Kamloops Connector December 2022

Sledding at Lac du Bois

December 2022

6 ways to stick to a holiday budget

The holidays can be an exciting, fun and joyful time of year. And for many people, the holidays also are expensive.

According to the Motley Fool Company, a financial wellness resource, the average American spent $882.45 on Christmas gifts, food, decorations, travel, and other holidayrelated expenses in 2019. Around 56 percent of gift shoppers set a budget for holiday spending, but only 64 percent stuck to it. In addition, 21.5 percent of respondents went into debt due to holiday shopping. With current rates of inflation, many are looking for ways to manage a more frugal Christmas because the disposible income just isn’t there this year.

Who doesn’t want to have a super holiday with delicious foods on the table and lots of presents to share with family and friends? While that’s tempting, such a bounty should never result in financial peril. These six strategies can make it easy to establish and stick to a budget this holiday season.

1. Budget for everything. When working out holiday spending plans, factor in ALL of the expenses associated with the holidays — not just the most obvious.

2. Determine how much you can spend. Money for gifts and other holiday expenses should ideally come from your disposable

income. Find ways to make up any deficit by curtailing expenses like dining out or entertainment extras. Many people plan to use credit cards to pay now and worry about the aftermath later. Only use credit cards if you have the money in the bank and can pay off the entire bill when the balance is due in January.

3. Set a spending limit for individuals. Come up with a spending range for each person and stick to it. Have a Secret Santa arrangement so everyone only has to buy one gift for one person in the group.

4. Pay in cash as much as possible. It’s easy to know what you’re spending when using cash as opposed to credit.

5. Track all purchases. Save the receipts and keep a running total of expenditures so you can see how your spending is measuring up to your budget.

6. Shop sales and deals. High-end stores may have the impressive tag, but their prices can set you back. Instead, look for comparable gifts at discount stores and other retailers. Making gifts or giving experiences are other ways to cut back on the costs of gift giving.

A holiday budget is a must to avoid overspending and finding yourself paying for it in January.

Rebekah Barendregt submitted this photo to KTW’s photo contest last winter. Recent snowfalls will ensure that winter activities are back in full swing this year.

Time to put your garden to bed

By Melissa Maslany, Butler Urban Fall Farm Manager, KFPC

Are you new to gardening and wondering what happens to gardens in the winter? You may have heard the phrase “putting your garden to bed,” but what exactly does this mean? At the Butler Urban Farm, we just put the garden to bed, a phrase referring to preparing the garden for winter. How to put your garden to bed depends on the needs of your garden, the energy you want to put into it, and how much work you want to save yourself in the spring.

It is important to consider what to do with all the spent plants. At the Butler Urban Farm, we believe in disturbing the soil as little as possible to preserve the soil structure. Some people prefer to remove their spent plants, compost them, and add the compost back to the garden beds. We “chopped and dropped” annuals and cold sensitive perennials at the base leaving the roots intact in the ground and the foliage laying on the soil. These plants function as a free mulch. This is a great regenerative process. Despite the name “putting

your garden to bed,” the garden remains active. This is the time when old plants decompose and the soil can build nutrient levels back up. The spent roots and plants protect the soil from harsh winds, return nutrients back into the soil, and provide a home for insects over the winter. However, it is recommended to remove diseased or disease prone plants such as tomatoes. Cover crops such as peas can also be planted in the fall which add nitrogen back into the soil while protecting its structure. Amending the soil in the fall will save you time in the spring and lets you get to planting right away When preparing for the winter, it is also key to monitor temperatures in your area and plan your harvests accordingly. Make sure you check what temperatures different plants can tolerate. This is an important step if you want to avoid losing your produce that you put a lot of effort into growing. For example, carrots will survive a night of -8 C while zucchini and tomatoes will get frost damage at 0 C or

below. You can save your tomatoes even if they are still green by picking them before the frost and letting them ripen by a window, or you could make some green tomato chutney. Some plants are able to overwinter in the ground, depending on their level of cold tolerance. If you want to extend the growing season, you could give your plants some cold protection by “tenting” around them with row cover or plastic. The tents function as blankets for your plants, keeping them warm, basically putting them to bed! We tented our lettuce seedlings since they were too small to pick and we wanted to let them grow a little longer. You can even bring some plants inside for the winter, so long as they are a perennial, such as peppers. Just ensure to replace the soil so you do not bring any insects into your home, and acclimatize the plants to room temperature by taking them inside for a few hours a day.

Saving your own seeds is a fantastic way to be more self-sufficient, and contribute to a strong

community food system. Wait for the plant to mature, and let the seed heads dry out as much as possible on the plant before seed collecting. Then, you can harvest the seeds and store them in a paper bag to prevent mould. It is important that seeds are completely dried out before you store them in containers. You can add silica packets to the containers to be extra safe. Clean your seeds by removing the plant material encasing them and then store in a cool, dark, and dry place until you want to plant them. Most seeds will last a few years if stored properly. Plant these seeds again in the spring, share them with a neighbour, or bring them to the Kamloops Community Seed Library. Some planting can also be done in the fall. This is a great time to plant garlic. Garlic will survive the winter and you can harvest the next year, just make sure to add lots of mulch. Planting a variety of flower bulbs will give you beautiful colours in the spring.

Urban garden prepped for winter

Tenting is a method used to extend the season

A cherished classic brings the holidays back to Western Canada Theatre

Western Canada Theatre (WCT) celebrates the holiday season with a popular Christmas drama, told with new energy live onstage as a 1940s radio play. WCT’s beloved holiday offering returns with a heartwarming story perfect for family and friends to share with each other. Praised as “one of the best holiday shows around…a fresh and inventive way of reconnecting with a classic story of love and redemption” (Chicago Sun-Times), It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, adapted by Joe Landry, runs November 24 to December 10, 2022 at the Sagebrush Theatre. With all the heart and familiarity of the celebrated movie masterpiece, It’s a

Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play tells the story of George Bailey—an idealistic small-town Everyman with big dreams. As George’s life unfolds in unexpected ways that keep him close to home, one fateful Christmas Eve he finds himself questioning life’s greatest gift. With guidance from a guardian angel looking to earn his wings, George will discover how rich his life and community really are when he sees a world where he had never been born.

“There’s been a lot of discussion in recent months and years about how people should, and could, relate to one another,” says Johnna Wright, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Director. “To me, It’s a Wonderful Life resonates even more now than it

ever has, because it’s about one person who does his best all his life, in a quiet and unassuming way, and ultimately finds out that he is loved, and successful, and “seen” in a way he never expected. And that’s a story worth telling in 2022.”

Set in a 1940s radio studio, audiences will be transported back in time—when radio dramas were the most popular form of entertainment— as a group of actors gather at a radio studio to perform a live broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life. Radio dramas were traditionally dramatized, audio-only performances that relied on creative dialogue, music, and sound effects to share stories and plays in a time before television, when the majority of households relied on their radios for news and

entertainment. WCT audiences will experience all the acoustic magic of this performance style, while also seeing the behind-the-scenes buzz of what it felt like in studio when radio plays were broadcasted live decades ago.

“The radio version of this story is wonderfully theatrical and fun, and gives a glimpse into the workings of putting together a performance,” says James MacDonald, WCT Artistic Director. “It seemed perfectly apt for our time—as we move into a heavily digitized world, it is refreshing to see the backstage workings and honest reality of storytelling. And we are blessed to have the talents of so many outstanding, versatile performers, including many local favourites and delightful

young people.”

This touching and uplifting holiday drama promises to remind us all of the value of family,

community, and love. For tickets and information, visit wctlive.ca/wonderful.

Your donation can be directed to a specific community, field of interest or charity

Field of Interest Funds: We have six categories of funds that support specific fields of interest in our region. The annual earnings from the funds are given back to our communities through the BCICF Community Project Granting program

Organization Funds: Endowed funds are set up (primarily by the charity by also by community supporters) to help charities boost their

revenue without adding an administrative burden.

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For a complete list of these funds, go to bcicf.ca and download our Giving Guide

Giving Guide

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DID

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Christmas Memories

I’ve made a few trips around the sun at this point which means I’ve experienced my fair share of Christmas celebrations. In retrospect, after roughly six decades, only a handful of them actually made a lasting impression and the rest are mostly a blur.

