Kamloops Connector June 2021 by KamloopsThisWeek

June 2021

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VOL. 30, NO. 2, JUNE 2021 POWERED BY KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK | A PROUD PART OF ABERDEEN PUBLISHING

KSO caps off imaginative season Page 3

Local vs Organic Page 5

In defense of dandelions Page 16

KICK-OFF KEEPSAKE Page 17

What makes us who we are? Page 19

Fun ways to celebrate Dad

ather’s Day presents an opportunity for people to honour the special men in their lives. These include not only dads, but father figures and other influential men who offer care and guidance to the people they love. Many celebrations continue to look different than they were prior to the pandemic, and Father’s Day festivities may still require some modifications this year, even if celebrations are not governed by the same restrictions as in 2020. The following are some ways to show dads they are appreciated. Backyard bash Small outdoor gatherings according to local regulations are some of the safer ways to bring people together, particularly if attendees maintain their distance. Weather permitting, families can host small barbecues and enlist someone other than Dad to man the grill. Serve foods buffet-style and space out tables so people can safely celebrate. Plan an outdoor activity Go for a walk or a hike. Explore the trails if you’re mountain biking enthusiasts or head out for a day of fishing. Go for a short road trip on your motorcycles and have a picnic at your destination. Base his gift on the same

theme as the chosen activity. Plan a game day Whether your father likes board games, video games or crossword puzzles, gear Father’s Day around fun and games. Let Dad lead the way and choose the activity, and then everyone can step away from their screens and come together, assuming that you are in each other’s bubble, at the table over jigsaw puzzles or trivia questions. Host a beer tasting If Dad is a beer lover, organize a trip to a local craft brewery to sample their offerings. If establishments are closed or still restricting indoor seating, pick up beers from a few different breweries and create a flight at home. Set up an outdoor movie night Perfect for a father who is a movie buff, borrow or purchase a projector and show a movie on an outdoor screen or against a blank outdoor wall. Select one of Dad’s favourite movies to watch and invite friends and family to join in on the fun. Make sure there are refreshments at the ready and plenty of hot popcorn. Celebrating Father’s Day this year may require some ingenuity, but there is still fun to be had.

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2 JUNE 2021

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JUNE 2021 3

KSO caps off imaginative season

n a year when the limitations imposed by a global pandemic seemed set to suppress that most human of activities, artistic expression, the Kamloops Symphony under the imaginative leadership of music director Dina Gilbert and executive director Daniel Mills has found a way to present nothing short of a complete concert season. The KSO will cap off their inventive season with T(w)o New Heights, featuring two locally inspired creations and a pair of elevating classics. The orchestra’s ninth and final concert experience of the season will be available to view on-demand online starting at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 21, and will continue to be accessible until Saturday, June 19. The concert opens with the lively, energetic, and playful music of the songs of Francis Poulenc’s Le bal masqué. Though not often heard, this is a highly entertaining work. Poulenc called

Csetkwe shot

it a “cantate profane” which translates to “secular cantata”, presenting many opportunities for irony as a cantata is traditionally a religious work. This will be expertly sung by Kamloops’ own Alan Corbishley as the baritone soloist. Alan Corbishley has performed throughout

North America and Europe in a wide variety of roles. He received his Bachelor of Music in Opera from the University of British Columbia, followed by his Masters of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In addition to performing Alan is Alan Corbishley also an award-winning arts producer and opera Brown. director. He is currently Taking inspiration from the physicality on faculty at the of breathing, the music Vancouver Academy of Music as a voice teacher is an introspective and their resident stage contemplation of evolving experiences director. of time, spaces, Next on the program connection, and is Canadian composer isolation. This piece Katia Makdissiis the first installment Warren’s Whispers of in a multi-year the Mountain which commissioning project was originally featured by the KSO called in what turned out to “Minutes to Midnight” be the KSO’s last live that will explore global performance in March issues of our time. of 2020, just before the Each year over the next arrival of the pandemic four years a different that has transformed our lives. This piece was BC composer will be created in collaboration commissioned to write a piece, culminating with Secwepemc in the performance of artist Csetkwe and all of them together immerses the audience as a multi-movement in a musical forest symphonic work at with the musicians the conclusion of the reproducing sounds of nature. Csetkwe returns project. T(w)o New Heights to perform with the concludes with Aaron orchestra in her central Copland’s much role with voice and beloved Appalachian drum. Spring, which captures Csetkwe is a multithe essential elements gifted artist with her of North American roots in the Syilx and pioneer life in music in Secwepemc Nations. a most memorable way. She works mainly Originally written for in performance art, a ballet, the composer writing, painting, and arranged some of the drawing. Csetkwe most striking sections is a graduate of the into an enchanting suite En’owkin Centre of filled with youthful Indigenous Art. Her desire and optimism. performances include Tickets for T(w)o those of a Singer/Song New Heights are $15 Carrier, Spoken Word for Individuals, $25 for Poet as part of the a Household Pass, with k’wem k’wem słénsłéney a special $5 COVID - Indigenous Female price available as well, Drum Collective. and can be purchased Continuing with the from Kamloops Live! local influences is the Box Office starting premiere of the newly Monday, May 17 at 250commissioned work 374-5483 or Still by Kamloopswww.kamloopslive.ca. born composer Stacey

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4 JUNE 2021

Reasons to celebrate Julia Maika Notary Public

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A former co-worker and I used to have a bit of fun with the fact that there seems to be an official reason to celebrate something pretty much EVERY day. If you spend any time at all online you will most certainly encounter people celebrating random days devoted to one cause or another. As if it isn’t difficult enough to keep track of the legitimate occasions, we My two cents now have some pretty whacky Moneca Jantzen ones to consider alongside the Editor significant and important ones. June 6-12 is actually an entire week devoted to Seniors in our province, but I have struggled to find evidence that anything is actually happening during this week. Some municipalities in B.C. seem more motivated than others to plan events during this week. It seems to be a piecemeal effort at best in recent years but by all means, do celebrate! The most commonly celebrated event in June is Father’s Day, this year falling on the 20th. June 6th is D-Day, and National Aboriginal Day is on the 21st while Fête Nationale is on the 24th in Quebec. In the way of health concerns, June has been set aside to bring awareness to a multitude of issues some of which include Canadian Men’s Health, Thyroid Health, World Elder Abuse, Brain Injury Awareness and many more. On the silly side of things in June we have Flip A Coin Day, National Rocky Road Day, World Bicycle Day, Hug Your Cat Day, National Doughnut Day and Old Maid’s Day. It takes a bit of research to discover what some of these more obscure observances are trying to honour. Some seem frivolous while others have a legitimate historical foundation. Flip A Coin Day sounds like an excuse to make all your decisions on June 1st by flipping a coin so hopefully nothing major needs deciding. National Doughnut Day was started by the Chicago chapter of the Salvation Army as a fundraiser during the depression and pays homage to the Salvation Army “lassies” that would visit the frontlines in WWI. They would apparently fry doughnuts in the helmets of American infantrymen who were then referred to as “doughboys.” Old Maid’s Day is exactly as it sounds and is an anachronistic day devoted to dances and socials following WWII to help all the single women find their a mate. These are followed by Best Friends Day, Name Your Poison Day, Ball Point Pen Day (ummm... why?) and of course National Flip Flop Day (errr... why not?). Towards the middle of the month we have National Peanut Butter Cookie Day, National Weed Your Garden Day and Monkey Around Day. For some reason National Prune Day and Smile Power Day are on the same day. Perhaps the prunes provide a good reason to smile, although, quite hilariously, Global Wind Day is also on that same day. Other notable days to celebrate in June include National Splurge Day, Juneteenth, National Kissing Day, International Widow’s Day, Let It Go Day, Swim A Lap Day, Take Your Dog to Work Day, National Canoe Day and the all important Forgiveness Day. There are days for anything and everything and those were just the ones I found for June and I didn’t even cite them all. I don’t know what would be involved in creating a national day of celebration for any given thing, but it appears to be relatively doable, particularly in the age of the internet. I guess the real caveat is whether or not anyone would know about it, let alone actually observe it. I, for one, can’t keep track of the major, commonly observed occasions let alone these incredibly obscure or long forgotten ones. When National Chocolate Ice Cream Day pops up on my social media feed, however, I think I might be inclined to celebrate that one. (It’s June 7th by the way.) How many scoops would YOU like? Happy June. May you enjoy ALL the days.

