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Whatﾃ不 New? pg 11
travel:
Sparkling Hill Resort pg 18
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gardening:
Hobbs talks trends pg 6
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Contents Gardening 11 Retirement 14 Health 18 Travel 20 Social 22 Volunteer 26 Literature 28 Food 29 Opinion 31 Resources 6
LIFETIME IS PRODUCED BY AND IS EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF GLACIER MEDIA INC. . publisher Dee Dhaliwal | director of sales Tara Lalanne | editor Sandra Thomas | marketing Janine Jurji | cover photo dan toulgoet | design MARINA ROCKEY To advertise in future editions of this magazine or to enquire about other Glacier Media projects, email info@lifetimemag.ca
From The Editor
Lifetime celebrates spring I love Vancouver in the spring. And while at almost any given time of the year this city is a superstar when it comes to being photo ready, it’s these months leading up to summer that give us cherry blossoms, early crocuses and daffodils, and my all-time favourite, magnolias. But the problem with such ethereal early signs of spring is they often coincide with days of pounding rain and blowing wind, making each blossom that much more precious for its short existence. Spring is also a great time to pack away those winter clothes, get into the garden, start walking or riding your bike outside again, play a round of golf or simply enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine while people watching from an outdoor patio. Lifetime also has plans to celebrate spring, and in this edition, master gardener and florist extraordinaire Thomas Hobbs shares some insight into his life since selling his iconic business in Kerrisdale and moving to Southlands Nursery, where he and long-time partner Brent Beattie are enjoying a more laid-back lifestyle with few plans for retirement. It’s at Southlands that Thomas and Brent spend their days doing, well, pretty much whatever they want. This edition of Lifetime also takes a look at retirement communities. During the course of our research, a couple of us enjoyed a lunch tour to three locations to check out some great chefs and hear the innovative ideas they’ve brought into play when it comes to helping keep residents healthy while pleasing a vast array of tastes and palates. One retirement community we visited even has its own separate bar/lounge where residents and guests can enjoy a glass of wine or a beer while choosing from a pub-style menu. Many retirement communities compare the lifestyle they offer to that of living on a cruise ship and I now understand why. And with access to hairdressers, tours, activities, sports, a driver, wellness programs, gourmet food and more, the idea of moving into one of these resort-style communities is becoming more and more one of choice rather than necessity. Sandra Thomas | editor@lifetimemag.ca
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locations across british columbia VICtorIa The Wellesley Beacon Hill Villa Selkirk Seniors Village
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nanaImo Nanaimo Seniors Village
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Courtenay Comox Valley Seniors Village
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QualICum BeaCh The Gardens at Qualicum Beach
maple rIdGe Maple Ridge Seniors Village
parKsVIlle Stanford Seniors Village
surrey Guildford Seniors Village Rosemary Heights Seniors Village
lanGley Langley Seniors Village ChIllIWaCK Waverly Seniors Village Auburn Seniors Residence Kamloops Kamloops Seniors Village summerland Summerland Seniors Village WIllIams laKe Williams Lake Seniors Village
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Gardening
hanging with
Hobbs Lifetime had the pleasure of visiting master gardener, author and former florist Thomas Hobbs one rare sunny March afternoon at Southlands Nursery, which he’s owned with business and life partner Brent Beattie since 1991. Between greeting customers, creating an instant container garden for our camera and offering glimpses of his sardonic sense of humour, Hobbs shared stories about his love of plants and Morgan cars and his distaste for certain colour combinations. “I hate red and yellow together,” Hobbs admitted. “It’s so gas station.” What Hobbs is loving this year is a combination of grey and silver foliage combined with “acid green” plants. “Succulents are very practical for droughts, but they’re also very architectural,” he says. Hobbs, who opened his first flower shop in 1972, believes his obsession with plants began at birth.
photos: Dan Toulgoet
“I remember ‘planty’ things from before grade one, trying to make cuttings and stealing plants from the neighbours in Winnipeg,” he says. “I didn’t start with flowers until after I opened a shop in 1972/1973, when I was 19. I thought, to make money, I had to sell more than houseplants, so I took a two-month course in flower arranging at Kwantlen College in Richmond. It turns out I was good at it and it took over my life.”
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In fact, Hobbs turned out to be so good at it he’s been featured on Martha Stewart Living TV, on the TV show Recreating Eden and many magazines, including Gardens Illustrated, Garden Design, Martha Stewart, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, House and Garden, Horticulture, the New Zealand Gardener and many more local and international print publications, including the Daily Telegraph. Hobbs then opened what was once his flagship store in Kerrisdale in 1989. In 2012, Hobbs sold the flower shop that still bears his name and closed the gift store he also owned so he and Beattie could concentrate on Southlands
Thomas Hobbs
Nursery. Hobbs no longer arranges flowers for paying customers, claiming the process was just too “emotional.” “They were for funerals and weddings and had to be delivered by 1 p.m.,” says Hobbs. “Now I have less stress for what I consider a bigger, higher calling. I love educating people about growing from seed. We have a greenhouse full of plants we’ve grown from seed.” I had a few questions for Hobbs, which he graciously answered despite the time it took away from his plants in the middle of a very busy planting season.
Everything you need for your plants and garden a Garden Getaw e t a ay e Cr
Was it tough moving from Kerrisdale? Leaving Kerrisdale after being there for 38 years was easy. The feeling of the whole neighbourhood had changed by 2012, and I was finding the new clientele did not appreciate what I had to offer. What are your and Brent’s plans for the nursery/farm? Brent and I plan on keeping the nursery going for many more years. I am a workaholic and simply cannot stay away from it. I am there 29 days a month. Really. Our farm in Langley is a private 20-acre dream garden. It will open occasionally for tours and groups, especially for garden clubs and charity. It’s amazingly beautiful because Mother Nature made it that way and we are just caretakers. Does gardening go through trends and, if so, what’s hot for spring 2016? Gardening is very trendy. English gardens, Zen, desert, most gardens end up looking like a pizza, unfortunately. For 2016 , trends are things like all ferns for shade, all silver for sun, succulents in mass plantings, getting rid of your lawn and growing more veggies! For more information, visit southlandsnursery.com. Sandra Thomas | editor@lifetimemag.ca
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Gardening
Ask Anne Container gardens and rhubarb
Q
I am in a seniors residence with a very large patio. There is talk of doing container gardening here. But no one really knows how to create this. Olga Sorenson, Vancouver
A
If your patio is above ground, you’ll need to ask your manager or strata council if the structure will stand the significant weight of soil. It’s best to begin with just a few containers because the first year will be all learning. Even in containers there’s thinning, weeding, pest patrol, watering, harvesting and crop rotation. One important bit of learning is cooperation. Sometimes a few people do all the work while the others visit and cheer! I’d suggest half-barrel size containers because soil dries out less in these. Also in winter, the roots of plantings in the middle are less susceptible to freezing. It’s essential all your tubs have drainage holes in the bottom. A piece of landscape fabric or several layers of plastic mesh will stop soil from migrating out of the drainage holes. Some patios have drains for excess water, but balcony patios may need protection under pots so water is contained.
