GRAND Vol. III Ed. II

Vol. III, Ed. II 

GRAND 

grandmag.ca 

Grandparenting 

from Afar 

Gordy Dodd 

Grandfather & 

Community 

Superhero 

Shots in a Snap 

Photographing 

Your Grandkids

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4 GRAND grandmag.ca

A GRAND Debut 

CONTENTS 

5 

6 

8 

10 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

26 

A GRAND Debut 

Profile: Gordy Dodd 

7 Grand: Ideas + Inspiration 

Shots in a Snap: 

Photographing Your Grandkids 

His Story, Her Story, Our Story 

Toys That Do Nothing 

A Grandparent’s Guide 

to Sex Ed 

Grandparenting from Afar 

4 Ways to Invest in Your 

Grandchildren’s Future 

Sharing Through Cooking 

Inspire a Love of Reading 

Face Your Fears & 

Embrace the Cloud 

Just like grandparenting over the 

years, Grand has changed. 

This issue marks the start of a 

new look, a new feel, and a new direction. 

And just like grandparents these 

days, Grand is redefining itself on its 

own terms. 

Gone are the days of rocking 

chairs and recliners. Today’s grandparents 

are more likely to be rock 

climbing or going for a run than they 

are to be rocking or reclining. 

We’re an active and diverse group— 

an engaged, evolving and powerful 

force. We’re mentors, nurturers, keepers 

of secrets. We’re caregivers, child 

care providers, dessert-before-dinner 

defenders. We’re historians, spiritual 

guides and the holders of family stories. 

Grand celebrates who you are as a 

grandparent and who you are as an individual. 

You love spending time with 

your grandchildren and you’re happy 

in your other roles: at work, in the 

community and on your own. Grand 

acknowledges that you are not one 

or the other—an “either/or” version 

of yourself—you are many different 

things to many different people. And 

to yourself. 

With an Island perspective that 

speaks to an international readership, 

Grand is the source for on-the-go 

grandparents of up-to-the-minute 

and thought-provoking information 

and ideas—on everything from having 

fun, staying fit and things to do, to 

travel, leisure, health and technology. 

Think of Grand as a trusted friend 

who happily shares those “senior 

moments” (in the best sense of the 

words!) and keeps you informed and 

connected to the issues and ideas that 

really matter. After reading an issue of 

Grand, you should feel inspired, up-todate, 

and informed. 

We’re here for you: from helping you 

figure out where you fit in to tackling 

your most perplexing questions, sharing 

your greatest discoveries and celebrating 

your deepest joys. 

To that end, this issue of Grand 

features articles on topics ranging 

from the importance of storytelling, 

cooking with your grandkids and 

community superheroes, to photographing 

your grandkids, gift-giving, 

and grandparenting from afar. There’s 

7 Grand, a compilation of ideas and 

inspiration to help keep you in-theknow 

and connected, there’s a guide 

to investing in your grandchildren’s 

future, and there’s tech support that 

will help you face your fears and embrace 

the cloud. 

Grand is as diverse and engaged as 

you are. Together, we’re a powerful 

and positive force—in our grandchildren’s 

lives and in our communities. 

A Grand welcome! 

ON THE COVER 

Gordy + Ravinder Dodd, 

with granddaughters 

(left to right) Avani, 

Zahra and Amara 

Photo by Don Denton 

Vol 1, Ed 2 

GRAND 

grandmag.ca 

Gordy Dodd 

Grandfather & 

Community 

Superhero 


from Afar 


Photographing 

Your Grandkids 

Jim Schneider Publisher 

publisher@islandparent.ca 

Sue Fast Editor 

editor@islandparent.ca 

Kristine Wickheim Account Manager 

kristine@islandparent.ca 

RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager 

raeleigh@islandparent.ca 

Grand, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a twice-yearly 

publication that honours and supports grandparents by providing information 

on resources and businesses for families and a forum for the exchange of ideas 

and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. 

No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. 

Grand is distributed free in selected areas. Annual mail subscriptions 

(2 issues) are available for $12 (GST included). Canadian Publication 

Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505. 

250-388-6905 grandmag.ca 

A proud member of 

BC 

grandmag.ca 

Vol. III, Ed. II 5

ordy Dodd 

GRANDFATHER 

& 

Community Superhero 

Gordy Dodd isn’t your typical grandfather. Who else do you know that’s just as 

comfortable playing Super Gordy, Bob Barker and the Incredible Hulk as part 

of his 40-year TV ad campaign as he is playing with his grandchildren? 

Awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Greater Victoria 

Chamber of Commerce, Gordy Dodd is known not only for his TV alter egos 

and his furniture store, Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress, but also for his 

ongoing philanthropy and community work. His Peace Walks have raised 

money for Victoria Hospice and his annual Thanksgiving and Christmas 

Dinners have helped feed thousands of people in need. Here are his thoughts 

on one of his favourite roles of all times—being a grandfather... 

What do you love most about being a grandfather? 

I take time off from my business to spend as much time as I can with them. 

They’re going to school now and growing up so fast—so weekends are special. 

We also try to pick them up from school a few times a week. Sometimes we go to 

a restaurant, for ice cream or to one of their favourite parks nearby. 

What’s the difference between being a parent and being 

a grandparent? 

Parents definitely have the harder job these days with many more responsibilities. 

Between homework and so many other after-school activities, a child’s life 

is quite structured. Moms and Dads really have the hard work. Grandparents get 

to enjoy watching them grow up and play—we play ALOT! That’s the upside and 

there’s no real downside. We’re all just happy to see each other and be together. 

How does it feel, seeing your children as parents? 

We remember our kids at that time. My wife will say how they resemble each 

other—our children and our grandchildren—how my son used to do the same 

thing or how our grandchildren resemble their parents. 


What are your favourite things to do with your grandkids? 

I love setting up games for them in the backyard. Whether it’s volleyball, badminton 

or soccer or blowing up balloons. It’s really nice, for myself and my wife. 

We forget all the stress and just get to spend time with them. 

How have you handled the pandemic and social distancing with 

your grandchildren? 

It’s a concern, especially now that they’re back in school. But we keep reminding 

them to keep their distance, wear a mask and wash their hands. All of Dr. 

Bonnie’s advice is good advice of course. 

What do you wish for your grandchildren? 

I wish for them much happiness. They always say: Grampa everyone knows 

you! All of our friends say: “You’re the famous Gordy Dodd!” Now they don’t 

have to be like me, but I want them to be happy and successful. 

What do you hope they have 

learned or will learn from you? 

