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VOL. 29, NO. 6, OCTOBER 2020 POWERED BY KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK | A PROUD PART OF ABERDEEN PUBLISHING
Riches to Rags and the Historic Kamloops Old Men’s Home By Frank Dwyer, an amateur historian and secretary of the Sagebrush Neighbourhood Association
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his is a riches to rags story (being a twist on things) with a heaping of dignity in the end. It is the remarkable story of how a home for old men, mainly prospectors, came to be in Kamloops long ago. British Columbia at the end of the 18th century, and through the first half of the next, had a large population of “Lonesome Prospectors.” In 1901, overall, there were 177 men to 100 women in B.C. For many there was no retirement. In those days, government pensions did not exist. The oldtimers found what work they could, lived in rough shacks, and hung on until desperately old or sick. “Poverty and ill health rather than freedom and independence marked the lives of elderly lonesome prospectors.” In 1893, the provincial government passed an act to establish a provincial home for the aged and infirm. Just two years later, in September of 1895, the home opened in Kamloops. For decades after, most knew it as the Provincial
Old Men’s Home or, sometimes, the Old Man’s home on Columbia Street. There was a steady stream of old fellows. By 1922, the need arose for a nearby cemetery, so that was built on the once Ussher family farm, along 6th Avenue just below the present St. Andrews church. The home existed until 1974 when they tore it down to make way for what is now Ponderosa Lodge. There were 65 beds on opening day. The furnishings cost the grand sum of $3,423 ($105,032 in today’s dollars). There were some concessions to the free spirited oldtimers. Residents could take leave on occasion. Many worked in orchards or took to the bush for a spell. While in care, they abided by strict rules, although one historian commented that they were often unconventional in an extremely conservative era. Accordingly, they all agreed to “to keep up the respectability and tone of the establishment.” One smiles at the thought. It is also pleasing that these pioneers had some dignity
in their final years. Some of the old men were instrumental in creating the province and many had astonishing stories. Take James Moore, a Californian, who with six companions stopped for lunch on the Fraser River just above Yale. It was Moore’s twenty-sixth birthday. He noticed a sparkle at his feet. That glimmer turned out to be gold. The small sand bar they rested on eventually produced two million dollars worth of gold. Young Moore had set off the gold rush and much of what eventually shaped our province. Moore, some sixty-years later talked about all that unfolded in the then rough colony, by stating, “We laid the foundation of British Columbia.” A reporter, David Higgins, at the Kamloops Old Men’s Home, recorded his sage remarks. “It was at this home that James Moore showed up in 1914 at the age of 82. He was described then as broken and penniless.” (With gratitude to author Darla Dickinson, “Colorful
Characters in Historic Yale.” Courtesy of the Yale Museum. 03 Gold Rush.) These days, few people notice the lovely, old cemetery. Under its verdant, undulating surface lie the remains of men from thirty-two countries and ten provinces. Moved by the poignancy of the many stories, and glad of this outstanding heritage, the Sagebrush Neighbourhood Association proposed, in the spring of last year, that the city create a memorial arboretum by planting trees representing some of the nations these pioneers came from. Thankfully, the city is enthused with the idea and planning is underway. The association, for its part, is providing a set of magnificent, wrought iron gates. A renowned Falkland based blacksmith has created them over this summer. They will replace the existing, somewhat derelict ones. The association hopes to install them, supported by graceful columns, early next year in time for the 100th anniversary of this remarkable, hallowed ground in 2022.
Kamloops Old Men’s Home 1913
Kamloops Museum and Archives KMA 3017
One of the wrought iron gates created by blacksmith Patrick McIvor of Falkand. The Sagebrush Neighbourhood Association has recently been encouraged by a very generous grant of $1,000 from the Colombo Lodge. (Of the many buried at the old cemetery, eighteen came from Italy.) The hope
is to raise an additional $5,000, to match the $5,000 committed from their savings. If you or your organization could assist, please visit the Facebook page or speak with board member Frank Dwyer at 250-374-5477.
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At the Y, your health and We’re Stronger safety is our priority
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It’s a challenging time and the Kamloops Y is here to support you in your health and wellness journey. We’ve made some changes to ensure you and your family have a safe and comfortable experience in our facilities, including:
Our community's health is important.
• Closely monitoring updates and guidance from health authorities • Adhering to rigorous sanitation practices • Reducing facility capacities and group sizes for programs andThank classesyou, Kamloops, for supporting the Y. • Conducting a daily health screen upon anyone entering As facilities we reopen our facilities, let's continue to YMCA participate safely and our community • Providing hand sanitizers and keep disinfecting wipes • Increased signagestrong and education about hygiene and and healthy! physical distancing • Convenient online registration for Y Members • New unique classes exclusive to the John Tod Center Y, with discounted rates for members
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Come check us out! Or visit us online at KamloopsY.ca to see more ways that we’re working on keeping Kamloops safe and healthy.
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Relationship with animals: as friends, food and furs By Bonnie Klohn, Kamloops Food Policy Council, Collaborative Leadership Team
Simple Salmon 2 Salmon fillets 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons tamari 1 tablespoon maple syrup 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon grated ginger
DIRECTIONS 1. Combine tamari, syrup, garlic and ginger in a bowl and set aside. 2. Heat a fry pan over medium heat. Melt butter and let brown in the pan. 3. Place the salmon fillets in the pan skin side down and pour sauce over top.
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One of the most problematic areas we see our food system fray is with industrial meat. COVID-19 made it clear that the consolidation of meat into conglomerate feedlots and slaughterhouses is not only harmful for the environment but also creates a system that is fragile to disruption. In Canada, the protein sector has undergone intensive concentration, which has resulted in more expensive and less available protein in grocery stores since the pandemic began. In the U.S., the closure of just three processing plants decreased pork production by 15 percent. The many documentaries exposing the treatment of animals and the protests against eating meat makes
know that it depended on humans for its safety, and I know (now more than ever) that the presence of these local farms also creates safety for us. In my hide tanning course, we also learned to make leather from salmon skins. By using tannins from bark, we made strong and supple leather with a characteristic fish scale look to it. I thought about our relationship to salmon as I scraped and stretched the skin into leather. Can the human/salmon relationship keep them safe the same way as does sheep? Can we safeguard their habitat and journey up the rivers? Can we look deeply to them as teachers and as gifts to us? The act of slowing down and contemplating our connection to our food and to animals through hide tanning or simply by being mindful about our relationship to what we eat, helps us to repair some of the frayed strands of the food system and understand more deeply the needs of the local land and water we depend on. Knowing who raised your meat and where your salmon was caught will help us to be in touch with issues such as the challenges small farmers are facing and how the impacts of climate change are affecting fish habitat. What ultimately comes out of that is a deeper understanding of what the land and water is depending on us to do to ensure its ongoing health, and the reciprocity of our relationship.
COLUMBIA SH TI
I
n my work at the Kamloops Food Policy Council, we take a whole system approach to our efforts to create a regenerative, sovereign, and just food system. For me, this provides a delicious opportunity to think about the strands that weave us humans together with the environment. What has become clear to me is that in so many ways, food is what ties us physically and subliminally to the land and water. Each time we drink water, take a bite, or share a meal, we are consuming something that came from the land and it becomes a part of us; a little strand of attachment that cumulates into a much larger weave. As our food system becomes more complex, global, and commodified, those strands become too long and frayed.
a person think twice about that burger. However, ingredient-based advocacy loses sight of the role of animals as an opportunity to weave humans a little closer with their environment; with the land and water they depend on for life. One of the remedies for this disconnect for me has been taking a deeper interest in animals as friends, food and fur in Kamloops. I recently took up learning how to tan the hides of some of our local animals, primarily sheep. I took workshops offered by Crow’s Nest Wildcraft and embedded in them was an invitation for us to research and understand more deeply our ancestral ties to tanning traditions. As a descendant of Scottish settlers, I feel connected to the creation of sheepskins, something my family most certainly would have been involved in at some point in my lineage. I also feel a very contemporary connection to making a beautiful textile from what otherwise would be a waste product. By gleaning and then tanning the sheepskin, I can honour all parts of the animal, and the reciprocal relationship that humans have with them. As I comb out the sheepskin, I see seeds and bugs that grow up from the fields that are fertilized by the flock. I see old healed scars and other markings that tell a story about its life. I know that this animal was safe for the duration of its life from predators and disease because of its relationship to humans. I
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4. F ry the fillets for 2-3 minutes, flip over and fry for another 2 minutes until salmon is cooked through. 5. A s you fry the salmon push the sauce up against the salmon fillets to avoid burning and wait until the sauce caramelizes. 6. Garnish and serve.
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And the winners are… L your voice in ottawa CATHY MCLEOD MP
ast month’s patriotic quiz set some trivia buffs to work, and, as promised, this month’s column will highlight the names of the winners, as well as answers to the questions. Congratulations and a Canada Flag is going out to Tim Riordon, who got 10/10 plus the bonus question correct, and there were five entries with 10/10: Cathryn Parker, Nadine Pashnik, Bev Bloomfield, Pat Munro, and Don and Sandy Staff. These winners will receive a certificate of congratulations from me, and Cathryn Parker’s name was chosen in a winners’ draw to win a flag. Thank you to all who participated! The quiz and answers:
1. How many points does the Maple Leaf on our national flag have? 11 2. Which city is home to North America’s largest mall? Edmonton 3. How many time zones are across Canada? Six 4. Which Canadian restaurant chain opened in Hamilton in 1964? Tim Hortons 5. What two sports are considered Canada’s national sports? Hockey and lacrosse 6. How many hours of sunshine does Kamloops get annually? 2,000 7. What is the tallest waterfall in Canada? (Hint: It’s in B.C.) Della Falls 8. Who was the first MP for Kamloops? Thomas O’Neill 9. How many oceans border Canada? Three 10. Which province is home to Canada’s tallest mountain? Yukon ** Bonus question: Eighty per cent of the world supply of maple syrup comes from Canada? On the more serious side, a lot has happened since last month. We have a new leader of the Conservative Party and I couldn’t be more pleased, having twice supported Erin O’Toole in his leadership bid. A three-term MP, Erin served in the military, is a lawyer, father and husband. He is ethical, resourceful, thoughtful and willing to do what it takes to rebuild our economy and country. He appointed a strong and diverse group of MPs to his shadow cabinet and we plan to hold the Liberal government to task. I have a new critic role as Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations, my second time to hold this position. We plan to focus on Indigenous economic potential along with collaboration and partnership with communities.
