Kamloops Connector March 2023

Line up for the 2023 Kamloops Film Festival

Each year, the KFF offers EVEN. BETTER. FILMS. Wait, that’s a bold statement. Do they? Or, is that just a sneaky ploy to get you to attend?

How will you know if you don’t come? Regardless, they are thrilled to offer yet another even more exciting and varied lineup of Canadian and international films, including numerous Oscar-nominated films. Here’s a little sneak peek for ya’ll to whet your filmfare appetite!

Don your fancy duds (or, let’s be real, pyjamas are also encouraged) for our Red Carpet before checking out our Opening Night (Thursday, March 2) films: in Theatre 1 is Outrunners, a hilarious comedy-thriller filmed

right here in Kamloops, based on the screenplay written by Kamloopsborn Ken Hagen. On Sacred Ground, playing in Theatre 2, tells the story of the conflict between a journalist and an oil company during the construction of the contentious Dakota Access Pipeline that runs through the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

Calling all DarkFest fans— KFF and Drunk in a Graveyard are thrilled to offer some delightfully disturbing films that will not disappoint our horror-loving audience!

Infinity Pool (Friday, March 3) tells the story of a couple on a perfect vacation enjoying the pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But

guided by the seductive and mysterious woman, they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (Saturday, March 4), a Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated film, is an enchanting tale of a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris.

Your kiddos will love this year’s family movie. Join princesses and library staff at the TNRD Library for a themed story-time, photo booth and scavenger hunt, before hitting the high notes in Beauty and the

Beast Singalong (any movie is a sing-along if you just sing during it, amiright?? But this one has the words and everything.) on Saturday, March 4.

Another great family movie you won’t want to miss is the Canadian offering Golden Delicious (Sunday, March 5). This classic coming-of-age drama tells the story of Asian-Canadian teen Jake, who finds himself trying out for the basketball team to get the attention of his new neighbour, the basketball-obsessed Aleks. Plus, filmmaker Jason Karman will be in attendance for a Q&A post film.

Aftersun (Sunday, March 5) and The Whale (Monday, March 6) are both nominated for

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role; come check out both and decide for yourself who deserves the Oscar. Both movies dig into troubled father-daughter relationships: Aftersun is told from the perspective of Sophie, who reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier; The Whale tells the story of a reclusive English

teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

And without further ado, the Kamloops Film Society proudly presents the complete film line up for the 2023 Kamloops Film Festival. For the full schedule of films and events, and ticket information, please check out the website at thekfs.ca/kff/.

Kamloops Community Seed Library

By Eden Mackay, Horticulturist and Board Director for the Kamloops Food Policy Council

The Kamloops Community Seed Library is a program run by the Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC) along with The Butler Urban Farm (BUF) that has been facilitating the sharing of community seed since its launch in 2018.

Over the winter we have been working hard to process, sort and label our seed catalogue in preparation for the spring. While the KFPC has been collecting and distributing seeds within our network and extended community for some time now, this is the first year that our library has a permanent location in The Stirfront, a local food store and community space run by the KFPC and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, located at 185 Royal Ave. By redistributing locally grown seed and providing resources that encourage people to save their own seed, we are able to

build food security for our region, while promoting investment in the ecological health of privately held lands.

For hundreds of years, farmers and gardeners have routinely saved seed to preserve a rich gene pool with thousands of heirloom varieties. Revitalizing this practice helps to protect varieties which are often lost when people forgo this tradition in favour of purchasing from commercial seed growers. It also enables us to uphold connections to our agricultural history and promote culturally appropriate foods.

According to Seeds of Diversity (a Canadian organization dedicated to preserving, studying, and encouraging the cultivation of heirloom and endangered food crop varieties), around 75 percent of global plant food varieties have gone extinct over the last 100 years. These heirloom seeds

produce food that is more flavourful and nutrient dense than their hybrid counterparts. Mainstream seed varieties are bred for durability, long shelf life, or appearance, while most heirloom varieties are bred with canning, fresh eating, and flavour in mind. Encouraging the tradition of seed saving reduces our dependence on genetically modified and/or hybridized seed (hybrid seed is created by crossing two different species - creating seeds that generally do not produce offspring with the same traits as the parent plant), and encourages genetic adaptation that is able to withstand unpredictable climatic shifts. This is especially important as our ever-changing climate plays a major role in environmental and economic stressors to our food systemthink wildfires, floods, droughts, etc.

In Canada, we have a rich history of urban

agriculture through initiatives such as Wartime Victory Gardens, Great Depression Relief Gardens, Community Gardening, and SPIN (Small Plot Intensive) Farming. These practices have become less common due to issues around land access, education, and resources, but are currently experiencing a cultural revitalization as we grapple with the rising cost of food. More people are ripping up their lawns to grow food - a trend that will help to reduce our grocery bills while providing habitat and food for birds, small animals, and insects. Of the most popular garden vegetables, the easiest seeds for beginners to save are peas, tomatoes, and beans. Seeds of Diversity sells a handbook for small-scale seed production on their website that explains different standards, best practices for producing top-quality seeds, and tips for cleaning and storing, which is a great resource with which to start.

Thanks to the support of Urban Systems, the Kamloops Community Seed Library is the proud owner of a thresher and winnower, which allows us to clean large amounts of seed in a short period of time. Growers with a large amount of seed can have us clean it for them in exchange for a donation to our seed library.

Last year we grew out and saved over twenty different seed varieties at The Butler Urban Farm. We also added to our collection by cataloging seed donations, and this year we have incorporated a selection of sustainably and ethically sourced seed varieties that are native to the Kamloops region. We offer workshops and demonstrations on seed cleaning and

saving, and will be hosting drop in hours at The Stir (185 Royal Ave) from February to April. On March 11th we will be at Seedy Saturday at the Mount Paul Community Food Centre (140 Laburnum St.) from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. To find out more about our program, dropin hours, donating seed, workshops, and to view our seed catalogue, visit kamloopsfoodpolicy council.com/seedlibrary/.

Potatoes are the star of this Irish dish

Irish Boxty (Makes about 10)

* 300 grams (approx. 10-1⁄2 ounces) raw potatoes, peeled

* 300 grams (approx. 10-1⁄2 ounces) cooked potatoes, mashed

* 300 grams (approx. 10-1⁄2 ounces) flour

* 10 grams (approx. 2-1⁄2 teaspoons) salt

* 850 ml (approx. 3-1⁄2 cups) milk

1. Grate the raw potatoes into a muslin cloth and squeeze as much liquid as possible into a bowl. Let liquid stand for 20 minutes.

2. Gently pour off the liquid and keep the starch that settled in the bottom of the bowl.

3. Add grated potatoes to mashed potatoes and flour. Add starch and salt to mix.

4. Slowly add 3⁄4 of the milk to form a batter of pouring consistency. Depending on the potato, you may not need to use all the milk. If the batter is too heavy, add more milk.

5. Leave batter resting for 30 minutes.

6. Drop a ladle full onto an oiled nonstick pan over medium heat and cook on the first side for 2 minutes (this depends on how heavy the batter is and how much you use). Check colour (it should be a nice golden color) on the bottom. Adjust heat if necessary.

7. Turn and cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes more.

8. Boxty pancakes are best left overnight in a fridge and reheated in a pan in good butter

Looking to downsize?

Worried About An Elderly Parent Being

Inter-provincial healthcare

WVoices of Experience

www.connectornews.ca

Telephone: (250) 374-7467

My two cents

Moneca Jantzen Editor

hen I was a young person, I discovered how different things could be from one province to another. When I was 13 years old we moved from Ontario to Alberta. Still too young to grasp how our great confederation actually works, I was rudely introduced to an entirely different school curriculum midway through Grade 8. For example, straight A’s in French in Ontario withered to a miserable 40 percent in the same subject in Alberta. Go figure! My adolescent self didn’t really understand why things were so different from one province to the other in the same country. (We shouldn’t mention the time my 5 year old self asked my parents if we were back in Canada yet (meaning Ontario) following a trip to Quebec! Huge faux pas of course, but out of the mouths of babes, what did I know?)

