June - Senior Connector

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JUNE, 2003 SENIOR CONNECTOR www.seniorconnector.com PAGE 13 The man who never makes mistakes loses a great many chances to learn something. Beatty Painting & Decorating Stu Beatty Interior - Exterior - Spray - Brush - Roller 3365 Overlander Dr., Kamloops, B.C. V2B 6X4 Ph: (250)579-8464 Fax (250)579-5839 Helen Adams, Rickie Bassert, Pat Faulkner, Doreen Raftery, Louise Grass, Ray Atkinson, Trish Anderson, Irene Turgeon, Wilma Jolly, and Rita Chadwick perform during at the Senior’s Chorfest. BY DOREEN RAFTERY A group of very tired, but very happy choristers arrived back in Kamloops after completing their 2003 tour on May 9. The tour was fast, full and rewarding. We performed in 4 different locales on 4 consecutive days and ended up at West Vancouver for the Senior’s Chorfest. We attended choral workshops and participated in an awesome mass choir of about 350 voices at the final concert on Friday night. When we arrived back home many of us attended the final night of “Oliver.” I’m very happy that I was able to see it, as it was a wonderful presentation. On May 14 the choir had its annual meeting and final social where presentations were made to some of the retiring executive and to our choir director and our tour co-ordinator. We were all pleased with our ventures during this past year and we look forward to the fall when we will begin again. Our fall season will begin on Tuesday, September 14 when we will meet at the Moose Hall on Fortune Drive. This will be my last column until September so I wish you all a very happy summer (if and when it comes) and I thank you all once again for your support during the year. Tour 2003 Our tour began on The Kamloops Happy Choristers Sunday, the fourth of May. We sallied over to Sicamous to perform on that day. We arrived in lots of time, we thought, to eat a leisurely meal Only to find the cafe closed until 5 o’clock, that’s so unreal. They opened for us but to our dismay the service was very slow We only had time to gulp it down and then it was time to go. The concert went well but as we often have found We outnumbered the audience there. The people who came were well entertained And we were provided with excellent fare. On Monday we left and after a beautiful drive Around Mara Lake to Penticton town We found our motel with the big waterslide That we were told we had to ride down. Some of us tried, but much to our surprise The slide was not wet, it was dry. To slide on a dry slide Hurts more than your pride And for folks our age it’s not wise. Our concert at Summerland had more people there But we were in competition with the Wild and Canucks. After the show, when the score was known We could have given them more for their bucks. Towards Maple Ridge With Doug at the wheel We drove the Hope- Princeton road To Manning Park to eat A nice rest and treat Then back on the bus with our load. Our concert that night had a near capacity crowd The excitement was high, the buzz was quite loud What a wonderful feeling to heighten our show With crowd interaction to make us all glow And all kinds of goodies after the props were on the bus. The people were so kind and generous to us. At the concert at the school the very next day A little girl was heard to say, “I like the man dancing in his underwear best” But I think they enjoyed all the rest. We arrived at our motel in West Van earlier than planned. It was way too early for the Motel staff for they were undermanned Not enough housekeeping, made-up rooms were rare, But one by one we filled them up in a way we thought was fair. Until, at last, everyone had a key. Everyone, that is, except Sheila and me. But we persevered and before night fell We all had a bed and all was well. The Chorfest was exciting in many different ways I though we had gone back to the not-so-good-old days Where people stood in line-ups to eat and then to use the loo Where there was not too many toilets, mainly only TWO. There were outside porta-potties but not anywhere enough I’m sure the men went to the bushes when the going got too rough! But the singing was impressive and the clinician was one of the best. He had us working hard, he put us to the test. And at the final concert, over 350 voices strong We nearly raised the roof with our tribute of “Say it with a Song” And so back home again to Kamloops we came Filled with thoughts of work well done Of plaudits and of fame. Tired and worn out but exultant and high Already thinking of next year when we’ll give it another try. No Steam • Totally Hygenic • Dries Quickly WOLFE Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Seniors DISCOUNT 10% Phone Kevin for a free quote. Phone: 250-376-8677 • Cell: 250-319-7262 Benjamin Moore Paint Experts GORDON DOVE OWNER/MANAGER Kamloops, BC Low Cost We do repairs, painting, plumbing, pruning, tree removal, moving, renovations . . . We can fix most things. SENIORS DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Call 376-4543 or Pager Number 377-0201 for your free estimate today! • Licensed General Contractor • “The handyman professionals” 735 Victoria Street Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2B5 (250) 828-1800 Fax 828-2335 Call Toll Free: 1-800-665-5343 E-mail: kamloopspaintwallpaper@telus.net www.kamloopspaintwallpaper.com EARL REFERENCES AVAILABLE • Renovations • Painting • Plumbing C. J. Vanderhorst 578-2637