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 publisher@connectornews.ca Editor: Moneca Jantzen editor@connectornews.ca Graphic Designer: Dayana Rescigno creative@connectornews.ca Kamloops Connector is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve and entertain adults 45 and over. We aim to publish on the last Wednesday of each month and copy/booking deadlines are either the 2nd or 3rd Thursdays of each month. Please request a publishing schedule for specific information. Kamloops Connector is published by Kamloops This Week, part of the Aberdeen Publishing Group. Letters to the Editor must be signed and have a phone number (your phone number will not be printed unless requested). Other submissions are gratefully received although Kamloops Connector reserves the right to edit all material and to refuse any material deemed unsuitable for this publication. Articles, group and event listings will run in the newspaper as time and space permit. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Kamloops Connector. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Kamloops Connector, Kamloops This Week or the staff thereof. Subscriptions are $35 per year in Canada. Any error which appears in an advertisement will be adjusted as to only the amount of space in which the error occurred. The content of each advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser. Kamloops Connector recommends prudent consumer discretion.

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Local vs Organic

JUNE 2021 5

By Sandra Frangiadakis, Kamloops Food Policy Council

Since the 2007 release of “The Hundred Mile Diet”, the local food movement has really taken off, with government programs such as Buy BC lending support and grocery stores jumping on board by pointing out local products with signage and labelling. Local economic vitality benefits us all, and local agriculture provides jobs, food security and helps ensure productive farmland stays in production. But does local trump organic? Not according to Mendel Rubinson, who has been farming organically in the Deadman’s Valley since the 1980’s. “There’s no food security in poisoning our land

and water”, he argues. One of the aims of eating local is to reduce “food miles” - the environmental impact of trucking food products thousands of miles from their origin. But the environmental impact of trucking food is nothing compared with the environmental damage caused by the production and use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, argues Rubinson. Firstly, there is the transportation of the raw chemical ingredients to the plant, then the actual production, which is responsible for air and water pollution wherever the factory is located, and then the transportation of the finished agricultural chemicals to wherever they will be used. The application of those fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides can contaminate the soil, air, water, and other vegetation. Pesticides and herbicides are not only toxic to the target plants or insects, but can kill birds, fish, beneficial insects and nontarget vegetation. Fertilizer runoff can contaminate rivers

and streams and chemical drift from sprays can cause damage to the surrounding land and water. Then there are the health impacts on farm workers exposed to those toxic chemicals, and their possible health effects on consumers eating food produced with this chemical agriculture. Organic production offers an alternative, and “people who are doing the right thing anywhere should be supported”, says Rubinson. While supporting local food producers is one of the core values of the Kamloops Food Policy Council, so too is a resilient food system with healthy land and water. Ideally, we can eat local and organic, but when that’s not possible, eating organic and supporting organic producers who are making a positive impact on agriculture, health, and the environment should be our first choice. We can use our power as consumers to support organic production and encourage more farmers to adapt organic practices. If conventional farmers see they are losing

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business to the organic competition, they will be more likely to think about getting certified. If you’re at the Farmers’ Market, talk to the uncertified vendors about their farming practices. Organic certification can be a lot of work and takes several years. Some small farmers may be growing organically, but have just not become certified. Whether or not you decide to support them, having the conversation is important.Talk to your grocers and let them know you’d like to see more organic products available. If enough people express interest, they’ll get the message. For those of us lucky enough

to be able to pick and choose, there are many considerations of how best to feed ourselves and our families, and where to spend our food dollars. We want nutritious, healthy food, but also want to support a healthy local economy and a healthy environment. Ideally, we can do all three by purchasing directly from a local organic farm, or from a retailer that carries local organic products. Of course, in our northern climate, there are limitations to the availability of local fruit and vegetables, but eating seasonally, and throwing our support behind local farmers who are “doing the right thing” can make a big difference.

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6 JUNE 2021

3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt

Ensure you’re properly insured

Keep your retirement dollars working for you. Chianne V Jones Financial Advisor

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2021

Payment Dates for Old Age Security & the Canada Pension Plan

If you have signed up for direct deposit, your Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments will be automatically deposited in your bank account on these dates:

January 27 February 24 March 29 April 28 May 27 June 28

July 28 August 27 September 28 October 27 November 26 December 22

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

here’s certainly been plenty of volatility and uncertainty the past few months, but one aspect of your financial picture has probably remained stable: your need for insurance. Now might be a good time to review your overall insurance coverage to determine if you and your loved ones are well-protected. Of course, you might think the reason so many people don’t have insurance is because they don’t need it. But just about every age group can benefit from life insurance. • If you have a house and a family … Your insurance needs are obvious: If something

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happened to you, could your mortgage payments still be met? How about your car payments? Medical bills? Postsecondary education for your children? Even if you have a spouse or partner who earns a decent income, your family could still have big trouble paying its bills if you weren’t around. • If you’re young and single with no family responsibilities … If you’re in this group, why would you need life insurance? For one thing, perhaps you owe money together with someone else – you might, for example, be a joint debtor on a mortgage. If you passed away, your co-debtor would be responsible for the entire debt. And just because you don’t have family responsibilities now, it doesn’t mean you never will. If you have a family history of serious health issues, which may eventually affect you, you could have trouble getting life insurance later,

or at least getting it without paying a lot. Now, when you’re young and healthy, the coverage is available and may be more affordable. • Your children are grown and you’re retired … If you retire with debt or have a spouse dependent on you, keeping your life insurance is a good idea, especially if you haven’t paid off your mortgage. Plus, life insurance can be used in various ways in your estate plans. Even if you recognize the need for life insurance, you may be uncertain about how much you require. Your employer may offer insurance, but it might not be sufficient for your needs. And, perhaps just as important, if you leave your job, voluntarily or not, you’ll likely lose this coverage. If you purchase a private policy, what’s the right amount? You might have heard you need a death benefit that’s worth seven or eight times your annual salary, but that’s just

a rough estimate. To determine the appropriate level of coverage, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors: your age, income, marital status, number of children, and so on. Still, even after you’ve got the right amount in place, it doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. You should review your coverage regularly, and especially when you change jobs, get married or remarried, have children or experience any other major life event. Life insurance should be a key part of your overall financial strategy, along with your retirement accounts and other investments. Make sure you’re properly covered – for today and tomorrow. Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Member – Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

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Scammers are everywhere

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

t seems that scammers are like the mythical hydra:

the only ones offering it. Log into your Telus or Koodoo account and select your home phone or mobile phone, then select the call control tab and it will give you instructions on how to turn it on. If you still need some automated calls or callers to get through without the hassle, you can add 25 numbers to the “accepted list” that will be put through without dealing with pressing a number.

one disappears and two more take its place. Most start with robocalls and now some phone companies are giving you a way to fight back with call control, a free feature. This forces the caller to press a number to continue, if they fail, they’ll be asked to input another random number. If they fail that, the call disconnects without bothering you. Right now Telus and their owned subsidiaries seem to be

If you need more than that you can upgrade to a premium account for $3.00 a month which increases the list to 100 numbers. Remember, Microsoft won’t call you, nor will software companies. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. The reverse is also true, some scams use fear. We all know the CRA scam and it still happens. It’s not your fault if it happens to you. These are

June 2021 Events Senior’s Week th

June 6 -12 , 2021 “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength”. Betty Friedan

well-versed con-artists who know how to spot vulnerabilities and exploit them. There’s a third type of scam that preys on something basic in all of us—the desire to help people. The refund scam is where they tell you that they’ll refund the cost of software, but first they need you to log into your bank while they’re still looking at your screen. If you watch carefully, they’ll actually transfer

JUNE 2021 7

money between your own accounts. They’ll pretend to have made a mistake and give you more than you were supposed to get and ask you to buy gift cards for the rest to return to them. If pressed they’ll say that you’ll get a reward for refunding the money. There’s a similar scam on Facebook about buying gift cards to make money. Stay safe out there! There’s nothing wrong with being sceptical.