I hope they’ll always be proud to be 

my granddaughters and strive to do 

great things in their life as I have. They 

have their dreams and they’re already 

learning to give back. I’m proud to take 

them with me to help serve Thanksgiving 

and Christmas dinners at Our Place. 

They need to know that not everyone is 

as fortunate as we are. We all have to do 

our part to help those in need. 

You’ve dressed up as so many 

characters What do your grandkids 

think of your antics? Do they 

have a favourite persona? 

Superman is pretty famous in their 

eyes. They’ve enjoyed all of my characters 

over the years. They know my name 

is recognizable. My grandaughter calls 

me my name sometimes, “Gordy Dodd” 

just for fun. 

Advice for your grandchildren? 

Times are tough and it’s easy to get 

down. The only way to make things better 

is by getting a good education. My 

middle granddaughter wants to be an 

eye specialist—the first in our family. That goal may change but with the right 

education, kids can do anything. Do something to keep the tradition of helping 

others. They’re trying. 

Ravinder + Gordy Dodd with granddaughters 

(l-r) Amara, Zahra + Avani 

1Advice for other grandparents? 

Love your grandkids and cherish every moment. Once they become teenagers, 

they’ll have their own friends and be making their own way into the world. You 

want to be part of that for as long as possible. 

grandmag.ca 


Ideas + Inspiration 

7 

Grand 

Calling 

All Bakers 

Do you like to bake? Would you 

like to meet with others who 

enjoy baking and try new recipes 

every month? Then join 

Vancouver Island Regional 

Libraries’ Virtual Baking Club. 

Each month will have a theme 

to inspire you to make different 

baked goods. Try a new recipe 

or make one of your favourites 

and then join the Zoom session 

at the end of the month to 

share the recipe and what you 

made with everyone else. 

November’s theme: No Butter 

Recipes. 

December’s theme: Holiday 

Treats. 

All ages are welcome. Space 

is limited and registration 

is required. To register or 

for more information, email 

kparker@virl.bc.ca. 

Self-Management 

BC 

Self-Management BC offers free 

health programs for British Columbians 

online, by telephone, 

and by mail. The programs are 

for adults of all ages living with 

one or more ongoing health 

conditions and there is no cost 

to participate. The University of 

Victoria’s Institute on Aging & 

Lifelong Health aims to help improve 

the health and quality of 

life with an increasingly diverse 

population of older adults, and 

to assist their families, health 

care providers, and governments 

in meeting the challenges 

and potentials of an aging 

society. For information, visit 

selfmanagementbc.ca. 

3 Have-to-Haves for 

Techie Grandparents 

1. Aura by Carver Digital 

Frames. See the people you 

love—on rotation!—and invite 

them to add photos, too. Smart 

digital frames provide crisp details, 

full light, and great quality. 

With social distancing, photos 

are the next best thing to being 

together. 

2. Apple iPhone SE. Sure 

most iPhones are notoriously 

complicated, but the SE has 

basics including email, texting, 

video chatting and watching 

videos. The camera is excellent 

and includes portrait lighting. 

3. Muse S Brain Sensing 

Headband. Stressed Out? This 

soft band meditation device is 

easy to put on and the app is 

easy to install. Together they 

help to calm your mind and help 

you relax. 


Read ‘A Story 

Before Bed’ 

5 Styles of 


Babysitting the 

Grandparents 

FYI Grandparenting 

Stats 

A Story Before Bed lets you record 

a video of yourself reading 

a children’s book to be played 

back any time. Some grandparents 

want to be able to read 

books to their grandkids live. A 

Story Before Bed lets you read 

in realtime, too, using a Google+ 

Hangout. Grandkids in multiple 

cities? You can read to all of 

them at once using the app. 

And it’s completely free. 

astorybeforebed.com 

According to research conducted 

by two University of Chicago 

social scientists, there are five 

distinct styles of grandparenting. 

The Formal provide special 

treats and indulgences for the 

grandchild, but they maintain 

clearly defined lines between 

“parenting” and “grandparenting.” 

The Fun Seeker plays with 

the child and has a good time. The 

relationship is one in which “authority 

lines are irrelevant.” 

The Surrogate Parent is 

found only among grandmothers, 

“when the young mother works 

and the grandmother assumes 

the actual responsibility for the 

child.” 

The Reservoir of Family 

Wisdom. The grandfather who 

dispenses “special skills or resources.” 

The young parents are 

usually in a “subordinate position”—which 

they may or may not 

resent. 

The Distant Figure. The 

grandparent who “emerges from 

the shadows on holidays and special 

ritual occasions” like “a somewhat 

intermittent St. Nicholas.” 

Source: New York Times 

Two of Jean Reagan and Lee 

Wildish’s bestselling books are 

available in one adorable boxed 

set. From making a pirate cave 

fit for a Grandpa, to planning a 

sleepover with Grandma, each 

book is chock full of tongue-incheek 

tips and ideas for enjoying 

time with the grandparent 

in your life. 

• The average age of Canadian 

grandparents has jumped from 

65 to 68 in a single generation. 

And the number of grandparents 

over 85 has nearly tripled since 

1995. 

• Life expectancy has increased 

so much that an 

average 65-year-old today can 

expect to live 22.1 more years if 

she’s a woman, and 19.3 years if 

he’s a man. 

• Seniors comprise twice as 

big a slice of the work force 

today (14 per cent) than they did 

in 2003. 

• Grandparents have fewer 

grandkids (down to four from 

five, since the 1990s), and have 

them later. But grandparents 

get to know their grandkids 

(and vice versa) way better, and 

for way longer. 

Source: Globe & Mail 

grandmag.ca 



Photographing Your Grandkids 

We asked three Island photographers— 

Ashley Marston, Erin Wallis and 

Kimberley Kufaas—for tips on how to best 

“capture your kids.” Here are their answers… 

Get lots of photos together. Is grandpa sitting 

at the table playing cards with his grandson? 

Grab the camera! Is gramma reading a bedtime 

story? Grab the camera! You will never regret 

having photos with your grandkids. And they 

will be some of the kids’ most treasured 

photographs. – AM 

Get down to their level. If they are playing 

cars, or crawling down the hallway, make sure 

you are down there too. Not only will they think 

its so fun that you are right there with them, 

but it will likely also get you a few good smiles 

so be ready. – AM 

To see more photos from 

each of the featured 

photographers, visit 

Kimberley Kufaas 

(kimberleykufaas.com), 

Ashley Marston 

(ashleymarstonbirthphotography.com) 

and Erin Wallis 

(erinwallis.com). 