It’s best to learn not to over-water and to never let soil dry right out unless you’re growing dry-land plants. Dry soil has a sneaky trick of shrinking away from the sides leaving a narrow fissure all the way round the inside of the pot. This allows water to cascade down and out of the bottom. Meanwhile, the dry soil in the centre stays dry. If this happens, dig very small holes in the soil surface where water can pool. Fill them frequently until the soil is moist throughout. For a container garden all you really need is a small shovel, trowel and small garden fork or rake. Stakes, tomato cages or a small trellis are optional depending what you plant. Once the containers are in place, you can begin loading them with topsoil from garden centres. Check whether fertilizer is already added – leafy vegetables like high-nitrogen fertilizer. When you go to get the containers and soil, it’s best to go when the nursery isn’t busy and make a point of chatting to one of the assistants. If you talk to them about gardening in containers they’re very likely to tell you things you’d have never thought to ask.
Q
I learned from my parents, “Never pick rhubarb in a month with an ‘R’ in it.” This is quite different than your rule about picking until early June. Does it develop too much oxalic acid after that? Pat Pepperman via email
A
The rule about not picking rhubarb after early June is one I learned as a child in England. I was told it tastes better in early spring and gets stringy and dry later. But here I was told rhubarb develops higher levels of oxalic acid in summer. Our summers are hotter. That would make a difference to rhubarb. A lot of gardening practices can be adjusted by what a person does culturally. I’m sure if you water rhubarb diligently while picking it, the moisture level in the stalks will be higher and oxalic acid lower. Frankly, rhubarb roots are so huge and strong, it may be irrelevant exactly what one does when. I’d say keep right on doing what suits you best – just like adjusting cooking recipes. Thanks for sharing – that’s one of the joys of this work. Anne Marrison | amarrison@shaw.ca
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Retirement
LetÕs do lunch Terraces on 7th As the sun shines through the many windows of the dining room at Terraces on 7th, executive chef David Smith explains his concepts for the meals he prepares for the residents of the retirement community. Those ideas were conceptualized from his vast and varied experience from his years at Hotel Vancouver, in the cruise ship industry, the lunch program at Starbucks and Vancouver General Hospital. “But this was a new industry for me and I had no idea of the clientele,” says Smith. “I assumed there would be a lot of pureed food, but I was wrong. Their tastes are very discerning.” Smith describes the residents of Terraces as well travelled and educated with varying tastes, so monthly buffets are designed to please and themes include Indian, Asian, Irish, Italian and more. For those not in the mood for the exotic, simple dishes such as a grilled cheese sandwich are always available. “But fish and chips are a hands-down favourite,” says Smith. Terraces also offers premium options, which,
photo: dan toulgoet
Talented chefs rethink retirement living cuisine David Ziggler, lead cook at Crofton Manor
for $18.50, include farm-to-table menus offering dishes such as prawn cocktail, New York striploin, seared scallops, grilled lamb chops, rack of lamb, local vegetables, and pastries created by the chef. Wine is available at all meals for all residents for $5.25 a glass. Crofton Manor The director of culinary services for Crofton Manor on West 41st Avenue describes the lifestyle at the retirement community as “boutique retirement living.” Khara describes the meals offered at Crofton as “fine dining.” He says by getting to know the residents he can determine their likes and dislikes. Khara notes all of the fruits and vegetables are purchased fresh. Dinner and lunch menus range from baked salmon to house-roasted beef sandwiches to Korean pork tenderloin to shrimp salad, almond chicken and more.
Khara says a popular activity residents really enjoy at Crofton are the regular free happy hours, which include appetizers, drinks and live entertainment. Khara notes when creating menus he keeps in mind the large number of former professionals who make up the residents of Crofton Manor. “They expect quality for their money,” he says. When it comes to food, Khara likens life at Crofton to a cruise ship where everything is included except the alcohol, which is available to residents for a price. Residents have options about when they eat and what they eat. Tea, juice and snacks are served every afternoon and fresh fruit is available all day. “This is their home and we want our residents to feel like that.” Sandra Thomas editor@lifetimemag.ca
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Retirement
Retirement living: vancouver style Local retirement communities tell Lifetime just some of what makes them special
Crofton Manor (Revera) Large outdoor courtyards: The courtyards at Crofton Manor, located at 2803 West 41st Ave., boast walking paths and benches surrounded by beautiful gardens on its six-acre property.
There’s a reason the lifestyle at so many retirement communities in Vancouver is compared to that of living on a cruise ship. Long gone are the days of boring menus, sterile environments and little excitement. Instead, many retirement communities today boast gourmet chefs with years of culinary experience from top restaurants, lounges and pubs where drinks can be enjoyed over a card game, outings and opportunities to travel, daily events and exercise classes, business centres and gorgeous outdoor spaces designed for strolling, sitting and taking part in activities such as gardening and art programs.
Beautiful five-acre property: Arbutus Manor is located across five acres including two 12
Arbutus Manor
courtyards, which are utilized throughout spring and summer for entertainment, tea time, barbecues, etc. Another highlight are the ducks that return each year to one of the courtyards to nest, which means ducklings roam the property all spring and summer. Duck season is a time everyone looks forward to.
Newly renovated library: Those who love to read and/or expand their knowledge, will love this newly renovated library packed floor to ceiling with books of every genre available. For more information, visit reveraliving. com or call 604-263-0921.
Vibrant, friendly and engaged residents. For more information, visit amica.ca.
Crofton Manor
photo: reveraliving.com
Arbutus Manor (Amica) All-inclusive meals: Arbutus Manor, located at 2125 Eddington Dr., is popular for its all-inclusive meals served three times a day featuring menus including fresh seasonal and local ingredients created and served by Red Seal chefs. The Red Seal Interprovincial Program is a universally recognized and highly prestigious certification of apprenticeship in Canada.
Happy Hour: Crofton’s popular Happy Hour events take place twice a week in the elegant Oak Lounge. The bar is stocked with any drink desired to wet your whistle along with hot hors d’oeuvres. Happy Hour is organized to be an elegant, yet comfortable, social event.
