work I had done,” says Patti. “It will be sweet for the rest of my life.” Despite a life performing for others, Patti has battled nerves since she was a teenager. “Every time I would clear one hurdle I had a new one to face,” she says. “I had shaky fingers, wobbly knees, dry mouth, shortness of breath and butterflies in the stomach. Sometimes, something goes wrong during a show and all the tension comes back. It got to the point that I would wonder what I was doing, but every time, something deep inside me spoke up and told me, ‘this is my work.’ Music is a part of me.” After she retired, Patti saw a course being advertised at Douglas College called Standup Comedy 101. She signed up, and while she has no designs on doing standup for a living, she

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Patti can be reached at 604-581-6270.

I may not drive anymore, but I’m still going places! In addition to all the activities that take place within our vibrant

retirement communities, another pleasure of living at Amica are the frequent off-site trips to local attractions, shopping centres, seasonal and cultural events. The Amica-on-the-Go bus is just one more convenience we provide our residents. Let us do the driving, while you do the living. Why not call, arrange for a tour and see how independent you can be. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Call Amica today to book your personal tour. Port Coquitlam ~ Amica at Mayfair ~ 604.552.5552 Kerrisdale ~ Amica at Arbutus Manor ~ 604.736.8936 West Vancouver ~ Amica at West Vancouver ~ 604.921.9181 Burnaby ~ Amica at Rideau Manor ~ 604.291.1792 Victoria ~ Amica at Douglas House ~ 250.383.6258 Victoria ~ Amica at Somerset House ~ 250.380.9121 Sidney ~ Amica at Beechwood Village ~ 250.655.0849

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credits the course with making all her performances, and particularly her show My Scandalous Life even stronger. “The course was fabulous. My instructor told us that we should stick to stories about ourselves, the stories of our lives. I had a fairly good sense of timing due to all my time on stage but she helped me to develop original material and make it work as my own. Now that is part of all my shows forever.” In addition to beating the nerves, Patti has discovered that as the years go by she is becoming more comfortable and more capable of holding a crowd captive. She claims she makes a breakthrough of one kind or another about every five years along her journey. “I am now a more seasoned performer,” she says. “Like a fine wine, I have gotten better with age. Earlier in my career, I was very focused on the technical part of performing but now I connect better with my audiences because of the many breakthroughs I made. I engage in a lot of chit-chat when I perform. It is scripted but, of course, there is some leeway within the script. The more you do it, the more natural it sounds.” Since her retirement, Patti started playing pickleball, a form of easy indoor tennis. In very short order, she has become the convener of the group at Kennedy Centre in North Delta, where she plays and welcomes new players three times a week. But as much as she loves the sport, nothing can replace music and theatre in her life. “When the show is going well you get in a rhythm and really feel in sync with the audience,” she says. “You are even more aware of vocal blends during rehearsal and sometimes a nice harmony even gives me goosebumps. Like any performer, you put the work in. You pay your dues, you do your best and you step out on stage. That is the pleasure part. Even with the butterflies, if you have done the work and put in the time, it all pays off. The best reward is to have people in the audience enjoy my music and have lots of smiles and laughter from my stories. That sends me a message that I have finally made the SL grade as an entertainer.”

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MAY 2011

Estate Planning

CREATURE COMFORTS

BY DEE WALMSLEY

ichard Smith’s initial contact with wildlife began at age four when he got his first pet, a turtle. The little boy and the wee creature spent many happy hours playing with his toy station wagon. Richard enjoyed watching his pet propel across the hardwood floor inside the vehicle until one day his mother noticed the reptile’s back legs hanging onto the toys tailgate as if its life depended on it, and put a stop to the joyrides. It was Richard’s first lesson in the humane treatment of animals – a lesson he never forgot. By age six, like most boys, he upgraded to non-poisonous snakes, and insects, which he had no trouble locating in his immediate surroundings. Born in Winnipeg, he enjoyed wakening to the songs of Meadowlarks, watching gophers frolicking through the long grasses diving into their burrows at the slightest threat from man or beast and studying groundhogs, best known as marmots, fattening up on vegetation in preparation for the long winter’s hibernation. During his formative years, when visiting his uncle, he

was exposed to various farm animals; he learned to milk cows, hitch horses to the plough, cook up slop for the pigs and gather eggs. A favourite pastime was watching chicks hatching in incubators. As an adult, Richard worked in road construction with the Ministry as a Civil Engineering Technician. Work in remote areas often brought him into wildlife territories, where he encountered deer, elk, moose, a number of black bears, mountain goats, sheep, beavers, a colony of marmots, and a few skittering salamanders. One of his greatest thrills was seeing a couple of Kermode, better known as B.C.’s white spirit bears. He never felt threatened by wildlife; the crews were educated on bear avoidance and each given a can of bear spray.

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Photos: Dee Walmsley

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SENIOR LIVING

Richard retired in 1993 and began looking for a new journey. His love of hockey led him to the Surrey Eagles, where his volunteer time has been put to good use in the penalty box, as a rule judge and now in security. While enjoying the game, he found the daylight hours were long and the search was on for another volunteer

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opportunity. An ad in the Langley Times sought volunteers for The Critter Care Wildlife Society. When Richard arrived on the scene and took in the sights of raccoon, squirrel, deer, possum, otters, beavers, skunks, black bear cubs and a resident bobcat, he knew he’d found a new calling. He used the carpentry skills he learned as a lad working alongside his dad, building new pens and revamping and upgrading existing out buildings. He began noticing the chirring from nearby raccoon “coondominiums” and started taking his breaks watching the antics of the masked marvels. It wasn’t long before he was hooked by his heartstring. When the next batch of orphaned kits were dropped off on his watch, he learned the rituals of bottle feeding, burping and stimulating the little critters and, for the first time, felt the joy of a neck nuzzling from a baby raccoon. Little did he know at the time that he was also getting his first raccoon hickey. On average, Critter Care takes in more than 1,000 animals a year. These animals rely on human generosity to feed and house the sick, injured and orphaned until they are released back into the wild. Richard spends his mornings preparing donated food to feed the shelter’s guests. “I believe that mankind has a responsibil- Critter Care Wildlife ity to help other species Society volunteer Richard Smith. as we help our own,” he says. “Many problems that wildlife encounters are man-made and are not a part of their genetic avoidance systems; they run into situations they aren’t prepared to deal with. All baby animals are born dependant and are not biased to who cares for them, their wants are simple – to be fed, to be kept stimulated, and to be safe until entering the independent stage, then to be released.” “I volunteer at Critter Care and for the Surrey Eagles hockey club and I have found that volunteering can be quite rewarding. You’re not taking a paying job away from anyone, and you feel darn good doing it.” While Richard spends his days at the shelter, feeding and acting as handyman, he sees the need for educating the public on co-existing with urban wildlife and feels that the provincial government should take a larger role in protecting, supporting and educating its citizens. “After all,” he says, “the brochures all tout Beautiful British Columbia and its wildlife, which bring in the tourist dollars. It’s a pity some of the monies aren’t shared with B.C.’s wildlife shelters.” SL