Taking it all in stride
Depending on when the seriousness of the pandemic landed on one’s radar, we have collectively been dealing with it for a minimum of six months. Whether or not you have actually encountered the virus directly, there is no way that it hasn’t impacted your life in some way. Some of us may have been My two cents caught traveling and been Moneca Jantzen Editor forced to quarantine and get tested. Others of us had our jobs or businesses directly affected. Many have had our living situations impacted. One example is the way we have managed trying to keep our elders safe in care homes by curtailing who can visit, for how long and how frequently. Just going to see one’s doctor (if you have one) has become a massive challenge for some. All of us have had our lifestyles altered to some degree whether that has meant we wear a mask now in public or we spend the majority of our time at home in our smaller social bubbles. Many families are now faced with sending their children back to school and doing a big fat ‘Hail Mary’ and hoping there won’t be any major outbreaks. So many snowbirds have had their wings clipped this year and won’t be able to migrate to their southerly destinations. The summer we just had was such a welcome relief to a spring interrupted. It’s hard to shake the feeling that we are in for a long, cold winter but I, for one, am trying to remain as positive as possible. As we feel our way through this strange time, most of us yearn for a sense of normalcy. Seeking out new ways to distract ourselves or ways to keep doing some of what we always did becomes a daily mandate. On top of all the regular COVID-19 challenges, we are now faced with a provincial election. Events on the world stage are no less dramatic but I’m hearing many people are starting to shut off the national and world news due to overwhelm, myself tempted as well. I still have an appetite for local news and will most certainly get properly informed before I vote even if I have to subject myself to more contentious, frustrating news as I do so. (I suspect I might find myself curled up in the fetal position somewhere on November 3, afraid to know what will transpire in the U.S that day, but I digress—so much is beyond our personal control...) The pandemic has made it easier to feel powerless to do anything about what is going on in the world. While this is the case in the grand scheme of things, I think it is important to find a realm that we can control even if its just certain aspects of our personal life. My recent home purchase and move was one such attempt. I have also been supporting businesses and organizations that matter to me and I have been setting up some new approaches to things that, while being small things, may end up making a difference. Hopefully.The pandemic-induced tsunami of plastic stresses me out so I won’t stop trying to do my part and reduce, re-use and recycle. I recently went shopping at Our Footprints and loaded up on some wonderful products that are not only sourced more locally, they are better for me and the environment. Once I use them up I can go refill the original containers. The other thing that I signed up for was a compost pick-up service from Friendly Composting. My new yard is a beautiful oasis but it is relatively small with no alley and multiple neighbours with shared fences. While I have almost always had a compost in my yard, this situation doesn’t really lend itself to having one if I want to be thought of as a ‘good neighbour.’ Until the City catches up with other municipalities on implementing a composting program, I will support this young company and so far so good, their service has been superb. I would love to know what some of you are doing to stay sane and happy in these interesting times. Doing our collective best to take our circumstances in stride and give thanks along the way, will help get us through the worst of the winter and give us hope for a better year in 2021. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Voices of Experience www.connectornews.ca Telephone: (250) 374-7467 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 Liz Spivey (778) 471-7537
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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.
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CROSSING BRIDGES By Rebecca Kurtis, Kamloops Arts Council Admin Intern
A
rt changes lives. Every person should have an opportunity to access art and creatively express themselves. Sadly, not everyone gets the chance to access art whether due to insufficient funds or lack of accessibility. The Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) started Crossing Bridges in 2013— an outreach program designed to address this issue. This interactive multidisciplinary
collaboration among the arts community and social service agencies delivers high-quality arts workshops at no cost to children, youth, families, and adults in the Kamloops area. Artists work alongside staff at local service agencies to deliver visual arts workshops in a variety of mediums. Crossing Bridges helps participants express realities, fears, hopes and dreams, build self-esteem, and helps participants to connect with others. To finish out the program, the KAC holds an annual gallery exhibition showcasing the art made and strives to unite all members of the community while celebrating health and wellness through art. When COVID-19 hit, it put an abrupt end to our face to face classes and it was a great loss for those clients who had come to rely on the weekly or monthly classes as part of their road
to wellness. Many of our partner agencies deal with clients that are challenged with health and mental health or addiction issues, and so it becomes even more important to find ways to reach them and keep a connection going, even during a pandemic. Art has been proven to help build life skills, including self-esteem, self-expression, resiliency, improved mental and emotional health, increased connections, literacy, and even a means of outcome. The KAC has seen firsthand evidence of this in the success of our program. In Outreach Coordinator Lorel’s words “Seeing an indigenous youth that is too shy to come to the opening, but brings his friends and family at quieter times to see his airbrushed canvas for the first time on a gallery wall, is heartwarming. The look on an elderly woman’s
Art Program
face as she sees her artwork displayed in a “real” gallery is priceless. Then to see that same woman find the courage to enter other community art exhibitions like Art Exposed is even better.” The work that Crossing Bridges does in the Kamloops community is priceless in terms of those it has helped, and relationships it has fostered. “It is the greatest impact that the Kamloops Arts Council has on the community and we are overjoyed to be able to offer it. We are proud of the benefits the community gains by employing local artists in a meaningful way, allowing them to share their skills while inspiring and teaching participants.” Indigenous Arts Administration intern Shay Paul recently began teaching Crossing Bridges classes and states “being an instructor for the crossing bridges
Book Review
program has exposed me to immeasurable creativity by the diverse people I meet every week with my job. No workshop is the same, even if I am teaching the same activity for the 10th time. Every workshop is an adventure, and often, the participants are the ones who teach me something.” For more information on how you can get involved in the Crossing Bridges Arts Outreach, please contact Lorel Sternig, KAC Outreach Coordinator at 250-372-7323 or outreach@kamloopsarts. ca. The Kamloops Arts Council can also be found online at www.kamloopsarts.ca Loyal Order of Moose • Women of the Moose • Moose Legion
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49 to represent the 49th parallel that marks one of Canada’s borders. Heather Down and Catherine Kenwell, the editors of Not Cancelled, each recently lost loved ones, the virus protocols complicating the grieving, adding to the mental disequilibrium of grief. Their goal was to help others in these challenging times. They worked quickly: technology and their drive to compile interesting stories of people doing their best to not just overcome anxiety but to live a full life, resulted in this compilation of breezy, sometimes poignant stories, each around three or four pages long. There absolutely are some dark and desperate
circumstances shared by contributors, but all of the stories shine the light of human kindness, hope, and joy that persist in spite of the pandemic. What is not cancelled? How about … 1. Dancing. In the Yukon, Gurdeep Pandher teaches bhangra dancing, accompanied by bagpipes played by Jordan Lincez, a teacher. (You may have seen videos of this on the news.) 2. Superheroes. In Paradise, Newfoundland, Robbie Griffiths dons his Spider-Man suit and delights kiddies and parents by strolling through neighbourhoods, striking the familiar pose: a wide squat, hand flung out to spray the web. 3. Kayaking.
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e seem to be in a pivotal moment of time, past the initial stunning realization that the world is dealing with a pandemic, now realizing repercussions will be long-term and significant. Troubling times indeed. We each could likely compile a long list of activities that have been recently postponed or cancelled due to health COVID-19. Instead of doing that, what if we explored the things that are not cancelled? This idea, a karate chop to all of the negative news, is the heart of the new compilation of personal stories from 49 Canadians,
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From Vancouver Island, Teresa Hedley describes the therapy of floating over an ever-changing seascape, and a surprise to herself, making connections to other boaters. “Strangely, it took a pandemic to offer clarity.” Heather Down is the owner of Wintertickle Press. Catherine Kenwell is a mediator. Both editors are writers, making use of technology in forms such as podcasts and Facebook. Not Cancelled: Canadian Kindness in the Face of COVID-19 is available in e-book format, and wherever books are sold.
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No Secrets to Investment Success market just right? Is it finding those hot stocks or getting in on the “ground floor” of the next big thing? Actually, these types of moves have little relevance to the vast majority of investors — even the most successful ones. So let’s take a look at some steps you can take that can be effective in financial focus helping you work toward LILI A SEERY your financial goals. Financial Advisor • It’s time in the market… not market timing. Some investors think they can any people look for the “secrets” succeed at “market timing” to investment — buying when the price is low and selling when success. Is it timing the 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt
M
Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund
With investments, self-service is no service. Lili A Seery
Financial Advisor 1315 Summit Dr., Unit 4a Kamloops, BC V2C 5R9 250-374-1882
the price is high. And this would indeed be a good strategy if they could predict highs and lows. No one can accurately forecast these peaks and valleys, though. So, instead of ducking in and out of the market in a vain attempt to catch the highs and lows, simply stay invested. The more time you spend in the market, the lesser the impact you’re likely to feel from short-term price swings. And if you’re always invested, you’ll always be in a position to benefit from the next market rally. • It’s “buy and hold” — not “buy and sell.” Even if you aren’t trying to time the market, you may be tempted to buy and sell frequently as you look for new and better opportunities. Yet, this constant buying and selling can be costly. Frequent
trading, with all the additions and subtractions from your portfolio, can make it hard for you to follow a consistent, unified investment strategy. You’re better off purchasing quality investments and holding them for the
long term, until either your needs change or the investments themselves no longer possess the same attributes they did when you purchased them. • It’s building a strong foundation — not getting in on the “ground floor.” Many people regret not
being one of the initial investors of a company that has done spectacularly well. But most new companies don’t achieve anywhere near that level of success. So, instead of looking for the next big thing on the “ground floor,” try to build a strong “foundation” consisting of a mix of quality investments suitable for your risk tolerance, goals and time horizon. This type of investing may not sound glamorous, but a strong foundation is better equipped than a possibly shaky ground floor to withstand the shifting winds of market forces. • It’s cool-headed thinking – not chasing “hot stocks” — If you browse the internet or watch one of the investment shows on cable television, you are bound to read or hear about “hot” stocks. But by the time
the news reaches you, these stocks may already be cooling off. Even more importantly, they might not be right for your needs in the first place. Instead of chasing after hot stocks, which, by their nature, carry a strong emotional component (namely, the desire for quick, big gains), try to coolly and dispassionately analyze your situation to determine which investments are really most appropriate for your goals. There really aren’t any shortcuts to reaching your desired financial destination. But by taking the slow and steady path, you can work toward getting there. Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Member – Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.
