SEPTEMBER 2016
The Unstoppable Sibel Thrasher Dating in the Third Act Belly Dancer for Life
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The playful side of Pamela Martin. Photo: Jay Shaw
n i t r a M a l e am
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On the Move BY JOHN THOMSON
“I
had a dream childhood,” says former news anchor Pamela Martin of her early days in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Now, working as an advocate for the BC Liberals – she meets other women and encourages them to join the Party – Pamela has traded her anchor desk for advocacy, a career move that has thrust her into the public spotlight once again. Politics may be her true calling, but growing up in Michigan, she was just another American kid. Dad was a businessman and Mom stayed at home with the kids. Pamela was the second of four children. “Life was good in those days,” she says. “Detroit was the engine of the country. There was a lot of money and a lot of prosperity. I had a very close family. We’re still close.” Her three siblings are scattered throughout the country and she visits her 89-year-old mother every two months in southern California. “I’m always down there,” she continues. “It’s a very close, boisterous, American family.” She entered a local beauty pageant at 15. “I thought it would be interesting. What do they really do in those contests?” She soon found out, winning the Miss Teen USA title at 18, criss-
crossing the United States in a series of speaking engagements – “it was good training” – and appearing in commercials. Pamela attended the University of Michigan but, restless and thirsting for a new adventure, worked out a deal with her parents. Instead of dropping out, she continued her education abroad as a transfer student. Semesters in Mexico, Italy and Colorado followed. A degree in art history was a start, but what to do next? “I didn’t know,” she confesses. “I was very involved in the arts community and a local television station in Ann Arbor invited me to host a show, an arts calendar kind of thing. I thought, wow, this is really exciting. I could really do that,” but a scheduling conflict meant a delay of six months. She married her Canadian boyfriend in the interim and they moved to Victoria, where she revived the idea of a TV show first proposed to her in Ann Arbor. One of her first enquiries went to local station CHEK. “I made an appointment, saw the manager and outlined my five-year plan, which was to have this show. It would be about politics, the women’s movement and the arts community. At some point, I asked him who else applied and he said, ‘no one;
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Snapshot
Snapshot Q &A
with Pamela Martin
If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give her? “Don’t worry about everything so much. It will all work out. I always felt that I had to push ahead to the next level.” Who or what has influenced you the most? And why? “Woodward and Bernstein were heroes to my generation. They broke the story that brought down the President. These guys had really made a difference so that kicks in, I can actually make a difference. Here’s an opportunity for me to have some impact in my community.” What does courage mean to you? “Courage is being able to do something you’re not really sure you can do, but you make yourself do it anyway and usually you succeed.” What does success mean to you? “For me, it’s being able to have a purpose and succeed at that purpose. It means being able to make a difference in whatever way.”
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we’re not actually offering this job.’ So it was me going in and saying this is what you ought to do.” Gutsy. Inventive. And then nothing. Silence. “After about six months, CHEK said okay, you can have the show. “They paid me $25 per show and I had to do all the producing. Frankly, if they had said we’ll let you do it, but we’re not paying you, I probably would have done it. I wanted the experience. Then I started doing news stories for them and I decided fairly quickly that I wanted to do just news. That’s what I wanted to do. It was in my blood.” Another move, another job. To Vancouver, this time, where she became the first female reporter at radio station CKNW. “Let’s go out on a limb and hire a woman and we’ll see how it works out. They never said that but I always felt that way,” she says. The rookie became a general reporter. The newsroom made bets to see if she could keep up. “So, of course, I had to keep up. If it’s a murder and it’s my shift, I’m doing it. Dead body? Not a problem. Twenty stories in a day? No problem. There’s nothing I can’t do. I would say I’m tenacious and determined,” she says when asked what drives her. Sure, luck plays a part but “I think you have to be ready for it to be the right time and place. You have to figure out what your goal is and work towards it.” She was making inroads and she was being noticed. “I was definitely watching her,” says Cameron Bell, the former news director at BCTV’s Newshour, Vancouver’s most watched newscast. Pamela had written him months earlier looking for a job. “I knew the presentation was there,” says Bell. “I just wanted her to get her boots dirty.” Her radio reporting sealed the deal and, in 1977, Bell hired her as a Newshour television reporter. The anchor job came out of the blue. The previous anchor had just quit. “Cameron called me into his office and said ‘what are you doing this weekWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
end?’ and I said ‘I don’t know. Why?’ And he said ‘do you have a jacket?’ Oh yeah, I’m wearing it right now. “Okay, well bring that jacket and come in. You’re anchoring the news. So, Tony Parsons did the six o’clock news Monday to Friday and I did the six o’clock news Saturday and Sunday and we did that for many years.” “She’s very bright and she can learn stuff quickly,” says Bell. “It was important to me that anybody reading the news actually knew what they were talking about. They weren’t just mouthing the words.” Eventually, Pamela joined Parsons on the six o’clock desk, a dream team as far as the ratings were concerned and, in 2001, she moved again to CTV Vancouver, where she was paired with Bill Good for another nine years. In 2010, she resigned, unsure about what to do next. “I said to myself ‘what is the one thing I’ve always wanted to do’ and the one thing that came to my mind immediately was politics. I love politics, but it was very important, as an anchor, to maintain objectivity. But it killed me. I loved politics and I wanted to be involved.” An internal leadership race provided the opportunity, so Pamela volunteered to help Christy Clark replace Gordon Campbell as leader of the BC Liberals. “It was pretty easy for me to decide what to do,” she says. “I agreed with her vision and her values but, more importantly, I thought she was the best person to be Premier. So, I called her up and said I’d like to help you. My initial job was to campaign with her. I would give a validation speech for her and then introduce her and then explain why I was supporting her and what were the qualities in her that I truly believed were the qualities we needed in a Premier.” When Clark won the leadership race and assumed the mantle of Premier, Pamela was made the Director of Outreach, hosting roundtables, so people could come into the Premier’s office and talk about their issues. “I reached out to a lot of mom blog-
gers and women entrepreneurs, people who would never meet the Premier in their life. Looking back on my career, if there’s a theme running through it, I’m pretty good at empowering women. That’s always been a strong interest and motivator for me. I felt women were just not being heard in government and that it was important to empower them and I thought this was something I could do, something I could add.” Fronting various causes is a fact of life for celebrities. As a TV anchor, Pamela was constantly approached to host events. One charity in particular, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Run for the Cure people attracted her attention. “She saw the importance, the depth and breadth of breast cancer and how under-reported and under-served it was in the media,” says Judy Caldwell, the founder of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC and Yukon Region. “You just didn’t talk about breasts in those days. She took this thing on and ran with it. She was terrific. She volunteered. She did all kinds of TV promotion for us. She was such a tremendous supporter way back when.” Fronting a charity is one thing, fronting a political party is another. In 2013, Pamela left the Premier’s Office to become the BC Liberals’ Director of Engagement, this time unleashing a storm of controversy. Her critics accused her of crossing the line, of taking advantage of her celebrity status and the trust she built up as a public figure over the years. “You do get used to having a person deliver the news. They’re kind of like someone you know even though you don’t. I get it. You’ve said to the public all your life I’m someone you can trust and they trusted you but I tried really hard to be as open as I could,” says Pamela. Having divorced herself from television and finally reaching her goal, the criticism still stings. “Yes it does. I’m not used to being criticized personally. I feel like I’ve been honest. I’ve been open about what I do. It’s not fair to say you can never have your own opinion. Having said that, I do understand it.”
Nevertheless, the former anchor is still recognized and remembered. “All the time. People are very nice, very complimentary,” she says. Divorced in 1989, she’s been married to her second husband, developer John Halbeck, for the last 16 years. “We had a blind date and we didn’t like each other. And then we ran into each other five years later and said ‘I remember you.’ We pretended we had changed and got married,” she laughs. Her two adult children, Maxwell and Olivia, live nearby and Pamela is a proud grandmother to four-year-old Sierra. As for looking youthful, she keeps fit, but adds, “I really think when you have a purpose and you have an identity, it keeps you young because you’re engaged.” And no, she does not think she missed out on greater by staying in JUNE opportunities 10th - 25th 2016 Canada not returning to the 16 Days • 41and Meals United States. Join TV News Personality “I always wanted to be able * Deborra Hope to do it all, to have a family and Early B a career. Looking at the way it ird Pinrthe icUS, Ends Ja works inthere g would n 31 st 20 1 6 be five people lined up with a knife at your back because it’s so competitive and so cutthroat. I couldn’t see how I could have children. I think if you were at the top, if you were Katie Amsterdam, Cologne, Couric, you could, but to get Highlights: there is really tough and I wanted Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, a career and kids.” Wertheim, Glass Museum, Würzburg, Bamberg, Regensburg, A Canadian citizen since 2002, sheNuremberg, says, “I feel much more Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Canadian than American. I think Canadians are Evening a lot more perBratislava, Budapest, Show She ceptive than Americans. TheyBudapest see the Cruise, world Folklore as the world.” does, however, attribute her success to her American upbringing and that stable home life in Michigan. All remaining cabins are first come, first served “I really like the American ‘can do’ attitude. I think that’s helped me.Regular You just can’t help it. That’s the way Americans Rates: are. You are the best, you can Lower Outside Cabin Rates: do anything. So sure, I want to host my own television Double $6,899show,” CAD she says of those early days at Middle Outside Cabin CHEK when she went inRates: cold, badgered the boss and kickDouble $7,424ofCAD started a chain reaction life-altering events. “No one told me Cabin Rates: I couldn’t,Upper but Outside I suppose if they had, I would have moved on Double $7,829 CAD until they told me I could.” SL
Looking back on my career, if there’s a theme running through it, I’m pretty good at empowering women. That’s always been a strong interest and motivator for me.
Space releaSed
Suite Cabin Rates: Double $9,454 CAD
Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Vancouver Intl Airport, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $540 per person (subject to increase until paid in full), Hotel Transfers
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Call Your Local Marlin Travel for Reservations: Broadmead Village 250-383-5414 • Oak Bay 250-370-1222 Cadboro Bay 250-595-1181 • Sussex Place 250-383-6101 Westshore 250-478-1113 • Sidney 250-656-5561 • Duncan 250-748-2594 Ladysmith 250-245-7114 • Nanaimo 250-758-3924 Parksville 250-248-2041 • Langley 604-532-0507 Kelowna 250-868-2540 • West Kelowna 250-768-6875
Broadmead Village 250-383-5414 • Oak Bay 250-370-1222 Sussex Place 250-383-6101 • Westshore 250-478-1113 Sidney 250-656-5561 • Duncan 250-748-2594 Ladysmith 250-245-7114 • Nanaimo 250-758-3924 Parksville 250-248-2041 • Kelowna 250-868-2540 WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM Langley 604-532-0507
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Vancouver Island’s
Hidden Gem BY ROSE KLEIN BEEKMAN
M Darrell McIntosh kayaking Quatsino Sound, Port Alice.
Valerie Eyford holding 36 lbs salmon caught off Cliff Point. Photo: Brian Eyford
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Tucker exploring surrounding mountainside with his owner photographer Darrell McIntosh.
any of us have reached a time of life when retirement is either here or just around the corner. Often, retirees are looking for a slower pace, but still an active lifestyle that is affordable and leaves a decent cash flow for travelling or covering big-ticket expenses. Port Alice offers a wonderful solution: affordable housing (most homes have an ocean view); a safe environment; and a wide variety of activities both indoor and outdoor, all seasons, with a group or on you own; plus all the basic amenities. This picturesque hillside community is truly Vancouver Island’s “hidden gem.” A gateway community to the west coast, Port Alice is located on Neurotsos Inlet on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. A two-hour drive past Campbell River will bring you to the junction of Highways 19 and 30, where you will be greeted by a huge sign saying, “Welcome to the Wild West Coast.” A scenic 25-minute drive will bring you to the most breathtaking view of ocean and mountains imaginable. One of the biggest draws is the water. Neurotsos Inlet, part of Quatsino Sound offers great saltwater fishing for salmon, halibut and more. Cliff Point is a favourite for many anglers, and the many sheltered bays and coves offer areas for diving, kayaking and setting out prawn and crab traps. Whether you hunt with a camera or a gun, there is an endless bounty of wildlife including deer, black bear, cougar and elk. Bird watchers can spend hours spotting and researching water and land fowl. The Seawalk has benches or picnic tables at scenic points from one end of Port Alice to the other. These vantage points are picturesque areas to sit and enjoy the view and watch eagles, whales, seals and other marine life go by. If you prefer to keep moving, an active walking group hikes the dyke surrounding the village every day, rain or shine. The most consistent walkers on this route are in their seventies. If you prefer riding to walking, join the biking crowd, the founding members are 70+. The most westerly side of the island, accessible from Port Alice, offers Side Bay, Brooks Peninsula and Gooding Cove with great beaches and areas to explore. It is not unusual to see a camper or tent pitched during the summer months. A short distance east of town is another camping, swimming and hiking area at Link River. There are other fresh water lakes for trout fishing, boating and water skiing. Unusual attractions to the area are the Eternal Fountain, a naturally occurring fountain and Devil’s Bath, the largest cenote in Canada, which is 44-metres deep and about 350-metres wide. And don’t miss Vanishing River and Reappearing River, part of the Benson River, where the river flows underground for about two kilometres. The Port Alice Golf Club, once listed in Ripley’s Believe it or Not as the only course in the world with a church on the links, is still active.