Plan for your future today Please contact Kathy or Janet for your COMPLIMENTARY COPY of:

An Executor’s Guide to Estate Administration. Please phone 604.299.3908 or email Kathy_Mannas@can.salvationarmy.org Janet_Antonio@can.salvationarmy.org

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Giving Hope ... Always

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GIVE US THIS DAY

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SENIOR LIVING

he Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) is conducted across the country every three years by Statistics Canada. The latest available survey results – compiled over a three-month period at the end of 2007 – likely won’t come as a surprise to the many active, older Canadians who make a habit of giving. In fact, seniors top the charts in several areas, through direction actions (volunteering and participating) and financial support (donating to charity). According to the survey, over 88 per cent of Canadians in the 45 years and older category gave an annual average of just over $600 – the highest level across all age categories. Similarly, individual Canadians in the 55 and older categories topped another set of charts, volunteering 211 hours annually to an incredibly wide variety of organizations ranging from hospitals and health facilities to sport and recreation groups to religious institutions. The Richmond Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers. In operation for almost 28 years, it’s open for distribution three days a week: from 1-2 p.m. in East Richmond on Tuesdays; on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at their Central Richmond location; plus the third Wednes-

BY NADINE JONES

day of the month in Central Richmond from 6-7 p.m. On average, about 500 households – many with children – take home about $80 worth of food a week. Rather than declining or staying steady, demand in Richmond has risen 60 per cent since 2008, far more than the national average which saw a 28 per cent increase from 2007 to 2010. People find themselves in need for a multitude of reasons: illness, job loss, disability, temporary or chronic physical or mental issues, and dwindling savings are just a few. Some clients feel guilty about needing the help (some break down in tears when registering). The Richmond Food Bank caters to a significant number of new Canadians; many of them struggling to adapt to new homes and situations. Luckily, their need has been partly balanced by significant financial donations from the Richmond Chinatown Lions Club and other Asian-Canadian community and faith groups, which help fill the larders. Eligibility for food bank assistance is uncomplicated and open to anyone in need. Data collected includes current address, date of birth, telephone number and signatures, which are recorded on the cards. Richmond Food Bank Executive Director Margaret Hewlett notes, “We

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Leaving a legacy to Covenant House means making a lasting difference in the lives of nearly 2000 young people each year. Your bequest to Covenant House ensures our young people a welcoming smile, a safe place, a support network and a chance for a new life. Please ask about our Principle Funds, a legacy that lasts. 575 Drake Street Vancouver, BC V6B 4K8 Phone: 604-639-8934 www.covenanthousebc.org/ help/planned BN 89767 5625 RR 0001

ask for this information to better our understanding of who is accessing our services, not to be invasive or judgmental.” Cards are filed alphabetically, and stamped weekly as used. As soon as a client comes in out of the cold, a cup of hot soup is available – cooked fresh daily by a volunteer with culinary credentials. Quite often parents with children must wait a long time in line, but there is a small room set aside for “story time.” Young children are allowed in out of the weather to join a volunteer, who reads them quality children’s books, chosen by the local library, and otherwise entertains the young ones. The edible and non-edible fare changes weekly depending on donations. Items received include everything from diapers to bags of dog food to fruit and vegetables to tinned goods; and many household necessities like soap and toilet paper. Most donations must be sorted and dispensed depending on need. Families with children aged two to 12 years are entitled to two litres of milk

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The War Amps

From Generation to Generation A philosophy of

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amputees helping amputees

has been the hallmark of The War Amps since it was founded in 1918.

Chloe is a member of The War Amps CHAMP Program for child amputees.

The War Amps continues to meet the needs of its war amputee members, and also operates programs such as the CHAMP Program for child amputees. CHAMP provides amputee children across Canada with ﬁnancial assistance for artiﬁcial limbs, regional seminars, peer support, resources and so much more. Through CHAMP, the Association’s tradition of amputees helping amputees continues.

For more information about leaving a bequest to The War Amps, please contact: ��

The War Amps �� Charitable Registration No. 13196 9628 RR0001 The War Amps is funded solely through donations to its Key Tag and Address Label Service, and does not receive government grants.

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MAY 2011

Your gift today ensure the

wishes of tomorrow.

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

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

Your Future Planning Will Make Their Future Better.

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weekly, and children up to 12 years old receive “healthy snacks” including fruit cups and granola bars. Not all necessities are donated, so some items must be purchased, for example, a ton of milk is bought weekly, plus hardy vegetables, which will not be easily bruised in transit like carrots and potatoes. Judy Ying Sun, who oversees the purchasing, is a great bargain-hunter. The food bank is a multimillion dollar charitable enterprise and, amazingly, is efficiently run by only four paid staff members under the guidance of Executive Director Margaret Hewlett, with help from 125 regular volunteers. Aside from Margaret, who keeps everything running smoothly (paying the bills and dealing with daily challenges, among other things), the other three paid staff members have huge areas of responsibility. Judy – the bargaining guru – maintains the books, as well as the buying; Rick oversees the warehouse and I.T. systems, plus incoming and outgoing food distribution; Alex is the volunteer co-ordinator. The food bank operates two vans because many donors can’t deliver, so goods must be picked up. There is a forklift to move large pallets of canned goods in and around the 8,000-square-foot (743-square-metre) warehouse. A portion of financial donations is used for rent, gas for the vehicles and their upkeep. In addition to overseeing delivery of food to groups who serve free cooked meals, Rick also ensures delivery to housebound eligible food bank recipients.

One in three Canadian deaths is caused by Heart Disease and Stroke Your Gift Will Save Lives Call or email for a free Legacy Planning Kit: Melanie Brooks Coordinator Planned Giving plannedgiving@hsf.bc.ca 1.888.473.4636 www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/givingbywill

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SENIOR LIVING

Hockey Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jim Robson in his home ofﬁce.

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Although the food bank is open only two days a week in Central Richmond, the location is a hub of activity – behind the scenes – six days a week. Everything must be sorted and ready for distribution days. Large quantities of tea or powdered milk and sugar must be broken down into smaller quantities, so everyone has an equal amount to take away. Volunteers measure one and two cups of powdered milk into plastic bags, or sort diapers into lots for various age groups. Retail grocery stores are generous with donations and such goods as large boxes of detergent with smashed in tops are sometimes available for lucky recipients. A lot of food is damaged beyond being saleable in stores, but is perfectly fresh and useable as handouts at the food bank. Huge bags of dog food with a rip covered by a piece of tape, for example, are manna from heaven for a canine pet – an important family member for many isolated people. The recent global economic downturn has undoubtedly led to the increase in the need for food banks, but times have been hard on donors as well. While the Christmas season is a particularly good period for individual and corporate donations, clients are just as hungry in March and June as they are on December 25th. Unfortunately, no matter how much is donated in either food or finances, the need is never quite met. And like all organizations that have their share of challenges, the Richmond Food Bank is no exception. There is ongoing dissention about people in the queue blocking entrances to adjacent businesses. Top priority on the executive director’s Wish List is a permanent place to call home – a place with adequate parking (always a problem in a large city) and overhead covering for the waiting queue. Also, it would be wonderful to be located in an area close to other charitable services, so the food bank could work easily in tandem with them. Luckily, wishes don’t cost a dime! SL To contact the Food Bank, call Vancouver 604-876-3601 or Richmond 604-2715609.

