Voice For Island Seniors - The Guardian · INSIDE Published by The Guardian New Studies Hearing...

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INSIDE

Published by The Guardian

New StudiesHearing Loss and Dementia

PAGE 4Thank YouVoice Contributors

PAGE 13Dale’s TaleThe Grinch After Christmas

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Voice For Island SeniorsVoice For Island SeniorsJANUARY • 2020

Members of the Rustico Bay Seniors Club display their scrapbooks following a recent program funded by New Horizons for Seniors. (Left to right) Yvonne Doucette, Audrey Gallant, Debbie Gallant, Margaret Howard, Della Cormier-Smith and Marina Doiron. For activities and events at seniors’ clubs near you, see page 11.

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Our YesterdaysABSTRACTS FROM THE GUARDIAN

100 YEARS AGO . . . JANUARY 1ST 1920 In 1920, the Guardian newspaper was published on

New Year’s Day. Sandwiched between the regular news were many articles focussed on the past year, including a list of fires and new buildings in Charlottetown, the status of fox farming, statistics from the police court, and reviews of Island agriculture, shipping, and business. An overall summary of “The Year That is Gone” appeared on page one:

The year 1919, now a closed volume, will be historic as one of the years of the Great War. The roar of guns had ceased before the birth of the year, but the echoes were still reverberating, the shadows had not all de-parted. The boys were returning in groups and were being welcomed home with a warmth and enthusiasm that compensated largely for the hardships endured on the battlefields. But the returning ranks were broken. Some five hundred in all from our province had been left to sleep “over there,” and the memory of their sac-rifice saddened the welcome home.

For this province the year was a prosperous one. Crops were abundant, and well harvested; prices were high and farmers, merchants and indeed the whole community shared in the distribution. Neverthe-less, the general unrest throughout the world left its impress upon our people. Conditions were, and still are, abnormal. The high prices for produce were dis-counted by the abnormally high prices for commod-

The views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation or The Guardian. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from the Federation.

Although every precaution is taken to monitor the advertising, the claims made by advertisers are not necessarily endorsed by either the Federation or The Guardian.

Voice for Island Seniors is the monthly publication of the P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation Inc. It is published on the first Wednesday of each month in collaboration with The Guardian, and distributed in The Guardian. Deadline for editorial material is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Articles should be sent to one of the Editorial Committee members listed below.

VOICE FOR ISLAND SENIORS

The Voice for Island Seniors can be found at these locations across Prince Edward Island:u Mt. Stewart Mainwayu Souris Co-opu North Rustico Co-opu Cornwall Save Easy, Cornwall Mallu Senior Citizens’ Federation, 40 Enman Crescentu Seniors Active Living Centre,

550 University Ave., CARI Centreu Summerside Medicine Shoppeu Waugh’s Quik Mart, Summersideu Ceretti’s Irving, Bordenu Kinkora Convenience Storeu Ramsay’s Pharmacy, Kensingtonu Journal Pioneer Office, Summersideu Wellington Co-op

u Tyne Valley Pharmacyu MacNeills Storeu The Medicine Shoppeu Guardian Drug, O’Learyu Alberton Pharmacy, Albertonu Journal Pioneer Office, Albertonu Tignish Health Centre

Send articles to: [email protected]

or mailed to: Linda Jean Nicholson, managing editorP.E.I. Senior Citizens Federation,40 Enman Cres., Charlottetown, C1E 1E6

EDITORIAL COMMITTEELinda HardingBarbara Young

ADVERTISING SALESAdvertising is handled by The Guardian, P.O. Box 760, Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 4R7

Contact: Retail sales (902) 629-6000

SUBSCRIPTIONSYearly subscriptions available - Price $25 Cdn and $35 US They are available from: P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation, 40 Enman Crescent, Charlottetown, P.E.I., C1E 1E6(902) 368-9008; Fax: (902) 368-9006 • TOLL FREE: 1-877-368-9008

ALMA STEEVES

NOVEMBER 6TH DUNSTAFFNAGELadies: Norma Laird, Maureen McGarry, Carol

McGrath. Men: Cyril Harper, Grant Laird, Brad Barnes.NOVEMBER 14TH HUNTER RIVER

Ladies: Flora MacLennan, Hazel MacKenzie, Gloria Matheson. Men: Cyril Harper, Richard Hit-zelberger, Lawson Lea. 50/50: Wilfred Smith.NOVEMBER 15TH COTTON CENTER IN STRAT-FORD

Ladies: Dixie Vickerson, Margaret MacKin-ley, Hazel MacKenzie. Men: Don Steeves, Wilfred Smith, Robert Wood. 50/50: Maureen Monaghan.

MORE SCORES, PAGE 3

Crokinole scores

ities purchased. The margin of profit seemed out of proportion to the receipts and the general unrest manifested itself, here as else-where, in a desire for change.

The provincial election, held in July, gave the first opportunity to manifest this unrest and the Arsenault Government, to the surprise of both victor and vanquished, went down to de-feat, giving place to the Bell Administration.

In September, Hon. Murdoch McKinnon was appointed to the Governorship of the prov-ince, in succession to the late Hon. A.A. Mac-Donald, his first official act being the swearing in of the new Cabinet under the Bell Adminis-tration.

An outstanding event of the year was the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, an event which afforded our people an agree-able opportunity to express their loyalty to the

British throne and to their future sovereign. The visit of His Royal Highness, although but for an afternoon, was sufficiently long enough to create a most favourable impression upon all who had the privilege of seeing and hear-ing him, his charming and unaffected manner winning the hearts of all. [He would later be-come King Edward VIII who abdicated from the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson.]

The general health of the province was good, and the death rate, in comparison with that of the previous year, was low. Nevertheless, in the toll of the Grim Reaper, there were in-cluded a number of outstanding figures in the social and political life and many homes were saddened and the province made the poorer by their passing. No statistics are available to show the total deaths and births, as these are compiled at the end of the year.

