Seniors
wednes d ay, s e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 0 T h e Va n c o uv e r C o u r i e r
EW21
september 2010 special advertising feature
learning curve
fun fall courses by Helen Peterson
learning is good for you, at any age!
Statistics Canada reports that increasing numbers of seniors are taking university classes and other programs, and there are several reasons for this. People in the 60-plus age group may be semiretired or retired and have time on their hands during the day. Plus, there are so many interesting and informative courses, workshops, speaker series and assorted interactive educational opportunities available locally. As they do each year, Simon Fraser University offers seniors programs geared at the golden set. Julian Benedict is the coordinator of the SFU Seniors Program, and he says lifelong learning is one of the best ways to stay healthy, active and engaged in later life. He’ll be hosting a presentation on Saturday, Sept. 25 with the Mature Women’s Network that will offer an overview of the program. It allows seniors to explore the many different courses, free forums and outreach programs that will be offered in the fall at the SFU downtown campus. And it’s in the daytime, for the convenience and safety of seniors. Benedict not only manages the courses for the seniors program, he regularly writes articles on lifelong learning for various publications, and is a real expert on the subject. Anyone interested in pursuing classes and lectures in the fall would benefit from attending this informative workshop. “Exploring the Benefits of Lifelong Learning” takes place at the 411 Seniors Centre on Dunsmuir from 12:30 to 3 pm on the 25th, and the cost to attend is $4. Call 604-681-3986 for registration details. See next page for a small sampling of the upcoming curriculums.
Dialogue on Aging
Public Presentation Series Presented by Join us for one or all three informative sessions on the topic of dementia and other issues related to aging. Hear renowned experts discuss a number of the challenges facing society, families and caregivers.
For More Information or to Register:
www.tapestryfoundation.ca or 604-877-8312
• Friday, September 17, 2010 • Monday, September 27, 2010 • Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Guest Check In 6:15 pm Presentation: 7:15 pm Guest Check In 6:30 pm Presentation: 7:15 pm Guest Check In 2:00 pm Presentation: 2:30 pm
Visit our website at www.tapestryfoundation.ca for full speaker and program details. All sessions are complimentary, however seating is limited.
EW22 T h e
Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r wednesday, september 1, 2010
seniors
• New complete and partial dentures • Dentures and partials over implants • Additions, repairs, and more • All dental plans accepted • 40 years of combined office experience
DENTURISTS ARE DENTURE SPECIALISTS Need Dentures? Denture Problems? We can help you! Certified BPS Denture Centre OPEN MON-FRI 10-5 SAT: By appointment ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS EMERGENCY REPAIRS AVAILABLE
CALL TODAY! Hastings Denture Clinic (604)255-9433 Free Consultation
2609 E. Hastings St. Vancouver (at Penticton St.)
“Quality work you can count on”
Ken Wong, Denturist
Have you had a stroke
and would like to participate in an Exercise Program? You are invited to participate in this research study undertaken by the University of BC and GF Strong Rehab Centre if you: • Had a stroke more than one year ago • Are 50 to 80 years of age The exercise programs will: • Take place 3 times a week over 6 months in Vancouver • Commence September 2010 • Be provided free-of-charge
Contact the Rehab Research Lab at the GF Strong Rehab Centre
604-714-4109
Peter MacDonald
higher learning Vancouver’s community centres offer courses directed at seniors, as do some of the seniors’ residences. Feel free to call your local seniors facility to obtain their upcoming calendar. There are also several schools of higher learning that welcome seniors into the mix:
The University of British Columbia Lifelong learning, especially in the university milieu, can be a path to enrichment and enjoyment in retirement years. Downtown Vancouver’s UBC Robson Square offers morning, afternoon and evening courses in a wide range of subjects, including arts, history, philosophy, sociology, literature, music, current events and more – all at a special price for those 65 and older. Coming this fall: “Critical Issues in Aboriginal Life and Thought” is a col-
laboration of the UBC First Nations Studies Program, the First Nations House of Learning, the Irving. K. Barber Learning Centre and UBC Continuing Studies. Takes place six Tuesdays - Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, 9 & 30, Dec. 7, 7-9pm; UBC Robson Square. Free, with limited seating. For general info, contact UBC Continuing Studies at 604-8221444; email: information@cstudies.ubc.ca.