Your Legacy

Look Up! Look Way Up!

Is Her Future.

BY BEV YAWORSKI

n most Monday mornings, come rain or shine, Tom Bearss and a group of Delta Naturalists are outdoors looking up, looking way up. As avid, hardy naturalists, this flock of devoted birders is out observing, photographing bird species or listening for birdcalls. Tom, Delta Naturalists’ Society president, leads this merry group of wanderers throughout the Pacific Northwest. “I developed an interest in birding in the late eighties,” says Tom. “When I lived and worked in Ottawa, I found Sundays could be a boring, wasted day. Therefore, I signed up for an eight-week course to learn about birding. It was fascinating to learn so much about birds. People in the course were interested in nature and the environment, and when the class ended we started our own Sunday birding club.” Tom is not new to wandering and travelling along migratory flight paths. He led an exciting international high-flying professional life before landing in the Delta area. While working for the federal government in a variety of positions over 30 years, one of his postings was as Trade Commissioner and Acting Canadian High Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago. He also flew to locations including Geneva, New York City and San Diego to work on international trade issues, such as Free Trade Agreements, where he rubbed shoulders with presidents, diplomats and dignitaries. In his footloose and fancy-free 20s, this traveller also hitchhiked to destinations as far as Australia, Greece, Europe, India and Burma. Today, as a dedicated community volunteer, Tom donates to many projects. One of his proudest charitable legacies is an Annual Golf Tournament that he organized in Trinidad to raise donations for a golf program for disadvantaged youth. Ambassadors and dignitaries take part in the event to provide golf equipment for youngsters. Tom also serves on the Board of Directors of the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad/Tobago and travels from Canada to Trinidad every October for their Annual General Meeting. This centre is a world-renowned nature and ecotourism destination. “Trinidad/Tobago is a unique rainforest area with a diverse habitat,” says Tom. “Birds migrate from both north and south, so there is a high number of species. It’s a great birding environment. The Asa Wright Nature Centre is probably the best backyard birding spot in the world. For

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MAY 2011

example, you’ll find 13 species of hummingbirds right in front of you on their famous veranda.” When he isn’t watching a golf ball fly through the air, or returning from his latest international flight with Sandra, his spouse of 38 years, Tom is looking up to the sky to document bird-life in his newly adopted home nest of Delta. This area is located on an internationally recognized bird migration Pacific flyway – home to some of the finest feathered friends on the planet; millions of migratory birds stop over in Delta’s Boundary Bay. In semi-retirement, Tom now devotes considerable time and talent to environmental groups including the Delta Naturalists’ Society – along with projects for preservation groups such as the Burns Bog Conservation Society and Birds on the Bay. Delta Naturalists’ Society is a natural history group involved in botany, wildlife, conservation and birding. It is part of the B.C. Nature network of more than 50 nature

Delta Naturalists on a Casual Birding Outing lead by Tom Bearss (in black hat).

clubs throughout the province, offering activities such as birding outings, nature hikes, stewardship projects and speaker programs. Membership includes respected naturalists, environ-

mentalists, biologists and interested citizens. Members tend to be charitable with their expertise and resources, and give generously to a variety of environmental causes.

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“About 70 people are now members of our Delta group,” says Tom. “I find that Delta residents are very committed to protection of the environment. We also like to educate kids about nature and the environment. Our group provides display materials and hands-on activities on nature topics. Upcoming highlights include involvement with Earth Day events, a display at Boundary Bay Park on Father’s Day and coordinating a B.C. nature conference in Delta this fall.” Tom credits Anne Murray, a B.C. naturalist, and Mary Taitt, a wildlife biologist, for being his “nature gurus” since SL he moved to B.C. five years ago. To read Delta Naturalists Casual Birding blog with Tom’s own unique brand of playful wit, visit the blog online at dncb.wordpress.com For information about B.C. Nature groups in your area, visit their website at www.bcnature.ca

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Testamentary Charitable Gifts BY WILLIAM WALTERS

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www.seniorlivingmag.com Each month, we email subscribers our latest newsle�er containing informa�on you won’t find in our magazine. You never know what we’ll include! We have ar�cles on: • successful re�rement • seasonal recipes • computer �ps • gardening • travel • health • fitness • housing • finances • caregiving, etc. PLUS: Info on upcoming magazine features, events, senior-focused adver�sers, advice ar�cles on our website and interes�ng videos.

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he extensive role of charitable organizations in society is obvious, as is the fact that much of their funding is from private sources. Making a gift to a charity during one’s lifetime or in one’s Will has two positive results: the charity and its goals are advanced and the donation can be used to reduce income tax. With respect to this latter benefit, it is important to recognize that one’s net assets will still be reduced notwithstanding that less tax will have been paid. Ideally, therefore, one couples both goals when deciding to make a charitable donation. Individuals are increasingly interested in achieving these goals through their wills, and it is on testamentary charitable gifts that this article will focus. A charitable gift made in a will is deemed to be made in the year of death and can therefore be claimed against the final tax return of the deceased. Such a gift has an advantage over gifts made during lifetime since the gift, and hence the deduction, can be up to 100 per cent of income. In other words, a charitable gift can be used to fully offset the income tax otherwise payable in the year of death. Furthermore, any unused amount can be carried back to the previous year. Charitable gifting can be used as part of an overall estate plan. For example, if an individual knows that his or her death will trigger significant capital gains due to the deemed disposition of an asset, then the person may WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

wish to consider having life insurance. Upon death, the proceeds from the life insurance policy can be used to cover the capital gains. A somewhat more creative option is to have the life insurance proceeds paid to a charity: the resulting credit for that donation can then be used to offset the capital gains. Of course, one achieves the additional benefit of advancing the goals of the charity. Another interesting option is to combine a testamentary trust with a charitable gift. This option is known as a charitable remainder trust. In simplest terms, the will creates a trust and names a beneficiary who has a life interest in the trust. Once the beneficiary dies, the assets of the trust are donated to a charity. It is vital that the trust comply with the requirements set by the Canada Revenue Agency set out in the income tax interpretation bulletin IT-226R. These requirements are as follows: (a) There must be a transfer of property voluntarily given with no expectation of right, privilege, material benefit or advantage to the donor or a person designated by the donor. (b) The property must vest with the recipient organization at the time of transfer. A gift is vested if (i) the person or persons entitled to the gift are in existence and are ascertained, (ii) the size of the beneficiaries’ interests are ascertained, and

