Kamloops Connector September 2023

Children’s Arts Festival celebrates local agriculture with “Ranches to Rodeos” theme

Running for over 22 years, the Children’s Arts Festival will once again take over Riverside Park East this September 16, 2023. From 10 a.m. to 4p.m., the park will be filled with artistic, musical, and theatrical activities and performances for children ages 2 and up. Amazing sponsors such as The City of Kamloops, B-100, Canadian Heritage, and the BC Arts Council keep this event completely free of charge year after year, so all are welcome to partake in this long-standing community event.

Drawing inspiration from the city itself, the theme for this year’s festival is “Ranches to

Rodeos,” which aims to celebrate the wonders of agriculture, with a particular focus on how we can be friends to the earth. The decorations and activities of the event aim to be themed around being eco-friendly, with community booths centred on local agriculture, food security, and urban farming hoping to educate guests in a fun, entertaining manner on the aforementioned topics. Aside from an assortment of “edutaining” booths, guests can, of course, expect the event to be filled with arts and crafts and interactive performances such as button-making, face painting, singing, dancing,

and storytelling, supplied by instructors and performers from all over BC. To ensure that the fun can continue all day long, food trucks are anticipated to be present in the park so that families can enjoy the full breadth of all the Arts Festival has to offer without leaving the park grounds. Additionally, if the day’s excitement begins to feel overwhelming, the Kamloops Arts Council plans to have a “quiet zone” for those that may wish to take a break to reset and recharge.

A new addition to the festival is a colouring contest, hosted by local children’s event business and artist, Marta’s Tower. Please visit the KAC

By Keiko Bolen, Kamloops Arts Council

website, kamloopsarts. ca/colouringcontest, the KAC office, or Kamloops Art Party to select one of three colouring pages to complete however their inner artist desires. Once finished, the colouring page can be brought to the KAC office at the Old Courthouse at 7 Seymour Street by September 1st. All completed pages submitted by the deadline will be featured in the Hallway Gallery as part of Marta’s Tower’s “Whose Hue” exhibit, and, just as at other KAC community galleries, winners will be determined by public voting, with an announcement of their accomplishment to be made at the Children’s

Arts Festival!

If you are interested in being a part of this magical day, the Arts Council is still seeking artist facilitators, community booths, and performers! Applications are open until August 31st, and all those interested are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the Kamloops Arts

Council website at www. kamloopsarts.ca/program/ childrens-arts-festival or contact events@kamloopsarts.ca. The Kamloops Arts Council hopes to see your friendly faces on Saturday, September 16th, 2023, at Riverside Park East to help celebrate another amazing Children’s Arts Festival!

Unfolding Legacies: Investigating intersectional social issues in the Kamloops Food System

By Fauve Smith, MSc, Organizational Leadership Coordinator at the Kamloops Food Policy Council

however, the exchange of land-based knowledge has been severely interrupted since the arrival of colonial-settlers.

For food security to exist, all people, at all times, must have physical, sociocultural, and economic access to food that sufficiently meets their cultural and dietary needs. Achieving food security in Kamloops is extremely complex due to historical inequalities that continue to disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) food security. This is due to oppressive and colonial ideologies that have been influencing the development of foodrelated policies and laws in Canada since the arrival of early settlers. For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have studied and managed fragile ecosystems to sustain themselves on local and wild foods. As the longest standing environmental stewards of the region, the Secwépemc people are the most knowledgeable land managers of the Kamloops area and hold invaluable, regionally specific Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). TEK is customarily passed along from one generation to the next;

The Indian Act, a legal framework of settler colonialism in Canada, was created as an assimilation tactic and an attempt at Indigenous cultural genocide. Through this legislation, both the Residential School System and the Reserve System were implemented and imposed on Indigenous cultures in an attempt to further displace them from their nomadic ways of living. Reserve systems were also designed to limit people’s movement on the land, restricting their access to traditional foods acquired from hunting and gathering. Residential schools aimed to strip Indigenous children of their cultural pride and knowledge and replace it with European customs and values. In fact, gardening and starvation were often used as forms of punishment. As a result, many Indigenous people today have challenging relationships with food, and some are reliant on food stamps or donated nonperishable foods that lack nutritional and cultural relevance.

The Indian Act embodies the principles of institutionalized and structural racism.

Structural racism

refers to, “the totality of ways in which societies foster racial discrimination, through mutually reinforcing inequitable systems (e.g. housing, employment, earnings, benefits, credit, media, health care, criminal justice, etc.)” (Bailey et. al., 2017). Racism is a systemic issue because it ensures that white power and privilege are reinforced structurally and experienced by BIPOC in everyday life. Resisting systemic racism requires a community-wide approach that recognizes how racism is not limited to a single person or act, but rather deeply embedded in the fabric of Canadian society. In order to operate successfully, the billion dollar agricultural sector in the Okanagan largely depends on temporary and foreign workers to fill labour shortages.

In 2018, 16,890 temporary migrant agricultural positions were approved in BC, 5,000 of which were Temporary Migrant Agricultural (MA) workers in the Okanagan Valley (Caxaj & Cohen, 2019). These individuals fill the labour gap as the driving force in the Canadian agricultural system. Despite local food systems relying heavily on foreign labour to support food productivity, many undocumented immigrant farm workers suffer

conditions that meet the definition of slavery under federal law. Agricultural labour has been traced back to the enslavement of African people, and in more recent history, has found its labour pool in Mexican and Latino cultures.

Developing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our local food system is a critical component of achieving food security. The Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC) is a local nonprofit organization that serves as a platform for grassroots food activism and policy development in the city. The KFPC strives to create a regenerative, sovereign, and just food system and recognizes food as a collective human necessity, no matter our size, shape, colour, or background. By sharing diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of knowing with one another, we can more intentionally celebrate and advocate for food rights in our community.