Simon Fraser University SFU’s Seniors Program offers noncredit courses featuring Canadiana, world politics, music and theatre analysis, and more. The Lifelong Learner’s Society presents a series of informative lectures on topics of general interest to the public; the first one begins Sept. 11 and focuses on “Afghanistan issues”. Each forum is about 45-50 minutes long, followed by a question and answer
Has loose Dentures? Cannot enjoy a meal? Has a sore mouth? Has stopped smiling? All of the above
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For very little expenditure, seniors can take a variety of classes geared towards them, in computers, singing and dancing, and even lifesaver instruction. A discount on the tuition portion of most regular courses is also available to all persons 65 and over. Cost for materials is extra and locations vary. The VSB course description / registration catalogue arrived recently on the doorstep so take a look at it, or call 604-713-4550; register in person at 1580 W. Broadway.
Are you a denture wearer who:
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session. Admission is free and is on a first-come, first-served basis, no reservations required. Each forum begins promptly at 1:30 pm, and ends at about 3 pm. All forums are held at SFU at Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings in downtown Vancouver. Call 778-782-5098.
Friedrich H.G. Brumm, D.D., B.A. Friedrich Brumm Susan Leung Denturist Nader Eslami 22yrs expLab Manager Denturist Denturist
WE CAN HELP YOU!
“Being of service to denture wearers over the last 22 years, I have learned to bring care and compassion to my work inAll orderour to make Dentures a difference in the quality of their lives. To me every denture is a "You'll love your Dentures that feature latest tech“Thank youBPS British Columbia for the your confi dence inpersonal, choosing creative challenge - a piece of art where formand and funcnology availabe today – Drive a product of highest quality, The Victoria Denture Clinic as superior a recipient of the tion & harmonise requirements Services are Consumer‘s Choiceappearance." Award for Business Excellence in 2008 2009.”with the personality and the special fit and a most natural of each individual.” TAX FREE! NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Friedrich H.G. Brumm, B.A., Denturist NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Denise Dunn Office Manager
Alisha Kumar Denturist
CERTIFIED BPS DENTURE CENTRE
FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION PLEASE CALL 604-325-1914
VICTORIA DRIVE DENTURE CLINIC 5477 Victoria Drive, at 39th
www.mydentures.ca
“EUROPEAN QUALITY AT CANADIAN PRICES”
wednes d ay, s e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 0 T h e Va n c o uv e r C o u r i e r
EW23
seniors
The Rooming House Life The West End of Vancouver—now highrises and condos—used to be populated by rooming houses and tenants; there are still quite a few on the scene. A typical roominghouse, say in 1940, would provide tenancy for as many as 30 people, all sharing one bathroom, and using the washbasin or bathtub for drawing water and for dishwashing. Housing was hard to find in those days, and when a room wasn’t available in a rooming house, a prospective tenant might choose to head down to False Creek and join the squatters under the north end of Burrard, who lived on old fishboats or battered shacks built on abandoned scows.However, rooming houses were in the majority as places to bed down permanently. I remember house addresses where I spent adolescent years while attending Lord Roberts Elementary, Dawson
School at Burrard and Helmcken Streets, and King George High School at Burrard and Nelson... 1301 Davie, 1642 Robson, 1330 Pendrell, 1163 Cardero (where war was declared,) 1055 Denman and many more. The usual routine for my widowed mother, older sister and I was to cook on a two-ring hotplate in our room, share a bed (separated by a line of pillows so my sister and I wouldn’t fight,) and wait in line for the use of the bathroom, the only place where water was available. The rooming-house latch-key kids used English Bay for swimming and sun-tanning, Second Beach for high-bar and rings for stunts and the Brockton Point Oval for training for the yearly track meet at Hastings Park. We didn’t go away (who could afford it?) for holidays in the summer like privileged kids, but used Stanley Park’s offerings for our amusement. In the Depression and war years, everyone shared the roominghouse life and thought nothing of deprivation.