2 VOICE FOR ISLAND SENIORS • JANUARY 2020 THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA

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Monthly Service Centre Clinics

Hearing Aid Centre902-894-8455 • TOLL FREE 1-877-994-8455

We Service All Makes & Models • FREE hearing test for Seniors

D V A , W C B & R C M P A P P R O V E D7846786

Wednesday, January 89am to 12pm

MontagueRiverview Manor

Thursday, January 99am to 12pmSouris HospitalBy Appointment

Thursday, January 16

10:00 am − 1:00 pmO’Leary Health Centre

Wednesday,January 29

10:00 am – 2:00 pmTignish Health Care

CentreBy Appointment

As we start a new year and settle in for the winter, remember safety first on the roads when driving and be careful on sidewalks when walking. Falls are very dangerous for anyone, but especially seniors, as falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians. Remember to wear ap-propriate footwear for the weather, use aids to walk if you need them, and take your time!

LEAP (Learning Elders Arts Pro-gram) projects are starting and so are many winter activities, so get out and enjoy the different activities your local seniors’ club has to offer.

It’s the time of year when we make resolutions for ourselves and it’s also time for seniors’ clubs to consider resolutions for submission to gov-ernment to help make seniors lives better. The deadline for submitting resolutions to the Seniors’ Federa-tion office is February 1st.

At our general meeting in Sum-merside this past October, we dis-tributed a survey related to Doiron to see what could be done better during a weather event. Almost 160 seniors from across the Island an-swered the survey. The first concern on the minds of members? The lack of communication and the location of local warming centres open when the power is out. It would be prudent for you know the location and con-

tact info for your closest warming centre before an emergency occurs. Get in touch with your local MLA and find out where the warming centres are located and what other emergency services are in place. If there is no centre close by, ask your MLA to look into this. We all know more intense storms are coming, so the time to act is now.

A new report has come out about many cars passing stopped school buses with their lights flashing. Please be mindful about this alarm-ing trend. This has to stop. And there are horse and buggies on the roads now so again be careful. These are slow moving vehicles.

All the best in the New Year. Let’s stay healthy and wise! We will talk soon.

President’s thought of the month: Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving.

Russ Noiles is President of the P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation Board of Directors. He resides in Lower

Montague with his wife Ruth.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Happy New Year! NOVEMBER 18TH WARREN GROVE

Ladies: Heidi Hitzelberger, Jean MacRae, Gloria Matheson. Men: Cyril Harper, Richard Hitzelber-ger, Wilfred Smith. 50/50: Norma Morrissey.

NOVEMBER 19TH ST. PETER’S CIRCLE CLUB

Ladies: Hazel MacKenzie, Gina Lea, Maureen Monaghan. Men: Lawson Lea, Cyril Harper, Brad Barnes. Grant Laird celebrated his 90th birthday

NOVEMBER 20TH DUNSTAFF-NAGE

Ladies: Gina Lea, Maureen Mc-

Garry, Norma Laird. Men: Cyril Harper, Lawson Lea, Don Sand-erson.

NOVEMBER 21ST HUNTER RIVERLadies: Hazel MacKenzie,

Norma Laird, Jean MacRae. Men: Garth Lea, Don Steeves, Lawson Lea. 50/50: Evelyn Smith.

NOVEMBER 22ND COTTON CEN-TER IN STRATFORD

Ladies: Flo Dennis, Hazel MacK-enzie, Jean MacRae. Men: Cyril Harper, Lorne Stevenson, Don Steeves. 50/50: Hazel MacKenzie.

SEE SCORES PAGE 4

Crokinole scores

President’sReport Russ Noiles

3THEGUARDIAN.PE.CA JANUARY 2020 • VOICE FOR ISLAND SENIORS

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IS HEARING LOSS LINKED TO DEMENTIA?

This is a question I am often asked when people are inquiring about hearing aids. Most people view hear-ing loss as a normal part of aging and to a certain point, it is therefore accepted.

One example of how this occurs is when you are in a noisy room and have to ask people to repeat them-selves. We just accept that back-ground noise will make it difficult to hear.

We sometimes do the same with aging – we just accept that aging will make it difficult for us to hear. But, that may not be such a good idea. Have you heard the phrase, “Use it or lose it”? Do you think it’s healthy for your brain to not hear sounds it is supposed to?

New findings suggest that hearing loss may play a larger role in brain

health than was previously thought. Let me share some of the results of research and you can form your own opinion.

Dr. Frank Lin, an otologist and epidemiologist at John Hopkins Uni-versity in Baltimore, led a 2011 study focusing on dementia. They mon-itored the health (including hearing and cognitive abilities) of 639 volun-teers who were mentally sharp and followed them for 12 to 18 years. About a quarter of the volunteers had some hearing loss at the start of the study, but none had dementia.

What they found was that study participants with hearing loss at the beginning of the study were

significantly more likely to develop dementia at the end. Compared to people with normal hearing, those with moderate hearing loss were three times more likely to develop dementia.

While the study showed hear-ing loss and dementia are strongly connected, the reason for the link between the two conditions is un-known.

Whatever the cause, researchers suggest that something as simple as hearing aids could delay or prevent dementia by improving patients’ hearing.

In a 2013 study, Dr. Lin and his colleagues tracked the cognitive abilities of nearly 2,000 adults with an average age of 77 years. After six years, those who had hearing loss sufficient to interfere with conversa-tion were 24% more likely than those with normal hearing to see their

cognitive abilities diminish. There-fore, hearing loss seemed to speed up age related cognitive decline.

Another study conducted in Paris, France with a group of 94 people ages 65 to 85 with profound hearing loss in at least one ear. Each received a cochlear implant followed by twice weekly auditory rehabilitation. More than 80% of the participants with the lowest cognitive scores showed significant improvement after one year.

In fact, the results were about double that seen with any of the current FDA (Food and Drug Ad-ministration) drugs for treating Alz-heimer’s.

So there you have it, some studies for you to consider in forming your own opinions.

Steve Wong is a board-certified hearing instrument specialist and co-owner of PEI Hearing Consultants

in Charlottetown.

ASK STEVE

Hearing Loss and Dementia

NOVEMBER 25TH WARREN GROVE

Ladies: Jean MacRae, Margaret MacKinley, Gina Lea. Men: Don Steeves, Gerard Koughan, Garth Lea. 50/50: Velda MacKinnon.