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n the recent news, the issue of liability waivers for ski hills has been clarified by the BC Court of Appeal. What do they mean when they say “Liability Waiver”? Activities in public places are governed by the Occupiers Liability Act, which states that an occupier of a premises (person in control of the property) owes a duty to take reasonable care in all of the circumstances to see that a person will be reasonably safe using the premises. That duty of care extends to the condition of the premises and activities on the premises. If a person wants to use a premises open to them for activities, the Occupier can make a contract with the user of the property for its use – like a ski lift ticket
or admission ticket for an adventure park with rides or jumps. The legislation permits the Occupier to contract out of the statutory duty for reasonably safe use of the premises if the Occupier takes reasonable steps to bring that extension, restriction, modification or exclusion of liability to the attention of that person. The Occupier cannot restrict their duty of care if the user is not part of the express agreement or if they are allowed to use the premises without consent of the Occupier, such as a walking trail through a property. A ‘waiver of liability’ means that the user accepts that there are risks and hazards in the activity and waives their right to take legal action. This means that they are straight up prohibited from litigating for any injuries or losses they suffer. This makes sense when the Occupier or owner has made the property available for people who know that there are inherent risk to recreational activities they plan on doing there – ice climbing, down hill mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding, tubing or participating in rodeos are examples. With respect to waivers of liability, it is recognized that while an Occupier
cannot force a person to read the waivers it must take reasonable steps to draw the exclusion to their attention. If you sign a waiver, will it hold up? A Signed Waiver means you have a contract put in front of you that you are to read and if you agree, you sign. In that case, it is pretty easy for the Occupier to argue that you read it before you signed it or that it was brought to your attention so you had the opportunity to read it before you signed and a reasonable person would have done so. What if you don’t sign anything but it is part of your ticket? Will that hold up? That is usually the case for a day ticket for a ski lift or ride – there are factual distinctions but basics of law the same: the Occupier has to prove the knowledge and consent by the user of the terms of the waiver they want to rely on. This is much more difficult to prove than a signed waiver in most instances. What does the recent Court ruling mean for users of ski hills, ziplines, and adventure parks? The BC Court of Appeal ruling means that the limitation or waiver of rights have to be brought to the users attention in clear, unambiguous language BEFORE they buy the ticket
to use the premises. Expect new, brightly colored signs that spell it out for users with no fine print that say: skiing on a mountain is dangerous; snow conditions can change making this activity dangerous; riding on a ski lift at elevated heights is dangerous; do this activity at your own risk; and you cannot sue the owner of this property if you are injured doing this activity. Also expect documents that each user will have to take the time to read that warns them about the risks, and then sign off on those forms that they were warned and chose to do it anyway. Most users know the risks of their activity but the Occupier cannot assume that. Everyone is a beginner at some point. Everyone is safer when the Occupiers disclose to users of a premises such as a ski hill or recreational facility what the risks are and the limits of the use at that premises. It is in everybody’s best interest to have that common understanding. And if you are the one who gets hurt doing an activity, always see a lawyer to determine what your rights are. Every case is fact specific and not every Occupier has done their duty correctly to warn or protect users of their premises.
OCTOBER 2020 | 7
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All about Tetanus aka ‘lockjaw’ •
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MISSAGH MANSHADI Pharmacist
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etanus, also commonly known as “lockjaw,” is caused by a bacterial infection. This serious disease can affect your nervous system
•
and can leads to severe muscle spasms especially of your jaw and neck muscles. The bacteria makes a toxin, or poison, that causes these severe muscle spasms. It can also cause seizures and make it hard for you to swallow or breathe. A complication of Tetanus can actually include broken bones or a broken spine as result of the spasms, blockage of the lung artery, respiratory failure as a result of muscle spasm, cardiac arrest and pneumonia. Tetanus symptoms
•
appear slowly and get worse over time. The time it takes for symptoms to appear after a cut or injury ranges from days to months. In most cases, symptoms of tetanus appear within 14 days. The bacteria is called Clostridium tetani. They are usually found in dirt and soil and on farms and ranches. They enter the body through a wound or cut often by the puncture from a contaminated object (dirty nail or even an unclean injection such as illegal drug use).
serviCe
Bacteria grows better where there is no oxygen. Wounds that are deeper and narrower with less oxygen have a greater chance of acquiring this bacteria. The dirtier the wound, the greater chance of getting tetanus, however, tetanus can also grow on clean wounds. In North America, the chance of getting tetanus is very rare because most people have had shots to prevent the disease. Nevertheless, it does remain a concern for those who aren’t up to date on their vaccinations, and is more common in developing countries. This is particularly important for those that travel internationally. Most pharmacies offer tetanus shots for free and you can get them before you travel. To prevent this awful bacteria from causing harm, you need to make sure your children have their primary vaccines series. The tetanus vaccine usually is given to children as part of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and
r e n ta l s
acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. This vaccination provides protection against three diseases: a throat and respiratory infection (diphtheria), whooping cough (pertussis) and tetanus. In the event you never had tetanus shots as a
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child, or if you’re not sure if you’ve had them, you’ll need to get 3 tetanus shots in about a 1-year time span. After that, 1 booster shot every 10 years will work for you. For those that had childhood shots, they need one booster shot every 10 years.
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Wood Flooring Wills ON Wheels Texture Guide
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loor with texture has emerged as a top trend not only just for hardwood, but across the board in the hard surface category. Every great interior design includes texture and what better way to incorporate it throughout your home then with your flooring? Many homeowners want a floor that has an aged and worn appearance but also provides the same unique texture and feel. Scrapes, knots, wirebrushed—you name it, people want it. The different textures we will be discussing are often mistaken for one another
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Handscraped This look features long, ingrained scrapes and has a high variation between planks. This makes each plank look handcrafted, unique, and rare. It is the perfect backdrop for an industrial kitchen or any rustic design with a ton of character. Wirebrushed Wirebrushing on a hardwood floor helps to bring out some of the softer grain elements in the wood. By pulling out the softer wood grain this creates some texture in the wood that, not only, looks very good but also provides a nice feel underfoot. Distressed Distressed floors have the most character to them. Often mistaken for
floors look like they have been through a lot of wear and tear. Some of the character elements can include scrapes, burns, knots, wormholes, deep sawmill cuts, and pronounced painted not fills. No matter what your style there is a wood look and texture that will suit! One great advantage with a textured floor is that it makes it harder to see some of those scratches or life marks that will happen over time because it already has so much character to the wood. If you live a very active life this could be a nice selling feature for you. As always, if you have any questions or would like to see these hardwood textures for yourself, don’t hesitate to pay us a visit.
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everything organized SHAWN FERGUSON Everything Organized
H
ere comes fall once again and what a beautiful season it is. With the tree leaves changing colors it adds so much beauty to the hillsides but it also lets us know that the impending cold is soon to arrive. It’s now time to prepare for the coming snow (just writing the word ‘snow’ made me shudder). I am not a lover of the cold so I best get ‘Everything Organized’ for the coming season so I’m not rushing around last minute.
For many, this virus has made it so many people had a lot of free time this year to start those
projects that we just never seem to have time to start let lone complete so quickly. I know that was the case for me as many projects were started and finished this year which would have normally taken years to have all this time to start and finish so much. Now, although most projects have been completed, there is still some work to finish up on my new chicken coop to ensure no hungry critters get to my lovely chickens and to put the finishing touches to protect the coop for years to come from the elements. For others, preparing for the snow means tidying up the yard a bit; put bikes and hoses away for the season. For many others, and especially this year, with the record number of new gardens, chicken coops and such being built, this year will take some extra work to ensure your efforts were not in vain. For example, this year saw our family planting much more than
usual to give to friends and family that can’t grow for themselves. The processing this year will be that much more work than so if the temperature drops quickly I have to ensure I have all my other chores done. In a nutshell, if you have a lot to do to prepare for the coming winter, the best time to start getting organized for winter is now! Make a list so that you know everything that needs to be accomplished before the snow hits and this will allow you to tie up all your loose ends and to have the home and yard ready for the coming cold. Shawn Ferguson is a Professional Organizer in Kamloops, BC. He specializes in Senior Transition, Downsizing and estate sales. Find us at www. everythingorganized. net or on Facebook or call (250) 377-7601 for a free half hour consult in Kamloops.
OCTOBER 2020 | 9
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Communication
Have a wall that just won't stay nice?
Story by Trudy Frisk
I
t was a message I’d never heard before. “This is not an answering machine. This is a personal screening machine. It is now a federal offense to activate this phone. Phone solicitors do not call. For personal and invited business callers, press five to continue.” I was aghast. Intending only to chat with a friend, I’d obviously misdialed and disturbed some dark power. Carefully, very carefully, I dialed again. And got the same response. I panicked. “They’ve moved! Been abducted by aliens! Maybe the phone company’s at fault.” On the third try, with trembling fingers, I pressed five. To be met, not with a cheery familiar voice, but a recorded monotone. “No one is available to take your call. Leave a message after the tone.” In despair I hung up. So help me, if I had the power to annihilate just one thing on earth, it would be that dreary, arrogant message. I don’t object to answering machines. They’re useful, even necessary. The tinny, impersonal recording is not. Individual messages used to be the norm. Oh, there are still some. The friend who advises that she’s out watching the grass grow, or another who apologizes because she’s lost her phone and is looking for it, give callers a chuckle as well as ensuring they do leave a message. Granted, some people over did it. One who gave detailed instructions about responding including “Wait for the beep. If you don’t wait for the beep, we won’t get your message,” then continued with several bars of the Moonlight Sonata, as long distance charges piled up, left her callers fuming “Where’s the beep?” It was far preferable to the monotone messages, all by the same bored voice, on almost every machine I call today. I’m never quite certain whether I’ve reached the feed store in Dunster or the farrier in Darfield. They all sound the same. Makes leaving a message awkward. Imagine leaving “Drinks at 7:00 tonight, dinner at 7:30” and having your house painter and his crew turn up, instead of the cousins from Pemberton who were expected.