(iii) any conditions attached to the gift are satisfied. (c) The transfer must be irrevocable. (d) It must be evident that the recipient organization will eventually receive full ownership and possession of the property transferred. Two primary goals of these requirements are that the property has been given away and cannot be called back and that the value of the property that the charity will receive is calculable when it is given. If the CRA requirements are met, then a tax receipt will be issued when the trust is created to offset income on the deceased’s final tax return. When planning to make gifts to a charity in a will, two other important considerations are the Wills Variation Act and planning for the possibility that the selected charity may no longer exist in the same form or at all, as when the will was made. The Wills Variation Act entitles a child or spouse of a testator to challenge a will that fails to make adequate provision for them. This means that a spouse or child could challenge a charitable gift, especially where that gift is a substantial part of the deceased’s total estate. One must also consider the possibility that the selected charity may no longer exist at one’s death or that it may have been absorbed by one or more successor organizations. In order to ensure that the charitable gift does not fail, the will should include a provision permitting the executor and trustee to direct the charitable gift to another organization with objectives similar to those of the original charity selected by the testator. A well-planned charitable gift can be a valuable part of an estate plan. Such gifts can fulfill altruistic goals, form part of a tax minimization strategy, or achieve both ends. As always, careful planning is required and will often involve both legal and accountSL ing professionals.

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Advanced Mobility Products More than just a retailer

by Jamie Schaab

EVENTS BEYOND ONE’S CONTROL HAPPEN IN LIFE, and the occurrence of unsolicited change is much more common with advanced age. Slips and falls that compromise mobility indefinitely can occur in a flash, and change one’s reality forever. The privilege to drive a car can be taken away the need for the new equipment, but they also without notice because a doctor recognized signs have to process all the technical information of failing cognition which the driver and family associated with the equipment and absorb the members missed. The aging process advances unexpected cost. physical deterioration that may already exist Advanced Mobility Products is much more within the body from past injuries due to car than just a retailer of homecare and mobility products such as wheelchairs, accidents, repetitive movement in the workplace or illness that �� scooters, walkers, stair lifts and bed lifts. The team impedes one’s mobility. �� has experienced firsthand Paul Laderoute, managing �� what it is like to live with director of Advanced Mobility compromised mobility, and Products, points out that the need for mobility assistance equipment can their number one goal is to provide clients with materialize without warning. the equipment needed to regain freedom and “It’s the type of equipment where people independence while remaining comfortable and don’t really know what they need until they need safe. They also stock all the parts required to it,” he says, adding that when the equipment is repair and service the equipment they sell, so needed – it is often needed immediately. downtime for customers is kept at a minimum. This position is a stressful one in which to be The Advanced Mobility staff members do for both the individual requiring the equipment a thorough needs assessment with each client and his or her family. They not only have to to determine which equipment is best suited to deal with the physical event that now causes his or her needs and environment. Then they take the time to educate the client as much as necessary until the new equipment is being fully utilized. Throughout this entire process, the client’s comfort and safety is of the utmost importance because mobility equipment should cause a progression of independence, not a progression of deterioration. The Advanced Mobility team knows that helping someone choose the proper mobility equipment can have a great positive impact. Paul recalls one gentleman who was confined to his bed for five years while in the possession of a $35,000 mobility system because he could not operate it comfortably or safely. A sales person from Advanced Mobility identified his needs and set him up with the proper equipment and training, and the gentleman was mobile both inside his home and out the door within five minutes. “That’s a testament to due diligence.”

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MAY 2011

FOREVER BY WILLIAM THOMAS

Feline Dementia? Or Just a Cat?

ats, like their owners are living longer than ever before. That’s the good news. With enhanced longevity comes the downside of aging – arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney problems and even dementia. If you live long enough, you’ll likely inherit these afflictions. A recent survey by Scottish veterinary surgeon Danielle Gunn-Moore reveals that 28 per cent of cats aged 11 to 14 are affected by feline dementia – that number jumps to 50 per cent for cats 15 years of age and older. Similar to Alzheimer’s, a protein in the form of sticky plaques build up on the brain’s nerve cells causing mental deterioration by disconnect. Dr. Gunn-Moore’s own cat inspired her research; 12-year-old Cardhu started showing signs of human senility. (Single malt lovers are welcome to make up their own “12-year-old Cardhu” joke here.) There are exceptions to the rule of dementia for aging cats. Not all old cats go batty. Years ago, I stayed one week in a draughty Bed & Breakfast walk-up in Chalk Farm, halfway up the Black Line of the London Underground system. The Irish proprietor creeped me out with her ghoulish theories on Lady Di’s death, and how “they first killed her unborn child before they staged the car accident.” 18

SENIOR LIVING

So, my only solace was Rosie, a 21year-old blind Tabby who slept beside my bed each night. In the morning, this cat, scrawny and rickety but resourceful, would walk along the walls all the way down two flights of stairs, around a couch, around a coffee table, under a TV set and up to a window. From there, she leapt up onto a cushioned sill, her resting spot for the day. Touching the walls and furniture with her whiskers, she had committed two additional routes to memory – one to her food station and one to the litter box. Rosie’s mind was still sharp at over 100 human years of age. My Irish landlady made my stay so unpleasant; the day I left, I rearranged all the furniture – just to give her cat a bit of a challenge. (No, I did not do that.) So cats, it seems, are more prone to aging dementia than dogs. Kidney failure and hypertension are just two of the symptoms of feline dementia. Other signs include aimless wandering, a decrease in grooming and a sudden lack of interest in food. However, with some of the signs the dementia survey warns about, with a cat, it can be a little tricky. “Inappropriate vocalization,” for instance, could be a symptom of senility, or if the dog walked off with Missy’s stuffed mouse in his mouth, it could be a sign that your dog is about to have a WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

nosebleed. “Episodes of disorientation?” My neighbour once found my cat Wedgie hiding in his bird feeder. Going a little batty? Hardly, Wedgie all but put his toes to his lips so Bob wouldn’t alert the incoming birds. Or as Wedgie liked to call them, “lunch.” “Memory loss that causes your cat to forget commands?” Hullo!! A cat that follows orders!? Until they begin to crossbreed cats with dogs, you’re pretty much talking to yourself while giving directions to felines. In fact, if your cat does heed your commands, that too might be a symptom of senility. “Disorientation like getting trapped in corners?” Once again, I refer you to my juvenile delinquent Wedgie, who, on the first day I brought him home was so curious about his new digs, he got his bum stuck between the couch and the baseboard radiator. That’s how he got his name. “Constant pacing back and forth?” OK, but what if he’s just worried about something like dinner being late or chicken versus beef or you with that bottle of shampoo in your hand? “Lack of interest in food?” Yeah, that’s probably a sign of dementia unless Tabitha there has found a better deal two doors down. “Confusion about time. Forgetting they’ve been fed?” Once again, on a personal note, I once had a cat named Malcolm who could eat a husky under