Cavell Gardens Location, location, location: Cavell Gardens, located in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, offers spectacular city and mountain views in the “SoMa” (South of Main) neighbourhood. The surrounding area includes shopping malls, health services, community centres, parks, coffee shops, restaurants and more. Cavell Garden is also within easy access to transit. Pets allowed: Cavell Garden’s pet policy enables residents and their four-legged companions to move into their new home together. Professional services: For the pleasure and convenience of residents, Cavell Gardens hosts a number of on-site professional services, including foot-care, registered massage therapy, spa services, hairdresser and on-site general practitioner and pharmacist visits. Cavell Gardens
For more information, visit cavellgardens.com. Sandra Thomas | editor@lifetimemag.ca
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Health
An unexpected “Stroke of Luck” Stroke becomes fodder for script When Vancouver writer and performer Jacques Lalonde had trouble writing on Canada Day 2013, he blamed a shoulder injury he’d sustained during a heated match of Pickleball – a racket sport that combines aspects of badminton, tennis and table tennis. As the day progressed, so did the numbness and tingling along his right side and tongue, at which point Lalonde suspected he was experiencing a stroke and went to the hospital.
Ò What now? Where do I go from here?Ó “I should have gone [to the hospital] right away and gotten a clot buster,” Lalonde says, noting he had an ischemic stroke, caused by blood clots. “If I had, it wouldn’t have affected me as much.” After five days in the hospital, he was sent home with little function in his right arm and some facial paralysis. Only in his 50s, while Lalonde might have felt unfortunate to have had a stroke, after seeing the struggles of other survivors in the hospital – those who couldn’t stand or were struggling 14
to communicate – he was inspired to write a play about his experience and insights, aptly called A Stroke of Luck. He performed it the following year during the Vancouver Fringe Festival – and many times since. The comedic performance covers the importance of support networks. After his stroke, Lalonde had to rely on his girlfriend and friends to write for him and help prepare meals. While the function in his right arm took a while to return, it was his index finger that took the longest. Between Lalonde’s quips that he spoke like former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, he acknowledges some of the lessons he learned, such as “the healing power of family visits,” which he witnessed through a fellow stroke survivor in the hospital. Other important lessons Lalonde shares is for stroke survivors to set small goals and to celebrate those achievements. “Don’t wait to have a stroke to learn to appreciate small achievements,” he advises. “Appreciate every moment.” Since his stroke, Lalonde has become involved with organizations that support stroke survivors and caregivers, including the Stroke
Recovery Association of B.C., which offers activities through approximately 30 stroke recovery branches around the province, including five in Vancouver. Programming generally includes physical exercises, communication and memory exercises, social interaction and recreation, support from fellow stroke survivors, caregiver support, stroke education and help with finding other health and community resources. “The one thing that’s true for all stroke survivors is that things will never be the same, however, things don’t have to be worse, but they’ll be different,” says Tim Readman, executive director of the Stroke Recovery Association of B.C. “A lot of stroke survivors wonder ‘What now? Where do I go from here?’” The association provides resources and places where people recovering from strokes can go to figure out their path as they adjust to their new life. The non-profit is hosting a fundraiser called “Art After Stroke” on Friday, July 8, featuring performances by Lalonde, as well as artwork and music by other stroke survivors and supporters. For more details, visit strokerecoverybc.ca. Brenda Jones nyac19 89@gmail.com
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Health
Mindfulness: An essential practice for wellbeing Mindfulness is a form of meditation, but it can become a perspective and approach to life that can liberate us from suffering. It is based on the teachings of Buddha whom I consider one of the original great psychologists. The practice of mindfulness has been adopted by western psychology and medicine because of ample evidence that it is an effective approach to managing depression, anxiety, stress and chronic pain. I introduce the concept of mindfulness to medical students to whom I am teaching handwashing technique. I frame handwashing as a mindful ritual allowing us to close with one patient and open with another, being completely focused on the patient we are with. I teach my patients mindfulness as well. To be mindful is to be centred in the present and to simply attend to the thoughts, feelings and physical experience of the moment with acceptance but without judgment, clinging, aversion or reactivity. The opposite of mindfulness is to lean forward to the future, perhaps anticipating more pain and becoming more anxious or to ruminate in the past. With practice, we gain deeper awareness of the flux of our reality. All is impermanent, including our thoughts, emotions and sensations, such as pain. 16
The key is to be aware and accepting of our emotions, thoughts and sensations but not to identify with, be caught up in and carried away with them. An example is craving. The more we think about what we crave, the more we crave. If we give in and eat, drink or smoke what we crave, we may be satisfied for the moment, but the craving will return. On the other hand, if we note the craving but not ruminate or immediately try to satisfy it, we will inevitably note that it passes away. It is like falling in love, then falling out and asking, “What was I thinking?” We spend much of our time ruminating about the past, worrying and planning for the future, rushing to do what comes next and carried away with our thoughts and emotions. We spend relatively little time in mindfulness, being aware and present. In Plum Village, France, people of all faiths practise mindfulness together. When a bell is sounded, all stop what they are doing – gardening, walking, eating or conversing – and ask, “What am I doing? Feeling? Thinking?” The gongs in our everyday lives are the red lights, the phone calls, the texts and our emotional reactions. When
we feel anger or irritation, it is time to be mindful and reassess the alignment of our actions, words, thoughts and beliefs. You can practise mindfulness without becoming a Buddhist. I was raised as an United Church Protestant and the mindful approach to life is concordant with my deepest values. Brotherly and sisterly love is unconditional – agape, unconditional positive regard and caring or what in Buddhism is called metta. With mindfulness, the ego disappears and we are more open to unconditional love. Conventional love is conditional. We keep score in marriage (i.e. How much am I doing and what am I compromising?) and children often believe that they must behave and do well in order to be worthy of love.
To be mindful is to be centred in the present... Mindfulness helps us to centre our minds, increase our awareness and calm the nervous system that modulates how we experience life – both the good and the bad. The practice of mindfulness teaches us a less reactive approach to the rest of our lives. We become open to accept and experience every aspect of our lives, our selves and our sensations, without clinging, aversion or judgment.