NOVEMBER 26TH ST. PETER’S CIRCLE CLUB

Ladies: Heidi Hitzelberger, Mau-reen Monaghan, Maureen Mc-Garry. Men: Lawson Lea, Cyril Harper, Richard Hitzelberger.

NOVEMBER 28TH HUNTER RIVERLadies: Alma Steeves, Flora Mac-

Lennan, Dixie Vickerson. Men: Cyril Harper, Wendell Jewell, Lorne Stevenson. 50/50: Freeman Sim-mons.

DECEMBER 5TH HUNTER RIVERLadies: Gloria Matheson, Norma

Laird, Flora MacLennan. Men: Wil-fred Smith, Ewen MacPhail, Doug Neill. 50/50: Lorne Stevenson.

DECEMBER 6TH COTTON CENTER IN STRATFORD

Ladies: Heidi Hitzelberger, Flo Dennis, Karen Kelly. Men: Don

Steeves, Richard Hitzelberger, Wil-fred Smith. 50/50: Annie MacPhail.

DECEMBER 9TH WARREN GROVELadies: Jean MacRae, Dixie

Vickerson, Velda MacKinnon. Men: Lawson Lea, Don Steeves, Wilfred Smith. 50/50: Gina Lea.

DECEMBER 11TH DUNSTAFF-NAGE

Ladies: Norma Laird, Linda Lea, Maureen McGarry. Men: Lawson Lea, Cyril Harper, Grant Laird.

Crokinole scores


SteveWong

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FRAZER SMITH

Years ago, the entrance to St. Peters Bay was located half a kilometer west of where it is now. � e � sher-man’s wharf was adjacent to that en-trance and the lighthouse was at the north end of Lighthouse Road. Now, the wharf has been moved well into the bay and is located at the north end of Red Head Road and the light-house is almost buried by the sand dunes.

You can see the remains of the old wharf in the pond located south of the lighthouse. � at pond was once part of the bay.

When you go over the dunes and on to the beach, you can see an old breakwater extending east towards Greenwich. � ere are four beach ac-cess points on this route. If you man-age to get all the way to the Savage Harbour breakwater, you’ll have to backtrack 2.3 km to Lakeside Beach Road as the entrance to Savage Har-bour is a little too deep and fast � ow-ing for wading.

� e shore armour west of Lake-side Beach Road is there to protect the golf course from being washed away, but it is a great inconven-ience to beach walkers, especially in cooler weather. However, the base of the rocks is awash in sand and at low tide on a warm day with little wave action, the shore armour is easily skirted. Imagine that shore on a warm sunny day with the waves washing gently over the sand. It will happen before you know it.

Getting there: Follow Route 2 east of Mount Stewart and pick your favourite back road to the north. You’ll get to the beach eventually. If you � nd yourself in Morell, you went too far.

For more Island Tramps new bonus routes visit www.sites.google.com/site/peislandtramps.

ISLAND TRAMPS

Walking Route: Harbour to Harbour

GET CYBERSPACE

PUBLIC SAFETY CANADA

A cellphone is a particularly con-venient way to access the internet through a Wi-Fi network, especially when you’re without your laptop. But it can also be an open target if you don’t take precautions or know the risks.

Here are a few things to ensure Wi-Fi security for your mobile de-vice:

• Avoid connecting to unknown or non-password protected Wi-Fi net-works, even if they are private. An

unknown or unsecured Wi-Fi net-work is an open invitation for hack-ers, fraudsters and malware. � ese predators often lurk on public Wi-Fi networks scanning for unsecured devices to in� ltrate.

• You should only connect to a public Wi-Fi if you know and trust the network, and are con� dent it’s secure and password protected. Using an untrusted and unsecured network could provide a gateway for total identity theft, or infecting the devices of your entire contact list.

• Turn o� settings that automatic-

ally search for Wi-Fi networks.• Be aware that fake or “evil twin”

Wi-Fi hotspots are sometimes cre-ated in the same location as legitim-ate hotspots to speci� cally lure and attack unsuspecting mobile users. Always make sure you’re on the cor-rect network.

Remember, the same measures and tactics for using your laptop or tablet safely on a public Wi-Fi network also apply to your mobile phone. Including using a VPN to route and encrypt all your data for maximum security.

Using Wi-Fi on Your Mobile


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Hosted by Club 46 in Wheatley River

SQUASH CASSEROLESUBMITTED BY BARBARA BULL

1 package stuffing mix½ cup butter1 butternut squash, cubed½ onion, sliced (if desired)250 ml. sour cream1 can cream of chicken or cream of

mushroom soup

In medium size bowl, mix stuffing mix with the melted butter and press into the bottom of casserole dish. Peel and cut the squash into cubes and boil until fork tender. Mash and add onion, if desired. Spread on top of stuffing base.

Top layer: In small bowl, mix together the soup and sour cream and pour on top of squash layer. Bake at 375º F for 20 to 25 minutes or until top bubbles.

5 STAR SQUARESSUBMITTED BY BARBARA BULL

2 cups graham cracker crumbs2 cups coconut¼ cup melted margarine1 tsp. vanilla1 can sweetened condensed milk4 aero bars¼ cup canola oil

To make base: In large bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, coconut, melted margarine, vanilla and condensed milk and spread into 8X8 inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350º F. Let cool for 10 minutes.

In small saucepan, melt aero bars with canola oil. Spread on top of the cooled base. Refrigerate for several hours and cut into squares.

DATE SQUARESSUBMITTED BY RETA MACDONALD

1 lb. dates

1½ cups hot water½ cup brown sugar1 to 2 tsp. lemon juice

To make filling: In large sauce-pan add dates, hot water, brown sugar and lemon juice and cook on medium heat until thickened. Re-move from stove and cool.

1½ cups rolled oats1¾ cups flour1 cup brown sugar¾ cup butter, softened1 tsp. baking soda½ tsp. salt

To make base: In large bowl, add rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, soft-ened butter, baking soda and salt. Combine well, using your fingers to blend crumb mixture. Set aside ¼ to ⅓ of crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into greased 8X11 inch pan.