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For more information, visit www.vancouverislandhiddengem. com or http://portalice.ca or search Port Alice Life on YouTube.
Cyclists Iwo and Joanna Zembel resting at picnic area on Port Alice Seawalk.
Photos: Darrell McIntosh
Our community centre houses a variety of activities; the gym is always popular with activities for young and not-so-young alike. There is a well-stocked regional library, where one can research the long and colourful history of this area. The Thrift Shop and weight room are housed in the old junior high school. The Doug Bondue Ice Arena is home to a four-sheet curling club, very popular with many seniors, and an ice skating rink with lots of public skate time scheduled. Hockey is big in this little village with minor hockey, rep hockey and an old timer’s league. The season culminates with the Oscar Hickes Tournament in March. This tournament is a huge fundraiser and reunion for many. The children of the first players still come home for this competition, which includes women’s, old timers, wishful and exceptional players. It’s a weekend everyone looks forward to with anticipation. Port Alice is also home to a large artistic community, with painters, stained glass designers, writers and photographers. The beauty and peace of the area are an inspiration to all. A number of artists have galleries open to the public. Published authors and photographers are often featured on CHEK News. Port Alice has an RCMP detachment, ambulance station, a volunteer fire department and an active, well-trained sea rescue squad. Our health centre is open 8:30-4:30 seven days a week; the doctors’ clinic is open 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. There is also a grocery store with a deli and coffee bar, convenience store, liquor store, Scotiabank, post office and a gas station. Waterfront or water-view homes in Port Alice include single family houses, one-, two- and three-bedroom condos with green space, as well as strata apartments and mobile homes. A listing of homes for sale can be seen on the Village of Port Alice web page. Port Alice – with its natural beauty, multiple outdoor activities and affordability – may be just what you’re looking for in your retirement! SL
Brian Eyford catching red snapper off Cliff Point. Photo: Valerie Eyford
Cancel the scooter excursion. As our region’s only not-for-profit burial park, we’re in no hurry to have you here.
4673 FALAISE DRIVE
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Sibel Thrasher performs.
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& s ue
s g n essi “O
BY KIANA KARIMKHANI
nly youuuu, can make all this world seem right,” Sibel Thrasher croons over the phone from Richmond, drawing out the syllables of “you” as The Platters do in their 1973 hit song, “Only You.” She recalls the lyrics as if she sang them on stage the night before, though it’s been over 30 years. The Platters were an African-American vocal group of the early rock-‘n’roll tradition, once the most famous group in the world (they had over 40 Billboard charting singles between 1955 and 1967). Sibel’s inclusion in The Platter’s month-long residency in Vancouver was the reason she moved from the US in 1981. “I was only supposed to be here for one month, but I fell in love with Vancouver and never left,” she says. “I wanted to stay and try it on my own.” In the mid-eighties, Sibel was a part of Vancouver’s longest running theatrical production, Ain’t Misbehavin’. The musical centres on black musicians in the 1920s and 1930s who were integral to the Harlem Renaissance. It was scheduled to run for six weeks at the Arts Club Theatre, but it continued for two years. Sibel marks those performances as some of her most memorable (a tall order to affirm considering her over-35-year career). “One night, we laughed so hard our jaws were hurting. It was like going to a party every day,” she says. Her prominence in theatre was a triumph for someone who had never regarded acting as a possibility. “The whole trip of this journey is knowing that I could do it – that I could be there and do it,” she reiterates. “That gave me happiness. It wasn’t easy, but it did eventually happen.” From her name alone – not manufactured for the stage but chosen by her mother for its French evocation – one could deduce Sibel Thrasher was fated to be an entertainer. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sibel’s honey drawl and warm laugh are
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Save Money on Prescriptions Sibel wants to be known as a survivor who continues to make the best of this life – and she hopes the same for everyone.
sweetened by southern inflections. In her early, Midwestern childhood, raised on Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne, she was a member of The Thrasher Singers, a gospel group comprised of her and her two brothers (an origin story not unlike several powerhouse singers from that era). In their household, church took precedence; Sibel’s mother and grandfather were both ministers of the Methodist church. “If you didn’t go to church on Sunday, you could forget about going anywhere else during the week,” she says. That exposure – singing every week in front of the church’s congregation – not only shaped her performance skills, but her optimistic view on life. Her strong faith has prevailed in times when her environment or health has wavered. After her husband, Michael Wolfe, who Sibel calls “my best
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friend, my strength,” suffered two strokes in 2006, doctors told her he would never walk again. She set out to prove them wrong. Despite the people who encouraged her to leave what was perceived as an impossible situation, she was at the hospital every morning to shower Michael and feed him his breakfast. At first, he didn’t recognize her. Gradually, through rehabilitation, willpower, and no doubt Sibel’s resolute devotion, he “brought himself back,” she says. Now, Michael can walk with a cane and talk as before. “He still makes me laugh silly,” she says. In a successful relationship, she says, strength between partners is a necessary component. Even upon reflection of that uncertain time, she shares anecdotes pervaded with lightness. “There was a time during his stay at the hospital when they had him alone in this grey room. I said, ‘let’s get him out of here and around people!’ They told me the only rooms they had left were with women. I said, ‘That’s even better! Put him in the room with the women. Let ’em have that.’” She laughs, though it doesn’t undermine how taxing a caregiver role can be. Her music, cooking, cleaning – those everyday routines – helped to keep her centred. If others are experiencing a similar situation, she tells them to be brave. “There’s going to be frustrating times, but that’s okay. Things don’t go right all of the time. But I just kept on going, and look where it’s gotten me. Everything is much better now.” When referred to as a fighter, Sibel agrees. Looking over her credits, inducted into the BC “Entertainment Hall of Fame” in 2004 and among the names on “Starwalk” (a sidewalk in Van-
couver’s “Theatre Row” that honours those who have significantly contributed to the arts), it would appear things have gone right a lot of the time. However, Sibel is quick to say there are many things she fought for and didn’t get, but she punctuates that thought: “they obviously weren’t meant for me.” As one ages and reflects on their life, it can be easy to look back and say, “Don’t go down that road, you should’ve gone down this one,” but on each path travelled, Sibel says she learned more about herself and how people are more alike than different. Her career allowed her to travel the world – from cruise ships in Alaska to a mainstay in the Philippines at the Peninsula Hotel – deepening her appreciation for the experiences she did have. Currently, life for Sibel involves focusing on her own health; “The shoe is on the other foot for my husband right now,” she says. Her future plans are open, though it’s clear a return to the stage is imminent. “As one door closes, another one opens,” she says. Sibel wants to be known as a survivor who continues to make the best of this life – and she hopes the same for everyone. She ends the conversation in familiar Sibel form, a perfunctory “God Bless” spoken with sincerity, a token of how kind and humble she remains. “If anyone ever sees me on the street or out and about, just say ‘Hello.’” A simple greeting brings her as much joy as the larger accolades. In the entertainment business, where pretense seems compulsory to success, Sibel Thrasher found it by staying true to herself. SL Feeling at home means enjoying the things you like to do. Which is why at Amica, you can always enjoy your day the way you like to – read your book in a quiet corner or enjoy a snack when you want to.
I didn’t expect it to feel like home.
You can expect an all-inclusive community that is personalized to you with a range of first-class amenities and services in each of our neighbourhoods: • Independent Living • Assisted Living
• Supportive Living • Memore Care
Let us treat you to lunch. Call or book a visit online at amica.ca
Mature Lifestyles amica.ca
Amica Amica Amica Amica Amica
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at at at at at
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Dating in the Third Act
BY GERY LEMON
G
oing on a date. Such a nerve-wracking notion. For many boomers and seniors, their last date was with the person they vowed to spend their life with – 30, 40 or more years ago. Now, with the explosion of online possibilities and a whole new sense of daring, people who have been widowed, divorced or always single, are exploring dating in life’s third act. They’re finding a lot has changed. Older people start or try dating for all kinds of reasons. Some date for companionship. They want to meet new people with the possibility that they’ll connect with someone whose company they enjoy and with whom they are comfortable. Some want to be wined and dined. Others will settle for nothing less than the thrill and the butterflies of falling in love. That was the case with Alana. Fifteen years after leaving her marriage, she re-entered the dating world in her late 50s. She wasn’t lonely. She had a good, full life with plenty of friends and a job she loved. All wonderful, but nothing compared to the possibility of head-over-heels, can’tkeep-my-hands-off-you love. Alana made her love quest a year-long project. If she hadn’t fallen in love after a year, she’d retreat from dating. She took her search online and signed up with three relationship websites. She posted a recent picture of herself on each (“recent is key,” she says. You’ll only embarrass yourself if you post a picture of your younger self), described herself (“fun and cheeky”) and stated her criteria (“mid-50s to early 60s, fun, honourable and professional”). The responses arrived, pinging into her inbox. In her 12 months of dating, Alana met 21 of the 88 men who expressed an interest in her and happily discovered there are a lot of great guys seeking relationships. That was a relief. In fact, of 16 14
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those 21, only two were a waste of time: one was cheap; the other slovenly. The rest were witty, good conversationalists and financially solid. “How a man manages his finances is important to me,” she says. “I want all the adult things in place.” Still, even with the requirements in place, after a year of dating, the critical component was missing: chemistry. Alana wasn’t ready to settle for less than a racing heart and the absolute distraction that comes with falling in love. At the end of her year of dating 21 men, Alana pulled her profile and folded her dating tent. For Angeline, dating marked a new beginning. Five years after the death of her husband – the one love of her life – she decided it was time to start living again so, at 63, she began dating. The first few dates were casual and void of interest, but then she met Alfie who, for the first time in years, made her want to be with a man. Theirs isn’t a committed relationship – they tell people they’re just friends – but meeting Alfie has opened Angeline to the possibilities of a life beyond her grief. She has moved to a new town and is shaping this phase of her life by immersing herself in rediscovered hobbies and volunteerism. On most weekends, she goes out with Alfie. When Eleanor’s husband left their 33-year marriage for another woman, she spent a full year caring for herself and indulging in the things that brought her pleasure. At the end of that year, her sister suggested it was time to meet new people and consider online dating. “I was terrified at the prospect,” she says. “I felt very exposed.” The first few dates were awkward. Eleanor didn’t know how to behave or even what to wear. “I’d look in the mirror and see the lines and a head of silver hair and I felt uncertain I had what it takes for a man to be interested in me.”
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She dated some duds. Some men talked endlessly about themselves and asked nothing about her. Some men were braggarts and others were dull. “But the more I dated, the smarter I got. You have to get into the game and know what you want.” Eleanor dug deep to identify her motivation in dating. Did she want a life partner? Did she want companionship? What kind of person was she looking for? She recognized that she thrived in a committed relationship and that chemistry was a critical ingredient to that. She set about finding love and in doing so avoided negative talk from people bemoaning the lack of good men. “I steered clear of that. I wanted to be in a positive frame of mind. “It only takes one.” “I found it was apparent within the first few minutes whether I was going to be interested in someone. There’s either a physical attraction or there isn’t. I’d also consider how I’d feel within myself. Am I my best self with this person or does my energy go down?” Eleanor has met a man with whom she shares chemistry and deepening feelings. They’ve been dating for a year and both have removed their online profiles.
The Perils From the beginning of her dating year, Alana was careful. She researched potential dates as much as possible and made it almost impossible for strangers to find her online.
