May 2010 Senior Living Magazine Vancouver Edition by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

PLANNED GIVING EDITION MAY 2010

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

Volunteer & Entrepreneur Patricia Whittaker

Better to Give

Celebrating Donors and Doers

�� 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. This directory is published by Senior Living, and promoted in all its magazines distributed monthly to over 900 locations across BC. Visit us today at:

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Play Together

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Home Pic up an k Retur d ns!

June 9th - 5 Days

What to do today? Play WiiTM golf with some friends. Chat about the latest book club selection. Work out with a ﬁtness class. Join the chorus in a sing-a-long. So much choice. Our residents love to connect with others. That’s why we offer plenty of social activities and lots of unscripted fun. Anything that appeals to the desire to stay active. What are you doing for fun today? Play 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.

This tour takes in many aspects of the 102nd historic Portland Rose Festival in Oregon as well as a night in Central Oregon, Warm Springs at Ka-nee-tah Resort with a special “Bird in a Clay” dinner. Enjoy the parade in comfort at your reserved indoor seating in the Memorial Coliseum, a stones throw from your deluxe accommodations. Tax Free Factory Outlet shopping, International Rose Test Gardens, Movie “From One Rose” Please compare to other Rose Festival Tours. We have so much more fun ! Bob and Teresa Marshall as driver and escort. 4 meals $829 Cdn PP Dble Occ. No GST. 604-596-9670

NOVEMBER 4 - 13 2010 – 10 DAYS 13 Meals: 8 Breakfasts ● 5 Dinners

Highlights… Scottsdale ● Phoenix ● Verde Canyon Railroad ● Sedona Trolley Tour ● Sante Fe, New Mexico ● Grand Canyon Railway ● Albuquerque Hosted by Bob and Teresa Marshall Call for a brochure or join us for a slide show presentation May 3rd, 2010,

Per Person Rates: Double $3,189; Single $4,119 Included in Price: Transfers to and from the Vancouver Airport (arranged for and provided by Pitmar Tours), Round Trip Air from Vancouver, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $130 (subject to increase until paid in full).

MAY 2010 MAGAZINE

(Vancouver & Lower Mainland) is published by Stratis Publishing. Other publications by Stratis Publishing:

• Senior Living (Vancouver Island)

SPECIAL PLANNED GIVING ISSUE

Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid

editor@seniorlivingmag.com Contributors Doreen Barber, Goldie Carlow, Brent Cassie, Jane Cassie, James Ellsworth, Gipp Forster, Kevin Growcott, Margaret Growcott, Nadine Jones, Kevin McKay, Barbara Risto, Barbara Small, William Thomas, Ellen Weiser, Sheldon Weiser Copy Editor Allyson Mantle

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

3 Our Readers Most Likely to...

50+ Canadians lead the way in helping others and being strongly connected to community.

Advertising Manager

30 Classiﬁeds

8 Types of Charitable Gifts

COLUMNS

Barry Risto 250-479-4705 Toll Free 1-877-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com

Donating to charity isn’t just about handing over cash; ﬁnd out other ways to make an impact.

Ad Sales Staff

10 Keyed Up for the Piano

Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-589-7801 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 Natalie Verstraelen 604-819-5400

Passionate about music since childhood, Ellen Weiser returns to the piano a little wiser.

14 Scenic Seattle

A hop, skip and a jump away, Seattle offers interest above and below ground.

Contact Information – Head Ofﬁce

Senior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

2 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

12 Forever Young by William Thomas

13 Between Friends by Doreen Barber

29 Ask Goldie

by Goldie Carlow

16 Go North Young Man

Aside from its obvious beauty, northern British Columbia is steeped in culture and tradition.

Phone 250-479-4705 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com

28 Crossword

5 Better to Give

Whether it’s time or money, people grateful for their own lives enjoy giving back.

Proofreader Holly Bowen

27 BBB Scam Alert

22 A Glimpse of Yesteryear

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Kay Green returns to the old Vancouver Island sawmill that played the backdrop to her life.

Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST,

24 A Woman of Inﬁnite Variety

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 indepdendent publication and its articles imply no endoresement 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 & Lower Mainland is distributed free in Vancouver, North & West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Delta, Twawwassen, White Rock, Surrey, Cloverdale and Ladner.

Whatever the arena, Patricia Whittaker gets involved to affect change in her community.

30 Swifter, Higher, Stronger

Volunteer Barbara Ellsworth went to Olympic lengths to be a part of the Games.

Cover Photo: Volunteer and entrepreneur Patricia Whittaker performing with the African dance and drum group Mukutano. Story page 24. Photo: Kevin McKay

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

MAGAZINE

Call 1-877-479-4705 for other locations. MAY 2010

Planned Giving

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Remembering to Play BY BARBARA SMALL

aregiving is both emotionally and physically demanding. Caregivers typically ignore their own needs and focus their attention and energy on the care recipient. They let go of activities, hobbies and interests that are joyful and energizing for them. Even spending time with friends can be forgotten. This unbalance can lead to burnout and impacts the amount and quality of care that the caregiver can provide. To avoid this, it is essential for family caregivers to remember to take time for themselves, to have fun and remember to play. Life Coach Vince Gowmon’s “work” is to help others bring more play, lightness and joy into their lives. Vince helps family caregivers recognize how play is a cornerstone to effective caregiving because it reminds caregivers to embrace self-care and levity. Play can help enhance the relationship between the caregiver and the care recipient when time is taken to initiate fun activities, respond in a more playful way and change up the “usual routine.” Vince views play as a lifestyle choice rather than simply a series of activities. It means creating a more open life with a “Yes, and” attitude (open to possibilities) rather than creating blocks with a “Yes, but” attitude (excuses and limitations). It involves being flexible and receptive to what life brings. Many people were raised to live life the “the right way” – work hard, live by a lot of shoulds and musts and use the logical side of their brain only. We stop being spontaneous, lose our creativity and don’t trust our intuition when making choices or decisions. Family caregivers are used to putting everyone else first and getting lost in the demands of caregiving. Then they burn out. Remembering to play gives caregivers an opportunity

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to refill their cup on a regular basis. Bringing more joy and lightness into the caregiving situation has a positive impact on both the caregiver and the person receiving care. There are proven physiological benefits to play and laughter, such as stress reduction, lowered blood pressure, a boosted immune system and improved brain function. Vince encourages family caregivers to ask themselves the following questions: Where might you initiate more joy and playfulness in your life and when caregiving? What is it you love to do, but don’t make time for anymore? What energizes you? When the person you are caring for becomes playful or joking, do you play along? Can you see some of the humour in your situation? How might you do things differently, if you saw your care recipient as a creative and resourceful person and you began “caring with” them rather than “caring for” them? So laugh, have more fun and remember playing isn’t just SL for kids. Next month: Travel Tips for Family Caregivers Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

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Planned Giving

Our Readers Are Among Those Most Likely To Give

ccording to a report released by Statistics Canada, those who give the most are more likely to be older. They volunteer more hours per person than any other age group, and the majority of those who volunteered said they responded because of an advertisement they read. Throughout the years of publishing Senior Living, we’ve come to understand these statistics first hand. As we’ve written about the lives and achievements of older people, it is more common than not to discover that these people are strongly connected to their communities and exhibit a deep desire to help others in some fashion. It is for this reason that our May magazine contains a “planned giving” editorial feature and an invitation from a number of charities to consider them as worthy candidates for your charitable dollars. As government tightens the purse strings, private citizens have become the lifeblood of many non-profit organizations. Their continued contributions are keeping the doors of many charities open, and ensuring important causes continue to move forward. Some have thoughtfully included their favourite cause as a beneficiary in their will or estate plan. In doing so, they will continue to make a difference in the lives of those that follow. This has come to be known as “leaving a legacy.” These legacies ensure research continues in the effort to eradicate diseases, buildings continue to be built to house the impoverished, stray and unwanted animals continue to be fed and adopted, kids from low-income families continue to go to camp – and the list goes on. What particular cause pulls at your heartstrings? This month, take some time to find out how you can make a difference, not just today but ongoing. Here are more of the findings discovered by Statistics Canada: Those who give the most are more likely than others to be older. Although donors with higher household incomes tend to donate larger amounts in absolute terms, those with lower

BY BARBARA RISTO, PUBLISHER

incomes give more when their donations are expressed as a percentage of total income. The most frequently reported motivations for making donations were feeling compassion for those in need, wanting to help a cause in which the donor personally believes, and wanting to make a contribution to the community. Donors also give because they or someone they know has been personally affected by the cause of the organization or because of religious beliefs. The reasons most frequently reported for volunteering were to make a contribution to the community, to use skills and experiences, and having been personally affected by the cause the organization supports. Other reasons, reported by close to half of the volunteers,

The future of Knowledge is in your hands. Ensure insightful, inspiring, commercial-free programming continues in BC for future generations. For more information contact: Donna Robinson 604.431.3136 Toll Free 1.877.456.6988 plannedgiving@knowledge.ca

MAY MAY2010 2010

Planned Giving

were to explore strengths, to network with or meet people, or because friends volunteered. Volunteers also identified a number of benefits that they received from their activities. The most common benefits were the development of interpersonal skills, communications skills and organizational or managerial skills. Generally, the likelihood of giving tends to increase with age, with the donation rate rising from a low of 71 per cent for 15 to 24 year olds to highs of 89 per cent for those 45 to 54 and 88 per cent for those 55 and over. A similar pattern exists for average donations, which were lowest among 15 to 24 year olds ($142) and peaked at $611 for those over 65. Canada’s top donors – the 25 per cent who donated at least $364 and accounted for 82 per cent of all donated dollars – are an essential source of revenue for many charitable and nonprofit organizations. These donors tend to be older, to have higher household incomes, and to have more formal education. They also are more likely to be employed, widowed, and to attend religious services on a weekly basis. The likelihood of being a top donor increases with age. For example, 31 per cent of those who are over 65 were in the top donor category, compared to only 6 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds.