Fast-forward a few years and I found myself back in Alberta answering a phone call from a collection agency. They were telling me that I owed hundreds of dollars for a brief hospital stay in Quebec following my return from Africa while on a youth exchange. This same scenario happened a second time due to an emergency room visit in Toronto as an out of province student at Trent University. Back in the 80s, no one told us we should have extra health coverage for travel within Canada. It was frustrating and strange to me that one province wouldn’t seek payment from another and was involving me in the transaction after the fact. These were both clues to me that our provincial governments were not as cooperative as we’d like to think.

As an adult and as someone who has had the privilege of having lived in or visited most corners of this nation, I have a better understanding of why our provinces and territories demand control of certain aspects of our lives, but I do wonder if there is a better way to provide certain services; perhaps not education, but certainly healthcare. Surely there are more commonalities than differences in this realm, as well as regional strengths and weaknesses.

Recently and quite interestingly, for my first foray into healthcare since my doctor retired last June, I needed a requisition for a routine test recommended by the BC Cancer agency. The local walk-in didn’t seem to be a timely option so I had a go at a virtual set up in a local pharmacy. It turned out to be a decent experience and a speedy one.

I am grateful that the option was available. What surprised me the most was that the doctor is actually located in Ontario. A follow-up call for some recent lab tests and he even called me at 5:30 p.m. PST which would be 8:30 p.m. his time. Superlative service!

The CBC National recently had a panel that included a man who had traveled to Lithuania to get a knee replacement. He argued that the time and money spent to find an alternative made more sense than languishing and waiting at home dealing with terrible pain and not being able to be productive and work. He had a point.

Few Canadians want to see a two-tiered medical system where the have-nots end up getting inferior or no care, but the simple fact is, some people will find the care they need IF they can afford it. While I’m not an expert in anything, let alone medical care, it seems to me that if I can have a virtual visit with a doctor in Ontario for basic healthcare, why can’t we evolve a federal system where people can get their knee replacement or their gastric bypass or their quadruple bypass heart operation in a neighbouring province if there is the expertise or availability rather than heading all the way to Lithuania or elsewhere? Obviously we still need basic care wherever we live, but maybe the duplication of services and bureaucracies across the country is an issue, especially with a dearth of doctors generally. In our own province we apparently have 64 vice-presidents across all of the health regions. Is it really necessary to have such top heavy administration when our system is crumbling? How many of them are doctors that could be busy doctoring instead of shuffling papers and having meetings?

There seems to be so many negative things happening with the system right now and as a mere patient and resident of BC I can’t help but wonder if there are better ways to get things done. I remain flabbergasted that no previous government anticipated the healthworker drought knowing that all those baby boomers would retire and start aging and getting sick at the same time.

I hope the powers that be figure it all out. As an individual, all I can do is try to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible and not be a drain on the system. I guess in the meantime, if I have to talk to a doctor in Ontario, I will.

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Please address all correspondence to: Kamloops Connector 1365B Dalhousie Drive Kamloops, BC V2C 5P6

Publisher Bob Doull General Manager Jack Bell (778) 471-7526 publisher@connectornews.ca

Editor: Moneca Jantzen editor@connectornews.ca

Graphic Designer: Dayana Rescigno creative@connectornews.ca

Kamloops Connector is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve and entertain adults 45 and over.

We aim to publish on the last Wednesday of each month and copy/booking deadlines are either the 2nd or 3rd Thursdays of each month. Please request a publishing schedule for specific information.

Kamloops Connector is published by Kamloops This Week, part of the Aberdeen Publishing Group. Letters to the Editor must be signed and have a phone number (your phone number will not be printed unless requested). Other submissions are gratefully received although Kamloops Connector reserves the right to edit all material and to refuse any material deemed unsuitable for this publication. Articles, group and event listings will run in the newspaper as time and space permit.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Kamloops Connector. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Kamloops Connector, Kamloops This Week or the staff thereof.

Subscriptions are $35 per year in Canada.

Any error which appears in an advertisement will be adjusted as to only the amount of space in which the error occurred. The content of each advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser. Kamloops Connector recommends prudent consumer discretion.

KAC Galleries offer accessible

options to artists

Hosting a gallery can be overwhelming. On the surface, it may seem as simple as showing up to a space with art in hand, but in reality, there are many other logistics to consider. The Kamloops Arts Council is the perfect helping hand to aid in navigating all of these extra steps. One of the most difficult and costly elements of exhibiting is the venue. Luckily the KAC has four unique, low-cost gallery spaces available for month-long cycles. These galleries - the Main Gallery, the Hallway Gallery, the

by Keiko Bolen, Kamloops Arts Council

Alcove, and the Vault - can display anywhere from 11 to 30 pieces of art and have a maximum rental fee of 50 dollars. Such modest fees allow gallery exhibitions to be accessible to artists at all levels, something of the utmost importance to the KAC.

“Whether you are a professional artist, hobby artist or [in] between, we can accommodate [your] needs,” Insun Kang, Program Coordinator for the Kamloops Arts Council assures. “KAC is a communityoriented organization that believes everyone

needs a place to share their art, and we can provide that.”

The KAC emphasizes that hosting a gallery in their spaces is a collaborative effort. The staff and volunteers will work with the artist to achieve their goals, whatever they may be. On the success of galleries, Kang notes, “‘How successful’ depends on the artist’s goals and what we [and the artist] can do to meet the goal. Let’s say making sales is a primary goal; we had shows that made [many] sales.” That said, if an artist is looking to simply gain

experience showcasing their work and has no interest in selling, the KAC welcomes those applicants as well. Regardless, the KAC “do [their] best to do advertisement and marketing for all shows,” ensuring that as many eyes as possible will be on your work. As stated, finding exhibition space can be challenging, but it can be especially difficult for those just starting out. Through its galleries, the KAC offers an opportunity for artists to gain exposure as well as build their CVs while acquiring hands-on experience regarding

what it takes to install a show. As the Galleries are by donation, they also provide the general public with a free opportunity to see all kinds of artwork by local artists, helping to enrich and connect the TNRD community.

With applications

closing on February 28, 2023, it’s the perfect time to make your dream exhibition a reality!

For more information, please visit https:// kamloopsarts.ca/ galleries-exhibitions/.

Here’s your ‘recession survival’ checklist

to trim your spending, such as cancelling subscription services you don’t use, eating out less often, and so on.

Pay down your debts. Try to reduce your debts, especially those with high interest rates.

Financial focus

CHIANNE V. JONES Financial Advisor

It’s unfortunate, but recessions are a fairly normal part of the economic landscape. When a recession occurs, how might you be affected?

The answer depends on your individual situation, but regardless of your circumstances, you might want to consider the items in this recession survival checklist:

Assess your income stability. If your employment remains steady, you may not have to do anything different during a recession. But if you think your income could be threatened or disrupted, you might want to consider joining the “gig economy” or looking for freelance or consulting opportunities.

Review your spending. Look for ways

Plan your emergency fund. If you haven’t already built one, try to create an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account. Review your protection plan. If your health or life insurance is tied to your work, a change in your employment status could jeopardize this coverage. Review all your options for replacing these types of protection. Also, look for ways to lower premiums on home or auto insurance, without significantly sacrificing coverage, to free up money that could be used for health/life insurance.

Keep your longterm goals in mind. Even if you adjust your portfolio during times of volatility, don’t lose sight of your long-term goals. Trying to “outsmart” the

market with short-term strategies can often lead to missteps and missed opportunities.