My two cents

Moneca Jantzen Editor

During my formative years, there were enough happy Christmases bound by magical and awe inspiring moments to last a lifetime and yet ironically it’s often the bittersweet experiences that we remember more.

My most magical memory from childhood was a company Christmas party put on by one of my dad’s early employers, Canadian Breweries in Toronto. We were treated to what seemed an idyllic fancy kid’s Christmas party at the O’Keefe Centre. I was around 4 or 5 years old and I mostly just recall the ambiance of the place, the lights, the music, being dressed up and the sheer excitement of seeing Santa and getting a special gift.

I was also told about an earlier Christmas in Regina when I was only 18 months old and my older sister hauled me and our little brother out of bed in the wee hours. I climbed onto the sofa and Shannon placed Patrick into her doll’s high chair so we could watch the proceedings. My stunned parents awoke to a very self-satisfied 4 year old, a bemused toddler, a gurgling infant and a living room full of crumpled wrappings and open boxes. She had opened absolutely every gift under the tree!

Another memorable Christmas was one where we were talked into doing the gift opening on Christmas Eve by some British friends. I was almost a teenager by this time and wasn’t overly concerned about Santa’s arrival, however, as it turned out, the let down we all felt on Christmas Day was palpable. Apparently we weren’t quite ready to mess that much with tradition. We salvaged the day by heading out on our new cross-country skis on some trails in the Caledon Hills.

One year as a university student away from home, I found myself spending Christmas solo. Other than my dog, I had no expectation of further companionship over the holidays because all of my roommates had left town to be with family. My family were several provinces away in either direction. What made this year memorable was a surprise visit from a dear friend, her dog and her sister. They had driven a couple of hours north to see me and we took our dogs for a moonlight hike in a wilderness area near the university in deep snow and returned home for hot chocolate and homemade cookies. This visit along with some substantial long-distance phone calls got me through what could have been a very blue Christmas. By contrast, the year before this I had hopped on the train to spend Christmas with my sister and her young family in Nova Scotia. My nieces were at the perfect age for a most fun few days together.

Other most memorable Christmases typically happened when extended family and children were involved or a road trip was made in order to gather parts of my dispersed family. Of course, for at least two decades, much effort was spent doing my utmost to make happy memories for and with my daughter.

These days my holiday seasons are mostly unremarkable but pleasant. We keep to our traditions but everything is low key, modest and quiet. The size of our family and our expectations have grown smaller. At this stage of my life, a happy Christmas is one where nothing crazy or extreme happens and the stress levels are manageable. No one is drinking too much, if at all, and while we probably still eat too much and indulge in goodies that we don’t normally consume, we aim for moderation across the board. The excitement level will undoubtedly escalate if children become part of the mix again, but until then I’ll take the drama-free version over the alternative anyday.

Here’s wishing everyone a holiday season full of gratitude, contentment and just enough magic to make it memorable. Merry Christmas!

Voices of Experience

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The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents “Collage”

On Saturday, December 10, at 7:30 PM, CMK presents our next concert at the Kamloops United Church, 4th and St. Paul. It is a collage of musical styles showcasing the genius of Bach, the

vibrancy of Haydn, the delicacy of Mozart and the graceful style of Chopin, all with an added dash of seasonal favourites.

The Heritage Quartet is Catharine Dochstader, flute, Cvetozar Vutev,

violin, Laure Matiakh, cello, Curtis Howell, piano and harpsichord, with guest singer Anika Howell. Ticket information is available at chambermusicians ofkamloops.org.

from Desert Gardens

Season’s

Submitted by Penny Ouchi

Wow! What an introduction to winter. It has been an unbelievable time of the year. One day short sleeves the next winter parkas. We congratulate all those who braved the cold and snow and came to support us.

Seniors’ Community Centre @ Desert Gardens thanks the folks who continue to support our Centre and enjoy meeting, sharing and playing together. Whether it be over a cup of coffee, singing along with the music or playing a fun game of Scrabble or Cribbage.

We continue to have the Oasis Café open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Unfortunately, at this time there are no lunch or dinners being served – however – we have lots of homemade goodies (Sweets, muffins, scones and cookies) and coffee/ tea/pop and juice. Lots of smiles come with it.

Happy to announce that our Chair Fitness and Chair Yoga classes are gaining momentum. If you would like a good but gentle workout –come on down on a Tuesday/Thursday and give it a try.

Remember, our lovely Senior Centre is open to the public and everyone from near and far are welcome.

Music with Frank (Piano/Sing along) –Mondays – 1 – 2 p.m.

Chair Fitness is Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. with instructor Michelle.

Chair Yoga is Tuesday and Thursdays from 2 –3 p.m. with Teresa.

Scrabble is Wednesdays from 1 – 3 p.m.

Toastmasters is Thursdays @ 7 a.m.

Table Tennis is on Mondays and Thursdays from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays – 7 – 9 p.m.

TGIF is on Fridays from 10 – 11 a.m.

Cribbage is Fridays from 1 – 3 p.m.

Mexican Train is Saturdays @ 2 p.m.

Welcome Everyone Back and Remember Everyone in the Community is welcome to come and try any of these activities.

Mahjong & Bridge: we would like to start these programs up once again but need someone to lead them. Please if interested give the office a call at 250-372-5110.

The November 5, 2022 – Options and Opportunities, Community Companion and Vista Craft Fair @ Desert Gardens –Seniors’ Community Centre was a great success and we would like thank all those who came out to support us. The Ladies Auxiliary to

SCC also hosted their annual Christmas Item Sale at the same time. These displays will be set up for the duration and welcome everyone to come out and start your Christmas Shopping early.

We would like to thank the many folks in the Community who call to arrange special meetings/ events. We are happy to host whenever possible.

Our Ladies Auxiliary Gift Shoppe is open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Why not drop down and have a look at all the exciting things they have for sale at very reasonable prices. Homemade sweaters, dishcloths, honey, jewelry, household items and décor of all sorts. Something for every age from babies to seniors. Do stop by and see what they have. If not on display, they likely can find what you are looking for. The L.A. is part of the Seniors’ Community Centre and all monies goes back into our programs and activities. For this we thank you for your continued support.

Everyone is welcome to come to our wonderful Centre and participate in an activity or just to have a cup of coffee/tea and chat with new friends.

We wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and enjoy the company of Family and Friends.

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Tax-loss

involves selling an investment that has decreased in value to offset a capital gain on an investment that has increased in value. This strategy is an excellent opportunity to use those investments that are expected to underperform to offset realized capital gains before the market rebounds.

net capital losses back up to three years or carry them forward indefinitely. Therefore, you can take advantage of investments that are expected to underperform in your non-registered portfolio this year, to offset previous or future gains.

Tax-loss selling rules

registered investment accounts controlled by yourself or by a person affiliated with you. A person affiliated with you would include but not limited to a spouse, common law partner, trust or corporation.

The risks

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As of the beginning of October 2022, the S&P/TSX is down approximately 9.5 percent for the year. Before the year winds down, and we turn our attention to spending time with friends and family over the holiday season, this is a good time to consider strategies like tax-loss selling for your nonregistered investment portfolios.

The strategy Tax-loss selling

A capital gain is the increase in the value of an investment such an equity, mutual fund, exchange traded fund or real estate, and a realized capital gain is when the investment is sold at a higher value, locking in the gain and thereby making it taxable.

Of particular interest, the realized capital gain that you are attempting to offset does not need to occur in this calendar year, as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows you to carry

There are some rules that guide the use of tax-loss selling. First, any gains triggered in the current year must be offset first before carrying the realized capital loss back or forward.

Second, you cannot trigger “superficial losses,” which the CRA defines as those losses that occur by you or a person affiliated with you selling and then re-buying the “same or identical” property 30 days before or after the sale. Superficial losses would include trades in registered or non-

The risk is that you will be out of the market and unable to participate in any income, dividends or gains you would otherwise have earned during the 30-day period. Alternatively, you could consider purchasing a similar investment, for example purchasing a different mutual fund with similar attributes. There could also be costs to buy and sell securities.

Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Member – Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

CHIANNE V. JONES Financial Advisor

Online scammers never stop

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

Iknow I talk about online scams a lot. It’s a big factor in the IT industry, and they never stop.

They’re relentless in their pursuit of your money. Most of these scammers come from corrupt and/or developing countries. It’s not an excuse—just a fact. Their motivation is usually desperation on their part. I don’t want you to pity them at all though. They are criminals in every sense of the word. I could tell you stories about stringing scammers along, hurting their own technology by getting them to encrypt their own hard drives so

they can’t access them.

There are grades of hackers, there are black hats; the true criminals, usually employed in industrial espionage type things (yes, it is more common than you would think). Grey hats are trickier, they’ll often breach a network, get proof then email the company or person and tell them how they got in and how to fix it. White hats are the classic good guys. We study the others so we can keep people and companies safe.

Security professionals.

As you can tell, the terms stem from classic western movies. I’m not sure why it is. I like to think it’s because in those movies it’s easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. In today’s online world things aren’t always clear cut. There’s another cast of sorts. Script kiddies. They don’t sound threatening, I know. Most find programs online and learn to use them without understanding them. That still makes them

dangerous. They don’t write code like “true” hackers, they merely use tools. These are scammers for the most part. The dark net has made this business common. On there you can get custom written viruses and other things built and sent back to you within 24 hours. It really is that easy. If something doesn’t sound right, stop. Block that person if it’s someone you don’t know. If you do know them, then call them for verification. Don’t trust

a picture on a Facebook or other social media account, those are easy to clone. Stay vigilant. Scammers don’t stop and neither should you. If you aren’t sure you can email me, send me a message on my Facebook page or even reach out to me at 250374-6065 (issues with my usual cell number) which is my home number. Stay safe and trust your local security professionals, it’s what we’re here for.

We call our approach Interactive Caregiving™, a unique system of care, which keeps our clients mentally and physically engaged while focusing on their safety assurance and nutrition needs.

Holiday gifts and estate planning

adult children; discretionary trusts, whole life policies or RESP for grandchildren; or pre-paying your funeral expenses and setting out your wishes for that.

Legal ease

KERRI D. PRIDDLE

The wisest of people give the gift of peace of mind. What does this mean on the eve of 2023?

It can mean whatever peace means for youpreventing you or your loved ones from danger or mishap; or giving family some financial security in the future. The means of this can be a life insurance policy payable to your family; a prepaid estate planning package for your

Paying for something practical that your loved ones would have to otherwise pay for themselves is a very thoughtful gift. It also opens up the conversation about what everyone’s wishes are as to their future plans and creates an opportunity to put a strategy in place for unexpected events or achieving life goals.

Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements are the estate planning documents a young family needs, but these can be difficult to pay for all at

once. A gift of such a package saves them the cost and also the heartache and expense of dealing with a tragedy without the appropriate paperwork in place.

Law firms can arrange for these packages to be prepaid by the gift giver to be used in the New Year to create estate plans. Getting organized is always everyone’s New Years Resolution!

Another well thought out gift is a life insurance policy payable to family members that live away or would have to take a leave from work if you were to pass on. A small policy that covers a few weeks of lost salary and the cost of flights and hotels is practical and thoughtful, as well as a huge help

financially. Whole life insurance policies for children are very inexpensive and give them a cash reserve for future purchases they will make when you may no longer be there to assist— things like their first car, graduation dress, college books, or wedding costs. Similarly, RESP contributions are matched by the government and can add up quickly, providing a cash bump for tuition books and accommodation. In this case, be sure to assign the RESP in your Will to another adult in the event of your death prior to the child’s education or contribute to an existing RESP.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

An overlooked key to health and wellness

Hey! I’m back!

I’m sorry about missing last month but “life” was happening to me. Someone very close to me had a health issue and I prioritized being with them to support them through their journey.

And that is a powerful segue to this week’s topic! So let’s get into it. When you think of wellness and health what do you think of first? Nutrition?

Exercise?

Maybe Sleep? Or even our environment like we discussed over the summer. Well there is another powerfully important area of wellness that we haven’t talked about yet.

Can you guess what it is? I’ll give you a hint. The last two years of COVID made it very noticeable for a lot of people. Did you guess it yet?

It’s Human Connection.

Connected, loving relationships nurture us in ways that aren’t easily measurable but can be felt at the depths of our being. Let me explain. When we are connecting in an authentic, loving way it impacts our hormone production, our immune systems and most importantly our nervous system regulation—all in a good way!

All our healing and

By Clear Impact

recuperation happens in the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” nervous system state so it’s important to be there as much of our day as possible.

Notice how these practices feel:

• to vent your emotional and psychological pain to a loved one.

• to give and receive a loving warm hug

• to support a loved one when they are in need

• simply to laugh and experience life with a true friend

• to enjoy the love and loyalty of a dog or a cat, or even a horse, hamster or jumping spider! (They are very loyal and

loving as it turns out)

• It’s as easy as smiling and saying hello to a stranger as you walk down the street

All of these practices are examples of the importance of human connection and will support a healthier and happier you.

We evolved to survive and thrive in a tribe, not as a lone wolf. So reach out. Smile at that next person that passes you. Ask for a hug next time you are with someone you love. And most importantly, love yourself. We’ll talk about that next month.

Keeping our loved one’s memories alive

By Carrie Wright

Last year my dad, Keith, passed away after his journey through stage 4 cancer. It was by far the most difficult experience I’ve ever had to endure. So how do I keep my dad’s memory alive? I do this through storytelling and genealogy.

My obsession with researching my family’s history started as a child, when I learned about my mother’s adoption and her search for her birth parents. Her longing to find out who she was, where she came from, and where she got her curly hair from really made

an impression on me at a young age. We’ve since solved the mystery, but that really was the catalyst for what has become a life-long hobby. Genealogy for me is so much more than just names and dates on a family tree; it’s more than DNA matches. I’m really interested in digging up the stories of my ancestors and getting to know who they were. I want to know where and how they lived, their struggles and their triumphs. When we stop talking and learning about our parents, grandparents, and ancestors, that’s when they are truly gone. Researching family history, telling, and sharing their stories keeps my ancestors alive and in my heart. I share these stories and my research on my family history blog which you can find at www. findingmyancestors. wordpress.com. I can assure you

that genealogy is not a boring hobby if you know where and how to look for the stories of your ancestors. I’ve learned so much about my ancestors that I didn’t know when they were still alive. For instance, my paternal grandfather was a Glider Pilot during WW2 who survived D-Day. My paternal grandmother worked for Sylvia Beach at THE famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris, France in the 1930s. She was also an artist; just this year I stumbled across one of her paintings in a local thrift store here in Kamloops. This was such an incredible find because she passed away in Burnaby over 30 years ago.

If you’d like some help learning how to find your ancestors stories, contact the Kamloops Family History Society at family4genealogy@ gmail.com.

Be An Angel

The Snow Angels program is looking for volunteers to clear snow from driveways and walkways of the homes of our seniors

Having safe access allows them to retain independence, be able to get groceries and to go to medical appointments. They also need their driveways and walkways clear for in-home care to be able to get to them safely. Without your help, they are trapped. With this snow, we have many seniors reaching out for help.

Our Snow Angels program is sponsored by Pizza Now which gives each Snow Angel a personal pizza every time they clear snow, not to mention the monthly draw of a Family Meal

Feeling good about helping seniors out and free pizza! That’s a winning deal.

Be an Angel. Apply today at volunteerkamloops.org to join our Snow Angels team

t i n g G u i l d G o r d ’ s A p p l i a n c e s C a i n ’ s Y o u r I n d e p e n d e n t G r o c e r & o u r s h o p p e r s !

The snow has come early this year, which means our Kamloops seniors need your help!

DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director

here are five forms our clients sign when they make funeral or cremation arrangements. Last month we looked at the Vital Statistics/ Service Arrangements form. This month we’re discussing the second form, the “Authorization to Transfer” form. On the surface this appears to be a simple one: the client’s signature

gives the funeral home permission to pick up Murray when he dies. However, it’s not as simple as it first appears Murray came to see me one day. “I want to give you permission to pick up my body when I die” he said. “Give me the form to sign!”

