Seniors 101’s Helpline
Our sister site Seniors 101 has stood the test of time. It began in 2004 as basically an add on to my private home care business. My husband Roy noticed that I spent a great deal of my time answering basic questions about what products and services were available for seniors on Vancouver Island and wondered what could be done to get that information in one place that could be available to everyone. At that time web sites were still a new and for us an unknown entity. After much heading scratching and research we decided to give it a try and that was the birth of Seniors 101. When we look back...
Read MoreOur Vancouver Island.
Yesterday I came across a very rare and refreshing item, an article in a newspaper that made me feel happy and content. By and large the mainstream media, especially television, have become peep show galleries to other peoples misery and distress. They intrude with microphones and stupid questions when people are at their lowest, it’s amazing that reporters are not verbally and physically attached. Please read the article below, I guarantee will make you feel better. We are so fortunate to live on the Vancouver Island. ******************************************************* This...
Read MorePunishment Without trial
I was, and remain, outraged to learn of the additional, mental and physical hardships women prisoners are faced with on the Island because there are no holding facilities here for women. The women we are talking about here are awaiting trial, they have not been convicted of anything. They are being taken away from family, friends and any support they may have here to await trial. They are being unduly punished by the lack of facilities for women on the island caused as the result of economic cut backs by a heartless, mean spirited provincial government. This is wrong and should be rectified...
Read MoreA New On-Line Shopping Page.
On-line marketing has become an ever increasing presence an the market place and Island Woman magazine has created a platform to assist smaller companies on the island to easily access and share in its potential. Trish Summerhayes, the owner of Island Woman, said “It’s very important to me to do all that I can to encourage small business’ on the island, especially those of island women. I was a small business owner for many years and I know that it can be very difficult to start up and run a business, especially for women. It is so draining trying to obtain start-up money...
Read MoreCanada needs to get serious
Laurie always has such wise messages. I felt the need to pass this on to Island Woman’s readers. Trish Summerhayes Owner/publisher. Canada needs to get serious if it’s going to address the unprecedented threat to our way of life that is climate change. The least-expensive, simplest and quickest way would be to restore forested lands and coastal marine ecosystems so they sequester carbon. Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea offer some of the easiest and best pickings to be had anywhere, and we’re long overdue. Promised and re-promised for 20 years, the need to mitigate our...
Read MoreNew Sense Of Hope
As we approach this Christmas, I am increasingly aware that there is a new sense of hope, not just on the Island but across Canada. For years, we have been led to believe that we were under the constant threat of potential violence by terrorist. It became omnipresent. Fear feeds on itself. That feeling changed in an instant as the results of the federal election were announced. Fear was immediately replaced by an overwhelming message of renewal. Smiles and hugs replaced scowls, threats and isolation. Human warmth and compassion returned to our national leadership. Hope and the feeling that we...
Read MoreFarmers’ Markets Go Online
As a farmer’s daughter it was only natural that I would be a part of the “back to the earth” movement here on the Island in the 70s. I have always promoted local farmers and their products, and I am delighted to learn of the COW-OP group here in the Cowichan area. I support them and their concept totally and encourage others to do the same. Trish SummerhayesOwner/Publisher Island Womanislandwoman@shaw.ca Buy Local! Buy Fresh! – A farmers market meets the internet for convenient year-round shoppingOnline shoppers in the Cowichan region are...
Read MoreGetting To The Heart Of Things
It has always been a mystery that has caused frustration and anger as one wonders why women have always been treated differently regarding heart attacks. The diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of women has been far inferior to that of men. Everyone knew it, but nobody seemed to know why, and by and large, the difference appeared to be ignored. Fortunately it was not being ignored. Two women doctors are now leading the way in the better diagnosis and treatment of women suffering heart attacks, right here in British Columbia Their amazing accomplishments are featured in the article below, which...