Of course, the thought behind the answering machine was that people who were away actually wanted those calls and would return them. Hah! So many people now ‘screen’ their calls that, in comparison, companies which assure us we’re their treasured customers as we stay on the phone for hours really seem to care. Eventually we’ll get an answer. From a call center in Morocco, maybe, but an answer. The same can’t be said for the call screeners. Not only do they not answer their phones, they don’t return calls. Why, I wonder are people screening out friends, family and acquaintances? They want to keep the line free in case John Biden invites them to be his running mate? They believe Reader’s Digest is already dialing to inform them they’ve won the big prize? They’re hoping to hear that the money transfer from Uganda has been completed into their private bank account? Alternatively, overcome with life’s sorrows, are they sheltering in the walk-in closet, sipping the last of the Chardonnay, sporadically kicking bitterly at their stock portfolio? Something must guide them. Perhaps they’re being harassed. You know how it goes. “Margie, this is Brad! What do you mean, ‘Brad Who?’ Pitt, that’s who! Brad Pitt! The one who’s been phoning you for weeks. Margie, I can’t take it any more; the kids, the pressure. I need a little adult companionship, if you know what I mean. Now, Margie, don’t hang up! Margie...” Or, “Stefan, it’s Madonna. Again. Stef, you know there’s nothing between me and A-Rod. Just a ruse to deceive the press. Why would I want him when I can have a maple-leaf waving sapsucker like you? Your chateau or mine?” Yes, day after day, that’s bound to get tiresome. Whatever their reason, in a world where, given Skype and a minute or two, we can chat in real time with a stockman in Queensland, screeners seem determined to ignore others as much as they can. Makes life difficult, though, for people who need answers now. The question of who’s driving
whom to the quilt guild meeting on Wednesday has to be resolved before Thursday. Did the neighbour remember to pick up a new block heater cord on his trip to town, or do I have to do it? When the hay truck arrives, do you call Alex to see if he feels like answering the phone so you can find out if he still wants those eight bales of hay? Or, do you just ask the driver to deliver them to Fred, who phoned last night to inquire if there was any extra hay? One could try leaving fake messages to lure them out. “Say, Alex, wasn’t your Black Angus bull supposed to be in the front pasture? I think I saw him walking down the road at-oh, you probably don’t want to be bothered— forget it.” It’s tempting. Sure, e-mail’s a back-up, except that these retiring people often don’t answer it either. The truth is that e-mail, though handy, can’t replace the give and take of discussion. Nor does it offer a chance for spontaneity announcements. When you see a rainbow, or a spectacular display of northern lights, you don’t want to call and leave a message, or e-mail. You want to say, “Go out right now and LOOK at this!” Of course, depending on geography, the one phoned may not see quite the same thing. One January I put on winter garb over my night things and walked out to an empty field to look at the sky because a friend in California called to tell me about an unusual arrangement of the planets. “Go see it!” he insisted, since we were in the same time zone. Unfortunately, the sky over Santa Clara was crisp and clear. The sky over my chilly head was obscured by an air inversion. But, we shared our enthusiasm for an actual immediate event. Care to go for coffee? Have a spare ticket for a hockey game? Think it’s a nice afternoon to take the horses for a ride? Don’t call the screeners. Make friends with spontaneous people. Oh, the person with the screening machine called me back. She has call display, too, so she knew I called. Technology. Sometimes it’s good.
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Kismet, COVID and two best friends S ome of the best things happen quite by accident thus it must have been kismet that Zen Wellness Massage & Esthetics owner Nicole Clay and Robin’s Room Esthetics Studio owner Robin Clements were reunited after 22 years. They had originally met in 1998 while doing their esthetics training in the Lower Mainland and were reunited last year in Kamloops as instructors and licensed estheticians at Interior Academy of Hair Design & Esthetics, teaching the Spa Technician program. Then COVID-19 happened.
“After COVID hit, we decided to go into business for ourselves, with each other. Being instructors, we were not permitted to perform services on clients, which is what we both truly love. So this enables us to
go back to our passions and areas of expertise,” explained Nicole. They recently celebrated their reunion, longtime friendship, new partnership and “mini-spa” with a grand opening. They offer aromatherapy massage, nail enhancements, waxing, pedicures, and lash and brow services. Advanced foot care (Robin is a Certified Master Pedicurist) and spa treatments are available as well. “We are a ying-yang partnership, so to speak. We find our strengths and weaknesses work well together as I’m not into massage and she is not into nail enhancements. All other services we collaborate on. We focus on strengths,” said Robin. While many would have been discouraged to
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open a business during COVID, especially one that includes personal services, Robin and Nicole have been undaunted. “We have been ridiculously fortunate in the way doors have opened and things have moved along for us. Once we made the decision, it all just unfolded very beautifully. Being in the personal services/ beauty industry, we were mandated to close from March through May. However, there is definitely no shortage of people wanting services. It’s just been a matter of staying on top of the recommendations and requirements put in place to help prevent the spread of any disease,” said Nicole. “We want our clients to know that we have taken all safety into consideration and have been so fortunate to have that reflect on the way we operate. We had inspectors in and were fully given thumbs up to continue providing for our community,” said Robin. “We now wear masks for all services. Guests are not required under the current guidelines, so it is optional for them. We are not permitted to serve any water or refreshments, have any retail products out for touching, nor any magazines. We have also had to limit the number of people we see per day as there cannot be any overlap. There is, of course, additional cleaning steps we take between guests. Currently we have only removed services that require prolonged face-to-face contact, or prolonged exposure such as facial and scalp massage.” said Nicole. With COVID protocols in place it isn’t possible
Photo submitted
Robin Clements and Nicole Clay join forces to offer all manner of esthetic services with their two businesses, Robin’s Room and Zen Wellness Massage.
to create a lounge type experience but Robin points out that this way they get to provide a one-on-one session with individualized attention and customized appointments. “Our goal is for our guests to start relaxing the moment they enter our space. We want them to feel important, cared for, and that they have had an amazing visit and can’t wait until their next one,” says Nicole. Nicole and Robin have chosen a downtown location at #209-141 Victoria Street. While in a second floor location, they want their clientele to know that there is an elevator and they
R
are accessible. They currently have done a “soft opening” so their hours are flexible. Going forward they anticipate being open MondayFriday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. with a couple of evenings open for guests as well as Saturdays. Appointments can be arranged by calling Robin at 250-320-8860 or Nicole at 778-538-4225. While kismet may have brought the two estheticians and friends together again they both share a passion for what they do. “I believe that massage is very healing on many levels. Stress takes a huge toll on us – mentally, physically, emotionally. Massage can help with
&
reducing stress and helping our mind and body get to a more peaceful place. Seeing how relaxed people are after their treatment makes me feel like I’ve done a great job,” said Nicole. “The ability to help, heal, relax, and provide comfort in one’s self-care is the most rewarding experience. I wouldn’t change it if I could. I could go on and on how rewarding this is. I’m just so grateful to be doing what I love, in a community I love, with my best friend who I adore. Two separate businesses, one location, and two dedicated people,” said Robin.
Zen Wellness Massage
Nails • Pedicures • Massage • Waxing #209-141 Victoria Street – By Appointment Only
Robin Clements Licensed Esthetician 250-320-8860 • robinsroom1@gmail.com
Nicole Clay Licensed Esthetician
778-538-4225 • KamloopsZenMassage@gmail.com
OCTOBER 2020 | 11
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Summer is gone: RV prep ahead By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist
I
n recent discussions with various campgrounds and parks around the province, there seems to be a common theme. This summer has been a busy summer for family “staycations”, in essence more people have stayed within the province for their family vacation activities. The outdoors were the greatest recipient of the adventures while taking into account the affects of COVID-19 for those in B.C. Camping and RV usage had gone up tremendously, camping equipment sales were up, bicycle sales were also up which was really good and healthy for all of us. Unfortunately as the season is changing, limited schooling is now in session, it is time for the RV to be serviced in preparation for the down time of being parked. This is a good time to do the necessary functions instead of waiting until the spring as the RV shops are not as busy. In speaking to a local RV outlet, the usual recommended winterizations were suggested which included the flushing of the water system and the use of a good quality antifreeze to protect the lines. Be sure to request the better fluids as the cheaper ones tastes are harder to remove when refilling next season. On a regular yearly basis I inspect and check on the propane system in my motorhome so it is certified for consumer use when needed. Fortunately that rotten egg smell of propane is a good giveaway of a leak but usually that means it is a bigger leak that needs immediate attention. The RV shops perform
a Propane Certification with some sensitive equipment that can locate the minor leaks that may go unnoticed until it’s too late. This is also a good time to service the brakes, tires and wheel bearings as the shop indicated that this type of repair has become fairly prominent. They informed me there were many more services of this type that were brought in after failures had occurred. This is a wise function to perform as a preventative measure minimizing breakdowns while travelling. For those owners who have a trailer, be sure to have your pulling vehicle brake controller matched to the brakes of the towed unit. I have witnessed too many times where mismatching created some real havoc and a few accidents. Not that I am trying to blow ones budget but, for storage purposes I recommend proper RV and wheel/tire covers. The cover allows the vehicle to breath which a tarp does not. This eliminates the potential of moister damage even in this dry part of the country. Yes, they are a little pricey but I have used mine for 9 years now and they do an excellent job. Previously I used common variety tarps which resulted in water retention and they only lasted 2 years max—not such a good idea.
Have the RV shop inspect all seals and seams plus have a thorough under vehicle inspection. Any possible access holes for mice is not good. Be sure to remove any potential food sources to minimize rodent attraction. Last year I came across a small wasp’s nest while helping a friend prepare their trailer for use. I was told to use some “brake cleans” spray on the nest and the ones in flight. All I can say is it sure did work! Another odd ball discovery was that in the fall the wasps seem to be more prevalent which helped me realize it was not the best time to polish my unit with pure Carnuba wax. I didn’t even finish part of the hood before I had a swarm of wasps drawn to the vehicle. Carnuba is sweet which makes it a desirable substance for attracting wasps as there were now no flowers for them to consume. I waited until the Spring to wax the vehicle. One other recommendation from the RV shop came about as a result of limited battery power/capacity. Even with LED bulbs the electrical draw for lighting exceeded the ability of the battery to provide. Their suggestion was to use two 6 volt batteries hooked up in series to provide the electrical need, because of their increased capacity compared to one 12 volt battery. This adaptation will be on the top of my list to do before I put the cover on. Good luck with your prep procedures for a good “staycation” next year. Concerns or questions please feel free to contact me at bigsix8280@yahoo.ca.