Make an inspired gift for future generations

The 65 and older top donor group made up only 5 per cent of the total population but contributed 20 per cent of the total value of all donations. There are a number of personal and economic characteristics that distinguish those individuals who are most likely to volunteer and who volunteer the greatest number of hours from others. Higher levels of volunteering are associated with increased age, higher levels of education and household income, being employed and having children in the household. Generally speaking, the likelihood

One in three Canadian deaths are caused by Heart Disease and Stroke

Your Gift Will Save Lives Call or email for a free Legacy Planning Kit: Melanie Brooks Bequest Coordinator plannedgiving@hsf.bc.ca 1.888.473.4636 www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/givingbywill

www.heartandstroke.bc.ca

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

of volunteering decreases with age while the number of hours volunteered increases. Fifty-eight per cent of 15 to 24 year olds volunteered, compared to 36 per cent of those 65 and over. However, those 65 and over volunteered an average of 218 hours while 15 to 24 year olds volunteered an average of only 138 hours. Just under half of volunteers (45 per cent) said they approached an organization on their own initiative to become involved as a volunteer, while 48 per cent were asked to volunteer by someone. Those who approached the organization on their own learned about the volunteer opportunity in a variety of ways – 14 per cent said they became involved because they responded to an advertisement such as a poster or in a newspaper, three per cent responded to a public appeal on TV or radio, 3 per cent learned about it on the Internet, and two per cent were referred by another agency. To obtain more information, visit SL www.statcan.gc.ca

Planned Giving

Better To Give BY KEVIN MCKAY

eventy-six-year-old Keith Quan landed in Canada in 1950 happy to arrive at the Golden Mountain, but dismayed to discover he had to work hard to attain the wealth he thought would come easy. Keith and his family have donated money to a number of charities over the years. “I always support the Heart Fund because my dad died of problems with his heart so that has special meaning for me,” he says. “I also like to give to the Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Society.” After his retirement, Keith found another way to give by donating some time to SUCCESS, which helps new immigrants fill out forms and improve their English. “When I taught my classes, the students enjoyed it so much. That’s how I got the satisfaction out of it,” he says. “They liked what I was doing and I enjoyed doing it.” Unable to maintain a weekly teaching schedule, Keith still volunteers with other projects and says, “I told them to call me if I can be useful to them.” Involved with a number of charities over the years, a unique opportunity was presented to Alf Webb of Mill Bay and his business partner Ralph Cleasby. “I’m a real estate developer. A fellow came up with the idea of building a spec house with the profit going to charity, and Ralph and I took the idea and ran with it,” says Alf. “We received significant help and support from the entire Cowichan Valley community for the project and decided the proceeds would go to Canuck Place. We wound up making $80,000 on the deal and donating it all to Canuck Place. It was a great feeling to be able to do this and it was the most significant charitable cause I have ever been involved with.”

Lucy Prentice is another supporter of Canuck Place, a facility that opened its doors in November 1995 as the first free-standing children’s hospice in North America. Now recognized worldwide as a leader in the field of palliative care,

MAY MAY2010 2010

Photo: Kevin McKay

Planned Giving

Donor Keith Quan helps new Canadians improve their English and adjust to life in Canada.

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Leave a Legacy of Caring... and help us protect future generations of animals in need.

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Canuck Place relies on the generosity of donors, including people like Lucy. Though she and her twin sister were born in Winnipeg over 92 years ago, they moved to Vancouver at such a young age, she considers herself a native British Columbian. Canuck Place is currently building a second location in Abbotsford, but Lucy remains loyal to the original hospice. “The hospice in Shaughnessy is my baby,” she says. “They always need something and when I choose to help, I want to know it will be there. Every August, they host a huge fundraising night with about 450 guests and they take over an entire floor of a hotel with an excellent dinner, entertainment, a silent auction and a live auction, if you want to bid on anything.” Every year at the dinner, Lucy makes up her mind to purchase something that they need at Canuck Place. “Last year, it came to my attention that the old stove in the place had been in use for so long it was becoming potentially dangerous. I donated $10,000 towards a new commercial stove with two ovens and all the bells and whistles. The staff hosted a luncheon in my honour at Canuck Place and presented me with a special chef’s apron and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. They told me I had done more for them than any other individual donor.” Lucy has another plan to help the hospice out. She has taken out a large life insurance policy with Canuck Place. “As far as I know, I am the only person who has one of these policies with them. Once every year, I pay a premium and I get a tax credit on half of the premium amount when I file my taxes. I have named

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Planned Giving

Canuck Place as the beneficiary and, when I die, the insurance company will pay them out.” Lucy has her own special reasons for choosing Canuck Place as the beneficiary. “My twin sister had two children, a boy and a girl. My niece died when she was seven years old of a disease somewhat akin to leukemia. It was a very tragic and sad time in our family,” says Lucy. “Some years later, I had some dear friends who lost their child to leukemia at the age “It is an excellent cause of six. These and I don’t regret deaths got me concerned helping one bit.” about help–Lucy Prentice ing children’s charities. I was searching around for a charity to give to when one of my brothers-inlaw told me about Canuck Place. I read up on them and we went to see them together and I haven’t been sorry since. It is SL an excellent cause and I don’t regret helping one bit.”

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Planned Giving

Types of Charitable Gifts

any people don’t realize donating to charity can take other forms than simply giving a lump sum or monthly contributions. Publicly Listed Securities – stocks, bonds, mutual fund units, employee stock option shares; Benefits to donor – no capital gains tax. See gift at work today.

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 8

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Life Insurance Policy – whole life or term policy naming charity as owner or irrevocable beneficiary; Donor gets receipt for cash value and future premiums paid – a small current outlay leveraged into a larger future gift. Interest-free Loan – Provides charity with capital for building or investing. Donor can recover principal, interest not taxable to donor. Bequest of Retirement Plan Accumulations – RRSPs /RRIFs – Donor provides a possible future gift while preserving personal security, receipt offsets tax on

distribution of retirement funds. Bequest by Will – cash securities, real estate, tangible personal property; Donor can give a future gift while retaining full control of property, receives donation receipt with final income tax return; No capital gain tax for listed securities – for other property, 50 per cent of capital gain will be taxable but can be offset by tax credit from charity. Shares in a Privately Owned Corporation – shares may pay dividends, charity can sell or hold shares; Donor is receipted for appraised market value at time of gift, issued immediately if gift is to a public charity. If gift is made to a public foundation, the donor is receipted when foundation sells the shares. Real Estate – principle residence, vacation properties, or investment properties; Donors receipted for fair market value, 50 per cent of gain is taxable unless property is donor’s primary residence, then no tax-

Planned Giving

Your willingness builds for the future. Through the giving of World Vision friends like you, we can improve the well being of children for generations to come. Planning your will can be practical and emotionally gratifying through your giving of: Bequests, Gifts of securities, Gift of Life insurance For more information, please contact Paulette Kinmond 1-800-714-3280 ext 3650 Email plannedgiving@worldvision.ca or visit us online at www.worldvision.ca/plannedgiving

able capital gain. Tax offset by tax credit from charity.

Charitable Remainder Trust – cash, securities and real estate; Donor receives net income from property for life or a term of years; may be receipted for present value of the remainder interest issued at time trust is established; Property is not subject to probate. Residual Interest in Real Estate or Artwork – principle residence, other real estate, artwork; Donor is able to continue using property for life or term of years, can receive a receipt for present value of residual interest issued at time of gift. Donor avoids tax on a portion of capital gain if they retain life interest. Property is not subject to probate. Annuity (self-insured or reinsured) – cash or marketable securities; Charity receives whatever principal remains after making required payments or that portion of the contribution that is retained after purchasing commercial annuity; Donor is guaranteed life payments, all or substantially tax-free, can be receipted SL for a portion of contribution.

Your Legacy

Tangible Property – artwork, furniture, equipment, collections, automobiles, musical instruments, artifacts, certified historic structures; Donor is receipted for fair market value, 50 per cent of gain is taxable but offset by tax credit from donation.

Is Her Future.