If advocating for an equitable community food system interests you, there are ample opportunities to get involved with our network. The KFPC’s website, newsletter, and social media pages are excellent resources for upcoming events and ways to get involved. By supporting local

farmers, restaurants, farmer’s markets, or attending one of the KFPC’s potluck network meetings, you are contributing towards our vision of a just and local food system.

References

Bailey, Z. D., Krieger, N., Agénor, M., Graves, J., Linos, N., & Bassett, M. T. (2017).

Structural racism and health inequities in

the USA: Evidence and interventions. The Lancet, 389(10077), 1453-1463.

Caxaj, S. & Cohen, A. (2019). “I will not leave my body here”: Migrant farmworkers’ health and safety amidst a climate of coercion.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), 2643.

Kamloops Residential School and school gardens, circa 1930. The school did not close until 1978; a very recent history.

Fauve Smith at Skeetchestn Community School teaching foundations of anti-racism to grade 5 and 6 students using food related concepts through a provincial Farm to School Program known as Everyone Eats.

Fauve Smith sharing her Master of Science research findings and leading a discussion on anti-racism at a KFPC Network Meeting.

Seasonal Recipe

BBQ Style Cajun Corn on the Cob

Ingredients:

(you can either buy a premade cajun spice from the grocery store or make your own with the recipe below:)

• 6 tsp oregano

• 3 tsp black peppercorns

• 3 tsp white peppercorns

• 1 tsp thyme

Instructions:

• Shuck fresh corn on the cob

• 1 tsp crushed chilli

• 1/4 cup paprika

• 2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp cayenne

* 1 tsp garlic powder

* 1 tsp onion powder

Other Ingredients::

• ¼ cup butter

• Corn on the cob

• Melt butter in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave until just melted

• Mix spices with butter

• Use a cooking brush to generously paint on the cajun butter mixture

• Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 or so on the BBQ until corn is slightly blackened and fully cooked

• Serve with favourite summer potato or pasta salad and other BBQ favourites like ribs, chicken, or burgers for a full meal!

A death cleaning to give me joy

Voices of Experience

My two cents

Most of us think of spring as the ideal time to give our homes a good cleaning, but odds are good that if one is feeling like their space needs a good cleaning at any point in the year, then that is the best time to do it. There is also the more dramatic concept of Swedish Death Cleaning.

www.connectornews.ca

Telephone: (250) 374-7467

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

Recently, I watched a few episodes of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning based on the 2018 book of the same name by Margareta Magnusson. The series is narrated by Amy Poehler and features a trio of Swedish “Death Cleaners”—an organizer, a designer and a psychologist. This team drops into various American homes and runs them each through the process of decluttering unnecessary belongings, reorganizing and often refreshing the person’s home to better suit their current stage of life. Since most of us won’t have the benefit of being on a show or having a trio of experts show up on our doorstep, it is mostly up to us to do this before we end up leaving it to others to do it for us after we’re no longer here.

Moneca Jantzen Editor

After moving roughly three years ago, I managed to purge quite a bit, however, I am amazed at how quickly the accumulation of stuff has advanced since then. And clearly I didn’t do a very thorough job of getting rid of unnecessary things when I last moved. It turns out that I still have all manner of doom boxes in actual boxes, but also cupboards and drawers. I’m actually ashamed to say how many I actually have. A doombox is actually just a box full of stuff that one “Didn’t Organize, Only Moved.” Many blame the existence of doom boxes on having ADHD. Maybe I do have ADHD but remain undiagnosed. It would explain a lot if I do, but who knows. I would need a doctor to figure that out and who’s got one of those? Certainly not me. Funnily enough, I did grab a box (yet another one) a couple of weeks ago and tried to clean up, not in a major way, but just to tidy up those areas that tend to get cluttered with random things and make the house look a little bit messy: a stack of scrap paper destined to be recycled or shredded, a book, some opened mail, nail clippers, a hair comb, those items that have a “home” but are not currently residing in their assigned spots. You know the drill. I abandoned the effort part way through and stashed the box under my desk. It is partly full of various things that need to be put away, donated, sold or thrown away.

For several days this week I have been wondering where the dog’s nail clippers have gotten to and I couldn’t find them in any of the usual places. Finally, I remembered that I had thrown them into the big box that is currently under my desk in an effort to tidy up two weeks ago.

Needless to say, I was happy to remember where the clippers were and my chihuahua is even happier now that she can walk without skating across the floor on her overly long nails. The above scenario is how many of my doom boxes around the house have been created and I never seem to get back to them to sort them once and for all. I may partially sort them, but odds are good they will just end up in a smaller doom box or a different one where I have consolidated more than one doom box together. Didn’t Organize, Only Moved.

While I may be a prime candidate for a visit from a trio of Swedish Death Cleaners, I suspect I will remain on my own and I will simply have to get brutal with my junk and force myself to purge as much as I can.

Thankfully I don’t qualify as a hoarder, more like a clutter bug. Nevertheless, I have my work cut out for me and hopefully the Death Cleaning concept will be more successful for me than Marie Kondo’s approach to tidying. It will give me much joy to get rid of my doom boxes once and for all.

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

Publisher Bob Doull

General Manager Jack Bell (778) 471-7526 jack@kamloopsthisweek.com

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.

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Interior Health air quality guidance

Communities across the Interior Health region have been experiencing heavy impacts from wildfire smoke. Hopefully by the time of publication, some of the wildfires in the area will have been subdued and this will be less of an issue. Regardless, this is valuable information given the frequency with which we are being subjected to poor air quality in recent years.

People with chronic conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, infants, and young children, are most affected by wildfire smoke.

The best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air.