Don’t stop investing

If you can afford it, try to continue investing. Coming out of a recession, stock prices tend to bottom out and then rebound, so if you had headed to the investment “sidelines,” you would have missed the opportunity to benefit from a market rally.

Revisit your performance expectations. During a bear market, you will constantly be reminded of the decline of a particular market index, such as the S&P/TSX index. But instead of focusing on these shortterm numbers, look instead at the long-term performance of your portfolio to determine if you’re still on track toward meeting your goals.

Assess your risk tolerance. If you find yourself worrying excessively about declines in your investment statements, you may want to reevaluate your tolerance for risk. One’s risk tolerance can change over time — and it’s important you feel comfortable with the

amount of risk you take when investing.

Keep diversifying Diversification is always important for investors — by having a mix of stocks, mutual funds and bonds, you can reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. To cite one example: Higherquality bonds, such as Treasuries, often move in the opposite direction of stocks, so the presence of these bonds in your portfolio, if appropriate for your goals, can be valuable when market conditions are worsening (keep in mind, though, that diversification cannot guarantee profits or protect against all losses in a declining market). A recession accompanied by a bear market is not pleasant. But by taking the appropriate steps, you can boost your chances of getting through a difficult period and staying on track toward your important financial goals.

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

The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents “War and Peace”

On Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 PM in the Kamloops United Church, 4th and St. Paul the Chamber Musicians present War and Peace. Inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s famous book with the same title, this program introduces works created during and shortly after World War II. Cvetozar Vutev, violin; Martin Kratky, cello; Alena Kratka, piano; and Naomi Cloutier, piano will perform music by three former Soviet Union composers, the Russian Prokofiev, the Armenian Khachaturian, and the Ukrainian Klebanov, that will remind us of these countries’ suffering, sorrow, and hope for peace. See the chambermusiciansofkamloops.org for ticket information.

The mysteries of wireless

In today’s world, wireless technology is beyond common; it can border on the level of intrusive at

times. My own home has a wireless printer, TV boxes and TVs, video game consoles, laptop, mobile devices. All bounced around from a single wireless router. It’s scary to think of all the wireless signals around us, each encrypted with its own password and numerous devices tucked away behind it. The number boggles the mind if you really start to think about it. Setting up the devices is tricky sometimes.

One way to set them up is via WAP, or Wireless Access point. Most routers have two curved arrows on a circular button. It’s a quick way to set things up by pushing a button. It’s also a method I don’t use. You’re probably asking why.

Like any technology there are vulnerabilities. So how to set up wireless devices? Honestly I suggest inputting the network password into the device. I’ve had

people tell me they had a shop set up their printer for them and then wonder why it doesn’t work on their network. It’s not a ridiculous question. Some printers can be shared across a network if they’re plugged into a laptop or other computer. For true wireless access the shop needs to send someone to your home to connect it directly to your network. This applies to any wireless technology. Your

March 2023

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

FEBRUARY

27TH -

MARCH 20TH

Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts

See and hear ar tists’ and musicians’ talents shine through music, vocals, ar ts and performances at different venues throughout the city

Kamloops Film Festival

Paramount Theatre - 503 Vic toria St

27th Annual 10-day celebration of excellence in filmmaking. Variety of films for families to dark fest with opening and closing galas, workshops, special guests and other events

First Metis Man of Odesa

Sagebrush Theatre - 1300 9th Ave

MARCH

16TH - 25TH

network is at your home. It’s like taking a piece of pipe or wiring to a plumber or electrician. For them to do their job they need to see how it interacts with a system as a whole, the same goes for IT services.

Remember, questions are how we learn. Ask questions all the time, even if you think they’re dumb, chances are they aren’t, you might be uninformed but you want to learn. That’s the first step

every person takes to learn about anything. If you have a question you aren’t comfortable asking a store clerk, a friend or family member; shoot me an email. I’m happy to answer questions and I don’t judge. I promise. Stay safe and stay curious, it could lead you to learning some amazing tricks online that even your family may not know about.

LEGAL SERVICES WEBBER L

•

MARCH 2ND - 11TH

A romantic comedy for an unpredictable world After meeting on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, a Canadian playwright and a Ukrainian ar tist spark up a romance that takes them from the beaches of the Black Sea to the riverbanks of the Nor th Saskatchewan River y

•

An Evening

with Kukpi7

Rosanne Casimir & Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson

Campus Activity Centre – Thompson Rivers University

1055 University Dr

• Admission $99 99 – $149 99 • 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir & Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson will each take the stage to discuss their vision for the regional business community for 2023 and beyond How can we strengthen our business community? What challenges do we face and how will we, as a community, tackle them

PETER MILOBAR TODD STONE

MLA K amloops-Nor th Thompson

618B Tranquille Road

Kamloops, BC V2B 3H6

peter.milobar.mla@leg.bc.ca

250-554-5413

@PeterMilobar

PeterMilobarKNT

MLA K amloops-South Thompson 446 Vic toria Street Kamloops, BC V2C 2A7 todd.stone.mla@leg.bc.ca

250-374-2880

@toddstonebc

ToddGStone

MARCH 16TH

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

So many surgeries were put off during the pandemic and during the various bouts of staffing and physician shortages. Hospitals and dental surgeons are finally starting to process the backlog and people are getting notified that their surgeries are moving ahead.

With the passage of time comes risks that a surgeon or surgical

staff are not as well versed on the latest techniques, or have become rusty.

The delay in medical attendances can cause a failure or delay in diagnosis, and a condition is now worse than it should have been if caught in the expected course of time.

Negligence is always an issue in any field, but in the medical or dental field a mistake involving medication or management of procedures can be life altering. Obtaining consultation or consent can be missed in the race to push people through and clear out the backlog of patients waiting for their turn for surgical intervention.

The impact of these various forms

of malpractice have deep and far reaching psychological, financial and physical effects on patients as well as the health care providers and our system in general. Figuring out if you have received negligent or inadequate care from your doctor, dentist or staff under their direction can be difficult to determine.

The complications that arise for patients from a medical professional’s

mistakes depend on so many complicated factors – seeing a legal professional to help navigate these issues is a must.

Find a lawyer experienced in medical or dental malpractice and book in for a free consultation. There is a two-year time limit from when the malpractice happened for you to proceed with any course of action, so it is best not to delay!

The Costs of a Modular Home

Submitted by Twin Rivers Modular Homes

First, to understand what a modular home is. A modular home is the same as a manufactured home, meaning it is built indoors. They are constructed to either a A277 or a Z240 code; an A277 is generally designed to be put onto a crawlspace foundation or a basement, and a Z240 has a steel frame under it to be placed on blocks onto any solid surface (ie a gravel or cement pad).

Since a modular home is constructed in a factory, the overall costs end up being lower than a site built house. The efficiencies come from having all the trades and materials

in one place, as well as eliminating weather as a construction variable.

Our homes are fully customizable, as we have an engineering firm design each unit for the specific customers needs as well as the requirements for the location of the home (ie climate zone, snowload, ect). We can arrange walls, windows, entrances and all other features to suit the flow of living and to accommodate the space it is going in.

The modular home only takes about 6-8 weeks to be constructed at the factory, and then using specialized equipment, is shipped to the location and

our crews install it and finish it on site. Depending on how it is finished, it normally takes about 4 weeks to have it move in ready once it has arrived.

All things considered, the final product ends up being 15%+ less expense than a stick built house. A 1400 sqft home (doublewide unit with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms) will cost about $300,000. This would cover all the cost to have the home ready to be moved into, the customer would still need to prep the site with whatever foundation the home would be going on and provide the utilities.

