Carina Verhoeve - New SHS Coordinator

Hello Everybody, I would like to introduce myself. I am the new coordinator of Seniors Helping Seniors. My name is Carina Verhoeve (Verhoove). Like Ester, one of your former coordinators, I come from the Netherlands. I have had contact with seniors throughout my life and now I am nearly one myself, (57). In The Netherlands, I have had a private practice as a psychologist and as a Reiki master. Here on Cortes, I give Reiki classes as well as treatments to both people and animals. I love to garden, walk, swim and dance and I have facilitated dance on the island for a while. After having lived in a city for 50 years, living on Cortes is a total blessing. I came here seven years ago as a partner of Cortes Island’s Rick Bockner, who I married in 2006. I have always wished to live in nature, close to the ocean, and to live in a small community where people need and help each other and get involved with each other. So you understand, I don’t only love to live here, but I also love to be part of the community and to be active in it. And now, I get to do this work with you, which basically is part of those wishes - great! I am looking forward to getting familiar with the activities that the seniors have been doing and to developing new programs. Please share with me your thoughts and wishes of things you would like to see happen. Telephone: 250-935-6792 Box 224, Whaletown, VOP IZO carinav.3@uniserve.com

July Newsletter

Have you see our latest Newsletter? Patricia leRoux has been creating the Seniors newsletter for quite a while now. She has the Seniors Computer at her house (although I keep snatching it away for workshops). 
Patricia is pleased to use her computer skills and her other communication
skills for the benefit of our Seniors. Click on the "Newsletter" link on the left, and download the latest newsletter!

Final Report

Seniors Helping Seniors Staff

Seniors Helping Seniors Catharine Bushe is now acting as SHS contact person. Any seniors requiring help for any reason should contact her at 250-935-0205. If you want to join one of the lunches, please call Lorena Teames at 935-6337

Patricia leRoux is going to be creating the Seniors newsletter. Patricia moved back to Cortes last Autumn from Victoria where she used her extensive experience in Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing, writing newsletters and doing research as well as facilitating workshops. Patricia is pleased to be able to use these and her other communication skills here for the benefit of our Seniors. Patricia's number is 250-935-6909 if you have submissions or suggestions that you would like to see in upcoming newsletters.

Coastal Community Credit Union Grant

Many thanks from the Cortes Island Seniors Society to the Coastal Community Credit Union for its $1,000 Quadra Legacy Fund Grant towards landscaping the Seniors Village Garden!

This is in addition to the $1,500 grant they have granted CISS's Seniors Helping Seniors for producing the monthly Newsletter.

There was a CCCU cheque presentation reception on Monday, February 15 at 2:00 pm at the Cortes Island Community Branch, 777 Sutil Pt. Road, Manson’s Landing.

Want to get fit? No more excuses...

Read more about this fitness offer....

SURVEY

How To Make Cortes More Friendly As We Age

The collective wisdom of our community will ensure that this island becomes even more supportive and friendly as we age together. This survey is being conducted in preparation for our Community Plan review.  The purpose is to identify the priority issues, then find solutions & services that enable us to remain on the island as vital community members for our entire lifetimes.

Your input to these generic questions will help us to formulate a meaningful community meeting in the New Year, which will focus on specific issues that received the most support in this survey.

Your contribution is most valuable.  Results are confidential and anonymous thereby allowing your full and honest participation. Please fill in ONE form PER PERSON over the age of 50, answering all questions that are applicable to you.  You will find a paper version inside your December Newsletter, and if you need extra copies for family & friends, you can click here to download and print, OR you can pick up paper copies at all local postoffices.

Please complete your survey by January 15/2010, then simply fold in half (the address is already printed at the bottom) and drop in the local mail for pre-paid postage. Thanks very much for sharing your ideas ~ Sandra Wood

Age-Friendly Seniors OCP Coordinators

Your Age-Friendly Seniors OCP Coordinators Have Been Hired

We are very pleased to announce that Brenda Hanson, Sandra Wood andSarah O’Shannessy, are the team that make up your Age-Friendly Seniors Official Community Plan (OCP) Coordinators. Brenda is a member of the Klahoose First Nation and aspires to contribute to the area of language/cultural revitalization capacity within her community, Sandra works with many organizations on the Island and has been the Project Financial Manager for the Seniors Village, and Sarah also holds many positions on the Island, including that of the Coordinator of the Seniors Helping Seniors position created by the Cortes Island Seniors Society. Read more...

We received more mail...

I went to School on Cortes Island until we moved away in 1946. My Maiden name was Illman. My Dad had the main farm there. He was Valentine William Illman (Bill) My older brother was Billie,then there was me Daphne,then Alice. We all went to school there. Raemond and Peggy (Margaret Rose) were too young to attend there. I would sure love to find out what happened to the old school. I know there was a book written by some one and it had some on it but when I found out it was out of print. I am married to an Allan r Combs. So I am now Daphne Combs. My email address is keaping-in-tutch@shaw.ca

Mailing address is Daphne Combs
331 2100 Benvoulin Crt
Kelowna B.C  V1W 3A4
Thanks
Daphne Comb

FORGET-ME-NOT GARDEN

You can contribute a garden gift that celebrates, remembers, and recognizes loved ones while creating a wonderful legacy for future generations at the Seniors Village.

Your generous donation will contribute towards the creation of a garden at the heart of the Village. In addition, you have the option of having your loved one’s name, together with a 3-line verse or favorite saying, displayed on a memorial plaque.

