B.C. Seniors Advocate survey
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie released provincial results of her office’s survey of publicly subsidized residential care homes today. This is the most extensive survey of residents’ quality of life ever conducted in Canada. “For the first time in this province, we have heard the collective voices of some of our most frail and vulnerable seniors across all of our care homes,” said Mackenzie. “What they are telling us is that while some are satisfied in some areas, overall, we need to be doing better, and in some cases, much better in ensuring the needs of residents are...
Read MoreFrom Nursing To Farming.
Cedar Valley Poultry Farm was envisioned while I was taking my LPN coursethrough Malaspina University in 2004. By 2005 I registered my Farm business and received a business loan through Farm Credit Canada. My business life was underway, our farm was diversifying and BC Chicken Marketing Board had given our farm a permit to grow Chicken Meat. I left the working world to spend all my time developing our farm Business. My husband was working three part time jobs, which allowed this to happen. My husband and I have been active in Farmers Markets for the past 21 years. Members of the Cedar...
Read MoreElder Abuse Awareness Day
Canada’s growing senior population means more British Columbians at risk of elder financial abuse, expert says With the number of Canadian seniors at an all-time high—now outnumbering children for the first time in history, according to the most recent census data—financial abuse of older adults is likely to be a growing issue. “In recent years we’ve seen more cases of elderly members of the credit union victimized by financial fraud than we have previously,” says Kevin Haarhoff, a senior investigator of corporate security at Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union....
Read MoreRunning (for office)
At 61, I don’t do a lot of physical running any more, although I keep telling myself that I could if I wanted to. For me, physical running is associated with being in my 20s and 30s. I slowed down after that. But this past spring a whole new kind of running hit my life – running for office! I’ve been on Boards and Commissions, Advisory Groups, Non-Profits and PTAs or PACs, depending on where I lived. Watching the world on a path to self-destruction (actually, human destruction) was no longer an option for me, however. I had to step up. I have been Green since the ‘60s, before there...
Read MoreCarole James, NDP, MLA
Since 2005, Carole has had the honour of working as a BC NDP MLA representing the community of Victoria-Beacon Hill to the provincial Legislature. She is a strong voice in the Legislature as the New Democrat Opposition’s spokesperson for Finance. Carole previously served as Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the BC NDP for seven years. Before serving as MLA, Carole was elected to the Greater Victoria School Board from 1990 to 2001. She served as the President of the BC School Trustees Association for an unprecedented five terms, commencing in 1995. As an MLA, Carole...
Read MoreSalish Sea, World Heritage Site.
She sells seashells down by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I’m sure she sells seashore shells. — Terry Sullivan As some of you will be aware, I have had my head down for six months or so, trying to get the Salish Sea recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just the Canadian waters that is, so it’s only 60 per cent as difficult as getting the whole inland sea on the drawing board. Though some might say it’s going to be a herculean task to get the U.S. waters onboard in the foreseeable future, so long...
Read MoreLori Iannidinardo NDP
As a three-term Area Director withthe Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), Lori believes consultation, openness and accountability lie at the heart of responsible government and a strong community. Raised in the Valley, she is a life-long community advocate, experienced volunteer and activist. Lori knows a sustainable environment and a sustainable economy go hand-in-hand. She led the development of Cowichan Bay’s award-winning Official Community Plan with its progressive and sustainable vision for the area. She has actively fought the proposed Saanich Inlet LNG project since day one,...
Read MoreLia Versaevel, Green Party.
Poverty, Panaceas & Platitudes Aplenty. There is no isolated solution to poverty issues. No matter who is doing the research, BC’s human population has one of the highest poverty rates in Canada and a lot of these humans are children. The other significant group in poverty statistics is single women, particularly elders. The BC Greens have been exploring the concept of basic livable wages or basic income, and a poverty reduction strategy. My own research reveals an extremely complex set of variables that make up the social reality of “poverty”. A poverty reduction plan has to...
Read MoreMitzi Dean, NDP candidate.
