Long overdue but thank you seniors for making the Canada Day Strawberry Tea in LeBourdais Park a real success. For many it was more than a tea although eating seems to be a favourite pastime. But it was an opportunity to socialize with one another, connect with friends we hadn’t seen for a while and make new friends.
Many thanks too for the volunteers, hosts and hostesses, candidates for Miss Quesnel and Quesnel Royalty, Honey Affleck, Sandy Brunt and the City of Quesnel, Quesnel Bakery, Safeway, Save-On Foods, Walmart, Quesnel Seniors Centre for contributions and to Susan MacNeill for all her hard work. But without you seniors, all the planning and preparation would have been for nought.
I never did get around to telling the executive of the OAPO branch 77 how much the volunteers appreciated the bus trip and lunch at Cottonwood House on June 21. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed it so much. Some took a wagon ride pulled by a team of horses around the property gleaning historic information on the way from the driver.
While at that outing, I learned Lynn McRae was dealt a 29 crib hand on Father’s Day. She was a guest at Vernon Noeth’s home, a former teacher and one of their friends who drops in during the summer. It just doesn’t happen that often.
While both the Golden Centre and the Seniors Centre have cut back many of their activities for the summer both centres welcome people to drop in for cards.
At the Voices for North Cariboo Seniors meeting, July 26, progress is being made toward a solution for much needed affordable housing. There will be more about this later.
There will be a rally at 2 p.m., Aug 3 in front of the hospital for all those who are concerned about health care in our community. A petition on Health Care is being drawn up to be delivered to city and provincial officials who could make a difference.
There were stories of abuse and neglect to those in care and a strong feeling to recognize and remedy these needs in general for the well being of seniors.
One suggestion from the floor is that we visit those in extended care on a regular basis and not just leave it to family members if they have family here.
He added we can make a change by visiting and helping out. It could be somewhat like seniors adopting seniors.
The next meeting of VNCS will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Royal Canadian Legion.
Ruth Scoullar is a seniors’ advocate and regular Observer contributor.