the table. Malcolm ate his food and often cleaned out the bowls of three other cats that were too well-mannered to hiss and scratch. Malcolm was quite thin for a glutton (I know, I know, we all hate people who can pull that off!) and his nickname was “Hoover.” Many a time he tried to trick me into believing I’d forgotten to feed him. It only worked about half the time. Senile? No. Sly? Like The Family Stone. “Screaming in the middle of the night?” That could well be a sign of advancing dementia or a nightmare involving him, you and a pill. “Forgetting the location of the litter box?” Either way, you got yourself a big problem. I never had a cat that misplaced the sandbox, but there was old Uncle Randal from Antigonish who - let’s just say the far corner of the dining room does not make a great substitute for the “john” and there are still people from that Thanksgiving Day dinner in therapy. “Increased irritability?” Not likely a serious sign. I believe a cat said: “If you’re not angry half the time, you’re letting down the breed.” “Increased attention seeking?” Yeah, like jumping into even more laps of people who do not like cats, than he normally would? And that’s the real problem with cats and the detection of dementia – most of them are so wonderfully loony, how do you know for sure? Editor’s Note: If you suspect your cat is experiencing dementia, please see a vet. There are medical treatments and behaviour tips available to ease the problem. Also, your cat could exhibit senile habits, but might just be unhappy or depressed. SL William Thomas is the author of nine books of humour including The True Story of Wainﬂeet and Margaret and Me and The Cat Rules. For comments or ideas, visit his website at www.williamthomas.ca

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MAY 2011

Lost Found

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SENIOR LIVING

he clatter at the mail slot told me the mail carrier had arrived. Sometimes, I felt sorry for her, loaded down with all those glossy advertisements and envelopes full of promises of huge wins from some unknown companies. They usually went right into – what I call – permanent filing. Nevertheless, sometimes it was fun to look through them all. Today, there was one yellow envelope, quite out of the ordinary. When I turned it over, my heart gave an extra beat. She had written back! I had waited for weeks wondering whether she would answer. I sat down at the table and started reading. Yes, she had been surprised to hear from me. No wonder, after 50 years. Hildegard and I had been best friends in high school. She used to come by train from a nearby village. We would sing together at music lessons, she soprano, and I alto. We also managed to visit each other occasionally during the summer holidays. That is until her mother died. Hildegard was only 14, and I cried with her. Her two sisters and one brother were older and already had their own lives. Our relationship changed; boys were more important to her than to me. I understood later that since she had lost her mother’s love, she had looked for a substitute. After I got a job as an apprentice in a lawyer’s office, Hildegard and I lost touch. When I immigrated to Canada, married and had a family my thoughts seldom touched on schooldays and former friends. Life was busy, at times hectic. But two years ago, Hildegard appeared more and more in my mind. Was she okay? How had her life been? Did she have the same health problems as her mother, cancer? I needed to find out. How to find her address? After all, her name certainly had changed if she had married. I wrote to her old village and got the answer that she now lived in my own hometown. That was easy. Then, with hope in my heart, I wrote a letter to her and waited. Was she even interested in connecting again? Did she even remember? Who knows, some people might rather not. Now, the waiting was over. Thanks to the obliging Internet, I found her phone number. I called. And we talked, for a long time. She even remembered our nicknames! Her life and

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family had been quite similar to mine. She The hadGreat two daughters Wall and a grandson. I had two daughters, one son and now three granddaughters. While my husband still enjoyed good health, her husband was sick and she was his caregiver. So much to talk about – school years, teachers, marriage, kids. Finally, we said goodbye, and Hildegard promised to call again. From then on, either she or I called once a month. Last November, her voice sounded different. Her husband had passed away. I was amazed at how calm she was. “He doesn’t have to suffer anymore,” she said. “Yes, I miss him, but the last 10 years haven’t been easy for either of us.” She told me it was Alzheimer’s. That’s when a thought occurred to me. I hadn’t seen my hometown in years. How about flying over and finally meeting my friend again? Although I had concerns about flying nine hours in a crowded plane, something else pushed me into action. We got an invitation from relatives to celebrate their golden anniversary. Since my husband didn’t feel like going, I decided I would. I could combine the two visits. I got excited. Hildegard was bubbling over with anticipation when I told her about The author and her school chum it. That did it. Hildegard. After a few days getting used to the time change in Germany, my cousin drove me to my hometown and Hildegard’s house. She had waited by the window and opened the door right away. Strange, how even after 50 years, some things in a person’s face and eyes never change. “I can still see the Hildegard from before in there,” I told her. From hugs and greetings, we went into the kitchen and a bubbling teakettle. A disembodied voice on the telephone was a good beginning, but nothing could beat the person-toperson reconnection. “I still remember your braids,” Hildegard said and poured the tea. We talked until lunchtime. She finally got up. “Let me show you your room and the rest of the house.” I stayed for three days. I had a good look at my town again, my friend and I went out for a leisurely lunch, talked about everything. I found out a lot about her life after her mother’s death, how she had felt lost and unhappy. I counted my blessings. I don’t know whether I will see her again. Who knows? Life doesn’t tell you in advance what will happen. But now we both can imagine a face behind the voice on the phone. We also have much more to talk about because we dug deeper into each of our lives again and understand them much better. SL

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MAY 2011

ASK

Photo: Jason van der Valk

Goldie

BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: When I look back over the years that have passed so quickly, I feel sad that I didn’t tell my family more often how much they meant to me. We had so many happy times, and sad ones too, but always came through together. Is this lack of overt affection a common problem in many families? –J.R Dear J.R: Display of affection varies in families and cultures. Pace of life also affects greetings and living habits. Regardless of display, I think in most families, there is a feeling of love and support that seldom fails. Unfortunately, family friction can occasionally begin as a trivial event and escalate into permanent separation. The majority of families, however, do support one another, particularly in times of trouble. You mention the support your family enjoyed, and I am sure they are aware of your true affection for them.

My problem is that both my wife and boss are discouraging my complete retirement. What do you think? –W.C. Dear W.C.: I believe the time of your retirement should be your decision, rather than that of your former boss and your wife. You have long anticipated this point in time, and I assume have prepared for it financially. The fact that you feel tired may well be a warning that extending your career is a danger to your health. Make an appointment to see your doctor, and explain the situation to him or her. The extra money may be a benefit to your holidays, but it seems more important that you are around to enjoy them. SL

Eat Together

Dear Goldie: Although I am officially retired, I still work on a parttime schedule in my former job. I am in good health and the extra money is helpful for our holidays. I have been feeling tired in recent months, however, so I would like to retire from work completely now.

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.