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June 20th, 2021

Indigenous Day June 21st, 2021

Celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Me´tis!

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8 JUNE 2021

Diverse Storytelling through Art

Kamloops residents walk their own way at the IG Kamloops Art Council brings artists and recent Wealth Management immigrants together to share experiences through art Walk for Alzheimer’s

ver the past year, Kamloops Immigrant Services (KIS) and the Kamloops Art Council (KAC) have been working together to create an exhibition that tells the story of recent immigrants to the area through art. Lorel Sternig, Outreach Coordinator for the KAC, said in an email that “newcomer Canadians were matched with local artists [and] the artists listened to the immigrants to hear their stories.” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these artists and immigrants had to talk using Zoom, email or over the phone to share and learn their stories. Insun Kang, an employee with KAC and an artist for the exhibition, talked about her experience working with a family that recently immigrated to Canada from Turkey. “The immigrant family that I’m paired with, his name is Ibrahim, and his family is originally from Turkey and he and his wife and his two kids moved to Canada for new opportunities for the kids,” Kang said. She added that they settled in Kamloops and recently moved to Vancouver for a job opportunity.

Regarding the artwork, Kang said she came up with the concept after learning about the family’s story and why they chose to come to Canada from Turkey. Kang said that Turkey is known for their patterns in and around the country and Canada is known as a country with people from many different cultures and backgrounds. “I came up with this idea to make a new pattern with traditional Turkish patterns and also Canadian flags,” Kang said. “It was really fun, there’s a lot of details on it but it was really fun to work with art that started from that concept.” Originally, the idea was to have a Multicultural Art Exhibit within the outdoor Tapestry festival in the North Shore in September of 2020, but COVID-19 regulations made it unable to go forward. Now the exhibition can go forward and is at the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre, showing the collaborative exhibition between KIS and KAC from May 28 to June 12, 2021. Sternig said that for the exhibition, they have “12 finished artworks for the exhibit, with newcomers from: Philippines,

Eastern Europe, Iran, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, India, Columbia, Pakistan and China. Artists include painters, sculptors and photographers.” There is also an online gallery page for those interested in viewing from home to learn about and read the stories from the newcomers and see the artwork. If all goes according to plan, there will also be an exhibition at the Tapestry festival, launching on September 18, 2021, at McDonald Park. For more information, visit kamloopsarts.ca

Insun Kang Journey

t’s not too late for Kamloops residents to join the thousands of British Columbians walking their own way for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s. Participants simply set themselves a walking or fitness challenge throughout May, while fundraising to support Alzheimer Society of B.C. programs and services. Participants are encouraged to get creative and ensure their plans to participate adhere to current provincial health guidelines. An online celebration on the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Facebook account at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30 will end the month of activity. “We are so grateful to everyone who has registered for the Walk so far, and are impressed by the adaptability and innovation they have displayed when it comes to supporting British Columbians on the dementia journey,” says Cathryn France, director of resource development at the Alzheimer Society of B.C.

“The funds they raise are instrumental to ensuring that people affected by dementia have the tools to live their best life possible. With dementia numbers rising, more supports are needed, and we urge all residents of Kamloops and other Okanagan communities to consider taking part in this event.” The Society is currently running a promotion to recognize the work of fundraisers. For every $100 they raise between the time they register and 11:59 p.m. on May 30, they will receive one entry in a draw to win a $1,000 VISA gift card. Residents who are unable to take part in the month of activity can register for an online auction in support of the event at alzbc. org/auction. Running until noon on Monday, May 31, its items include a hockey stick signed by Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat, hotel stays, winery tours and more. To learn more about the event, or to register and start fundraising, visit walkforalzheimers.ca.

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JUNE 2021 9

How can the feds help prevent future tragedy in long-term care?

your voice in ottawa CATHY MCLEOD MP

OVID has been hard on everyone, but seniors have borne a particular weight that other demographics have not endured. With the lockdowns in long-term care facilities, where the virus can spread so readily, many seniors

have been left feeling alone and depressed, and many have died after contracting the virus without even being able to have family and friends at their sides. Recent reports out of Ontario detailed the full horrors about conditions in two long-term care homes in Toronto where 26 residents died of dehydration last year due to the lack of staff to care for them. It’s beyond tragic and should never have occurred. The Liberal Government believes developing national standards of care are the answer and have allocated $3 billion over

five years in the yetto-be-passed federal budget toward helping provinces and territories establish this. As a former licencing officer who inspected and investigated complaints, my personal perspective is that each province actually has very good standards, but the problem is more often with compliance, something that is not part of the current conversation. I would love to hear your thoughts about how to prevent such a tragedy in the future. Email me at cathy. mcleod@parl.gc.ca Another piece in the federal budget that pertains to seniors

is a proposed onetime payment of $500 this August to Old Age Security (OAS) recipients who will be 75 or over as of June 2022. The problem with this is it does not direct financial supports to those who need it most: low-income seniors, like those who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Instead of just continuing to pile on the debt to future generations (every man, woman and child now owes $33,000 in federal debt), some meaningful assistance to this most vulnerable set of people would be a prudent step by the Federal Government.

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Zone 8 salutes all who help make BC better By Linda Haas

lthough there is little activity right now due to the cancellation of the 2021 55+ BC Games, Zone 8 salutes all people who anxiously await their return to “normal” activities, whether they be with an organization, work, friends or family. We especially recognize people of all ages who are helping keep our population safer during these trying times. Thank you! June seems to be a month to feature seniors. There are still some seniors alive who survived D-Day on June 6, as well as their families who remember. In October 2002 a proclamation was declared in perpetuity that early in June every year will be known as Seniors’ Week. This is a time to celebrate seniors and their many contributions – providing an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the integral part seniors play in communities across British Columbia. So, let’s celebrate seniors June 6-12, 2021!

Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday in June, this year June 20. Father’s Day is an unofficial holiday to celebrate fathers around the world. Although still emerging, it is celebrated in more and more countries nowadays as fathers are increasingly involved in raising children and are recognized for their efforts. We must also remember that more grandfathers and grandmothers also help with child-minding to support single parents and those where both parents must work. Go Grandparents! With more time right now and often fewer activities, seniors might fall into the procrastinating trap. In Jeff Herring’s eighth “ways to stop procrastinating,” he advises: Adopt the attitude of “do it now.” Doing it now provides you with three key benefits: It gets you started; it prevents a backlog; and it builds momentum. Once you

have a good momentum going, it’s easy to just keep going and get things done. One thing that did not get put on hold, was the Zone 8 Virtual Auction held April 1-May 7. It not only was a fundraiser, it reminded people interested in the 55+ BC Games that we truly believe the Victoria Games will be held in September 2022, and that Zone 8 needs more operational funds to keep afloat and help build momentum towards preparation, registration and participation in those twice postponed Games. Many thanks to all those who donated items and services to be auctioned, as well as those who paid a fee to take part in the bidding and who bid on a splendid variety of auction specialities. Also, we thank our president Peter Hughes, without whose technical computer skills the items pictured virtually would have remained invisible. The efforts of many raised $359 for Zone 8 operations, and

proved to me that this old dog could learn new tricks. Congratulations to Irene Hughes who won a prize drawn physically, not virtually, as our zone’s appreciation for participants’ willingness to promote our logo: For Life, Sport and Friends, and to carry out the mission of the BC Seniors Games Society to improve the health, lifestyle and image of BC’s 55+ population by: • organizing the (usually) annual 55+ BC Games as an opportunity to participate in physical and social activities; • promoting community awareness of the contemporary image of 55+ people as physically active and socially engaged; and • encouraging year-round (usually) participation at the zone level. Please keep reading The Connector for more 55+ BC Games news and lots of interesting reading.