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12 | OCTOBER 2020
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Stories that matter
The inside story WENDY WESEEN
People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that. No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.” ~ Dorothy Day
G
iving is not just about the receiver BUT it also transforms the giver. I was given this understanding after recently watching a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) documentary: “Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story,” about New York city’s servant of God (18971980), an American woman activist who founded the Catholic Worker movement, and established houses of hospitality and advocated non-violent protest throughout her entire life while serving others on
the streets of New York City. At a moment when a pandemic is bringing all the failures of democracy and an economic system that fosters discrimination and widening poverty, and that brings every “ism” in the world into stark relief, nothing could be more timely than a recent biography (April 2020) published and documented about Dorothy Day. I had never heard of Dorothy Day but because I’m feminist-minded with a veil over my eyes, I was struck by how often women’s world-changing and often altruistic work and dedication throughout history has been invisible. I’m grateful for the increased focus on women’s contributions in a time when all human resources including equal partnerships by both men and women are needed. This era is often coined the “ascent of women.” Some remind us the status of women is a barometer of a society’s tolerance, fairness and openness. As I watch world news unfold and witness an upsurge of participation by women (in particular in positions of governing, business, science, and journalism), I’m hopeful we will continue to move towards more equitable participation by women in the democratic process. But flash videos presented by news media are often still overwhelmingly filled with rooms exclusively filled with men only often competitively arguing about
how to solve problems. Research has shown that beyond the obvious physical differences between men and women, women interact differently, and are more collaborative minded with better interpersonal communication skills. I dream one day, men will be given increased permission to access their intuition and express emotion more. (Next month’s column will explore what society teaches boys and men with the understanding that both men and women must be willing to change.) In addition, perhaps an upside of the pandemic might be that mental health is now a legitimate worthy subject of discussion. But there is another message illuminated by Dorothy’s life; giving is not just about the receiver BUT transforms the giver. There’s been many times in the past six months when I felt helpless to help others. As a member of the most vulnerable population on the planet, many of my altruistic actions have decreased and I’m more aware of my own need to help but also a reluctance to ask and receive help now that I need it. In the end, my contribution to world change seems puny now but knowing one of the kindest and helpful things one person can give another, is to listen and hold space for them without judgement, advice or the urge to fix. “A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions.”
Clearwater Seniors’ Activities
OCTOBER 2020
Virtual Options through Clearwater Community Recreation and Healthy Living Program in Facebook. Phone Lynne (250-674-8185) for further info.
SUNDAY
MONDAY
4
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
6
Sit & Be Fit with 5 Sabine @10:30
13
12
18
14
Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia @ 10:30 am
Live Streaming “Garden Harvesting”
Live Streaming “Preparing Garden for Winter”
20
Sit & Be Fit with19 Sabine @10:30
Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm 25 Sit & Be Fit with26 Sabine @10:30 Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm
Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am
8
Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym @ 10:30 am 12:30 - 2 pm
Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm 11
Calendar of Events
Writer’s Circle 1 COPD Walking Group2 “Zoom” 11:00 - 12 pm
7
27
Live streaming “Somatika” 6:30 - 7:30 pm
9
COPD Walking Group 11:00 - 12 pm
29
Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia Book Club on Zoom @ 10:30 am @ 2:00 pm
3
10
(DLCC gym)
Hike: Meet outside Arena 8:30 am
Writer’s Circle 15 COPD Walking Group15 11:00 - 12 pm (DLCC gym) “Zoom” Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 12:30 - 2 pm
SATURDAY
(DLCC gym)
17
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22 21 COPD Walking Group Sit & Be Fit with Sylvia Pickle Ball, DLCC Gym 11:00 - 12 pm (DLCC gym) @ 10:30 am Hike: Meet outside 12:30 - 2 pm Arena 8:30 am “Ride the Bus” 28
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COPD Zoom meeting
our readers. Thank you for your loyalty.
330 Seymour St., Kamloops, BC V2C 2G2 • 778-471-0983 www.connectornews.ca • sharon@connectornews.ca
ACROSS 1. S oon, to the Bard 5. L ike many a street dog 10. L ong, lyric poems 14. N ot a one 15. S oap plant 16. H indu divinity 17. D enied, like a proposal to the board 20. C ompete on the ice 21. P lace you live in, briefly 22. S ounds from a dungeon 23. S mall dose (abbr.) 24. G iant extinct NZ bird 26. _ __ John, NB 28. Tennis stroke on the left side, for most 32. Q uantity 35. L ake south of Huron 36. C ourt’s expertise 37. P eace treaty 38. S ettle the bill 39. P arks of civil rights fame 40. Toronto’s winter hrs. 41. B og material 43. 45. 48. 49. 50. 53. 55. 57. 59.
Teases I nvigorating booster Vital sign C omplete P ompous bozo S ome lab samples Vientiane native R ecess in the wall The guy started unbelievably swiftly
62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67.
rug addict D Like superhighways Dolly of “Hello, Dolly!” Use a caber Loan shark’s offence Where the forbidden apple grew
DOWN 1. Anxious feeling 2. Secluded little spots 3. Like some beer in the bar 4. Where chicks live 5. ‘60s Chinese leader 6. Via’s US equivalent 7. Written reminder 8. Book’s explanation of terms 9. “Okey-dokey!” 10. O ld concert halls 11. Two-day Olympic event 12. All tied up 13. Answer back cheekily 18. Charles Atlas type 19. Ammonia compound 25. Halloween mnth. 27. What’s missng from this clue? 28. However 29. Moorland 30. Hops drying oven 31. “___ brillig, and the slithy...” 32. Some primates 33. Prepare spuds, in a way
34. W ell-armed aquatic critters 38. Knee caps 39. Bacardi product 41. Steamed rice dish 42. N N N N N 43. Clavell’s “___-Pan” (‘66) 44. Bell MTS Place, e.g. 46. Private teachers 47. One who calls up memories 50. Needed Bengay, perhaps 51. Push hard 52. Become established 53. Sealed up 54. Banco de Mexico coin 56. Inuit’s Japanese kin 58. ___ of Capri 60. You can get a shot for this 61. Last name of the London beggar who inspired “Simple Simon” Solution to Puzzle
OCTOBER 2020 | 13
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Zone 8 and the 55+ BC Games looks to a brighter future Submitted by Linda Haas
W
e are sorry that the COVID-19 invasion caused the cancellation of so many of our favourite sports and activities this year, including the annual 55+BC Games that should have taken place in Richmond. However, we hope that the virus has spared everyone and those near and dear to each of you. We also hope that you will be able to participate in the 55+ BC Games Sept.14-18 in Victoria. Your ongoing commitment to sporting competition and the benefits of staying physically, socially and mentally active is invaluable. No matter how many competitors in your event, or your placing, to participate is to win. The August 26 edition of Kamloops This Week featured the Kamloops Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Although we commend all the inductees, Zone 8 was especially proud of Liz Karpluk, now 87, but a longtime volunteer and participant in the 55+ BC Games. In addition to the Kamloops Sport Council’s athletics award for great ice curling achievements, we remind readers that in 2006, Liz received the Joe Ziebert Award for her outstanding commitment to further the objectives of Zone 8 and the BC Seniors Games Society, and promotion of the 55+ BC Games. Not only participating in ice curling
and floor curling, Liz was a former President, ice curling coordinator, helped with logowear marketing, and was much appreciated for her friendliness and sharp wit. A friend in need was her friend indeed. The Oct. 15 Annual General Meeting, normally held 10 am at Chief Louis Centre, Tk’emlups Indian Band, off Shuswap Road opposite Sun Rivers, will wrap up this year’s business, and elect Zone 8 President, Director, and Registrar for 2-year terms, and Treasurer for a 1-year term. If you have a nomination for any position, please contact Peter Hughes, 778471-1805 or zone8pres. peterhughes@shaw.ca or nominate at the meeting. The Joe Ziebart award will also be presented at the AGM. We have not yet confirmed whether the Chief Louis Centre will be available on Oct. 15, due to the COVID impact since March, but we hope so. The Tk’emlups Indian Band
has been very generous in their support of Zone 8 by allowing us to meet in their premises, for which we have great appreciation. If the AGM cannot take place physically, it should happen via Zoom. Your area reps and sport coordinators will have more information by early October. Normally, we would have a fund-raising lunch after the AGM, but this year we shall have to cancel due to social distancing considerations. Hopefully, next April will see a resumption of this well supported fundraiser. Special thanks to the maker of many special statuettes distributed on the trails of a local park for our enjoyment and inspiration. Here is one that says it all:
Drop-In Pool 1:00 pm 11
Drop-In Pool 1:00 pm 18
Drop-In Pool 1:00 pm 25
Drop-In Pool 1:00 pm
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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm
Pool/Snooker
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Exercise Class 19 10:00 - 11 am Pool/Snooker 11:00 am - 1 pm Exercise Class 26 10:00 - 11 am Pool/Snooker 11:00 am - 1 pm
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OCTOBER 2020
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Carpet Bowling League 10:00 am Drop-In Cribbage 1:00 pm Table Tennis 1:00 pm
8 7 Fitness Class 9:00 am Carpet Bowling League 10:00 am Meditation 1:00 pm Drop-In Cribbage Meditation 6:30 pm 1:00 pm Dance Lessons 700 pm Table Tennis 1:00 pm 14
Fitness Class 9:00 am Carpet Bowling League Meditation 1:00 pm 10:00 am Drop-In Cribbage Meditation 6:30 pm 1:00 pm Dance Lessons 700 pm Table Tennis 1:00 pm
27
29 28 Fitness Class 9:00 am Carpet Bowling League 10:00 am Meditation 1:00 pm Drop-In Cribbage Meditation 6:30 pm 1:00 pm Dance Lessons 700 pm Table Tennis 1:00 pm
Fitness Class 8:30 am Carpet Bowling League Drop-In Crafts 10:00 am 10:00 am Art Group 10:00 am Table Tennis 1:00 pm
9
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3
10
Cancelled Rise ‘n Shine Breakfast 15
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Fitness Class 9:00 am
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Fitness Class 9:00 am Carpet Bowling League Meditation 1:00 pm 10:00 am Drop-In Cribbage Meditation 6:30 pm 1:00 pm Dance Lessons 700 pm Table Tennis 1:00 pm 21
FRIDAY
Fitness Class 9:00 am
Fitness Class 9:00 am
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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
OCTOBER 2020
Calendar of Events
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7
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9
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14
15
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Foot Care (by appt. only) 27
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Foot Care (by appt. only) 20
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Foot Care (by appt. only) 13
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Foot Care (by appt. only)
THURSDAY
29
Floor Shuffleboard 2:00 - 4 pm
320A Second Ave. NE (Office Hours: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm) TUESDAY
10
Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
Seniors’ Resource Centre - Salmon Arm MONDAY
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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
Floor Shuffleboard 2:00 - 4 pm
Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm
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Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
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Floor Shuffleboard 2:00 - 4 pm
Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm
B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm
Floor Shuffleboard 2:00 - 4 pm
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20
FRIDAY Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am
Floor Shuffleboard 2:00 - 4 pm
Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm
B.Y.O.B. (BEVERAGE) Social 10:00 am - 12 pm
1
7
Floor Curling 1:00 - 3 pm
Foot Care (by appt. only)
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
ALL Covid-19 rules for “Physical Distancing” will be observed.