Find an environment the kids love, whether it’s a forest walk, baking 

cookies, you name it. Finding a comfortable area for them creates those 

moments where you can follow their lead. 

Get to their level and think about your surrounding and most importantly 

the lighting. I use natural light 90 per cent of the time. If you’re indoors make 

sure that light source is nearby. If you’re outdoors just watch for the sun to 

be behind or directly in front of your subject(s). They don’t always need to 

know you’re planning on taking a photo. – KK 


“ 

Everyday life with kids is typically chaotic. Adding a camera to the mix to capture 

memories of your visit sometimes takes some patience and extra bribery. That’s 

not always what it’s about to get the perfect photo. It’s not just about smiles. 

My take on photography is capturing moments that are actually happening at 

” 

that time. I do prompt some posing, but usually some silliness and being playful 

I can get the kids working well with me. 

– KK 

Take it outside! Head to a field or a beach without a lot of people 

or distracting elements. Take a stroll along a trail and snap a few 

images as they are walking towards or away from you. Make a game 

of it—if it’s fun, your results are guaranteed to be better! – EW 

Take them outside to an evenly lit spot. 

Avoid harsh, bright sunshine or super dark spots. 

If you’re using your phone to take their photo, 

remember you can touch the brightest or darkest 

part of the screen to lighten/darken the image 

properly. – EW 

Don’t make taking their photo a chore. 

Have your camera out and handy when 

they are having fun or when they are in 

the moment. Don’t fight them to get the 

perfect shot. – EW 

Remove busy or unnecessary elements 

—any cords, garbage or clutter. Better yet, 

take them to a place they don’t usually get 

to play (or, as above, sleep) in: Your freshly 

made bed! – EW 

grandmag.ca 


Family Stories 

The Importance of Storytelling 

His Story, Her Story, Our Story 

Rachel Dunstan Muller is a 

grandmother of three, a children’s 

author, and a professional storyteller 

to audiences of all ages. You can 

learn more about her work at 

racheldunstanmuller.com. 

“ 

Tell me a story, Grandma,” says 

five-year-old Kieran, as he pulls 

up his chair in front of me. It’s summer, 

and we’re taking advantage of 

relaxed COVID restrictions to camp 

together. 

“What kind of story?” I ask. 

“A new one!” says Kieran. 

I think for a moment, then launch 

into an improvised tale about a boy 

who wants to be a squirrel. 

All three of my young grandchildren 

love stories and I love telling 

them, so it’s a match made in heaven. 

As it turns out, the role of grandparents 

as storytellers is as old as language—and 

continues to be important 

even in these media-saturated times. 

A good story isn’t just entertaining; 

it’s a shared experience between teller 

and listener, an opportunity to give 

each other undivided attention. The 

stories themselves may pass on values 

or information, or offer glimpses into 

our collective cultural heritage. Storytelling 

is certainly more challenging 

when distance or COVID restrictions 

prevent us from being together in person, 

but with a little creativity, we can 

still keep this tradition alive. 

Family History 

Grandparents are often the unofficial 

historians of their families—a 

most important role. In a 2001 study 

by Drs. Marshall Duke and Robyn 

Fivush, children who knew the most 

about their family histories scored 

the highest on tests for self-esteem, 

resilience, and social and academic 

competence. The researchers concluded 

that the family stories they’d 

heard had given these children a sense 

of security and rootedness, and taught 

them that they belonged to something 

bigger than themselves. They’d 

learned that setbacks and obstacles 

were part of life, but that they could 

be overcome. 

Since we carry them around in 

our memories already, family stories 

are often the easiest to tell. Young 

kids love to hear about the humorous 

misadventures of their parents and 

grandparents when they were young, 

while older kids may be interested in 

the more serious trials and triumphs 

we’ve experienced, as well as those of 

more distant ancestors. 

Fictional Stories 

There’s a wealth of fictional stories 

worth sharing as well, stretching from 

the present back to mythic times. As 

I write this the library can only be 

accessed remotely, but the library’s 

online catalogue is still a great place to 

search for and request wonderful materials, 

from the world’s great myths, 

to collections of folk and fairy tales, to 

contemporary picture books that can 

be either read-aloud or learned and 

shared orally. Alternatively, visit fairytalez.com 

to browse a collection of 

more than 4,000 stories from around 

the world. 

Made Up Stories 

Preparing your own original stories 

in advance or making them up on the 

spot can be a wonderful creative exercise—and 

especially fun if you involve 

your grandchild in the story-making 

along the way. Depending on their age 

and enthusiasm, they can contribute 

a name, setting, character or even 

significant plot development. Creating 

an original story or “customizing” an 


existing one gives you the opportunity 

to make story time especially meaningful 

to your grandchild. 

Tips for Telling 

The stories we tell and how we tell 

them will be determined in large part 

by the age of our grandkids. Young 

children have short attention spans 

and will be most entertained by very 

short stories and rhymes. Interactive 

finger plays, felt boards, or puppets 

can help keep them focused – and are 

especially helpful if you’re sharing 

stories remotely via Zoom. 

Older preschoolers and primary 

students will enjoy longer stories, 

especially when they include humour 

and/or suspense. To keep kids of any 

age engaged, allow your own inner 

child to surface by being playful as you 

tell, using different voices for different 

characters, varying your volume, 

and using pauses for dramatic effect. 

If you’re able to tell in person, gestures 

can add impact. 

Storytelling becomes a more informal 

process as our grandkids get 

older, often evolving into personal 

or family stories recounted on hikes, 

long car rides, or while engaged in a 

shared activity. Even teens aren’t too 

old for stories; in fact if anything they 

need them even more. As they navigate 

the turbulent adolescent years, 

our grandkids need to be reassured 

that they aren’t alone, that other family 

members have taken risks, made 

mistakes, and suffered setbacks. Some 

family stories will encourage and inspire, 

while others may serve as cautionary 

tales. All are important. 

Learning a Story 

Preparing an engaging opening or 

first line can be a good way to draw 

young listeners in, but the rest should 

flow naturally when we’re telling 

in-person or on Zoom, allowing us 

to be present and spontaneous in the 

shared moment. But even if we don’t 

memorize every word, keeping track 

of a story’s characters and plot developments 

can be challenging. 

Storyboarding or story mapping can 

be an effective way to commit all the 

necessary elements to memory. Both 

involve recording the story in visual 

form, either sketching individual 

scenes in sequence on a paper divided 

into boxes, or by drawing a rough map 

of the story which includes all the key 

elements. Stick figures are fine in either 

case. This is a mnemonic device, 

not an art project! 