She met her dates in public places, and usually walked to them so that, in the event she met a creep, he couldn’t track down via her licence plate. Her dates never came to her home. Victoria dating coach Lynn Goodacre says Alana was wise to be cautious. Goodacre advises her clients to ensure their physical, financial and emotional safety by meeting dates in a public place and be sure to tell a friend where they will be. Whether you’re meeting people online or in the produce department of your grocery store, know what you’re getting in to and resist revealing too much about yourself until you have confidence in the integrity of your date. “Trust your intuition, if things seem off,” says Goodacre.
What’s Changed The dating landscape can be a foreign land for anyone who has been absent from it for decades, but for men, it can be especially confounding. “Men are often really confused,” says Goodacre. The rules of dating for many in their younger years were that they ask a woman on a date and then foot the bill. Many women still appreciate that, but not all. “Some women are offended and triggered,” when a man presumes to pay for a date, says Goodacre. He should know he wasn’t wrong to offer to pay. Chances are he’s encountered a woman who’s used to calling the shots. “Many women in the corporate world lose their femininity,” she says. “They’re used to being in control.”
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But that fear of not getting it right causes many men to back away from dating altogether.
Getting Started Online dating is huge, whatever your age; in part, because it exposes you to more people than you would ever be likely to meet under in-person circumstances. Still, it’s not the only way to enter the dating world. Like the dating advice of old, joining groups and organizations of people with like interests remains a way to meet people. It may be slower, in that the motive of dating is not clear, but there’s a very good chance the people you do meet will have shared interests. Many towns and cities have Meetup groups where people can explore and share interests. Whether photography, golf, cycling, writing, wine, art – you name it – there is likely a Meetup group in that field. If not, consider starting one. Before taking the dating plunge, Goodacre recommends a self-inventory to clarify your goals. Do you want to meet people for occasional outings or are you looking for a committed relationship? Do you want to live alone or do you thrive when you share a home? Do you want to share your life or your weekends?
Stuff to Know When You Start Dating Getting Started: Clarify your goals. Do you want to share your life or just Tuesday night at the movies? Knowing what you want from dating will help you connect with people with like objectives. Where to meet people: Online dating sites are huge and accessible. But if virtual meetings aren’t for you consider Meetup groups, clubs and singles dinners or social clubs. Say “yes” when a friend suggests you meet someone they think will be compatible.
Before you listen to the wrong advice about hearing aids, come see us first!
Rejection: It may sting like it did when you were a teenager, but hang onto yourself. You’ve been okay in your skin ’til now. There’s no explaining chemistry. Square your shoulders and move on. You’re okay.
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Safety: For the first two or three dates, always meet in a public place. Tell a friend where you’re going. Don’t reveal your home address and, if you’re dating online, set up a new email account for the purpose. If you don’t like or trust someone’s behaviour within the first 20 minutes, say goodbye. If someone asks you for money, no matter how sincere or compelling his or her story, do not respond. Sex: Use condoms. They are a barrier to the STDs on the rise among seniors. To be ultra-sure of your safety, ask your partner to be tested for STDs. If he/she is reluctant, consider that a red flag you’ll be glad you saw.
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Identify the qualities you want in a potential partner, but Goodacre says don’t stick to your criteria so rigidly that you write off someone who might be a great match. When you start dating, bring the sensibilities you’ve established over 60 or more years to the table. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t invest more than 20 minutes of your time on someone. Move on.
Sex Today’s seniors aren’t retiring to the rocking chair. They’re mostly healthy, active and sexual. They’re also getting sexually transmitted diseases. Boomers and beyond are extending their sex lives, in part thanks to Cialis, Viagra, and estrogen products. An American study revealed that more than half of people 65 to 74 and one quarter of those 75 to 85 are still getting it on. These are generations for whom the condom freed them from the worry of unplanned pregnancy. In older age, they aren’t looking for protection. But they should be. STDs like chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea and syphilis are on the rise among older adults. It may be unromantic and it’s definitely unspontaneous, but if sex looks like a possibility, Goodacre recommends your potential partner be tested for STDs and share their results.
If they refuse, consider yourself having had a lucky escape.
Rejection Ouch. It doesn’t matter your age. Rejection hurts. Angeline was bewildered when she received the cold shoulder following a night of dancing and conversation. When there was no follow-up date, she contacted him to ask what had gone wrong. He was blunt and told her that, for him, there was no chemistry. She was stung, but appreciated being told. Chemistry. Goodacre describes it as a dog whistle that only dogs hear. If you’re not on the same frequency, it can’t be forced. It’s just chemistry and not about you. Stepping into the dating world after decades of absence takes courage. You may or may not find what you’re seeking, but at the very least, you’ll meet new people. If something more should happen, well, that’s magic. SL Names of those who shared their dating stories have been changed at their request. Gery Lemon is a Victoria journalist and communications consultant who specializes in seniors’ issues and interests.
LOCATIONS ACROSS BC, ALBERTA & QUEBEC BC LOWER MAINLAND Auburn Retirement Residences Dufferin Care Centre Guildford Seniors Village Langley Seniors Village Maple Ridge Seniors Village Peace Portal Seniors Village Renfrew Care Centre Rosemary Heights Seniors Village The Terraces on 7th Waverly Seniors Village White Rock Seniors Village
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Raison d’etre
Passion The Power of
STORY AND PHOTO BY ANGELA WIRTZ JUNKER
T
o watch Arlene Van den Berg dance is to watch poetry of the body in movement. Sensual and mesmerizing, it is as if her hips have a life of their own, responding to the rhythm of ancient drum beats; slowly, quickly, slowly again, in a dance as old as time. Her body interprets the rhythms, tells a story, all the while exalting the female form, leaving the watcher believing she creates the music – not simply dances to it. Arlene is a professional belly dancer and instructor, and a two-time breast cancer survivor. If losing a breast and undergoing reconstructive surgery has made her feel any less sensual or capable, she is quick to assure it has done nothing of the sort. Dancing has been a part of her life for four decades, and nothing, not even cancer, will keep Arlene from doing what she has spent a lifetime feeling passionate about. “I love doing this. I will keep going until I can’t,” she says with a brilliant smile. Her love affair with belly dance began at 19. Long before the dancing began, however, music had already been an important fixture in her life, beginning at age six with accordion training. After that, it was snare drum in a marching band. “Music has always been a part of my life. I really can’t remember a time when it wasn’t,” says Arlene. “I just have always had this deep affinity for music.” That proclivity pushed her into her next direction – dance. Without any prior training, she decided she wanted to join a studio and learn something. Anything. She thumbed through the yellow pages looking for dance studios, and what she found changed her life.
Belly dancer Arlene Van den Berg.
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When she saw the advertisements for belly dance, it caught her eye. “I thought it sounded good. I went to class and saw the ladies in costume, and my mouth just dropped,” she reminisces. “It was love at first sight.” She decided to try the classes, and a great love affair began. “I was very shy, I just wanted something to do for fitness, I never thought of doing this professionally,” she laughs. Yet that is precisely what happened. Dance lessons eventually gave way to performing for private birthday parties and evening events in restaurants, with her instructor mentoring her along the way. “My first performance by myself was at a student show and I was petrified,” she laughs. Arlene remembered wearing the coin bra, belt, and flowing skirts and even though she was scared, something definitely ignited within her. Her instructor saw it, too; saw something in the young Arlene and convinced her to dance professionally, teaching her everything she knew. The love of the dance and this art form was honed over time. “It really was an embracing of the customs and traditions, which made me feel better about my body and being a woman,” she says. Eventually, Arlene became an instructor in her own right, enjoying teaching, and watching her students come as beginners and develop their own love for the art and grow in it. She performed in shows, attended con-
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ventions, and travelled to Egypt several times, all for the love of the dance. But her journey in dance stammered in October 2009 when a mammogram revealed a mass in one breast. She embarked on a treatment of four rounds of chemotherapy, following a lumpectomy, and then radiation. Through it all – the pain, the nausea, and the mental battles – she kept dancing. It was something she refused to give up. “I wanted to do it because dancing is my happy spot. Being surrounded by positive things helped, and seeing the smiles on my students’ faces at the beginning of class just made me forget for a while what was going on. I was mad at this thing, very mad, but it wasn’t going to take away my dancing,” she says firmly. With the last round of chemotherapy behind her, Arlene embarked on her new lease on life, dancing and teaching full time and getting into the (hip) swing of things again. Sadly, her recovery lasted only three years, when the cancer returned to the same breast, forcing a mastectomy, and another round of chemo and radiation. “I was devastated. As a woman, your breasts are a part of you. They are part of your womanhood.” As a professional dancer with a career that celebrates womanhood, Arlene’s breast removal was a difficult process. But she was determined, however, to fight with everything she had to move beyond the experience, and revel in her cherished womanhood again. As soon as she was well enough, she was dancing, teaching, and letting the music heal her. As it did in her childhood, music took a central role in her life. “I am feeling great now, feeling beautiful,” she says with that same brilliant smile. “I truly feel at my best. And when I’m dancing, I feel happy.” A passion for belly dance that has spanned most of her life shows no sign of diminishing. At 59, she continues to move beautifully and sensually, telling the story of a woman – powerfully. SL
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Our 60th Anniversary serving the needs of physically disabled throughout B.C. Our Mission is to help fund & support organizations and individuals facing challenges, and improve quality of life and independence.
Help us to help others! Our Accomplishments include: •Technology for independent living •Noble House •Education programs •Support of Ronald McDonald House And, we are “Calling All kin” as well!