Choose one of these unique landscape elements:
$100 wisteria, kiwi & other vines
$200 fruit & ornamental trees
$300 shrub & perennial bed
$400 garden benches
$500 raised vegetable beds
$600 garden gates
$1,000 birdbath or fountain
$2,000 grove of birch trees
$5,000 shade areas with pergola roofs
$10,000 communal deck with BBQ

Make your cheque payable to Cortes Island Seniors Society (CISS).
Tax-deductible receipts for your charitable donation are available upon request.

Mail your donation c/o Peter Elliott, CISS Treasurer, Box 212 Mansons Landing, Cortes Island, BC, V0P 1K0.

For more details, please call Sandra Wood with any questions at
250-935-6676.

Lakeview Guest Ranch

A few weeks ago I received this note:

I am trying to find some information about an old summer camp for kids on Cortes island in the early 1970's. I was lucky enough to have been able to attend this camp two years in a row. Maybe 1972 and 1973. It is a very fond memory of mine and I would love to see some old photos or articles written of that time and the property. I know that the Hansen's ran the farm and camp and that it was on a lake. Gunflint lake perhaps? At the time it was called 'Lakeview guest ranch' or 'Hansen's Ranch'. There was a dining hall overlooking the lake with a boys bunkhouse in the basement. I remeber they grew a lot of vegetables and had many horses and farm animals. If it is possible to pass this request onto someone that might be able to assist me in finding information on this place I would greatly appreciate it. I look forward to hearing any information you might have.

Sincerely appreciated, Donny Harrison

To contact Donny directly:
Donny Harrison
#802-1952 Comox st.
Vancouver, B.C.V6G-1R5
604-605-0783
jbacon1486@shaw.ca

Swimming

During the summer we will have free access to the brand new pool at the Gorge Marina! We have access Tuesdays and Thursdays until the fall. For more information on the swimming  please call Catherine at 935-0205

HealthLink BC: 811

HealthLink BC is a new service that combines a number of proven health
resources -- including BCNurseLine, Pharmacist-After-Hours,
Dial-A-Dietitian and BCHealthGuide -- and makes them even easier to
access now through the new 8-1-1 phone line for non-emergency health
issues (7-1-1 for the hearing impaired). Read more...

Welcome...

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CORTES ISLAND SENIORS’ ASSOCIATION

The Cortes Island Seniors Society (CISS) is a social organization established for local elders, whom they generously define as  “...applicants who have achieved the age of 50 years.”  It is registered in BC and has federal charitable status. Here are the purposes of the Society, as defined in its Constitution (2006):

a) To carry on social activities for Cortes Island seniors.

b) To provide assistance as needed or requested by Cortes Island seniors, as resources allow.

c) To support the establishment of, and manage the operation of residential facilities for Cortes Island seniors, as resources allow.

d) To support the establishment of, and manage the operation of a recreational facility for Cortes Island seniors, as resources allow.

e) To co-operate with other organizations in community projects, including fund-raising for charitable purposes.

The Seniors lead in all sorts of community activities. For years they have run a hot dog and pop stand at Cortes Day celebrations. They sponsor Cortes Island Sandcastle Day, organizing it and providing judges and prizes for contestants. For several years, Seniors have set up and run the all-candidates’ meetings at times of election of Regional Director.  Members are active in events at the Cortes Island Museum and Archives, and the Cortes School.  It was the Seniors who arranged and led the community discussion on the proportional representation Single-Transferable-Vote (BC STV) in April, 2005. 

Established in  2003, Seniors Helping Seniors (SHS) is perhaps the most important continuous activity within the CISS, available for all its members. Directed by a Co-ordinator (currently Sarah O’Shannessy), supported by a board of advisers, SHS provides visitors, readers and drivers to shut-in seniors, weekly gatherings for lunch at local cafés or welcoming homes, as well as get-togethers at the Museum, for swimming, or on special occasions. It’s a great gabfest and a relaxing outing when a snowdrift of seniors assembles.  And ooh! the stories!!

The CISS provides the Cortes Island pins and the Cortes Island road maps that are available for sale at most retail outlets on the island.

The Seniors have entered Lease and Easement agreements with the Cortes Community Health Association (CCHA) for the provision of space and facilities for the Health Centre on the CISS property on Beasley Road. A nominal annual rent is paid to the CISS. During construction of the Health Centre, there was an Agency Agreement between the CISBS and the CCHA, whereby tax-receipted money could be raised by the Seniors and transferred to the CCHA, to support the construction. 

A huge undertaking has been the development of the Seniors’ Village just south of the Health Centre. Those efforts are dealt with separately here. It’s a story that demonstrates the far-sightedness, persistence, responsibility, and adaptability of our elders. Individual seniors are found playing important roles in all the social organizations on the island.  Seniors are an immensely sociable, knowledgeable, and supportive bunch.

The website...

The website is designed to provide better access to the services available to the seniors on Cortes Island. Through this website you can learn about senior programs, workshops, view the event calendar, locate reliable help, access our monthly newsletters, become a member, learn about our volunteer opportunities, learn about important booklets, get an update about the seniors housing project, read the stories in our history section or read stories or a poem in our story section.

There are photos in the photo gallery about past senior's events, the seniors village, some old photos that reveal some history of Cortes and photos of the grandparent project. As you know, Cortes is a beautiful place to live, with beautiful people in the community. This is a place where we share stories, anecdotes, photos and interesting facts about our seniors on Cortes Island. Old events and information is gathered HERE.

This website is a project that started by Ester Strijbos, who was our SHS Co-ordinator from November 2005 until November 2008. This site is a collaborative web design initiated by Lorna Brown who is an active senior on Cortes Island  and who was our leading volunteer for this project. Oliver Kellhammer and Ester Strijbos continue to donate their time toward this website by updating it regularly and by hosting it free of charge.

If you have any question, information or have photos or stories to share, please contact us: cortesseniors@gmail.com