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10 JUNE 2021

ICBC No Fault Insurance In Force May 1 2021 Personal Injury ICBC Claims Civil Litigation Wills/Estate Planning Probate/Estate Administration Corporate Commercial

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KERRI D. PRIDDLE

ICBC has introduced a new No Fault Insurance scheme entitled “enhanced care coverage.” It is coverage for recovery benefits that already existed under our former insurance to a limit of $300,000 for things like massage, physio or a chiropractor plus support items if we are catastrophically injured like home modifications, grab bars and wheel chairs. The ‘enhancement’ is that initial treatment coverage is pre-authorized and ICBC will make payment directly to the treatment provider. There is also an increase of total coverage limit from $300,000 to $7.5 million, although most injured people don’t even come close to the $300,000 amount for the cost of their treatments except for the most catastrophically injured car accident victims. Injury victims will have access to ‘must pay’ preauthorized treatments – a fixed number of physiotherapy, kinesiology, and chiropractic sessions,

for example. Beyond those pre-approved sessions, the individual must satisfy their adjuster that the recommended treatment is necessary to facilitate their recovery. These are ‘may pay’ benefits based on the adjuster’s discretion and understanding of the complicated policy guidelines. Here is where the paperwork and hoops to jump through will begin as it will be up to ICBC whether they agree to pay for treatment, even if it is medically-recommended. It will be up to the injured person to prove they require the treatment or medication and that they do not have other coverage (such as extended employment benefits) to pay for their accident injury recovery needs. The difference in the new No Fault insurance is what they took away. On May 1, 2021, British Columbians lost some very important rights from ICBC’s new No Fault insurance scheme. First, injured British Columbians are no longer eligible for compensation for their pain and suffering unless they are catastrophically injured, and even then the payment limit has been reduced and capped. An ICBC adjuster, not an independent judge, determines if your injuries are ‘catastrophic’ enough to qualify, based on if the injury is a permanent impairment of at least 65 percent. For a child with a brain injury, their injury would only qualify as catastrophic if their brain functions are impacted by more than 50

percent. So, despite these injuries being life-altering and requiring expensive lifelong support at any level of severity, the child’s family may not qualify for catastrophic injury compensation. Second, ICBC’s No Fault model removes access to an independent judge or jury to make an impartial judgment on injury cases. No Fault’s complex new policy is built upon over 200 pages of technical regulations which will be virtually impossible for the public to navigate – especially those involved in an accident and focused on their health and recovery. The injured person is totally at the mercy of an ICBC adjuster to approve their benefits or compensation. If ICBC does wrong by you, you can’t go to court and enforce your rights. Until No Fault, an impartial judge would consider the pain and suffering faced by an injured person, compare that information to other similar cases and injuries, and award damages (money) to ensure that person is compensated. Under the new No Fault scheme, hiring a lawyer will rarely be possible as there is no right to take your claim before a judge. The main pitfalls to this new insurance for the travelling public who are hurt in an accident are the lack of any meaningful coverage for any injury victim not the breadwinner of the family. Retirees, homemakers and people with existing disabilities will receive payments for treatments and medication,

but nothing else in terms of support or compensation for their losses. Youth who do not have a set career path, but who will never be able to pursue a career or paid employment due to lifelong injuries, will receive future income loss based on what the ICBC adjuster decides what future employment the child may have had if they had not been injured, and determine how much support they should receive. Even where the victim is an adult and already a high earning individual — a physician, for example — their losses will be limited to the available ICBC insurance benefits which are capped at $100,000. Under No Fault, our individual rights are stripped away. For those most seriously injured British Columbians who are unable to work, they will be dependent upon ICBC wage loss benefits for the rest of their life and those benefits will be inadequate for many. The most practical thing a person can do is to take the estimated $400 savings this year on insurance and buy private disability insurance to cover our losses properly. This no fault insurance is an inferior insurance product to what ICBC provided before No Fault and as a result, excess coverage outside our car insurance is now necessary to protect us and our families from negligent drivers and the injuries we may suffer.

CAMVAP offers car owners some recourse By Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

recently saw a news/ consumer program that brought up the issue of the lack of passenger compartment heat, definitely not enough to warm up the interior of the vehicle at -20C degrees, which is a typical Canadian winter temperature. What concerned me the most was how the program portrayed the vehicle owners with being stuck with the situation to which nothing could be done. They were literally out in the cold.

In cases like this, if a vehicle is 4 years or less in age, still under warranty and you are the original owner there is an incredibly useful program called CAMVAP - The Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan. The following information is directly from the CAMVAP site: CAMVAP is a program that allows disputes between consumers and vehicle manufacturers to be resolved through binding arbitration.

Disputes about alleged defects in the assembly of a vehicle or implementation of the new vehicle warranty are eligible for arbitration under the CAMVAP program. CAMVAP is available at no charge to the consumer and can be accessed in all Provinces and Territories in Canada. CAMVAP is an effective way to settle disputes. An independent and neutral arbitrator is assigned to each dispute and makes a

decision that is fair to both the vehicle owner and the vehicle manufacturer. The impression given in the TV program was that those owners had no recourse. CAMVAP is an incredibly effective program and I have been involved in multiple cases and can only appreciate the program. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns and practice COVID-19 measures.

bigsix8280@yahoo.ca

www.connectornews.ca

JUNE 2021 11

Eye of the beholder

kamloops birdwatch NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

he topic of beauty can be an intriguing one. Beyond the physical attributes that first pique the interest, there tends to be a myriad of traits that continue to morph and intensify or dampen the attraction. While one engages, another may dismiss. What ultimately is the deciding factor? Especially in a realm of

extreme similarity, how does one become a stand out individual? Every year Kamloops’ muted colourscape becomes speckled with a host of males birds bathed in the sunniest of yellow. Yet all are very different. From the Western Tanager’s crimson cap, The Western Meadowlark’s distinguished black necklace, Yellow headed black bird speaks for itself and a plethora of Warblers dipped and dripped in a variance of solid to marbled patterns. They are little droplets of sunshine that have the happiest little voices to match. But is it enough? How does one grab the attention and woo the right to carry on his genetic line?

We all know males display the most beautiful of palettes, but what do his shades and hue portray? Pigmentation comes from two physical processes such as absorption of specific wavelength light and from sources such as Melanin, which are responsible for black, grey, brown and orange variations and then Carotenoid, which are adapted for the brighter colours and gleaned mainly from food ingested then circulated through to the feather follicles via the bloodstream. The more dapper the gentleman, the more virile he appears. His feathers may tell a story, or paint a tale of his capabilities, but she requires proof. His beauty is not enough, nor are the vibrations of his robust

song. It is also about his chase—the effort he can expend to pursue her. Dancing and dashing in a swirl of twitter patted feistiness through tightly woven branches and trees, to grand aerial maneuvers. The confidence, passion and vigor he displays will ultimately sway the decision. Now here is the part that I find amazing. We often look at the animal world and the term “Natural Instincts” takes precedent over all. We don’t view their behaviour as anything other. But, for all the mesmerizing displays the male bird can perform, the female still has a choice. And in 95 percent of avian species it is a monogamous choice at that. So does the male display to take any female?