When filling has cooled, spread on base and sprinkle remaining crumb

mixture on top. Bake at 350º F for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

MINCEMEAT BRAN MUFFINSSUBMITTED BY NANNE GARNHAM

2 eggs, beaten¾ cup vegetable oil¼ cup brown sugar2 cups milk1½ cups mincemeat2¼ cups all-purpose flour1¼ cups natural bran2 tsp. baking powder2 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt

In large bowl, mix together eggs, oil and sugar until well blended. Stir in milk and mincemeat. In a separ-ate bowl, blend together flour, bran, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to egg mixture and mix well. Grease muffin pan or line with paper cups. Fill muffin cups and bake at 375º F for 18 to 20 minutes.

KITCHEN

Recipe Corner

DON‘T MISS THIS

Alzheimer Awareness ConferenceJanuary is Alzheimer Awareness month.

Every year 25,000 Canadians are diagnosed with dementia. Over 2,650 Islanders are currently living this journey and 1 in 3 people will be affected or know someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia, however, is more than just numbers. This January the Alzheimer Soci-

ety of PEI is joining our colleagues across Canada continuing to build on a 3-year national awareness cam-paign to challenge public percep-tions of what it means to live with dementia.

The 8th Annual Alzheimer Aware-ness Conference, “I Live with Dementia: Let me Help You Under-stand” will be held on Thursday,

January 23rd at the Murchison Cen-tre in Charlottetown from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenters will include persons living with dementia, family care partners, health care professionals and researchers.

The conference is a scent free zone. Pre-registration is required to attend. The cost is $15 for the day. Conference registration starts at

8:30 am and it is guaranteed to be a full day of learning and interactive experiences. Our lunch and snack breaks will showcase healthy and delicious options to actively pro-mote brain health.

For more information about how you can participant in Alzheimer Awareness Month, contact us at 902-628-2257 or [email protected].


be instantly restored. Often the soon to be foot-sore operator would get excited and quite loud if a mechanic questioned his wisdom and mo-tive for destroying the vehicle (and nearly himself) by trying to drive it through a locomotive.

You have probably observed that when some people have made an error, they try to cover it up by rudely and verbally attacking anyone nearby. Over time, I have perfected a way to handle these outbursts. Let me explain.

One day, a driver was standing in the garage beside his wrinkled truck yelling at the mechanic and pro-testing his innocence. The mech-anic let the man rave on for about five minutes, until he finally ran out of breath. Then the mechanic responded, “I’ve got no underwear on!”

Admittedly, in this case the mech-anic may have gone overboard, but you get the idea. And it works. The trick is to say something startling and far removed from what the grinch is howling about.

On another day, a fellow drove his 1954 Jeep fifty feet off the road and charged it into an innocent tree. I’d like to emphasize that tree hadn’t done anything to anybody. Follow-ing the incident, the driver’s defense was that it was the only tree in the area, an excuse that didn’t stand up to scrutiny. He was criticized by his peers who quite smugly pointed out that they’d missed hitting the same tree only the day before.

Back at the garage, the humbled driver went on for nearly an hour about how the accident happened and was finally stopped in his tracks

when someone asked him if the air-bag went off. At your next grinch encounter, have your disarming re-sponse ready.

Hope you all have a fine 2020!

Dale Dawson lives in Vankleek Hill, Ontario and spends summers in Orwell Cove, P.E.I.

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HOME VISITFOOT TREATMENT

Charlottetown

Foot Treatment Packageonly $3500 tax incl

Call for appointmentColeen Swim902-892-0456

or 902-388-17137891865

Most people are in an optimistic mood this time of year. They feel it’s a brand new year and maybe this will be the special year they’ve been waiting for. We’ve all been told that looking on the brighter side of life will help good things happen. And even though life may give you a swift kick in the elsewhere region at times (and that can be a bit of a downer), it’s acceptable to mutter some quiet profanity under your breath. Then, like the song says, “Just pick yourself up and dust yourself off and start all over again.”

But, just between you and me, there are some people out there who take joy in being miserable. They go through life groaning, moaning and generally dampening the spirits of those they meet. Over the years I’ve noticed a dark cloud seems to follow these people. So, don’t be a grinch, as that dark cloud will follow you around and bite you on the butt.

I love the Grinch cartoon that appears on TV at this time of year. That old scoundrel reminds me of other grinches I’ve met over the years, though the cartoon character may be more likable and I do love his dog. Grinches can be a pain at Christmastime and on New Year’s – well, pretty much throughout the year.

How many grinches have you ac-tually met on your triumphal jaunt through life? If you are an optimist, you will tend to overlook the less than jovial experiences conjured up by bitter individuals interrupting your otherwise sunny disposition. If you happen to be someone who is teetering between joy and anxiety, a grinch can push you to the edge of

despair. And that’s a shame. The question is this: Can a grinch

help being a grinch? My guess is they can’t. It’s a pity they are that way and it would be a kindness to humanity if they would be quiet about it. I think there should be a special closet for grinches, especially during the holi-day season.

I could go on discussing some of the dubious merits of obnoxious in-dividuals I’ve met at work and play over the years, but many of them are still around. I can see them now, dreamily perusing this article and then snapping to attention as a recognition of the culprit sinks in. It may be better to let sleeping grinches lie. I think it would be safer for me to talk about ways to defuse a grinch before they get under your skin.

Some years back, I worked in a company garage where we serviced off road vehicles of various sizes and descriptions. We had some battered old pick-up trucks used to transport various staff members on their daily activities. The horseless cowboys who drove these chariots believed that obstacles in their path were to be mowed down without any thought of the consequences. So, their trucks were often brought back to the garage dangling from the front of a giant forklift. And the operator of the truck, who didn’t enjoy become a pedestrian, expected his wheels to

GEEZER’S CORNER

Grinches BewareDale

Dawson


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FRED HORNE

Over the past eight years more than 80 culture and heritage awards have been distributed by Culture Summerside on behalf of the City of Summerside in recognition of achievements and dedication in the fields of heritage and culture.

Heritage includes, but is not lim-ited to, tangible, intangible and natural history. It encompasses architectural preservation, folklore, culture, archives, archaeology, ge-nealogy and history. The Heritage Activities Awards recognize an ori-ginal and important contribution to the preservation or interpretation of a significant aspect of the heritage of Summerside.

Culture includes artistic expres-sion in all its forms, often informed and driven by a sense of common heritage. The Cultural Activities Awards recognize an original and important contribution to our cul-tural life through artistic expression.