Recorded Stories 

If you can’t be together and Zoom 

storytelling doesn’t feel like a good fit, 

pre-recorded stories can be a wonderful 

way to stay connected. Imagine 

your grandchild or grandchildren listening 

to your voice as they go to bed 

at night! Collect some favourites tales 

or write your own, and then record 

yourself with an app on your smart 

phone or a digital recorder. If you 

don’t know how to transfer the recording 

to your grandkids, ask someone 

more technologically savvy for help. 

This can be a wonderful way to collect 

and preserve family or personal stories 

for posterity as well. 

Finally, keep in mind that the most 

important element of a good storytelling 

session isn’t how polished or prepared 

we are, or even the content of the 

story. What our grandkids will remember 

most is the gift of our presence and 

our wholehearted attention. 

grandmag.ca 


Happy Families, 

Healthy Families 

Caitlin Bittman is a pediatric 

Speech-Language Pathologist 

with Island Health. 

Toys that Do Nothing 

A gift-giving guide for your grandkids 

this holiday season 

As a pediatric speech-language 

pathologist, I frequent toy stores 

looking for the next amazing 

toy. As I wander the aisles I often find 

myself attracted to brightly-coloured 

electronic toys that make lots of noises, 

have all sorts of buttons or moving 

parts, and serve some ambiguous play 

function. If you have ever seen these 

toys, I’m sure you’ve also thought to 

yourself, “I wonder what this one 

does” as you look over the pictures on 

the box. 

It’s so easy to get drawn in by these 

flashy and visually stimulating toys! 

They are, after all, designed to achieve 

this purpose. When choosing a toy for 

your grandchild, it’s natural to pick 

a flashy toy you think will get a big 

and excited reaction from your child, 

which is often a ‘busy’ electronic toy. 

However I have a different suggestion—get 

your loved one a toy that 

does nothing. 

I know this sounds underwhelming, 

but allow me to explain! 

Simply put, my definition of a toy 

that does nothing is one that has no 

batteries and that easily allows for 

interactive and/or pretend play. This 

may sound boring, but it’s these kinds 

of toys that allow for the most creative 

and active play. After all, if the toy 

does nothing, then the child must do 

everything! 

Generally speaking “toys that do 

nothing” end up being more traditional 

toys, such as simple farm sets, 

dollhouses, play kitchens, blocks, or 

puppets. Combined with a willing play 

partner, these traditional toys support 

responsive interactions that help build 

children’s language, communication, 

and play skills. 

Think about the last time someone 

tried to talk to you while you were 

watching your favourite TV show or 

movie. Did it take several attempts 

before you noticed the other person? 

If they launched into a conversation 

(like my partner does!), did you catch 

everything that they said or did you 

need them to repeat themselves? Did 

you feel a little annoyed that someone 

was interrupting you? Do you think 

it would be easy to have an extended 

or meaningful conversation while the 

show was still playing? 

When we are absorbed in something 

that is both motivating and extremely 

stimulating, it can be difficult to share 

our attention. It’s the same with our 

grandkids playing with many of these 

“busy” toys! All the lights, sounds, and 

moving parts are appealing and are 

great at getting children’s attention, 

but they can also be attention hoarders, 

monopolizing the child’s attention 

and making it difficult for them to notice 

you in play. 


Have you ever noticed how quiet 

children get when they become absorbed 

in high-tech toys? Likely that 

is because they are tuning out everything 

around them. To many, this may 

not feel like a big deal. After all, don’t 

we want our children to enjoy the toys 

we give them? All children should be 

able and expected to play on their own 

sometimes; however it is important 

to recognize all the benefits that come 

from active play with another person. 

Research shows us how important 

quality interactions are between caregivers 

and children in supporting language 

development. When children 

engage in back-and-forth conversations 

with adults, they receive good 

language models and also have the 

opportunity to practice what they’ve 

learned and receive natural feedback 

as a part of the conversation. 

Recent research shows that engaging 

in conversations with young children 

works to strengthen the areas in 

their brain associated with language. 

And one of the best ways to have conversations 

with children is to participate 

in their play. 

Regardless of how a child plays with 

a toy, there are many opportunities 

for adults to model language and for 

children to practice using language 

as you talk about what you are doing 

together, or perhaps what you plan to 

do next. Engaging in conversations 

during play is a great opportunity to 

link experience to word meanings in 

that the children are experiencing 

something as it is happening (even if 

it is just pretend). 

Play is a child’s work. Children learn 

about the world and develop all kinds 

of skills through play, such as fine and 

gross motor skills, personal awareness, 

emotional well-being, social 

skills, creativity, logic, and problem 

solving, to name a few. Play and language 

skills develop hand-in-hand, 

and each supports the development of 

the other. 

This is especially true when children 

start engaging in pretend play 

and role playing. Here, children learn 

to use their imaginations, and they 

need language to create and enrich 

their play when they engage with others. 

This includes using language to 

decide what they will play, who will 

play what role, and what each person 

will do as part of their role, as well as 

what happens in the “story.” 

Language development is most likely 

to happen when the toy is not monopolizing 

the child’s attention, or if 

the toy is doing all the playing by itself 

with the child as a passive observer. 

Busy toys are not detrimental to 

children’s development, but more traditional 

toys tend to support interactions 

that will have a positive impact 

on a child’s development. 

When we use toys that “do nothing” 

to play with children, adults and 

children are more likely to be tunedin 

to one another. This sets the foundation 

for interactions that include 

more conversational turns and more 

opportunities to support language 

development. When the toy does less, 

it’s easier for the child to pay more 

attention to you and less attention to 

the toy. 

It is not the toys that are so important; 

it is the interaction and 

conversations we have while we play 

with those toys that are critical. So it 

is important to choose toys that will 

not undermine the interaction and 

distract children from communicating 

with us or engaging with what we say 

or how we say it. 

If you are thinking about getting 

your grandchild something special, 

consider the benefits of a toy that does 

nothing. Try not to be drawn in by the 

toys with all the bells and whistles! 

Remember that the flashy, high-tech 

toys do not allow much space for 

interactions that will support your 

child’s development. Find a more 

traditional toy that you would enjoy 

playing with your grandchild, such as 

blocks, role-play/dress-up toys, puppets, 

or pretend food. The best toys are 

simple and come with a willing and 

attentive play partner! I am certain 

that the gift that keeps on giving will 

be the toy that does nothing. 

