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Table of Contents 4 5 6 7-8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society has lots to offer Tai chi offers relaxation and exercise New Sit n’ Dance class is full of fun Stay active at any age with the Town of Ladysmith Dragon boating fosters fitness and friendship Hospice helps families in difficult times Volunteering with LaFF bridges the generations What are your residential care options? There’s lots going on at the Chemainus seniors’ centre Three choirs are active in Chemainus Tips for scooter safety Why do you need a will?
Fall 2012 Publisher Teresa McKinley publisher@ladysmithchronicle.com
Editor Lindsay Chung editor@ladysmithchronicle.com
Production Doug Kent production@ladysmithchronicle.com
Advertising Heather Andrews ads@ladysmithchronicle.com
940 Oyster Bay Drive P.O. Box 400, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A3 Phone: 250-245-2277 Fax: 250-245-2230 The Chronicle does its best to ensure content accuracy. The Chronicle is not endorsing any product or business contained within.
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Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society offers something for everyone Members can take part in a variety of activities and special events Where do you go if you want to play Wii, line dance, play crib, practise tai chi and socialize? If you’re 55 or older, you turn to the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society. The Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society offers a wide range of programs for people who are 55 and older at the Community Services Centre at 630 Second Ave. The society was originally the OAP No. 9, and it became the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society Oct. 1, 2004. The society’s purpose is to provide goodwill, fellowship and entertainment for the benefit of senior citizens, helping to alleviate loneliness. “We try to put on things the members want,” said Dave Stewart, vice-president of the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society. “We don’t just put things on without input or requests. A lot of our people are single, especially the widows, and we try to do a lot of things they can participate in without a partner. We try to address the needs of shut-ins and lonely people and try to get them out and involved in the community. With 350 members, a lot of them will find people they can strike up conversations with. This gives them a place to come if
they are interested in cards, carpet bowling, Wii, shuffleboard, bingo, line dancing, carpet bowling, crafts, dancing, crib, tai chi, whist, anything. “The main thing is we try to get people involved and having fun.” Activities are for members only. It costs $15 a year to become a member of the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society, and it costs $1 to participate in each activity. People can join at any time of the year. “We attempt to keep costs in general down and to make it affordable,” said Jack Maier, who is president of the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society. The society offers office hours Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Community Services Centre. Along with daily activities, the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society puts on special events such as a Christmas dinner, an Oktoberfest Halloween party, open mics, a “Ladysmith Has Talent” variety show, cribbage tournaments and casino afternoons. The society hosts a dinner every month except July and August and holds events such as dances, an annual barbecue picnic in August and a New Year’s Eve party. The society holds a general meeting every month and an executive meeting every month except in the summer.
Everything is done by volunteers, and the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society is always looking for more people to join and share their skills and interests. “We are always looking for ambitious, energetic people to volunteer,” said Maier. “It’s a totally volunteer operation, and the whole function works on the basis of putting in time and effort.” The society moved into its new home at 630 Second Ave. at the end of June 2011, and since then, it has gained 116 members. “From the time we moved into this new location, our membership has grown exponentially,” said Maier. “We have a new facility, a variety of activities people can participate in. It’s a combination of things that encourages people to look into it. We have to thank the town for providing us the facility that allows us to do these things.” In the community, the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society supports organizations like Festival of Lights, the Boys and Girls Club and the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association. For more information about the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society, call Anita Stewart at 250-245-9931 or e-mail lsseniorcentre@shaw.ca.