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 24

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What to have for dinner today? Pistachio-crusted Paciﬁc salmon with herbed rice. Maybe vegetarian lasagna and Caesar salad. Then seasonal fresh fruit for dessert – or orange crème brûlée. So much choice. Through our exclusive TasteBuds™ program, our residents choose from a variety of wholesome, homemade meals that are served in the comfort of our dining room – and in the company of friends. What’s on your menu today? Dine at The Summerhill. Phone for your personal tour. 604.980.6525 135 West 15th Street (off Lonsdale) North Vancouver | 604.980.6525 www.the summerhill.ca Part of Paciﬁc Arbour Retirement Communities

Where good things come together. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

RVing the Rideau Travel & Adventure

BY JANE CASSIE PHOTOS BY BRENT C ASSIE

hat comes to mind when you hear Rideau Canal: a gem-like waterway flowing between the cities of Kingston and Ottawa or a Canadian story featuring ambition, struggle and success? Maybe thoughts of its honourable designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site or the world’s longest skating rink come to mind. If any of these pop up, you’re spot on. The series of lakes, rivers and dams, linked by 47 locks at 24 stations, was built as a defensible waterway after the War of 1812. Although never needed for this purpose, it has continued to operate since its completion in 1832. Thanks to these gated chambers (locks), boats can navigate the varying water elevations by floating up when the tubs are filled, and dropping down when they’re emptied. And beyond every park-like station, are unique ventures and vistas: trout-filled lakes, bird-loving wetlands, sliver-thin canals – some etched out of limestone, others embraced by Canadian

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Shield. It’s truly an aquatic route of untarnished beauty. Obviously, cruising or kayaking this 202-km (126-mile) canal would allow for prime viewing. But if you’re more of an earth lover than a water baby, fear not. RVing the Rideau can be almost as rewarding. Highway 401, a.k.a. MacDonald Cartier Freeway, is a main thoroughfare that spans the canal. And branching away from this pulsating artery is the Rideau Heritage Route that takes RVers to Rideau riches – visit online at www.rideauheritage.ca Though this route tracks the lock numbers and landmarks from Ottawa to Kingston, it can be simply reversed if you choose to go in the other direction. All you have to do is pack, gas up and go!

Northern Section

Ottawa Locks 1-8, Hartwells Locks 9-10 and Hogs Back Locks 11-12 are located within Canada’s capital. Here, you can take in some of the nearby cultural offerings or pedal

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MAY 2011

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RV and motorcycle cruising along the Rideau near Westport.

Photo: Anne Marie Forcier

My Parents

the path that connects these three scenic settings. Black Rapids Lock 13 is 10 km south of Ottawa’s sprawl. It’s easy to conjure up bygone days when steamships plied these waters and hard to imagine that Ottawa International jets take off just three km away. If you feel like shacking up with a little comfort, the riverside Monterey Inn that overlooks this station will certainly meet your needs – online, visit www.montereyinn.com Highway 43 parallels one side of the Rideau, and Highway 16 is on the other. Both run adjacently from here to Smiths Falls. Take the latter and veer off on Country Road 19 (River Road) to get to Long Island Locks 14-16. You may want to take a day or two between this and the next lock station at Burritts Rapids (17) to check out these treasures and historical townships: the 1860s grist mill in Manotick, the Baxter Conservation area in Kars, the hiking routes around Kemptville, and the Rideau’s oldest church in Burritts Rapids.

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RV Parks:RV Parks: Northern Rideau RiverProvincial Provincial Park Rideau River Park RR 4,Kemptville, Kemptville, RR 4, ONON K0GK0G 1J0 1J0 613-258-2740 613-258-2740 181 campsites,3131with with electricity 181 campsites, electricity Sandy Mountain Campsite & Sandy Mountain Campsite & Golf Course Golf Course 613-989-2058 613-989-2058 8 km east of Kemptville Hwy 43 8 km east of Kemptville Hwy 43 40 overnight, 135 seasonal sites – 40 overnight, 135 seasonal sites

Central Section

Lower Nicholsons Lock 18, Upper Nicholsons Lock 19 and Clowes Lock 20 are accessible by Country Road 2. Off Highway 43 is Merrickville and locks 21-23, the Jewel of the Rideau that offers everything from quaint shops and galleries to a first-class history lesson. Take a tour of the 1832 Blockhouse Museum, the nearby bird sanctuary and Mrs. McGarrigle’s, a fabulous fine food shop where you’ll discover the most amazing award-winning mustards! Visit

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them online at www.mustard.ca Kilmarnock Lock 24 and Edmonds Lock 25 are the next in line, followed closely by Old Slys Locks 26-27 and Smiths Falls Combined 29a and Detached 31. Don’t be confused by the skewed numbering. These last two stations are lumped together and the oddball in the mix, built in 197273, replaced three previous locks. At 7.9 metres (26 feet), it’s the greatest single lift on the canal and is a real must-see (Even if you’re not floating in it). Smiths Falls – the “Heart of the Rideau” – is the largest community on the corridor. The Railway Museum retraces its tracks from the 1800s to 1979. And Heritage House shares the Rideau’s past; the struggles and turmoil of its creator, Colonel John By, the devastation and hardship of its Irish immigrant workers and the timeline that led to its success. Also, be sure not to miss the Rideau Canal Museum.

�� Quaint stop of Merrickville

From here, you’ll cross over to the canal’s southern shore where Highway 15 leads to Poonamalie Lock 32, Lower Beveridges Lock 33 and Upper Beveridges Lock 34 and beyond to the lakeside village of Portland on Big Rideau Lake. But you may want to keep hugging onto Highway 34 for just a little longer. The pretty town of Perth is just up the road. Sun-dappled sidewalks and green space embrace its 200-year-old storefronts, and rimming one edge is the Tay Canal, a tree-bordered tributary that flows into Lower Rideau Lake. Although a picturesque RV park nestles up to the reedy shoreline, if you want to snooze in the same bed-

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room A.Y. Jackson did from the Group of Seven, book into the Perth Manor: a boutique hotel with deep roots and great hospitality. www.perthmanor.com

VictoriaRVPark Central Parks: c/o TownCampground Hall, P.O. Box 695, Smiths Riverside Falls, ON K7ARiver 4T6Rd, RR 4, Rideau 613-283-5112 Merrickville, ON 613-269-4664

RV Parks: Riverside Campground RR 4, Rideau River Rd, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0 613-269-4664 12 overnight, 47 seasonal sites Perth Manor

www.town.smiths-falls.on.ca

Victoria Park 50 serviced sites c/o Town Hall, P.O. Box 695, Smiths Falls, ON 613-283-5112 Tay River Tent & Trailer Camp www.town.smiths-falls.on.ca

RR 4, Perth, K7H 3C6

Tay River Tent & Trailer Camp 613-267-3955 RR Perth, ON35613-267-3955 15 4, transient, seasonal sites Waterways Campground Waterways Campground P.O. Box 37, Portland, ON P.O. Box 37, Portland, ON K0G 613-272-2791 www.waterways.ca

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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. A unique blend of humor and nostalgia, Gipp’s writings touch your heart in such an irresistible way, you will want to buy not only a copy for yourself, but as a wonderful gift for friends and family members. 128 pages Softcover • Published by Senior Living