Additionally, if nominations war-rant, one award may be given under each of the following categories:

• Natural Heritage Activity : Awarded to an individual or organ-ization or business that has made a significant volunteer contribution to the preservation or promotion of the

natural history of Summerside.• Volunteer of the Year: Awarded

to an individual who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the preservation or promotion of the heritage and/or culture of Sum-merside.

• Youth Volunteer of the Year: Awarded to an individual under the age of 25 who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the pres-ervation or promotion of the culture and/or heritage of Summerside.

• Publication of the Year: Awarded to an individual or group responsible for a publication or presentation making a significant contribution to the understanding of any aspect of the heritage of Summerside and/or to the cultural life of Summerside.

• Award of Honour: Awarded to an individual or institution for an out-standing contribution in the areas of research, education, or preservation as they relate to the human history or natural history or cultural life of Summerside. The Award of Honour recognizes high level of achievement over long periods of time.

If you would like to obtain more information or nominate an indi-vidual or a group that have made outstanding contributions to the knowledge and understanding of any aspect of heritage or culture in Summerside, visit the MacNaught History Centre, 75 Spring Street in Summerside on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or email [email protected].

Completed and signed nom-ination forms must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 24th to be considered for an award.

Summerside Heritage and Culture Awards

CANADIAN RED CROSS

To be safe on or near ice, you should be aware of the dangers.

Many factors affect ice thickness including the type and location of water, the time of year and other environmental factors such as:

• Water depth and size of body of water.

• Currents, tides and other mov-ing water.

• Chemicals including salt.• Fluctuations in water levels.• Logs, rocks and docks absorbing

heat from the sun.• Changing air temperature.• Shock waves from vehicles trav-

eling on the ice. The colour of ice can be an indi-

cation of its strength. For example, clear blue ice is strongest. White opaque or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice and is formed by wet snow freezing on the ice. Grey ice is unsafe, as the grayness indicates the presence of water.

Ice thickness should be: 15 cm for walking or skating alone, 20 cm for skating parties or games, and 25 cm for snowmobiles. Check with your local authorities before heading out and avoid going out on ice at night.

If you get into trouble on ice and you are by yourself, first call for help, then:

• Resist the immediate urge to climb back out where you fell in. The ice is weak in this area.

• Try to relax and catch your breath. Turn yourself toward shore so you are looking at where you en-tered onto the ice. The ice is more stable close to shore.

• Reach forward onto the broken ice without pushing down. Kick your legs to try to get your body into a horizontal position.

• Continue kicking your legs, and crawl onto the ice.

• When you are back on the ice, crawl on your stomach or roll away from the open area with your arms and legs spread out as far as pos-sible to evenly distribute your body weight. Do not stand up! Look for shore and make sure you are crawl-ing in the right direction.

When you are with others on ice, remember that rescuing another person from ice can be dangerous. The safest way to perform a rescue is from shore. First, call for help and consider whether you can quickly get help from trained professionals (police, fire fighters or ambulance) or bystanders.

Check if you can reach the person using a long pole or branch from shore. If so, lie down and extend the pole or branch to the person.

If you go onto ice, wear a personal floatation device (PFD) and carry a long pole or branch to test the ice in front of you. Bring something to reach or throw to the person (e.g. pole, weighted rope, line or tree branch). When you are near the break, lie down to distribute your weight and slowly crawl toward the hole. Then, remaining low, extend or throw your emergency rescue device (pole, rope, line or branch) to the person and have the per-son kick while you pull them out. Finally, move the person to a safe position on shore or where you are sure the ice is thick and signal for help.

SENIORS SAFETY

Be Safe on or Near Ice

SubScribe Today!902-629-6000 ext 6003


9

As we leave the old year behind and look forward to the New Year, we may spare a few moments to reflect on significant events that had an im-pact on us and our families during 2019. For most of us, family happen-ings during the year will probably predominate, but let me reflect spe-cifically on September. Many Island-ers will recall how the post-tropical storm “Dorian” slammed into the Island felling trees and destroying buildings. Fortunately, there were no injuries or loss of life, but many areas will bear the scars of this storm for years to come.

As each weather event passes, whether here in the Maritimes or around the world, global warming is given as the reason. There can be no doubt in most people’s minds that human choices have altered our cli-mate considerably over the last cen-tury. Scientists have inform us that our planet has warmed by 3.9 de-grees Celsius in the past 12,000 years. Compare this with the fact that the earth has warmed by an average of 1 degrees Celsius in the last hundred years, and it becomes evident that extreme air temperatures, devastat-ing rainfall amounts and changing seasons can be directly attributed to our warming planet. In Canada, over the period from 1948-2013 (sixty-five

years) the average annual air tem-perature has warmed by 1.6 degrees Celsius, a higher rate than other re-gions of the world.

Long established fishing prac-tices are threatened by warming ocean temperatures. Coastal ero-sion coupled with storm and flood damage is prompting businesses and organizations to relocate vul-nerable assets away from rising sea levels and longer than normal droughts are affecting crop produc-tion not only in North America, but in many developing countries. Melt-ing ice caps threaten to sink low lying islands such as the Marshall Islands in the North West Pacific. Cities such as New York are looking at innovative ideas to reduce flood-ing risks as sea levels rise.

We may feel powerless to pre-vent or slow down these disastrous events, but many of our grandchil-dren are asking us to try. Again, September 2019 saw thousands of young people take to the streets in Montreal, Ottawa and other cities in

Canada and throughout the world to protest their future being jeop-ardized by global warming. Our two granddaughters joined the march in Ottawa along with many of their school friends to protest the lack of action on this important environ-mental issue.

The tiny mountain top school that our grandson attends in Italy also joined the protest. He and his school friends made posters demanding change. Unfortunately, many of their notices were swept up by the recyc-ling cart the night before the protest, so replacements had to be quickly assembled before they marched into the local terrazzo!

Greta Thunberg, a sixteen-year-old Swedish environmental activ-ist, was invited to give the opening speech at the UN Climate Action Summit at the end of September 2019. In her speech she castigated all of us for ignoring the future and implored nations to radically alter their emissions and stick to their antipollution targets.