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Relax with tai chi
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Classes offered Fridays in Ladysmith
With its slow and fluid turning and stretching movements and its focus on breathing, tai chi has come to be known as an exercise that benefits both the mind and the body. And older adults in Ladysmith have an opportunity to practise this martial art every Friday morning in classes offered through the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society. Gwen Brosz, who is 84, says tai chi is great for keeping your legs strong and keeping your balance. “It’s a very lovely thing to do,” she said. “It’s slow and quiet.” Ninety-one-year-old Anna McMahon first did tai chi about 25 years ago with her husband then stopped, and she recently took it up again. “I think this is the loveliest way of having exercise,” she said. McMahon is visually impaired but is able to follow the instructions and do the moves in class. “I need to keep agile and keep from creaking,” she said. “These are moves I can make. More than anything, I think ‘I can do this again.’ I feel instead of being on the outskirts, I’m in the midst of things, instead of on the shelf. I’m glad the seniors are able to do it and that I’m here.” Fifty-seven-year-old Henry Wheat has been doing tai chi for three years. He and his wife were looking at the town’s activity guide and thought tai chi looked like fun. At the time, Wheat was only 54, but the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society said he could come to a class and have a look. “It was different, but it was fun, and I felt real good afterwards,” said Wheat, who has arthritis. The following fall, Wheat joined the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society and began doing tai chi. “This is the perfect kind of exercise for me because you get all the flexibility, you use your muscles, and because it’s nice and slow, it doesn’t hurt,” he said. “When you’re done, you can tell you’ve done something, especially in your upper legs. I feel more relaxed, and for the rest of the day, I won’t have any pain. It’s too bad it’s only once a week. I’d recommend tai chi for everybody and anybody. This won’t hurt you, and it’s very calming.” Linda Brown has led tai chi classes for about four years. She has noticed that the elderly people who start tai chi have problems with weak ankles and knees and are afraid of falling down, but after participating, many have told her they feel more stable and more co-ordinated and grounded. Some of the benefits Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society members have attributed to their tai chi practice include stress reduction, improved circulation, the lessening of arthritic and other pain, an increase in flexibility, lowered blood pressure and improved balance, noted Brown. The emphasis on correct body posture and spinal alignment releases tension and pressure caused by slumping, she explained. Moving weight from leg to leg is common to many tai chi exercises, as is extending and lifting the arms, legs and hands. All these tai chi moves vary the load on joint surfaces, increasing the flow of natural lubricant and nutrients into the joint, meaning they move more easily and freely, added Brown.
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New Sit n’ Dance class full of fun
New exercise class in Ladysmith promotes movement and fun Former dancer Joan Cochrane doesn’t have the best balance after a stroke affected her left side. She feels like she’s a bit slower than she used to be. Which is why she says Sit n’ Dance, a new program offered by the Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society, is the perfect opportunity for her to keep up her love of dance. “I’m enjoying this very, very much,” she said. Sit n’ Dance is a seated exercise program designed to promote movement, as well as maintain range of motion, strength and good posture. The exercise class, which is suitable for all levels, takes place Tuesdays from 3:15-4 p.m. at the Ladysmith Community Services Centre at 630 Second Ave. “It’s dance by virtue that it’s choreographed moves to music,” said Lesley Lambert, who leads the class with Julie Neal Lambert and Neal offer the program at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre as well, and this is the first time they are offering it in Ladysmith. “It’s all about keeping moving,” said Lambert. “It’s really good for the aging brain as well. It’s good for the muscles in your arms and shoulders. Any movement is better than not moving. You can modify the exercises as well. Some of the music for the dances
is slowed down, and some of the dances are shortened.” Lambert and Neal choreograph some of the dances themselves. “Julie and I dance every day,” said Lambert. “My life’s revolved around dance. Julie and I started teaching this in health care centres, and we had people in wheelchairs. We went to Kelowna to learn the program, and we’ve adapted it to people who aren’t in facilities. Julie and I both worked with physiotherapists for many years in the health care business.” Lambert feels older adults can really benefit from this program because it is a lot of fun, and it keeps you moving. Sit n’ Dance participants do some stretching before and after the dances. “It’s very, very good for people,” said Lambert. “The benefits, No. 1, are to have fun and the social aspect of it. This promotes movement and instruction, but it’s for people who can’t get up and boogie around because of leg weakness or balance. It also promotes good posture, which helps with falls and weakness. It’s not an intimidating environment. It’s just lots of fun.” Shirley Klassen enjoys Sit n’ Dance because she feels it’s great exercise, and it’s also a social time. “The music and everything fits, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s a happy time. Everyone’s enjoy-
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ing it.” Rosemary Westdorp likes that it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes. “Nobody has to be perfect,” she said. “That would take the fun out of it,” laughed Klassen. Westdorp says she likes a class like Sit n’ Dance better than going to the gym. “It’s more fun than going to a gym because we can wear whatever we want, and it’s more social than the gym,” she said. For more information about Sit n’ Dance, contact Julie at 250245-3237 or Lesley at 250-9244865. Ladysmith Museum 721 First Avenue 250.245.0423
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Staying active at any age
There’s lots of choice through Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture In Ladysmith, it’s easy to make fitness a big part of your life. Ladysmith, Parks, Recreation and Culture (LPRC) makes it easy to stay active at any age and at any fitness level or ability by offering a wide range of programming in the water and in the gym. “Specific seniors-only programs don’t really exist at Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture,” explained Anita McLeod, the town’s community services coordinator. “What we’ve tried to do is anything that is for people who are over 15 or 16 … seniors ought to see as possibly being able to do these things.” Aquatic supervisor Lois Walkling says water activities at the Frank Jameson Community Centre pool are very popular with older adults.