Murray thought I’d say “Sure, Murray” but I said “Sorry, Murray” instead. Murray was all set to blow his top but he let me explain how the “Authorization to Transfer” form works.

“When we die we lose total control over what happens to our body, Murray” I said. “We can write our wishes in our Will, and the law says those wishes are supposed to be followed, but it’s the Executor (or next of kin if there’s no Will) who

gives us permission to pick up your body at RIH, Hospice or at home, not you. And they can only give this permission to us AFTER your death.

The law in BC is very clear on this and we can face stiff penalties if we ignore the law.”

“So you’re telling me that I can’t give you permission in advance, while I’m still alive, to pick up my body when I die?” Murray asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Murray” I replied.

But it’s even a bit more complicated than that. After Murray dies, the Executor/ Next of Kin doesn’t actually have to sign the Authorization to Transfer form before we go to pick up Murray. He or she can give us

verbal permission or permission by text/ email. So, if Murray dies without a Will and Murray’s wife Alice calls to give us permission to transfer Murray to our funeral home we can do so. But that’s ALL we can do. For example, we can’t cremate Murray based only on Alice’s verbal authorization to pick Murray up. Some people are surprised to learn this; we often hear Alice say “Murray wants to be cremated” and assume we’ll have his ashes ready when she calls us a couple of days later. Not so. The Authorization to Transfer form (or verbal instruction to pick Murray up) is simply that, and nothing more.

To satisfy Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) – the government

established organization that enforces the laws mentioned earlier –we ensure that the Executor/Next of Kin actually signs the Authorization to Transfer form when they come to make arrangements, usually in the next day or two.

Consumer Protection BC ALWAYS looks through our files for the Authorization to Transfer form when they drop in unannounced to inspect funeral homes. ‘Woe is me’ if that form isn’t in the client’s file! Further ‘woe’ befalls the funeral home if someone without the legal authority signs that form. For example, if Alice is the Executor but cousin Leroy signs the Authorization to Transfer form, you can

bet CPBC will judge harshly. $$$

Sometimes clients want to have a little good natured fun at my expense when I explain how the Authorization to Transfer form works.

“You mean, Drake, that if I don’t sign that form you could receive a hefty fine (or worse) from CPBC?” they ask.

“That’s correct” I reply. The client – pen in hand – then pauses for what seems like forever. It looks like they’re deciding whether to sign or not. Fortunately, people are very kind. They sign and we both have a little chuckle about how I might spend my time in the crowbar hotel.

Then we move on to the third form—the contract. We’ll talk about that next month.

Ask Drake

“I hereby authorize you to pick me up when I die” said Murray. What could possibly go wrong?

Kamloops Arts Council aids local artists with a variety of grants and scholarships

One of the primary goals of the Kamloops Arts Council is to support the art community in all possible ways. With that in mind, the KAC offers several grants and scholarships to local artists, art groups, and art students to help support their artistic endeavours, whether that be for purchasing supplies or for continued education in artistic fields.

Two of the scholarships offered by the KAC focus on post-secondary studies; the Julia Appley-Mitra Scholarship awards two scholarships of $500 each to graduating Kamloops students who are going on to study arts. This scholarship has been granted to students studying all over Canada from our local Thompson Rivers University to the renowned Vancouver Film School all the way to the University of Toronto.

Similarly, the Kristina Benson Art Scholarship is awarded to a current or prospective student pursuing post-secondary education in the visual arts and design fields. Recipients of this scholarship will receive $250 for demonstrating “eagerness, determination to succeed in their field, and a passion to intuitively create.”

If you’re no longer

by Keiko Bolen, Kamloops Arts Council

a student, then the Kamloops Arts Council Grant may be for you. This grant can be used as a tool to further an artist’s education as the above scholarships, but can also be used towards supplies or the promotion of art. The Kamloops Arts Council Grant is open not only to artists but to art organizations as well.

For example, just last year the Kamloops Music Collective received $1,000 to debut the Kamloops New Music Festival, which endeavoured to “celebrate the innovative ways musicians are creating and sharing music within the community.” The festival offered a variety of music-based workshops, covering topics such as creating musical scores from scratch to building your own synthesizer.

Of course, there are several instances of the grant being awarded to local artists as well.

Wendy Weseen, who you’ll be able to catch in

the KAC’s show SMALL// works, running November 19 to December 22, received $700 for material to aid in the creation of her collection “as wise as nature’s wings,” and multiple artists have received funds for continued education, whether that be for TRU’s Actor’s Workshop Theatre or for the Surrey International Writers’ Conference, to name a few.

Whether you’re a painter, a writer, a musician, a thespian, or simply a creative, the Kamloops Arts Council hopes to support all artistic pursuits for many years to come. For more information on the above-mentioned scholarships and grants, including how to apply, please visit kamloopsarts. ca or contact Tanya Neilson, Executive Director by email at info@ kamloopsarts.ca or by phone at 250-372-7323.

Doors open

1:00pm to 3:00pm

2:00pm

Week of

1:00pm

Rummoli 7:00pm Rummol 7:00pm

By Marilyn Brown

Men s Sheds Drop In 9 00 3:00pm Wr ters C rcle 2:00 4:00 Seniors room

Men’s Sheds Drop In 9:00 3:00pm

7:00pm

By Maggie Knox

Viking Canada 2022, 336 pages Fiction – Romance

If Christmas is “your thing” and you can’t get enough of tinsel, twinkle lights, poinsettias, and looping Christmas songs in malls, especially when combined with romance between two attractive adults, and if you are addicted to the Christmas themed movies on TV, then dig into this book. If not, run!

Hiking Group meet at Hungry Hikers @ 8:30am

Drop n Cr b @ the Legion 7:00pm Hiking Group meet at Sportsplex @ 8:30am

Drop n Cr b @ the Legion 7:00pm

2nd Sunday Soc al 12:30 Wells Gray Inn

Wellness Centre 10:30 11:30am

Carpet Bowling Evergreen Acres 1:00 3:00pm

Carpet Bowling Evergreen Acres 1:00 3:00pm

Men s Sheds Drop In 9 00 3:00pm Wr ters C rcle 2:00 4:00 Seniors room

Men’s Sheds Drop In 9:00 3:00pm

Men s Sheds Drop n 9:00 3:00pm Book C ub 2:00 4:00pm at the Library

Hiking Group meet at Sportsplex @ 8:30am

Drop n Cr b @ the Legion 7:00pm

H king Group meet at Sportsplex @ 8:30am

Drop in Crib @ the Leg on 7:00pm

Hiking Group meet at Sportsplex @ 8:30am

Drop n Cr b @ the Legion 7:00pm

SUDOKU

Sadie is a young, beautiful young woman trying to make it big in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a bundle of nerves with immense vocal range, calmed by the wisdom and support of her grandmother who lives in another state. When the reality TV show Starmaker promotes a contest to showcase talent and rocket the winner(s) to fame, she must prove her talent or go home. Producers suggest that she and a male partner could really impress the judges. Too bad that she already has displayed a distaste for Max, “the Prince of Nashville,” a handsome, smooth-voiced, son of a filthy rich country music legend. Insecurities and misunderstandings muddle what neither can deny – a sizzling attraction to each other.

The hectic pace of life for young artists striving for success in the Nashville country music centre is contrasted with the solace of a snow-bound cabin in Banff, Canada. Descriptions of both locales are chock-full of Christmassy detail, including the candy-cane pattern of Max’s boxer shorts.

There are some original and charming details in this story, including the papillon dog named Patsy Canine, and some homey sayings such as when the agent for Max tells him she’s “busier than a moth in a mitten.” Titles of famous country music songs are scattered about, like red and green sprinkles on a cupcake. (Oh no, I have caught the Christmas bug!) This book was probably fun to write.

Maggie Knox is the nom de plum for two Canadians, Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. Both are successful writers as individuals and have written as a duo before. Brown is the author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife, and Stapley is the author of Mating for Life.

Rover the Christmas Dog

He was probably the best loved Christmas present we children ever had. One year, when all the presents had been opened, our parents announced that there was one more and brought in a cardboard box. Inside it a small, brown, floppy-eared puppy looked up at us eagerly. Our first dog! We couldn’t believe it. We had him out of that box immediately.