In 2020, we should give some thought as to how we can reduce our own carbon footprint. I am sure our grandchildren will be able to give us ideas to follow!

On a larger scale, endorsing wind turbines and solar panels will help

reduce our reliance on fossil, car-bon emitting fuels and we can play our individual part by not wasting electricity and turning off electrical items when not in use.

Transportation of food from one part of our continent to the other requires a great deal of fossil based fuels. In an effort to reduce these emissions, we can grow more of our own vegetables and shop for in-season locally produced fruits and vegetables.

Our grandchildren should be en-couraged to walk more, and when this is not possible carpooling should be encouraged. On PEI we have already banned single use plas-tic bags, but we can all go further in our own homes by not using less plastic and look for alternatives. In-vesting in reusable water bottles and rain barrels also aids the environ-ment and is easy to do.

There is always a lot to look for-ward to when a new year comes around, but young people the world over are asking us all to give them hope and certainty that instead of destroying our planet, we will help to preserve it.

Jan King and her husband Roger live in Hunter River. She is Past President of Star of the Sea Sen-

iors’ Club in North Rustico.

GRANDPARENTS’ CORNER

Let’s preserve our planetJan

King

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10

The Voice publishes free community no-

tices of interest to seniors. Notices should be

under 50 words and include the event name,

where and when it will be held, the cost, and

a contact name and number.

Crokinole and Card Games. Hosted by the Dunstaffnage Seniors’ Club at the Olde Dunstaffnage School Centre, 13539 St. Peters Road on Wednesdays, January 8th and January 22nd at 1 p.m. Cost is $4 includes prizes and light lunch. For in-formation contact Rena at 902-629-1498.

St. Eleanor’s Community School

begins on Wednesday, January 8th at Greenfield Elementary School, 100 Darby Drive in Summerside at 7 p.m. Those who did not preregister may register the first night of school at 6 p.m. The cost is $15. There may be an addi-tional cost for some courses. For information visit www.peicommunity-schools.com or call Wayne at 902-436-9619.

Free Lunchtime Films are shown at noon at Eptek Art and Culture Centre, 130 Heather Moyse Drive in Summer-side: Jan. 9th Nature’s Masterpieces: The Dead Sea; Jan. 16th Scenic Railway Journeys of the World: New Worlds, Old Worlds; Jan. 23rd Scenic Railway Journeys of the World: The Grand Tour; and Jan. 30th Our Scenic Railway Jour-neys of the World: From the Pyramids to Down Under. Bring a sandwich. The Friends of Eptek provide tea, coffee, and cookies. Donations gratefully accepted for refreshments. For information call 902-888-8373 or visit www.peimuseum.com.

A Ceilidh Concert will be held on Sunday, January 26th (storm date Feb. 2) from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bonshaw Hall. Entertainment by special guest Bill MacIntyre and local musicians Tony the Troubador, Herb MacDonald and/or Phil Pineau. Homemade cookies and tea, 50/50 draw, and open stage time. Ac-cessible for small wheelchairs. Admission by donation with proceeds to benefit PEI Chapter of the Council of Canadians. For information call 902-675-4093 or visit us on Facebook.

A Meeting of the Ostomy Peer Sup-

port Group will be held on Tuesday, January 28th at 7 p.m. at the Murphy Community Centre, Richmond Street in Charlottetown. Information about the

PEI Ostomy Supplies Program will be provided. This group meets the 4th Tuesday of each month. For infor-mation contact Christine at 902-566-1459.

Premiere Toastmasters meets at the Royalty Center, 40 Enman Crescent in Charlottetown on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests welcome. For informa-tion contact Simonne at [email protected] or 902-394-0612.

Speak Easy Toastmasters meets at Slemon Park Community Room, 10 Slemon Drive in Summerside the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests welcome. For information contact Norma at [email protected] or 902-439-3396.

Charlottetown Toastmasters

Breakfast Club meets Tuesdays at Smitty’s Restaurant, University Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Guests wel-come. For information contact Norma at [email protected] or 902-439-3396.

P.E.I. Sociable Singles is a non-profit, non-denominational, social group, for

individuals age 40 and over. It provides the separated, divorced, widowed, and unmarried an opportunity to participate in group and social activities. For in-formation call Judy at 902-894-4851 or visit https://sites.google.com/site/peiso-ciablesingles.

The Hear, Hear PEI Program ac-cepts donations of hearing aids to assist in its goal of providing hearing aids to Islanders who could not otherwise afford them. If you have hearing aids that you are not using, simply bring them to one of our drop-off locations. This donation will help us to change someone’s life by providing the gift of hearing. Drop-off locations include: Murphy’s Pharmacies in Charlottetown, Cornwall, East Roy-alty, Kensington, Morell, North Rustico, Parkdale, Stratford, Heather Moyse Drive in Summerside, Central Street in Summerside, Tyne Valley, Wellington and West Royalty; P.E.I. Hearing Con-sultants, Poly Clinic Building, 199 Graf-ton Street, Suite 310, Charlottetown; In the Montague area, call Russ at 902-838-3454; In the Souris area, call Margaret at 902-854-3114.

The Community Volunteer In-

come Tax Program is a free program which relies on volunteers to help prepare simple tax returns for eligible at need members of the community, al-lowing them to access important benefits and credits. There is a general province-wide need for volunteers, but there is especially a need in Charlottetown, Sum-merside, Alberton, Tignish, and O’Leary. If you are interested in participating in this program, contact Anne Pachal at 902-426-5784 or email [email protected].

Bowl for Kids Sake Teams Needed!

Big Brothers Big Sisters is throwing a swanky Roaring 20s themed Bowl for Kids Sake on March 7th and 8th in Char-lottetown, North Rustico, Summerside, and Tignish. Gather your sponsors and then join us for bowling, treats and bev-erages, and swell prizes! Everyone who raises $150 or more has the chance to win two tickets to anywhere Air Can-ada flies in North America (including Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean). To register your team call 902-569-KIDS, e-mail [email protected], or visit bbbspei.ca.

Fiddlers at Community School in Donagh.


COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

11

BARBARA YOUNG

Following are January activities open to

all seniors. Clubs may hold additional ac-

tivities for members only that are not listed

here. Visit your local club for a complete

schedule. Unless otherwise specified, club

activities are held at the meeting location.