LPRC does offer a senior-specific aquatic fitness class, which is called Nifty Fifties. “They love being part of that social setting,” said Walkling. “That program has grown incredibly in the last few years, primarily because of the social setting it offers. Once a month, they have a tea and potluck after their session, and we had to move from the pool deck to a program room because it’s grown so much. They did that themselves.” Em Blanchard of Ladysmith has been going to Nifty Fifties for 26 years. “I was nifty 50, and now I’m crazy 80,” she laughed. Blanchard says she likes coming to Nifty Fifties because she likes to socialize with people, and she
believes “if you don’t move it, you lose it.” “It’s easier to move in the water,” she said. “It keeps everything working normally, and I could say it just keeps you more agile.” David Brown of Ladysmith was the first man to join Nifty Fifties. “It’s a great program,” he said. “It’s the socialization to it, and the exercises improve my flexibility. Things like twisting and turning during checks on the motorcycle are much easier because I’m more flexible. “ Brown worked in an office for a long time, and he used to weigh 400 pounds. He joined aquafit because he decided he had to do something, and he is now down to 250 pounds. “I had to do something, and it
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was easier to start in the water,” he said. Liz Hensel has been doing aquafit for about seven years. “Definitely, it’s keeping up fitness as you get older and having a better outlook on life because once you do more exercise, you feel better about yourself,” she said of the benefits of the class. Every move you make in water has to be deliberate, resisting the continual pressure of the water on your body. Using the resistance of water is like exercising with weights or machines on land, but safer. “It’s the perfect medium for fitness, especially for an aging population,” said Walkling. There are many options for older adults in the fitness centre or in See Fitness Page 8
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Fitness classes cater to all ages
Visit the Frank Jameson Community Centre
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A passion for paddling Dragon boating is a great way to stay fit and make friends
From Page 7 the variety of group classes and programs that are offered at the community centre. One option is Fitness Lite. “It has cardio, strength and stretching components,” said fitness trainer Deb Windsor. It’s probably one of our most popular classes.” LPRC also offers Osteofit, which is designed specifically for people with osteoporosis but is also beneficial for people with balance issues. “It’s a strength-based program,” explained Windsor. “The reason it’s like that is because weight-bearing exercise stops bone loss; it levels off the process, so you are hopefully losing less bone.” One of LPRC’s new programs is Steady Feet, which focuses on fall prevention and balance and includes strength work and a bit of walking. Right now, the program is offered by referral in partnership
with the Ladysmith Community Health Centre. There is a very small client-toinstructor ratio for both Steady Feet and Osteofit, and the classroom is accessible and age- and ability-friendly, noted Windsor. The fitness centre is also age- and mobility-friendly as well. “We get people from all ages in our fitness centre, and that’s what makes it unique and dynamic,” said fitness supervisor Sue Glenn. “I think it’s really beneficial that we have staff working in the fitness centre all the time. There’s an orientation at every level.” For more information about active living, visit www.ladysmith. ca or call 250-245-6424. “All day long and into the evening, there’s something for seniors that is comfortable, helpful, healthy and active and the staff here to address their individual needs,” said Walkling.
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Twice a week during the spring and summer months, they paddle a boat that is roughly 50 feet long and weighs about 850 pounds. They are dragon boaters, and they are discovering the joys of being on a team, being outdoors and being active. Marnie Craig has been dragon boating for three years since the Ladysmith Dragon Boat Club was first formed by Susan Erickson and Denise Pearson. “Their vision was to get a boat and paddle in the Ladysmith Harbour,” said Craig. “They were thinking one team, and right away, they had one team and then a second team, and they still had a waiting list, so I got involved in organizing the third team.” Craig has always liked water sports, and she is a cancer survivor, which is how she first became aware of dragon boating. “Dragon boating is very popular within the cancer survivor community,” she said. “Our team is not a cancer survivor team; it’s a recreational team, but that is where my awareness came from.” While Ladysmith’s dragon boat
teams have been all-female, there are mixed teams. And dragon boating is definitely an all-ages sport. “We for sure have people in their upper seventies,” noted Craig. Both Ladysmith teams are recreational, and paddlers who are interested in racing have formed a racing team called Poetry in M’Ocean. In three years of dragon boating, Craig has noticed a lot of benefits. “It certainly is more of a full-body workout than anyone would think,” she said. “It’s a wonderful sport. It’s great physically, and it’s a really nice group of women.” Craig says the teams have had “really tremendous” community support over the years.