After much patting and playing the puppy, tired from all the enthusiasm, fell asleep with his head on my brother’s knee. Roger turned to me and whispered, “I’m not going to move until he wakes up!” He didn’t. He sat very still, solemn, and happy.

How old were we that Christmas? Four, six and eight seems about right. Young enough not to question where the puppy had been hidden.

(It’s not easy, believe me, to hide a dog, however small, in a three-room log cabin.) Was he out in the chicken house? Down in the barn? And, how, in a settlement without phones, had Father known when to take the horse and sleigh and pick him up from the train? We never asked. It was all just part of the Christmas magic. I forget who named him Rover. It seemed like the right name for him, although he was never a wanderer. His first and almost only trip was a long one, from friends Red and Mary McCullough in Albreda, on the way-freight to the CNR station in Valemount, then by sleigh to our house. That traveling seemed to satisfy him.

Rover never wore a collar. He wasn’t tied or restricted in any way. We didn’t even formally try to train him. Rover

wasn’t a ‘pet,’ though he was certainly patted; nor a ‘companion animal’ though he was always an eager participant in our adventures. He was a member of the family with chores and responsibilities.

One of the daily chores was filling the woodbox. As we kids carried armloads of wood from the woodshed to the wood-box on the porch, Rover was right with us, carrying a stick every time. Trouble was, once we got to the porch, Rover decided that particular piece of wood was his. He saw no reason to put it in the wood-box. Persuasion accompanied by gentle tugging on the stick eventually convinced him. Back we went to the wood-shed and the drama was played out again till the woodbox was full. Maybe it was his way of getting us to recognize his

By Trudy Frisk

contributions. Rover saw himself as the guardian of home and family against any threats, either animal or human. Although he had a quarter section to roam in, he set certain well-defined boundaries which he patrolled, never far from the house in case he was needed. He was always within our mother’s call, unless he joined us on our exploring expeditions which took us across river channels into deep woods where we constructed houses and rafts of any handy material, coming home in just before supper, weary and content. Rover joined in these ventures gleefully, but sometimes he’d worry he’d been gone too long, and quietly head back to the house. It was different if we were working in the garden. Whether it was the long field just below the house

or the big garden across the river, Rover realized he was at work, just as we were. He never left us then.

We had no near neighbours, so Rover didn’t know any other dogs. We had different animals with which he was on good terms. He and Toots, the horse, got along well. He was interested in the cow and her calves. Chickens, unless a rooster was out and making trouble, he resolutely ignored. He and Peter, the haughty Persian cat, were reserved but respectful friends. Rover himself was of no discernible lineage. Large, brown, quiet, trusty dog, we’d have said if asked. It didn’t occur to us to wonder about breed. He was our ally, our helper, our buddy on adventures and our loved friend.

There’s no doubt in my mind that animals can tell time if they want to.

Every school day Rover ambled to the end of the trail from our house to the road to wait for us to walk home from school. No one ever told him to do it. He certainly didn’t ask “Is it time now?”

But, every day, at just the right time, he was there waiting faithfully. Whatever might have happened in school or on the mile plus walk home, the sight of him watching for us cheered us. He shared all our triumphs and we could tell him any trouble, certain that he understood. He seemed to. He’d sit, leaning against our knees, listening in silent sympathy. Rover never went further towards town than the end of the trail. That was his boundary. He knew we went away somewhere each morning, but he was confident we’d be back.

Rover the Christmas Dog

He did travel with us a few summers, to our small cabin at the foot of the mountains past Albreda where we went to make poles. His duties were much the same, with one added task, bringing home the mail. There was no rural delivery, there still isn’t in that area. There wasn’t even a real road. Mail went by train. The Valemount post-master would bundle up all our mail and hand it to the way-freight crew, who tossed it out when the train went past our nearest railroad crossing.

Fetching the mail was a job for the kids and the dog. We listened for the toot from the engine before running the quarter of a mile uphill to the tracks. Rover carefully picked up the mail in his mouth and carried it home.

Fortunately, the Free Press Prairie Farmer or some equally bulky paper was usually wrapped around the outside.

Fishing was a big part of living at Albreda. Rover wasn’t a hunting dog; when we went hunting, he stayed home. He was an enthusiastic fishing dog, though. He sat attentively on the bank, alert for movement in the water. In the shallow northern rivers fish were easy to spot. Rover gave encouragement as we hooked them and pulled them out.

As we grew up and went away to school Rover went less often to the end of the trail to wait for us to walk or bicycle home. The kids left at home, rode in cars, now, anyway. I think he missed his

from page 16

daily welcome. We did. There were no more afternoons exploring, and we missed that, too. He was still our friend, when we came home on holidays, though. We introduced him to new people we brought with us, people who might become part of the family. They didn’t know we were rating them on how they treated this dignified dog. He seemed able to pick out the good ones.

As Rover got older, our parents decided they needed a younger dog to help him. Rover was heart broken. After his faithful years of guarding and caring, to be replaced; that’s how he saw it; by an up-start, multi-coloured puppy with perky ears? It wasn’t to be tolerated. Scamp tried to make friends, but Rover would

have none of it, growling at him and refusing to share the dog house. He was hurt, and he felt he had reason to be.

There must have been some bond between them, though. When Rover was in his last days, the coyotes, sensing that he was dying, came round to attack. Scamp feared coyotes. Nevertheless, he bravely stood his ground, fiercely defending the old dog, till someone came out of the house to help. When Mother wrote us about it, we were proud of both dogs.

Dogs, faithful and much loved, have been important in our lives and the lives of our children. We think it all began one Christmas day, in a log cabin with a small, brown, eager, puppy named Rover.

Trudy, Ralph and Rover Rover, the Christmas dog.

Jack is loose!

This article talks about some unexpected repairs

I have experienced over the 60+ years I have worked on cars. I was just over at a friend’s auto shop discussing business when he explained to me the circumstances of a vehicle concern. The engine was making a very deep metallic knock-like sound at an idle which varied as it was being revved up. The customer was told the engine needed replacement by a local repair shop, so they brought it in to my friend’s place for a second opinion. After a quick inspection he discovered the flex plate/flywheel bolts were a touch loose. After tightening them back up everything was quiet but explained to the customer this repair is temporary which would require a replacement of the item which was around $200 plus

labour. This was way less expensive than an engine replacement at about $5500 - $7000. Those loose bolts sure did mimic a major engine repair sound though.

Over the years, many a customer’s concern has been: “Every time I turn left the car stalls, it restarts right away and runs ok until the next left turn. What do you think it could be? I have had it back to the dealer to look for a possible ignition fault, but nothing appeared.”

They were going to pull the steering column apart to see if there was a short or electrical fault. After a small road test of left and right hand corners something became evident, the strong smell of gas on right turns. After some tinkering it was discovered that the carburetor’s float sank and the extra fuel was running out over the top of the carb’s throat when turning corners. When

Submitted by Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

the vehicle turned right the excess fuel leaked to the outside of the carb hence the gas smell. When turning left the excess fuel fed into the engine stalling, flooding it out but no gas smell. A float was replaced during the servicing, which meant no more problems and it saved dismantling a steering column.

A neighbour’s friend sold me his car because it made a horrific banging sound from the rear differential as it came to a stop. He was told it was going to cost more to repair than the value of the vehicle itself, so he unloaded it to me for a few hundred dollars. I was all prepared to start removing the rear end when I decided to give it a good once over. I discovered an item on the ignition distributor was damaged when, by accident, the sleeve of my smock caught on the edge of it and broke it’s coupling. After replacing

that less than $10 item, I road tested and realized the noise in the rear was gone. Turns out the damaged distributor piece affected how the transmission shifted which in turn caused the rear to bang. Go figure. Yes, I did keep the car for a few years, and it ran great.