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Southern Section

Aside from the occasional detour, like dots on a map, Highway 15 connects the remaining eight stations (total of 15 locks). Although Westport, via Country Road 42, is a little off the main route, this scenic hamlet is worth the drive. Its sandy beaches, golf courses and hiking trails are all framed by rolling farmlands and rugged Foley Mountain. If you’re an angler, you’ll want to literally catch Newboro on the return trip – or at least one of its largemouth bass. Though now quiet and laid-back, life here wasn’t always as laissez-fare. Building the lock station at this isthmus, or highpoint between Ottawa and Kingston, raised a lot of havoc back in 1829. Over 300 workers were brought here to blast away the rugged bedrock, and during the process, many of them fell ill to the retched Lake Fever, later diagnosed as malaria. RVing back on Highway 15, you can choose to veer off at Chaffey’s and Davis Locks, head in the other direction to uncover Elgin’s intriguing history that includes everything from United Empire Loyalists to Mormon missionaries, or pull into Jones Falls, one of the largest engineering marvels en route. Four locks need to be navigated at this station to conquer the water levels that span 18 metres. A blacksmith shop, lockmaster’s home, and visitors centre are featured along a self-guided tour, and topping it off (or holding it back) is the stone arch dam that supports the powerful force of Sand Lake. This amazing wall of limestone spans 107 metres is 19.5 metres high and was coined by its makers as the “Seventh Wonder of the World.” History also lives on at nearby Hotel Kenney, a yellow clapboard beauty that has been welcoming guests since 1877. Book a night in one of the comfortable lakeshore rooms and enjoy a little downtime, great food and legendary service. Visit www.hotelkenney.com On this final stretch, Highway 15 closely parallels the Rideau. Check

out the full services and holiday options at Seeley’s Bay, picnic at the luscious green space on Upper Brewers, pick up amazing metal sculptures at the Lower Brewers Doner Studio Mill and listen to the rumble of trains as they whiz above at Kingston Mills. And if you haven’t seen enough scenic sites, hop back into your camper, caravan or home on wheels and retrace your treads. The Rideau is riddled with so many rewards you’ll enjoy it just as much the second SL time around!

So nice to come home to.

Ask us about our Move-In Incentive Call Janice to book your personal tour 604.614.1600 20363 - 65th Avenue, Langley BC langleyseniorsvillage.com

Visitors gather around a gated chamber (lock). Southern RV Parks: Sunnyside Campground 209-192 Sunnyside Road, Westport, ON 613-273-3124 www.sunnysidecampground.on.ca 147 seasonal only campsites and 2 rental cottages

Our Mailbox Services are designed to make your life easier while on the road!

Skycroft Campsites & Cottages RR 1, Chaffey’s Lock, ON 613-359-5491 or toll-free 1-877-359-5491 www.skycroft.com 8 transient campsites, 57 seasonal sites and 3 housekeeping cottages Melody Lodge & Marina RR 3, 4328 Melody Lodge Rd, Seeley’s Bay, ON 613-387-3497 or toll-free 1-888-MELODY-1 www.melodylodge.ca 20 transient, 20 seasonal hookups and 22 cottages

• Mail forwarding available • A real street address, not just a P.O. Box. • Package acceptance from any courier • 24-hour access • Call-in MailCheck ® and Package Notification. There are over 45 stores in the Metro Vancouver area & 7 stores in the BC Interior. Find yours at www.theupsstore.ca

Rideau Acres Campground 1014 Cunningham Road, Kingston, ON 613-546-2711 www.rideauacres.com

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MAY 2011

Have Fork, Will Travel n cool weather, bread puddings provide an inner furnace. They’re cheap and quick to make and if you don’t finish them, they can be put in the fridge and eaten later. The first recipe (or receipt) comes from The Diary of a Farmer’s Wife by Anne Hughes, dated 25 August 1796. Anne Hughes decided to start a diary to “set down all that I do every day” and so, for 13 months she wrote about her daily life, of the “butter maken” that sometimes “was longe time cummin,” of collecting honey, “pudden making,” “making merrie” and all the social activities and hard work that was the lot of a farmer’s wife. This extraordinary document was rediscovered in the 1930s on a farm in Oxfordshire. The spelling is wonderful but not difficult to understand. BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING WITH PEARS “You doe peel some pares, then putt sum peeces of breade and butter in thee bottom of a deep dyshe, ande laye thee pares on toppe, then more bredde and butter, throwing on sum sugger ande a pinsh of cynamon. Then you doe take 4 eggs and beate them harde for a bitt then putt them in a messure of mylke ande beate uppe till frothie, then poore over thee puddinge in thee dyshe and cooke itt gentlie for an hower bye thee clocke.” Try greasing the dish before you add the mixture. Apples could substitute for pears. The second dish is unrecognizable as a bread pudding. It’s rich, spicy, delicious and Mexican. It’s also a very old recipe. The ingredients are local and the same as those used in the 1640s to make bread and cakes. The recipe was recorded by the Holy Office of the Inquisition and saved in the archives.

Generally eaten at Lent, the ingredients symbolize the Passion of Christ. Many Mexican families see the dish as a reminder of the suffering of Christ on Good Friday. The bread is for the Body of Christ, the syrup is his blood, the raisins are the nails of the cross, and the whole cinnamon sticks are the wood of the cross. The melted cheese stands for the Holy Shroud. CAPIROTADA: MEXICAN BREAD PUDDING 1 cup rich brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or sticks) 1 cup water 2 1/2 cups French bread cubes (stale is fine) 1 cup raisins or currants 3/4 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup diced sharp cheddar In a large pan, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and water. Boil gently until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bread cubes and toss gently. Add raisins or currants, walnuts and cheese, and toss. Turn the mixture into a large greased casserole or baking pan. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Each cook has a different recipe for Capirotada, so experiment with fennel or cloves, apples or lemon juice, toasted almonds, and goat’s cheese. SL Sally Jennings is a writer, editor, tour guide. She has lived and dined on ﬁve continents, with no regrets. pto_edit@yahoo.ca

Senior Living Vancouver is available at most Recreation Centres and Libraries in the following municipalities: • VANCOUVER • BURNABY • NEW WESTMINSTER • WHITE ROCK • NORTH VANCOUVER • LADNER / TSAWWASSEN • PORT MOODY • COQUITLAM • PORT COQUITLAM • SURREY • RICHMOND • WEST VANCOUVER • LANGLEY • ABBOTSFORD • PHARMASAVE STORES THROUGHOUT BC

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Bread Puddings Stand the Test of Time