55 Plus BC Games Zone 8 springing into action

Submitted by Maria Martin

The 2023 Senior Games are taking place in Abbotsford on August 22-26 with 29 sports for approximately 3500 participants. You can be one of those participants. To learn more about this multi-sport gathering event, visit this website www.55plusbcgames. org/zones/zone8 and look under Zone 8 for up-to-date information on sports, special events, locations as well as general information. If you have any questions about becoming a member, registering to participate in the Games, volunteering with the zone or becoming a zone sponsor. Contact zone8info@55plus bcbcgames.org.

How do you know if you live in Zone

8? Here is a list of the communities: Anglemont, Ashcroft, Avola, Barriere, Blue River, Canoe, Cache Creek, Celista, Chase, Clearwater, Clinton, Falkland, Grindrod, Kamloops, Lillooet, Little Fort, Logan Lake, Lytton, Merritt, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Sorrento, Valemount, Vavenby.

What can you do now? Registration for membership ONLY is open now. Registration to participate in the Games opens on March 1st.

Membership fee $20 and Participation fee $75. NOTE: Do not submit your Sports Fees as they are paid by Zone 8 from the

BC Community Gaming Grant. You can EMAIL membership and registration forms and e-transfer to: zone8treasurer@ 55plusbcgames.org or mail to: Zone 8 55+BC Games, P.O. Box 28025 Lansdowne PO, Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C9. Please make cheques out to BCSGS Zone 8.

Finally, our next Zone meeting is on March 9 at 10 a.m. at the Kamloops Sports Council Building, McArthur Island Park. #101 – 1550 Island Parkway Dr., Kamloops, BC. Come and meet your volunteers and find out more about the games.

Enjoy a Relaxing Bath With No Worries

Get in and out of the bath with ease and confidence

Canadian made walk-in tubs since 1992, the best accessibility and a lifetime warranty.

Why Choose Walk-In Tubs BC? Experience, Safety, Reliability

Our primary goal at Walk in Tubs BC is to provide you, our valued client, with the peace of mind and confidence that you have made the right decision.

This comes from allowing us to sit down together, explain the numerous features and benefits, listen intently to your concerns and do our best to honestly answer all your questions. Then if we have earned your business and with your approval, help you select the perfect system for your individual needs and budget.

Canadian, Local, & Experienced

When it comes to Walk-in Tubs across British Columbia, we take pride in our position as one of the best option with only the highest quality products affordably priced. Our walk-in tubs and materials come from a Canadian manufacturing company that has been in business since 1992; they are well-established in the field and have a wonderful track record of success. That gives you the reassurance that parts will continue to be available and warranties are backed up with integrity.

Asweageandbeginto loseourmobilityandsenseof balance,bathingcannotonly becomedifficultbutalsoacause ofadditionalstressandanxiety. Fearoffallingandafearofnot beingabletogetoutofthetub aretwoofthemostcommon occurrenceswithmanyofour seniorstoday.Walk-intubshave becomeextremelypopularin thelastdecadeandestimates showthatpeoplewhogoahead andinstallawalk-intubintheir homestoday,willbeabletolive independentlyforanadditional fiveyears.

Walk-intubsareexactlywhat thenameimplies,tubsthathave largedoorsthatopen,andyou simplywalkinandsitdownon a17-inch-highseat.Youclose andlockthedoorandthetub fillsrapidlywhileyouaresitting comfortablyandsafelyinside.All thetapsandcontrolsareeasily accessibleatyourfingertips. Onceyouaredoneyourbath, turnthedialandthetubquickly drainsandyousimplyopenthe doorandwalkoutofthetub. Thevariousmodelsallhave numerousgrabbarsandnonslipsurfacesmakinggetting inandoutworryfree.Walk-in

tubsaredesignedforanaging populationwhodesiretoremain independentformanyyearsto come.

Manufacturershaveoptional tubdesignsaccommodating everyshapeandsizeofperson andbathroom.Thereisatubsize thatwillfitinthespacewhere yourexistingtuborshoweris. Walk-intubscanbeasbasic asasoakertubtoasdeluxeas yourownpersonalspa.Offering numerousoptionssuchasheated back,multi-speedwarmairjets, waterjets,ozone,lighttherapy, aromatherapy,andmore.

Thebenefitsofawalk-intub arenumerous.Manypeople cravebeingabletoconfidently haveabathagainandfindrelief byjustsoakinginawarmtub. Ownerssaytheybelievethey sleepbetterafterasoothing bath.Thewarmairorwaterjets giveadeepmassageandhelp tostimulatecirculation,thus carryingadditionalhealing oxygenthroughoutthebody tothehandsandfeet.Thishas shownpositiveresultsincreasing mobilityandhelpingtorelieve thepainandsymptomsofsuch conditionsasarthritis,chronic backpain,fibromyalgia,diabetic

andperipheralneuropathy,as wellasvariousotheracuteand chronicconditions.

TheCanadianGovernment websitestatesthat1in4seniors falleveryyear,and25%ofthese fallsareserious,leavingthe victimspermanentlydisabledand bedridden.Alargepercentage

ofthesefallstakeplacein thebathroom.Asidefromall thepainandsufferingitalso endsupcostingtheCanadian medicalsystemtwobillion dollarsannually.Therefore,the BritishColumbiaandFederal Governmentsarehelpingmany peoplewhodecidetopurchase

JeanS.

a walk-in tub now. The help comes in the forms of a tax credit, a Provincial Sales Tax waiver, and in certain qualifying cases a $7,500.00 Government Grant.

As we all age and the years fly by, many seniors are faced with the reality that taking proactive steps today and deciding to retrofit their homes with a walk-in tub is one of the best investments they can make to help them age in place, comfortably and independently in the home they love.

Sponsored content provided by Walk-in Tubs BC

Perhaps,one ofthebest decisionsI’ve madeiswhen Idecidedtogoaheadand putawalk-intubinmy house.Inolongerhavea fearoffallingandthiswill helpmeliveinmyhome formanymoreyearsto come.’

World Day of Prayer 2023: I Have Heard About Your Faith

The invitation is out for everyone –men, women, and children of all ages –to join the 2023 World Day of Prayer as we celebrate the theme “I have heard about your faith” based on Ephesians 1: 15-19. The women of Taiwan have prepared the service this year. We are encouraged to reflect on the changes and challenges faced by this country as the citizens evolve amidst struggles for independence internationally as well as the obstacles that women, in particular, face at home. Regardless of the changes, women in Taiwan remain somewhat oppressed and encounter many challenges in gender equality both politically and in the labour market.

World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church event that began around

100 years ago bridging social, geographic, and political barriers in over 170 countries. Together we pursue justice, peace, and reconciliation by standing together in prayer and action. Preparation for the day is vast. An international committee is based in New York and there are national committees and organizations in each participating country. In Canada, the World Day of Prayer (WDP) is coordinated by the Women’s InterChurch Council of Canada (WICC), one of the original founders of this prayer movement. Offerings received through the World Day of Prayer transform our prayers into action in form of project grants empowering women and children in our own country and throughout

the world. All regions share in the grants, with consideration given to greatest need. Through WDP offerings, WICC has distributed around 3 million dollars for small project in the past 40 years. The vision is to restore hope to women and children touched by injustice. There will be 2 local services in Kamloops on Friday, March 3rd: the first @ 1pm @ Southwest Community Church (700 High Allan

Drive) & the second @ 7pm @ St. John Vianney Church (2826 Bank Road). Both of these services will be inperson. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend. Contact Judy @ 250374-4314 or Sally @ 250-579-9412. Another way to access a service is via a video prepared by WICC that features participants from across Canada available on wicc.org.

Order of Moose • Women of the Moose • Moose Legion

Members of Southwest Community Church with Pastor Andrea Tisher (far right) invite all to attend the WDP service on March 3rd.