Western Meadowlark Pine Park-Tranquille Photo: Naomi Birkenhead

Does the female take any male? Humanity has often overlooked the beauty of masculinity; the drive, ambition, protective nature, energy and compassion that intermingle. Each possesses their own ingredients—some gleaned from their environment and others gifted by nature—that make them uniquely attractive. Never diminish the beauty of someone who worked hard to get your attention, and

appreciate when someone returned that attention. BIRDING TIP: Western Grebes are known for their mating dance. Every year they reunite in an intricate display to rekindling, rediscover and appreciating the unity that they found. It is up to them to equally be a part of the dance and together make it beautiful! Salmon Arm Bay is known to host this spectacular event! Stay Curious Kamloops!

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12 JUNE 2021

CONSIGNMENTS WELCOME TRAILERS • COACHES • CAMPERS • 5TH WHEELS • MOTOR HOMES

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ACROSS 1. Actor Parker who played TV’s Daniel Boone 5. Observe 9. Irish entree 13. L ast word in prayer, often 14. I reland, to the Irish 15. P er item 16. D enmark’s 81 year old monarch 19. C alvin ___ of fashion 20. O ld-fashioned theatre name 21. Able to still get around 24. 1 /16 pound 27. “ Once ___ a time...” 28. C ommon aquatic scum 29. S teals from 33. N orway’s 84 year old leader 37. H andmade Swedish rug 38. B oy 39. D raw a bead on 40. Three on a grandfather clock 41. Whole shebang 42. C olorado Aboriginal 43. The Vatican’s 84 year old head honcho 46. P arking meter locale 48. E aster season flower 49. Your longest arm bone 50. Town in the movie “Jaws” 52. U ses a blender 54. C ider-making fruit

57. A ppears to be 59. Great Britain’s 95 year old royal head 64. Drug addict 65. Have on 66. Smallest Great Lake, by volume 67. Queries 68. Well-known Italian volcano 69. Loaf choices DOWN 1. Web site’s info section 2. Fast-running Aussie bird 3. In search of 4. Famed NZ miler 5. Trucker’s rig 6. Old instrument that plays itself 7. Greatest NHL defenseman, to many 8. Sheep in its second year 9. Planting machine 10. Famed London art gallery 11. Eerie cavern sound 12. At what time? 17. Maiden name leadin 18. Bird that flew off with Sinbad 21. Inuit boot 22. Drug derived from poppies 23. Epoxy user 25. Make really unattractive 26. Low point 28. Oft deodorized spot 30. Ouija board, some

believe 31. Name at the top of a news column 32. Taco chip dips 34. Gordon Pinsent’s “Red Green Show” role: ___ Shaughnessy 35. Garlic-flavoured mayo 36. Big railway name 44. ___ Fields (mythical paradise) 45. Baby’s room 47. Hay bundling machines 51. Chaps 52. Lentil’s cousin 53. Earthy brown hue 54. Light teal, basically 55. “___ in Boots” 56. Quick look 58. Actor Stone of “The Aldrich Family” 60. Female sheep 61. Allow 62. Dead heat 63. Peggy Lee’s “___ a Tramp”

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JUNE 2021 13

Seniors’ Resource Centre - Salmon Arm

JUNE 2021

320A Second Ave. NE (Office Hours: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm)

Calendar of Events

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

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only)

SATURDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 22

FRIDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 15

THURSDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only) 8

WEDNESDAY

Foot Care (by appt. only)

Merritt Senior Centre

JUNE 2021

The Merrit Seniors Association

Calendar of Events

250-378-3763 • 1675 Tutill Court | Nellie Holuboch, President

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 6

Exercise Class 10:00 - 11 am Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 15

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 29

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

SATURDAY

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 24

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm *Health restrictions are changing day to day so please call the centre for information* *Call the centre for more information 250 378 3763* ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE

SUDOKU 31

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

Pool Room Open 12:30 pm 22

FRIDAY Pool Room Open 12:30 pm

By Marilyn Brown

This Is Not the End of Me: Lessons on Living from a Dying Man By Dakshana Bascaramurty

McClelland & Stewart, 2020 Biography, 285 pages

SUNDAY

Book Review

s his wife struggles with excruciating labour pains in the hospital, the young man in the bathroom, mere feet away, writhes in agony on the bathroom floor, enduring a coffee enema, part of a strict nontraditional regime to combat cancer and other ills, prescribed by a clinic in Mexico. The young man, Layton Reid, is in his 30’s, until recently single, an adventurer and traveller. When he is diagnosed with melanoma, the shock is visceral and life-changing in more ways than one. A remission propels him to settle down and marry Candace, the woman he loves. The cancer returns, stage four. His wife, parents, in-laws, and friends are devoted to his well-being: Layton is well-supported. He is determined to stay alive as long as he can, in particular because he wants to meet this new baby, and he wants to live long enough for his son to know him. To that end, in spite of severe challenges and disruptions to normal routines and relationships, Layton devises many ways of connecting to a son he will never see grow up. He chooses to be a parent in a way different from his own father: there will be less reservation about showing love; in fact, he plans to “smother” his son with affection. The author of this book, Dakshana Bascaramurty, has a vital role to play in Layton’s journey. As a valued friend to the family and a seasoned reporter, she will help record his journey. She is privy to numerous conversations, Layton’s own public journal and private diary, and Layton’s spontaneous outpourings, in fact acting at times much like his private “shrink”. The family shares with Ms Bascaramurty their roller coaster ride of emotions as Layton’s condition ebbs and flows. Candace has her own parents and in-laws to provide solid support, but still she has a little one to nurture and a husband whose decline is heartwrenching. While he still can, Layton, a professional photographer, records his family in stills and video, wanting to leave his boy Finn with a sense of who his dad is, including that elusive quality, the sound of his voice. Finn will see images of his dad living with purpose, making the most of his time left. Layton even establishes a web domain just for Finn. This is Not the End of Me takes pains to respect Layton Reid’s need for clarity, himself a man who values plain truth, no sugar-coating of reality for him. His story is direct, both painful and wonderful, a gritty and gripping glimpse into the determination of this son/husband and father to leave a legacy. Recommended.

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www.connectornews.ca

14 JUNE 2021

Kamloops Kidney Walk to be held virtually for 2nd straight year

Web Experience FRIDAY

MAY 21

to SATURDAY

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“Moody Hoodoos” Kamloops, BC | Photo Credit: Candace Hansma

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upporters in Kamloops will take part on June 6, along with walkers from throughout B.C., Yukon, the Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Because of the pandemic, these Kidney Walks were forced to be held virtually in 2020, and the same thing has happened for 2021. Last year, Kidney Walkers across Canada raised $2,695,065, with B.C./ Yukon contributing $217,009 to that number. In Kamloops, the total raised was $12,449. Dorothy Drinnan was Kamloops’ top fund-raiser for a seventh straight year, this time bringing in $3,340. As much as the Kidney Walk is a fund-raiser, it also shows support for all those people who are living with kidney disease, people like Vic Morin of Kamloops, who is doing peritoneal dialysis — spending eight hours hooked up to a cycler as he sleeps every night — as he hopes and waits for a transplant. Morin and his wife, Colleen Bruce, have had a decal installed in the rear window of their car. “I NEED A KIDNEY,” it reads. “BLOOD TYPE B+.” The decal also includes two phone numbers — 250-573-3765 and 250-574-2547. While Morin’s blood type is B+, a living donor doesn’t have to be a match, which is where the Living Kidney Donor Program comes in. This is another program that gains support through the Kidney Walk. Remember, too, that there isn’t a cure for kidney disease. According to BC Transplant, there have been 102 kidney transplants performed in the province this year, through April 30. Of those, 27 were done using living donors. Still, there are 561 people awaiting transplants, while the medical community is following 3,672 who are post-transplant. In 2020, there were 280 kidney transplants, with 81 of those involving living donors. Statistics compiled by the National Kidney Foundation show that 10 per cent of the global population is affected

by chronic kidney disease, and “millions die each year because they do not have access to affordable treatment.” This, then, is why we hold the annual Kidney Walk. The Kidney Foundation’s patient programs, services and research are vital. Funds raised through the Kidney Walk community are a major contributor to maintaining these programs. This year it’s all about showing our kidney and transplant community Strength, Hope and Courage! And we’ll be doing it on June 6. In order to participate or make a donation, or for more information, visit kidneywalk.ca. In Kamloops, contact Edna Humphreys (ednahumphreys@shaw.ca, 250-376-6361) or Dorothy Drinnan (ddrinnan52@gmail.com, 250-573-2988) of the Kamloops Kidney Support Group. If you would like to chat with Colleen Bruce and Vic Morin, contact Gregg Drinnan (greggdrinnan@gmail.com, 250-573-2988) and he will help arrange it.