During smoky conditions:

•Stay indoors: Reduce time spent outside to protect your health

• Reduce outdoor physical activity: Refer to the Air Quality Health Index and decrease physical exertion when air quality is poor

• Consider

wearing a well fitted respirator if you cannot access cleaner air: Use a well fitted respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) to reduce exposure to particulate matter in smoke

• Activate medical management plans: Ensure your plan to self-manage any chronic diseases (e.g., respiratory and cardiovascular diseases) is in place and up-to-date, and that adequate rescue medications are available

• Use a home clean air shelter: Spend time in a room in your home with a portable air cleaner with HEPA filtration to reduce smoke exposure

Wildfire smoke and your mental health

Smoky skies can affect us physically and also make us feel anxious and stressed. There are actions we can take to help improve and manage our mental wellness through these stressful times.

· Manage stress: Use stress-relief techniques such as meditation or focusing on a creative outlet (e.g., journaling and art)

· Tap in to social networks: Having

conversations and spending time with people closest to us is especially important during emergencies and disasters

· Take care: Eat well, exercise indoors, drink lots of water and get enough sleep

· Help others: Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and community as we confront challenges together. The Emergency Support Services Program welcomes and relies on volunteers to coordinate support services for people forced from their homes in an emergency.

Resources

• Visit the BCCDC wildfire smoke webpage to learn more about the health effects of wildfire smoke, how to prepare for wildfire season, and more

• For other steps to create cleaner air space at home, check out Health Canada’s online resource Guidance for Cleaner Air Spaces during Wildfire Smoke Events.

School’s out: What happens to your RESP if your child doesn’t go to school?

Financial focus

CHIANNE V. JONES

Financial Advisor

Many Canadian parents and grandparents plan to cover at least some portion of costs related to their child’s/grandchild’s post-secondary education. This typically involves contributing to an RESP. Postsecondary education, such as college or university, can help open the door to a variety of career options, higher earnings potential and rewarding occupations. But there’s no guarantee that a child will want to pursue higher education. So what happens if they don’t? More precisely, what happens to the money inside your RESP if your child decides not to pursue a qualifying postsecondary education program?

Before we get into those specifics, let’s first discuss the basics of Registered Education Savings Plans.

ABCs of RESPs

An RESP is an account, created specifically to help parents, grandparents and others save for a child’s postsecondary education.

Contributions to

an RESP are not tax deductible. However, eligible RESP contributions can earn a matching 20 percent contribution from the Government of Canada via the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). Inside an RESP, all investment returns — interest, dividends and capital gains — enjoy tax-sheltered growth. There is no annual limit on RESP contributions, however, there is a lifetime contribution limit of $50,000 per child, and a lifetime CESG of $7,200 for each child.

What happens to your RESP if the beneficiary doesn’t pursue postsecondary education?

The money in an RESP comes primarily from three different sources – your original contributions, matching CESG contributions from the government and investment growth. The distinction between these sources is important because each is treated differently upon withdrawal.

If a child doesn’t attend a qualifying postsecondary education program, money can be withdrawn from your RESP as follows:

Contributions –You can withdraw the money you’ve contributed over the years with no tax consequence.

Unlike Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) contributions, RESP contributions are

not tax deductible. As such, there are no taxes owing when those contributions are withdrawn.

CESG – You must return this portion to the Government of Canada. Grants are paid by the government to encourage higher education, and as such, if your child doesn’t attend a qualifying educational program, all grant amounts paid into the RESP must be repaid to the government.

Investment growth

– This portion, when withdrawn, is known as an Accumulated Income Payment (AIP), and is taxable at your marginal tax rate plus an additional 20 percent tax. However, the additional 20 percent tax can potentially be avoided. If you have RRSP contribution room available, you can transfer up to $50,000 AIP from the RESP to your RRSP with no immediate tax consequence. More information on this transfer is available on the Government of Canada website.

Additional considerations

A child who isn’t interested in postsecondary education today may decide to pursue a program of interest in the future. An RESP can remain open for a total of 36 years.

If you have more than one child, and one child doesn’t pursue postsecondary education but another does, it may be possible to transfer the RESP

contributions and grants to the child who pursues postsecondary education. Even if your son or daughter isn’t interested in college or university, there are many other qualifying schools and programs, such as trade schools, hair stylist programs, CEGEPs (Quebec), and other institutions certified by the Minister of Employment and Social Development. For a complete list of qualifying educational institutions, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Bottom line RESPs are great vehicles for education savings, but keep in mind that an RESP is simply an account – not an investment, and not a comprehensive education planning strategy. What type of RESP should you open, how much should you contribute, what investments should you purchase, and what should you do if your child doesn’t attend school? These are just some of the important issues we can help you address.

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

Using tech for peace of mind

Irecently saw an article about a man who went shopping

and kept a tally of what he bought. He went Summer is here and that means wildfires a plenty. Laptops are easy enough to bring with you, though some things are even easier. External hard drives are cheaper than one might expect and can be setup so you can backup files just by plugging them in. In IT we create weekly, daily or even hourly backups

of data; depending on how critical the information.

On an external drive you can backup pictures, insurance policies, bank records and anything else you might want to keep. Now cloud based backups are great too, but you may not have internet access or don’t want to remember more usernames and passwords. I like a local backup, though

if it contains personal data such as banking or anything sensitive, then encrypting it with passwords is always your best bet.

Tablets make it easy as well, much easier than the old desktop towers. Technology is a tool that should be used to make your life less stressful. Knowing your precious memories and documents are secure should help

in some small part. Stay safe out there and hopefully we’ll be through this soon. .