Hurry Hard shoots for comedy gold

Award-winningCanadiancomedyslidesontotheSagebrushTheatrestage tosweeptheheartsofKamloopsaudiencesthismonth

Curling is taking over Kamloops this month and Western Canada Theatre (WCT) is excited to join the bonspiel with an acclaimed Canadian curling comedy you won’t want to… skip. Hurry Hard, a new comedy by Kristen Da Silva, runs February 23 to March 04, 2023 at the Sagebrush Theatre.

Seven years ago, a rocky divorce split up Bill and Sandy, as well as their championship curling team. On the brink of the most important Bonspiel of the year,

a sudden emergency brings Bill and Sandy, their friends, their siblings, and a hotshot newcomer together in a desperate attempt to form a winning foursome. Battling on and off the ice, can this ragtag team of curlers face their personal differences, long-held sibling rivalry, and lingering feelings in order to bring home a win (and maybe even find love in the process)?

“It’s our pleasure to bring you a fresh new comedy from one of Canada’s hottest new playwrights, Kristen Da Silva,” says James

MacDonald, WCT Artistic Director.

“We’re also proud to be able to showcase the work of so many wonderful Kamloops artists in this production, from director to designers to cast. ”

Canadian Playwright Kristen Da Silva is quickly making a name for herself nationally as an up and coming comedic playwright, with six published comedies to date.

In 2016, she was the recipient of the Stage West Pechet Family Comedy Award for Gibson & Sons, and was shortlisted for the same in 2017 for

Sugar Road. In 2019, Hurry Hard (Commissioned by Lighthouse Festival Theatre) won the Stage West Award for Best New Comedy. With all the warmth and camaraderie of a great evening at the curling club, this hilarious and heartwarming new play is a relatable story of second chances and finding love sure to win the hearts of curling and comedy fans alike. For tickets and information, visit wctlive.ca/ hurryhard.

Music for Driving

During this time of the year, in my younger times, I would be getting my motorcycle ready to race at Daytona Beach, Florida. I would be humming tunes related to warmer weather as I prepared for the trip. Upon mentioning that habit to a friend, they suggested that I do a fun automotive article about car songs.

It seemed like a playful idea especially after suffering through the doldrums of winter, so using reflective data here is what came up and yes, I did smile greatly during my research.

Little GTO, originally done by Ronnie and

the Daytonas, was also done by the Beach Boys as a salute to NASCAR.

Three Deuces and a 4-speed and a “389.” It was a tribute to the 1964 Pontiac GTO which heralded the start of the Muscle Car Era.

She’s real fine my 409 was another song by the Beach Boys. A 409 was an early 60s Chevrolet full size car that was fast! With approximately 425 horsepower, it was considered a rocket.

Little Deuce Coupe was a 1932 Ford hotrod and yet another song by the Beach Boys—sure did love that California sound!

In a different vein, The Beatles performed a song called Drive My Car. This one, in

particular, is about a girl who wants to become a movie star, but before she can do that, she asks a guy to become her driver. It quickly turns out that she doesn’t even have a car, but at least she has found a driver.

Dead Mans Curve was a song by Jan and Dean, written about a dangerous road that was a testament to the skills or stupidity of excess testosterone fed foolish driving: “You don’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve.”

Pink Cadillac, originally written by Bruce Springsteen in 1984, was also done by Natalie Cole four years later. Similar to Wilson Pickett’s Mustang Sally, many references to

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

automobiles and car travel have been used as sexual metaphors in song lyrics. Pink Cadillac is one of them.

Road Runner started out as a 1968 full size Plymouth with a 383 cubic inch engine. This vehicle was a take-off of the “Road Runner/Wylie Coyote” cartoon antics and was quite popular. The vehicles even incorporated the “beepbeep” sound of the road runner as it’s horn.

Talking about “beepbeep” we can’t exclude the Little Nash Rambler chasing a much faster car, a Cadillac just to ask how to get out of second gear. This was written by The Playmates in 1958— a very funny tune.

Hot Rod Lincoln, a

song written originally by Charlie Ryan and introduced in 1960, was a fun song about a “product evaluation” between a Lincoln and a Cadillac. A point of useless trivia, Cadillac and Lincoln were originally created by the same person, Henry Leland.

Fun, Fun, Fun, Till Her Daddy Takes Her T-Bird Away was a song where the girl has the car instead of the boys— another Beach Boys special from 1964.

Chevrolet was a song written by ZZ Top simply about driving his Chevy.

Mercedes Benz, by Janis Joplin, was about the pure joy of driving her car. Unfortunately

she died just a few days after the song was released.

Bob Seger wrote a song about making, not driving, the 1950s Ford Thunderbird. The song was called The Distance in 1982.

Chuck Berry’s first big single, 1955’s Maybellene spun a tale about chasing after his unfaithful girlfriend (their cars in the song: she drove a Cadillac Coupe DeVille, he had a V8 Ford).

There are so many more car related songs, suffice it to say I had great fun researching and writing this one.

Any concerns or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at

ACROSS

1. Relaxing place

4. Plant by scattering

7. A type of explorer

12. Unique traits

15. Lady

Dismayed

LET’S DANCE ! with The Kamloops Social

Club

Sunday, March 19

7:00-10:30pm

St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall

360 Nicola St, Kamloops

Tickets: $10 at the door

Live music with with William & Penny  (formerly of Louisiana Hayride)

Great music for 2-stepping, jive, some waltz, polka, cha cha, foxtrot. Large hardwood dance floors.

61. Stevenson adventure novel

63. Taking careful notice 64. CNN’s founder 65. Speak badly of

DOWN

1. A person with unusual powers of foresight

2. Single sheet of glass

3. Portrays a character

4. Expresses happiness

5. Acquires

6. “The Martian” author

7. Degree

8. 60-minute intervals

9. A detective’s pal

10. Group of nations (abbr.)

11. Popular Georgia rockers

12. Fencing swords

13. Basement

14. Samoan monetary unit

17. Male parent

22. Finnish lake

23. A smooth fabric

24. Arctic explorers (abbr.)

25. Mild yellow Dutch cheese

26. Very willing

28. Expressed pleasure

29. Lasso

32. Hindu model of ideal man

36. Move your head in approval

38. Ill-__: gained illegally

40. Die

43. Accused publicly

44. Precious stone

45. Individual thing or person

46. Behaved in a way that degraded

51. Derogatory term

54. No seats available

55. Liability

56. Popular beverage

57. Tough outer skin of fruit

58. __ Spumante (Italian wine)

59. Troubles

60. Negative

62. Camper

Merritt Senior Centre

The Merrit Seniors Association

250-378-3763 • 1675 Tutill Court | Cliff Reimer, President

Book Review

By Marilyn Brown

Bewilderment

By Richard Powers

A novel Vintage Canada 2021

278 pages

Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1H1 | Phone 250-832-7000 Fax 250-833-0550

Unfortunately our “Tax Program” has been cancelled this year

SUDOKU

The call from the school (again) was an unwelcome interruption spelling trouble. The dad, Theo, working through his own grief after the recent death of his wife, must now problem-solve his son’s situation: nine year old Robin, brilliant at observing and cherishing nature, just like his mom, empathic to all facets of life, has challenges fitting in at school. He just assaulted his only friend. School administration demands the parent get help for the boy. Theo knows what they are suggesting, a pharmaceutical regime for Robin. That was a no-go for Theo – there were too many mixed diagnoses from the experts about why Robin was “different.”