BY SALLY JENNINGS

BBB Better Better Better Better

Business Business Business Business

Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau

SCAM ALERT

BY LYNDA PASACRETA

BBB Wise Giving Tips

Think before you give. If you are solicited at home or he recent tragedy in Japan has prompted many people to reach out and donate to various di- on the street, take a minute or two to “think.” Ask for the saster relief organizations working in the area charity’s name and address, and get full identification from to help victims. The Better Business Bureau the solicitor and review it carefully. Ask to see written inforwarns, however, that – as occurred following the tsunami in mation on the charity’s programs and finances. 2004, Katrina in 2005 and the earthquake in Haiti just last year – fraudulent charities often emerge to scam donations Giving later might be better. Never feel pressured to give from well-meaning Canadians. on the spot. Legitimate charities will welcome your money To avoid being swindled or having your dollars misdi- tomorrow. If the solicitor pressures you with intimidation or rected, plan your giving and harassing phone calls, don’t demand accountability of hesitate to file a complaint the organizations soliciting with BBB. To avoid being swindled... plan your your support. If you plan to donate Watch out for cases of giving and demand accountability of the money this spring season mistaken identity. With organizations soliciting your support. – whether it’s for disaster about 9,000 registered charrelief in Japan or for anothities in B.C. alone, it’s not er cause close to your heart surprising that some charity – BBB would like to offer the following advice: names sound alike. Be careful that the one soliciting you is the one you have in mind. Be cautious when giving online. Be cautious about online Watch out for charity fraud. Legitimate charities do not giving, especially in response to spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. In the days follow- demand donations. They willingly provide written informaing the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, several phoney tion about their programs, finances or how donations are used; and they never insist you provide your credit card charitable websites popped up alleging to help victims. number, bank account number or any other personal inforWhen in doubt, check it out. When an unfamiliar organi- mation. zation asks you for a donation, don’t give without gathering Tax receipts. If you are looking to make a tax-deductible details about the charity, the nature of its programs, and its use of funds. Visit the Canadian Revenue Agency for a list donation, only a registered charity has received a Registration Number from the Canada Revenue Agency and can isof registered charities in Canada. SL sue donation receipts for gifts. Check out a charity’s claims. Despite what an organizaLearn more about giving to charities by visiting www. tion claims, charities have fundraising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a mini- mbc.bbb.org mum, a processing fee. If a charity claims that 100 per cent of collected funds will be assisting, for instance, earthquake victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fundraising and administrative expenses. They Lynda Pasacreta is President of the Better Business Bureau may use some of their other funds for payments, but the of Mainland B.C. www.mbc.bbb.org To contact Lynda Pasacreta, e-mail president@mbc.bbb.org expenses will still be incurred. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

MAY 2011

HEROES

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

I’m glad I’m not anybody’s hero. I’d sure disappoint don’t mind growing older. But it really bothers me when certain other people do, especially when some them now if I were. Losing my memory and gaining pounds are my heroes. Heroes are not supposed to grow old. instead of the other way around, some hero! Andy Hardy and Judge Hardy and Ozzie and HarNot long ago, my wife told me I was her hero. I was deeply riet and Ma and Pa Kettle should have stayed the same as moved but also a little disturbed. She was giggling and rolling when we first met them. Even if some were old then, they her eyes at the time. I sometimes get confused. I admire her shouldn’t have gotten any older! It’s just not right. intelligence; it’s her sense of humour I struggle with. They say, as we grow older our bodies shrink. Maybe Certain people, in my mind, should never outgrow their that’s why we seldom see Mickey Rooney anymore. Mick- hero status. They should carry over from generation to geney was short to begin with. He eration, challenging people to sure couldn’t afford to shrink. dream bigger dreams. Somebody might step on him. It seems strange to think Often, I wish I could gather my 12 I don’t know if Tyrone Power that some of tomorrow’s hecents and sneak back into the past and ever got old. The last time I saw roes – the guys I mean – will be him he was still young. He was remembered for wearing high take in a Saturday afternoon matinee, a pirate. heels and makeup and prancwhere so many of my heroes gathered I saw Judy Garland when she ing across the stage instead of was young but also when she riding a horse across wide-open and welcomed my cheers... was old – the same with John spaces. Go figure! Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, James I doubt if Roy and Gene Cagney and Burgess Meredith. would wear makeup and pound One that really got me down was Henry Fonda. I prob- on guitars and scream, instead of crooning, “O Bury Me, ably didn’t talk to God for a week over that. Henry had been On the Lone Prairie.” If they did, I think Gabby Hays would the young Mr. Lincoln and Wyatt Earp and Tom Strode and pull his beard out and Smiley Burnett would stop smiling! Often, I wish I could gather my 12 cents and sneak back Mr. Roberts. He, Jimmy Stewart, and John Wayne, with a little help from Clint Eastwood, settled the West. It hardly into the past and take in a Saturday afternoon matinee, seems right that they haven’t stayed in their prime to watch where so many of my heroes gathered and welcomed my over it. I guess that’s why skyscrapers have replaced ranch- cheers, along with a couple hundred other kids. They showed us how to ride a horse through a cloud of es in Dallas and Houston. Pity! I like my heroes to be dependable. Should they be put dust without getting dirty. But I guess that wouldn’t work aside for 10 or 20 years, when I decide to really notice them now. I have a white beard and weigh about 170 pounds again, they should remain the same – young, vibrant, full of more than I did then. And I’d have to pay the adult price, vim and vigour. They should not be shrunken and leaning instead of 25 cents. I’d probably be arrested if I shouted and on a cane: from a tough whiskey-drinking cowboy to a dod- cheered as Roy and Trigger beat up the bad guys. I guess many doctors would examine me too! derer in search of his Geritol? I don’t think so. Oh well! We all grow older and “wishing” isn’t going to My wife just hollered: “Top shelf in the bathroom cabinet.” (I don’t think her hearing is quite what it used to be.) change that. But still, I wish I could give Hoppy a call and SL ask how it’s going! Geritol indeed. 32

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To Move or Not to Move?

BC EDITION

A Helpful Guide For Seniors Considering Their Residential Options

Published by Senior Living January 2009

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To Move or Not to Move?

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

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If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to diminishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you. • What residential options are available? • Define your current situation - What residential option is right for you? • How to research and assess Independent and Assisted Living residences. • What do Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities have to offer? • How much does it cost to live in an Assisted Living residence? What subsidies are available? • Thinking of moving in with family members? Questions to consider before making your decision. • Are there any other residential options besides Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities? • If you choose to stay in your own home, what are your options and what should you plan for? • Who can help you decide what you can or cannot afford? • Funding sources available to seniors - tax deductions, housing subsidies, home care subsidies, equipment loan programs, renovation grants, etc. • Selling your home - how to find the right realtor or relocation services to assist your move. • Downsizing - Where do you start? How do you proceed? • Adapting your home to meet your mobility needs - tips and suggestions • Hiring home care services; do it yourself or hire an agency? • Legal matters - how to make sure you receive the care you desire should you not be able to communicate due to some incapacitating condition • AND MUCH MORE

Advice from professionals who are experts in the area of assisting seniors with their relocation questions and concerns. A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best 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.

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