18
Fitness Class 8:30 am Carpet Bowling League Drop-In Crafts 10:00 am 10:00 am Art Group 10:00 am Table Tennis 1:00 pm
26
WEDNESDAY
Foot Care (by appt. only)
Fitness Class 8:30 am Carpet Bowling League Drop-In Crafts 10:00 am Art Group 10:00 am 10:00 am Table Tennis 1:00 pm
19
TUESDAY
($1 per day fee for all activities to cover cost of sanitizing)
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TUESDAY
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MONDAY
SUNDAY
Calendar of Events
5
SUNDAY
Foot Care (by appt. only)
Squilax/Anglemont
4
OCTOBER 2020
Calendar of Events
250-378-3763 • 1675 Tutill Court | Bob Leech, President
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1H1 | Phone 250-832-7000 Fax 250-833-0550
"Be Kind Be Calm Be Safe"
Lakeview Centre
MONDAY
Merritt Senior Centre
The Merrit Seniors Association
Lakeview Community Centre Society SUNDAY
Happy Halloween
Foot Care (by appt. only)
SUDOKU
14 | OCTOBER 2020
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CIBC Run for the Cure 2020 Physical distancing is the reality for the foreseeable future, and so we are reimagining the CIBC Run for the Cure. As October 4 approaches, we are developing an exciting virtual experience. Our plans include all the best things about Run Day: Connecting with your teammates, an inspirational opening ceremony, and a high-energy warm-up. As well,
you’ll be able to create and customize your own CIBC Run for the Cure avatar, fundraise to unlock rewards, and track your steps through our refreshed app or the Run website. We’ll organize the fun online and you’ll have the option to bring together a small group of family and friends to run or walk around your neighbourhood as part of your at-
home celebration. Check out the Canadian Cancer Society’s website at cancer.ca for details about CIBC’s new way of gathering for this event and others. Being physically apart won’t stop us from coming together. Please sign up, fundraise and join us on Run Day because together, we are a force-forlife in the face of breast cancer.
How to approach hosting Thanksgiving this year 250-372-1234 • info@cfselaw.ca
Downtown Kamloops - #300-272 Victoria St.
CFSELAW.CA
Comfort Keepers
KLEO’S PHARMACY
T
hanksgiving will be different this year. An ongoing pandemic has changed the way much of the world lives their lives, including how holidays are celebrated. The WHO and other community health experts continue to recommend social distancing, which means Thanksgiving in 2020 will be unlike any other. Families must make their own decisions about getting together this holiday season, but hosts who intend to welcome guests into their homes can take certain steps to keep everyone as safe as possible. · Scale back the guest list.
Families accustomed to large Thanksgiving gatherings can scale the festivities back this year. Consider hosting a meal for immediate family members only. Extended family members can visit each other over the long holiday weekend to ensure everyone still sees each other, but keep such visits outdoors when possible. · Consider eating outside if the weather permits. Doing so may limit everyone’s exposure to the respiratory droplets that researchers say can spread the virus when inhaled. If necessary, serve the meal earlier than you normally would so everyone can eat in midday when
it’s warmer outside. Hosts also can consider serving something more convenient than turkey, which takes a long time to cook, and limiting side dishes to one or two items. · Assign seats. If the meal will be served indoors, hosts can assign seats to protect those most vulnerable to serious illness. Instead of cramming everyone in at one table, set up temporary tables and have guests sit in every other seat rather than next to one another. Isolate the vulnerable as much as possible while still ensuring they can engage in conversation. · Discourage guests
She’s always been the independent type. We aim to keep her that way. We help to keep her independent spirit strong. Comfort Keepers® provides compassionate in-home care that helps seniors live safe, happy, and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. We call our approach Interactive Caregiving™, a unique system of care, which keeps our clients mentally and physically engaged while focusing on their safety assurance and nutrition needs.
SERVICES Companion Care
from attending if they feel sick. In the days prior to Thanksgiving, hosts can share the list of symptoms with guests via email or social media and discourage guests who are feeling ill from attending. If necessary, make a to-go plate for ill relatives and drop it off at their homes so they can still partake. · Stock up on hand soap and hand sanitizer and make sure hand soap and sanitizer is readily available throughout the home. When guests arrive, make sure everyone washes their hands immediately, and encourage guests to continue doing so throughout the day.
KLEO’S KLEO’S KL PHARMACY PHARMACY PH
Light Houskeeping
Personal Care family. No appointment necessary.
a Hwy
Respite Care
Escorted Transportation
Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm Saturday: 9am - 3pm Call 778.471.1711
for a free in-home assessment kamloops.comfortkeepers.ca
Protect yourself and your family. No appointment necessary. Suite 213 Protectyour yourself and your family. No appointment tect yourself and family . Nonecessary. appo 141 Victoria Street “COVID-19 PROTOCOL IN PLACE” Kamloops, BC V2C 1Z5
90B 1967 East Trans Canada Hwy 90B 1967 East Trans Canada Hwy 1967 East Trans Canada Hwy Kamloops, BC V2C 4A4 ComfortKeepers.ca Kamloops, BC V2C 4A4 • 778-765-1444 loops, BC V2C 4A4 © CK Franchising, Inc. *Most offices independently owned and operated.
Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm Mon Fri: 10am 9am Mon -- Fri: 5pm Saturday: 9am ---6pm 3pm Saturday: 2pm Saturday: 10am 9am --3pm
M S
Jordan
OCTOBER 2020 | 15
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Trust in Allah, but tie your camel” ~ Jordanian Proverb
nomad nan's trippy tales NANCY VAN VEEN
J
ordan is an incredibly alluring travel destination. It’s a nice little country — in a rough neighbourhood, and it looked like things might get rougher, so it was with a ‘now or never’ attitude I booked a trip. Landing in the capital city of Amman can spark culture shock. Yet Jordan is fairly progressive and very welcoming, as Middle Eastern countries go. Arriving a day early allowed
time to recover from jet lag and take in a few sights— such as the National Gallery of Fine Art and the colourful tourist area known as Rainbow Street. The following morning our tour began with an exploration of Jerash. This sprawling complex of Roman ruins is an architectural delight. One enters through Hadrian’s Gate and walks back through time along chariotscarred, colonnaded avenues. Highlights include the hippodrome, theatres, and the grand temples of Zeus and Artemus. On day two, we hit the road to Wadi Rum. This wild terrain has served as the setting for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia. Upon arrival we jumped into the back of pickups and 4-wheeled our way through the desert, stopping to scale a colossal sand dune and behold the stunning vista atop. Camels were our next
rather questionable mode of transportation — what fun to explore this unique landscape of dunes and sandstone cliffs from such a precarious vantage point. Our following destination was the piéce de résistance — the ancient rose-coloured city of Petra. This UNESCO site is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. As I emerged from the trek through the narrow gorge and caught my first glimpse of the iconic Treasury, brilliantly illuminated by the noon sun, tears filled my eyes. The beauty of this ornately carved, sandstone temple is overwhelming! Once I regained my composure I was off on my next mission. I scurried through the honeycombed valley, dotted by enticing tombs, to the basin, where the ascent to the secluded Monastery begins. My guide insisted this hike was impossible due to time limitations and the level of physical fitness required. I checked the time. I’d eaten a hearty breakfast, was running on adrenaline and will admit, I have a decidedly stubborn nature. So like any journey, it began with a single step. Taking a deep breath I set forth up the 850 steeply worn, misshapen steps to the lofty site. My difficult task was tempered by the occasional donkey squeezing past and
little shops hugging the cliffs with vendors hawking tempting souvenirs. Feeling both relief and triumph, I finally reached the summit to marvel at this equally impressive tomb. The Monastery was built in the 1st century by the Nabateans, a group of nomadic Arab people. Its towering facade measures 45 metres high by 50 metres wide. Despite my physical imitations and age, rising to this challenge rewarded me with a grand adventure. It seems I’m always attracted to these ‘Shangri-La’ like places. My friends even tease me, calling me ‘Indiana Nan’. (Ironically the Indiana Jones movie was filmed at Petra.) My Jordanian escape ended at The Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. As I coated myself with therapeutic mud and floated in the insanely salty water, it struck me, this was the perfect way to end my journey. I was so fortunate to squeak this trip in. Upon my return COVID completely shut down the travel industry. Dear readers, I have a confession. Although I am a happily divorced woman, I long to walk down the aisle again — and hear those romantic words, “This is your captain speaking...”
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
Glover’s Medicine Centre Pharmacy offers a variety of health solutions. We’re an independent pharmacy, catering to the entire family. Our pharmacists play a unique role in providing personalized health care, we do much more than just fill prescriptions; we also provide health care and health advice to parents, children, and families on topics ranging from prenatal vitamins to maintaining a healthy weight to infant care. Located in Kamloops, you can find us right next door to a medical walk-in clinic.