K AMLOOPS FIDDLERS’ AFTERNOON CONCERT at Oasis Church - featuring Alex Kosturok

1205 Rogers Way Friday, September 15, 2023 1:30pm - 4:00pm

SEPTEMBER 17TH

SEPTEMBER 15TH

MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE CONCERT at Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Powwow Grounds 6:30-8:30pm also - Kwséltkten Farmers’ & Artisan Market 4:00-9:00pm

PROVINCIAL WINTER FAIR

Circle Creek Ranch- Knutsford

Saturday, September 23 - Tuesday, September 26, 2023

SEPTEMBER 30TH & OCTOBER 1ST

K AMLOOPS RUGBY 7’S at McArthur Island Park

Girls & Boys U14-U18 - Saturday, September 30 & Sunday, October 1, 2023

PETER MILOBAR

MLA K amloops-Nor th Thompson 618B Tranquille Road Kamloops, BC V2B 3H6 peter.milobar.mla@leg.bc.ca

250-554-5413

@PeterMilobar

PeterMilobarKNT

TODD STONE

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

250-374-2880

@toddstonebc

ToddGStone

SEPTEMBER

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

Comfor t Keepers

The Advantages of Mediation

resolution process – mediation.

Litigation can be costly, financially and emotionally. It is time consuming and can take years to work forward toward resolution.

Conflict is sometimes unavoidable – a disagreement over a contract, differing views on the value of a property, employment disputes, family disputes, neighbour disputes. The list is endless.

Litigation is the usual manner in which to resolve these conflicts, but within the litigation process is an alternate dispute

Litigation requires adherence to legal technicalities and procedural steps that can make the process feel slow and expensive. Mediation is a voluntary process where a trained neutral third party focuses on the matters in dispute and assists the parties to find an agreeable resolution between them.

The cost of a lawyer preparing for mediation is far less than the cost

of preparing a case for trial. Mediation has an economic advantage even if significant expenses have already been incurred to investigate issues, gather evidence and interview witnesses – these steps are important and allow the parties to get to the point where both sides have enough information about the other party’s case to make an informed decision on resolution at mediation. The flexibility of mediation is this processes’ most desirable attribute. Unlike the Court system, the parties select the mediator. As well, the structure

is less formal and has fewer rules to follow.

Communication between the parties can be facilitated in a way to minimize conflict and work towards a consensus because it focuses on the needs of the parties and not on the legal issues of the case. Finally, mediation is much quicker than waiting for trial and the power is in the hands of the parties to accept or reject a proposed resolution, so the risk is low. Parties appreciate the control they have and the ability to put the dispute behind them with a solution that they have created.

Happy Fall, Everyone

Seniors’ Community Centre @ Desert Gardens thanks everyone for their continued support. A huge thank you to the volunteers who have stepped up to give a lending hand. It has been very appreciated. If anyone is able to lend a hand for an hour or more, please don’t hesitate to step up.

We continue to have the Oasis Café open Monday to Friday from 9:30 – 1 p.m. Unfortunately, at

this time there are no lunch or dinners being served –however – we have lots of homemade goodies (sweets, muffins and cookies) and coffee/ tea/pop and juice. Lots of smiles come with it.

Music with Frank (golden oldies on the piano) – is Mondays from 1 - 2 p.m.

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

Scrabble is Wednesdays from 1

– 3 p.m.

Toastmasters will be resuming Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 from 7 – 8 a.m.

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

TGIF is on Fridays from 9:30 –11 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Friday Jamming will be playing from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Come join the fun.

Mexican Train is Sundays @ 2 p.m.

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. 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.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Labour Day Holiday and a bountiful Harvest.

Submitted by Penny Ouchi, Seniors’ Community Centre at Desert Gardens

The Pleasure of the Professionals

By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

Iam currently on a vacation trip appreciating the beauty of our country and also how darn big it is!

I am travelling in my motorhome towing a vehicle, which makes this kind of procedure another and reoccurring fun activity. It’s amazing to note all the various forms of RV travel methods there are. You can spot the seasoned travellers who’s rig is properly balanced compared to others that you see with issues.

Some have an imbalance of too large a trailer for the tow vehicle, or others that have the tongue of the trailer way out of horizontal alignment with the tow vehicle. Quite a few are overloaded with all the camping gear one can imagine and are really restricting the flow of traffic. My pet peeve is seeing the spare tire strapped to the front of the grill and the temperature is into the 30s, can anybody say “over heat?”

To prepare for this trip of about 8000 km, I am fairly particular

about vehicle safety items and their functions. Every trip taken like this requires new tires, new front brake rotors and pads, repacking of the wheel bearings, etc. I also put on new wiper blades, necessary light bulbs (I have a tester for how bright each one is), oil and filter change and a new air filter.

Since I have had my “Red Seal” in automotive for over 50 years I am considered to be a professional automotive technician yet, there are times when I have to call on “The Professionals” to do things I may not be capable of doing.

I went to a friend’s shop to get 6 new tires for the vehicle, for which they ordered in some strong heavy duty ones. After mounting and balancing, a road test was performed with bad results. There appeared to be quite a vibration of the tires.

After a thorough re-calibration of the tire balancer, a re-check was done with no noticeable faults found in the previous process. This

now required something called a “road force balance” which actually spins the tire and creates a loaded condition for true testing. Since my friend’s shop did not have that equipment I took it to another shop that did have the machine for them to give me a report of the tires showing any anomalies. After testing they said everything was ok – Wrong! It was no better. They then said maybe it’s the driveshaft to which parts and labour were expended leading to the same results, same vibration at the same speed. I paid the bill even though no satisfaction was performed and my thoughts were, and these are professionals?

I went to another friend’s shop who could handle the heavier type of vehicles. The back of the camper was jacked up, we put it in drive and spun the tires. Right away the imbalance was visible using an old school method to diagnose. We installed some spare tires to check our suspicions and “voila” no tire

vibration.