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Hospice helps at a difficult time Last year, 700 people used
Cowichan Valley Hospice services Hospice can help at a difficult quent visits took place by Caryl’s time. bedside. We laughed, cried and And Evo Marcon knows this connected. The companionship firsthand. was so important during times “Hospice provided a safe place of vulnerability and uncertainty.” to talk about my journey alongToday, Evo still occasionally side my wife during her illness uses Hospice services. and after her death,” he said. “Hospice is still there for me, “As a caregiver, I benefited from to listen and clarify, as a friend Hospice services. For me, both would be,” he said. “They are the care clinics and my compan- a reminder to give more than ion volunteers supported me and you take, cherish and treasure made me feel comforted. the present and conHospice was shelnect with othter from the ers. Pass it For more information about storms.” forward; Evo and it does Cowichan Valley Hospice, his w ife, make a visit C a r y l differwww. cowichanvalleyhospice.org Wo rd e n , ence”. or call are among With the 700 peothe sup 1-888-701-4242. ple who used the port of the services of Cowichan co m m u n i t y, Valley Hospice last year. including donors, sponsors, serThey used many of the free vice clubs and the United Way, services that Hospice provides, Hospice services are provided including care clinic treatments, free of charge wherever they are volunteer companioning for needed — at home, in an extendboth Evo and Caryl as her illness ed care facility, in hospital or in progressed, and one-to-one and the Hospice office. group grief support for Evo after For more information about Caryl’s death. Cowichan Valley Hospice serWhen asked what the com- vices or to learn more about panioning meant to him, Evo volunteering, please contact us explained, “ We would meet at cvhospice@shaw.ca or call together weekly in our home and 250-701-4242 in Chemainus or for an hour or so, share our expe- 1-888-701-4242 in Ladysmith. riences on the journey through Visit our website at w w w. Caryl’s illness. As we adjusted to cowichanvalleyhospice.org. new normals in our daily lives, so did the sessions. At the later — Submitted by Cowichan stages of the disease, more fre- Valley Hospice
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Bridging generation gaps Ladysmith Family and Friends offers many volunteer opportunities At Ladysmith Family and Friends, there is no such thing as a generation gap. Ladysmith Family and Friends Resource Program, better known as LaFF, is a family resource program and non-profit society offering a supportive, enriching and safe place for families and caregivers with children newborn to age six. Executive director Jacquie Neligan says there are many opportunities for older adults to volunteer with LaFF, and their stories, knowledge and experience are always appreciated. LaFF recently began holding a SEWcial Night every Wednesday, which came about through New Horizons and the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island to provide seniors with an opportunity to get involved. “We had a volunteer senior who wanted to teach the skill of sewing,” said Neligan. “People started coming because they wanted to learn to sew, and it’s developed into this really nice bond between the women.” Neligan can think of many examples of older adults coming to LaFF to share their skills. “We have one senior who builds things for us when we need woodworking,” she said. “On Monday, a woman in her eighties who loves to spin does her spinning and was showing the kids and parents. Whatever skill or passion people have, it just enriches our lives for them to be able to share that in whatever way that works, whether it’s coming out here with the families, being on a sub-committee or sitting on our board.” Neligan feels LaFF, which is connected with more than 480 families from Lake Cowichan to Lantzville, is great for connecting generations. “We find that we have families who don’t have grandparents or extended family living here,” she said. “In our sewing night, when there are these
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multi generations, they are making these connections, and they’re becoming like surrogate grandparents. In the other way too, there are many seniors in our community who don’t have their grandchildren living close, and this really fills that void.” Ann Hutchinson has volunteered to help others learn how to sew for the past two years. “It’s just wonderful,” said Hutchinson, whose daughter-in-law and grandson come every week. “It’s neat to see inexperienced sewers look around and see what they can do.” Lena Colette Thornhill participates in the SEWcial Night, and she thinks of Hutchinson as a great role model. “It’s a big support, someone I can look up to and learn from, and she can pass her knowledge down to me,” she said. Thornhill likes bringing her son Victor to LaFF, and she has found that “Grandpa Tom,” a senior volunteer, has been able to really connect with her son and help him cut ties with Mom. “My parents are from away, so Victor doesn’t have much contact with grandma or grandpa, so [the volunteers] are like grandparent figures,” she said. Karen Shook’s Stitchin’ Sisters quilting group started coming to LaFF’s SEWcial Night about a month ago. “It’s been great,” she said. “It’s nice to be where the younger ones are.” The quilters bring different projects each week, and there are also people sewing and knitting. Some participants bring their babies. “I think that’s the best part about it, picking up the babies,” said Sharon Alsop. For more information about LaFF, visit www. familyandfriends.ca or call 250-210-0870.