Healthy Families, Happy Families 

Child, Youth 

& Family 

Public Health 

South Island Health Units 

Esquimalt 250-519-5311 

Gulf Islands 250-539-3099 

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton) 

Peninsula 250-544-2400 

Saanich 250-519-5100 

Saltspring Island 250-538-4880 

Sooke 250-519-3487 

Victoria 250-388-2200 

West Shore 250-519-3490 

Central Island Health Units 

Duncan 250-709-3050 

Ladysmith 250-755-3342 

Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 

Nanaimo 250-755-3342 

Nanaimo 250-739-5845 

Princess Royal 

Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242 

Port Alberni 250-731-1315 

Tofino 250-725-4020 

North Island Health Units 

Campbell River 250-850-2110 

Courtenay 250-331-8520 

Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289 

‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522 

Port Hardy 250-902-6071 

islandhealth.ca/our-locations/ 

health-unit-locations 

Changes with BC Medical Services Plan 

premiums mean that families eligible for partial 

payment of some medical services and access 

to some income-based programs now must 

apply for Supplementary Benefits through the 

Government of BC. Applications can be done 

online and take approximately 15 minutes. 

Families who previously qualified for MSP 

Premium Assistance should not need to re-apply 

if taxes are completed yearly. It is advised to 

confirm coverage before proceeding with 

treatment to avoid paying out of pocket. 

For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/gov/ 

content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/ 

bc-residents/benefits/services-covered-bymsp/supplementary-benefits 

grandmag.ca 


Growth & 

Development 

Jennifer Gibson, MA, is also known 

as “The Sex Lady”—officially now for over 

15 years in Greater Victoria!—to the 

thousands of amazing youth and adults 

she is lucky to educate and learn with 

through her job as the Coordinator of 

Community Education at Island Sexual 

Health. She’s passionate about making 

sexuality education as positive, fun 

and non-cringe-able as possible. 

A Grandparent’s 

Guide to Sex Ed 

It comes as no surprise that in the 

past few years, as many grandparents 

spend more time with their 

grandchildren and often in more carecentred 

roles, many have started asking 

how they can best support their 

grandchildren’s sexuality education. 

Most commonly, grandparents tell me 

that the BIG questions their grandchildren 

are comfortable enough to ask, 

inspire the grandparents to want to 

learn more. 

As our society becomes more open, 

honest and accepting about healthy 

sexuality, grandparents might feel 

that they missed opportunities to 

speak with their own children while 

they were growing up, and they want 

to change that with their grandchildren. 

Sometimes this openness brings 

concern that sexuality conversations 

will create more curiosities and confusion 

for their grandchildren. I am always 

thrilled to squash these concerns 

with the fact that global research has 

repeatedly demonstrated exactly the 

opposite! In fact, when children are 

well informed about sexuality, this 

information satisfies age-appropriate 

curiosities and becomes a protective 

factor for their health and safety. 

I believe the best way for grandparents 

to begin to support the growth 

of their grandchildren’s knowledge 

is to understand the approaches and 

philosophies their parents are using. 

Are they using the “all questions are 

good” approach and allowing children 

to guide their conversations through 

questions? Are they sitting down for 

more directed chats using books as 

teaching tools (a personal favourite 

approach that works great for extended 

families!)? Or are they utilizing safe 

and factual websites such as those at 

Amaze.org to provide information? 

Knowing the answers to these questions 

will help you as grandparents to 

understand both the amount of information 

your grandchildren have received 

and, most importantly, the tone 

in which it’s being delivered. You can 

then support the information that has 

already been offered and best choose 

how to grow their knowledge in ways 

that respect family approaches. 

Grandparents often share with me 

that they are surprised (usually pleasantly!) 

by the specific language their 

grandchildren are using. Understanding 

the language which families are 

using to describe bodies, identities, 

and relationships is an integral piece 

for effective education. Sexuality education 

begins with simple, intentional 

use of scientific language to describe 

all areas of the body equally includ- 


ing the genitals. Using these terms 

at times when you’re caring for their 

personal needs like during bath time 

or toilet training situates the language 

naturally. If you find that you haven’t 

used such specific language often 

enough to become comfortable, practice! 

Practice using the terms (nipples, 

vulva, testicles, nipples…) while you’re 

vacuuming. 

Using scientific language for all 

body parts teaches children that all 

parts of them are important and none 

are shameful or embarrassing. This 

knowledge and practice helps our children 

to ask for help, healthcare and/ 

or support when they need it with less 

apprehension and more confidence. 

Grandparents are vital to the understanding 

and practice of consent. 

Children (and adults!) shouldn’t feel 

obligated to offer and accept physical 

affection. For children to understand 

consent, we must allow them to witness 

and practice this skillset in their 

earliest and most influential personal 

relationships—with family. This 

means when you’re so full of love for 

them that you want to “squish” their 

face, you ask them first. Again, this 

may be a new practice that takes some 

time to feel comfortable and natural. 

Rest assured that when your grandchildren 

observe (and they are always 

watching/listening/absorbing!) a 

person being invited to share physical 

affection using language as simple as 

“Would you like a hug?”, it reminds 

them they have a choice and to expect 

that their needs and boundaries 

will be respected. This will set a solid 

course for future relationships they’ll 

be in. For the grandparents, this 

means accepting their wishes with 

grace even if it means missing out on 

the face squish. 

Whether you’re practicing science 

terms like vulva and penis at bath 

time, finding an answer to a BIG question, 

or asking before you squish their 

lovable face, you can be assured that 

your support and guidance will serve 

them and you well in the future. 

Kids Say the 

Darndest Things 

I cherish the memory of an incident that took place many years 

ago when I was the exhausted young mother of a challenging 

three-year-old girl and her lively redheaded infant brother. 

On this particularly chaotic day, I reached breaking point. 

Loudly asserting my need for “just a little peace and quiet,” I popped 

the baby into his crib and marched sassy Sarah to her room for quiet 

time before collapsing on the couch with a magazine and cup of tea. 

A few minutes later Sarah crept out of her room, cradling in her 

hands her most precious treasure: a tiny gilded cardboard gift box. 

Tiptoeing up to me, she proffered this peace offering. 

I opened it to find…nothing. Just an empty box. 

“What’s this?” I asked. 

Smiling softly, she whispered “It’s a piece of quiet.” 

Jacqui Graham 

grandmag.ca 


Staying 

Connected 


from Afar 

Susan Gnucci is a local author and a 

proud “nonna” to an adorable six-yearold 

grandson. She enjoys sharing her 

experiences as a first-time grandparent. 