Since 1973, the Canadian Section of Amnesty International has promoted and protected human rights at home and abroad, through ongoing campaigning, outreach and education programs. By remembering Amnesty International in your will and estate planning, you will be helping to build a future where the fundamental dignity of every person is respected worldwide. For information and assistance, contact: Heather Warren, Gift Planning Associate (613) 744-7667 ext. 239 hwarren@amnesty.ca www.amnesty.ca/plannedgiving 1-800-AMNESTY Charitable Reg. No. 11878 5914 RR 0001

MAY MAY2010 2010

KEYED UP FOR THE PIANO

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Ellen Weiser practising the piano.

determined which group of instruments he or she would be assigned. For example, students who sang well were placed in Strings, followed by Band and, for some unknown reason, those who were not good singers were placed in Vocal. Go figure! I was assigned to the Strings group and chose to play violin; again, my small stature was an issue. Although the viola produced a beautiful sound, I did not have the proper dexterity. There was also the added panic of having to learn an alto clef when I knew that the “treble” was more than enough “trouble.” As for the cello and bass, the thought of playing an instrument that towered over me didn’t, shall we say, sit well. I’m sure that world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman didn’t lose much sleep over my talent. However, we do share the same birthdate and that’s where the similarity ends. I did fairly well with the violin and enjoyed it immensely. Bernice and I were half of a string quartet, and we would practise during lunch and any other time we could squeeze it in. I cannot account for the reason why my musical involvement stopped at that point and didn’t continue until twenty years later. By 1985, I was married with a daughter who was three at the time of my next musical go-around. Again, I ventured into the world of piano lessons, this time including a course in Royal Conservatory of Music theory. My teacher, Anna, thought I should write the exams, which, if successful, would give me lovely certificates, as the saying goes,

Photo: Sheldon Weiser

have always loved music. Musical notes scattered on a page fascinate me. Along with the joy, however, there is also frustration. My almost 60-year-old hands and slightly-past-middle-age mind sometimes have difficulty synchronizing and creating the sound the composer had in mind when a particular piece was written. The piano has been blessed with a celebrated past, a magnificent present and a glorious future, a work of art that does the music of the four Bs (Beethoven, Brahms, Bach and the Beatles) incredibly proud. My parents believed that their eight-year-old daughter had enough musical desire to warrant the expense of piano lessons. They were offered after school every week at the exorbitant cost of $2 apiece. I was petite, though you’d never think it to look at me now. As a result, I only had to concentrate on the keyboard, since the pedals were so far from my feet. They wouldn’t become an issue until I finally had a growth spurt. I still recall the red John Thompson piano book and the gold stars my teacher, Mrs. Cowan, placed beside each piece I managed to play with a minimum of mistakes. I would proudly carry my music dictation book (lined on one side, music staff on the other) and my “John Thompson” back and forth, week after week, dreaming of one day being able to play as well as Mrs. Cowan. To purchase a piano, however, used or otherwise, was more than my parents could manage. A piano? They could barely afford the air I breathed. And so, I would practise at my friend Miriam’s, a couple of houses away. We shared our practice time, and then the inevitable happened - Miriam and her piano moved away. And with that, my lessons ended. How inconsiderate, I thought! Did she have no concern for my feelings? I could’ve been the next, well, the next someone. Though my lessons ended abruptly, my love of music continued. The desire to learn never subsided. When I reached Grade 6, I discovered I had a decent singing voice. I was certainly no threat to Streisand, but I was able to carry a tune. My Danesbury debut, as I like to call it, in reference to my elementary school, plus wanting to throw in alliteration wherever possible, was a semi-decent version of “Getting To Know You” with my dear friend, Bernice, whose musical skills I envied. With the transition from Grade 6 to Grade 7 came another opportunity for musical renewal. The junior high school music program had an interesting way of deciding how students would participate. The level of one’s vocal expertise

BY ELLEN WEISER

suitable for framing. I took her advice. However, this time I wasn’t a petite eight-year-old. I was surrounded by children whose feet, like mine at the single digit age, had difficulty reaching the floor. While I tried my utmost to fit practicing into my already tight schedule, my three-year-old decided I should be devoting my time to her. She expressed this to me in her subtle way. Whenever I would practise, she would take my hands off the keyboard. Perhaps she knew something I didn’t. Not being one to give up easily, I am proud to say that I am yet again at the piano, taking lessons every other week. While struggling with one particular piece, my teacher, Kathleen, asked me, “So, where is it that you’re having the most trouble?” I answered, “Somewhere between the first key signature and the double bar line at the end of the page.” “That’s the whole song,” she replied. “Correct.” My theory is that anyone can play what’s on the page. It takes a unique talent to play something other than what’s written there. The most exciting part is that I am composing. I’m realistic enough to know chances are slim that I’ll be taking my place among past and present musical giants. Not to worry. Whether it’s playing the standards of Tin Pan Alley or turning blank pieces of paper into Tin Pan wannabees, in the words of lyricist Fred Ebb, I’m having a “perfectly marvellous” time! SL

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.

A WORD TO THE WISE . LONGWOOD .

Along with a great Island lifestyle, Nanaimo boasts up to 50% lower home prices than other major centers in BC. Since 1993, Longwood has been recognized as one of the best adult communities in Canada. Now Thornbridge, the next phase in this master planned 50 acre village is ready. If you’re

A quality community by:

interested in worry and maintenance-free living, call us. Better still, visit.

Visit www.ThornbridgeAtLongwood.com CLIENT: InSight Developments PUBLICATION: SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE AD SIZE: 7.25” x 4.75”

1.800.878.0588 MAY 2010

FOREVER BY WILLIAM THOMAS

“NOT BAD. YOU?”

o I said, “Harry, how you doin’?” Harry Muir of Delaware, Ontario, was a promising pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization when he was featured in a film I wrote more than a dozen years ago called Chasing The Dream. Harry stood out from the crowd of kids trying to throw and hit their way into major league baseball, not so much for his arm but his heart. So, Harry calls me out of the blue last spring to get together over a beer. Oh, and I forgot to mention Harry’s other natural talent – barking like a dog. The Baby Jays were playing in Utica the season we had the cameras on them and it was my job to get local colour into the film – the guy who remembered Babe Ruth barnstorming through New York State; the guy who drove Mickey Mantle to Oneonta for Mickey Mantle Day and blew his six-pack budget in the first ten miles... The Utica ballpark manager had no such gems, but he did have a dog – the only season-ticket-holding dog in all of baseball. And there he was, chasing foul balls and making a noisy nuisance of himself – Prince – a large, badly coiffed, beige French Poodle. But he had his season ticket secured to his collar to validate his unique status. Except, on this day, Prince was totally out of control because another dog had breached his territory and was threatening his claim to fame. It turns out Harry Muir was barking from the visitors’ dugout and driving Prince berserk. When a groundskeeper 12

was sent to the field to apprehend the new dog, the one without a season ticket, everybody agreed Harry had a better bark than Prince. We met in the bar of my hotel, and it was terrific to see Harry again. So I said, “Harry, how you doin’?” And Harry said, “Well, eight months ago I had this sore throat and I felt dizzy. My wife was at work, so my dad drove me to the hospital, and all of a sudden, they’re running me into the trauma room and everybody is in a panic, and they hook me up to about 10 machines and they’re shooting drugs into me from every direction.” Even before testing his blood, a brilliant diagnosis by Dr. Mithu Sen had her staff treating Harry for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. That one doesn’t eat flesh, but is usually fatal. “So, all my organs shut down and now I’m on dialysis and there’s some talk of amputation, but then forget the amputation because now they’re thinking I’m not going to make it anyway and I go into a coma, so I don’t know what’s going on.” What was going on was a ‘roundthe-clock love-in with his parents by his side, his sister decorating the room with funny plastic flowers and his wonderful wife Tracey, placing a framed photo of Harry in his Blue Jays uniform right on the bedside table where he’d see it if – when – he woke up. “And after 18 days in a coma, I came to, my organs had started working again and they took me off the ventilator. And I lived, Bill, I lived!” And I said, “Harry, it’s always about you, isn’t it?”