Sometimes we lived in an attic above a store and had the roof-top to serve as a patio. 1243 Davie was just such a place, where we were allowed by a lenient landlady to keep a cocker spaniel puppy called Baby, and a tomcat called Tama, on the roof. Pets were not always allowed in rooming-houses. Rooming-house people were a friendly lot, usually mothers with kids, whose husbands were overseas. Everywhere in town were men in uniform, and women too - CWACS, WRENS and Air Force girls. And, oh, the happy day when the man of the family was home on leave from the war, even though the rooming-house tenancy was hardpressed to accommodate an additional body. One helpful aspect of rooming-house life was that the rental rooms were furnished adequately. Wheelbarrows could be borrowed to move personal belongings from one address to another, usually a move to gain a cheaper rent for when wages were low.
Landladies of roominghouses were not always lenient and friendly sorts - they governed the rents, put signs up everywhere restricting noise (and sometimes visitors and pets). I recall one memorable Christmas day when we got the
current landlady to roast our donated turkey in her oven. When we went to claim it, we found that she and her family had enjoyed our bird for supper. Such was the rooming-house life!
No one plans to get sick, however, you can plan to get better! If you or a loved one will be discharged from hospital and need a little time and assistance to recover – or perhaps a physical impediment makes it hard to immediately return to your fully independent lifestyle, consider a shortterm stay at Amica at Arbutus Manor to bridge the gap. Our special respite and convalescent program is ideal for anyone requiring short–term care and/or medically supervised recovery. Registered Staff provides excellent personal care services, which can include bathing, dressing, grooming, medication supervision and nursing services 24/7. VITALIS™ Assisted Living Open House March 1st to 10:00 am to to4pm 4:00daily pm September 2nd7thto~8th ~ 10am
Amica at Arbutus Manor A Wellness & Vitality™ Residence 2125 Eddington Drive Vancouver, BC V6L 3A9
604.736.8936
Luxury Independent Rental Retirement Living All Inclusive • Full Service Fine Dining Wellness & Vitality™ Programs Amica VITALIS™ Assisted Living Suites & Services
www.amica.ca
10-0207
by Jacquie Hooper, contributing writer
EW24 T h e
Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r wednesday, september 1, 2010
seniors
what’s on for september Join in a fabulous fundraiser at South Granville Seniors Centre when the annual “High Tea & Fashion Show” takes place on Thursday, Sept. 9. From 1 to 3 pm, enjoy traditional sandwiches, scones, desserts as well as coffee and tea. As well there will be a fashion show presented by My Best Friend’s Closet. Tickets available in advance are $10 for members and $12.50 for non-members. Located at 1420 West 12th Ave. (corner of Hemlock St.) Call 604-732-0812 to register. The Kerrisdale
Senior
Singers’ fall program will begin on Sept. 9, and recruitment of new members (men and ladies 55 years or over) is still ongoing. Practices take place every Thursday morning (from 9:30 to 11 am) at Kerrisdale Community Centre (West 42nd and West Boulevard). Please contact the conductor, Marilyn, at 604-876-8666 if you are interested in showcasing your pipes along with this marvelous chorus of dedicated singers. Members of the Point Grey Chrysanthemum Association have been nurturing
their mums and are getting them ready for two shows! Many seniors enjoy growing mums in their gardens or on the patio. The Association cordially invites readers to join them at the “Early Chrysanthemum Show” taking place Sept.11 (noon to 4 pm) and Sept. 12 (10 am to 4 pm) at VanDusen Garden - 5251 Oak Street at 37th. Admission is free! Contact Marie Ogryzlo at 604-2619219 for more info. The Vancouver Women’s Musical Society offers “Classical Concerts” of exceptional value. A $65
CAVELL GARDENS
A Full Service Retirement Community in the Heart of Vancouver where meeting the social needs of our seniors is a matter of priority.