Read MoreWhispers Of The Spirit
Women in Chemainus are facing a challenge brought about by the sale of ‘Whispers of the Spirit’. Whispers was the concept and passion of Gabriele Lanoue who dreamed of establishing a centre of complementary healing and spiritual guidance. That dream was realized and ‘Whispers’ became a focal point in the area for those needing a place of peace and comfort. Unfortunately, as often happens, health issues within the family have brought about the need to close ‘Whispers’, and Gabriele is moving to Powell River. This in turn has created a vacuum for other woman...
Read MoreAffordable Prescriptions For All
With the federal election looming, Elizabeth May is proposing affordable prescription charges with a national pharmacare system. Currently millions of Canadians, mainly women and children, cannot afford to cash their prescriptions which is a national disgrace. The following article appeared recently in the Times Colonist. Trish Summerhayes Owner/Publisher Island Woman Greens aim for affordable prescriptions with national pharmacare Andrew Duffy / Times Colonist July 28, 2015 02:54 PM Elizabeth May served notice in Victoria Tuesday that the Green Party plans to...
Read MoreToo Risk-Averse
The article below was in today’s Times Colonist and I thought it was not only a sensible article but also very timely. On Friday, all our schools will be closing for the summer and the children will be out for two months. Unfortunately, they may be out of school but a large percentage will not be outside or out playing as they did historically. They will be inside, in front of a computer, the TV or some other electronic occupier. This scenario is often brought about by “helicopter parents” who are over protective and over stressed. Unfortunately, this can have dire...
Read MoreCreating Christmas Spirit
Christmas … portrayed in folklore, the media and commercial hype as a time of peace, happiness and goodwill. Unfortunately, the reality is that for many people, the reverse is true; it is a time of loneliness, grief and regret. The suicide rate increases over the Christmas holiday period. Why should this be so? For some, this will be the first Christmas they will be without a spouse, a child or a loved one. For others, it triggers memories of Christmas past. For me, December 23rd brings back the pain of my father dying when I was 15 years old. The unrelenting commercial pressure at this...
Read MoreErased from Public History
Listening to North by Northwest on CBC radio this morning, my favourite source of entertainment and information, I heard for the first time the name Thérèse Casgrain. Her granddaughter was being interviewed, and what an amazing woman she was!!! Thérèse Casgrain was the power behind the the movement that finally allowed the women of Quebec to vote in provincial elections in 1940. Yes 1940. She went on to be the first woman leader of a provincial political party in Canada and the first woman to be nominated to the Canadian senate. Thérèse died in 1981. The following year, the Thérèse...
Read MoreRetirement Gift
Growing up as a farmer’s daughter in a small village in England, I first heard about the Women’s Institute. I had no idea what it was, but it was serious and very grown up. Fast forward a lifetime to earlier this year. After living on Vancouver Island for 40 years and having sold my business at the end of 2012, I moved to Chemainus, a wonderful move. As a retirement present, my cousin Janice Grinnell gave me a membership to the Cedar Women’s Institute. My initial thought was” wow”! I was still not well informed about the W.I. The first meeting that I attended was...
Read MoreFaith and public life
For many years what has come to be known as the religious right has been a very powerful force in north American politics. They publically and loudly promote their beliefs and the way that society should be moulded. Their beliefs are insular and non inclusive. I am an Anglican. My beliefs are very personal and mine alone. As such I respect other peoples beliefs as long as they are not intrusive to others. I recently read the following article in the Anglican Journal about Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich and the Gulf Islands, regarding her faith and the role it plays in her public life. I was...
Read MoreLessons of Stone Soup
I recently discovered a new – to me – Island magazine Island Farm & Garden Resourceful Living. As a magazine buff, I was really impressed by the quality of both its format and its content. The publisher, Lesley Lorenz, has created a first class magazine and she should be congratulated. Another talented Island woman who makes the Island so special. It is available in print and online. The article below was published the winter 2013/2014 issue and is yet another example of the resourcefulness and tenacity of Island women. Please read this and then consider how we can emulate...
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