Veterinary Medicine
Glover’s Medicine Centre fills prescriptions for animals too.We understand that your dog or cat is a big part of your family.
Seniors Healthy Living • Questions about your medications? • Having trouble remembering to take your medications? • Do you know what compounded medications are? “Your prescriptions & compounding specialist”
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Give us a call or drop by our pharmacy and see for yourself how we may be able to help.
16 | OCTOBER 2020
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Mirror, mirror on the wall… at cattle, does nothing to bolster their image. In 1780, a nursery rhyme gave heed to what a magpie might bring depending on how many one had seen.
kamloops birdwatch NAOMI BIRKENHEAD
L
ong since witchcraft and magic showed up in our society by way of Art, Lore, and History, ravens, crows and magpies have usually been depicted as the sinister bird perched on the shoulder of some nefarious purveyor of the occult. Granted, their own inherent behaviour of thieving piracy, feasting on corpses, and pecking
One for Sorrow Two for Mirth Three for a funeral Four for a birth Five for heaven Six for hell Seven for the devil, his own self Many variations have woven their way into modern day society through known artists like; Neil Gaiman (The Sandman comic books), Cassandra Clara (The Mortal Instruments, City of Fallen Angels), and most notably the cult novel and movie by Eric Draven (The Crow) (he adapted it with use of Crows, relatives of
the Magpie), and Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train. Musical Artists Counting Crows embraced the rhyme as their Band name and utilized it as inspiration for one of their songs. Despite their imposed diabolical reputation, which seems to run in the family, this tuxedo sporting Corvid species that boasts a tail as long as its body, is one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Similar to parrots, magpies are able to mimic human speech, will often pick up objects with an inquisitive nature, and study them before discarding. One of the most notable behaviours, and what classifies their intelligence, is the mirror test. Self-recognition or awareness allows us to understand that we are an
individual and separate from our environment and fellow species. Studies have been conducted where a noninvasive coloured dot is been placed on the neck of magpies, then the magpies are placed in a hutch with multiple mirrors. It is documented, that upon seeing itself in the mirror, the magpie will effectively begin scratching at the mark as if to remove or investigate it. It was noted that the magpies could differentiate between when their plumage was marked and when it wasn’t. Numerous reports continue to float about regarding friendships developing between magpies and humans and sometimes other animals; a deportment attributed to the ability to recognize individuals along with the behaviour they exhibit
when encountered. The Black-billed Magpie is the common species we see and hear in our area; their raucous voice distinguishable in the hubbub of city life. When I witness the notable bob and weave as they navigate the ground, I can’t help but wonder; is it simply to investigate with caution for food, or is that their inquisitive personality
simply exploring the habitat they reside in? So the next time you see the sun glint off a jet black body revealing a secret shimmer of greens and blues, don’t just cast it aside as a nuisance creature intent on causing mischief, give it a chance to show you its perception of the world we share. STAY CURIOUS KAMLOOPS!
Tides of life
by AS Byrd
RE-ELECT
RE-ELECT
Restore Confidence. Rebuild BC.
Vote early! Call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683 to request a vote by mail package. Combined Campaign Office: 148 Tranquille Road Kamloops V2B 3G1
Todd Stone Kamloops-South Thompson
todd.stone@bcliberals.com www.bcliberals.com/team/todd-stone
f ToddGStone
Peter Milobar Kamloops-North Thompson
peter.milobar@bcliberals.com www.bcliberals.com/team/peter-milobar
PeterMilobarKNT
f
The life into which we all will grow is like the tides that ebb and flow While gentle waves caress the shore We care not that to life there’s more but the rising tide is very strong We find our innocent ways do not belong so with the tide beneath our feet we rise to see a world we’ve yet to meet It’s siren call is loud and clear We must leave this life we hold so dear We enter a world of joys and strife and in its shadow we build a life Some have goals for which they strain More accept the future’s loss or gain but the tide must turn, it cannot last and the life we know is now our past Some will cling to a life with familiar ways while others enjoy their autumn days But it matters not by which road we go We cannot stem the ebbing flow
OCTOBER 2020 | 17
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Oracle of Peace T
he trauma Hanna dealt with years earlier played like a horror video in her mind. She’d gotten over it but never forgot it. The truth was, in pushing the ‘pause’ button to halt the memories, they only left temporarily. The incident was so frozen on her mind that, at various times by osmosis, the pause reverted to ‘re-start,’ and she’d visualize the nightmare all over again. It was August, 2003, when a neighbor stomped up to Hanna’s doorstep and frantically hollered her name before pounding a fist on the door. Hanna came face to face with the friend raising her arms and voice and pointing in horror at the hillside across Shuswap Road from their country homes. An ominous plume of tar-black smoke, billowing above the road, was just three-hundred metres from Hanna’s driveway. Orange flames shivered up from the grasslands creating a tangerine spectacle on the horizon. Like the flame from a mythical dragon’s throat, its hot breath spread over the valley floor and tore at the brush and flora gripping
it with an unstoppable momentum. It licked through the tinder-dry bushes and sage. The desperate women retreated into their homes to prepare to evacuate while fire and rescue vehicles wailed and the ambulance, fire engine and police car sirens screamed. Just inside her door, Hanna’s knees buckled and she collapsed on the floor. Stunned, she stayed down to gather her wits. What she and Josh, her husband, feared for so long was happening. “What should I do?” she asked out loud. Like an oracle of peace, a silent utterance in Hanna’s mind left her a promise in the form of a line from the 23rd Psalm. By memory, she quoted the scripture as a prayer. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of…” she stammered and couldn’t finish. Her throat choked with the wretched stench which had stolen into her home, like a snake, through the doorway. Sensing a spiritual calm, she spoke her truth: “I will fear no evil…” As though the fire raging along the fringe of Shuswap Road was suddenly
a thousand miles away, she stood stoically. Major fires were burning in the Thompson Nicola Regional District, and Josh had planned ahead for trouble. In the sanctity of their Gothic-style chalet, Hanna ravaged the bottom drawer of his desk and retrieved important documents which he’d arranged for easy access in the event of evacuation alerts and orders. Earlier that month, August 2003, the entire province of British Columbia was declared a state of emergency. Unfathomable, it was the hottest and driest summer in five decades. Highways were shut down in every direction from town and in bone-dry areas many kilometers of power lines dangled down. There was a heavy military presence in the province as victims and evacuees were given assistance by hundreds of phenomenal volunteers working on evacuation efforts. Harsh gusts fueled the flames on the hillside East of Kamloops but, unlike the major volatile fires burning uncontrollably around the
province, there was no official evacuation order issued for Hanna and her neighbors. She just knew, instinctively, to take action and carried the tub of VIPs and a few belongings to the car she seldom drove. With her perplexed poodle near her on the seat, she tried the key but it wouldn’t turn in the ignition. Quickly realizing she had the wrong set of keys, in a panic, her trembling hand dropped them onto her lap. She looked at her dog and sternly commanded, “stay,” and left the car. An ominous shadow shaded the yard outside casting a dreadful fear. A voice called, “Hanna, Hanna!” Another neighbor was running down the slope of the ‘back forty’ to her door. Overjoyed, she gripped her friend, Marge, and spewed out the dilemma she faced. “Josh is in town and he has the keys so I can’t start the car. I’ve packed it with our stuff!” “Where’s your wheel barrel? I’ll unload the car! You have to go put your irrigation system on,
Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw
Hanna! The river’s low but maybe you’ll get water for a while.” Within minutes, the jets were sprinkling and Marge was pushing the wheel barrel through the alfalfa field to her own acreage. “Leave as soon as you can, Hanna,” she called, “and get over to my place where it’s safer. The winds are not sending flames that direction!” Sentimental Hanna went in for an armful of albums then leashed her pet and headed across the field. Marge had all but finished unloading the wheel barrel into her car along with her own important items when, through field glasses, she saw Hanna fall. High stepping over the alfalfa, she reached her friend and helped pick up the treasured albums as air tankers flew over their heads… so low they could see the pilots! A few feet from Hanna’s dock on the South Thompson River, with deafening noise, scooper planes, water bombers and helicopters put on a spectacle dropping and filling buckets from the river in front of the chalet. Swaying from cables,
thousands of litres of water were dumped on the smoky valley. Fire retardant fanned out from air tankers and floated down blanketing the hills with crimson. The colours created by iron oxide took the women’s breaths away. For hours, fear, hope and uncertainty left them dizzy as they watched spotter planes and various aircraft attack the blaze. The fast dispatch of fire fighters and equipment had been key to containing it. Hearing the news, Josh frantically drove home as roadblocks were being dismantled on East Shuswap Road. Witnessing the smouldering evidence of destruction, he turned into his driveway grateful his home was untouched by the fire. “So this is what you do for excitement when I leave you home alone!” “I wasn’t alone,” Hanna explained. “‘Beside the still waters,’ and besides our wonderful neighbours, there was a presence; my spiritual Shepherd,” she said, tearing up over a time of fear and eventual peace she would never forget.
Are you 55+ seeking the ideal Kamloops Condo lifestyle? Help us develop your ideal condo lifestyle. We are researching the preferences of those 55+ in the Kamloops area seeking the ideal condo lifestyle. What design, services and amenities appeal to you? Size – Layout - Wellness – Socialization – Security - Outdoor space? Visit 55pluskamloops.com and share your preferences.