“A single rose can be my garden, a single friend my world”
membership gives you a ticket to 10 Wednesday morning concerts at the Unitarian Church (West 49th & Oak St.). The first is Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 11 am, featuring West Coast Chamber Music. A light lunch follows with an opportunity to meet the artists. For further info check the website: www. vwms.ca or call Bernice at 778-279-6789. The University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging is offering active choices from its menu of free “Self-Management Workshops.” These workshops are designed to
help all adults (including seniors) manage life to the fullest. Active Choices will match you with a trained coach who will support and support you with a physical activity program of your choice. Call now for a trained coach in your community, at 1-866-9023767, or email: angela. activechoices@shaw.ca.
the last Wednesday of the month. One listing per organization, please.
If you have a nonprofit event or activity focusing on Healthy/ Active Seniors, contact: Helen Peterson or email: hpeterson@ vancourier.com; or by fax: 604-738-4739, by
Fall in love with your smile Svetlana Lopareva R.D.BPS
(Biofunctional Prosthetic System) Certified Denturist
Creating Beautiful Dentures Precision Cosmetic Dentures, Relines and Emergencies Free Ultrasonic Cleaning Seniors discount available 116 West Broadway (at Manitoba) 604.677.0061 • 778.389.5072 w w w. l o p a r e v a d e n t u r e c l i n i c . c o m
SENIORS’ CINEMA Oakridge Centre is happy to showcase these great movies during Seniors’ Cinema at the Empire Theatre, located inside the shopping centre’s Atrium at 41st and Cambie. Coming up: “Last Chance Harvey” at 1 pm on Wed. Sept. 1 and “Valentino: Last Emperor” at 1 pm on Wed. Oct. 6. A fundraiser for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, seniors 55 and older are invited to see big screen films by donation (min. is $2 per person; tickets at the door). www. oakridgecentre.com; seniors’ centre: 604263-1833.
– Leo Buscaglia
Experience the warmth of our welcome by visiting us at:
2835 Sophia Street at 12th Ave.Vancouver, B.C. V5T 4V2
Call 604.637.1207 www.cavellgardens.com
FREE TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS
OFFERED THROUGH ACTIVE CHOICES PROGRAM
Volunteer Coaches Needed The Active Choices Program offers FREE training in your community. Come, learn facilitation and coaching techniques to encourage participants stay physically active. Research shows if a person remains physically active for a period of 6 months it then becomes a lifestyle. Your take away skills are facilitation, coaching, time management and your own physically active program. Time commitment begins with once per week and then perhaps twice per month for a total of 6 months. Your commitment to building a healthy active community!
Monday, September 20th, at Mount Pleasant Community Centre, 1 Kingsway, from 9:30 – 4:30
Guaranteed Comfortable Fit!
Kerrisdale Denture Clinic
Our team of Denturists are BPS Denture certified to provide you with the latest technology available. Our clinic’s associates have experience ranging from new graduates to 30 years, so you will benefit from our knowledge and our fresh outlook. We look forward to achieving the best possible results, while providing the highest professional standards.
TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: Wednesday, September 15th at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2305 – 2325 W 7th, from 9:30 – 5:30
DENTURES
Thursday, September 30th, at Renfrew Community Centre, 2929 – 22nd Ave, from 9:30 – 4:30
Bring pen and lunch, all other material will be supplied
Giao Le B.Sc., R.D.
Are your dentures...
Over 5 years old? Loose, cracked or stained? Making your mouth sore? Keeping you from enjoying food? If you’ve answered YES to any of these questions... WE CAN HELP!!!
BPS dentures are precision dentures that use high standard materials to restore form and function while providing exceptional fit and a beautiful, natural smile. Our BPS dentures also come with a 5 year warranty.
Please ask us about our Geneva 2000 dentures.
Payment Plans + All Insurance Coverage Call now for your Complimentary Consultation Lower Mainland 604-522-1492; toll free 1-866-902-3767 www.selfmanagementbc.ca
Now accepting new patients
604.263.7478
Care home visits available
Emergency Number 778-868-6776 201-2152 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver www.kerrisdaledentureclinic.com