As professionals we addressed the actual problem, we didn’t just follow a formula and yes, a new set of tires from the original shop made things right, very professional. There was still a minor vibration that I suspected was the driveshaft to which my friends shop recommended another place that deals directly with said item.

The two men that ran the shop were good, competent and incredibly professional. They validated my suspicion for the failed component and properly repaired the driveshaft to the point where I make this statement “my motorhome has never run this smooth with good tires and driveline pieces.”

This work was done by professionals, what a pleasure!

Any questions or concerns please contact me at bigsix8280@yahoo.ca.

Should I line the kitchen bin?

Food scraps are collected indoors in a small k itchen bin or pail When the k itchen bin is full, empty the bin into the organics curbside car t

Mondays (Back in September) Thursdays

Sundays

am

pm 10:00 am-1:00 pm

Heritage House l 100 Lorne Street

Complimentary parking passes available

Questions?

Contact Chelsea Tekonomy, Active Living Coordinator at 250-828-3709.

Check the monthly schedule: Kamloops.ca/CommunityWellness

Payment Dates

The World of Floor Transitions

achieve a seamless look by selecting the most appropriate transition for the application.

Transition Between Similar Materials

Transition Between Different Materials

Flooring

PAUL MORRIS Nufloors

In a dream scenario, our flooring would seamlessly flow from one room to the next. In the real world though, that may not always be possible as different rooms have different flooring or even different flooring types. So, how do we transition from one floor to the next to ensure that seamless look throughout? We

Although you may not need a transition strip between materials of the same thickness, you may still want to consider using one. There are two reasons for this. One, proper transitions cover the seams that have been used for expansion gaps between the flooring types. Secondly, a transition piece helps to blend the two flooring types together. A typical transition type used in this case is a t-mould or t-strip. T strips can be made of many different materials and at many thicknesses as low as 1mm high, which makes them an excellent option for a seamless finish.

In this case, a transition strip is almost always required. There could be a couple of reasons for this. One, different flooring materials need an edge to help with the protection of the product. Two, different materials may not have the same thickness which creates a change in floor heights and change in underfoot characteristics. When this is the case we will use a transition known as a reducer to account for the change in height. When it comes to these transitions we can find many styles from metal, hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, and vinyl transition strips. Selecting the proper transition can be almost as important as selecting

the right flooring. Our goal is to have the transition chosen to match the look and feel of, not only, the flooring but the surrounding home décor itself. If you have any questions regarding flooring transitions please stop by the showroom. No matter the situation there is always an option for you. From manufacturer transitions to custom transitions we have the ability to make one to fit your specific job. 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!

Stay independent longer with a walk-in tub

Hoping to stay in your home as long as possible? Debating which home renovations are best suited to helping you achieve that goal?

Considering a report from the Government of Canada states one in four seniors fall every year and many of those falls happen in the bathroom, it’s no surprise that installing a walk-in tub can allow seniors to live at home independently for an additional five years, on average.

“Getting in and out of the bath or shower is a huge source of anxiety for seniors, especially those with mobility issues,” says Rick Perkins, owner of Walk-In Tubs Thompson Okanagan. “For both seniors and their family members, installing a walk-in tub can make a big difference when it comes to safety and peace-ofmind ”

Why a walk-in tub? Why not a walk-in shower?

“I’ve often met with clients who for whatever reasons don’t particularly like baths and would prefer to continue showering,” Perkins says “While I completely understand everyone has a

personal preference, I always encourage them to consider their safety first and the numbers don’t lie, walk-in baths are the safest solution on the market ”

Walk-in tubs are specifically designed with senior health, safety and longterm comfort in mind, Perkins says. If you’re thinking a grab-bar is all you need, ask yourself one simple question: “If I slip and manage to catch myself on the grab bar, do I have the upper body strength to fully prevent a fall or am I still going to walk away injured?”

The vast majority of the seniors Perkins speaks with agree they can’t safely rely on grab-bars alone.

“I just want to help people, if I make a sale along the way great, but it’s never my priority,”

– Rick Perkins.

Keeping their clients safe is the ultimate goal – they’re not a high-pressure, salesfocused business, says Perkins, who though semi-retired, continues to sell walk-in tubs because he and his wife, Cheryl, find it so rewarding and fulfilling “Rick has always been a ‘people person’ – he just loves visiting and helping people,”

Cheryl says “This is a ‘feel-good’ business and we’re driven to continue it because we’re not only helping keep our fellow seniors safe, but helping them retain their independence for as long as possible ”

Walk-in Tubs Thompson Okanagan

offers a free, zero-obligation estimate and Rick is always eager to provide prospective clients with information on Provincial and Federal tax-credits and grants available for seniors interested in a walk-in tub.

Learn more at walkintubsbc.com, email info@walkintubsbc.com or call 250-682-4932 for more information.

By Impress

Media (a division of Black Press).

BECOME A VOLUNTEER TUTOR

you have 2 HOURS A WEEK during school hours to read one-on-one with young students?

Do

• No experience is necessary, but you must have good English language skills

• We provide free training and ongoing support

• Tutors read with 3 elementary students for 30 minutes each, once a week for 12 weeks

Volunteer Training

Daytime Classes Kamloops

KALS offers 44 classes in our Fall semester (September to December)

Fall Classes Starting Soon. Register Now!

Kamloops

Services:

Golden Seal

Senior Support

It’s the help, where and when you need it.

• Transportation/help with errands and community activities

• Companionship

• Cooking

• Light household chores and cleaning

• Light yard work

• Help with technology

• Connecting you with activities you enjoy

• And more!

Golden Seal Senior Support is passionate about helping seniors at affordable rates!

Give Christian a call to find out how he can help you today!