Theo, an astrobiologist, soothes the fury and confusion in Robin with one strategy that always works: describing fictional planets based on Theo’s own advanced research. Both father and son use their keen imaginations to space travel to other worlds. However, as Robin’s behaviour issues continue, Theo accepts an offer from a friend of his wife – for Robin to participate in an experimental technique using brain mapping technology to train the brain to manipulate screen images through a type of telepathy. What is new and untested is the added ability for participants to use the captured mental brain print of others. In this case, Robin accesses an imprint left by his mother. Her intense drive to protect the environment is something Robin mirrors. A rapidly deteriorating Earth combined with an increasingly anti-science public mood and a government driven by for-profit considerations only, makes life difficult, but for Robin, his training goes very well at first.

The journey of father and son and the emotional trauma they experience is presented by means of exquisite dialogue pulsing with the love between these two. The situations they face together are complex. The intricacies of the parent/child relationship is brilliantly manifested in this novel.

Recommended.

Richard Powers is the author of several books, including The Overstory. He is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize in fiction and a finalist for the Booker Prize. He lives in Tennessee.

Canadian songstress joins Kamloops Symphony in a musical celebration of International Women’s Day

The Kamloops Symphony’s next concert, part of their Kelson Group Pops series, is An Evening with Sarah Slean. This concert will be taking place in Sagebrush Theatre for two performances: Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, both at 7:30 pm. An Evening with Sarah Slean is a musical celebration of International Women’s Day, with Canadian songstress Sarah Slean joining the KSO on stage for a genre-bending

evening of her original music, a handful of songs by the legendary Joni Mitchell, and other surprises.

Four-time Juno nominee and modernday Renaissance woman Sarah Slean has released 11 albums since being signed to Atlantic/ Warner Records at just the age of 19. Over her 25-year career she has also published two volumes of poetry, starred in short films and a movie musical (spawning two Gemini Award nominations),

penned two string quartets and other classical chamber works, and held numerous exhibitions of her paintings. Classically trained from the age of 5, Slean routinely collaborates with cuttingedge contemporary classical ensembles and has been invited to sing world premieres by many of Canada’s leading living composers. She composes the orchestra arrangements for her own music as well as for her pop colleagues, and her recent collaborative

2023 Payment Dates

January 27

February 24

March 29

April 26

May 29

June 28

July 27

August 29

September 27

October 27

November 28

December 20

recording with the Symphony of Nova Scotia was nominated for an East Coast Music Award and a Juno Award. Citing such diverse influences as Leonard Bernstein, philosophy, Joni Mitchell, Buddhism, and Bach, Slean’s music borrows aspects of cabaret, pop, and orchestral, all knit together by the startling poetry of her lyrics, unique arranging and piano-playing, and her enthralling voice.

“We are thrilled to be working with such a

versatile and powerhouse of an artist. To be able to share her incredible talent with Kamloops and the community—while both showcasing her original songs and paying homage to those of Canadian Legend Joni Mitchell— is a real privilege,” said Executive Director Daniel Mills.

Tickets for An Evening with Sarah Slean are $49.99, $44.99 for Seniors, $10 for Youth (under 19), $15 for KSOundcheck members (age 19-34), and are available from

Pnumovax-23 is a lifesaving vaccine for many

By Missagh Manshadi, Manshadi Pharmacy

It has been a while since I have written any articles. The pandemic has caused a lot of headaches in the healthcare sector. The Connector has invited us to continue to write articles important to the welfare of our community.

This month I would like to write about a life saving vaccination called Pneumovax-23. This vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle and helps protect you from infection by certain bacteria which are called pneumococcus (pronounced “noo-mo-ca-cus”).

Pneumovax-23 will protect against serious infections caused by 23 kinds of pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can spread

into the blood and affect different organs. When they get into the lungs it can cause Pneumonia. Pneumonia, also known as a lung infection, is a very serious medical problem which can cause death. These bacteria can also cause infection in the covering of the spinal cord and brain which is called meningitis.

In British Columbia, seniors 65 years and older or people of any age living in residential care or assisted living facilities are eligible for this publicly funded vaccination. It can also be given to anyone over 2 years of age with specific medical conditions that put them at risk of infection. If you or someone that you know with a medical

conditions such as: heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes, cirrhosis, COPD, kidney disease, a compromised immune system, alcoholism, smoking, as well as the use of illicit drugs (especially crack cocaine), these people may be eligible to get this publicly funded vaccination. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist to find out if you are a candidate for it. This vaccine is much safer than getting pneumococcal diseases. Serious side

effects are very rare and most common side effects may include soreness, redness, and swelling where the vaccine was given and may last a few days.

Influenza and COVID-19 are viruses that can cause Pneumonia and require viral vaccines while Pnumovax-23 is for protection from bacterial pneumococcal infections. Find out about this vaccine and get it. It can save your life.

Kamloops Live! Box Office by going to kamloopslive.ca or calling 250-374-5486.

Sara Slean

THE IDES OF MARCH

Eighty-three year old Aileen, once a young red-haired Irish girl, leaned back in her rocking chair and looked up at the painting on the wall behind Cal, her hubby. She closed her eyes; there was a memory on her mind.

“I’m thinking about the story behind that painting, Cal.” She pointed. “Do you recall getting it way back in March 1958?”

“Um, just vaguely, honey. Fill me in.”

Aileen cleared her throat of the tears trying to choke off her voice. She knew Cal had trouble remembering so far back. His hearing wasn’t all that good either, so she pulled her rocker nearer to his recliner so he could hear her better.

“It was still like winter, but spring was just around the corner,” she began. “You had proposed to me, and I wanted to give you something memorable that we’d have for the rest of our lives. I went to the local art gallery in the strip mall. I hadn’t dared to go in before, because I figured everything would be out of my budget since we’d begun planning for our wedding. Oh Cal, I was so young. It excited me to think I’d be addressed by that old Gaelic name Mrs. Brady! I remember that, way back then out of courtesy, acquaintances used a married woman’s surname far more often than they do nowadays. Well, I got my courage up and, inside, I caught sight of that beautiful painting of roses. The colours made me do a double take. First I noticed the gorgeous flowers, then the stylized word, ‘Hope’ on the corner of the canvas.

“Yeah, something about that was very special to us, Aileen, but I can’t remember

what it was.”

“It was a good omen, and it was immediately imprinted on the mirror of my soul!”

“Oh, there you go, honey, letting that poetic heart of yours talk.” Cal liked teasing his wife.

“I studied the greenery and, as sure as our life would have thorns, so did the painting. The cool aquamarine tones of the curved ceramic vase the shape of a woman, like most vases are, held leafy foliage of variegated moss and forest greens. You don’t usually see those colours together with aquamarine. Also, I loved the tiny white Baby’s Breath peeking out from the mass of rich, velvety roses.”

The elderly couple gazed up at the framed work of art on their wall, and Aileen reminded her hubby that roses stand for lasting love and aquamarine symbolizes hope.

Long ago, at the gallery, a kind old gentleman had greeted the spritely patron and whispered, “That’s a very special piece.”

Aileen agreed with him, and he identified himself as Reginald Hope. To Aileen, the word ‘hope’ on the painting wasn’t just a simple signature; it made the piece very special to her. Indeed, it was even a significant part of the art. With its loops and curls, the word held a prophetic meaning; it offered a feeling, a sureness, and a divine message.

Aileen’s voice cracked a little, when she rambled on, with her emotions surfacing.

“The artist had said he was sending his good wishes through the painting. He was sober and reverent when he spoke about the love of his life, and that the

Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw

rose petals represented the years he’d shared with her! Imagine hearing that, Cal! I felt his sincerity when he told me that it was time to let the painting go just as he had to let his beloved Sharon go!”

Cal was astonished to hear the tender tale, because he’d forgotten the precious details that made the work of art so important to both of them.

“There was a rattle in his throat and a quiver in his voice when he shared that all those petals could now represent someone else’s loving years! ‘At least, that’s what I wish for whoever buys this one,’ he’d said.”

“Gee, I’m glad you’ve remembered all that!”