Please support our programs! Learn more, and donate at: www.goingstrong.ca Thank you for 60 years of support!! We have a variety of ways that you can help!! For more info, Email: kinsmenfoundationofbc@shaw.ca WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Travel
o G Guided
BY KATE ROBERTSON
Hosted Travel Tours
T
he Greek fabulist, Aesop, said “travel is worthwhile,” and nobody understands this better than Collette, a familyowned business that offers guided tours to all seven continents. Collette has been offering travel tours since 1918, making it the oldest tour operator in North America. According to Ryan Mikucki, Director for Canadian Sales, “We target the ‘ageless’ traveller, and our average traveller is anywhere between 45-75 years of age, but typically, they are 55+.” This matching demographic is the reason that Collette and INSPIRED Senior Living started partnering in 2014 to offer hosted trips, led by regional celebrities who are passionate about travel. In June 2016, former Global BCTV anchor Deborra Hope and her husband, Roger, hosted a 14-day river cruise aboard the Amadeus, travelling from Amsterdam to Budapest, passing through Germany, Austria and Slovakia. “On our first morning, our local guide led us on a walking tour, then a canal tour,” says Deborra. “There are 500 bridges in Amsterdam, so the canal system goes on and on. What a great start!” It can be difficult on a trip with so many interesting destinations to pick favourites, especially as it was their first taste of Europe, but with some thought, Deborra admits that both she and Roger loved Vienna, especially Hofburg Palace, the Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. “I also really enjoyed the small towns in Germany,” says Roger. “I had never heard of most of them before and, honestly, I didn’t expect much. But what I found was a small-village feel, minus all the hustle and bustle of the larger tourist cities. Riding my bike (provided by the tour company) through these places was relaxing 20 22 18
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
and fun, with a little shopping thrown in! I felt,” he says, “that I got to know the local people.” This cultural immersion is exactly Collette’s aim. Mikucki says Collette has more inclusions and is less option driven – they include what they feel are the “must sees” and “must dos.” Hotels are centrally located and local restaurants are chosen to provide the real “flavour” of a destination. Deborra and Roger had been on an ocean cruise in the past, but both preferred the river cruise because there were no choppy seas to contend with and, compared to the massive ocean liner they were on, the Amadeus riverboat was smaller and more intimate. Deborra says she particularly appreciated sitting down to meals on the trip and learning things from the tour participants who were from all over the world. “Half the fun is the people you’re with. And what’s more,” she adds, “we were all there for the same reasons – to explore new places and make new friends.” This is the second trip Deborra and Roger have hosted for Collette Travel and INSPIRED Senior Living. The first was to Ireland last year. “What’s really surprised me about hosting is that it doesn’t feel like hosting, but rather like making new friends while having a great time,” says Deborra. “The riverboat turned into a big family while we were on the water,” she continues, “and the Amadeus crew and Collette did such a fine job. Whenever you’re on the water, there are always situations that arise and they were met and dealt with expertly.” Vicki Gabereau, former CBC radio host and television person-
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INSPIRED Senior Living presents... April - May Personality 5, 2017 Join TV24 & Radio
Vicki Gabereau
Book Now & Save $
200
Per Person
JUNE 10th - 25th 2016 16 Days • 41 Meals
Join TV News Personality Deborra Hope*
Southern Italy & Sicily E arly Bir
dP
ric•in17gMeals En2017 ds Jan | 12 April 24 - May 5, 31 st 2Days 01 featuring Taormina, Alberobello and the Amalfi Coast
This page: Scenic shot of Budapest. Opposite page: the Amadeus on the Danube River (far left) and Deborra Hope cycling through Regensberg, Germany. Photos: Roger Hope
ality, recently hosted a 12-day tour of England for Collette, which started in London and meandered through famous regions like York, Bath, Liverpool, Stonehenge, Cornwall and the Yorkshire moors. Vicki agrees with Deborra that a fun part of the trip was getting to know so many different people. “There were farmers who knew everything about the sheep breeds we kept seeing, and some people encountered relatives they either had never met or had not seen for decades. It was invigorating to see the reunions,” says Vicki. “We also had the world’s funniest bus driver, who was from East London and was such a character. Our guide, Curtis, an American, was a great foil. These two front-end-of-the-bus controllers were a great act!” For Vicki, stand-out locations in England were the Yorkshire moors and the Lake District. “Grasmere, Windermere… all the neighbourhoods of Wordsworth. They were also, on occasion, the home to Beatrix Potter. So beautiful and intoxicating,” she recalls. “Cornwall was also extraordinary in its landscape and history – the whole country is full of it – and St. Michael’s is worth the entire trip.” When asked what it is about travel that she likes so much, Vicki thoughtfully responds, “I love imagining what it would be like to live in the location or have been part of its history. I could have lived in Bath 300 years ago, and pretty well had the same views of the town as today. Except, of course, for the probable death in childbirth, it is intriguing!” Group touring versus individual travel definitely comes with benefits. “Going in a group takes the responsibility off one’s shoulders,” says Vicki. “You know where you are going and when
6 Highlights: Palermo, Monreale, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples, Giardini Naxos, Taormina, Catania, Mt. Etna Volcano, Matera, Alberobello, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii
Highlights: Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Glass Museum, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, 8th 2th T5 PT EC SO Bratislava,TBudapest, KKII--Evening VVIC E IC E M T & E E T & M Cruise, Folklore tionn.. HTBudapest FO NIG IGH locaShow
Y IN O N meeaannddlocatio LLAAN forrtitim NGGLLEEY INF -532-0550077fo 4 -0 0 2 6 3 to -5 4 P 0 VP to 6 RRSSV
Space releaSed
All remaining cabins are first come, first served
Regular Rates: Lower Outside Cabin Rates: Double $6,899 CAD Middle Outside CabinDouble Rates: - Cdn $4,999 $4,799* Double $7,424 CAD Single - Cdn $5,469 $5,269 Upper Outside Cabin Rates: Triple - Cdn $4,969 $4,769* Double $7,829 CAD in Price: Round Trip Air from Vancouver Intl AirSuite Cabin Rates:Included port, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $630 per person Double $9,454 (subject CAD to increase until paid in full),Hotel Transfers. Not Included in Price: included in price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of Round Trip Air from Vancouver Intl Airport, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges $350 per person.ofRound Trip Air from Victoria Interna$540 per person (subject to increase until paidtional in full), Hotel Transfers Airport available, please add $130 per person to * All Rates are Per Person and are subject change rates thetoabove
* AllatRates are Per Person and are subject to change, **This tour was priced in USD and converted to CDN a $1.20 exchange.
based on air inclusive package from YVR*All Rates are Per ***Price is locked in against any currency fluctuation. Person and subject to change.
Call CallYour YourLocal Local Marlin Marlin Travel Travel for for Reservations: Reservations:
Broadmead Village • Oak Bay 250-370-1222 Broadmead Village250-383-5414 250-383-5414 • Oak Bay 250-370-1222 Place 250-383-6101 Cadboro Bay250-383-6101 250-595-1181 • •Sussex Sussex Place Westshore 250-478-1113 • Sidney 250-656-5561 • Duncan 250-748-2594 Westshore 250-478-1113 Sidney 250-656-5561 • Duncan 250-748-2594 Ladysmith 250-245-7114 •• Nanaimo Ladysmith 250-245-7114 Nanaimo250-758-3924 250-758-3924 604-532-0507 Parksville 250-248-2041 • Parksville 250-248-2041 • Langley Kelowna 250-868-2540 West Kelowna 250-768-6875 Kelowna 250-868-2540 Langley •604-532-0507
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*with a minimum of 15 passengers traveling
SEPTEMBER 2016
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and if you opt out of the ‘mob’ travel, you can putter around on your own and meet up with the gang later.” The next tour collaboration between INSPIRED Senior Living and Collette is a 12-day tour that will explore the hidden treasures of southern Italy and Sicily, taking place in late April 2017, with Vicki Gabereau hosting once again. SL For more information, visit: www.gocollette.com
10 Great Reasons to Go Guided 1. Camaraderie 2. Less time wasted planning and negotiating 3. Less out-of-pocket expense 4. Cost of trip is known in advance 5. Protection against currency fluctuations 6. Unique experiences most travellers wouldn’t even know about 7. Avoid waiting in lines 8. Reliable sightseeing planned by experts in the area 9. No driving or maps needed 10. A stress-free, no-worry vacation England's Treasures
RMU_SLMagazineHalfPage_OL.ai
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1
2016-08-25
11:44 Tour AM – St. Paul's
Cathedral, London. Photo: Collette
Provided by Collette Travel’s Director for Sales in Canada Ryan Mikucki.
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Sponsored by HUMN Pharmaceuticals
Menthol: Nature’s Pain Reliever Haidita Celestine In Natural History, published 77-79 AD, Pliny the Elder identified over 60 medicinal applications for mint. Chewed and applied topically, he reported that mint leaves were useful as a remedy for elephantiasis, lumbago, gout, scrofula, headache, all eruptions of the head, and maladies of the rectum.
He claims that the smell alone reanimates the spirits and, if bound into a crown around the head, it stimulates the mind and soul. As a juice, it will prevent the recurrence of lascivious dreams – although he points out that others believe
exactly the opposite on this point.
At Humn Pharmaceuticals, we know that all of these claims would never be proven by today’s standards of scientific rigor; but clearly opinion leaders have recognized the medicinal value of mint for millennia. TPR20 Pain Relief Cream combines Menthol, from the Mint plant, with the local analgesic Lidocaine to create a unique pain relief product. Rowan Hamilton, research director of Humn Pharmaceuticals of Winnipeg says “the major reason for the
success of TPR20 is the combination of these two active ingredients working together”. Menthol is increasingly recognized as one of nature’s most effective pain relievers. When menthol is applied topically, ‘ligand’ molecules attach to cell receptors reducing the perception of pain. Menthol also triggers a widening of blood vessels that enhances the absorption of the lidocaine in TPR20.
The discomfort of inflammation is also targeted by Menthol by stimulating temperature receptors in the skin. This delivers a sensation
that our bodies interpret as cold, thus relieving the uncomfortable inflamed sensation. The combination of Lidocaine and Menthol in TPR20 ensures that the ‘whole is greater than the sum of the parts.’ Two analgesic compounds, working on different elements of pain relief, complement each other to create the unique benefit and versatility of TPR20. We won’t claim though that TPR20 will help manage your dreams, unless of course you are dreaming of pain relief.
It’s only human to suffer the pains of age. And to stoically smile despite it. An acceptable penalty for days lived. In tribute to youth gone. Then there’s that other human reaction. Make the freaking pain go away.
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DIN #02309076
SEPTEMBER 2016
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VANCOUVER
September 22nd 2016
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
The Forum @ the PNE
9am - 3pm
2901 E Hastings St.
Vancouver BC
Special Guest Appearances by Pamela Martin, Jackson Davies and Vicki Gabereau
9:00 AM - SHOW OPENS 9:45 AM - Cheese Making Demo Meet our Sponsors Sparkling Hill Resort and G&F Financial 10:30 AM - Fashion Show by Bellissima Meet our Sponsors Scotiabank and Accent Inns 11:00 AM - Jackson Davies 11:15 AM - Collette Vacations with Jackson Davies 11:30 AM - Freedom 95 - playing hits from the 50s to present NOON - Shoe and Jewellery Show with Vicki Gabereau & Pamela Martin
A fabulous day filled with fun, fashion and fantastic prizes. • Information & activities offered by over 90 exhibitors • Make-overs, massages, manicures and more • Fashion Presentations by Bellissima, Sarah Pacini, French Sole, and VG Shoes • Toe-tapping, top music hits from the 50s to present day by Freedom 95 • Win a chance to enjoy a 3 day “Winter Celebration” package for two from Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and other prizes.
Meet our Sponsors Sparkling Hill Resort & Eldercare Foundation 12:30 PM - Pamela Martin 12:50 PM - Freedom 55 (2nd set) 1:20 PM - INSPIRED Senior Living Reader Make-Over Presentation 1:30 PM - Fashion Show by Sarah Pacini and French Sole Shoes Meet our Sponsors Sparkling Hill Resort & Roam Mobility 2:00 PM - Collette Vacations with Vicki Gabereau & Pamela Martin 2:45 PM - Prize Draws
Can you help tell more people about this show? Newsletters, clubs, social and activity groups, church, coffee shops, gyms, etc. Let us know how you’ve helped spread the word and we’ll enter you to win 1 of 25 complimentary tickets!
Tick et e Tick t $8 Admission At the door.
FINAL OPPORTUNITY - ALMOST SOLD OUT
Exhibit Booths and Sponsorships Still Available. Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your products and services to the rapidly growing 55+ consumer demographic. www.55pluslifestyle.com vanshow@seniorlivingmag.com 250 479 4705 ext 103 OUR THANKS TO THESE GENEROUS SPONSORS
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INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
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Get
Inspired!
BY BARBARA RISTO
O
ur annual 55+ Lifestyle Show in Vancouver is getting ready to pop with a jam-packed lineup of presentations, exhibitors, a marketplace, and a star-studded cast of well-known Vancouver personalities to entertain you the whole day. Today’s 55+ cohort is dynamically involved in the pursuit of a lifestyle that promotes health, adventure, connection and learning. At our show, you can expect to find products and services ranging from leisure, travel and technology to housing, wellness and finance. We’ve gathered together a suite of exhibitors who will engage, educate, entertain and enthuse. Below is just a sampling. Whether you are a globetrotter or armchair traveller, you’ll be inspired by the offerings of no less than five travel companies. Experience the world with ease through the competent planning of tour operators who MC Pat Nicol. can take you to every corner of our marvelous planet. For those who want to stay closer to home, the luxurious Sparkling Hill Resort and Spa in the Okanagan offers their “Stay Young & Healthy for 55+” Wellness Package to minimize aging and promote optimal health. Be sure to catch their presentations (10:25am, 12:25pm and 1:55pm) or stop by their booth to find out how you can increase your quality of life with this sensational seven-day getaway. Turning to finances, we’re honoured to have two wellrespected companies as sponsors: In business since 1940, G&F Financial Group is now the ninth largest and one of the fastest growing credit unions in BC with 13 branches in seven Vancouver area municipalities. They offer a full range of personal and business banking solutions, tailored uniquely for each member. Their passion lies in educating and empowering clients to achieve their financial goals. Catch their stage presentation at 10:25 am. Scotiabank representatives Alex Aragon and Mark Juricic are experienced investment advisors who can help create a
financial plan that reflects your goals. If you have any questions regarding cash flow, retirement, tax efficiencies or investment planning, they have common sense advice to enhance your financial well-being. Scotiabank will be presenting on stage at 10:55 am. Technology has found its way into almost every aspect of our lives. Combine your love of travel with a prepaid travel SIM card from our sponsor Roam Mobility. Plans range from daily to monthly with talk, text and data service. Roam’s most popular plan, the Snowbird Plan, is designed especially for the millions of Canadian Snowbirds who spend up to six months of the year living in the USA. Christian Paul, co-founder of Roam Mobility will be on hand to explain how you can eliminate those dreaded roaming charges. Catch his presentation at 1:55 pm. Pat Nichol, our popular Courageous & Outrageous columnist, will bring her trademark enthusiasm and elegance to the stage as Master of Ceremonies, as she has done at many of our past shows. We’re excited to have three well-known personalities join us at this year’s show to talk about their lives after 55: Vicki Gabereau, Jackson Davies and Pamela Martin. And get details on tours they are hosting in 2017 to Italy, Scotland and Iceland, respectively, for Collette Vacations in partnership with INSPIRED Senior Living. Vicki, a retired radio and TV show host, will bring her trademark humour as she showcases VG Shoes, a fashion venture she embarked upon after leaving show business. Jackson Davies, best known for his RCMP role on The Beachcombers, will talk about his on-going acting career and, more recently, as an educator at SFU. Pamela Martin will share how she retired as a news anchor and gave voice to representing women within government. Capture today’s trends in your wardrobe with three fashion presentations featuring apparel by Bellissima and Sarah Pacini, and footwear by French Sole and VG Shoes.