Vic Morin of Kamloops, with the help of Picket Fence Graphics, now has a decal in his car’s rear window to help as he continues his search for a new kidney. (Photo: Colleen Bruce)

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www.connectornews.ca

JUNE 2021 15

Home Support Services

r e t t e L to the r o t i Ed Dear Editor, A beloved doctor died recently of a heart attack. She wasn’t my doctor but a friend’s doctor. My friend had her for a doctor for many years and is now devastated that not only her doctor is gone but she and others can’t find a physician in Kamloops. Many have been without a physician in Kamloops for many years now and I can think of 5 right now! Only two were patients of Dr. Rittenburg that I know of. A lot of people without a doctor have issues with their health that not only haven’t been addressed by a doctor but it is keeping them from getting a much-needed COVID vaccine! To compound the issue of the loss of a wonderful doctor, we have lost walk-in clinics? Now with fewer walk-ins, it has further exacerbated the option to talk to a doctor at a walk-in. The line-ups used to be quite long at the clinic below Superstore. Where do people go? Emergency at the hospital comes to mind and sometimes as a last resort? If the numbers were known, they would be staggering I think to

• House Cleaning • Personal Care (bathing, grooming) • Companion Care (at home & institutions) • Palliative & Compassionate Care • Meal Prep, Med Distribution, Wound Management • Transportation & Shopping • Continuous Care • Respite/Overnight Care find out the actual total number of people without a doctor in Kamloops. A new addition to the hospital is going up in front of our eyes, but do we have more doctors to accommodate the addition or does that matter in the case of extending this facility? What is the answer for all of the people without a doctor? Why has Kamloops been unable to keep doctors here? Why are there no new doctors coming to Kamloops and if there are new doctors why can’t the people without a doctor get on their patient lists? I see the seriousness and don’t understand why these people can’t be helped, as some truly have not had a personal doctor for many, many years! Now some that have had a wonderful doctor are among the ones that don’t and are truly afraid. All of the ones I am commenting on are seniors.

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Tile trends

Flooring SHAWN VANDERWAL Nufloors Bathroom Tile Trends The world of tile is forever evolving with new trends emerging year after year and the combinations are endless. To help you in your selection, we have broken down our favourite trends for this year. From patterns, shapes, sizes,

colours, finishes and everything in between, here are our top 3 tile trends. Graphic Patterns This tile trend is already huge and will only continue to grow in popularity. You can expect to see a wide variety of intricate prints and colours all over this year, including soft subtle hues or bold contrasting colours. This trend is perfect as an accent in any room whether on the floor or walls. It is safe to say graphic patterns can be anywhere and everywhere. This style really gives you a chance to play with your creative side and create a design that is completely unique to you. Dimensional Tiles Tile manufacturers aren’t just playing around with colours and patterns—they are also getting more diverse with shapes. In particular, the resurgence of the hexagon shape, which is now available in all sizes, colours and textures. Geometric tiles are great because they can be used in

several ways, whether on a large scale or as an accent. Either way it will create a unique look and add interest to a space. Use them in small bathrooms paired with neutral colours to help improve the perception of space. In large bathrooms, they can be used to create artful accents. Textural Finishes Incorporating textured tile adds variation, depth and interest to a space. Depending on the tile used, textures can be subtle or pronounced based on the finish applied or the desired colour. 3D tiles come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colours and styles, which you can combine into endless combinations to create a one of a kind space. These tiles create a focal point that can be considered a piece of art. As always, if you would like to discuss tile trends a little further, pop by our showroom and say hi!

250-372-1234 • info@cfselaw.ca

Downtown Kamloops - #300-272 Victoria St.

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www.connectornews.ca

16 JUNE 2021

In defense of dandelions T hey’re every mother’s first bouquet. To a toddler nothing could be more beautiful than those fuzzy, golden flowers. Surely Mommy will love them too! Unfortunately, most people don’t greet dandelions with the joyous glee of a small child. Spring’s arrival is announced by a rising cacophonous

chorus from members of the species ‘Lawnus Harrumphus’ emerging from their winter dens to discover dandelions blooming everywhere. LOTS E Immediately, the anti-dandelion ABL forces muster every physical AVAILand N! chemical method availableSO toO eradicate them. Dandelions are North America’s OTS

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ots, with curbs, paved etlights Property First Time Home BuyersTaxes & Home Owner Grants Due July 2 A 10% ve to Kamloops at penalty 83km will be applied to any outstanding amounts (including outstanding home owner grant amounts) after the due date. m from Vancouver You may claim a Home Owner Grant without making a payment on your tax account. This will reduce your tax balance owing.

Home Owner Grant Application New in 2021! You must apply for your Home Owner Grant directly with the province. The City of Kamloops is no longer accepting applications. To avoid penalties and interest, apply with the province before the tax due date! Visit Gov.BC.ca/HomeOwnerGrant or call 1-888-355-2700 for more information and to apply.

More Convenient Ways to Pay • NEW In 2021 - Pay Online! We now take Visa or Mastercard at Kamloops.ca/Payment. A nonrefundable 1.75% service fee will apply. • At Your Bank Online, in person, or telephone banking. • In Person at City Hall Now also accepting credit card payments with a non-refundable 1.75% service fee.

• Mail Must be received by the due date. The postmark is not accepted as the date of payment. • Drop Box Available 24 hours a day at City Hall and during facility hours at the Tournament Capital Centre and North Shore Community Policing Office.

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irrefutable example of the power of peer pressure. Oh, there’s no official society for the suppression of dandelions, no government inspectors, nor municipal fines. Nevertheless, people have incited animosity to this colourful spring flower to the point where corrupt politicians, accountingly-challenged CEOs and criminal biker gangs might have their nefarious exploits excused by a forgiving public. But, let it be whispered that they tolerate dandelions and punishment will be swift and sure. Condemnation from all levels of society will soon force them to conform. This attitude would have puzzled our ancestors. Tenth century Arabian physicians recorded dandelion cures. In monasteries, castles and cottages, medieval gardeners cultivated dandelions. They were relished as vegetables, served as salads and recommended as medicines. Healers of the Middle Ages couldn’t isolate the minerals and vitamins in dandelions. They worked from observation. And, when ancient monks and village wise women treated their patients with dandelions, they noticed beneficial results. The dandelion, we now know, holds greater amounts of vitamins C and A than almost any other vegetable or fruit. Consequently, it was very important to medieval people at risk of scurvy after long winters with no fresh fruits or prepackaged vitamins. The greens are rich in vitamins B1, B2, iron, calcium and copper. Ancient herbals offered numerous recipes for dandelion teas, tinctures, and beers. North American homesteaders, showing some of the same folk wisdom as well as an understandable desire to forget the dreary winter, made dandelion wine. Many a country Saturday night was enlivened by a jug of this brew which had the added advantage of providing necessary nutrients. “Good and good for you!” Think of the marketing potential! Humans aren’t the only ones to benefit from the dandelion in all its stages. Both wild and domestic bees sip from these earliest of flowers. Canada geese and pheasants forage on the greens and seed-eating song birds feast on the seed heads. Why is such a useful plant so detested? To be fair, dandelions do exude an ethylene gas which discourages the growth of neighbouring plants and the long