Standing up for Esquimalt-Metchosin. I am humbled to accept with gratitude the nomination as the BC NDP candidate for Esquimalt-Metchosin. These are big shoes to fill, I know. Maurine Karagianis and Moe Sihota, Frank Mitchell, Ray Rice, Randall Garrison, and so many other New Democrats have stood up for this community for decades. And now I am deeply honoured for this opportunity to follow their exceptional example of public service, and build on their amazing work. Women running for elected office face particular challenges, and I am proud to follow the...
Read MoreThe Salish Sea Trust
With both provincial and federal government leaders emphasizing the need for economic and environmental solutions, and the need growing for long-lasting benefits and employment in BC’s southern coast, a Salish Sea World Heritage Site proposal is being seen as a major economic driver and world-wide attraction for south-western British Columbia. “Just last month, the Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, raised the prospect of strengthening economic ties with B.C.,” said Laurie Gourlay, Interim Director of the Salish Sea Trust. “There is also an acknowledgement of the need...
Read MoreSonia Furstenau, Green Party
Cowichan Valley. Why I’m Running. I used to believe that government governed for people first. That government served us, the people, and not just vested interests. I believed that government looked out for all citizens – for our collective health, our well-being, our environment, our economy, our education and for our communities. The four-year fight to protect the water at Shawnigan Lake that I was so actively involved in – the one where our provincial government approved a 50-year, 5 million tonne permit to dump contaminated soil above a drinking water source for 12,000...
Read MoreLia Versaevel, Green Party.
As an active community member, Lia has much to offer as Nanaimo-North-Cowichan’s Green Candidate. Lia declares, “Education, health care and protection of our most vulnerable citizens will be my priorities as your next MLA, through a sustainable economy, respecting diversity.” Her core values are: vibrant economic growth, First Nations reconciliation, ecological stewardship, and restoring our education system (pre-school through post-secondary). Furthermore, Lia seeks to improve care for seniors, the disabled, and children in care. After 27 years with the Attorney General’s Ministry...
Read MoreHandyDART survey results
BC’s Seniors Advocate released resultsof a province-wide survey of almost 7,500 HandyDART users in the province today. The survey highlights that while 91% of users are satisfied with the service when they receive it, almost 1/3 of respondents say it is not meeting, or only moderately meeting, their transportation needs. “Obviously there’s good news here,” said Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie. “People are telling us that across many aspects of this service, things are positive, however we are still concerned that there are a significant number of seniors whose transportation needs...
Read MoreThink you’re not prejudiced?
think again when it comes to seniors. October 1st is the United Nations-declared “International Day of the Older Person.” The theme this year is ageism, a prejudice that the UN describes as the most socially-normalized form of discrimination worldwide. The term was coined in 1969 to describe a form of discrimination based on age. Since this time, we have seen a number of barriers broken: gay people can legally marry, women lead governments and the Supreme Court of Canada, people in wheelchairs hold public office and win gold medals, and the United States has elected an...
Read MoreWhy a Retirement Community?
Are you are no longer enjoying cooking? Not eating properly? Or maybe you’re lonely and having a hard time getting out of your home to visit. Are you feeling isolated…or bored? As a ‘tour guide’ for a seniors’ home, I find that many people have at least one of the above concerns. Another big concern for some people reaching the age where they are considering a down size is what seniors homes used to look like. They are remembering the facilities that used to care for their own grandparents or parents. Thankfully we have come a long way and there really is very little, if any,...
Read MoreAn Accidental Pilgrimage
Rose Spit was on our list of adventures, and we were running out of time. A few days before, we were blessed to have been two, of a dozen hearty souls who shared a zodiac expedition through Gwaii Hanaas to the site of Sgang Gwaay. But that is a story for another day. My traveling companion, and sister, and I had been asking around Massett for a couple of days, hoping to find a ride out to the spit. There were a few possibilities, but nothing actually firmed up. We were told that Rose Spit was a 15 km return walk. We could see it in the distance. How hard could it be? We would be challenged,...
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