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

“Harry, let me tell you something, when two guys are having a beer and one guy says, ‘Harry, how you doin’?’ the correct answer is, ‘Not bad. You?’ “So, you got married since I saw you last, huh? I wished you’d talked to me first.” Okay, so that was not my response to Harry’s near-death experience. I was stunned. And I was grateful that while most victims die from this horrible infection or spend the rest of their lives on a machine, Harry walked out of that hospital and is fit enough today to throw batting practice in the Inter-County League. I was so happy that my friend Harry had cheated death, that I offered to do something I detest almost as much as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome itself. I agreed to play golf. I weaseled out of actually playing, of course, but I did emcee Harry’s charity golf tournament, Play It Forward; we raised $10,000 for the people who saved his life. It was no surprise that the only organ this wretched disease didn’t go near was Harry’s heart. As I conducted the live auction, Harry barked a medley of Frank Sinatra’s songs in the background. And we made a deal. First, we’re going to keep in touch and see each other a lot more. And second, whenever we meet and I ask him how he’s doing, he’s promised SL to reply, “Not bad. You?” William Thomas is the author of nine books of humour including Margaret and Me about his wee Irish mother. www.williamthomas.ca

Between Friends EMPATHY

mpathy is a gift we all want to receive in times of need. It is a soothing balm when applied to emotional pain. Identification with emotions that others are experiencing brings with it understanding and a desire to support the one we identify with. Most of us can empathize because of a similar situation in our lives and we recall those feelings of hurt, hopelessness, disillusionment, pain, desperation, disbelief and depression. This deep inner knowledge enables us to express our feelings with sincerity. The old adage about not understanding someone else’s problems until you have walked a mile in his or her shoes is a profound truth. I agree with King Solomon that there is nothing new under the sun. Similar problems confront us all. They may vary depending on culture, race, religion and ethnicity, but life always has its challenges. Empathy is one of the ways we identify with fellow travel-

BY DOREEN BARBER

lers on this journey. If we didn’t identify at this deep level, we would be cold and hard-hearted, unable to be moved by other people’s misfortune. A well-known woman witnessed men and women, even young children, dying in the streets, rejected by local hospitals. She felt the pain they suffered and decided to dedicate the rest of her life serving the poorest of the poor. With a few helpers, she founded a home for the dying, so that she could care for the poor and lonely destitute people, regardless of whether they were dying of AIDS or leprosy. For over 50 years, she worked selflessly helping the poor, and earned the name “Saint of the Gutters.” Later, when people asked what made her happy, she said her greatest joy was to care for the poor in the last stretch of their earthly journey, so they were able to die in peace and with dignity. She told her followers: “Keep the joy of loving the poor and share this joy with all you meet. Remember works of

�

love are works of peace. God bless you.” –Mother Theresa Research has shown that there are people who do not have the innate ability to see or identify with others in their dilemmas. How unfortunate for them that they are void of the intimacy of empathy. “Empathy is probably hardwired, because it serves two important survival functions: bonding between people, and predicting others’ needs and actions; but, it may be tempered by experience and learning.” –Dr. Tania Singer Empathy is a contribution, which comes at a high price to those who possess it. Given unconditionally, it has no monetary value, except kindness paid forward. SL

Doreen Barber is pursuing a Master’s degree in Biblical Counselling at the The Biblical Life College & Seminary.

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��

MAY 2010

Scenic Seattle Above & Below Ground “W

e’re rotating at 500 feet (170 metres) above ground level and, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Cascade foothills,” claims Colleen Foster, who obviously knows the facts. She should. She’s been sharing them for 20 years with visitors like us, who dine at Seattle’s SkyCity Restaurant. The 360-degree-view venue, housed below the Space Needle’s observatory, is the perfect spot to graze and gaze – even tonight, when clouds drape the “Emerald City” with a mystical veil. We dine on wild king salmon and Togarashi-crusted tuna and, while going full circle over the next 50 minutes, spot a number of landmarks we’ve recently visited. There’s Argosy Cruises, a harbourside company that boasts a flotilla of narrated tour boats, the Seattle Aquarium offering close encounters of the sea critter kind, and the famous Pike Place Market where vendors sell wares from monster-size tiger prawns to bountiful bouquets. In between courses, we rotate past

the downtown core. Burgeoning highrises soar skyward and create a scenic cosmopolitan skyline, and just a few blocks beyond is our temporary homestead. The elite Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle has provided us with the best of both worlds. Although we’ve had the city at our fingertips, we’ve been far enough away to escape the inevitable crowds. During our stay, we’ve lounged in an oversized guest suite, been spoiled by a personal steward, and enjoyed pampering at the Vida Spa. What more could a couple of Seattle sightseers ask for? Yes, a little more sunshine would be nice. Anyone familiar with the Pacific Northwest knows how much it rains, and during these frequent spells, it just makes sense to retreat indoors. Seattle certainly provides many opportunities. As well as consuming enough caffeine to own shares in Starbucks, we’ve been immersed in this city’s eclectic culture. Not only is it the birthplace of grunge (a raucous music mix founded in the ’90s), but Seattle also has the greatest number of dance, theatre and music

d d her husban The author an cadent dessert. Brent enjoy a de 14

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Seattle’s Space Needle

Photos: Brent Cassie

BY JANE CASSIE

options per capita in the country. With a choice of 80 live clubs, 15 orchestras and 29 professional theatres, we’ve been culture-sized! During our visit to Experience Music Project (EMP), I even felt like a rock star! It’s impossible to spot this venue from our scenic perch as it hugs up to other Seattle Centre attractions at the base of the Space Needle, but you can’t miss it when you’re on land. The 140,000-square-foot (42,672-squaremetre) architectural wonder resembles a humongous glitzy guitar, and inside there are enough interactive opportunities to appease any aspiring musician. Even me! We craned our necks while checking out Roots and Branches, a cycloneshaped, instrument-clad sculpture, and retraced the “Evolution of Sound” with Jimi Hendrix – right back to the ’60s, when Purple Haze had nothing to do with the weather. But, in my mind, we saved the best part for last. Much of the third floor is

rash

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What to Do: Seattle visitor guide : www.visitseattle.org Seattle Space Needle: www.spaceneedle.com Pike Place Market: www.pikeplacemarket.o rg Bill Speidel’s Underg round Tour : www.undergroun dtour.com

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dedicated to budding artists. And no, you don’t need to be American Idol-worthy to get a piece of this limelight. By moving from sound lab to demo, you can try out various instruments and before you know it, you’ll be onstage singing, “I Will Remember You” with Sarah McLachlan. Okay, so maybe your story will be different. By the time dessert is ordered, we’re rounding our second lap of the city and in the distance we can see Pioneer Square, where we’d submerged beneath the streets earlier in the day. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is a combo of historical tidbits and tonguein-cheek comedy, and as well as learning about Seattle’s colourful past and seedy seamstresses, we found out why and how the town was raised. Literally! As well as being absurdly interesting, it was an effective way to stay dry. “And now for the grand finale!” our server proclaims. The Lunar Orbiter is a signature dessert that has been served at the restaurant since the inaugural night. While making the announcement, Colleen pours hot water into the double boiler of dry ice. Instantly the vapour billows out from our ice-cream treat for two and, before we know it, we’re caught in the clouds SL once again.

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GO NORTH YOUNG MAN BY NADINE JONES

ost British Columbians live huddled along the 49th parallel. They jet to Hawaii or Mexico for holidays and are often unaware of the many wonders the northern part of the province has to offer. From ancient lava beds to First Nations villages with small fish pegged on clotheslines to dry; to daring spear fishermen, who can be viewed from the highway, risking their lives on rocky overhangs, Northern British Columbia waits to be experienced. The Big Circle Route, which takes travellers north from Vancouver through Prince George to Prince Rupert and then westward on the ferry across to Vancouver Island and south down the Island to the ferry and home should be on everyone’s to-do list. After driving east through the fertile Fraser Valley and cattle country in the Cariboo, we fill the tank in Cache Creek so we don’t have to stop until we reach Quesnel. From Quesnel to Prince George is only 125km, but is a bit daunting when we see the road undulating for kilometres ahead. With over 600km behind us, we stay overnight in Quesnel before heading for Prince George. Often referred to as the Capital of the North, Prince George is the home of the University of Northern British Columbia. A lively multi-racial town of 80,000 people, it was incorporated in l915 and is located at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers. The car gears down to climb a very long hill when we leave Prince George and head north. We look ahead to an exciting day following the Buckley and Skeena Rivers. If we’re lucky, we may see black bear cubs cavorting beside the road or timid fawns and their doe-eyed mums watching nervously as we drive by. From here to the coast is where we want to linger longer. We pass through Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Burns Lake, small communities each with its own charm. Every small town along the Yellowhead 16 Highway lays claim to one or 16

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

more activities, which makes them stand out from the rest – a winter carnival or an annual farmer’s market in the summer. Next, Topley and Houston appear on the horizon, towns known for ranching and logging. The population of both towns was increased 100-fold by American immigrants during the l960s, and now many of them own huge tracts of land in the area. After taking a walk-about in Topley, we continue north and arrive in Smithers, a town that began life in l915 as regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, now the CNR. The town is headquarters to many government agencies and regional businesses. Located about half way between Prince George and Prince Rupert, it hosts many cultural events and big-ticket music festivals. After having a bite to eat in Smithers, we make a turn to the west to see fascinating places where the interest of most southerners mounts. The scenery in every direction is a photographer’s delight as we drive toward Moricetown, a First Nations village, oddly bisected by the highway. On our right – almost close enough to touch – we see an Aboriginal spear fisherman balancing on a rocky ledge over the Bulkley River waiting to impale an unsuspecting salmon. Our hearts are in our mouths in case he misjudges his footing and plunges into the swirling white water below, but he and his ancestors have been honed in the art of spear fishing for many generations. He catches a 1015-pound (4.5-6.8 kg) salmon while we watch. Shaking our heads in amazement, we continue on to the three Hazeltons: South Hazelton, New Hazelton and just plain Hazelton. And right here is a sight to behold! We must drive across the one-way bridge over a canyon at Hagwilget (with the rushing river 262-feet (80 m) straight down at low water) to reach Hazelton and the reconstructed historic First Nation village of ‘Ksan. The narrow bridge was originally created by the native inhabitants by lashing cedar vines together and the story goes that the men made their women cross the bridge first to see if it was