As the proud grandmother of a 

six-year-old grandson (my older 

son’s little boy), I was thrilled recently 

to learn that I am to be a grandmother 

for a second time, this time 

with my younger son and his wife. My 

joy with this news, however, was tempered 

by a sobering fact—though I live 

in the same city as my first grandson, 

I live 3,000 kilometers away from my 

younger son and his wife. 

When my first grandson was born, 

it was so easy to be present at his birth 

and help out in those early days when 

sleep for new parents is such a precious 

commodity and home-cooked 

meals are much appreciated. And I 

was always eager to provide babysitting 

at every opportunity. 

I’ve been lucky to be able to spend 

every occasion with him: birthday 

parties, Easter egg hunts, Mother’s 

Day picnics, Thanksgiving turkey 

dinners, and a host of activities every 

Christmas. I realize, however, 

that I will only see my second grandson—yes, 

it’s another boy!—at best 

twice each year because I still work 

full-time, and even more daunting, 

because the distance separating us is 

so great. 

I wish my own parents were still 

alive so I could commiserate with 

them; they lived 600 kilometers away 

from my sons as they grew up, and 

even though this distance isn’t that 

far, we still only saw them twice each 

year. For one thing, it was expensive 

to get on and off the Island, and flying 

a family of four simply wasn’t in our 

budget. For another, my parents also 

both worked so it wasn’t easy for them 

to get away either. 

Until now, I didn’t fully appreciate 

how difficult it must have been for 

them to be so far away from their only 

grandsons. I remember we packed as 

much as we could into every one of 

their visits, making a concerted effort 

to enjoy every moment together. 

As my sons grew older, my parents 

would gift each of them with a crisp 

$100 bill on every visit (in lieu of 

treating them throughout the year). I 

can still picture their eyes, wide with 

excitement, as they held their new 

fortune. To them, it was a windfall. 

I realize I will have to make the 

most out of every visit with my new 

grandson. What I lack in quantity, I 

will have to make up for in quality. 

Time together will be such a precious 

commodity. 

When I was raising my family, 

I would phone my parents every 

Sunday. My sons rarely came to the 


phone; they were usually too busy 

with all their activities or off with 

their friends. It was only on special 

occasions when they would spend a 

fleeting minute or two in conversation 

with their grandparents. 

Nowadays, modern technology 

such as FaceTime, Skype, Snapchat, 

Instagram and Facebook will allow 

me to play a greater role in my new 

grandson’s life. I will still be living at a 

distance, but technology will help narrow 

the gap. 

I hope through the use of such technology, 

we can become well acquainted, 

so we won’t have to waste valuable 

time getting to know one another at 

the start of every visit. 

And I will prepare myself for those 

inevitable late night phone calls, 

the same ones I made to my own 

mother when my sons had a fever that 

wouldn’t break, or a suspicious rash, 

or a cough that just wouldn’t settle. I’m 

sure I must have driven my parents 

crazy with my worries, especially 

with my first child. This was back in 

the time before the internet; instead 

of a wealth of information at our fingertips 

with which a person can often 

self-diagnose nowadays, we turned 

instead to the wisdom and experience 

of people like our parents and grandparents. 

Even with the resource of 

the internet, there’s still nothing like 

practical experience, so despite the 

time difference, I fully expect to receive 

those phone calls, and of course, 

texts. I find it interesting that much of 

the ‘old-fashioned’ parenting wisdom 

provided by our previous generations 

now seems to be back in vogue! 

No doubt the birth of my second 

grandson will be both exciting and 

bittersweet. I’ve decided I want to be 

the type of grandmother who flies in 

for a visit carting treats and bearing 

gifts, fully prepared to win over her 

grandchild(ren). After all, I won’t have 

time to waste! 

L I G H T S , S T A G E , 

ACTION! 

- 

- 

Large studio space, small class sizes! 

Acting, Film, Improv, Playwriting 

and more! Classes for home learners, 

after-school and online learners. 

250-386-7526 | schooladmin@skam.ca | skam.ca 

grandmag.ca 


Money & 

Finances 

4 Ways to Invest in Your 

Grandchildren’s Future 

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is special. You get to 

share your wisdom and stories with eager listeners and occasionally, you 

get to treat them to ice cream before dinner. 

If you’re able, you may want to plan to leave a legacy for your grandchildren. 

One of the best ways to set them up for a successful 

future is to contribute to their 

education savings. 

Four strategies that can help you 

make smart investment choices 

for your grandchildren: 

1. Coordinate RESP contributions with your 

adult children 

Registered Education Savings Plans (RE- 

SPs) are specifically designed to help parents 

and grandparents save for a child’s education. 

They offer opportunities for: 

• Government matching. Canada Education 

Savings Grants (CESGs) match 20 per cent 

of your contributions up to a maximum 

grant of $500 each year 

• Tax-deferred investment growth. No tax 

is due until your grandchild starts withdrawing 

money to pay for post-secondary 

education 

A child can be named as a beneficiary on 

more than one RESP. However, there is a lifetime 

contribution limit of $50,000 per child and this 

can get complicated to track across multiple plans. 

Find out if your children have opened an RESP for 

your grandchildren, and then coordinate your contributions 

with theirs. 

For more information 

visit Manulife 

at manulife.ca. 

2. Consider giving your adult children the money to 

ontribute 

Rather than contributing directly to the RESP, 

you may want to give your children money so that 

they can contribute more to their child’s RESP. This 

can protect you from taxes if your grandchild decides not to 

pursue post-secondary education. 


3. Complement RESP savings with 

your TFSA 

Let’s say you plan to contribute 

a specific amount to a grandchild’s 

education savings—for example, 

$30,000—and you have the money 

available now. To maximize CESGs (assuming 

no one else is contributing on 

behalf of your grandchild), you can: 

• Contribute $30,000 to your Tax- 

Free Savings Account (TFSA), if you 

have the contribution room available 

• Move $2,500 into the RESP every 

year 

That way, you’ll benefit from a 

TFSA’s tax-free investment growth 

while the money is waiting to go into 

the RESP. This can make a significant 

difference to the amount your grandchild 

has available to pay for his or 

her education. 

4. Top up education savings in your 

grandchildren’s TFSA 

When your grandchildren are 18, 

they can open their own TFSAs. If 

their education savings need a topup, 

this can be an excellent place to 

do it. 

Beyond offering tax-free investment 

growth, TFSA withdrawals 

can be used for any purpose—unlike 

RESP savings, which must be used 

to help pay for education-related expenses. 