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SEPTEMBER 2016
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INSPIRED Senior Living presents...
Photo: Geoff Robson
Join Vicki Gabereau
SouthernJUNE Italy & Sicily 10 - 25 2016
Musical guest Freedom 95.
th
featuring Taormina, Alberobello the Amalfi Coast 16 Days • and 41 Meals
April 24 - May 5, 2017 | 12 Days Join TV News Personality Deborra Hope*
Davies EJoin arlJackson y Bird P ricing Ends Ja n 31 20 1 st
6
Highlights: Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Glass Museum, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Aug 10, 2017 Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Evening Budapest Cruise, Folklore Show
Discover Scotland July 30 -
Join Pamela Martin Space releaSed All remaining cabins are first come, first served Regular Rates:
Photo: Jay Shaw
Lower Outside Cabin Rates: Double $6,899 CAD Middle Outside Cabin Rates: Double $7,424 CAD Upper Outside Cabin Rates: Double $7,829 CAD Suite Cabin Rates: Double $9,454 CAD
Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights
Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Vancouver Intl Airport, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $540 per person (subject to increase until paid in full), Hotel Transfers
Nov 21-27, 2017
* All Rates are Per Person and are subject to change
**This tour was priced in USD and converted to CDN at a $1.20 exchange. ***Price is locked in against any currency fluctuation. www.seniorlivingmag.com/2017tours
Call Your Local LocalMarlin MarlinTravel Travelfor forReservations: Reservations: Call Your
Broadmead Village 250-383-5414 •• Oak Broadmead Village 250-383-5414 OakBay Bay250-370-1222 250-370-1222 • Westshore Sussex Place250-478-1113 250-383-6101 Cadboro Bay 250-595-1181 • Sussex Place 250-383-6101 • Sidney •250-656-5561 • Duncan 250-748-2594 WestshoreSidney 250-478-1113 250-656-5561 Duncan 250-748-2594 Ladysmith 250-245-7114••Nanaimo Nanaimo 250-758-3924 Ladysmith 250-245-7114 250-758-3924 Parksville 250-248-2041 • Langley 604-532-0507 Parksville 250-248-2041 • Kelowna 250-868-2540 Kelowna 250-868-2540 • West Kelowna 250-768-6875 Langley 604-532-0507
*with a minimum of 15 passengers traveling
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INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
At our make-over station, Hana Akai of Akai Hair Design puts the final hair and makeup touches on three lucky INSPIRED Senior Living readers. “Freedom 95” takes the stage twice, offering a unique and refreshing style of top hits from the ’50s to present day. The band is made up of four seasoned musicians that together and as solo acts have performed in most of Metro Vancouver’s top live music venues. Put your entry ticket into the draw for an all-expense paid three-day Winter Celebration getaway at the magnificent Fairmont Chateau Whistler, where you’ll have fun, foster new friendships and be spoiled with engaging service, great accommodation and delicious food. If you have out-of-town guests, or plan to travel to Victoria, Nanaimo or Kelowna, Accent Inns is a privately owned hotel that goes the extra mile in service and smiles. We’re pleased to have them as a sponsor for the show. And finally, we wish to acknowledge the support of the Eldercare Foundation. This BC charity raises and manages funds dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults. Their efforts provide specialized equipment, home-like enhancements, community support, research and education. It has been an honour to partner with Eldercare Foundation for over 10 years, since our very first event. Mark your calendar to join us from 9 am to 3 pm on Thursday, September 22nd at The Forum on the Car Parking ahead __ PNE Grounds at HastEnter Here ings Park. City transit The Forum stops outside the main @ The PNE gate near the corner of Renfrew and East 2901 E Hastings St Vancouver BC Hastings, less than a minute walk away. There’s also parking on the grounds, with an easy walk to the entrance of The Forum. We look forward to East Hastings Street seeing you there! SL
Renfrew Street
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Stay Young & Healthy Sparkling Hill Resort is North America’s leading European health resort, located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. With an unparalleled setting situated on top of a granite hilltop overlooking the vast Lake Okanagan and the Monashee Mountains, the 149 room wellness resort will inspire and introduce guests to a whole new meaning of whole body wellness. Relax and rejuvenate at Sparkling Hill Resort with one of our weeklong wellness packages. With over 100 treatments offered in our 40,000 sq.ft. European-inspired KurSpa and luxury accommodation, we provide an unforgettable wellness experience. See us at the 55+ Lifestyle Show in Vancouver on September 22nd.
Okanagan Valley, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
1.877.275.1556
www.sparklinghill.com
LO N G -T E R M C A R E A S S I ST E D L I V I N G INDEPENDENT LIVING
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SEPTEMBER 2016
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Trending
Escape Rooms
The author follows clues in an attempt to make her escape at Horror Escape.
I
f you are looking for a fun, new, challenging experience in Victoria, check out “Escape Rooms.” What is an Escape Room? Professor Scott Nicholson of the Human and Social Sciences at Wilfred Laurier University in Brampton, Ontario describes it as a “team-based challenge; working together with a group of people to find hidden objects and clues to solve puzzles and accomplish tasks in order to get out of a space in a limited amount of time.” Nicholson, who studies escape rooms, teaches the game design and development programme at Laurier. The games, which are set in a variety of fictional locations, are gaining traction as increasingly popular team-building exercises. These adventure facilities originated in 2006 in Silicon Valley and took hold in Japan in 2008. Now, this fun form of activity is cropping up in Victoria. There are currently three businesses in the capital city – Epic Escape was the first on the scene in April 2015, followed in July 2015 by Horror Escape and, in March 2016, Victoria Escape Games opened its doors. In early March, I was invited to join a group attending the pre-opening of Victoria Escape Games. Off I went with some
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY DIANE MADSON
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
trepidation of this new experience, of which I had very little knowledge, at the time. Due to the nature of these businesses, I cannot describe the set up in the room as not to divulge too many clues. (Permission was granted to publish the two photographs contained in this article.) As for my contribution to this “group challenge,” let’s just say it was minimal. Thankfully, human nature being as it is, my pride and curiosity were piqued by my performance, and I am determined to learn more and perform more intelligently next time! Victoria Escape Games owner Derek Madson became interested in escape rooms after he “played at Epic [Escape] and loved it!” He further says that he “loves games – mind games.” On this topic, Madson referred me to a quote on the company’s website: “The human brain has evolved as a problem-solving engine. We build in numerous intellectual challenges that are intensely satisfying and run the gamut from basic reasoning to learning history.” And further, “For several decades since computers became a household item, virtual reality was highly exciting. Now – somewhat mundane.” Thus, many fans of escape rooms are finding interactive “real world” experiences are far more enticing!
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Victoria Escape Games is air conditioned, spacious and never scary, and can accommodate “all ages, including families – children of school age and up.” Horror Escape owner Derek Lovell comes from a background of interior design and has a “passion for creating environments for people to experience and enjoy.” He endeavoured “to enhance the indoor activities in Victoria.” Horror Escape is available to all people and all ages, and is family entertainment on most occasions (“only scary on certain nights”). Lovell invited me and a partner to play the room. Whoa! Another venture of challenging myself – could I do better? Unfortunately, I was not able to fit in a full game, but I did have a mini-introduction. Now, how do I unlock this door? And, if I do, what mysteries await? Horror Escape “updates regularly” and “changes sets frequently.”
Team members collaborate in an escape room at Victoria Escape Games.
Epic Escape, owned by Chris White, was introduced to the concept by his best friend in Winnipeg, who had opened a room there. Looking beyond the game play, he encouraged White to explore it as a business opportunity. Following up on his friend’s advice, White secured a location in Bastion Square. He sees the escape room experience for participants as a “great way to meet people, get out and about and communicate.” Due to the nature of the activities of escape rooms, revealing game details would compromise the experience for players. One has to experience the experience first-hand. Families, co-workers, strangers and multi-generational players, who may not otherwise have a chance to meet, work together towards a common objective. So, if you are ready to face a new and exciting challenge in Victoria, check out escape rooms! SL
Say Good Bye to Dentures, Say Hello to Teeth in One Day!
I
f you are currently wearing dentures, or have failing teeth and may need dentures in the near future, you could be a candidate for Teeth in One Day. The procedure involves the placement of 4 dental implants to secure the fixed teeth on top. Implants act as a foundation for the placement of a fixed set of natural looking teeth. Non-removable teeth are fixed permanently on 4 implants, making All-on-4 a financially reasonable, stable, and reliable solution for patients with missing teeth. Countless patients, who may not have been candidates for implants in the past, have recently undergone this treatment due to it requiring less bone which helps avoid major bone grafting procedures, which drastically speeds up treatment. Unlike dentures, dental implants are a permanent set of teeth that look and feel natural. That means they are brushed and cleaned like natural teeth. They do not have to be taken out and cleaned each night, and you can use them to bite with increased force, so you can eat all of your favorite foods. The best part is that all this can be achieved in ONE DAY! And you will be able to go home with a new, natural beautiful smile. In fact many patients feel that their new teeth are more beautiful than their permanent teeth ever were! If you are currently wearing dentures, or have failing teeth and may need dentures in the near future, you could be a candidate for Teeth in One Day. The procedure involves the placement of 4 dental implants to se-cure the fixed teeth on top. Implants act as a foundation for the placement of a fixed set of natural looking teeth. Non-removable teeth are fixed permanently on 4 implants, making All-on-4 a financially reasonable, stable, and reliable solution for patients with missing teeth. Countless patients, who may not have been candidates for implants in the past, have recently undergone this treatment due to it requiring less bone which helps avoid major bone grafting procedures, which drastically speeds up treatment. Unlike dentures, dental implants are a per-manent set of teeth that look and feel natural. That means they are brushed and cleaned like natural teeth. They do not have to be taken out and cleaned each night, and you can use them to bite with increased force, so you can eat all of your favorite foods. The best part is that all this can be achieved in ONE DAY! And you will be able to go home with a new, natural beautiful smile. In fact many patients feel that their new teeth are more beautiful than their permanent teeth ever were!
Call us Today!
Vancouver 604-872-0222 Coquitlam 604-936-8244
For more information and links to access escape rooms in Victoria, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/escape-rooms WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
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SEPTEMBER 2016
31
Channelling
Europe
BY LORRAINE BRETT
Celebrate Sport! September 20-24, 2016
The Coquitlam 2016 55+ BC Games will host over 3200 athletes competing in 22 events! This annual provincial event showcases the outstanding athleticism of BC competitors 55+ and promotes the benefits of leading an active, healthy lifestyle. Witness the excitement of this year’s Games! You’re invited to the Opening Ceremony at 7pm Sept. 21, Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex, 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam. See you there!