A grain farmer friend asked for my assistance in repairing one of his trucks for a lack of power condition, it was just the beginning of harvest and he really needed it to perform. Upon opening the hood I saw a nice clean carb, new ignition wires and spark-plugs. The engine started and revved up when I manually worked the throttle which made the lack of power a mystery. Being a farm truck it had some different controls on the engine that a highway truck may not have. One item in particular is called the “governor.” This piece

controls the engine speed capabilities when under load. It looked very clean like it had been serviced, but what I noticed was the vacuum feed from the distributor, although clean on the outside, was plugged with wheat chaff on the inside. It was telling the engine not to speed up hence the lack of power.

After a 5 minute cleanup the farmer took it out for a test run and proceeded to drive it off the road into a field. He was so used to it’s previous lack of power that it’s back to original performance was almost more than he could handle. He was very happy though. Final example comes from an experience at a “Press Event” where journalists are offered to test drive new or preproduction vehicles. I was providing technical support for a major automotive manufacturer. One of the journalists had come back to me after their

photo shoot, complaining that there was a rattle in the back of this extremely expensive car. The negative experience was possibly going to result in an unfavourable review by his paper. I had the senior technician take it for a quick road test as I worked to appease this person’s narrowed opinion of a really decent vehicle. Upon his return, the technician said “Gary-san, found out cause of noise.” In his very cute but, knowledgeable manner, he said “jack is loose” to which the camera man’s eyes opened wide as he exclaimed, they had taken it out to slightly lift the car creating a different altitude of the vehicle to compose the picture. It actually was the journalist that had replaced it back in the trunk – oops. Not everything is what it seems. Any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at bigsix8280@ yahoo.ca.

Clark, is that YOUR Nutcracker?!

NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

Blistery breezes and icy slick roads

Frost bitten cheeks, fingers and toes

Delicate snowflakes that land on your nose And all your favourite Christmas shows!

’Tis the season of memories and tradition, and one such tradition for me, is finding the best hiding spots ever! Over the years as my boys get older, they present me with the challenge of outsmarting them when it comes to hiding their gifts (no pun intended ha-ha). They are intellectually cunning with memories sharper than the beak of a most miss-named

bird. The Clarks Nutcracker really has nothing to do with nuts but seeds; specifically of pine trees. You can discover this medium sized bird with a perfect pine cone stabbing beak, swooping across conifer forest canopies foraging for just that. Its bright grey body with broad black wings and white fanned tail often get him mistaken for his cousin, the Gray Jay. Yes this pine loving bird belongs to one of the smartest cosmopolitan families in the Avian world: Corvidae. Their spatial aptitude allows them to deposit seeds across large areas and return to them at later dates. Carried beneath their tongues in a specially designed pouch, they procure thousands of seeds from many different tree species throughout their range. These two uncanny abilities have produced many benefits for not only the Clarks Nutcracker, but the evolution

of the Pine forests themselves.

With a never ending supply of food, Clarks Nutcrackers are one of the few birds that will begin producing offspring as early in the year as January.

The male and female takes turn incubating the eggs so the other can fetch seeds from their caches.

Of course, not all seeds end up being retrieved, but that is what nature intended. Pine trees have adapted and evolved overtime because of the Nutcrackers relationship. Their seeds, cones and even the tree’s overall shape have all changed to be more symbiotic. This has allowed for a more successful species dispersion aiding in the continuance and creation of new forests.

Many of these intelligent birds live to be over fifteen years of age which means a single bird is responsible for spreading countless seeds in their lifetime. Next time you take a walk in

the woods, stop for a moment and take in your surroundings. Chances are those glorious old trees stand where they do thanks to the ultimate game of hide and go seek played by a creature just doing what he does best.

I know for many, Christmas is a time for giving gifts, and for some that has tarnished the idea behind the true meaning of Christmas. But maybe it’s because we have forgotten that a gift is not just something we buy. It can come in the form of a talent or skill, kindness and compassion, or a unique intelligence.

So dear readers, I encourage you all to find out your gift this season and in return seek out the gift in others. Perhaps you will see how our ordinary is truly extraordinary and the role it plays in continuing to create and shape the world around us!

Stay Curious Kamloops.

Zone 8 says so long to the old year, hello to the new

Each year, let alone each day, may bring significant changes to our lives. But past events, relationships with colleagues, friends, other members of organizations such as the 55+ BC Games, remain linked to our being. Just as it has added to good social and physical health, the organization still offers benefits to those who adopt it’s offerings as part of their routine.

For an organization to thrive, it needs people’s active support through attendance at meetings, willingness to prepare for and take part in up

to 30 sports/activities leading up to the annual tournament, and volunteering to improve communication, sharing of ideas, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for new and returning members.

To help meet these objectives, Zone 8 needs to fill these positions on the Board of Directors: Merchandise, Communications, and Event Chairs, and some Sport Coordinators. Please contact zone8info@ 55plusbcgames.org to volunteer or for more information. And if you enjoy doing some creative writing while

keeping members and the public informed about what’s happening in Zone 8, we need a person to submit an article each month to The Connector, a most valuable partner.

The editor of The Connector has been kind and generous in allowing Zone 8 of the 55+ BC Games to submit an article every month to spread the news about our great organization, including it’s upcoming and past events, need for help in the organization, recognition of special contributions of members, and results of the annual 55+ BC Games. The Connector

has made a major contribution to the ongoing encouragement of seniors to keep active physically and socially. Thank you!

No matter how you involve yourself, the 55+ BC Games needs you, and there’s an excellent chance you need these Games. Let’s all look forward to a successful and fulfilling 2023. Abbotsford, look out!

The incidence of memory is like the light from expired stars whose influence lingers long after the events themselves.

Kamloops birdwatch

Submitted by Linda Haas

DECEMBER 2022 21 www.connectornews.ca

SUE’S LETTER HOME

Creative Writing by Rita Joan Dozlaw

n 1994, from a distant and mountainous village in South East Asia, Sue wrote up her annual Christmas cards to Canada and the United States. Even though it was long before anyone would be thinking about Christmas, the seasonal mail and parcels from Sumatra Indonesia had to be posted early. Rather than send a generic letter to her dad, Alba, Sue wrote a personal full-length letter to post by snail mail.

beautiful!

The ex-patriot’s children, around ten years old, will sing together as a choral group. They have a primitive instinct to love music, so they have very expressive voices. It’s quite obvious that they feel the music on an instinctual and visceral level… like you do, daddy. These same students are making papier mache snowmen, candy canes and more—yet another activity I enjoyed when you taught me how to turn chicken wire into shapes and plaster them with sticky, glue-covered strips of newspapers. You said, “Don’t be afraid to get your hands wet, Susie; they aren’t going to shrivel up like your brain will some day!”

what you told me!

“You’re not getting older for nothing. You’re getting older to learn how to take your time composing rhyme.” I think you should know, daddy, the ladies laugh a lot in our classes; so my career move was well worth the mountain I literally had to navigate to reach them in this village.

Jake and I are fine; we’re still trying to make a difference at the rayon mill. Since it is near the season to be jolly, thank you for the sense of humour you bring to the situations we write back and forth about. You advised me that, to be a good teacher, especially of adult students, I should be the one to pay attention! “Learn from your students as much or more than you expect them to learn from you,” you’d said, and you were right. I’m studying the Bahasa Indonesian lyrics to some Christmas carols so I can sing with the students at the yuletide festivities in the Graha. You’ll remember that is what our all-purpose building on site is called. We gathered there the other day to paint pine cones we’d collected from the grounds of the golf course. The students have a knack for blending colours and I’ve been learning the unique art of batik from them. Their art work is

My dear Daddy: How I miss you! This Christmas letter is to tell you how much you matter… and always have! Your heartfelt letters to us over the year have been a godsend. Thank you for so diligently keeping us posted!You also taught me that the riff-raff from life’s challenges which can’t just be swept up with a good broom can be cleaned up pretty good with a good boom of laughter!

We got creative here and used nothing more exotic than clusters of straightened-out metal coat hangers for one of our projects. They stayed crooked enough to serve as tree limbs for our ‘Indo Tree.’ We threaded the wires through green straws donated by the local canteen, then we glued on fluffs of raw rayon from the plant stockpile to make the humble wires appear like snowcovered boughs. I found myself using an old teaching tool you taught me: “Be resourceful.”