“Thanks. I dared to ask the cost ya know, and he grinned and stared directly into my face and asked, ‘so what’s the big occasion?’ I shared the good news that I was getting married, and because we’re both Irish, you and I hoped to honeymoon in Ireland.

I told him I’d been saving quarters to buy a wedding gift for you. He puffed on his pipe and snorted something like, you got big plans, little girl, but you’ll need a whole bouquet of four-leaf clovers and the luck o’ the Irish to achieve ‘em! He seemed warm-hearted, Cal, so as I laid the coins out on the counter for him to count, I explained that my deepest hopes were not only to make a trip but that our union under God would be forever. He was counting by fours when he suddenly stopped and pushed them all back across the counter to me and said. ‘I don’t need your quarters, my dear!’ I’ll never forget what he said after that.

‘My little wild Irish rose,’ he called me, ‘you kids can have this painting;

it’s pretty old but I want you to have it… call it my wedding gift to you.’ What happened next had never happened to me before. He lifted my hand and kissed it and said, ‘kiss a blarney stone for me, my dear, and have a happy hopefilled life!’ Wrapping it up, he wished us a splendid wedding and

trip across the pond to those awesome green hills of Ireland!

Noticing Aileen’s tears, Cal got up from his chair, leaned into the rocker, swiped her cheeks with Kleenex, and pulled an arthritic hand from her lap and kissed it. “Most of our hills and valleys have been green, haven’t they

honey!”

The Bradys stood in front of their old painting and counted petals as they often had done when anniversaries rolled around. It was March, 2023, and through poor sight and blurry tears, they counted sixty-five petals… with many more to go

Welcome Jack Bell

Welcome Jack Bell

The Kamloops Connector is pleased to welcome Jack Bell to our team as general manager and sales consultant, adding to his role at Kamloops This Week Jack will be using his sales experience in newspaper and book publishing to ensure our clients' needs are well taken care of.

The Kamloops Connector is pleased to welcome Jack Bell to our team as general manager and sales consultant, adding to his role at Kamloops This Week. Jack will be using his sales experience in newspaper and book publishing to ensure our clients' needs are well taken care of.

"It's great to be back and I look forward to working with our clients,” said Jack, a longtime Kamloops resident with years of experience in sales and marketing.

"It's great to be back and I look forward to working with our clients,” said Jack, a longtime Kamloops resident with years of experience in sales and marketing.

To advertise with The Connector, call Jack at 778-471-7526

To advertise with The Connector, call Jack at 778-471-7526

Completing your Will and Estate Planning in three simple steps

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

If you have ‘stuff’, chances are that, at the very least, you have thought about what might happen to your assets after you die. Maybe you’ve even tossed out a comment at a family get-together, mentioning your wishes to ‘that’ person about what their future potential responsibilities could be. Unfortunately, this is where most people pause. Thoughts and conversations are not enough. Your plans and wishes need to be documented.

Step One: Take Inventory. Connect and Reflect.

What assets do you have? Do you need to consider guardianship? Who can ‘take charge?’ You need to not only think about who will follow your wishes but, more importantly, who do you trust?

Step Two: Gather information and have conversations.

Where is your important paperwork? What names, contact information, possible instructions are necessary AND are they up-to-date? Start a list. Talk to your person-let them in on your

Reflections on a rainy day

plan and make sure they are on board.

Step Three: Write it down, legalize it, make copies and distribute.

It’s a process-sometimes a long process. But you need to start somewhere. Give yourself time and know that this task will not likely be completed in one sitting.

Find a lawyer or a notary and get your documents witnessed and legalized. Make copies and keep copies in multiple safe places. It is up to you to decide where and with whom your legal papers will reside but typically a copy would go into a safety deposit box, perhaps you would like to keep the information stored digitallyeither online storage or USB stick-and, most importantly, a copy should be given to ‘your person’ aka your executor.

And, finally, remember to review your documents every so often to make sure the information is still accurate, your choices are still valid and contact information is correct.

outsideColouring the lines

REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

It’s been raining solid for over 12 hours. I sit beneath a large cedar tree on the edge of a small lake in the middle of the vast forest. Big, fat noisy rain drops hit the hood of my poncho before rolling slowly down to gather in a puddle in my lap.

I am here to co-lead a Wild Church workshop, and we’ve just sent the participants out for a wander on the land – for a chance to seek deeper connection with the holiness that surrounds us. My heart carries the news that my father

is in the hospital after falling and breaking his hip. I’ve searched out a tree that might shelter – and yes, perhaps hold - me for this time. I sit upright beneath this holding tree, daring not to lean back into her for fear of harming the spectacular green lichen that is budding with the teeniest little reddish orange flowers on her trunk.

I sit in stillness, watching the rain add texture to the lake water. I try to clear my mind and open my heart to what is before me: the water of the lake, water falling from the sky, water pooling in my lap. And the cold damp air that keeps tapping me on the shoulder to ask if I am ready to go in yet. After what I am sure is at least 30 minutes I check my watch to discover only 10 have passed. I empty my mind – and my lap –again.

“Never-ending

rain,” I think. “This rain seems to be never-ending, and the gloomy gray of this day matches my own internal weather system.” I shiver a bit, whether from ambient air temperature or from the knowledge that my Dad’s Parkinson’s adds a texture to his life that is so much coarser than the rippled waters of the lake. Slowly I become aware of a different sensation.

My back begins to feel warm, almost like I’m leaning against a radiator, and I sense the tree is responding to my whispered request to be held. Before I know it my time is up and I must head back to the group.

As we prepare to leave the retreat centre the next day, I return to this tree to offer a gift of gratitude for the holding time. I stand beneath her towering presence and speak my gratitude, and the sun breaks

through the clouds. I turn back to the trail. The lake lies smooth and still before me, reflecting the magnificence of this community of trees – of this sacred space. And I trust the wisdom of Creator revealed in creation: that the never-ending rain one day will end, the sun will eventually shine again, and no matter what comes, I can walk one day at a time knowing I am being held by the One Who Is Bigger Than We Can Know, who also bears the name The Big Love.

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!

Drake, what am I actually signing on that cremation authorization form?

– such small print on both sides and all these boxes and lines for me to sign?”

That’s a good question and one we’ll explore as the final document in our series about the funeral/ cremation arrangement process. The Cremation Authorization Form is so full of information and requirements, however, it may take two (or more) issues in the Connector to explain it…!

Before I became a funeral director, embalmer and – more recently – a cremationist (someone who performs cremations) I had no idea how a crematorium worked. When my father died in 1998 he was cremated. In the interest of efficiency I imagined that he was cremated along with several others at the same time (like they show on some of the old documentaries).

It turns out I was wrong; the retort (i.e. the machine that cremates Murray) can only hold one person at a time. That was a relief! The retort at Drake Crematorium in Kamloops is no different –room for only one cremation at a time.

Cremation sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? “But if it’s so simple” said Alice, “why does this Cremation Authorization Form look so complicated

There is no standard form that crematoriums use. Every FUNERAL HOME designs its own. Note that it’s the funeral home, not the crematorium, that designs the form. These forms all must abide by the BC laws, which are enforced by Consumer Protection BC. For the purpose of this article I will refer to the Cremation Authorization Form that Drake Cremation provides to clients when we sit down with people like Alice.

The headline on our form starts out (in bold)

“AUTHORIZATION FOR CREMATION AND DISPOSITION… CREMATION IS IRREVERSIBLE AND FINAL. READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING IT.”

Even though we encourage people like Alice to take their time reading it, most people seem to want to

just sign it (and perhaps read it later, at home!) I think it’s great when people read it during our meeting with them, but I appreciate that it’s a really difficult document for most people to sign (it seems to bring the reality of Murray’s death to the forefront) and they just want to get it over with.