We begin meditation by spending 15 or 20 minutes each day just sitting in a quiet place in a comfortable position. We turn our attention to the natural flow and sensations of the breath without trying to control it in any way. This becomes a safe and calming anchor that we can return to at any time. We can then turn our attention to sounds as they arise in our immediate environment, just attending to the arising and disappearance of different sounds as they come and go from our awareness. We don’t have to label or identify each sound. We simply remain aware of them as they arise. We can centre our awareness on different physical sensations in the body, perhaps the pressure at points of contact, warmth, coolness, vibrations, pulsations, tingling and even pain. We can move awareness to different areas of the body, and if a sensation such as pain in one part of the body is difficult to manage, we can shift our attention elsewhere, to the part of the body that is most comfortable or back to the anchor of the breath. With practice, we are able to maintain awareness and attention to every sensation without reacting to it, without aversion, clinging, judgment or identification. With time, we recognize that everything within our awareness is ever changing; nothing is constant – no sensation (not even pain), no mood, no emotion and no thought.
We are able to attend to each thought as it arises without getting carried away in a train of thoughts or a story in the remembered past or imagined future. We can note thoughts as they arise, without judgment or identification and let them go. We can do the same with the transient feelings and emotions that arise without getting caught up and carried away with them. We experience moods, feelings and emotions but we are not our moods, feelings or emotions. We can see them as transient, temporary conditions like a mist, a fog or a shower. They pass through us or we pass through them. We can be mindful when walking, attending to the sensations of each step, the sounds and pressures on the feet and the movement of the legs. This becomes a mindful anchor from which we hear, see, feel and think arises in our open and accepting awareness. Mindfulness when diligently practiced can bring serenity to your mind and body throughout each day – an open, accepting and nonreactive approach to your life. Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician and his Healthwise column appears regularly in the Vancouver Courier. For more on achieving your positive potential in life, see his website at davidicuswong.wordpress.com. Davidicus Wong davidicuswong.wordpress.com
Suggested reading Mindfulness Meditation The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Mindfulness Thich Nhat Hanh Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom Joseph Goldstein Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening Joseph Goldstein Fully Present: The Science, Art and Practice of Mindfulness Susan L. Smalley, Diana Winston Diana Winston’s talks as free mp3s dharmaseed.org/teacher/53/ Joseph Goldstein’s talks as free mp3s dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/ Local mindfulness retreats Westcoast Dharma Society westcoastdharma.org The Practical Science of Neuroplasticity The Brain That Changes Itself Norman Doidge The Brain’s Way of Healing Norman Doidge Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom Rick Hanson 17
Travel
Sparkling Resort designed with 3.5 million crystals To those in the know it’s referred to as “dining in the fluff,” but to the uninitiated it just looks like men and women enjoying fine dining while wrapped in bath robes. Welcome to Sparkling Hill Resort. As we arrived at the Okanagan-based, wellness-themed resort in February, we also spotted guests wearing robes in the lobby of the hotel, in the hallways and, of course, the 40,000-square-foot KurSpa.
The tubs are crystal shaped in keeping with the theme of the resort envisioned by Gernot Langes-Swarovski, patriarch of the Swarovski crystal family. But it’s Swarovski’s “chief crystal architect” Andreas Altmayer who was the mastermind behind Sparkling Hill’s design, which incorporates 3.5 million crystals throughout, including the glowing “fireplace” in our room. Those crystals can be found in and on everything from the show-stopping, almost three-storey installation lighting up the lobby to the trim on the backs of chairs in the dining room.
...the resort is more about wellness than indulgence...
Earlier, my partner and I had enjoyed a pleasant five-hour drive from Vancouver to Vernon with no sign of snow on the unpredictable Coquihalla and nothing more than the odd patch of packed slush to traverse. The resort is perched on a hill overlooking Predator Ridge Resort and golf course, which often works with Sparkling Hill on creating wellness packages.
It was Langes-Swarovski’s love of the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley combined with a desire to bring the European wellness experience to the rest of the world that prompted him to develop Sparkling Hill Resort.
Checking into our room, I was immediately drawn to the large soaker tub adjacent to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which can be opened to transform your room into an outdoor oasis. The rooms also enjoy stunning views of either Lake Okanagan or the Monashee Mountains.
Sparkling Hill staff make it clear that while the focal point of the resort, besides the crystals, is KurSpa, the resort is more about wellness than indulgence. After enjoying the Fango wrap and massage — a detoxifying treatment including mud made from volcanic dust — I was
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Hill feeling pretty pampered, too. Guests of the hotel have complimentary access to seven unique aromatherapy saunas and steam rooms and “experience showers” — one mimics a cool storm and the other warm tropical rain. There’s also an igloo, an indoor pool complete with underwater music and a starry Swarovski crystal sky ceiling, a hot pool, an outdoor infinity pool, Kneipp water therapy, tea and serenity relaxation rooms and a fitness studio. For the brave at heart, the infamous cold sauna offers three-minute treatments — so long as you can stand the -110 C temperature. I’ve been assured because it’s a “dry cold” it’s easier to handle. Needless to say I left the cold spa for another time.
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My partner and I did take advantage of the steam rooms and outdoor pool where, surrounded by snow, we enjoyed the warm water. The steam rising into the cool winter air gives the pool a surreal experience. We also enjoyed some great meals at PeakFine, which offers a menu comprised largely of locally sourced products and ingredients, and despite the alternative, we both opted to actually dress for dinner and left our bathrobes in our room. Sandra Thomas was a guest of Sparkling Hill Resort. Sandra Thomas | editor@lifetimemag.ca
Look out for the next issue of Lifetime Magazine in July info@lifetimemag.ca lifetimemag.ca
Social
Joyride
The intrepid Joy Metcalfe comes out of retirement to act as Lifetime’s social butterfly It seems like eons ago I was penning my City Scene column in the Kerrisdale Courier and, subsequently, the Vancouver Courier. It was a great 18year adventure for me that began when the canny and kindly Bill Forst was editor and I was covering the events, stories, rumours and scoops in the big city. What a delightful surprise it is to come full circle for Lifetime Magazine.