PAGE 12 Brown’s Repair Shop Ltd. 220 Lansdowne Street, Kamloops Est. 1923 ERIC BROWN 372-3656 • The Key Man IN YOUR BUSINESS * Lest We Forget * • Safe sales & service • Lock sales & service • Keys by code • Window grilles • Locks rekeyed VIKING PC Computer Services Specializing in affordable assistance, repairs and upgrades in your home or in our shop. Reduced Rates for Seniors! Call Ole @ 372-9718 or 319-0507 email: vikingpc@telus.net #101 - 120 Vernon Avenue Kamloops, BC Beautiful 2 bedroom, 1 bath (walk-in shower) 2 year old condo. Located on the ground floor with easy access off the gated patio. Includes dish washer, refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer and many senior-friendly extras. Conveniently located across from North Hills Centre, close to banks, post office and other services. To arrange a viewing call Keith or Sue at (250) 828-2157 or (250) 851-5727 Offered for sale at $129,900 SENIOR CONNECTOR Assisted living accommodation Quiet home in Brock, gardens, Exp. caregiver, small pet ok. RENT NEGOTIABLE Lauren (Lori) 250-376-4835 www.seniorconnector.com Study finds Canadians need to improve their fire safety preparedness Although Canadians recognize the importance of a fire escape emergency plan, the majority have never practiced a home fire drill and place themselves at great risk, according to a new fire safety study. Sixty three per cent of Canadians surveyed have developed a fire escape plan, yet an alarming 55 per cent say they have never practiced a home fire drill. In fact, almost 40 per cent of those polled don’t know they have less than three minutes to escape in the event a fire starts in their home. A wellrehearsed fire escape plan can make a life-saving difference by decreasing panic and maximizing those valuable few minutes in order to get out safely. It is not enough to simply have a fire escape plan, you must rehearse it — otherwise it’s virtually useless,” says Ken Kelly, president, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. “Practicing an escape plan regularly will help you react quickly in a real fire, especially when smoke and flames block your escape routes, or if smoke detectors fail to sound.” According to Kelly, very few people realize that in real-life fires, smoke is black Sweet Dreams CONTRIBUTED BY BRONWEN SCOTT, UCC PUBLIC RELATIONS Think you got a good night’s sleep last night Likely you did, but if you’re one of the estimated 6% of the population with sleep apnea, you may not even know that your body makes you skip out of dreamland on a regular basis. There are clues, however. People suffering from sleep apnea tend to fall asleep at inconvenient times: waiting for a red light, sitting inactive in a public place, riding the bus, or while reading, watching TV, or listening to a presentation. It’s embarrassing, but most of all, it’s dangerous. Sleep apnea, a condition where a person stops breathing for a few moments at a time—up to 20 to 30 times per hour—during sleep, does more than make the sufferer tired all the time. It’s associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood-pressure, heart attack, and stroke, as well as depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep while at work, on the phone, or driving. As UCC Respiratory Therapy program coordinator Les Matthews says, “not only do people not know how big the problem of sleep apnea is, they have no idea how easily it can be fixed.” and thick and very difficult to see through. By practicing a fire escape plan, people will be able to feel their way through the smoke much faster than leaving it to chance. The study also found that almost all (95 per cent) of those surveyed have smoke detectors in their home, however, less than 20 per cent test the batteries each month and only one in four replace the batteries twice a year — both practices recommended by fire safety experts. “Although fire safety preparedness is important all year long, summer is an ideal time for families to examine their current practices, as it is the time of year when they participate in BBQs, campfires and fireworks. Thinking CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 from Anaheim, California to offer their support and help. The attention to detail and care given during my stay in Royal Inland Hospital was exemplary. I especially liked the pre-admission routine which answered all my questions regarding the operation and recovery. It took a while, but was well worth the time because it prepared a full description of my vital signs, general condition and gave me ample opportunity to talk about the specifics of my operation. The many inquiries of my well-being during my stay in hospital, as well the numerous cards and flowers, lifted