The form then requires us to identify Alice. Who is she? She’s Murray’s wife, of course, but is she the person legally authorized to sign this cremation form? By signing the form Alice is certifying that she is, indeed, the person with legal authority.

On the next part of the form we enter Murray’s full name, his date and place of birth, and his date, place and time of death. This last part is especially important if it’s been less than two full days since Murray died.

BC law prohibits Murray’s cremation before he’s been dead 48 hours. So, if Murray died on Wednesday the 1st and Alice comes in to sign the cremation authorization form on Thursday the 2nd, we have to find out what time Murray died on Wednesday and enter this information on the form. If he died on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., for example, we cannot cremate Murray until after 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Time of death information comes from the

doctor or coroner, not Alice. The next part of the form (in very small print) confirms that Alice wants Murray to be cremated at a crematory that is licensed in BC. His cremation doesn’t have to take place at Drake Crematorium. This is important for many people we serve because although Alice and Murray may live in the Kamloops area, Murray may die in Vancouver, Prince George, Kelowna, or anywhere else in BC. Alice may not want (or be able) to drive to Vancouver or elsewhere to make arrangements for Murray’s cremation. We’ll meet with Alice here in Kamloops (or Barriere or Clearwater) and arrange for his cremation to take place in Vancouver (or anywhere in BC). Not only is this completely legal it can actually really help Alice because she doesn’t have to drive the Coquihalla in the middle of winter. It also usually saves her a good deal of money. I knew it; we’ve only covered a third of the first page of the form! Folks, it might take two or even three more episodes to finish this article on the Cremation Authorization Form. I hope you find this helpful. See you in April (and probably in May)!

Five signs that it is time to replace your carpet

Flooring

PAUL MORRIS Nufloors

New carpet does wonders for adding new life and value to your space and home. Whether your style preferences have changed, you are prepping your home to sell, or anything in between, we are sharing five signs that it is time to replace your carpet.

Wear & Tear

A typical carpet that is well maintained can last up to 30 years however eventually all carpets need to be replaced. Over the years, natural wear and tear will happen, such as actual tears in the carpet, worn patches, matting, and fraying. High-traffic areas like hallways, stairs and, living areas will see the most wear and tear.

If you notice your carpet exhibiting some of these signs then it is probably time to replace it.

Stains

If you find yourself strategically placing furniture or area rugs to hide unsightly stains, even after having your carpet professionally cleaned then this is a sign new carpet may be in order.

Newer carpets have some tremendous stain

warranties and will stand up to even the most active of lifestyles.

Water Damage & Mold

Water damage is a carpet killer. While water can leave unsightly stains what is worse is the mold and mildew stains that can be left behind. Any sight of mold or mildew and it is time to replace your carpet.

Style

Style is one of the most popular reasons clients decide to change their carpets. Older colours and patterns become dated and can hold the look of your living space years behind. The style of your carpet is something you will want to consider if you are looking to freshen up your home.

Underpad

We have said it before

but it is always a really good reminder; do not underestimate the power of your padding. A quality underpad will extend the life of your carpet and often can extend the warranty depending on the style purchased. Underpad, not only, provides cushion for the carpet but also helps with warmth and noise transfer between floors. If it is time to replace your carpet it is also time to replace the underpad.

If any of these five points have you thinking you might need to replace your carpet, we can help! Contact us today for a free estimate or free in-home measurement, or stop by one of our showrooms to speak to a carpet expert.

Ask Drake DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director

YOUR HEARING A PRIORITY

made a commitment to the highest standards in Hearing Healthcare. You can too!

ear can also on.”

Reports are in and there is an alarming rise in the number of ITD cases showing up in the general Kamloops area. Are you or someone you know afflicted with the dreaded ITD? ITD better known as ‘In The Drawer’ syndrome affects not only current hearing aid wearers but people who have tried hearing aids in the past.

Does your spouse complain about your hearing?

PROTECTION

If you do have In The Drawer Syndrome (ITD), you are not alone. A large percentage of the population may have this unfortunate condition. It afflicts people at different levels, some may have a mild case, only using their hearing aid, when they absolutely must, others are more severe, keeping it permanently put away.

Save your money...

A good Hearing Aid is much less expensive than a messy divorce!

EARPLUGS FOR WORK OR PLAY

Electronic Hearing Protection

Current research suggests ITD can be treated. Most people suffer from ITD because of inappropriate choice of hearing aids style or level of technology or older technology. Technology in the hearing aid industry has dramatically improved over the last 4 years. As technology progresses, so does the effectiveness of the hearing aid.

The Perfect Combination: Hearing Protection and Enhanced Awareness ears from the deafening sound of gun blasts and with SoundGear, the 100% digital, instantprotection product. Comfortable and convenient, hides in your ear and delivers the necessary protection field, factory, range or wherever noise is a problem.

been more personal

When you’re passionate about music, you need the best equipment for the finest outcome. We can provide custom-fit in-ear monitors that feature natural, balanced sound and pure, rich tones. For personal use or professionally - they are custom fit, block out unwanted noise and eliminate the need for traditional stage wedge monitors.

“Improvements in aid technology have greatly increased the effectiveness of the device and hearing in our patients” Explains hearing aid practitioners, Blaine and Jan Alexandre, of Kamloops Hearing Centre. “We are able now to set and program individual frequencies and pitches for our customers”. This technology improves the effectiveness of the hearing aid ten fold. Every person is different, we all hear and comprehend sounds differently, being able to control the different pitch and frequencies allows each hearing aid to be customized.

Blaine and Jan Alexandre of Kamloops Hearing would love to help you hear better. This month they are offering $500 off of a pair of Starkey Evolv Ai 2400 Hearing Aids. They are so sure you will fall in love with them they are including a 90 day - 100% , no hidden fees, money back guarantee. Call them at 372-3090 or stop in and visit at 414 Arrowstone Drive, Kamloops.

www.audibel.ca

HEARING AID CENTRE

Protect your hearing with Industrial Ear Protection, a 100% digital sound compression device uniquely designed to protect your ears and enhance your awareness, keeping you safe in a potentially hazardous work environment. Instant-fit and ready to wear right out of the box, industrial ear protection is small enough to rest discreetly in your ears and comfortable enough to wear all day.

Seriously though, hearing loss can be very frustrating. Not just for the hearing impaired but for their family, too. If you are getting tired of always having to repeat yourself or tend not to include your loved one in conversations because they can’t hear you anyway - bring your spouse in for a FREE HEARING EVALUATION!

MONITORS HEARING CHECKLIST

Hearing Check List

1. Have you ever been exposed to loud or continuous noise?

2. Do you find men’s voices easier to understand than women’s?

3. Do you find it difficult to follow conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room?

4. Do you get accused of hearing only when you want to?

5. Do you have difficulty understanding speech on the telephone?

6. Do you hear better with one ear than the other?

7. Do your family and/or friends complain about your hearing?

8. Do you sometimes feel that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly?

The benefits of hearing aids vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing evaluation and proper fit. That’s why it’s important to have a through evaluation.

n YES

n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

n YES n NO

90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Have a FREE video ear inspection performed by Blaine or Jan, Registered Hearing Aid Practioners.

When you are fitted with a pair of hearing aids from Kamloops Hearing Aid Centre you have 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE NO HIDDEN FEES - NO WORRIES!

If you checked yes to more than one of these questions, call for an appointment for a FREE - COMPREHENSIVE, HEARING EVALUATION.

If you checked “YES” to more then one of these questions, call for an appoinment for a FREE - COMPREHENSIVE HEARING EVALUATION.

NEED HELP?

We are well versed in third party coverage and will gladly help your loved one access the appropriate information they require.

MATT DUFF CRAIG MORGAN

“SoundGear does it better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”