Visitors and new members are always wel-

come. For information contact the Federation

office at (902) 368-9008.

Belfast. Selkirk Millennium Club

meets at the Belfast Recreation Centre, 3033 Garfield Road the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. for meeting, lunch, games or entertainment.

Borden-Carleton Seniors’ Club meets in the Seniors Housing Com-mon Room, 190B Howatt Street the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. for meeting, guest speaker/discussion. Activities: Mondays, cards (50/50, door prize, $4) at 7:30 p.m. at Borden Legion.

Cambridge. Southern Kings 50+

Club meets at the Cambridge Hall, 425 Cambridge Road (Route 17A) the 3rd Tuesday of each month at noon for potluck, brief meeting, speaker/discus-sion. Activities: Tuesdays, Yoga (regular and chair, $8) at 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Cribbage ($6) at 7 p.m. Browse our mini library.

Cardigan. Three Rivers 50+ Club

meets at the Cardigan Village Office, 338 Station Road on January 8th at 1:15 p.m. for meeting and Bring and Buy Sale. Ac-tivities: Wednesdays, 45s (50/50 $2) at 1:15 p.m. Visit us on Facebook!

Charlottetown. Seniors’ Active

Living Centre has daily activities at the Bell Aliant Centre, University of PEI, 560 University Avenue. For information call 902-628-8388.

Cornwall and Area 50+ Club meets at the Cornwall Civic Centre, 11 Corn-wall Road. Activities: Tuesdays, Auction and Crib (50/50, refreshments, $2) at 1:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, Chair Yoga at 11 a.m.; Thursdays, Skip Bo and Bridge ($2) at 1 p.m.; Brief meetings as needed.

DeBlois. Les Club des Coeurs

Joyeux meets at Le Centre Acadien de Prince-Ouest, 119 chemin, DeBlois the last Tuesday every 2nd month at 11:30 a.m. for meeting and refreshments. Ac-tivities: Tuesdays, cards (refreshments) at 1 p.m.

Dunstaffnage Seniors’ Club meets

at the Olde Dunstaffnage School Centre, 13539 St. Peters Road (Route 2) the 2nd Monday of each month. Activities: Jan. 8 and 22, Crokinole and Card games (light lunch, prizes, $4) at 1 p.m.

East Royalty Seniors’ Club meets at Malcolm J. Darrach Community Centre, 1 Avonlea Drive on Thursdays for card parties (50/50, light lunch, $3) at 1:30 p.m.

Fort Augustus. Shamrock Seniors’

Club meets at 44 Father Brady Lane (off Route 21) the 1st Monday of each month at 1 p.m. for meeting, refreshments and speaker. Activities: Sundays, men’s cards ($2) at 7 p.m.; Mondays, 45’s (light lunch, $2) at 1 p.m.; Wednesdays, Line Dancing with exercise a 9:30 a.m.; Foot clinic ($25) every 2nd month.

Georgetown Seniors’ Group meets at 63 Kent Street, Building B the last Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. for meeting, lunch and Bingo. Activities: Wednesdays, Prize Bingo (free) at 6 p.m.; Visit us on Facebook!

Kensington. Happy Group Seniors

meets at Seniors Housing, 8 Walker Drive the 1st Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Activities: Saturdays, card party (50/50, door prizes, $3) at 1:30 p.m.

Kensington. Senior Surfers’ Club

meets at 25A Garden Drive (beside the Kensington Rink) on the 2nd Monday of each month at 2 p.m. Activities: Mon-days, exercise class ($1) at 1 p.m.

Kinkora. Maple Leaf Seniors’ meets at Kinkora Place, 45 Anderson Road the 1st Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Activities: Wednesdays, Exercise Class at 11 a.m.; Thursdays, Primary Care Clin-ics, 8:30 a.m. to noon (call 902-432-2600 for appointment).

Miscouche. Silver Maple Seniors’

Club meets at the Seniors Club, Mis-couche Fire Hall, 21 Main Drive East the 1st Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. for meeting and Bingo. Activities: Tuesdays, 45’s (50/50, cash prizes, $5) at 7 p.m.; Wednesdays, Craft Group at 1:30 p.m.; Fridays, Bowling ($7) Credit

Union Place at 1:30 p.m. Hall available for rental.

Mont-Carmel. Le Club d’âge d’or

de Mont-Carmel meets at the Mont-Carmel Seniors Complex. New members welcome. Meetings are held in French. The members of the Mont-Carmel Sen-iors Club will hold their AGM on Janu-ary 12th at 2 p.m. in their Club room. Storm date is January 19th.

Les membres du Club d’âge d’or de

Mont-Carmel se rencontrent au Foyer de Mont-Carmel. Nouveaux membres sont les bienvenus. Les réunions se tiennent en français. L’assemblée gé-nérale annuelle des membres du Club d’âge d’or de Mont-Carmel est cédulée pour le 12 janvier 2020 à 14h au Foyer. En cas de tempête on l’aura le 19 janvier.

Montague 50+ Club meets at the Montague Legion, 15 Douses Road the 1st Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. for meeting and potluck. Activities: Wednesdays, Line Dancing at 9 a.m., Crafts Group at 10 a.m., Euchre and Crib at 1 p.m.

Morell Legion Seniors’ Club meets at the Morell Fire Hall, 15 Park Street the last Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. for meeting, lunch and speaker or cards.

Mount Stewart. Lady’s Slipper 200

Year Club meets at the Mount Stewart Community Centre, 87 South Main Street the 1st Thursday of each month for meeting, darts and dinner out. Ac-tivities: Tuesdays, Yoga ($2) at 10:30 a.m.; Thursdays, Yoga ($2) at 10:30 p.m., Darts at 2 p.m.

Munns Road. Eastern Kings Senior

Neighbours’ Club meets at the Eastern Kings Community Centre, 85 Munns Road the 1st Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. for meeting. Activities: Fridays, Crokinole, cards and other games at 7:30 p.m.

Murray Harbour. Friendly Circle

Seniors’ Club meets at the Murray Harbour Community Centre, 27 Park Street the 1st Thursday of each month for potluck luncheon (bring a dish, $2) at 11:45 a.m.

