downtown
June 13, 2013 Volume 12 • Number 24 50¢ Newsstand Price
INSIDe
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Soaring imaginations at BLSC – page 3
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Skilled Workers Program
also
Spotlight on wine – page 5
302 -141 Victoria Street 250-314-6555
YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, YOUR NEWSPAPER
Saddle up for the 4th Annual Scooter Rodeo The modern mobility scooter – usually piloted by an elder or otherwise mobility-challenged driver – is in a class of its own; it is motorized, but not considered a vehicle, and is used by those who have difficulty walking, but falls under pedestrian rules. This can cause confusion amongst scooter and car drivers alike, and the potential for accidents on the streets. People who operate a motorized power chair or scooter are invited to a free community safety workshop, happening on Friday June 14th at The McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre. The skills course will be open from 10:00am to 1:30pm with music and a hotdog barbecue from 11:00am to 1:00pm for all who participate. “I attended for the first time last year,” says Kathy Marshall, a resident of Bedford Manor and past participant in the Scooter Rodeo. In particular Kathy was grateful for the opportunity to try out her new machine’s features in the presence of qualified scooter technicians. “It was a great way to learn about my new scooter and test its limits, like how fast it can go. I liked the contest where we got to play around with some of the things my ride could do that I was afraid to try on my own.” The rodeo organizers have designed a course to help drivers test their current abilities and have fun at the same time. With help from the RCMP and community safety volunteers scooter pilots can practice lane positioning, swerves and curves, braking, reverse parking and take a ride down a practice sidewalk. With more and more scooters and power chairs sharing our busy sidewalks, scooter etiquette is the utmost of importance. The key message to all who use motorized wheels as
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302 -141 Victoria Street 250-314-6555
Live-In Caregiver
Do you need On your mark, get set, go! The Scooter Rodeo is a great way to test your driving ability, have fun and learn immigration about how fast scooters and power chairs travel. help? their means of getting about is to remember some time with the RCMP and technicians that they are not vehicles. Scooters and power chairs are considered pedestrian and need to operate courteously as excessive speed and lack of control can cause injuries not only to the driver and machine, but to foot pedestrians as well. “I’m definitely looking forward to doing some of the harder challenges that require more skill this year, stuff I didn’t attempt last year because I was too new to it,” says Kathy. “I’m on the street now every day just about, so I have more confidence. I think I’m a pretty courteous driver.” So if you drive a scooter, come and spend
from Medichair and Mountain Medical, and enjoy a barbecued hotdog in the rest stop area sponsored by the Riverbend/Mayfair community. It’s a great 302 social safety event for -141 and Victoria Street 250-314-6555 seniors, and the John Howard Society looks Student and Visitor Visa forward to being your host. For registration please call the City Parks and Recreation office at 250-828-3500, quote registration # 208135. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged. If you have any questions regarding pick up or to register please call Coreen at 250-3710456. Rebecca Stewart
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