That makes them a flexible 

source of extra money while your 

grandchildren are studying. 

What if your grandchildren don’t 

need their TFSA money for school? 

You’ll be helping them start a lifelong 

habit of saving and investing—and 

that’s a legacy in itself. 

Sign up for a 

GRAND Digital 

Subscription 

and you could win a 

selection of children’s 

books sent to your 

grandchild every month 

(3-month subscription) 

courtesy of 

Marmalade Books. 

Every month they will receive 

recently published books 

appropriate to their age. 

These books have been 

curated by a trusted children’s 

bookseller. Marmalade Books 

is a monthly book subscription 

company located in Victoria 

for children aged 0–12. 

Subscribe now at 

grandmag.ca 

grandmag.ca 


Cooking with 

Grandkids 

Sharing Through 

Cooking 

Emillie Parrish writes from Victoria 

and Saturna Island. She is the author 

of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle blog: 

BerriesAndBarnacles.com. 

Though I grew up far from my 

grandparents, I was adopted by 

an elderly neighbour when I was 

eight years old. I would go over to her 

house on the weekend and we would 

take walks in the nearby woods, looking 

for birds. She gave me a set of pastels 

so I could sit and draw. But mostly 

we cooked together. She started by 

teaching me to bake simple things like 

cookies and muffins. Then we moved 

on to pie crust and simple loaves of 

bread. 

As the third child in a family of 

four children, it was hard to mark my 

place between two older brothers and 

an adorable younger sister. Baking 

became a way to distinguish myself. 

I made a lemon meringue pie for my 

parents’ anniversary. Cakes for birthdays. 

Cookies at Christmas. 

My interest in cooking only grew, 

and I was subsequently adopted by 

several other women with a passion 

for cooking. I learned how to can 

peaches, salsa and pickles. The best 

way to pull dough around the filling 

of a homemade peirogi. How to 

chop cabbage for borscht. And toast 

spices for curry. All of these particular 

cooking skills were better learned 

in person than from a cookbook or a 

YouTube video. 

Cooking is not just a process of following 

the steps in a recipe. It is an 

artform that involves intuition. And 

an understanding of how something 

should look, smell and feel. For an 

experienced cook, that sort of understanding 

is second nature. For a child, 

it is something that needs to be demonstrated. 

Connecting with your grandchildren 

through cooking is a special way 

to teach them about themselves. Recipes 

are a part of your family history 

and heritage. So why not invite your 

grandchildren into the kitchen! 

• Toddlers and preschoolers can 

help with measuring and stirring. 

They can also use a butter knife to 

slice soft foods like mushrooms. 

• School-aged kids are ready to 

learn how to cook. They love undivided 

adult attention and learning 

new skills. 

• Tweens and teens might be reluctant 

to get started, but they really 

enjoy the sense of accomplishment 

that comes with showing off new 

skills and talents. Try to find out what 

might interest them, then build on 

that. Don’t be surprised if their interests 

cause you to also learn some new 

cooking skills, like making sushi or 

frying donuts. 


Boston 

Brown Bread 

My parents were both from New York State. 

Here is a traditional New England recipe 

that my great-grandmother and grandmother 

both used to enjoy making. 

Boston brown bread is a cross between 

a dense loaf of bread and a steamed pudding. 

It can be served plain or toasted. We 

often eat a slice as a hearty afterschool 

snack. However, it’s classically served with 

beans and franks for dinner. 

The most traditional way to make brown 

bread is to steam it in a large coffee can 

(6 inches tall and 4 inches wide). However, 

I recommend using a glass loaf pan, since 

coffee cans may have a plastic liner and 

aren’t necessarily designed for reusing in 

this way. 

Dry Ingredients 

½ cup all-purpose flour 

½ cup rye flour 

½ cup finely ground corn meal 

½ teaspoon baking powder 

½ teaspoon baking soda 

¼ teaspoon salt 

Wet Ingredients 

½ cup molasses 

1 cup buttermilk 

¼ cup raisins 

1. Start by preparing the steamer. Either 

use a large pot on the stove that will fit a 

loaf pan, or use a slow cooker. The loaf pan 

can sit on the bottom of the slow cooker. 

However, if you are using a pot on the 

stove, then you need a metal rack to keep 

the loaf pan off the bottom of the pot. 

2. Grease the loaf pan with butter. 

3. Bring a large kettle of water up to boil 

while you prepare the batter. 

4. Mix the dry ingredients in a small 

bowl. Then mix the wet ingredients in a 

larger bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into 

the dry ingredients and stir to combine. 

5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. 

Make sure the batter doesn’t fill more than 

two thirds of the way up the sides of the 

pan. Cover the loaf pan tightly with tin foil. 

6. Place the loaf pan in the slow cooker 

or large pot. Add enough boiling water to 

come 1/3 of the way up the side of the loaf 

pan. Bring the water up to a gentle boil, 

then steam for 45–60 minutes. If you’re 

using a slow cooker, set the temperature 

on high and cook for 2–3 hours. The brown 

bread is ready when a toothpick inserted 

in the middle comes out clean. 

7. Let stand for 10 minutes before removing 

from the loaf pan. 

Enjoy! 

BUILD A 

LEGACY 

AND HELP 

TRANSFORM 

LIVES 

Consider giving a lasting gift to 

help local families build a strong 

foundation for a brighter future. 

For more information, contact 

giving@habitatvictoria.com 

250.480.7688 ext.103 

habitatvictoria.com 

grandmag.ca 


Books & 

Literacy 

Inspire a Love 

of Reading 

The Greater Victoria Public Library 

has put together programs 

and suggested activities you can 

undertake with your grandchildren to 

help develop a special bond and set up 

the kids in your life for a love of reading 

and learning. Programs and services 

offered by GVPL have changed 

during the COVID 19 pandemic, however 

there are still many ways to enjoy 

the magic of learning together. 

Don’t have a library card? Get one in 

two minutes at gvpl.ca/get-a-librarycard/ 

and start reading, watching, 

playing, listening and learning right 

away. 

Programs 

While there is currently a pause 

in programs that happen inside the 

library, outside offerings include 

monthly COVID-friendly StoryWalks. 

Details at gvpl.ca/gvpl-programs 

Once Upon a StoryWalk 

Join us for a StoryWalk ® , where individual 

pages of a storybook, mounted 

on sign posts, are placed outdoors in a 

circuit. Children follow the narrative 

by visiting each sign post in sequence. 

Rain or shine; please dress appropriately. 