Grace McCarthy
Scoop In 1995, the indomitable Grace McCarthy created the CHILD Foundation to aid children suffering from Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis and liver disorders by bringing awareness to irritable bowel disease and raising funds for research. Today there are fundraising golf tourneys, spring fashion extravaganzas, Snowbirds Fly for CHILD and the annual and always anticipated Doormen’s Dinner, launched 24 years ago by Hotel Vancouver veteran Mike Miller, his 20
wife Kathy and the late Jack Webster and Jack Wasserman. For the past several years, the city’s doormen, Grace and CHILD Foundation president Mary Parsons have produced this fund-raising event to salute one special person annually. The Silver Anniversary Gala takes place this year at the Pan Pacific Hotel Oct. 16. It’s bound to be a sellout since the Honorary Doorman of the Year for 2016 is the irreplaceable, awardwinning executive, world traveller and prolific author Rick Antonson, former president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver. The second scoop is that Rick will launch his newest book Moon Over Noah’s Ark, An Odyssey to Mount Ararat and Beyond at a Canadian Club reception and luncheon at the Vancouver Club on April 21. Liberal Defense Minister, Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan and Rick Hansen
News Speaking of the Canadian Club, there’s a lot more going on right since their new president took over. The dynamic Raymond Greenwood – the famed Mr. Fireworks and King of Bling – is now in charge and he has snared the talented Diane Robinson, formerly public relations rep for Grouse Mountain, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and executive director of the Parkinson Foundation, to be the club’s new executive director. In fact, it was Diane and Ray who produced last month’s gala luncheon at the Hyatt that marked our annual Flag Day and honoured the memory of Canada’s distinguished diplomat Patrick Reid. More than 185 guests attended including Liberal Defense Minister, Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan, Allison Reid and Rick, Amanda and Rebecca Hansen, along with the Flag Shop’s Susan Braverman.
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Gala Of all the various dinners, balls, celebrations and galas, the annual Vancouver Symphony Ball, formerly the Lovers Ball, is my favourite. The sweeping grandeur of the setting, the magnificent sounds of the full VSO in waltz-time, the extravagant and spectacular ball gowns – it truly is an amazing evening. And the 26th annual gala at the Vancouver Convention Centre was no exception.
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The 550 dressy guests were welcomed by CanadaWide’s Peter Legge and co-chairs Karen Smith and A.J. McLean and included such VIPs as Hassan and Nezhat Khosrowshahi, Joe and Rosalie Segal, past board chair Art Willms and his wife, past co-chair Mary Ann Clark, Jessica and Kevin Falcon, David and Brenda McLean, Colin and Laura Hansen, Lyall and Susan Knott, Pamela Martin, Wendy Lisogar Cocchia and Books to Cooks’ Barbara Jo McIntosh. It was also the first ball for new VSO president Kelly Tweeddale, who was formerly with Seattle Opera. She was very impressed with the event because it’s the only one in North America where you can waltz the evening away with the musical sounds of the entire orchestra. This 26th annual Vancouver Symphony Ball was wildly successful, raising more than $750,000. Tip of the fedora to producer Shelley Johnson. If you have an event coming up you’d like to see covered in Lifetime, drop Joy a note at joymetcalfe@shaw.ca. Joy Metcalfe | joymetcalfe@shaw.ca
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Volunteer
YVR Greencoats Airport angels and Vancouver ambassadors Here’s one reason the Vancouver International Airport is repeatedly ranked best in North America – YVR excels in making the customer’s journey easier and friendlier, mainly thanks to Green Coat volunteers.
manager. “And YVR was the first airport to adopt this program.”
It’s a win-win-win situation. Harried passengers get assistance and reassurance at no cost to the airport, and volunteers have the satisfaction of helping others.
Airports can be complicated – there are new services and new airlines – and last year YVR hit 20 million passengers.
“When we aren’t travelling, my wife and I meet people from all over the world,” says Larry Ho, one of 470 volunteers known as “Green Coats.”
Green Coats pretty much help guests through the entire airport process... The Green Coat Program started in 1989, with 80 volunteers. “Frank O’Neill, who was the airport general manager [at the time] wanted to create a friendlier environment at the terminal,” says Drew Pankrath, customer care and guest relations 22
Since that time, Green Coat volunteers have delivered more than 78,258 hours of service.
“With that growth comes change and one reason our program is successful is because the volunteers are continually learning,” explains Pankrath. When Larry and Josephine Ho retired (he was a dentist, she ran his four clinics) they heard about the Green Coats organization through their church. “There was a fair amount to learn, such as how to direct passengers to the right gates,” says Ho. Green Coats pretty much help guests through the entire airport process by guiding them to various connections and baggage carousels, providing transportation information to hotels and suggesting city attractions if you have a layover – and more. The Green Coats represent 30 languages – Ho speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin so he’s typically
stationed at International Arrivals. “New immigrants are often bewildered so I sometimes escort them to the immigration office one floor down,” says Ho. Having additional language skills is a bonus, but nothing beats a warm smile, which is a pre-requisite to volunteer. Ho notes some travellers don’t understand how an airport operates. “For example, some Americans think they are still in the U.S. and don’t realize they must go through customs before going to Hawaii. Once we explain, they calm down.” Pankrath remembers at time last summer, when two elderly customers from the U.S. missed their connecting flight to Vancouver Island. “Our Green Coats tried to find them a hotel for the night, but nothing was available nearby. So they took the couple home, made breakfast next day and arranged their connecting flight. They’ve been friends ever since.” Think you’ve got what it takes? Visit yvr.ca for more information on the Green Coat volunteer program and YVR Take-Off Fridays. Jane Mundy | janevm@telus.net
Volunteer
Mr. Fireworks
Meet Raymond Greenwood: professional volunteer When Raymond Greenwood, also known as Mr. Fireworks, Mr. Bling and the former Mr. Flasher, isn’t volunteering at a non-profit organization or a gala event, he’s at home “getting stuff ready for volunteer work,” and that’s fine with Stephanie, his wife and business partner – they’ve been selling fireworks on Dunbar Street for the past 24 years. “My wife says, thank God I’m not at home more,” says Greenwood. His wife also told him to drop the pseudonym “Flasher.” And he did, kind of.
How it all began “My fireworks career started back in 1973, when I got a job with Pitney Bowes as a ‘licker and sticker,’” says Greenwood. “I immediately joined the Vancouver Jaycees [Junior Chamber of Commerce], became their Speakers Bureau chair and in 1975, bought them fireworks for the Vancouver Seafest.” Next up, Greenwood attended a fireworks convention in Tacoma, with Red Devil Fireworks in attendance, and became their Canadian agent. “Right off the bat we did big events and I took the mystique out of fireworks, which I figured was similar to neon signs,” he quips. Fast forward to Montreal 1989 – Greenwood competed in the Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire, told them the event had to be in Vancouver, and the rest is history.
photo: dan toulgoet
Even before that, as a kid in England Greenwood celebrated Guy Fawkes Night (some readers might remember “Penny for the guy”) and the tradition lives on. “Every Nov. 5, we put on a fireworks show for a client in Strathcona,” Greenwood explains. “I’d love to see it more widely celebrated, with treacle toffee and roasted chestnuts.” Greenwood has set off fireworks for just about every occasion, from births to weddings, but he hasn’t yet celebrated a death.