250-819-4450

Another happy customer!

goldensealkamloops@gmail.com

Seniors’ Community Centre at Desert Gardens

540 Seymour Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2G9

Phone 250-372-5110 | www desertgardens ca | desertgardens@hotmail com

We Welcome Everyone in the Community Why not COME AND TRY ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES or just have a Visit

Our Ladies Auxiliary Gift Shoppe is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00am to 1:30pm

ACROSS

1. Outsourcing (abbr.)

4. Post

8. German city on edge of Black Forest

10. “__, but goodie”

11. Spiced stew

12. Passionately

13. Monetary units

15. Group of living organisms

Kamloops Seniors Drop-In Schedule

100 Lorne Street

Sponsored by Kamloops Seniors’ Village • seniorloops@shaw ca

Coffee, tea, cards, andother activities available at each drop-in $2 00 cash drop in

Join us every week and connect with others!

Complimentary parking passes available

16. compound derived from ammonia

17. High honors

18. 5-year-olds’ classes

21. Swiss river

22. Old woman

23. Cash machine

24. A way to soak

25. Hair product

26. Deride

27. “The Blonde Bombshell”

34. Cause to become insane

35. Bluish greens

36. Supported with money

37. Type of equation

38. Court officials

39. Indian god

40. Rids

41. Leak slowly through

42. Units of ionizing radiation

43. Midway between south and southeast

DOWN

1. Native of Slovakia

2. Deli meat

3. Fibrous substance in fungi

4. Cutting

5. Vedder and Van Halen

6. Horror comic novelist

7. Rulers of Tunis

9. Shaped like a circle

10. Make a pig of oneself

12. Aphorism

14. Witness

15. Single Lens Reflex

17. Freshwater North American fish

19. Nautical ropes

20. Leg (slang)

23. Pokes holes in

24. Moved quickly on foot

25. Fix-it shops

26. Type of bread

27. Repaired

28. Synthetic diamond (abbr.)

29. Type of drug (abbr.)

30. German city along the Rhine

31. Animal disease

32. Martini necessities

33. Get away from

34. Village in Mali

36. Djibouti franc

Merritt Senior Centre

The Merrit Seniors Association 250-378-3763

By Marilyn BrownBook Review

Beyond That, the Sea

By Laura Spence-Ash Celadon Books, 2023

Historical fiction, romance

Creekside Seniors - Chase

SEPTEMBER 2023

SUDOKU

Although perhaps it is predictable that sending a child away for an indeterminate time might skew the bonds within a family, parents, above all else, want their child to survive the terrible bombing of London in World War II. Large groups of children are rushed from the city to further reaches of Britain to live with sheltering families. Some are received in other countries considered safe places. During the time that the U.S. is neutral, and if they could afford to do so, a number of parents send their offspring to American shores.

Beatrix, only eleven years old, travels without a guardian across the Atlantic. She is received by a generous and warm family with two boys close to her in age. The younger of the two boys is open-hearted, interested in many things considered “geeky” by some, and is steady emotionally. His older brother overshadows him, gifted in several areas, a leader, but he has a dark side.

Fortunately for Beatrix, called “Bea” by the new family, her foster parents have the means and the willingness to nurture her. The lifestyle of this family in Maine is considerably more luxurious than that of her parents in London. As the war drags on, Bea’s memories about her own parents begin to fade. Bea is smitten by the beauty and expanse of the Maine geography, at home on the little island that her new family has inhabited for generations.

Subtle and overt tensions within and between the two families accelerate as the war in Europe is about to end. Bea must go back to England. That was the deal.

The story follows Bea and other key characters as they mature, solidify their careers, and wander through various relationships, some healthy, others not so much. The author deftly sketches a few of the ways a seemingly close relationship can fizzle, but fear not! Bea is resilient. What the author does do well here is illuminate how boldly stepping out of one’s comfort zone to remedy misunderstandings may be the best thing one can do, both with parents, and romantic interests.

Beyond That, the Sea clips along at a good pace, covering the war years and ending in the 70s.

Kamloops Family History Society presents workshop

by Claire Smith Burns

The Kamloops Family History Society will welcome Claire Smith Burns, a Kelowna Genealogical Research & Educator on September 28th at Heritage House at 7 p.m.

Her presentation ‘Organizing Online Research & Digital Files’ Guests are welcome to attend. To save your seat please RSVP info@kfhs.org. Admission by donation.

PEO to screen classic On Golden Pond in bursary fundraiser

The Kamloops chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) will be enjoying a trip down memory lane with a showing of the 1981 classic, On Golden Pond, at the Paramount Theatre at 503 Victoria St. In an effort to raise money locally to support women in post secondary education, PEO awards three one-thousand dollar bursaries annually to Kamloops high school students.

The show date is September 26th at 10 a.m. Tickets are $15 and will be sold in advance. All ticket holders will receive a goody bag and can also request home delivery of their tickets. Contact Jane Barley at 250-828-0355 for more information or to order tickets.

ENTER TO WIN a copy of INDELIBLE by Wendy Nordick

Driven by a long-standing desire, her education and her faith, mental health professional and local author, Wendy Nordick, and her husband Bill Blair, a retired judge, plunged into a two-year assignment with Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO). She believed her twenty-five years of clinical social work were appropriate credentials to help a country with the highest rates of suicide in the world. Bill hoped to work for peace and justice. They felt they became laughingstocks when work visa delays left them homeless. Days before leaving, Wendy’s father died. Once in Sri Lanka, she shivered in a rickety beer factory cum hospital where she taught mental health skills. A year later, she was transported into steamy, bombed out Jaffna, the epicenter of a civil war to teach a trauma team who worked with the war affected and tortured during the war. She was humbled by what she did not know and sought help from a previous refugee. Read her account of this lifealtering experience in Indelible: A Social Worker in the Wake of Civil War.