Check-out gvpl.ca for upcoming 

dates. Everyone welcome; children 

must be accompanied by an adult. 

Or set up one of GVPL’s StoryWalk ® 

kits in your own backyard. Pages 

from a picture book are placed around 

the yard in a circuit. Kids and adults 

go from page to page in sequence, 

reading the book and discussing 

characters, illustrations, themes and 

vocabulary. To find out more, visit 

gvpl.ca/storywalk. 

At Home 

Pop into a library branch to access a 

small browsing collection or visit gvpl. 

ca to put some of your favourite titles 

on hold and then bring them home to 

your favourite comfy reading spot. 

Share books you remember from your 

childhood. Tell your grandchild why 

you loved each book, what you remember 

about it and why you wanted 

to share it with them. 

Go Digital 

Find a wealth of ebooks, audiobooks, 

magazines, streaming video and games 

for children (and all ages) at gvpl.ca/ 

digital. Highlights include Biblioenfants, 

an online resource where you 

can find children’s read-along books in 

French. Check out Mango Languages 

for an opportunity to learn a new language 

with your grandkids. 

Find the Best of the Best Picture 

Books on a featured list on Cloudlibrary; 

you’re sure to find some old 


favourites and some new ones too! For 

children’s downloadable audiobooks 

and streaming TV shows check out 

Hoopla. And for ebooks for all ages, 

animated picture books, games for 

kids and more visit Tumblebooks. 

Grandparents who need assistance 

with any of GVPL’s digital platforms 

can visit gvpl.ca/help for helpful 

Niche Academy tutorials. 

Special Items to Borrow 

Grandparents can borrow a Climate 

Action To-Go Kit to explore ways of 

being energy efficient at home—try 

out a thermal leak detector, a kill-awatt 

meter, or a pedometer. 

Looking for something fun and creative 

to do together, borrow an easel 

and head outdoors for some fun painting 

or drawing together or check out 

a Puppets to Go Box and put on your 

own puppet show. 

Get down and play with a Skill 

Builders Adaptive Toy kit that include 

tools and toys to help children aged 3 

and up develop essential skills—fine 

and gross motor, language, hand-eye 

coordination, focus and sensory processing. 

Stories to Go 

It’s storytime in a box. GVPL’s Stories 

to Go boxes are a resource for 

families, caregivers and early childhood 

educators to use with young children. 

These theme boxes, available for 

toddlers or preschoolers, have been 

designed to meet a variety of interests 

while helping to develop early literacy 

skills. Kits include books, music CDs, 

a rhyme booklet and puppets and include 

selections in Arabic, Chinese, 

French, German, Italian and Spanish. 

Books to Go 

Is there a Lego lover in your family? 

How about a fairy fanatic? An adventurous 

astronaut? The Kids Books to 

Go Bags contain 10 books on one topic 

to immerse your child in an engaging 

learning experience. From dragons 

and dinosaurs to princesses and pirates, 

the mix of non-fiction and fiction 

titles will appeal to kids ages five 

to 10 years old. Pick up a bag of books 

on variety of topics that are already 

selected and ready to go by searching 

for Books to Go—Children’s. 

Readers to Go 

Readers to Go provide kids learning 

to read in English or French with a 

variety of books suited to their reading 

development. Each bag contains 

an assortment of short books with 

controlled vocabulary and related illustrations, 

plus information on how 

you can support children learning to 

read. 

Family Picks to Go 

With a Family Picks to Go kit, you 

can dig deeper into a topic with your 

grandchild. Choose a light-hearted kit 

like camping, coding or gardening; 

or one for more serious times, such 

as coping with the death of a family 

member or learning about Truth and 

Reconciliation. Or, choose something 

in between like getting ready for kindergarten 

or learning about puberty. 

These kits are based on requests from 

library patrons about what they’d like 

to see. Each kit contains seven books, 

making it easy for a grandparent to 

thoroughly explore a topic with their 

grandchildren. 

For Greater Victoria Public Library’s 

complete list of 100 exceptional picture 

books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, 

visit gvpl.ca/100books. 

grandmag.ca 


Media & 

Technology 

Face Your Fears & 

Embrace the Cloud 

Many of us without sound technological 

knowledge worry 

about storing our files and data 

on the internet, but the truth is we 

could be more at risk if we don’t. 

stored on a remote database, instead 

of being kept solely on your device. 

The biggest benefit of cloud storage 

is that photos, documents and other 

files won’t disappear if you lose your 

phone, or if your computer stops 

working. 

Ben Hocking is digital 

editor at YourLifeChoices, 

yourlifechoices.com.au. 

Unless you are one of the few who 

regularly back up their files, you are 

only a computer malfunction away 

from losing most of your important 

files. 

Storing your information on the 

cloud allows you to make sure all your 

important files avert a hardware or 

file failure. 

What is the cloud? 

Put simply, the cloud is a storage 

system that uses an online server, 

rather than a phone or computer hard 

drive. This means that your files are 

Is it safe? 

The level of security depends on 

which system you’re using, as different 

companies (Google, Apple, etc.) 

will have different ways of protecting 

the privacy of your files. Essentially, 

as long as your password is unique 

and secure (as is the case for all things 

tech-related), then cloud storage is 

safe. So, don’t be afraid to embrace 

it as a digital storage option. Certain 

products, such as Google Drive, allow 

users to set up mobile login verification, 

where the user receives a code 

via SMS, which is entered as an extra 

security tool, to help ensure the information 

is not accessed by an unauthorised 

user. 

Another advantage 

As well as making sure your files 

are safe from malfunction and misadventure, 

storing files in the cloud 

also comes with one other significant 

advantage: sharing files with loved 

ones quickly. If you store all images on 

Google Photos, for example, you can 

access these images instantly no matter 

where we are. You can also share 

the login details with other family 

members and friends so they can see 

all the latest pictures of the grandkids, 

without trawling through the mess of 

social media. 


Give Wonder! 

975 Fort Street, Victoria BC - 250-595-4905 - motheringtouch.ca 

Support Our Hospitals 

in Your Will 

Donating in your will is one of the greatest acts 

of generosity you can make. No great wealth is 

required to give, just the willingness to plan. 

Royal Jubilee Hospital 

“Giving to our local 

hospitals is an effective 

way to make a difference 

in people’s lives — when 

they’re at their most 

vulnerable.” 

— Lynne Thomas, on why 

she included VHF in her will 

Start a conversation with Beth Cairns today: 

250-519-1750 | vhf@viha.ca 

victoriahf.ca/will-and-estates 

grandmag.ca

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