“I would be happy to shoot your ashes, or your loved ones ashes, up in smoke,” he says, laughing. Of course that’s the way he wants to go. Despite Vancouver’s unpredictable weather – sometimes raining sideways with gale force winds – none of Greenwood’s fireworks events were cancelled. In fact, Greenwood says Vancouver is well equipped for fireworks because he believes they look even better with rain. And he should know, having 11 years and 100 shows under his belt. But he always had time to volunteer These days Greenwood jockeys between president of the Canadian Club of Vancouver (their mandate is to promote being a proud Canadian), sitting on a number of boards, including Brock House Seniors Society and Westside Seniors hub counsel, chairing the 25th Greater Vancouver Doormen’s dinner for C.H.I.L.D Foundation, and “meeting and greeting” with Tourism Vancouver Information Centre, where he gets to “tell visitors nicely where to go.” “I get satisfaction knowing we have helped make a great experience for visitors to our city, and we ensure they come back,” says Greenwood. “The day I retire is the day I die,” says Greenwood, age 65. Jane Mundy janemundy595@gmail.com
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• Are you are an independent senior tired of living alone and cooking your meals? OR • Do you have an elderly parent who would benefit from being with other seniors? If so, please consider Abbeyfield Vancouver for your new home.
• Monthly rates from $1,400, all meals included, for a bed sitting room with ensuite toilet, hand basin and shower. For more information about Abbeyfield Vancouver, visit abbeyfieldvancouver.ca and follow the links, or call 604-261-1180 to leave a message for us
Volunteer of the Year Award
“Noland walked me through step-bystep and was very helpful in every way… and I mean that!”
– Monica Ehrbrecht
Presented by
The Lifetime Volunteer of the Year award has been created to recognize seniors who make a difference in our community, and who use their time to help others, whether that’s teaching a class, working a till at a thrift store, cooking, knitting and so much more. The Lifetime Volunteer of the Year will receive a multi-day tour vacation, valued at more than $5,000, courtesy of Ageless Adventures, and Stong’s grocery gift certificates. Entries accepted until June 30, 2016.
To enter and nominate a volunteer, visit lifetimemag.ca or call us at 604-630-3517.
*See in store for details. Restrictions apply.
Literature
Good reads Sandra Thomas | editor@lifetimemag.ca
non fiction
This collection of books chosen by Lifetime celebrate everything from spring to bone broth, from Mother Nature as a designer to adult colouring. We’ve also thrown in a first-class thriller set right here in B.C. The Natural Eclectic by Heather Ross The Natural Eclectic offers a glimpse into the inspiring world of West Coast artist, photographer and stylist Heather Ross. The same elegant, nature-inspired aesthetic found in Heather’s distinctive Vancouver boutique is brought to life in these pages through her stunning images, professional tips and engaging stories of her global styling and foraging adventures.
The Sacred Headwaters by Wade Davis In a rugged knot of mountains in northern British Columbia lies a spectacular valley known to the First Nations as the Sacred Headwaters. There, three of Canada’s most important salmon rivers – the Stikine, the Skeena, and the Nass – are born in close proximity. In The Sacred Headwaters, a collection of photographs by Carr Clifton and members of the International League of Conservation Photographers – portray the splendour of the region.
Spring the Cookbook by Skye Gyngell Created to celebrate Skye Gyngell’s new restaurant in the heart of London, England, Spring presents a collection of mouthwatering original recipes, including beautiful breads and pastas, exquisite seafood and meat dishes, colourful salads and vegetables, enticing ice cream and desserts, original preserves and refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Beautifully illustrated throughout with Andy Sewell’s evocative photographs.
The Bone Broth Secret: A culinary adventure in health, beauty, longevity by Louise Hay and Heather Dane Bone broth is an unsurpassed source of flavor that could never be reproduced from a can. Its tastiness and health benefits can lull us back into that full-on sensory experience that we lost when processed foods and convenience gained the upper hand in our stressed-out, busy modern lives.
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We are reminded that food is so much more than a way to satisfy hunger. Food is medicine. Food is connection. Food is love.
enter to win
The celebration of a lifetime
Enter our book draw online at vancourier.com/contests or fill out this form and send to the Vancouver Courier, 303 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1J6. Deadline: May 27, 2016 name _ ________________________________________________ phone ________________________________________________
fiction & fun
Beautiful Creatures colouring book by Nicole Stocker In Beautiful Creatures, you simply colour over the gray, matching light and dark tones to reveal lifelike shading. Saturate the grayscale with heavy colour, use the lightest of touches or simply let it be. Whether you flood the page with vibrant brights or a softer colour palette emerges, as the artist-inresidence there are no limits to what you can create. Printed on acid-free, archival-quality paper, perforated for framing, each creation is a deliciously tactile experience that will make you feel like a true artist. Beautiful Creatures is a soothing elixir for a case of chronic adulthood.
Those Girls by Chevy Stevens Life has never been easy for the three Campbell sisters. Jess, Courtney and Dani live on a remote ranch in Western Canada where they work hard and try to stay out of the way of their father’s fists. One night, a fight gets out of hand and the sisters are forced to go on the run, only to get caught in an even worse nightmare when their truck breaks down in a small town. Events spiral out of control and a chance encounter with the wrong people leaves them in a horrific and desperate situation. This time there’s nowhere left to run.
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Food
Bean there
Picnic Bean Salad with Poppy-seed Dressing No picnic is complete without a robust salad that will stand up to transport and this update on traditional bean salad is sure to become a family standby. Vegan: replace honey with sugar or maple syrup. Poppy-seed dressing ½ cup + 1 tbsp of olive oil, divided 1 shallot, minced 1 tbsp honey 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste 2 tsp poppy seeds Salad 2 cups snow peas, side strings removed 1 cup shelled and cooked green peas 2 cups green beans, tips removed, cut in half and blanched 1 cup cooked chickpeas I cup cooked kidney beans 3 tbsp flat-leaf parsley
Method In a pan over medium heat, saute shallot in a tablespoon of the oil until soft and translucent. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In a food processor or highpowered blender, combine cooled shallots, honey, vinegar and mustard. With the machine running, slowly drizzle remaining oil through the feed tube to emulsify. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and stir in poppy seeds. Combine pulses (beans) and parsley in a large bowl and toss with salad dressing.