Left, The Buckley River Bridge on the Yellowhead highway near Houston.

safe enough for them to cross. The bridge has undergone many transitions over its long life. One interesting and true story is that before the trans-Atlantic cable was successfully laid in l866, an enterprising man by the name of Perry McDonough Collins, funded by the U.S. government, attempted to lay a cable called the Collins Overland Telegraph Route. His plan was to hang the wire on poles right from San Francisco, north through B.C. and Alaska and over the Bering Strait to Russia and thence onwards to Europe. His crews had reached the area around where the Hazeltons are now located. When Collins got word that the trans-Atlantic Cable had been successfully laid, it immediately rendered his huge endeavour obsolete. Totally discouraged, he abandoned many coils of copper wire, which the local First Nations people put to good use strengthening their original vine bridge. It was many years before the government of the day upgraded the hanging structure and now, with the latest improvements finished in 2003, the bridge is completely sound. But looking down as we cross, we are still relieved to safely reach the other side. Before we continue north, we linger awhile at the Hazeltons and ‘Ksan. The whole village of ‘Ksan is a replica of an authentic early First Nations village complete with long house, totem poles and carvers perfecting their art. We watch while a totem pole takes shape and even try our hand with an adze. We spend quite a bit of time here absorbing the Native culture and marvel at the survival of peoples like the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en who, for an estimated 7,000 years, thrived here in the winter snows with their two mainstays of cedar and salmon. We have coffee on the main street in Hazelton with views of magnificent Mount Roche de Boule and an old timer bends our ears with wild stories about the past. He tells us the story of “back when” Ladies of the Night took up residence in South Hazelton so they could service the

MAY 2010

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��

men building the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. If one looks tops the list as the wettest city in the entire country. And as hard along the tracks on the opposite side of river from the much as we want to stay awhile to sing in the rain, we rush to the B.C. Ferry terminal, where we have made reservations for highway, glass insulators marked “GTP” can still be found. Hazelton, where the Skeena and Bulkley Rivers clash, and try the overnight ferry trip to Port Hardy on the northeast coast to maintain dominance, was the terminus for the riverboats ply- of Vancouver Island. To our delight, dolphins dance on both sides of our ferry. ing the Skeena with supplies for railway crews, Collins Overland Telegraph workers and miners, plus a few settlers. By l914, After a magnificent journey along the Inside Passage and our when the railway began operating, the land opened up and the arrival in Port Hardy, we mosey down the Island Highway and stop at Cathedral Grove riverboat’s heyday was over. Stoin MacMillan Provincial ries are told of competitive rivHe tells us the story of “back when” Park, where giant Douglas fir erboat captains who tried to beat and western red cedar stand each other to Hazelton once the Ladies of the Night took up residence as age old sentinels. We have Skeena ice broke. It became such in South Hazelton so they could sertime for a short side trip to a race that, at one point, gunfire vice the men building the Grand Trunk Campbell River (the town of was heard from the riverbanks. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope Reluctantly, we leave the HaPaciﬁ c Railway. fishing fame). Others may zeltons and get back on the road. choose the west coast of the We head for the First Nations village of Kitwanga, where we can take a truly less travelled road Island in areas such as Long Beach, Tofino and Ucluelet, to Cranberry Junction and north to the Alaska Highway, but not where activities like surfing, bear spotting and whale-watching are available. When we are ready, we make our way to a on this trip. Terrace, originally known as the Pole Capital of the World, ferry terminal at Nanaimo and head for home. We did it! We saw our own northern backyard and can brags access to a revitalized land via a road now known as The Nisga’a Highway. Formerly the Nass Logging Road, it eventu- travel without guilt to Hawaii or Mexico. Plus, we have the ally joins – at Cranberry Junction – the road running north from bonus of having a store of memories and photographs to share with others who have yet to take their Big Circle trip of a Kitwanga. SL But more importantly for us is the drive up this highway in the lifetime. new Nisga’a territory to the historic village of New Aiyansh. The road traverses the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park, an area dotted with grotesquely shaped trees and shrubs. The lava is residue from a volcano, which erupted 250 years ago and killed hundreds of people who desperately tried to flee its path. The first provin�� FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART! �� cial park jointly managed by First Nations and B.C. Parks, the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park isn’t a long drive out of our �� way (only 60 miles [97 km] north of Terrace), and it is adjacent to �� the village of New Aiyansh, which the Nisga’a people call home. �� It is here where we saw tiny oolichan fish pinned by their tails �� to dry on clotheslines. Once you arrive at the village and, if you �� plan to stay awhile, it is proper etiquette to locate and speak to the �� Chief to request permission to look around. �� Before starting our journey home, we drive 36 miles (58 km) �� south to visit the aluminum town of Kitimat. And half way be- �� tween, stop at the Lakelse Hot Springs for a swim. �� We head to the coastal town of Prince Rupert with its native �� craft stores and fascinating museum, which are a collector’s de- �� light. But keep umbrellas close at hand because Prince Rupert �� also boasts a record 10 feet (300 cm) of precipitation per year. It ��

�� Christina Place ��

��

Oops!

In the “Stepping Out” article in the April 2010 issue, the contact information for theVancouver ‘VenturersVolkssports Club was incorrect. The correct phone number is: 604-6828390 and the email address is: vancouverventurers@gmail. com We apologize for the error.

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MAY 2010

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MAINLAND DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS - CONTINUED TOM BINNIE PARK COMM CENTRE WESTMINSTER HOUSE WHALLEY LIBRARY WHITE ROCK/ S SURREY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT VANCOUVER 1 KINGSWAY LIBRARY 29TH AVE SKY TRAIN STN 411 SENIOR’S CENTRE AMICA AT ARBUTUS MANOR ARBUTUS MALL BARCLAY MANOR BC WOMENS HOSPITAL BREAD GARDEN BRITANNIA ARENA / LIBRARY BROADWAY & BURRARD WALK IN BROCK HOUSE SOCIETY BURRARD SKYTRAIN BUS STOP - 750 BROADWAY CAPERS - 2285 4TH AVE CAPERS - 1675 ROBSON ST CAPERS MARKET CARE MEDICAL CENTRE CENTRAL MARKET - 830 THURLOW CHAMPLAIN HEIGHTS COMM CNTR CHAMPLAIN HEIGHTS LIBRARY CHOICES MARKET - 1202 RICHARDS CHOICES MARKET - 3493 CAMBIE ST CHOICES MARKET - 2627 16 AVE CITY SQUARE FAMILY PRACTICE COLLINGWOOD HOUSE COLLINGWOOD LIBRARY CROFTEN MANOR DENMAN COMMUNITY CTR DENMAN MALL DIAMOND HEALTH CARE CENTRE DOCTOR’S OFFICE 777 W BROADWAY

DOUGLAS PARK COMM CENTRE DUNBAR COMMUNITY CENTRE DUNBAR PUBLIC LIBRARY FALSE CREEK COMMUNITY CENTRE FIREHALL LIBRARY FRASERVIEW LIBRARY FROG HOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD GF STRONG REHABILITATION CTR GRANDVIEW TOWERS GRANVILLE ISLAND MARKET GRANVILLE MEDICAL CLINIC HASTINGS COMMUNITY CENTRE HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY HOME INSTEAD - VAN, NORTHSHORE JACK LILLICO DENTURE CLINIC JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE JOE FORTES LIBRARY JOYCE SKYTRAIN STN KENSINGTON COMMUNITY CENTRE KENSINGTON LIBRARY KERRISDALE ARENA KERRISDALE SENIORS CENTRE KERRISDALE LIBRARY KHATSALANO MED CLINIC KILLARNEY COMMUNITY CENTRE KILLARNEY MARKET KITSILANO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE KITSILANO PUBLIC LIBRARY KIWASSA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE LIFEMARK HEALTH CENTRE LIFEMARK PHYSIOTHERAPY 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 STARBUCKS - 1730 152ND STREET SUNNYSIDE MANOR THE PENINSULA RESORT RETIREMENT LIVING WHITE ROCK ACTIVITY CENTRE WHITE ROCK MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

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A GLIMPSE OF YESTERYEAR

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Kay Green at a “worker’s house” at McLean Mill. Inset, Kay and her husband Kermit with their ﬁrstborn daughter Carol in 1941.