! u o y m o r f r a e h o t t n a w We
18 | OCTOBER 2020
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A small red squirrel and a thanksgiving reminder
Colouring outside the lines REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church
A
s I pulled the paracord tight on my third attempt to set up my tarp in the assigned
camping site, a small red squirrel darted across the branches of three trees, shrill staccato voice chirping out what I’m certain was not a welcome blessing. She walked right out to the end of a branch about 10 feet away from my head and gave me a good dose of disdain at my arrival. I chuckled and chatted back at her, letting her know I came in peace and meant her no harm. She didn’t back down, cutting over my words to express further displeasure. I turned my back and finished setting up my site, laying out sleeping
Church Directory
UNITED CHURCHES OF CANADA Kamloops United Church
www.kamloopsunited.ca 421 St. Paul St. • Sundays 10 am Rev. Dr. Michael Caveney
Mt. Paul United Church
www.mtpauluc.ca 140 Laburnum St. • Sundays 10 am
pad, bag, blankets and pillows. Hooking my solar powered light to the corner of the tarp, I walked off to find dinner. When I began packing up the gear a few days later, there she came, bouncing back across the trees, climbing down the tree my tarp line was tied to, chattering all the way. She crawled out on a small branch, tail wrapped up around her head, resuming that earlier conversation. I resumed my side of it, too, offering words of peace and what I hoped she would consider good news. “I’m packing up. I’m heading out. Soon I will just be a bad memory to you!” Her head came up, her voice silenced. She looked at me and slowly began crawling down the tree. Fearing she was getting close enough to launch herself at me with razor sharp claws bared, I stilled myself and watched as she slowly descended, stopping beside a large cleft in the trunk. Slowly she entered into the
cleft, and I realized I had been camping right in the middle of her front porch. Chagrined, I also realized I had broken one of my cardinal rules for being on the land. I had failed to ask permission to settle in this space for the week. Perhaps that’s why it took me five tries to get that tarp set up. I offered a sincere apology and belated thanks to this more-than-human being and promised a gift of gratitude before I drove away. After I had loaded my car and helped a friend load her kayaks, knowing I was going to be late for a hiking rendezvous, I almost didn’t go back with that gift of gratitude, but I had promised, so I grabbed the raw sunflower seeds I keep in my backpack and headed back to the camp site. When I arrived, ready to scatter this gift across the picnic table, I discovered I had left my air mattress behind. My squirrel friend shared not only her front porch with me, but she had also kept me from leaving
the best part of my sleeping gear behind. I added a bit of a bonus to the gift I laid at the bottom of the tree, right at the edge of her porch. This living world all around us holds much wisdom when we slow down long enough to listen – and to pay attention. As we offer our thanksgivings this month, we would do well to remember not just our two-legged friends and family, but also the fourleggeds and the rest of the more-than-human world that offers us so much of what we need for life: a piece of land to hold our houses, their very lives that we might be fed and clothed, shade from the sun, light to illumine both day and night, the oxygen we breathe. The
list of gifts is endless. As a gesture of reciprocity, what thanksgiving gifts will you offer to those neighbours who make your life a little better just by being? Rev LeAnn Blackert is in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops (wildchurchbc. org), where she works with Michele Walker and Lesly Comrie. LeAnn loves sleeping on the ground under her new camping tarp. She enjoys walking local trails in, paddling a kayak around local lakes, and connecting with her Wild Church community, whether online or live on the land. She yearns to build a network committed to creating abundant life for all of creation, both human and more than human.
Book Review
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By Marilyn Brown
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The Woman in the Window
By A.J. Finn
A novel, William Morrow Publishers, 2018, 427 pages
A
ppearances can be deceiving in more ways than one. The woman who wears the wine-stained bathrobe well into the afternoon, her hair unkempt, her balance shaky, is also an experienced psychologist specializing in children, forming fast alliances with youth. Unfortunately, she suffers from agoraphobia, the fear of being in open spaces, and lives in a self-imposed “lock-down” similar to that experienced in a pandemic, unable to go outside, to stroll, to mingle with people. The closed windows of her airless, dark and unfriendly house mirror her state of mind. The intrepid Anna goes to great lengths to fill in the unknowns about her
the humorous observations about herself and others, and fears for her safety. Just as Anna is passionate about the black and white horror movies of old, a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and the genre of psychological terror, the reader will be immersed in a deliciously devious plot with “red herrings” galore and a tight ratcheting up of dread. Well done indeed. Recommended. This is A.J. Finn’s debut novel, already published worldwide and made into a movie. He has been in the publishing business in the UK and USA, and has a fondness for mystery novelists. He lives in New York.
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anxiety; however, the side effects include insomnia and drowsiness. It is therefore understandable that when she reports to police that through her Nikon she witnessed a murder, little attention is given to the accusation. The intelligent but vulnerable Anna is not one hundred percent sure who the murderer is. The Woman in the Window hooks the reader with the very first sentences. “HER HUSBAND’S ALMOST HOME. He’ll catch her this time.” Anna then starts counting down from 10 until the husband opens the door, symbolic of the much greater tension later on in the story as Anna herself is caught in a web. By this time the reader is sensitive to her quirks,
neighbours, using LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, registered deeds to property, and other means to expand her knowledge. Lurking unseen in her 4 story (restored) Gothic house, she peers into the lives of her neighbours through a Nikon camera fitted with an Opteka lens, capturing details as fleeting as facial expressions. The camera also captures an action as gross as murder – or does it? Anna Fox, the woman with the camera, seems to be fighting a deep depression. She says to the son of new neighbours that she and her husband are separated. Their little gap-toothed daughter, Olivia, is with the dad. The medication she takes may help reduce
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Murray wants EDITH. Alice wants MAID.
What's going on?
ask drake DRAKE SMITH Funeral Director
M
urray and Alice have been together for a very long time. They thought they knew everything there was to know about each other. Imagine Alice’s surprise, however, when Murray announced “Alice, I want EDITH!” Alice thought for a moment before replying “Murray, you don’t even know anyone named EDITH. But if you’ve found someone else…” By now Murray knew he had Alice going but he decided not to press his luck and come clean. “You don’t understand, Alice. I’ve been reading up on death lately and I’ve decided that I want EDITH: Expected Death In The Home! I don’t want to die in a hospital or even at hospice. I want to spend my last days and moments right here, beside you.” Murray added the last part (‘beside you’) to regain Alice’s favour, after stringing her along earlier. It didn’t work; Alice had lots of questions to ask Murray. Instead, Alice ran
off to her computer for an hour and came back with her own declaration. “I want MAID,” Alice declared. Murray looked around. He and Alice took turns keeping the house clean. “Maybe I’m not as good at housekeeping as you are, Alice, but the place looks pretty good to me!” Now Alice had Murray on the ropes, but she decided it was her turn to come clean. “Murray, MAID stands for Medical Assistance in Dying. If it makes sense in the future, I want MAID.” Alice and Murray were having the most spirited conversation they’d had in years. But what were they talking about? Let’s deal with Murray first. EDITH (Expected Death In The Home) is an option available for people who are deemed to be palliative; they have a terminal illness and are not expected to live more than a few weeks or months. But they are still living at home, perhaps receiving home support and care, and they want to die there, peacefully. Murray wants this option if he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness; he understands that if that happens he will discuss EDITH with his doctor. “I don’t want you to have to call 911 and pay the ambulance fee, Alice. I don’t want the police or the ambulance to come. Just call the funeral home to come and get me.” Many people feel like Murray does, and it seems that more and more people
are, when appropriate, choosing this option as each year passes. There’s a lot of support and relatively little controversy regarding EDITH. As we’ll see in a future column, however, EDITH is not without its logistical challenges and some controversy! MAID, on the other hand, is full of controversy. What is MAID? According to the B.C. government website “Medical assistance in dying provides patients, who may be experiencing intolerable suffering due to a grievous and irremediable (incurable) medical condition, the option to end their life with the assistance of a doctor or nurse practitioner. Medical assistance in dying is provided only to legally eligible patients.” Alice made it clear to Murray that she is not contemplating this option at present but would want the ability to choose this route under the appropriate circumstances. You can probably see why the MAID option is very controversial. But we’re finding that more and more people are opting for MAID every year. We’ll dive a little further into MAID in another column. For the moment, let’s leave Murray and Alice to carry on their conversation; there’s a lot to talk about. Perhaps you’ll have this conversation with your family or, if applicable, your doctor.
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Congratulations to Ken & June Hawkings on 70 wonderful years of Marriage. June & Ken started their wedded life together on September 18th ,1950 in Northampton, England where they raised their 3 children Vincent, Elizabeth & Jane. When the children were still very small Ken & June bought their first home & business venture: K.G.Hawkings Master Butcher Esq. where, working side by side they maintained their livelihood. After many successful years in business they emigrated to Canada to join their youngest daughter Jane (Rick), closely followed by Elizabeth(Guy) & Vincent(Shirley) They settled in Kamloops for a while before moving onto Barriere, Sorrento, Hinton & then Clearwater where they are now enjoying a long & well deserved retirement.
Thank You Mum & Dad, Granny & Pappy, Great Granny & Great Pappy for always being there for all of us with your unconditional Love. All our love & wishes for many more Happy, Healthy years together. xox Your Family.
20 | OCTOBER 2020
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NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS What is noise-induced hearing loss? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is hearing loss caused by either exposure to a loud impulse sound like a gunshot or explosion, or prolonged exposure to high levels of noise. It can happen immediately or gradually over time. Noises below 75 decibels (dB), are unlikely to cause hearing loss. Sounds 85 dB and above can. See decibel levels for common sounds — and their associated hearing loss risks.
Preventing noise-induced hearing loss Fortunately, noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented. Preventing noise-induced hearing loss requires you to do three things: • Know what sounds are too loud (anything above 85 dB). • Either avoid loud sounds or limit your exposure or proximity to them. • Wear hearing protection when you can’t avoid or move a safe distance from loud noises.
10 tips to help protect your hearing 1. Use hearing protection around loud sounds. Foam earplugs are an economical solution, or consider purchasing custom earplugs to best reduce the sound levels. 2. Turn the volume down on the TV, radio, music, etc. 3. Avoid loud or noisy activities/places, when possible. 4. Limit your time exposed to loud sounds. 5. When listening to loud sounds (e.g., music, concerts, fitness classes, etc.), take breaks from the noise. 6. Move away from the loudest sound source (e.g., speakers, fireworks, etc.). 7. Give your ears time to recover after being exposed to loud noises. 8. Do not put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! This includes cotton swabs, bobby pins, keys, paperclips, or anything else you might use to clean or scratch your ears. 9. Keep moving! Exercise keeps the blood pumping throughout the body, including the ears. This keeps the internal parts of the ears healthy. 10. Get your hearing tested, especially if you experience a change in your hearing, ringing or fullness in your ears over 24 hours.
Hearing testing, hearing aid fittings and hearing aid programming by appointment only. PLEASE CALL 250-372-3090 TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT. Drop in for a cleaning! Please knock and we will be happy to assist you.
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www.KamloopsHearingAidCentre.ca Find us on facebook: /KamloopsHearingAidCentre