Just in time to celebrate the United Nations 2016 International Year of Pulses, food activist Dan Jason of Salt Spring Island Seeds, teamed up with awardwinning recipe developers and bestselling authors Hilary Malone and Alison Malone Eathorne, to create and compile The Power of Pulses, dedicated to “saving the world with peas, beans, chickpeas, favas and lentils.” This gorgeous cookbook, published by Douglas & McIntyre, includes 50 vegetarian recipes. Visit vancourier.com/contests to enter to win a copy and a packet of King Tut Pea seeds from Salt Spring Seeds. 28
Opinion
Older Wiser New tools help seniors age well Sometimes a column almost writes itself. I had that thought recently when my editor sent me a copy of a B.C. Ministry of Health press release highlighting some new tools to help British Columbians age well. The late Bette Davis once said, “Aging isn’t for sissies.” That’s a bit harsh, but growing older is a part of life. There are nearly three times as many people over the age of 65 living in B.C. today compared to 35 years ago and the older population is projected to double over the next 25 years. So finding resources to help seniors stay healthy throughout their longer lives is important.
... the older population is projected to double over the next 25 years. The latest version of the B.C. Seniors’ Guide, now available in print, PDF and a new eBook format, contains information on a range of topics from transportation to housing, health services and healthy living. The items that draw the most questions from my readers, Fair Pharmacare, Medical Services
Plan premium assistance, the Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence program, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, the bus pass program and the B.C. Seniors Supplement, which tops up the federal Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, are all well covered. The guide also includes a comprehensive directory with telephone numbers and website information for frequently used resources. Chinese, Punjabi and French versions will be ready in the spring. I keep two other directories close at hand. The RCMP’s Seniors Guidebook to Safety and Security is designed to help seniors and their caregivers recognize elder abuse, frauds and scams. The aptly named Seniors Directory: A Resource for Seniors Living on the North Shore is produced by the North Shore News in partnership with the North Shore Community Resources Society. The 2016 edition of the seniors directory is available now. Finally, I think every household should have a guide that helps seniors and their family members develop an estate plan. These are usually available at no charge from your financial institution. Aging Well is a new website from the B.C. government’s Healthy Families Initiative and is designed for British
... every household should have a guide that helps seniors and their family members develop an estate plan. Columbians in their early 50s and 60s to plan for a healthy future. The site, which was developed with input from seniors, includes videos, articles and quizzes about preparing for the years ahead. Topics include, wellness, finance, transportation, housing and social connections, although my preference would have been to cover these topics in a little more depth. The latest edition of the B.C. Seniors’ Guide is available for free by calling 1-877-952-3181, toll free throughout B.C. To access a copy online visit gov.bc.ca/ seniorsguide. You can find the Aging Well website at healthyfamiliesbc.ca. Tom Carney is the former executive director of the Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society. Tom Carney | tomcarney@telus.net
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Opinion
Back to my roots Embracing my 50 shades of grey When you’re born with a big mess of curly hair that only continues to get bigger and more unruly as you grow older, as far as I can see at least, you have two options – keep it short or own it. And own it I have. I wore an asymmetrical bob during my disco days, a sky-high faux-hawk during my punk years and have dyed, foiled, streaked and hennaed my locks almost every colour of the rainbow, including a couple of inexplicable ombre looks I was talked into.
Fluorescent lights and grey roots Ñ always an attractive combination. In fact, my hair has been dyed so many times, I really can’t remember when I first started to notice the grey creeping in. But creep in it did, forcing me into some kind of hair
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identity crisis. No longer can I wait six weeks or even two months to have my highlights retouched. These days I’m booking appointments a month apart and praying that three weeks in no one stops by my desk long enough to notice my roots glowing under the fluorescent lights flooding the office. Fluorescent lights and grey roots – always an attractive combination. So I recently came to the conclusion enough is enough – and just as with my curly hair, I’ve decided I’m going to own this grey hair. Of course it helps that grey happens to be a very fashion-forward colour when it comes to hair these days, no matter what age you are, and I’ve seen it on everyone from TV celeb Kendall Jenner to fashion icon Kelly Osborne to singer Rihanna to feminist Gloria Steinem. So I’ve decided to take the leap and get back to my roots, or at least celebrate my roots, in an attempt to be less a slave to my hair. I’m also hoping the initial costly investment will help save
me money down the road because, seriously, who can afford that many salon visits? In order not to completely fry my hair, the plan is to strip the colour from a handful of pieces each month and gradually move into a head full of grey textured with high and low lights. I took a photo to document some of those pesky roots peeking out just in time for my new head shot for Lifetime – I had a hair appointment scheduled for the very next day, but my deadlines wait for no woman so I had to roll with it. The transition should be completed by the time our July issue goes to print so I will include an updated photo then. I have to admit the idea of wearing a headful of grey hair is making me feel more than a little anxious, but just like that maroon faux-hawk I rocked in 1979, once I’ve committed, I will own it – minus all that hairspray. Sandra Thomas editor@lifetimemag.ca
Resources
Green thumb To continue our focus on gardening, we have compiled a list of garden and floral related classes and seminars you can attend this spring. April 9 | 10:30 am New Introductions for 2016 Join us for an overview of new choices for this growing season – bedding, perennials, edibles, nursery. New plants & products! location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com April 9 Fruit Trees in Containers on Balconies & Rooftops Lecture location: VPL Downtown contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca April 17 | 1:30 pm Create a Spring Planter A hands-on session to make a seasonal planter. Cost includes 12-inch pot, spring plants, soil, fertilizer. Bring along garden gloves, trowel and let’s get potting! location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com April 20 | 6:30–9pm Growing Veggies in Containers Learn how to get the most out of your balcony or patio veggie garden. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
April 21–May 19 | 10am–12:30pm Painting with Watercolour: Flowers Express the colours of the seasons through watercolour. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org April 21 Earth Day Evening: Past, Present & Future of our Garden Tour with Egan Davis & Tara Moreau contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca April 21 Moss Gardening with Shona Ellis contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
April 27 Volunteer Orientation contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca April 23 | 10:30am Soils 101 – Preparing Floral & Edible Beds A primer in soil composition and preparation to ensure a productive season. Overview of amendments and best practices will be presented. location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com
April 23 Container Growing Espalier Fruit Trees Workshop location: Athletes Village contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca April 23 Spring Incarnata Performance: Dance & Poetry in the Asian Garden contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
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Resources April 27 | 6:30–9pm Growing Organic Food Learn the basics of good organic garden practices to grow great tasting food in your garden or balcony. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org April 30 | 10am–3pm Soil Workshop for Gardeners Get a practical understanding of your soil with this workshop that combines lecture and hands-on lab activities using soil from participants’ gardens. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