Photo: Kevin Growcott

isten up, railroad lovers! There are only two steam trains on Vancouver Island, and Port Alberni has one of them. Not only that, Port Alberni also has the only commercially operating steam-driven sawmill in all of Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1989. At the picturesque harbour in Port Alberni, climb aboard the steam-driven 1929 Baldwin locomotive at the restored Canadian Pacific Railway train station. The 25-minute journey takes you to the McLean Mill, which sits on a 30-acre forested site. While there, explore the complex with its original buildings used by the people who lived and worked there. The sawmill has now been restored to full working conditions; the mill pond and dam have been reconstructed and some of the residences and service buildings have been preserved. The R.B. McLean Lumber Company was a family-run business that operated from 1926 to 1965. Although small in scale, its logging, milling and marketing operations were similar to larger mills in the province. Much of the original machinery and buildings have survived, making it a rare example of a sawmill complex from the first half of the 20th century. Kay Green, now 88 years old and a resident of Abbeyfield in Port Alberni, remembers going to school at the McLean Mill in 1930. Until age eight, she had attended school in the nearby community of Bainbridge where her family lived. When it closed, Kay, her two sisters and two brothers walked through the bush to the McLean Mill every morning from Bainbridge Farm, a distance of about three miles (4.8 km). “We had to carry milk, which was packed into quart bottles and put in flour sacks by our mother,” Kay recalls. It was an arduous task for the young children, but they did it in all kinds of weather. They didn’t have snow boots, so their mother put their father’s stout socks over their shoes, held up at the knee with elastic bands. Kay recalls that, at age 14, she came to the end of her schooling at the one-room McLean Mill schoolhouse. She soon got a live-in job at the Mill’s cookhouse, earning $10 a month and went home to Bainbridge Farm on weekends. Occasionally, she cleaned the “Big House” where Mrs. Muriel McLean lived. It was hard work, but fairly paid; there were no luxuries. While working at the Mill cookhouse, 16-year-old Kay met a young tail sawyer, Kermit Green. They fell in love and married three years later. Kermit had come from New Brunswick with his family, who were distant relatives of the McLean family.

BY MARGARET GROWCOTT

Kay says she was very proud that as soon as they were married, they had their own house. Close to the Mill, it sat opposite Muriel McLean’s house. It was a one-bedroom, one-story house with an outdoor privy. Kay and Kermit’s first daughter was born in 1941, and she slept in a crib at the side of their bed. They graduated to a twobedroom house just around the corner, but by the time their second daughter was born, they had moved into town and Kermit commuted daily to the Mill in his Model T Ford. Kermit was a good worker and eventually became head sawyer at the Mill, where he worked until 1965, when the Mill closed. He then got a job at the Somass Sawmill in Port Alberni. The two houses where Kay and her husband lived can still be seen at the Mill complex. Other buildings at the site include the bunkhouse, cookhouse, teacherage and blacksmith shop, as well as the homes of the boss R.B. McLean, and his son Arnold McLean. Today, McLean Mill has only one full-time paid employee, General Manager Neil Malbon. There are several part-time paid employees in season, who work on steam machinery, the train, the buildings and the tracks. Many are seniors, as are the volunteers, most of whom are members of the Western Vancouver Industrial Heritage Society. These invaluable volunteers are expert, skilled and generous with their time. Many have spent a lifetime honing their skills, work-

ing in the same trades in which they now carry on as volunteers. More volunteers provide entertainment: the Old Time Fiddlers, and Phil’s Harmonics String Orchestra. Others work in the kitchen preparing lunches for cruise ship visitors. In August 2009, a grand opening showcased the “newest” piece of working vintage equipment: a steam-powered donkey engine. Demonstrations by skilled sawyers include milling of specialty lumber, which has a steady market. Visitors can safely view the operation of the steam carriage, which powers the head saws, from a gallery running along the far side of the mill. For wine connoisseurs, at certain times during the summer and even a couple of times in the “off” season, the steam train makes a stop half way up to the Mill at the Chase and Warren Estate Winery, Port Alberni’s own vineyard nestled on 10 gently sloping acres with outstanding views of the surrounding Beaufort Mountains. The Winter Wine train in November 2009 encouraged passengers to dress in heritage outfits and ride up to the vineyard for a wine-tasting event. This year, extra trips will be made on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. There is often an element of danger on the rail journey from Port Alberni to the Mill. The notorious Beaufort Gang, outlawed since at least 1935, have been known to burst out of the forest and hold up the train. The Tin Pants Theatre Company provides entertainment during the season, some members drawn from the Canadian

College of Performing Arts in Victoria and others from the local Performing Arts High School Program. From June 26th to September 6th, they act out the story of the Mill and do interpretive tours in between. “With our operating steam train, steam sawmill, steam donkey and Tin Pants Theatre Company, we offer an authentic and unique experience that is done nowhere else in North America,” says Neil Malbon. “While the focus is on the forest industry, it’s really all about our community and the people who live and work here.” For more information on the Alberni Pacific Railway and McLean Mill and for reservations, call 250-723-1376 or visit SL www.alberniheritage.com

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MAY 2010

A Woman of Inﬁnite Variety BY KEVIN MCKAY

Photo: Kevin McKay

hen Patricia Whittaker’s first son was born, he and his mother became instant sensations. Patricia and her family were living overseas, at the time. “There were not many black people in Singapore,” she says. “When I gave birth to this white baby, the nurses started freaking out. At all times of the day or night people would open my hospital room door and start gesticulating while speaking loudly – in Mandarin. When we went to register the birth, they had a big list of nationalities, none of which fit for me as they did not have Canadian nor Black. Eventually, I was registered as ‘other.’” Transferred there for her husband’s job, Patricia enjoyed her three years in Singapore, despite the intense heat. She was involved in the community and even volunteered at a local convent. “It was very clean, and I loved the people,” she says. “Singapore is very ‘propre,’ which also means clean in French. It looks perfect, but the essence of Singapore lies behind the veneer of perfection. It is like when we tell a teenager to clean their room because company is coming. It looks great until you open the closet. At the convent, the single mothers were ‘hidden.’ The homosexuals were ‘hidden’ down on Bugis Street. No one could see the imperfections at first glance. However, I learned so much about the Chinese and Malay cultures and made many strong friendships.” Singapore is a long way from Canada and it is a long way from where Patricia grew up. Born on Remembrance Day, 1957 on the island of Barbados, she was the second of five girls born to Keith and Sheila Whittaker. A businesswoman, mother, educator, politician and advocate, Patricia’s entrepreneurial spirit can be traced to her mother, who, while raising her family, was a teacher, secretary and grocery shop owner. From her father, she inherited a fierce sense of justice and an

unflinching ability to face life head on. “My father wanted to be in the police force, but was too young, so he lied about his age. Despite having not completed high school, he worked his way up to become deputy commissioner of the Barbados Police force, which included being chief narcotic officer,” says Patricia. “People on the island used to call him Dick Tracy. Life as Dick Tracy’s daughter was scary and exciting. There was one incident where a well-known criminal had escaped and came looking for my father. My sister arrived home in his car, got out and the car blew up. We were all scared, but luckily they caught the criminal and no one was hurt.” One important element from her

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

youth that helped shape Patricia was the pervading sense of family that exists on the island; she was taught proper behaviour from a young age. “Manners were hugely important,” she says. “You could not pass an elderly person without greeting them or your parents would know about it before you returned home. It was the adult’s responsibility to look out for you and to correct your behaviour. We are the sum total of that upbringing.” Another important factor Patricia recognizes about growing up in Barbados is the wonderful education she received. Though she only completed high school there, when she was evaluated after arriving in Canada, she was found to be equivalent to a second-year

university student. “My education has been very useful. I find it extremely difficult to find people here who can write creative and grammatically correct sentences. I had a particular English teacher in high school who instilled in me the love of language and the power of words. My English teacher used to say, ‘I am pushing, are you pulling?’ Little did she know how significant that phrase would be to me as an adult. You have to have a balance. You can’t have everyone all pushing the same way. That phrase shaped the essence of who I am as an adult.” When Patricia arrived in Canada in the mid 1970s, she spent the first several years between Toronto and Edmonton. Perhaps surprisingly for someone from a tropical island, Patricia genuinely enjoys the cold, crisp weather in Canada – even the minus 30 temperatures in Edmonton. While working for Air Canada reservations, Patricia struck up a friendship with a passenger who was impressed with her customer service skills. They met over coffee, started dating and wound up being married for 17 years. Their daughter was born in Toronto and their two sons in Singapore following the transfer. When the family moved back to Canada, they settled in Richmond, hoping to be transferred back to Asia one day. While her children were young, Patricia spent most of her time close to home. Every day, she would bundle her boys in a double stroller and set out with a goal of meeting two new people.