one’s spirits and was very much appreciated. After a few more days of rest I’ll be back on the scene. I look forward to seeing you soon. EMPTY NESTERS Before you list your home for sale, read this Free Report to discover how to sell it for the most amount of money and avoid making 9 common, costly mistakes. Free recorded message 1-877-277-7316 ID #1013 PRUDENTIAL DESERT HILLS REALTY Prisoner CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “You realize how much freedom really means to you,” said Trotter about his time in the prison camp. For many years he did not speak to anyone about his experiences there, which included being blindfolded and stood before a firing squad twice. The German captors were trying to obtain his valuable pathfinding information. Pathfinders located targets for bombing. Trotter said the camp “was full of brilliant people who had been in all walks of life before the war.” He still marvels at the ingenuity of a man who built a small-scale working submarine from scrounged material and who floated and submerged it in the camp pond. Clandestine radios were built and encased in tabletops. Escape tunnels were dug under the hut’s brick stove support. Sand from the escape tunnels was removed by the handful in a variety of inventive ways, including being hidden in exercise horses. The prisoners even managed to make usable golf balls from old inner tube rubber so they could while away the time. As Air Officers, they were not sent on work details. The POWs tracked the progress of the war by listening to the BBC on the hidden radios and Trotter said his pathfinding experience came in handy when he updated their maps to indicate how the front was changing as the war drew to a close. Finally released from the Russian “cattle pens” in North Germany by a British armoured division, Trotter celebrated the end of the war in Brussels, after receiving “500 francs, numerous flea and louse treatments, and new clothes,” he came back to Canada on a POW ship. After the war, Trotter Announcing Crossroad Café The Crossroad Café is a non-profit Christian based café which will be open on designated Saturday nights from 6:30- 10pm. A variety of beverages and desserts will be offered for a nominal fee. The profits from this venture will benefit Youth Mission initiatives in Kamloops. The café will be a place for Christians and non-Christians to come together for fellowship and entertainment, to showcase local talent, and to bring churches together. Info: (250) 554-2811 Valleyview Bible Church, 2386 E.T.C. Hwy. JUNE, 2003 returned to his home in Saskatchewan and worked as a fireman with the CNR for three years before rejoining the RCAF in 1948. “Flying is like an addiction to me,” he said. And Trotter “flew all over the world.” He spent time in Korea and Viet Nam and worked on peacekeeping missions in Israel and Morocco. He commanded NATO Squadron 445 in Marville, France from 1960-63. During Trotter’s air force career he also lived in Edmonton, the Arctic, Montreal, Toronto, Cold Lake, Gimli and Kamloops. He has remained here since retiring in 1970. Trotter married his wife Val in 1948 and they have six children and eight grandchildren. In spite of a youth spent travelling, three of his children continue to live in Kamloops. In 1968 Trotter designed Kamloops’ first emergency disaster plan and his air force transport experience led him to get involved with many community events and operations over the years, including the Canada Summer Games and the Canadian Senior Games. He’s still an active fundraiser for the air cadets. The retired airman is an avid golfer and has belonged to the Kamloops Golf Club for 36 years. He started a construction company in 1970 that, among other things, designed and built golf courses. Mt. Paul is a Trotter course and so is one in Wells Gray Provincial Park. The first nine holes at Aberdeen involved his handiwork, too. Trotter golfs about three times a week, so his golf balls fly even if he doesn’t anymore. Having flown 44 missions in a Lancaster during the war and having logged 12,000 hours of flying during his air force career, Trotter still vividly remembers how it felt to fly twice the speed of sound in a CF 104 jet at 55,000 ft. He is looking forward to speaking about the WW II “Lanc” at an air force museum in Nanton, AB on Labour Day weekend. He is also looking forward to the resolution of his legal case before the Supreme Court. “I’m much wiser now after this,” he said. He plans to write a report on his pension battle for posterity.
Page 1 and 2: The Award Winning Voice of Seniors
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Page 5 and 6: JUNE, 2003 SENIOR CONNECTOR www.sen
Page 7 and 8: PAGE 8 BARBARA GRANT, OFFICE COORDI
Page 9 and 10: PAGE 6 Happy Birthday, Canada! Clau
Page 11 and 12: PAGE 18 PAID ADVERTISMENT GLORIA FR
Page 13 and 14: PAGE 16 Revelstoke Senior Citizens
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Page 19 and 20: PAGE 10 Desert Gardens Ladies Auxil

June - Senior Connector

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