Story By Trudy Frisk

tap roots bring up iron, copper and other minerals from deep in the soil. However, when dandelions are mowed and the clippings left on the ground to decompose, those minerals are then available to shallow rooted plants which couldn’t have reached them. No, the dislike of dandelions isn’t based on science. It’s a reflection of our desire to impose strict order on nature. A lawn dotted with yellow blooms, buzzing with bees which will soon pollinate other plants; a yard where a casual pheasant may wander in hopes of a tasty meal of dandelion leaves; have become symbols of someone who’s either too lazy or too rebellious to keep up the standard—a sign of someone not maintaining control of her allotted portion of this chaotic world. Humans, say the scientists, evolved in a savannah-like region. It was dotted with copses, ponds, rocky outcroppings, shrubs and grasses. In fact, suburban yards have been described as an attempt to recreate that primitive landscape. Did we take the wrong path on the way back to our roots? That original savannah was anything but simple and uniform. It was complex and diverse, yet we not only survived on the variety of available plants, we eventually domesticated some as the first cultivated grains. Despite the anti-dandelion folks, there are encouraging signs. Gently trimmed ‘natural’ yards are becoming popular. Some schools and cities just mow dandelions on playing fields and parks, instead of trying to eliminate them. Even dandelion wine is making a comeback. North Americans may never equal the French in their zest for dandelion culinary treats, but we may, in time, think of those cheerful blooms as signs of health in our yards and communities.

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JUNE 2021 17

KICK-OFF KEEPSAKE Creative Writing by Rita Joan Dozlaw

n the mid-1950s, Jake, a newly certified millwright, left Alberta for a job in Ontario. Before he left, on his twenty-first birthday, his mother’s way of wishing him luck was to gift him with an onyx signet ring. In Ontario, he not only got lucky landing the job but he found the love of his life, Lucy. A short time later, he blurted out, “I think we should go together Lucy, uh, you know… go steady?” She gushed over the idea and Jake held his ring out to her. “This is way too big for you, but I want you to have it.” Astonished she said, “I’ve loved seeing it on you. Is there a story to it?” “You could say that. My mom gave it to me.” “I’ll wear it on a chain around my neck,” Lucy promised. They could hardly pull out of the hug and kiss which followed. Eventually the token of their intense bond was properly sized and it served as an engagement ring. Under a full moon one night, Lucy looked through a mail-order catalogue Jake brought on their date. He had her turn to the jewelry page. “Pick something out, Lucy.” Pondering the wedding and engagement rings, she left a faint lipstick stain on the glossy illustration of her favorite set. From the zine, Jake tore off the perforated ‘ruler’ strip, pulled the signet ring off her hand and wrapped the strip snugly around her finger for size. With a quickened heartbeat, Lucy’s tear-choked throat teased, “Don’t lose this strip,” and she

threw her arms around him. The following day, Jake couldn’t remember the size and frantically dug through his pockets for the measuring strip. His relief was palpable when he found it on the floor mat of the car. The rings he ordered arrived in time for Lucy’s high school commencement. “You look smashing, honey!” She loved the compliment and flared her formal gown over the seat as Jake reached over it and took her signet ring off. The precious moment of slipping the diamond onto her ring finger would be remembered forever. They married in a small chapel. Lucy loved her wedding rings and continued for many years to wear the signet ring on her other hand. When their first child arrived, thinking way ahead of himself, Jake suggested, “What do you think of passing the ring from mom down to our son some day?” “Oh Jake, it’s a wonderful idea for an heirloom like this. We’ll do it when he’s mature enough to appreciate its significance.” She gazed at the stylized ‘J’ inlaid on the onyx, and her mind wandered far into the future. Years later, a jeweller removed the ‘J’ and replaced it with an elegant gold ‘A’ for the couple’s son Andrew. He had always admired the ring and was overjoyed to receive it on his sixteenth birthday. It was natural, however, that he never really got use to wearing it so it laid for months in a box in his dresser drawer. On the day of Andrew’s high school

graduation he looked dapper in his rented tux. He deemed the occasion worthy of wearing the classy ring but struggled to get it on; for, he’d gone through a growing spurt and it was extremely tight. During dinner, subconsciously rotating it, he proudly shared its history with friends. But, by dessert time, he justified tugging the uncomfortable thing off… just till I finish eating. For safekeeping, he wrapped it in his crisp formal handkerchief and planted it deep in his breast pocket. In the dead of night, he dropped the tux in a heap on the floor and, the next morning bundled it up, tossed it over the handlebars of his bike and headed for the dry cleaners. Sure hope they can get that gravy stain out. Checking it over later, the stain was gone so, to avoid over-due charges, he promptly delivered the clean well-pressed duds to the men’s wear shop. The rounds of parties which followed were exciting… until the night he remembered the last time he handled the ring. He laid for hours dozing on and off. Before breakfast, he rushed out, without an explanation, and peddled frantically to the cleaners to inquire if they’d found the ring. With maturity, dreadful guilt and copious courage, he manned up and agonizingly confessed to his parents. His low solemn voice quivered, “I traced my tracks back to the cleaners, but nobody found it.” Lucy recalled the sweetest moments of

her girlhood and wept softly; for, there was a time when her husband’s ring held great hopes and dreams for her. Gaining composure, she spoke frankly. “You know, Andy, I haven’t given dad’s ring much thought lately,” and. with wisdom added, “Objects of affection aren’t necessarily meant to be with us forever. It’s a hard lesson, but the real keepers are each other.” She squeezed him tightly but her sobs told the truth of it. Andy apologized over and over as he wiped her tears with a napkin from the table. “Your graduation from high school was a very significant rite of passage, Andy. Let’s remember that and not dwell on a lost possession.” Jake’s dad, with a glint of comic relief in his eyes, jumped in to bail his wife and son out of their obvious doldrums. “She’s right, Andy. That ring was a part of my journey, then it took your mom on the journey with me and recently it sent you on your ups-n’downs journey. That’s life; perhaps in truth, the keepsake will be a kick-off to someone else’s wholesome journey.” Grabbing at his son’s shoulder, he advised, “Don’t cry over spilt milk… er gravy! The tuxedo had to get cleaned. Think back; the funniest thing was when you stood up to dance! You’re girl ignored the nasty mess at yer crotch and kicked up her heels anyway! Luck like that follows you whether you have a ring on or not!”

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18 JUNE 2021

Rooted in faith

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dandelion is a gift to the soil that surrounds it. These roots loosen hard packed soil, aerate the earth and reduce soil erosion. They also pull calcium up from deep in the earth and share it with other plants. Some say the dandelions only Colouring outside the lines stay in an area long REV. LEANN BLACKERT enough to heal the soil. Once their work is done Wild Church they disappear. Each part of a plant is important, but it is er stem proudly their roots that hold holds up the them firmly in place. I golden glowing was reminded of this disc of perfect yellow as I wandered along petals and pistils. A a favourite trail and bee crawls across her counted the number of face carefully plucking uprooted trees, toppled up small bits of pollen. by strong winds or Truly she is a beautiful disease. Roots draw being. water and minerals from Once considered an the soil, nourishing and essential part of the maintaining life. garden, dandelions Faith – a belief in fell from grace when something bigger than pristine green lawns we are – is like those became a sign of wealth roots. It anchors us and a cultural shift in place, feeding and occurred. Dandelions nourishing our souls became anathema and spirits. Faith holds and herbicides were us firmly when strong developed to rid our winds and storms rock lawns of this pest – our lives. And faith can herbicides that are regenerate us when all highly toxic to our that we’ve known is environment – killing more than 7 million wild ripped away from us. Scientists are birds every year. learning there are The beauty of very real benefits for the dandelion is people of faith: lower matched only by her blood pressure, lower stubbornness. That root beneath her pushes deep chronic stress levels, greater ability to cope into the ground – up to with adversity, and an 15 feet – and not only improved sense of wellholds the plant firmly being and happiness in place but regenerates to name just a few. every time the plant is The biggest surprise pulled. The root of the