“I made friends and then started actively volunteering in my daughter’s school,” she says. “I soon realized that new people were ostracized and were not naturally embraced. I decided to run for the PAC with a mandate to make things inclusive. I was elected as Chair and made a concerted effort to get ‘different people’ involved. It was a great learning experience and taught me about the importance of being involved in my children’s education.” Patricia started getting involved in other committees and eventually this led to her job as assistant to MP Joe Peschisolido. She knew it was time to leave when he tried to dissuade her from running for office as a trustee with the school board in Richmond, suggesting it would be a conflict of interest to have two politicians working in the same office. Patricia won her election and enjoyed her time on the school board. “I did enjoy the interaction with the parents and bringing a different perspective. When trustees started talking about Chinese New Year, I made sure to inter-

vene and advised them that it was also Black History Month,” she says. “If you want to affect change you have to be sitting at the table. I found opportunities to sit at tables and to get involved. I like finding resolutions to problems and making people happy.” Before the Federal Liberal party asked her to run for office in 2006, Patricia continued her efforts to improve people’s lives. She became one of the first people in the Lower Mainland to teach social etiquette courses to young people, which resulted in great publicity, placing her on the front page of the Globe and Mail. At the West Richmond Community Centre, she wrote a grant proposal and secured funding for a program to help seniors avoid social isolation by learning to use the Internet and email, and utilizing the students at the local high school as teachers. The program became so successful it is still ongoing today. She also worked for the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre, utilizing her skills to affect change there as well.

» MAY 2010

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“I was successful in finding funding for the Centre, since I know how to put ‘passion on paper.’ I wrote a proposal that focused on seniors who did not speak English, but who were taking care of grandkids. I wanted the seniors to reduce their isolation and learn English and first aid. Meanwhile the children would learn by playing together. It was a great program.” The federal election in 2006 was another learning experience that saw Patricia losing to the popular incumbent by just over 5,000 votes – despite almost no help from her own party and very little financial support. She credits Hedy Fry for letting her know what she was in store for as a woman in Ottawa and recognizes Ujjal Dosanjh for wanting to help her financially, but being unable to due to election rules. “I realized how naive I was and so decided I would fight for the people in a different way,” she says. Since then, Patricia helped establish an entertainment group she is part of called Mukutano and co-founded a nonprofit organization with a friend to find funding for and establish the Centre for Integration (formerly for African Immigrants). This Centre is provincially funded and is a place where immigrants can feel welcome and receive training and workshops on how to integrate into the workforce. After years of unfunded work, the Centre received major funding in 2006, moved to a larger office in 2009 and now operates with 10 employees. All of which means it is time for Patricia to look ahead to her next challenge. “I need to do what I am passionate about and take my life back,” she says. “I want to have a business called ‘Don’t Lift a Finger!’ – a moving arranger company. I know how to pack. I’ve packed for moves from Canada to Singapore and back. I have it down to a science. I can now help people to downsize and to get organized. I also want to motivate people and to write.” “I have lots of talents, skills and abilities and so when I start something, I won’t stop until it’s finished. I always call myself Cleopatra from the Shakespearean play ‘Anthony and Cleopatra.’ In the play, Cleopatra is described as ‘a woman of infiSL nite variety.’ And so am I.”

BBB Better Better Better Better

Business Business Business Business

SCAM ALERT

Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau

BY LYNDA PASACRETA

Tips to Wise Giving

aced with ever-rising costs, the loss of government funding, and an increasing demand for their services, charities are responding by asking for larger contributions from more donors – and they’re asking more often than ever before. Donors should plan their giving and demand accountability of the organizations soliciting their support. If you plan to donate money this spring season, your BBB would like to offer the following advice: • When in doubt, check it out. When an unfamiliar organization asks you for a donation, don’t give without gathering details about the charity, the nature of its programs and its use of funds. Visit the Canadian Revenue Agency at cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities for a list of registered charities in Canada. To search for licensed third-party telemarketers in B.C. who are making calls on behalf of legitimate charities, please visit the Consumer Protection BC website at consumerprotectionbc.ca • Think before you give. If you are solicited at the mall or on the street, take a minute or two to think. Ask for the charity’s name and address. Get full identification from the solicitor and review it carefully. Ask to see written information on the charity’s programs and finances. • Giving later might be better. Never feel pressured to give on the spot. Legitimate charities will welcome your money tomorrow. If the solicitor pressures you with intimidation or harassing phone calls, don’t hesitate to file a complaint with BBB. • Watch out for cases of mistaken identity. With about 9,000 registered charities in B.C. alone, it’s not surprising that some charity names sound alike. Be sure the one soliciting you is the one you have in mind. • Don’t accept vague claims. If an item is being sold to benefit a charity, be wary of statements such as “all proceeds go to charity” or “your purchase will benefit a char-

ity.” Look for a disclosure that indicates the actual or estimated amount of the purchase price that the charity will receive to fund its programs. • Unordered merchandise is free. If a charity sends you greeting cards, address labels or other merchandise with an appeal for donations, you are not obligated to make a donation or pay for the items. • Watch out for charity fraud. Legitimate charities do not demand donations; they willingly provide written information about their programs, finances or how donations are used; and they never insist you provide your credit card number, bank account number or any other personal information. • Tax receipts. If you are looking to make a tax-deductible donation, only a registered charity has received a Registration Number from the Canada Revenue Agency and can issue donation receipts for gifts. Learn more about giving to charities by visiting us at SL mbc.bbb.org Happy giving! Lynda Pasacreta is President of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C. www.mbc.bbb.org To contact Lynda Pasacreta, e-mail president@mbc.bbb.org

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MAY 2010

Mind GAMES

Crossword PUZZLE Across 1. Bigotry 11. Male given name 12. Memorandum 13. Slink 14. Old French coin 16. Repasts 18. Bottom of shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hull 19. Ink spot 20. Advertising industry workers 21. Of delicate beauty 22. Applies friction to 26. Bird of peace 27. More suitable 31. Snare 32. Web-footed aquatic bird 33. Hire 34. Encourage in wrongdoing 35. Engrossed 36. Type of gun 37. Immersion in water

40. Emperor of Rome 54-68 AD 42. Fuses together 43. So long 45. Lock openers 46. Palm leaves 47. Dry stalks 52. Paper dyes 53. Spouse 56. Residence 57. 24 hours 58. Army rank 59. Resound 60. Metric unit of mass 61. Confuse 62. Crew of an aircraft

Down 2. Agricultural implement 3. Hint 4. Auditorium

5. Writing fluid 6. Not conventional 7. Jane Austen novel 8. Grass 9. Officiating priest of a mosque 10. Flat-fish 13. Garment worn by women 14. US-born British poet 15. Speak 17. Nasal grunt 19. Not good 23. Salt of uric acid 24. Confused mixture of sounds 25. To use up 28. Trick 29. Indian tent 30. Entrance 36. Rustle, as silk 38. Bitterly pungent 39. Handkerchief 41. Willow 44. Takes too much 48. Drink to excess 49. Sorrower 50. Quickly 51. In good health 53. Grapes after pressing 54. Partly open 55. Heavy book 58. Manager

ANSWERS

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Photo: Jason van der Valk

ASK

Goldie

BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: I hesitate to write to you about my problem. I am sure you will see me as a selfish grandmother. For the last five years, I have been the babysitter for my daughter who is working to support her three children ages 10, seven and four. She has a well-paid job, but will need her money for the children’s education. Their father does not support or contact them. My problem is that I have no time for my own life. I was active in community organizations, but had to resign. With so little spare time, even my friends are disappearing. I love my family, but after bringing up my four children as a widow working full-time, I really need a breathing spell without all these responsibilities. What choice do I have? –O.P. Dear O.P.: I do not think you are a selfish grandmother. On the contrary, you are giving far more than is expected in any family: if you never complain, your load will likely increase. Perhaps your daughter is so busy she does not realize what is happening. You need to speak up for yourself before you have a breakdown in your health. She has a well-paid position, so could afford to pay for help and still have enough later for the children’s education. If she is in doubt, suggest she see a financial advisor. She also has a legal right to seek financial assistance from their father. You managed with much less available help. If you can’t make your daughter understand you have lost associates and friends and you may be facing a breakdown, speak to your family doctor, he/she can verify the stress you are under. Make an appointment today.

Dear Goldie: I am 82 years old, a widow, healthy and active in the community. Two months ago, after a bout with the flu, I thought I should move into a care home and did so immediately. Now that I am better, I realize I acted in haste. I have regained my health, walk every day and travel on the bus to shop in the mall. I want to go back to apartment living again. What do you think? –B.W. Dear B.W.: You don’t mention family, so I take it you are self-reliant and it sounds like you are capable of making your own decisions and acting on them. It is unusual for a senior to move back into the community from a care home. If you have not discussed this with your physician, you need to make an appointment before making any plans. If he/she agrees, then you can begin the process of moving. Your former apartment will likely be unavailable, but another might be in that area. Familiar surroundings are important as you age. Conveniences are a necessity such as a grocery store, pharmacy, bank, post office and restaurant. Nearby bus stops should also be considered. Sometimes, taxi companies have reduced rates for seniors, which might be safer for evening travel. Take your time when selecting a residence in a suitable SL area that meets all your needs. Best of luck!

Safe, Reliable, and Stress-free Accompaniment for:

Medical and Dental Appointments Personal Shopping Airport and Ferry Service Vacations and Social Events

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.