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Choosing the best level of care There are a number of options for residential care in Ladysmith Where do you turn if you are starting to feel like you might want to move somewhere you can get a little help, or you have a family member in that situation? In Ladysmith, there are many options for supportive housing right in the heart of town. The Huard family runs La Rosa Gardens and the Lodge on 4th, and while these buildings have much in common in terms of their friendly atmosphere, they offer very different services. At La Rosa Gardens, residents can choose from independent supportive living and assisted living suites. Independent living units are for seniors who are capable of living on their own and are looking for assistance such as cooking and housekeeping and are also looking for recreational activities and the social aspect those activities provide, explained Spencer Atkinson, manager of La Rosa Gardens and the Lodge on 4th. La Rosa Gardens also provides assisted living units, which are for seniors and people with physical disabilities who need assistance with
daily tasks, explained Atkinson. These units are rented out, and they are partially subsidized, he noted. Assisted living residents receive hospitality services such as meals and housekeeping, emergency response and any personal care assistance, such as bathing, explained Atkinson. La Rosa offers its residents a variety of fun and social activities, including shuffle board, movie nights and bingo. This 61-unit facility offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units and can accommodate couples. If people are ready to move into a supportive environment, they can contact La Rosa and arrange a tour and be placed on the wait list. Lodge on 4th is a licensed complex care facility with 24-hour-a-day support. “What we provide is 24-hour professional care and supervision in a supportive and secure environment,” said Atkinson. “It’s more for adults with complex medical needs who need 24-hour care.”
Lodge on 4th provides 24-hour nursing care, professional services and physical support, social work services and nutritional support, and they provide hospitality services like meals, housekeeping, recreational activities and personal care and assistance. There are 101 rooms divided into smaller “neighbourhoods” or “communities” for improved lifestyles. A wide range of recreational activities are offered, including tai chi, bingo, videos and crib. To get into Lodge on 4th, people must be assessed by a doctor and be referred. Atkinson feels that both facilities stand out because of their home-like atmosphere. “For La Rosa Gardens, we’re definitely a little bit different because we do provide the addition of assistance if requested,” he noted. “At La Rosa, we have local transportation to medical appointments.” For more, visit www.4allseasonscare.com or contact Atkinson at Lodge on 4th at 250-2453318 or at La Rosa Gardens at 250-245-1016.