55plusgames.ca 32 30
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
S
Sarah Pacini Fashions
ixty-three years after Roman Holiday afforded Audrey Hepburn her first Oscar and set the gamine young British actress on a course to become one of Hollywood’s screen legends and a 20th Century style icon, the famed Hepburn silhouette is back. A selection of European fashion retailers recently opened their doors in the Village at Park Royal in West Vancouver to unveil fall lines with a clear nod to the Givenchy couture we identify with Hepburn. Sarah Pacini, an Italian line with 75 stores around the globe but only one in Western Canada uses the word “architectural” to describe its timeless appeal. Layers of artisan quality knitwear are also a defining element as is a sumptuous collection of shoes and jewellery. Terri Howie, manager of the new Sarah Pacini’s store, sees their 20 years of global success as a testament to the ability to
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deliver timeless, investment pieces, “that make any woman feel and look feminine and beautiful.” Sarah Pacini’s offers sizing from 6-16. Caposhie’s, also at the Village at Park Royal, is focused on the Boomer consumer, both male and female, and while they create their own new Canadian designs, they likewise offer a selection of European designers, as General Manager Natalie Kostenko explains. “Baby Boomers are retiring and starting a new chapter in their lives, but that doesn’t mean they are looking to dress any less stylishly. We want to provide clothing that is stylish, classic and on trend,” says Kostenko. Caposhie’s comfortable European lines include Part 2 and Kaffe from Copenhagen, with unique pieces sized from 2-14 and priced from $40-$300. For fall, Part 2 delivers a capsule collection of their top-selling sweaters, each one representing a specific year of their 30 years of fashion success. For the Boomer man, Caposhie delivers two great local designers: Du/er Jeans and MyPakage. “It’s comfort!” proclaims BC’s preeminent fashion retail entrepreneur and founder of Bellissima Fashions, Serena Kwei. A 41-year veteran of the BC fashion industry, Kwei takes exception to Vogue Editor Anna Wintour’s comment from the floor of New York’s Fashion Week last year, when she was captured on video saying, “Trend is a nasty word.” “THE trend – is comfort!” Serena repeats emphatically. And she ought to know. After years of dressing women for Howe St. board rooms, she now sees her customers choosing comfort, whether for business or for casual. Kwei has 22 stores across BC and Alberta, including one at Park Royal in West Vancouver and has travelled often to the exciting catwalks of London, Paris and Milan. She counts two private labels (including the Vivian Wong label), and an exclusive store, Bellessa, at Oakridge Mall in Vancouver, as part of her expanding retail industry in Canada. When asked about the slim pant and ballet flats à la Audrey Hepburn, Kwei says, “as long as women want them they will be around.” The “Queen of Ballet Flats” could hardly agree more. Jane Winkworth, who Vogue attributes with transforming the ballet flat into a style classic, began her hand-made collection in 1968, when Audrey Hepburn’s appeal was at its zenith. She now sells her luxurious, comfortable line globally in 400 locations, including her first-ever Canadian store, French Sole at the Village at Park Royal. French Sole Manager Carol Blucher says, “This fall, look for a continuance of the extra-long boot and the square heels of the ’70s.” And, she continues, “‘Alpine’ is our new Après Ski look. You’ll see ski-boot fastenings, fur and embroidered trims and Alpine motifs on everything.” For clothing, Bellisima’s Kwei says, “Look to European influence this fall for asymmetrical hemlines for both dresses and tops. Most significantly, look for the unique couture-influenced bubble-shaped silhouette.” Audrey would be so pleased! SL
Ageless Fashion 614 JOHNSON STREET VICTORIA
250.381.6260 www.aureagems.com
Aure
FASHION BOUTIQUE & ESSENTIAL LUXURIES
OPEN HOUSE
Join us for a light BBQ meal, refreshments, prizes and tours
Sept 10 at 2:30PM Oldies CD Music
GIVEAWAYS SPACE IS LIMITED! RSVP BY SEPT 6th Call Joel (604) 527-3323 agecare.ca/HarmonyBC HARMONY COURT ESTATE
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All-Inclusive Retirement Living 7197 Canada Way, Burnaby BC
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Make-Over
& Before ongratulations to Sandy Emerson, the fourth in a series of INSPIRED Senior Living’s Make-Over contestants. Sandy is celebrating a mid-way point on her weightloss journey. Despite a physical disability and a spotty support system, at 73, she was able to take off 70 pounds. “Even my doctor doubted that I could lose very much, but I am determined and it meant drastic changes to my food choices and entire lifestyle,” says Sandy. Weight loss is not her only success. New dentures corrected Sandy’s smile and she is no longer taking 10 of the 11 medications she needed for illnesses that disappeared with the weight loss. “I went from feeling I was going to die soon, to a regenerated and improved body,” she says. “I wanted a new look. A fresh look.” Sandy’s health continues to improve and she is able to exercise more than ever before. Hope has replaced resignation. “I feel full of hope that one day, in the future, I will reach my goal weight,” she says. “I rewarded my success by having the hair and wardrobe make-over. Rewards help us to keep working towards our goals. I very much appreciate the opportunity that INSPIRED Senior Living magazine provided me – to make my dream come true.”
Photo: Geoff Robson
C
After After Tip: For a fresher and more youthful look, start with an even skin tone.
Before
Hair: For Sandy, I added fine light blond and grey highlights to add brightness to her hair, yet chose colours that do not require a great deal of upkeep. Then, I changed the all-over tone of her hair slightly to soften her look. For the haircut, I went with something fun and worked with the curls and texture of Sandy’s hair. I stayed away from anything too polished. Sandy needed something to match her bubbly joyful personality.
I added some dark liner on Sandy’s top eyelid and a small amount of the bottom. Then, I applied a darker colour around the corners of the eye. I stopped the colour short of the end of the eye. By stopping the colour here, it helps achieve the look of a lifted and wider eye. Then, I applied the blush with a brush and placed it on the apple of her cheek. This placement gives more emphasis to the eyes and less to the jowls, which tend to droop (thanks to gravity) as we age. Finally, I curled and darkened Sandy’s lashes. For the lips, I added a nice rosy gloss for a fresh, natural look. SL
Cosmetics: First, I used a primer under her make-up. Primers are great for filling in fine lines and giving the skin a smooth surface to apply foundation. I lightened up under her eye with a colour correcting concealer and evened out her skin tone and contoured her face with light and dark foundations.
INSPIRED Senior Living would like to thank Akai Hair Design & Esthetics for Sandy’s new look. Specializing in colouring, precision haircutting and make-up application, Hana Akai is accepting new clients at her Victoria location. Call 250-3833227 or visit www.akaihairdesign.com Thanks also to Auréa Gems & Essential Luxuries, who supplied the clothing and jewellery.
Hana Akai’s Process:
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*
See you there!
55+ LIFESTYLE SHOW SEPT 22 The Forum, PNE Hastings Park
L CIAolor E P C S &
ER ut ) OV eup, Ctogether E K ak ed
MAOFF Mall book
20% (whe
n
It’s Not Just a Haircut, It’s an Experience Colour Specialist • Precision Haircutting • Make-up Application
Today is just the beginning
Trained by Nick Arrojo, Hana Akai is the owner of Canada’s only Arrojo Ambassador salon exclusively featuring Nick’s trademark colouring, cutting and styling expertise and quality hair care products.
Living’s reader make-overs. *Stylist of INSPIREDAKAISenior HAIR DESIGN 2559 Quadra Street, Victoria BC 250-383-3227 | www.akaihairdesign.com
TRY OUR FREE AND QUICK SMART MONEY PLANTM CHECK-UP
Our experts in planning, insurance and retirement living are here to help you focus on life and what’s important to you, contact us today! 604-419-8888 • gffg.com
Inspired, vibrant retirement.
by e l e m e n t
You’ve earned it. All you have to do is imagine it, and we’ll make it happen. Over 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, actively programmed to welcome your friends, children and grandchildren. This residence will encompass the complete spectrum of lifestyles: • 43 condominiums, Independent Living and Assisted Living. • 56 rentals, Independent Living and Assisted Living. • 30 Memory Care and Licensed Complex (Long-Term) Care. Located at King Edward and Cambie in the core of Vancouver’s premier neighbourhood. Just steps to parks, community centre, boutique cafes, gourmet restaurants and exclusive retail. Register your interest at
www. O pa l B y E le me n t .co m
Discovery Centre and pre-sales launching late Summer 2016 at City Square.
pursue life. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Risky Business By Wendy Johnstone
Morally, caregivers and concerned family members have an obligation to protect the people they are caring for from harm. It’s a fine line.
Smothering your aging mother with memory loss or son with a brain injury can also undermine self-esteem and confidence. Having the ability to make choices about how to go about one’s day is not only a right but a fundamental underpinning of living a dignified and independent life. Putting it into practice, however, is rather tricky.
How can a son who guides mountaineering clients to altitudes of 20,000 feet reprimand his 85-year-old mother for using a ladder to clean her windows? Before placing limits on someone’s abilities, ask yourself these questions:
L
ast week during my evening neighbourhood walk, I came across a very interesting scenario.
A man with a quad cane was up on a roof cleaning out his eaves troughs.
Even with no additional knowledge of the situation, it was clear to me this couldn’t be a particularly safe way to go about it.
As I stopped to make conversation and inquire about helping, a woman emerged from the house. After a very brief and intense discussion between them, the man reluctantly (and quite precariously) descended from the roof.
• • • • •
Do I want a protective or safer environment for the person I’m caring for or for my own sake?
Is my assessment of the risk influenced by personal fears or desires?
Is the risk real, or would I experience less guilt and worry less knowing the person I’m caring for is safe? Do I feel the need to have a mental competency done on the person I’m caring for or are do I feel they are able to function globally at present? Do I feel the person I’m caring for is aware of the effects of their decisions and choices on others?
We get many caregivers and concerned family members calling and asking how to determine the extent of risk as it relates to the people they are caring for.
Family caregivers are often challenged to respect the person they are caring for and their choices and accept risk while continuing to offer support. It shouldn’t, however, be limited to non-interference. Caregivers also have the right to negotiate ways of managing risk to protect their care recipient’s value, beliefs and safety.
With age or someone living with a chronic disease or injury comes a higher likelihood of exposure to risk than other adults. Changes in health, presence of chronic disease or varying mental capacity can make the people we care for more vulnerable to accidents or injuries.
Wendy Johnstone is a Gerontologist and a consultant with Family Caregivers of British Columbia in Victoria, BC. Visit www.familycaregiversbc.ca or
In general, the term “living at-risk” means individuals are free to engage in activities that might be considered risky so long as they are mentally competent and don’t place others at risk or expose them to harm.
call 250-384-0408 for more information.
BC Caregiver Support Line 1 877 520 3267 36 34
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
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Your Choice
Stay In Your Home Safely.
Shylo Brings Care To Your Home. You are not ready to leave your home, but you may benefit from some support to stay there safely. Shylo has helped seniors remain in their homes comfortably since 1980 by offering a wide range of services that make dealing with everyday life just a little easier. Shylo Home Support Care can help you with: • Shopping & Meal Preparation Call for a FREE • Medication Management In-Home Needs Assessment. • Travel To and From Appointments Vancouver: Burnaby: North Shore: 604-736-6281 604-434-9681 604-985-6881 • Companionship… … and many other issues that may arise. www.ShyloNursing.ca You don’t have to do it alone. www.VancouverSeniorHealth.BlogSpot.com
It’s okay to ask for help! WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Adventure
Antarctica The Great White Continent
STORY BY IRENE BUTLER PHOTOS BY RICK BUTLER
Antarctic Mainland trek/
P
enguins waddle past our feet on packed snow paths called “penguin highways.” Their turn to feed, they dive into the sea, while on a hillside rookery their mate sits on a rock nest holding soon-to-be-hatched eggs. The nesting areas are action-packed and noisy – calls to re-unite parents in the crowded environs, soft braying of snuggling couples, shrill squawks and wing flaps to ward off a skua swooping down intent on snatching an egg. Two species of penguins have rookeries in this area; Gentoo with their showy orange beaks and their Chinstrap cousins sporting a narrow band of black plumage around their white chins. Our cameras click at the antics of these wondrous creatures. This is our first landing since embarking on the Sea Spirit with Poseidon Expeditions from the port of Ushuaia, known as “the end of the world” for its location on the most southern tip of South America. In deciding how to see this least-explored continent, we by-passed the companies with larger ships in favour of the Sea Spirit with a 114-passenger capacity, awarding us more personal contact with the expedition crew. Another important consideration was our ship’s super-stabilizing rudder in case of rough seas, especially through the Drake Passage known for some of the most turbulent waters on the planet. Oft called the “Dreaded Drake,” we are relieved when our expedition leader Jonathon announces, “For our two-day crossing, it will be “Drake Lake,, with only four-metre waves.” Still, we need to find our sea legs and occasionally walk like drunken sailors, but nary one iota of sea-sickness to hinder our enjoyment of outstanding cuisine prepared by our chef and galley staff. During our passage, time flies with safety procedure demonstrations and being fitted with muck boots, life vests and toasty bright red parkas (hmm, perhaps the colour of the latter is for crew members to spot any of us explorers who wander too far). A 38 36
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biosecurity task is completed; passing a mini-vacuum over all outer clothing and camera equipment brought along to free them from any organic material that may introduce a non-native species to the environment. Enthralling presentations are in the mix of on-board activities; ranging from the wildlife we will see, to tales of early explorers who dared to brave the unforgivOur worthy Sea Spirit vessel. ing Antarctic terrain. Most inspiring are Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole in 1911 and, a few years later, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s super-human endeavours that saved his men after their ship, Endurance, was trapped in ice and sank. “Ahoy… land ahead!” The moment we’ve been waiting for – from our aforementioned first landing, we ease into a routine of the Sea Spirit moving forward while tucked in our comfy beds, and each morning and afternoon being whisked away in a Zodiac to a different South Shetland Island or Antarctic Mainland locale. December’s summer temperatures could not be better; ranging between -5°C and +9°C.