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF INDELIBLE BY WENDY NORDICK

Please email your name, address and phone number to win@connectornews.ca. Contest deadline is September 15, 2023 @ 12 noon. The book will be mailed out to the winner.

TIME FOR KUDOS

As a young American, Alba was not recruited into the services because he had a heart murmur. So, instead, he embarked on a heavy-duty career as an ironworker. His employment took him and his family from Florida to Georgia, and Delaware to Pennsylvania. It was mid-March when they moved to Maryland yet the temperatures were well into the eighties Fahrenheit. Contracts with G&H Steel Co. included ship-building, constructing shopping malls, and erecting bridges and floodwalls. The jobs meant working outside for months in the stifling heat. Moving to West Virginia in 1948, chilly weather with heavy wind and rain storms put Alba in hospital with pneumonia. The physically strong workaholic recovered quickly and was promoted. He and his family immigrated to a foreign country for his new assignment.

Laura, Alba’s daughter, thrived on the periods when there were changes in the landscapes, seasons, schools, homes and other things. One early morning, brushing the hair from her eyes, she awoke and gazed out a window of the international flight she was on. A few hours earlier, she’d fallen asleep in the Deep South where willows were shrouded in ‘old man’s beard.’

She was awakened by commotion in the cabin as her flight descended over groves of birch and maple trees in Canada.

As one of many superintendents, Alba’s new employment in Toronto, Ontario was to take on a mammoth project already underway; it was the construction of

the first underground subway in Canada.

Literally, from the ground floor in 1949, Alba and his crews of hundreds of tradesmen installed critical grids of iron work and concrete-reinforced steel beams on the spectacular Yonge Subway. To accomplish constructing an engineering feat of enormous proportions, thousands of employees toiled for months on end.

At ten, for a fifth grade English assignment, Laura wrote, “Daddy keeps me dreaming by moving my landscapes!” She was enamoured by the city of Toronto and, whether walking in a rainy reverie or trundling in snow and sleet, she took notice of everything new to her and wrote essays.

“I kick scattered crimson and gold maple leaves and make powdery angels in the new-fallen snow. The cold dry concrete of Toronto took me off guard at first, but I’m getting used to it. Clobbering down our streets, old fashion horse-drawn carriages bring milk and bread to our neighbourhood.

From my house on Spadina Road, I hear the noisy trolley cars, guided by overhead cables, trundle down tracks in the middle of the streets! Big city highways lead my family to the cool northern lakes where sunfish, trout and bass wait for my live bait and daddy’s shiny fishing lures. At the fishing camp on Rice Lake, I chased long-legged frogs and caught them! They were cute little critters, but daddy would not let me keep them in my pockets. From the bate pail one time, I caught a mud sucker with a frog’s leg!”

At twelve, Laura

Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw

learned the bus routes and crossed the city alone. She got off at a church with a magnificent steeple. Attending services with her family, the impressionable girl was inspired spiritually by the respectful aura of the sacred music that echoed over the sanctuary from the awesome pipe organ. Thereafter, Walmer Road Church became a favorite stop.

Laura also loved the CNR trains. Leaving the busy urban streets behind, they chugged through mountains, passed small towns, outlying fields, rivers streaming in all directions, and waterfalls trailing like ribbons down through the valleys and into the lakes. She was enthralled and fell in love with Mother Nature. In the far northern Lakehead area of Ontario, Alba introduced his daughter to a ‘newfangled’ phenomenon. The spectacle of green and pink, swirling, northern lights of the Auroras took her breath away… as did the huge rink of Toronto’s famous Maple Leaf Gardens where she learned how to skate and twirl in her white Barbara Ann Scott figure skates.

In 1954, after almost five years in Toronto, the little girl who’d arrived in patent leather shoes and ankle socks was now in bulky bobby socks and penny loafers. It surprised her, in retrospect, to look in a mirror at a girl who used to wear bangs and barrettes. She saw a lot more including lifechanging directions of things to come. The construction of the subway was finally completed.

On March 30, 1954, the opening day of the awesome transportation system, Alba took his

daughter on a maiden trip underground. There was virtually no natural sign of the Creator’s hand in the tunnels; however, there was an ingenious canvas of the creativity and strengths of man. Sitting on velvety leather seats aboard the speeding, streamlined Gloucester-style car, she was mesmerized by the tunnel lights whizzing by. Sometime later, from the platform at the last stop of the twelve stations, thousands rallied in celebration of the opening chapter of one of the biggest projects ever to be accomplished in the old city. Alba was proud and humbled at the extraordinary cultural landscapes which his personal career had taken him and his family through. To leave anything out of life, that was available to him, would have been to leave parts of his psyche in a coma.

In a heart-felt thankyou to her father, Laura hugged Alba and poetically told him, “You know, daddy, each breeze offered me a different intensity of experience. I’m indebted to you for all the places you’ve taken me and all the things you’ve taught me.” The keen curiosity, that Alba encouraged, journeyed with her; he had tilled and watered her personal landscapes and influenced her thinking to reach for the heights and distances her mind’s eye revealed. With endless food for thought, in the harvest of her life, Laura glances back at her late father’s adventurous spirit and, like the squirrels in her yard, she thrives on being the gate keeper of all the stored-away morsels of memory. They peak above the common denominator: lover of all creation.

What is grief?

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

Give yourself grace. Pause from all the things you think you ‘ought to’ do, ‘should’ do or ‘have to’ do. Who created these expectations anyway?