La Rosa GaRdens
• Offering independent and Assisted Living Supports and Service in our modern building located within an urban setting, and in close proximity of all shopping, health and social amenities. • There are a number of studio, onebedroom and two bedroom suites; many suites feature a den and most suites have French balconies. • A combination of government-funded and market suites. • Assisted Living Services to support daily living • Engaging activities, entertainment and recreation • Social and activity programs • Transportation services
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1211 Cloke Road, Ladysmith British Columbia, Canada V9G 1P8 Tel: 250-245-1016 Fax: 250-245-1026
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CHEMAINUS SENIORS DROP-IN CENTRE
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Every 3rd Saturday 5 pm. POT LUCK BIRTHDAY PARTIES Everyone welcome! Entertainment by the Wrinklies. Wed. & Fri. 9:30 to 11:30. Please come as usual for fun MUFFIN MORNINGS & conversation. BLOOD PRESSURE Every 3rd Wed. 9:30 to 11:30 am. CLINIC SOUP & SANDWICH Every 3rd Wed. 11:30 to 12:45 pm (Cost $5) Everyone welcome! Entertainment 2013 MEMBERSHIP ($15) now available Our 600 plus membership is increasing daily. New members (55+) are always welcome! Annual membership is only $15. OPEN MONDAY–FRIDAY 9 am–3pm SATURDAY 10am–12 noon Phone 250-246-2111 for info. www.chemainusseniors.org 9824 Willow Street, Chemainus BC
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There’s so much to choose from at Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Activities take place all week It’s a Monday morning. You walk into the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre, hoping to find an activity that will interest you. If you’re 55 or older, the problem isn’t finding one activity that interests you — it’s choosing which activity you can fit into your day. On Mondays, there are seven different activities at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre at 9824 Willow St., including dance classes, choir practices, bingo, snooker, pool and bridge. There are just as many activities to choose from every other day of the week. “We have lots of good things that keep everybody going,” said Murray Schafer, president of the Chemainus Seniors’ DropIn Centre Society. “The overall thing is to have programs here for seniors to keep active.” The 9,000-square-foot, two-level centre features a fully-equipped workshop, a commercial kitchen, two pool tables, three table tennis boards, a large main hall, a multipurpose room with a piano, a portable stage, and much more. One look at the Chemainus Seniors Drop-In Centre’s monthly calendar shows a wide variety of activities that appeal to a range of personalities. Some of the activities include pancake breakfasts, birthday party potlucks, dances, blood pressure clinics, soup and sandwich lunches, muffin mornings, line dancing, tap dancing, bingo, yoga, crafts, Mah Jongg, karaoke, creative writing, clogging and much more. One unique thing about the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In
Centre is that the society owns its building, as well as the house next door, which is an investment property for the society. “We have no debts, which is a real asset,” said Schafer. “We’ve been really lucky to have some very talented people over the years to raise the funds, and a lot of the work was done by them. We couldn’t do it without the work they put in — we’re a totally volunteer organization. We have very many talented people from different backgrounds — they’ve retired here from all over the place.” The Chemainus Seniors’ DropIn Centre Society hosts a variety of community events at its centre, including the annual Arts and Ethnic Fest, all-candidates meetings, this year’s Global Mural Conference and more. “We’re very proud of our building that way,” said Schafer. The property is accessible, and one unique aspect is the large twosegment mural on the building, which has been painted by artist Lurene Haines. The Chemainus Seniors’ DropIn Centre began in 1981 in a rented building on Oak Street. There are now about 600 members in the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Society, and Schafer says they come from Mill Bay to Nanaimo. Membership is $15 per year, and it costs $1 to participate in each activity. This money goes toward making repairs around the centre. Members must be 55 and older. For more information, visit www.chemainusseniors.org or call 250-246-2111.
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The power of song
Three choirs are active at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Every Friday morning, a group of men and women gathers upstairs at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre to sing and laugh for two hours under the direction of Gordon Pearmain. They are members of the centre’s mixed choir, one of three choirs active at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre. There is also a women’s chorus called the Centrebelles and a men’s chorus called the Centremen Songsters. Murray Schafer, president of the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Society, says they’ve probably had choirs for at least 20 years. “We’re very proud of our choirs, and they do such excellent jobs,” he said. The mixed choir features members aged 55 to 97. At almost 98, Mary O’Shea is the oldest member. “She’s just a sweetheart,” said Pearmain. “She’s still got a decent set of pipes. She’s one of the most dependable members.” When speaking about the mixed choir, Pearmain is quick to praise pianist and accompanist Ola Sage. “A lot of our music is driven by the fact we have an exceptionally good pianist accompanist,” he said. “When I joined the choir, she was singing soprano or alto whenever she was needed, and Amy Strickland was accompanying the chorus, and until Amy decided to retire, we really had no idea how good a pianist Ola was. Ola’s very, very sensitive to choirs and what they need because she’s a choir director. She’s really a tremendously valuable asset to the centre.” Pearmain says the music the mixed choir performs is designed to fit the voices of the choir so that everyone feels comfortable singing. “I’m not interested in pushing people to do
different music, the tough sacred chorals and music, that’s not a huge disadvantage for the things like that,” he said. “By and large, the music we do.” The mixed choir meets Friday mornings from music we do is music that people know from way back — it may be from the 40s, 50s or 60s. 10 a.m. to noon. The women practise Mondays We’re singing away, and often, we’ll have our at 11 a.m., while the men practise Mondays at music in front of us, but we’ll look around, and 9 a.m. Between the three choirs, there are 50 singthey’re singing along. We come from generations where music was at the core of all social ers involved in the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In gatherings, and, unfortunately, that’s not the Centre. All three choirs get together in the wincase anymore.” ter to perform at Christmas dinners as one mass Pearmain says the mixed choir is always look- choir, and they put on a spring choral concert together in April. ing for new singers. The men’s and women’s choruses will fre“You don’t have to be good; you just have to be enthusiastic,” he said. “We don’t audition quently perform at the Chemainus Seniors for any group. I think it’s safe to say that most Drop-In Centre’s Wednesday soup and sandDr.such Anita Professionals people that sing tend to do itTrusted by ear rather than wich lunches, as well as for occasions as St. by reading music, and if you’re not able to read Patrick’s Day and Remembrance Day.