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The dramatic landscapes are an endless source of chilling desolate beauty – gargantuan glaciers, cliffs draped in ice and snow with coal-black rock protruding through, flat areas and hills blanketed in stark whiteness. Chameleon icebergs shimmer in hues of aqua and turquoise under sombre skies, and morph into a startling translucent white in brilliant sunshine. We come away with a new glossary to describe the various types of ice, such as anchor, frazil and growler. Our list of wildlife sightings expands daily. Penguins win for abundance; one rookery boasts over 5,000 penguin couples! Leopard and elephant seals lounge beside penguins on snowy slopes; in a bizarre quirk of nature, these flightless birds are safe on land from the same animals for which they are fair game for becoming a tasty meal when in the sea.
604-596-9670 pitmartours.com
info@pitmartours.com
VICTORIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TRIP DEC 1-3, 2016
Highlights: Seattle Premium Outlets and the Tulaylip Casino Hotel, The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA. More than One Million Lights! A special stage production is included with your 5 course dinner, Victorian Country Christmas Festival at the Washington State Fair Grounds in Puyallup. Over 500 vendors. Soak in the atmosphere and music to start your Holiday Season! $675 Cdn pp dble occ. Book by Oct 1st and save $50 per person.
LEAVENWORTH CHRISTMAS LIGHTING FESTIVAL DEC 9-11, 2016 Highlights: arrive on the Friday, giving you time to explore the many shops in town before the crowds on Saturday. Saturday is a tour and tasting of the delicious Aplets and Cotlets factory in Cashmere, sleigh ride with the majestic draft horses, western style buffet lunch around the pot bellied fire place, Leavenworth lighting of the town followed by a traditional Bavarian dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, the crowds are gone and the town is prime for your special pictures of the lights. $665 Cdn pp dble occ. Book by Oct 9th and save $50 per person. DOOR-TO-DOOR PICK UP AND RETURN WITHIN THE LOWER MAINLAND CALL FOR YOUR FULL 2016 BROCHURE BOB & TERESA MARSHALL
AGELESS Escorted ADVENTURE Tours
Tours
100% BC owned and operated 10
Meeting the penguins.
While on board ship, announcements such as, “Humpbacks feeding on the starboard side” send us spilling onto the deck to watch the gigantic maws of these titans scoop up krill as they surface, then round their backs to submerge with a resounding tail slap. By times, many winged species follow along riding the airwaves. A wandering albatross with a three-metre wingspan soaring above leaves me breathless. Just when we think each day can’t get any better – it does! We witness man’s imprint at Port Lockroy, a 1944 British Naval Base restored as a museum. Insight is gleaned as to life back then; rough wool-blanketed bunks, hooks with the warmest gear of the day, a larder of canned goods with faded labels, and a communications room equipped with instruments to scour for enemy ships. The Antarctic Heritage Trust, dedicated to its preservation, is partly funded from souvenir sales, including post cards and stamps and a handy post box to mail the cards from Antarctic to anywhere in the world. Gleefully, we fill out a bunch with “wish you were here” sentiments for our family back home.
Specializing in quality tours of Canada, the U.S., and beyond with attention to detail and value for your dollar TOURS FROM 2 - 18 DAYS • COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATIONS • QUALITY MEALS • SMALLER GROUP SIZES • MORE INCLUSIONS
Listed here are a sample of upcoming 2017 tours Check us out online for details and other tours
Incredible Iceland June 16-25 & July 21-30
Cuba ... At Last
Jan. 16-30 & Jan. 23 - Feb. 6
Hawaii-Big Isl. & Maui Feb. 23 - Mar. 4
Drop by and visit us at the 55+ Lifestyle Show on September 22 at the Hastings Park PNE grounds
(604) 542-5566 or toll free 1 (877) 277-5577
agelessadventuretours.com
BC reg. #2599
260 - 1959 152nd Street, South Surrey, B.C. V4A 9E3
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Other relics of mankind are haunting. From our Zodiac, we are close enough to touch the wrecked hull of a 3,433-ton ship, which caught fire in 1915 and was run aground to save men and supplies. On Deception Bay, we mill around huge metal tanks, furnaces and worker huts of a former whaling factory established in 1906, which processed whale oil to be shipped around the world, until the species was almost extinct. Crosses eerily mark graves in this forsaken place. Our island landings have all been incredible, but the ninth day of our journey is of stratospheric significance. For the first time, we step onto the Antarctic Mainland and begin our trek upon the Great White Continent. The snow is deep as we follow the long line of red parkas up the steep incline to spectacular mountain scenery from the top – a once in a lifetime surreal moment! During our return voyage over the Drake (still reasonably calm), a vortex of gripping facts whirls through my mind. Antarctica is the world’s fifth largest continent. Including all islands and ice shelves, it is about the size of the US and Mexico combined, but the sea ice that builds around it in the southern winter increases its size by more than 50 per cent. It is the driest, windiest and coldest continent on the planet. Icy katabatic winds of over 160km/h sweep over the Transantarctic Mountains – the lowest temperature recorded was -89°C. There are valleys that receive no precipitation, whatsoever, and are almost as dry as the Sahara Desert. Few wildlife species brave an Antarctic winter; one is the remarkable empire penguin. No humans live permanently on Antarctica, although there are always some people there; about 1,000 in winter, and
Gentoo and Chinstrap.
Living our dream!
Floating with icebergs.
around 3,500 in summer; mostly scientists and support staff. Another nonpareil aspect: No country owns Antarctica – in a treaty signed in 1959, previously claimant nations agreed to freeze their claims, indefinitely, with stipulations that the Antarctic be used for peaceful purposes only, and all scientific information shared. Antarctica is oft called the “seventh and the last continent.” Having had the good fortune of previously visiting the other six 40 38
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
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Whaling factory.
world continents, it most definitely is this for us. Our face-splitting smiles as we disembark the Sea Spirit say it all, yet I can’t resist shouting, “Rick, we actually did it!” A lifelong dream fulfilled. SL For IF YOU GO information, visit www. seniorlivingmag.com/ articles/ antarctica
SUMMER SALES E VENT with Expedia® CruiseShipCenters® & Oceania Cruises® Visit our booth at the Vancouver 55+ Lifestyle Show & learn about special OLife Ultimate offers on Oceania cruises:
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*Only available on select new bookings. Standard terms apply. View complete terms & conditions in addition: OLife Ultimate offer expires on 9/30/16. OLife Ultimate amenities are per stateroom, based on double occupancy & subject to change. Free cruise vacation contest: Airfare and onboard expenses are not included. Prize is non-transferable. Full contest rules are available on our website, contestants can also enter online. Contact us for full terms & conditions. CPBC License Number: 30647 & 57933
Winter Mountain Train December 1 —7, 2016
Fully Guided from Victoria with many meals included First Class Hotels: 1 night Vancouver, 3 nights at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge & 1 night in Edmonton
Private Sleeper Plus Accommodations for one night on VIA Rail Non-stop return flight from Edmonton to Victoria Vancouver Christmas Market, Jasper Nature Tour, West Edmonton Mall and much more
Complimentary Home Pickup across Greater Victoria Nanaimo
&
Photo Credit: Parks Canada & R.Bray
$2999 per person Price includes all taxes Single: add $450
250.590.0811 1.844.590.0811 www.MileZeroTours.com Mile Zero Tours Ltd. 208 620 View Street, Victoria V8W 1J6
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BC Reg #67275
SEPTEMBER 2016
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SYMPHONIC MATINEES WITH THE VSO
ALL CONCERTS THURSDAYS OR SUNDAYS 2PM AT THE ORPHEUM
BRAMWELL TOVEY VSO MUSIC DIRECTOR
CHRISTOPHER GAZE TEA & TRUMPETS SERIES HOST
WILLIAM ROWSON VSO ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
BAIBA SKRIDE
The Vancouver Symphony offers two great matinee series to choose from. The Symphony Sundays series offers the very best in classical concerts and world-renowned guest artists. The Tea & Trumpets series presents light classical favourites and comes complete with complimentary tea and cookies served in the lobby before each concert!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE TEA & TRUMPETS OR SYMPHONY SUNDAYS SERIES TODAY FOR BEST SEATING AND SAVINGS UP TO 25% over single ticket pricing MEDIA SPONSOR
SYMPHONY SUNDAYS SERIES SPONSOR
@VSOrchestra
TICKETS: vancouversymphony.ca VSO CUSTOMER SERVICE
By Tennessee
604.876.3434
Chemainus Theatre Festival A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur In the mid-1930s, the lives of four striking women are drawn together in a St. Louis apartment building, where they sort through delusions of love, realities of single womanhood, pressures of society, and the power of compassion. Enjoy the sharp witty dialogue of this singular Williams play.www.chemainustheatre.ca The Lonely – Celebrating the Music of Roy Orbison A sensitive and dynamic tribute to the one and only Roy Orbison. Veteran Mike Demers leads this group of musical journeymen in their mutual and deep appreciation of the timeless music of the “Caruso of Rock.” Tina Coldwell of TLC Entertainment says, “One of the best tributes I’ve seen, and I’ve been in the biz for 22 years.” www.thelonely.ca Vancouver Symphony Orchestra The VSO’s 2016/2017 season offers two series of matinee concerts: Tea & Trumpets features light classical music and complimentary tea and cookies before the concert; Symphony Sundays features world-renowned artists and some of the greatest symphonic music ever written. www. vancouversymphony.ca
Williams
“Sweet, honest, compassionate, different and totally enjoyable” New York Post “moving and engrossing” Variety
SEP 9 - 24
SEPTEMBER 17 - CLARKE THEATRE
33700 Prentis Avenue, Mission Phone: 604-820-3961 Charge by phone 1-855-985-5000 or online at ticketmaster.ca
OCTOBER 21 - KAY MEEK CENTRE
Tickets from $25
chemainustheatre.ca | 1.800.565.7738 42 40
INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
1700 Mathers Ave West Vancouver Tickets: Kaymeek Centre Box Office 604-981-6335 or www.kaymeekcentre.com
NOVEMBER 13 - THE MASSEY THEATRE
735 8th Ave - New Westminster Tickets: Phone 604-521-5050 or Massey Theatre & Anvil Centre Outlets or www.masseytheatre.com & www.ticketsnw.ca
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Canvas
D
Artist Profile
Memories on
STORY AND PHOTO BY KRISTI DOBSON
orothy Jarvis gained an appreciation for art later in life, but when she started painting, she quickly discovered her natural talent. Growing up in Northern British Columbia, Dorothy was born Tsimshian First Nation and Scottish and was raised by her maternal and paternal grandmothers when her parents split up. Her past and the lessons taught by her elders informs her art as she inspires the next generation to find their own visions for the future. Dorothy’s early beginnings were in Prince Rupert in a family that had very little. Her maternal, Aboriginal grandmother, Pearl Jeffrey, taught her traditional cedar weaving when she was seven years old, and it created the close bond they would share for life. She was also named after Jeffrey when she was given the name, Bel-Ha, or Pearl of the Ocean. “I remember my fingers fumbling and I got easily frustrated,” says Dorothy. “But she taught me that everything comes from the earth and that was very important to her.” Now, when Dorothy collects cedar bark from her own backyard in the spring, she knows to take only what she needs and removes strips two hands wide, so as to not damage the trees. Her Scottish grandmother, Margaret Geary, instilled in her the values of living off the land as her husband worked in the fisheries and she was a skilled cook. “I learned early to be happy with very little,” says Dorothy. Another major influence came from her late great uncle, William Jeffery. As a talented totem pole carver, the hereditary Tsimshian chief attended a residential school in the early 1900s and, although he wanted to be a lawyer, regulations restricted First Nations from attending university. He became a political activist and co-founded the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia. He pursued his natural talents and was recently honoured with a pole blessing in Horseshoe Bay, which Dorothy attended. “I was inspired by him, especially looking back at his work ethic,” she says. As a teenager, Dorothy moved to Vancouver. When she married Jim, the couple moved to the small community of Bamfield and then Parksville, where they raised their four children. As a stay-at-home mom, she was highly involved in with her children. When she decided to try her hand at oil painting, Dorothy first looked to the past, but wanted to share her passion with the future. She captures most of her work through travels to her hometown and surrounding remote communities, forever restoring a bit of history on canvas. “Those villages mean a lot to me, and I wanted my work to have an importance to it, so it is the scenes and people from there that are in my paintings” she says. “I feel like I am always going
home when I travel. It is the feeling of going back that lives through my work.” Recently, Dorothy has been able to teach elementary students not only how to paint and create art, but the importance of following their dreams. She works with after-school art programs to increase opportunities for young artists that may not have the chance in regular school curriculums. In her home studio in Port Alberni, Dorothy Jarvis works on her oil painting, “Echoes of the Past,” a portrait of the history from the village of Port Simpson.