Sometimes I get tongue tied and wish I could just come up with the inspirational lexical that you always could, but that doesn’t come natural to me like it does to you… so I quote you! I’d challenged the ladies to tackle writing Christmas cards with a line or two of poetry in them and told them

Once, when I mentioned to the adult class that you’re responsible for some of the tactics I use when trying to get a point across, they wanted to meet you. “He’d make a great partner,” one of them giggled with embarrassment, and went on to say she’d like to date you! I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not when she asked if you could come to Porsea and take her out. She had no inkling of the distance from ‘Amareeka’ to Sumatra. You know, daddy, these people are as thirsty for knowledge as they are for fun, so that afternoon I took the globe you gave me to my classroom in the Training Centre and pointed out the East Indies in relation to the ‘Amareekas.’ I have you to thank for instilling in me a curiosity of the world’s island chains, continental lands and ocean masses.

Guess what. I got home from work the other day and found a large box on my doorstep! It was taped up and smattered with a slew of colourful stamps. Bonnie sent it all the way from South Carolina! I ripped into it and, when I laid eyes on what it held, I bawled! The miniature fake Christmas tree came complete with a battery operated string of lights, sparkling ornaments and a wee star for the top of it! It is closer to a ‘real’ Christmas tree than anything I would have found here in this

tropical country. A few days later, all the way from New York, Jody sent a parcel postmarked September. It took seventy days to arrive! Under my breath I hummed the song you taught me from, ‘The Sound of Music.’ Brown-paper packages tied up with string; these are a few of my favourite things. It had been broken into and re-tied closed… perhaps by border authorities. Nothing was missing or damaged. Deep in the heaps of shredded paper, I found fragile figurines of Mary and Joseph, three wise men, a camel and a shepherd boy carrying a hooked staff. Lastly, I rescued the representation, of the divine newborn, from its ‘manger’ of bubble wrap. I rocked the tiny form in my palm. My sisters are thoughtful and generous, daddy, just like you are! All heart! Jake and I are so grateful for your precious gift to us! The portrait of you and mother on her last Christmas is a treasure!

It’s incredible that this is our last Christmas here. With our work coming to an end, we’re emotional just thinking of the bittersweet fact that we’re going home since we really don’t want to leave. But we are very homesick. Gee, daddy, that’s an understatement.

As Sue closed off her Christmas letter to Alba, many of the Christmas virtues such as joy, faith, gratitude, and wonder at home and abroad, were at the forefront of her mind. With her red and green ballpoint pens, in beautiful calligraphy, she scribed ‘Merry snow-white and glittery Christmas, Daddy.’ She signed her and Jake’s name after sketching a ‘connected-hearts’ emoji. Adding a P.S., Sue expressed her forever love.

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Legacy goes beyond just finances

Submitted by Erin Chambers, Life Coach/End of Life Doula

If you dislike being the centre of attention, not only thinking about legacy, but acting on it as well, can be challenging and difficult to do. Thinking about what we might want to leave behind for others, whether it is material or non-tangible (e.g. words of wisdom, belief system) forces us to highlight what is important to us and it shines a spotlight on our values. To share that with others can be quite a vulnerable thing to do.

Therefore, taking action towards our legacy can seem daunting as well, especially when we start to compare ourselves. “I have nothing of value,” “No one is going to care,” “I am not exceptional…nor do I have great advice to share” and on the list of thoughts go…

Along with other end of life work, not only putting thought into, but acting on what you would like your legacy to be is a gift. It’s part of your story.

Don’t know where to start? Think of what matters to you most, what brings a smile to your face. Pull out some old photo albums or a picture and write on the back-who it is, what you were doing and any other notes you might want to add. It doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Small words and actions can hold a lot of weight. Who has impacted you? Perhaps part of your legacy is a material object, a handwritten letter or note, or maybe even a rock or shell that holds a memory of a great time shared.

Legacy is not always a financial gift. In fact, legacy is love. Consider putting thought into and acting on your legacy while you are still alive. By doing so, you create even greater memories to cherish, which is more valuable than any monetary gift.

Preparing

And the second part of Mary Oliver’s phrasing is revealed in that moment: the world descends into a rich mash, “in order that it may resume.”

outsideColouring the lines

REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

We sit outside in a circle atop logs and stumps positioned around a dancing fire beside Shuswap Lake. The ground beneath us is covered in leaves and snow, both recently fallen from what is now a brilliant blue sky. We talk about the changing seasons, how summer’s lushness gives way to death and decay. We observe, as Mary Oliver puts it so eloquently in one of her poems, “how the world descends into a rich mash.”

As the others slip away for their contemplative wander in the “wild” I hold the space around the fire and give thanks for the fallen tree that provides the wood that keeps me warm.

I look across the lake, stunned by the beauty it reflects, and then my eyes turn skyward.

I see the long arms of the tree, bare and silhouetted, and notice the tip of every slender stick now holds a tiny bud. I get up and wander the space, finding signs of new life emerging on branches everywhere.

In her poem, “Lines Written in the Days of Growing Darkness,” she speaks of how “the vivacity of what was is married to the vitality of what will be.”

The wanderers return to the fire and the conversation begins. “It’s like the world has entered a time of preparing –preparing for the new life that will emerge in the spring. Everything is doing what is needed for that time of awakening,” one Wild Church member says. Preparing! These days of growing darkness in December, when the natural world around us settles into a time of stillness, of exquisite silence, is truly a time of preparing. The trees and plants draw their moisture in deep, waiting for a warmer sun to pull that moisture back into the branches so those buds can pop open into a new canopy of lush greenness. The bears and marmots are sleeping in quiet, hidden dens, the fat of fall’s feasting fuelling them as they sleep. All around us the natural world embraces a season of rest, of

restoration.

The Christian season of Advent is now underway – the season of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Christ child. This birth story speaks of this One as the Light of the world, and Advent rituals include lighting a candle of the four Sundays of Advent. Other faith traditions have celebrations this month as well: The Jewish faith observe Hanukkah, the Celebration of Lights, which includes the lighting of eight candles in the menorah. Buddhists mark Bodhi Day, remembering when the Buddha sat under a Bodhi tree to seek enlightenment. Many of African descent will celebrate Kwanzaa, lighting the seven candles of the kinara. There are many who will observe the Solstice – or the longest night – that night on December 21st when the earth’s axis shifts us back into lengthening sunlight. Each celebration invites us to our own time of “hibernation” – a time of introspection – a time of preparing for the coming new year. Finding quiet space for such deep thoughtfulness can be difficult amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, with its own flashing, sparkling lights, loud

gaiety and music all around us.

As our natural world descends into these days of growing darkness, we invite you to take a pause from the growing fervour of the commercialized Christmas season to prepare for the vitality of what will be. Consider the now bare trees and ask what it is you might need to leave behind to make room for next year’s new life, those buds of tomorrow. You might try sitting in a totally dark room one night, settling into your own den of hibernation, and be still long enough to hear your soul. Then light your own candle to remember that the darkness holds gifts as well. Be still and know. And have a blessed, beautiful celebration, whatever your faith tradition!

Rev LeAnn Blackert works with Michele Walker, Lesly Comrie and Linda Clark in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan. She considers herself a seeker in her faith journey and wanders the wild world looking for the Great Mystery and the “wild Christ.”

To find out more, visit wildchurchbc.com and be in touch!

DrakeSmith, MSW President

Pros and Cons of Curbless Walk-in Showers

multiple generations or have company stay with you. Children can clear a 4” curb with no problems, however, the elderly may have a harder time. It is nice to have a bathroom that functions and works for everyone in the family.

a space that is beautiful and unique to your style so why not let it shine with a curbless shower?

Great for all spaces

Flooring

PAUL MORRIS Nufloors

One of the latest trends that we are loving in bathroom design is a sleek and modern curbless shower. This guide is for you if you plan a bathroom remodel or build a new home. Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of curbless showers to help you decide if one may be right for you!

Pros Functionality

Eliminating the curb makes your shower an accessible space for all. This is important if you live in a home with

Say goodbye to the door

Not only are shower doors expensive, they can be time-consuming to clean. With curbless showers you eliminate the need for one, that is unless you want one, then go for it!