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Scooter safety
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The BC RCMP offer some tips for staying safe on a scooter There may come a time when you or a family member need to use a scooter — also called a motorized wheelchair — to get around. Do you know what to look for when you are buying one? Do you know whether you drive on the road or on the sidewalk? There is a lot to think about when choosing and using a scooter. There are different scooters for different applications, including small scooters that fold up, which are great for going on airplanes; mid-range scooters suitable for travelling downtown and bigger scooters capable of riding on country roads, explained Dan Patterson, owner of Affordable Vacuum and Mobility Scooters in Ladysmith. Patterson says there are bigger, higher-wattage scooters designed for hills, although they wouldn’t make it up a very steep hill such as Symonds Street. He encourages people to visit him in his First Avenue shop if they have any questions. According to ICBC, you do not need a driver’s licence to drive a motorized wheelchair. Vehicle registration, licence plates and insurance are not required either. Motorized wheelchairs can be used on sidewalks or roads, following the same rules as pedestrians. The BC RCMP offers some sound advice about scooter safety online at http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Before buying a scooter, be sure to check with an occupational therapist or physiotherapist to ensure the model you select meets your needs. Consider size, power, the braking system, your parking and storage arrangements and comfort. By law, scooters are classified as pedestrians. Therefore, when you are operating your scooter, you must obey all rules for pedestrians such as: • Use sidewalks wherever possible. If there are no sidewalks or if sidewalks do not have scooter-accessible curb cuts, travel on the far left side of the road facing traffic. • Cross at pedestrian crosswalks. • If there is no crosswalk available, stop, look both ways, and proceed only when all approaching vehicles have come to a full stop. • Make eye contact with motorists or pedestrians before crossing their path to confirm their intention to stop. • Obey all traffic control signs and devices. • Operation of scooters in bicycle lanes is prohibited. The RCMP encourages scooter drivers to take curb cuts, driveways and ramps head on and always drive on the most level area of the curb cut.
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Why do you need a will? What’s the difference between Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representative Agreements? By David P. O’Connor Wills, Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements — what are they, and why are they important? A Will is a legal document that provides for the appointment of an executor to manage the affairs of your estate, a division of your property among your chosen heirs, the appointment of legal guardians for any minor children you may have, and various other matters as may relate to the management of your estate. A Will is important insofar as it provides for someone being lawfully in charge of your property and your affairs, immediately upon your death. When someone dies without a Will, there can be a void with respect to the management of the estate’s affairs until an appointment of an administrator is made by the court, which could take many months. A lawyer can provide you with important advice and direction with respect to how the Will should be drawn to provide for your wishes. A Power of Attorney is a document which allows you to appoint someone to manage your affairs while you are alive. Typically, the Power of Attorney will be “enduring” to allow it to be used if you became mentally incompetent and unable to make decisions for yourself. A lawyer can help you decide as to when a Power of Attorney should be made, who should be appointed and how it operates. A Representation Agreement is an agreement that allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions on your behalf, should you become incapable of making them. Heath care decisions might involve things as simple as medical procedures to be performed, to matters concerning your living arrangements and care arrangements. Representation Agreements can be important if you do not wish your lawful next of kin to make those decisions on your behalf. A lawyer can provide you with advice and direction with respect to whether a Representation Agreement is necessary, and if so, what it encompasses. David P. O’Connor is a partner at Robson O’Connor Law Offices in Ladysmith.
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