For more information visit

www.carepanions.ca or call 604-862-1414 email: info@carepanions.ca

Mention you saw this ad and save $50. MAY 2010

Swifter, Higher, Stronger BY JAMES ELLSWORTH

eople no less significant than VANOC CEO John Furlong and Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the 25,000 sky-blueclad “Smurf” volunteers as arguably the real heroes of the XXI Winter Olympic Games; they made the Vancouver 2010 Games tick. Indeed, the journey to be an Olympic volunteer had its own requisite training and endurance.

Barbara Ellsworth is a 60-year-old volunteer who recently worked at the Vancouver 2010 Athletes’ Village. She was chosen from among approximately 75,000 around the world who had applied for various volunteering positions. Barbara has always believed that getting involved is a great way to stay active, meet people and give back to others.

s d e ﬁ i s s a l C BROCK HOUSE ORCHESTRA - 3875 Point Grey Road looking for ﬁrst section violin players and other musicians. Rehearsal Wednesday 10am - noon. 604-879-7677 or paul36@shaw.ca

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $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 30

978 EAST 12th AVENUE, VANCOUVER, BC $629,000 Front half duplex. 1486 sq. ft. 3 Bedrooms, Living Room, Kitchen, Dining, & Laundry Room. Recreation Room in Basement. Features incl 9’ ceilings, Laminate & Tile flooring, stone fireplace, cherry cabinets, & granite countertops amongst others. 982 EAST 12TH AVENUE, VANCOUVER, BC $629,000 Rear half-duplex. 1373 sq. ft. 3 Bedrooms on top floor. Living Room, Kitchen, & Dining Room on Main floor. Recreation Room in basement. Private balcony for those BBQ days. Both units have stainless steel appliances. Landscaping & 2-5-10 Year New Home Warranty included. Quality Construction, Value, & Looks. VINCENT GOLECO JR. 778-892-0960 MULTIPLE REALTY LTD.

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

She practised that creed in Ontario, serving on a local Habitat for Humanity committee and continued when she moved to Victoria three years ago. In short order, she became a front-desk civilian volunteer for the Victoria Police Department and co-ordinated 60 volunteers for the 2009 TASTE, Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine. That volunteering spirit helped when the call came for Olympic volunteers in the summer of 2008. Prior experience counted in her favour. Even filling out the five-page application required a high degree of commitment. Sport-specific venues required at least 13 shifts of eight-10 hours. Hundreds of hours would be expected of those applying for celebration events like the Opening and Closing ceremonies. There were also mandatory training sessions for various steps of the journey plus travel and accommodations at the volunteers’ own cost. All this, plus an Olympian amount of patience waiting to find out if the application was successful. Undaunted, Barbara’s persistence paid off. She jumped hurdles along the way, like ferrying to Vancouver for the fivehour introductory training/screening session where she had to bring a police-vetted security check and passport, plus undergo individual interviews and team-building exercises, conducted at the Pacific National Exhibition site. After that day, she went home knowing that two out of three volunteers would go no further in their quest for one of several positions; from VIP drivers to direction-givers to over 1,200 slope side ski groomers or 400 Polyclinic volunteers. In the fall of 2009, Barbara finally heard that she was wanted for a position – host at the Athletes’ Village site on False Creek. Right up until January 2010, Barbara was required to attend two more three-hour sessions for her site and job-specific training plus a fitting for her uniform and a final draft of her schedule. She was going to have 15 nine-hour shifts – six 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo: James Ellsworth

little tired. Fifteen days of standing for nine-and-a-half-hour shifts is finally getting to this old girl. I have seen lots of gold medals, held a silver medal and seen lots of bronze. They are heavy and beautiful and the athletes are so humble who carry them. Yesterday, a Canadian Olympian went through security and set off the alarm. Her friend behind said out loud, ‘it’s probably the gold medal in her pocket.’ Yes, it was. She pulled it out of her jacket, held it, got it wanded, then she was able to leave. She was almost embarrassed by the attention.” Throughout the experience, Barbara collected several unforgettable memories. “Experiencing the buzz of the competition mirrored in the village, seeing gold medal winners having quiet moments on benches in the sun, observing the swagger of hockey teams and organized primness of figure skaters. Being up close and personal to all those stars was pretty amazing,” she says. Barbara also appreciated the recognition and memorabilia given to the “Blue Jacket Workforce” volunteers, the compliments from John Furlong and the IOC, the gratitude given to volunteers via cameos on venue jumbo screens, and gifts like a special Olympic pin or Olympic silver key chain. “They called us heroes, but we were only doing what they asked and needed us to do,” she summed up in a typically Canadian humble way. In reality, she helped make the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games a memorable success for everyone. SL

ones and nine 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. ones. Outfitted with an Olympic ring-emblazoned jacket and the Vancouver 2010 blue/green motif vest, toque and long-sleeved shirt as well as black trousers, Barbara started work with her accreditation card accompanying her everywhere, from two to four straight days on and six days off, never more than two in a row, over 20 days, Feb. 8-28. A week before the official Games opening, athletes trickled in for venue practices. Some of Barbara’s responsibilities included daily briefings reminding volunteers to avoid picture-taking or chatting up the athletes to ensure the village remained a peaceful refuge, or to be advised of Internationally Protected Person visitors like Arnold Schwarzenegger or grief counsellors after Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died. Assignment meetings, such as assisting more than 9,500 security personnel by scanning accreditation cards and bags for the 2,730 guests of the village, checking the Athlete Team Entry/ Exit where they loaded on buses to go to and from venues, plus bag check at the Athletes’ Dining Hall. Monitoring accreditation at the Polyclinic Doping Control Centre, or at the Welcome Centre for newly arriving athletes, or the Guest Pass area deployment to the Canadian Olympic Team Residence concierge desk to check visitor accreditations, necessary as Canada started racking up medals. Barbara kept a blog of her experience too. There were volunteers from afar including Bengaluru, India and Fiji and they plus athlete/celebrities were in a constant mix. It was a heady and whirlwind experience. On Feb. 12, she wrote, “I am just a MAY 2010

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

hen I grow up, I want to I don’t know if shooting yourself for be a martyr. A martyr is a having to wade through reality televigood person, a brave per- sion counts as being a martyr, but it is son, and a committed person. My wife an interesting thought. It would be nice to be martyred for agrees with me; she too thinks I should be committed! So, that’s my decision. loving too much, giving too much, or I’m not sure what I want to be martyred being concerned for others too much. In for but I am sure that, in time, it will be fact, those reasons are the direct cause of nearly all who have been martyred revealed to me. Throughout the ages, martyrs have throughout the ages: belief in what is dotted our history. They have given their good; and something to live for that is lives for their faith and their beliefs. great enough to die for. I would honestly They have died by sword, by fire and by be willing to die for my faith, my family, perhaps even my country. I would every cruel device created by man. I salute each and every one for their even give up my life for my friends tenacity, their courage and for standing – well, two of them anyway. And they said they would true, even in the do it for me. face of torture When I was a little I think if any and terror. of us are to be As for me, I’d kid, at ﬁrst, I wanted martyred, it must like to find anto be a ﬁre truck be for a worthother way to be while cause, like a martyr. It’s not when I grew up... then putting running about bravery or I settled for wanting boards back on that I shy away cars or re-introfrom pain or anyto be a cowboy... ducing the onething like that! speed bicycle. Or Heck, I always jump in at the deep end of the pool, and how about a defence for morality or reI once had a headache for two hours be- spect for authority? Being a martyr is not high on the fore I took an Aspirin. No! Daring and wish list in this free world of the 21st pain are no strangers to me! It’s too bad we can’t be martyred be- century. People, it seems, would rather cause of old age. To give up our lives for be CEOs or rock stars or sports heroes. our belief in breathing or for suffering When I was a little kid, at first, I wanted through some of today’s music or for re- to be a fire truck when I grew up. When I was told that was impossible, I settled fusing to pay $10 to go to a movie! We are tortured daily by reality tele- for wanting to be a cowboy, as long as a vision shows. I have heard so many say Palomino horse came with the cap guns it: “If I have to put up with one more re- and hat. My friends and I played cowality show, I’m going to shoot myself!” boys and Indians all the time. We never 32

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

MARTYRDOM

played martyrs. Go figure! I guess if one could be a martyr without having to forfeit one’s life, there would be more people wanting to be martyrs when they grew up. My friend Knud is over 50 and he still wants to be a cowboy when he grows up. He has a fancy rifle and a black hat. He’s serious! He told me wanting to be a martyr was stupid, but if my heart was set on it, he could use his fancy rifle to help me along. He called it, “Being martyred for wanting to be a martyr.” I declined. There has to be a better way! I’m beginning to realize that martyrdom is not an easy career. My wife is dead set against it. Last Christmas, I offered to let her take the last chocolate in the box and she said, “Don’t be a martyr.” So, for her sake, I may give it up. If I revert to wanting to be a cowboy, it would mean Knud would have company. In a way, that’s martyrdom – giving up my goal for my wife and my friend. But still, it would have been nice to be a real martyr – to be admired and remembered and written about. I just wish I could have found a way that didn’t hurt! SL

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 _____________________

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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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