Show off your design

Your view is physically cut off when a shower is enclosed by a curb or door. With an open shower, sightlines into the wet area can showcase and show off a luxury or creative shower design. Think of all the new tiles and decorative wall panels available on the market. There are so many options for you to create

If you have your heart set on a curbless shower but are concerned your space is too small, do not fret, you do not need to live in a large home to enjoy a curbless shower. Smaller bathrooms with curbless showers simply require a bit more thought on the layout.

Cons Little privacy

Curbless showers are often open to the rest of the bathroom, so they do not offer much privacy. If privacy is a concern, consider adding different design elements such as obscure glass, glass blocks, or curtains to minimize this problem.

Water can escape

Since only the slope of the shower floor holds water in the wet area of the shower it is

easier for water to spill over into the rest of the bathroom. To combat this, shower head type and placement are extra important.

Logistics

This isn’t as much of a concern for new builds as it is for renovation projects. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as tiling your entire bathroom and adding a showerhead. Depending on the scope of the project and your local building codes, the floor where the shower will be may need to be lowered or raised to account for waterproofing and draining.

If any of these points have piqued your interest in curbless showers don’t hesitate to stop by our showroom for a chat. With so many new tiles on the market we’re confident there will be a style for you. From all of us at Nufloors, have a happy holiday season!

The Kamloops Symphony rings in the festive season

The Kamloops Symphony’s annual celebration of the festive season, Christmas with the KSO, is taking place once again in Sagebrush Theatre. There are three opportunities to watch this annual family favourite: 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 17, 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 17, and 2:00 pm on Sunday, December 18. The concert features a sparkling programme filled with lively and joyous music that is sure to delight the whole family, performed by the Orchestra, harp soloist Naomi Cloutier, and the KSO Chorus, led by guest conductor Antonio Delgado.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Antonio Delgado’s conducting is described as full of vivacity and sparkle. He is a conductor of

the world-renowned Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela (National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela).

Delgado has conducted every major orchestra in Venezuela and been invited to conduct in Italy, Cuba, Guatemala, and Panama. Since 2010 he has been Musical Director and Conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, which he led to a first-place win at the prestigious Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Competition in Vienna, Austria in 2011.

Delgado will be leading the Orchestra through a performance of Benjamin Britten’s hugely popular Ceremony of Carols for choir and harp, selections from Tchaikovsky’s festive favourite The Nutcracker,

and excerpts from Handel’s perennially popular Messiah.

For this concert, the Kamloops Symphony is thrilled to partner with the performance sponsor BCLC to provide 150 complimentary tickets to deserving not-forprofit societies or organizations. These organizations can submit an application for up to 20 tickets each for the 2:00 pm performance on Saturday, December 17 on the KSO’s website, www. kamloopssymphony. com.

Tickets to Christmas with the KSO are $49.99, $44.99 for Seniors, $10 for Youth (under 19), $15 for KSOundcheck members (age 19-34), $25 for KSO Up Close seats (the first three rows in Sagebrush Theatre), and are

available from Kamloops Live! Box Office by calling 250-374-5483 or going to kamloopslive.ca.

Antonio Delgado

Naomi Cloutier

Happy Holidays!

At the end of every year, the holiday season is the perfect occasion to make memories with the people you care about most We’re so happy that we can once again open our home and our business to connect with friends, family, and loved ones during the holiday season.

We don’t want to dwell on it, but it goes without saying that the recent pandemic has thrown us all for a loop. Our new normal still involves extra cleaning and organizing to keep the office safe for our staff and all of you as well There has been a silver lining to all of this though, we’ve streamlined our process to ensure that we notify well in advance of your quarterly service appointment

Previously we were able to accommodate most of your hearing maintenance needs with drop in appointments, but as the technology for hearing aids advances so does the requirement for maintenance on the computer circuit within the hearing aid. The research and development is constantly improving and the manufacturers are sending us frequent firmware updates to make your hearing work better Our customers are appreciating getting the improvement in performance without any extra charge!

I had to laugh though, I had a customer transfer in from another city who complained that these new hearing aids were more work than her last ones. She said, “I never had to go back to my hearing aid office for anything before ” To which I giggled and replied, “You also don’t have to change the oil in your car, but it works much better when you do!”

Regular care and maintenance of your hearing aids will ensure that you get the most from the money you’ve already spent. I’ve always believed that when you pay good money for something you should get good results

I had a birthday epiphany in 2022 Never was it more apparent that it was time to take better care of myself than the day after my 55th birthday last January This year my goal was to eat healthier, get more exercise and take better care of my general health. I’m feeling pretty good as I sit and write this letter knowing that the small steps that I have taken has me feeling healthy, happy and ready to chase after our first grandbaby who is due to arrive in early January!

As always, Blaine spent a great deal of his spare time creating music with his friends and bandmates As lead vocalist for the band Forum, they were honoured to perform to the crowd at Music in the Park and Hot Night in the City. He is actually in three different bands and often you can find one of them playing in a casino lounge or a downtown nightclub.

This fall marked the end of an era. Kamloops Hearing Aid Centre is officially the last

independently owned hearing aid business in Kamloops. I laughed when Blaine said that ‘we are an endangered species”.

I guess it’s true, in a way, but there is an upside to being a rare animal The way that we do business hasn’t changed since Al and I opened the office 22 years ago. Our mandate then, and our mandate now, is to provide good service and treat your customers and staff like family (OK, like the family members that you like. Tee hee.)

This summer, all of us from the office chose to spend the weekend together and headed to Revelstoke to rest and relax Joanne, Eroca, Tammy, Ariel, Blaine and I jumped in our vehicles and made the 2 1/2 hour trek to Joanne’s cabin at Griffin Lake There were some board games, yard games and possibly a few beverages We were so happy that it was a clear and smoke free summer. Although we all have coffee together every work day, an early morning coffee by a crystal clear lake is one of my favourite memories from the year

I must say, we have been extremely lucky with the people who have chosen to work with us I’ve made lifelong friendships and still enjoy coming to work every day Joanne is celebrating a milestone with us this year. She has been part of our work family for 20 years, this year. To honour her longevity, we will be taking her to Mexico and sharing some salsa, sand and tropical sunshine with her.

I think I would be remiss if I didn’t take this chance to thank Joanne for all she has done for us over the years It’s an amazing feeling to know that she’s always willing to step in and take charge or lend a helping hand. I can’t count the number of days she stayed late or gone that extra mile to accommodate our client’s best interest If we are the soul of our business, Joanne is definitely the heart.

Thinking about the heart of our business, reminds me of you our customers You’re the life blood of our office and everything we do, we do for you. Never was I more aware of this than when Ariel and I attended a hearing conference in Montreal this summer where we heard from a family who had genetic hearing loss and five of the family members wore hearing aids. The mother and adult daughters spent a great deal of time enlightening us on the experiences they’ve had over the years. They’ve had to move to accommodate the father’s career and have been to many different hearing aid practitioners and reiterated that when they went to a colleague of ours, the personal attention and familiarity of a friendly face made them feel more at ease. They already felt like they had to work so hard to function in a normal hearing world, they appreciate the ease of working with someone who took the time to make it easier for them. I guess that sometimes we need to be reminded of how

important our profession really is I am proud of how we have been helping families communicate better for 22 years!

I hope you all have an incredible holiday season with lots of family time and get togethers with friends. If any of your loved ones have hearing difficulties, I’d like to offer a few suggestions on how you can make the holidays better for all of you remember they are hearing aids and not a hearing replacement. You would never say to someone, “You have your cane, why can’t you keep up?” They are using a cane for a reason; it helps, but it doesn’t fix the underlying issue

Whatever your faith, or holiday you choose to celebrate, we wish you the best of the season. We will be open our regular hours except for closing on December 26, 27 and January 2

Here are a few tips:

How to make the holidays better for someone with hearing loss.

• Space your words, speak slower not louder

• Noisy crowds can become over whelming for someone who wears a hearing aid. Remember that hearing aids are designed for conversational speech and you must look at each other and be sure that the hearing aid wearer knows that you are speaking to them specifically.

• If you have repeated yourself twice, don’t repeat a third time, instead change your wording.

• If you are hosting a Christmas gather ing, keep the music low if you know that someone who is hard of hearing will be attending.