April 30 | 10am–3pm Flower Photography This workshop will cover many of the technical and aesthetic aspects of flower photography and will greatly increase the satisfaction you derive from your own flower pictures. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 1 | 1:30pm Make a Mother’s Day Hanging Basket Plant up a lovely basket of blooms for Mother’s Day. Cost includes 12 in basket, plants, soil, fertilizer & care guidelines. Create a unique gift for summertime. Please bring garden gloves and a trowel. location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com May 5–19 | 1–3pm New! Chigiri-e Paper Art: Inspired by the Season Chigiri-e is a Japanese art form where the primary technique uses pieces of beautifully hand-dyed washi paper to create images. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 5 | 6:30–8:30pm New! Growing Plants without (much) Water As the arid summer of 2015 showed us, changing climatic conditions can be a real challenge for gardeners. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
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May 5 Throwback Thursday Lunch ‘n Learn: The John Davidson Years contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 5 Free Beehive Tour & Evening Volunteer Orientation contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 5 Water Conservation Workshop: Gardening for the Low Flow Garden with Egan contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 6–June 10 | 10am–12:30pm New! Botanical Illustration for Beginners Learn how to draw plants from an aesthetic and scientific perspective while improving your observation and artistic skills. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 7 A Growing Affair Plant Sale with free information tables and garden advice contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 7 | 1:30–4pm New! Growing a Food Forest Take a deeper look into the concepts of permaculture, and learn how to design and create a diverse garden that yields food and provides habitat. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 7 | 10 am–12:30pm Introduction to Permaculture This overview will cover the definitions, concepts and principles of Permaculture. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
Resources May 11 | 6:30–9pm New! Growing Superfoods in Small Spaces Learn simple ways to grow superfoods in almost any small space – balconies, rooftop gardens, containers, or kitchen counters. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 14 | 1:30–5pm New! Introduction to Drawing Birds Making simple sketches can help you to identify birds. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 15 | 1:30pm Hydrangeas, Hostas and Other Great Shade Plants Gardening in dappled to deep shade can be challenging. Learn about perennials, shrubs and bedding plants that flourish in these lowerlight settings. location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com May 15 Botanical Illustration: Drawing on iPad contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 18 | 6:30–9pm Gardening for Birds Welcome birds into your garden by providing them with the right mix of plants and amenities that they need for food, water or shelter. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 20–23 Introduction to Vertical Dancing in the Forest Canopy Workshop contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
May 21 | 10:30am Growing Herbs as Companion Plants Growing culinary herbs is a lovely addition to the home garden. Herbs can be interplanted in flower beds and veggie gardens. location: Hunters Garden Centre, 15175 – 72nd Avenue, Surrey contact: 604-590-2431, huntersgardencentre.com May 21 | 10am–2pm Bokeh Photography Basics See the world from a new perspective through the lens of your camera. The term bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke, meaning “blur” or “haze”. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 2–30 | 10am–12:30pm Painting with Watercolour: Summer Express the colours of the season through watercolour. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org June 2 Throwback Thursday Lunch n’ Learn: 40 Years of the Friends of the Garden contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca June 4 Bees in the City Workshop with Erin Udal and Brian Campbell contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
May 25 | 6:30–9pm Gorgeous Container Gardening This course explores how to design show-stopping container plantings that use colours, textures, and plant combinations in unique ways. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org May 26 Ethnobotany Tour contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca May 28 | 10am–12:30pm New! Biogeography – Plants Across the World This class will look at Rhododendrons, Magnolias, and more, taking you from China to Eastern North America and then to the Southern Hemisphere to explore biogeography in the garden. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org 33
Resources June 4 | 10am–12:30pm Native Tree ID for Beginners This workshop covers the basic plant characteristics needed for plant ID, and more. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 12 | 10am–12:30pm Helping Bees in Urban Gardens Encourage bumblebee, mason bee, and other native bee populations in your urban garden. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 8 | 6:30–9pm Designing and Growing with Herbs Herbs can be incorporated into an existing vegetable or ornamental garden, or grown in a dedicated herb garden. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 15 | 6:30–9pm New! Herbs for Every Season Enjoy your own home grown herbs all year. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 11 | 10am–3pm New! iPhoneography in the Spring Garden Improve your digital photography skills using your iPhone or iPad. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 16 | 7–9pm New! Mixology and your Garden With summer just around the corner, what better time to broaden your entertaining toolkit with some botanical cocktails! location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org June 16 Food for All Seasons Workshop with Sharon Hanna contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca June 18 & 19 Botanical Painting with Watercolours Workshop contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca June 17–19 Centennial Celebration and National Garden Days contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
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June 22 | 6:30–9pm New! Designing for Scent in the Garden Learn how to incorporate fragrance from plants into your outdoor entertaining space, or entrance way. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org
June 25 | 10am–3pm New! Drawing Nature This workshop is for everyone who finds inspiration in nature, and wants to improve their ability to capture the beauty or the detail through drawing. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org July 13 | 6:30–9pm New! Drought Tolerant Gardening This class explores how to maintain a beautiful garden under low water conditions. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org July 14 Summer Incarnata: Dance and Poetry in the Asian Garden contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca July 16 | 9:30am–12:30pm Eat from Your Garden Year-round If you want to grow food all year long, now is the time to plan and begin planting! location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org July 20 | 6:30–9pm All about Perennials Spend the evening outside in the Perennial Garden and Black Garden with VanDusen gardener, Casey Werfl. location: VanDusen Botanical Garden contact: 604-718-5898, vandusen.org July 21 Taste of Terroir Long Table Dinner Event contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca July 30 Summer Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop contact: 604 822 4208 botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
Discover your own Backyard!
Serving 55+ B.C. Seniors for 28 years Guided tours with diverse sightseeing, comfortable accommodations, quality meals, smaller group sizes, home pick-up and drop-off.
More than 45 tours annually 2016 tours included: Yukon & n.W.T. YelloWknife & The n.W.T. The Wild WesT CoasT of VanCouVer island
PrinCess louisa inleT (floaT & flY)
GlaCier naTional Park & WaTerTon lakes
BarkerVille haida GWaii B.C.’s WaTerWaYs & rail CirCle Tour
Canadian MariTiMes neWfoundland & laBrador GrizzlY Bears of kniGhT inleT aCross Canada WiTh Via rail auTuMn in QueBeC alBuQuerQue Balloon fiesTa The WiCkaninnish inn exPerienCe & More!
BC Reg#2599
604-542-5566 or toll free 1-877-277-5577 agelessadventuretours.com 260-1959 152nd street, south surrey, B.C. V4a 9e3