Dealing with loss/ change/grief when we are in that place—things aren’t the same. We think we can operate as we did before ‘the’ event. During the process, we often don’t give ourselves support, the ones that need it most. We can be there for others but when it comes to ourselves, why don’t we cut ourselves some slack? We think we can still do all the things, like we could before, because, after all, we’ve had enough time to ‘get back to normal’ or we can handle it, right?

But the fact is, we haven’t been sleeping well. We’ve had to make decisions while also going through challenging emotions. We’ve been living a life full of tasks and chores that are on top of what our ‘normal’ lives

The flip side…

used to be. Maybe we are even trying to get back to a life we used to have. Returning to a job. Trying to be a contributing partner in a relationship. Returning to the ‘you’ you once were…but are no longer.

Focusing is difficult. Decisions can be near impossible, even ones that seem simple.You know you want to get off the couch, but was it for a glass of water or to go to the bathroom? I.don’t. know.

And then you are wondering if how you’re acting, what you are thinking, saying or doing or, more commonly, not doing, this fog that is surrounding you, is it normal?

Expectation.

Comparison. Judgment. Pause. Give yourself the space you need. Expect less of yourself. No two people’s grief/loss is the same. There is no finish line to cross. Go at your own pace. That is what grief is.

End of Life Doula

outsideColouring the lines

When joy turns to sorrow. Last month I wrote of my quest for joy and quoted from the Book of Ecclesiastes, which tells us there is a season for everything: a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance…

As the summer turns to fall, we have moved into a time of weeping and of mourning. Fires are burning across the province, causing massive devastation – the loss of homes, the loss of businesses, the loss of forests and orchards and vineyards. And, of course, the loss of life for many of our more than human neighbours.

As I write these words, we are in the midst of the worst weekend of the season, when high

winds fanned fires into maelstroms, with many fires growing ten-fold overnight. 35,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. A provincial state of emergency has been declared. Many voices are shouting to be heard, ready to assign blame, targeting individuals and government offices. Daily the shouting gets louder. These are voices who want desperately to be heard. “See, this is what happens when…”

The verb “see” implies the use of our eyes – and when my eyes look around, I see flames, yes. I see smoky skies, yes. I see devastation, yes. And I see people in pain, people who have lost their homes, people who have lost almost everything. I see men and women working with little or no sleep to save as many homes as possible, to provide shelter and food and resources to those in need. I see other communities sending firefighters and equipment to help neighbours

in need. I see compassion growing exponentially as fast as the fires have.

The beloved Mr Rogers is attributed with a quote that becomes popular in times like these: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in the world.

In the midst of the maelstrom, in the midst of the shouting voices and the roaring flames, there is a silent majority. The helpers speak with their silence. They are too busy to shout, and they don’t need to raise their voices. They are living love quietly and with great strength. This is the Jesus way: to move alongside people, loving them and offering what is needed in the

moment - a hug, a blanket, a cup of water, a bite of food, a bed to sleep in, shelter for homeless pets, a listening ear and a kind word. Ecclesiastes also says there is a “time to keep silent and a time to speak.” Perhaps the writer of this wisdom understood that there are times when the silence speaks much more loudly than the shouting voices. With deep gratitude to all the helpers who have sacrificed so much for so many this season of devastation. Please know that we see you and, even as we weep and mourn, we celebrate you.

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.org and be in touch!

REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

Is scattering ashes a good idea?

By Nolan Adam, owner of Drake Cremation and Funeral Services

Scattering ashes is a personal decision that depends on individual beliefs, cultural practices, and preferences. Whether it’s a good idea or not can vary widely from person to person. Here are some considerations to help you decide if scattering ashes is the right choice for you or your loved ones:

Personal or Cultural Beliefs:

Consider your loved one’s person’s beliefs and values. Some religions have specific guidelines or restrictions regarding cremation and the scattering of ashes. Make sure to respect these beliefs when making your decision.

Legal Regulations: Be aware of the laws and regulations in your area or the location where you plan to scatter the ashes. Some places may have specific rules governing the scattering of ashes, especially in public places or bodies of water. Violating these regulations can lead to legal issues.

Weather Conditions : Have you seen the movie

The Big Lebowski? If you haven’t, please take into consideration the direction of the wind.

Environmental Impact: If you’re concerned about the environment, research ecofriendly options for scattering ashes. Some people opt for scattering in natural settings, like forests or meadows, to minimize the ecological impact.

Memorialization: Consider whether you want a physical memorial for the deceased. Cemeteries play an important social role in our society. It is an exact location where people can gather to remember and feel connected to their deceased family member. With the availability of ancestry tracking (i.e. 23&Me) there has been a surge in people looking for the location of their long-deceased family members.

Family and Friends’ Wishes: Take into account the wishes and feelings of family

members and friends. Scattering ashes can be a meaningful and cathartic experience for some, but it might be emotionally difficult for others. Ensure that the decision aligns with the collective wishes of those close to the deceased.

Personal Connection to a Location: Scattering ashes in a place that held special significance for the deceased or their loved ones can be a beautiful tribute. It can create a lasting connection between the person and that place.

Alternative Options: There are many alternative ways to memorialize ashes if scattering doesn’t feel right. Please contact me at nolan@ drakecremation. com to explore those options.

Long-Term Planning: If

you’re considering scattering your own ashes in the future, make sure you communicate your wishes clearly to your loved ones. Pre-planning can help avoid potential disagreements or confusion during an emotional time. Scattering ashes can be a meaningful and fitting choice for many, while others may prefer alternative options for memorialization. It ultimately comes down to personal beliefs, values, and what feels right for you or your loved ones. It’s important to consider the various factors involved and make an informed decision that respects the wishes and preferences of the deceased and their close family and friends.

people ignore hearing loss because they falsely think the consequences are not that bad But years of research shows otherwise Untreated hearing loss has been proven to impact our physical and mental health and, ultimately, our quality of life