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is that people of faith studied over a period of nearly 30 years had a 30 percent lower mortality rate. That’s right. Faith can help you live a longer, healthier life! So what are you rooted in? Faith comes in many forms and many names: God, Allah, YHWH, Source, Creator, Anima Mundi, Higher Power, Wakan Taka. My favourite is Great Mystery because the realm of faith truly is a mystery. Institutionalized faith has often been the source of pain for so many. One of the reasons I love gathering for Wild Church out among the trees is because trees understand being fully inclusive. Trees generate oxygen and never judge or assign more value to one “breather” than another. They just breath in our carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen – life. They offer shelter to birds, insects and animals. They even care for one another through the web of life known as the mycelium network. My personal connection with the Great Mystery, my own rootedness, is

nourished and fed by time outdoors, by walking among the trees, sitting on my back deck listening to the blackbirds trill, or by paddling across the water. Life is all around me, as is wisdom, rooting me deeply in the divine. As spring turns to summer this year, be like a dandelion. Turn your beautiful face to the sky, soaking in the sun and push your roots down deeply into whatever faith feeds your soul. May the Great Mystery be revealed to you in ways big and small! Rev LeAnn Blackert works with Michele Walker and Lesly Comrie in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan (wildchurchbc.org). She lives in an evolving world and finds her own understanding of God/ Great Mystery/Holiness also evolving, and loves exploring questions of faith in a community of seekers.

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JUNE 2021 19

What makes us who we are?

The inside story WENDY WESEEN

was floundering this month to find something to talk about that didn’t relate to COVID, but it reared its demonic head anyway. We are incredibly preoccupied with it, the light at the end of the tunnel is like Lucy’s football, and our lives are on hold. We are suffering from apathy and it’s quite a normal reaction to the radical involuntary change in life we hope will eventually return as it was. Searching for inspiration and a way out of my listless apathy, I came across a book with a chapter titled What makes us who we are? I’m not managing as well as I was a year ago when the

ever-changing lockdowns began. Though we are in the universal storm of COVID, we are in our own unique boats made complicated by COVID. It’s no wonder I feel like a basket case. I’ve lost connection with myself past the point of loneliness, and am wanting to cocoon, not go anywhere or join anything. What makes us who we are impacts the unique way individuals adapt to the difficult circumstances that life throws at them and their level of resilience. Our biology is primary. The drive to reproduce, feed, clothe and shelter ourselves (or buy toilet paper!) is strong. Within that biology, social research points to a particular temperament we are born with, characteristics like cautiousness, leadership ability, resiliency, and artistic tendencies. Second, at the time of our birth, we arrive in a society with events happening. I was born in post war Britain in poverty and homelessness. I was born to parents with parenting styles

and extended families socializing us about beliefs about the way we should be. All children went to bed at 8 o’clock. Kids did not spray paint stop signs. This is also affected by our place in the family constellation. As the eldest daughter I was 16 before allowed to wear lipstick. My younger sisters were permitted the same privilege at increasingly younger ages. Personal events such as the death of a grandmother or Uncle Alfred putting his arm into a woodchipper whack us. We often do not remember these events, but an emotional memory lingers and can leap out at us if triggered by something similar. These events can be both expected and unexpected. For instance, we expect an elderly grandparent to die but not a grandchild; we expect a two-year-old to be talking and walking. Finally, there are world events. A perfect example is the pandemic currently changing the entire globe, affecting world development and behaviours now and into the future. Each of us are

complicated and unique, so when we witness the events in the here and now, we look through our own window. The life we have lived, the biology and experiences filter into our thinking from a unique brain. Having enough food is weighty in my life because there was not enough as a child and even today, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. When I use my senses or someone tells me something they believe is true, what I experience is filtered through the prism coloured by where I come from and who I became. We filter through our own window, lens, or prism of what we believe to be true. I get things wrong because the other person’s filter is often markedly different from my own. In conclusion, thinking about things we believe are or should be true is unique, influenced by our own life experience and biology. How strongly we are attached to those beliefs affects our ability to stay open-minded and hear what other people share with us.

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the patio or on the deck in the backyard, while apartment dwellers can make use of local parks for nighttime picnics or dine on balconies or rooftop recreational areas, which have become popular in crowded metropolitan areas. Rooftops and balconies may not pass the “Is it greenspace?” test, but dining in such areas can be more relaxing than an apartment dining nook. • Get off the couch. Don’t hesitate to get outside when night falls. Spend time in the backyard or go for nightly walks around the neighborhood or in a nearby park. Say so long to television binging sessions, making healthier and more beneficial use of nightly free time by utilizing nearby greenspaces. • Go hiking on weekends. Even city dwellers no doubt live within driving distance of local hiking areas. Hiking provides a host of cardiovascular benefits and can make for a great, full-body workout. Researchers associated with the UEA report suggested that the practice of forest bathing, which is popular in Japan and promotes spending time sitting down or lying in nature, exposes people to a diverse array of bacteria present in natural areas that may benefit the immune system and reduce inflammation. People who think that accessing nature is helping them to stay healthy aren’t wrong. In fact, making time to include nature in your daily or weekly routine can have positive and wideranging effects on your overall health.

NTURIST AS DE S

eople who live in regions where winters are cold often note the feeling of rejuvenation they enjoy on the first warm day of latewinter or spring. The chance to get outside and soak up some sun while breathing some warm air is a feeling unlike any other for those who spend much of their winters bundled up in layers of clothing. The value of spending time outdoors extends well beyond dusting off winter cabin fever, providing long-term benefits that might surprise even the most ardent outdoor enthusiast. A 2018 report from researchers at the University of East Anglia found that living close to nature and spending time outside has wide-ranging health benefits, including a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. Authors of the report studied data from across the globe, gathering evidence from more than 140 studies involving more than 290 million people. Researchers cannot pinpoint exactly why people who spend ample time in greenspaces enjoy better health. However, the benefits appear to be so wide-ranging as to suggest that people who currently do not spend much time in greenspaces should make a concerted effort to do so. The following are a handful of ways busy individuals can start spending more time outdoors. • Dine al fresco. On nights when the weather is fair, take dinner into the great outdoors. People who live in private homes can dine on

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20 JUNE 2021

Know the types of Hearing Loss There are three types of hearing loss — sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Degrees of hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It occurs when the inner ear nerves and hair cells are damaged — perhaps due to age, noise damage or something else. Sensorineural hearing loss impacts the pathways from your inner ear to your brain. Most times, sensorineural hearing loss cannot be corrected medically or surgically, but can be treated and helped with the use of hearing aids.

There are four clinically labeled degrees of hearing loss:

Conductive hearing loss

If you have mild hearing loss, you may hear some speech sounds, but will have difficulty with soft sounds.

Conductive hearing loss is typically the result of obstructions in the outer or middle ear — perhaps due to fluid, tumors, earwax or even ear formation. This obstruction prevents sound from getting to the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss can often be treated surgically or with medicine.

Moderate

Mixed hearing loss Mixed hearing loss is just what it sounds like — a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. As with any medical condition, it’s best to know what you “have” before deciding what to do about it. A consultation with a hearing professional can help determine the type, cause and degree of your hearing loss.

By the time we reach 65, one in three of us will have a hearing impairment.

Mild

If you have moderate hearing loss, you’ll struggle to hear/ understand speech when someone is talking at a normal level.

Severe If you have severe hearing loss, you will hear little-to-no speech when spoken at normal levels, and hear only some loud sounds.

Profound If you have profound hearing loss, you may only hear very loud sounds and no speech at all.

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 call us from your cell phone when you arrive or come and knock on the door and we would be happy to assist you.

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