“I tell them it is never too late to do what they want to do,” she says. “Even though I didn’t do this when I was young, as artists, as long as we have our health, we can do what we love for as long as we want.” Dorothy’s most recent collaboration gave back to the music and art community of Oak Bay. She was one of the artists chosen for the annual public pianos program, organized by arts laureate Barbara Adams. The artists, including, Jonathan Gleed, Robert Amos and Peter Van Giesen, spent three weeks colourfully painting donated pianos that are making their summer home at Turkey Head, Loon Bay Park, Cattle Point and Estevan Village for public play. Dorothy’s vision of maintaining her family’s culture was accomplished on this new-to-her canvas that highlights one of her father’s totem poles and is titled, Going Back to the Earth. Dorothy’s next endeavour this fall is a trip to Bamfield, where she will paint what she sees among the Huu-ay-aht territory for an exhibit at Victoria’s Alcheringa Galley. SL
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Courageous
Creative Spirit
T
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INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
&
Outrageous
hroughout this BY PAT NICHOL month’s issue, you will read stories about strong, creative women. We are blessed to have so many talented, artistic people thriving here on the west coast. I am constantly in awe of the beauty that surrounds me. The Moss Street Paint In in July was a great example of the creativity being shared. The challenge for the rest of us is to discover the spark we have inside of us. “We are each inspired treasures, with creative gifts to share. The world needs your gifts.” –SARK Think about this quote for a minute. SARK was one of my original arm’s length mentors. Her story is a wonderful one, but more than that is the way she created joy for everyone around her and made every person who saw her work want to bring the colour, creativity and joy into their own lives. I have tried to be an artist. I took watercolour lessons – one. My mother attempted to teach me to knit and crochet. I can do it but, unlike true craftspeople, I find it stressful, rather than relaxing. I love colour (even though I dress in black most of the time). And I love to put colour to paper. With the adult colouring book craze, I can colour whenever I want, which is not only a creative outlet, but a relaxing endeavour. Karen Zemanek of Soulprints developed carry bags that can be coloured. I met her at Symphony Splash, and I’m looking forward to being creative with mine. What do you do to enrich your creative spirit? If you haven’t felt inspired lately, what did you used to do that made your heart sing, that made you hardly notice how much time had passed? This month, I’d like you to look inside and pull your creativity out of hiding, then share it with the world. We are not meant to hide our imagination away from everyone. We each have a creative spirit and it is part of our life’s purpose to share it. If you deny it, your spark will atrophy and the world will not have the joy of knowing the beauty that is you. The world needs your gifts. SL I look forward to meeting all of you at INSPIRED Senior Living’s 55+ Lifestyle Show on September 22 in Vancouver. Please come and say hello, share your creativity and a hug.
Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her by email at mpatnichol@gmail.com
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Marketplace
COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or send an email to msymons6456@telus.net (Victoria) CHANGING PLACES Downsizing and relocation specialists SINCE 1991. Moving? Aging in place? Need help? Don’t know where to start? Let us take care of all the details from start to finish. Call Jane 250-721-4490 Victoria and the Island, John 778-628-0725 Vancouver for a free estimate www.changingplaces.ca
WANTED: Old stereo/audio equipment. Any condition. Amplifiers, turntables, speakers, receivers etc. Honest/friendly. Victoria and V.I. Call Bob, 250-896-2268, or email northtowns26@gmail.com DEBI’S MOBILE HAIR SERVICES in the comfort of your home for everyone in your family. Serving the Victoria area. Please call Debi at 250-477-7505. TALK IT OUT! Mary Munro, Registered
Clinical Counsellor, can help with life transitions, grief, difficult family dynamics, life challenges. Victoria: 250-589-4172, or email mary@marymunro.ca
ALWAYS GREAT FEET. Nanaimo’s professional mobile foot care nurses. Debbie Mason LPN and John Patterson LPN. Home, facility, and hospital visits. Experienced, qualified nursing foot care for toenails, corns, calluses and ingrown nails. Direct billing for DVA clients. 250-390-9266.
$45 - 20 words, $1.75/extra; plus GST 250-479-4705 | 1-877-479-4705 office@seniorlivingmag.com
WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, old photographs, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca FOOT-CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME.
Mobile Foot Nurse Jude LaRoy Begg L.P.N. serving Victoria and area. Member S.I.N.F.A. 778-440 0781 or 250-857-3797 judelaroybegg17@hotmail.com
SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or sexeducator@telus.net HOME / APT CLEANING & DOWNFriendly, professional, trustSIZING.
worthy. References available. Saanich, Victoria areas. Reasonable rates. Call or text Sherry 250-217-1645.
CUBA – ‘Spanish Studies in Cuba’ (Hava-
na), $2,870.00 CAD for 4 wks. Hotel with breakfast and dinner, tuition fee. (Air fare not included). 250.478.0494 ssic@telus.net http://spanishstudiesincuba.ca
DOWNSIZING? OVERWHELMED?
Downsizing Diva can take the stress out of a move. Sorting, packing, unpacking, advising, and more. Free estimate call Cathy 250634-3207. BBB
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your home, mine or on a walk. Visit clairemarieweightloss.ca or call 250-812-3694.
PRIVATE PARENT CARE AT HOME: “Inspiring Wellness, Supporting Recovery, Fostering Independence”. Call Nurse Marcia R.N.,B.Sc.N. 250-686-3081. Live-In and Hourly Rates.
CASH FOR UNWANTED FIREARMS.
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CORNERSTONE SENIORS ADVOCACY Assisting Seniors through life’s
changes. Specializing in Transitional Moves, Relocation, Stay at Home Project Management, Estate Clear Out & Sale of Assets. Licenced, Bonded & Insured. Visit our website at www.cornerstoneadvocacy.com 250.858.8560
DOWNSIZING / ORGANIZING / MOVING – Let us simplify your space and tran-
sition to your new life. 20 years’ experience/ Insured/WCB. Free Consultation in Fraser Valley. 604-314-3604. Celebrating 10 years of outstanding senior service! HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE is Victoria’s company with heart. CAREGiversSM are thoroughly trained in dementia care, bonded and insured to provide customized homecare for your family’s needs. Book a complimentary care consultation: 250-382-6565 or visit our website at www.HomeInstead.com/victoriabc.
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Cheques: Senior Living, Magazine #3 - 3948 Quadra Street,Victoria, BC V8X 1J6
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COLLECTOR’S SILVER & FINE ART WANTED We specialize in British Sterling Silver, Flatware, Collector’s Silver items, 18th to Mid 20th Century Paintings, Jewellery, Gold & Silver Coins, Medals. Est 1990
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Hidden Maui Paradise 2 Bed, 2 Bath Condo for rent Central Kihei • 250-882-1963 www.hiddenmauiparadise.com
SOLD in a few days! 4027 HOPEMORE DRIVE
Jane Lewis will... FIND you the PERFECT HOME! SELL your Home at the BEST PRICE! SELL your Home quickly & stress-free! TRUST Jane - You’re in GOOD hands! Jane Lewis Pemberton Holmes Realty 250-686-9628 pj.lewis@shaw.ca OCTOBER 2009 39
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Forever Fit
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Where are your investments leading you?
BY EVE LEES
Treadmill vs. Outdoor Running
As Canada’s top wealth management firm, we’ve been helping retirees and pre-retirees reach their goals since 1901. Let us help you. Contact an advisor near you to arrange a free second opinion on your portfolio. Surrey
Linda Holmes, BBA, CIM, FMA Investment Advisor & Financial Planner 604-535-3854 linda.holmes@rbc.com
Langley
Jennifer Lorz, B.Comm., PFP, CIM Investment Advisor & Financial Planner 604-881-8518 jennifer.lorz@rbc.com
Coquitlam
Stephanie Tang, B.Comm., FMA Investment Advisor & Financial Planner 604-257-2503 steph.tang@rbc.com
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. 16_90810_TUR_002
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INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING
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ith fall approaching, many runners will soon be taking their workout indoors. Fortunately, researchers say there are only subtle biomechanical differences between treadmill and outdoor running. Running indoors on a treadmill may seem less challenging because of the lack of wind resistance, but that can be compensated by setting the machine at a very slight incline. And treadmill running offers more shock absorbency, giving less impact on joints than running on hard outdoor surfaces. This is a good thing, especially if you are recuperating from an injury, or suffer arthritic joints. Avid treadmill runners, however, won’t be conditioned to run on harder surfaces. They must prepare and build the muscular endurance needed for high impact. If you’re a winter treadmill runner, be sure you gradually adjust to road running again in the spring. Better still, try to run outdoors in winter months whenever the weather allows, to keep your legs accustomed to the impact. Be cautious running on wet, slippery leaves in the fall. It’s like skidding over banana peels! Also, spend a little more time stretching after your outdoor runs. Flexible muscles act as much better shock absorbers. Treadmill running is convenient and you have complete control over your terrain and workout intensity. It’s also more enjoyable for those who hate to exercise because the time can fly by, if you run while watching television. In addition, treadmills are considered the best choice of exercise machines for calorie burning; they show greater calorie usage and cardiovascular fitness improvements than several other fitness machines. It’s speculated exercisers can work at higher intensities because walking and running on a treadmill are familiar and natural movement patterns, making it more comfortable. Therefore, longer time is spent on a treadmill than other exercise machines. Outdoor running, on the other hand, is an enjoyable activity in the great outdoors, offering the opportunity to be in touch with nature (depending, of course, on where you choose to run). Try doing both treadmill and outdoor runs, especially if you live in an area where the view – and not just the effort – takes your breath away. SL Eve Lees is a Certified Nutrition Coach, a Health Writer & Speaker, and a former Personal Trainer with over 30 years experience in the health/fitness industry. www.artnews-healthnews.com
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Senior Living... The Berwick Way™ At Berwick Retirement Communities, you will enjoy an unparalleled standard of living at a superior value. Creating a wonderful environment where residents enjoy exceptional services from friendly staff is The Berwick Way. Find out more about The Berwick Way™ – Ask one of our Senior Living Experts Today!
www.BerwickRetirement.com V I C TO R I A | N A N A I M O | C O M OX | K A M LO O P S | C A M P B E L L R I V E R Proud to be BC owned and operated JOB BRC-17779 CLIENT: BERWICK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Please visit our website under “How to Help” at www.niwra.org PUBLICATION: SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE INSERTION DATE: TBD TRIM: 7.25X4.75 PREPARED BY: ECLIPSE CREATIVE INC.If@you 250-382-1103 are interested in making a living Will or leaving a legacy in your Will to North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, please email us at wildlife@niwra.org for a brochure & video.
WIldlIfe legaCIes
OLDER ADULTS STRATEGY
We provide care to critically sick, injured and orphaned wildlife such as eagles, owls, song birds and black bears. Help care for these animals by partnering with us through your legacy gift or donation.
THEY DEPEND ON US, AND WE DEPEND ON YOU...
2017-2022
Saanich Parks & Recreation is creating a new Older Adults Strategy to guide the direction of programs, services, facilities and outdoor spaces for the next five years. We want to hear from you! Set up a group engagement session anytime between May-Oct, or attend the public sessions:
THaNK YOU fOR YOUR sUPPORT! BN119060549RR0001
WE WANT YOUR INPUT!
Saanich Commonwealth Place Wednesday, Sep 28th 3:30-5:00pm G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre Saturday, Oct 29th, 10:00-11:30am RSVP or call to set up a group engagement with Julie Wallace at 250-475-5408 or email julie.wallace@saanich.ca
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
250-248-8543 | www.niwra.org Box 364, 1240 Leffler Road, Errington, BC
BN119060549RR0001
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For Canadians who KNOW they are heading south this Winter “We’re Going!”
1-888-MEDIPAC 1-888-633-4722 • www.medipac.com Underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada and Reliable Life Insurance Company
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