North Rustico. Star of the Sea Sen-

iors’ Club meets at 11 Sunrise Crescent the last Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Activities: Mondays, Clogging at 1:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Choral Group at 10 a.m., Card party at 7 p.m.; Wednes-days, Stitch Group at 9:30 a.m.MORE LISTINGS, PAGE 12

Marina Doiron of Rustico Bay Seniors Club shares pages of her scrapbook made during a recent program.

SENIORS’ FEDERATION CLUB ACTIVITIES


12

FROM PAGE 13

O’Leary. Seniors’ Sunshine Club meets at the O’Leary Community Centre, 11 Community Street the 1st Friday of each month at 2 p.m. for meeting, lunch and cards. Activities: Fridays, Rook and Cards (lunch, $3) at 7 p.m.

Rustico Bay Seniors’ Club meets at 2104 Church Road the 2nd Monday every other month at 1:30 p.m. Activ-ities: Mondays, cards ($5) at 7 p.m.; Saturday (every 2nd) Dance, music by Country Steel (light lunch, admission at the door) from 8 to 11 p.m. Visit us on Facebook!

St. Peter’s Circle Club meets at 1917 Cardigan Road (Route 2) the 3rd Thurs-day of each month at noon for meeting and lunch. Activities: Mondays, cards and games ($2) at 1:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Crokinole (snack, $2) at 10 a.m.; Wed-nesdays, Stay-a-While Program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Progressive 45s (lunch, $7) at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, Yoga ($3) at 10

a.m., Ceilidh ($5) at 7:30 p.m.; 2nd Saturday of each month, MEWS (Men Eating Without Supervision) breakfast ($5/$6) from 8 to 10 a.m.; 3rd Saturday of each month, Potluck and games night at 5:30 p.m. Visit us on Community of St. Peter’s Facebook page!

Souris. Silver Threads Seniors’

Club meets at 78 Main Street the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. Activities: Mondays, card party (50/50, jackpot, lunch, $8) at 7 p.m.; Tuesdays, Bridge (lunch, $4) at 7 p.m.; Thursdays, Fun Bingo at 1 p.m.; Fridays, card party (prizes, lunch, $1 per corner) at 7 p.m.; Jan. 15, Ceilidh (open mic, lunch, $5) at 8 p.m.

South Shore 50+ Club meets at loca-tions in Crapaud and Tryon. Activities at the Crapaud Curling Rink: Jan. 7 and 21, Crokinole ($2) at 1 p.m.; Jan. 14 and 28, Auction and Crazy 8s ($2) at 1 p.m. Ac-tivities at the Tryon Baptist Church Hall: Jan. 16, Movie, (free) at noon. Activities

at the Crapaud Library: Jan. 9, Book of the Month Club at 3:30 p.m. Visit us on Facebook!

Stratford. Mayflower Seniors’ Club

meets at the Robert Cotton Centre, 57 Bunbury Road the 2nd Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. for meeting, guest speaker, dessert. Activities: 2nd Sunday and 3rd Tuesday of each month, Ceilidh (light lunch) at 7 p.m.; Mondays, Crafts Group at 9:30 a.m., Auction 45s (50/50, door prizes, $2) at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Auction 45s (50/50, door prizes, $2) at 1:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, Line Dancing (by donation) at 10:30 a.m.; Thursdays, Bridge (door prizes, lunch, $2) at 1:30 p.m., Cribbage (door prizes, lunch, $6) at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, Croki-nole at 7:30 p.m.

Summerside. Parkview Seniors’

Club meets at 335 Central Street the 2nd Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. for meeting. Activities: Mondays, Cribbage at 7 p.m.; Tuesdays, Bingo at 1 p.m., Auction 45s (50/50, door prizes, $2) at

7 p.m.; Wednesdays, Line Dancing at 1 p.m.; Thursdays, Canasta ($1) at 1 p.m., Auction 45s (50/50, door prize, $2) at 7 p.m.; Jan. 20, Chair Fit with Toni Geary at 1 p.m.

Tracadie. Good Neighbourly 50+

Club meets at the Tracadie Community Centre, 148 Station Road the 4th Mon-day of each month at 7 p.m. for meeting, guest speaker. Activities: Tuesdays, Yoga ($4) at 9:30 a.m., Cards/45s ($7) at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Cardio Fitness ($4) at 9:30 a.m.

West Royalty Seniors’ Club meets at the West Royalty Community Cen-tre, 1 Kirkdale Road the 1st Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. for meeting and lunch. Activities: Tuesdays, Knitting Group at 9:30 a.m.; Fridays, Auction (50/50, door prizes, $2) starting at 1:30 p.m.

Wheatley River. Club 46 meets the last Tuesday of each month at noon. Contact the Seniors’ Federation for in-formation.

SENIORS’ FEDERATION CLUB ACTIVITIES

DON’T MISS THIS

Learn to SnowshoeTHE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER ASSOCIATION

Would you like to learn to snow-shoe? The Hillsborough River Asso-ciation with the support of the Rural Municipality of Mount Stewart and the Eastern Region Sport and Re-creation Council is hosting a snow-shoeing event on the Pigot’s Trail in Mount Stewart on Saturday, January 25th.

“This event is intended for all ages and abilities,” explains Dan McAsk-ill, President of the Hillsborough

River Association. “Before we snow-shoe, we offer a snowshoe clinic with basic instructions, fitting of snow-shoes for those new to snowshoe-ing, and an orientation to the Pigot’s Trail. If you don’t have snowshoes, we will provide them. This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn to snowshoe or those who’d like to snowshoe with a group along a beautiful trail.”

Participants should gather at the Mount Stewart Community Com-plex on South Main Street at 10 a.m. for refreshments and orientation.

Group leaders will provide sup-port as required and will note items of interest such as winter birds, ani-mal tracks, plants and historic sites along the trail.

The tour/outing starts at ap-proximately 10:30 a.m. and takes approximately 1½ hours to com-plete. Participants can proceed at their own pace. The route follows the scenic Pigot’s Trail. It commen-ces at the Community Complex and runs along the Hillsborough River in Mount Stewart and Allisary as well as through wooded areas and fields,

then returns to the Mount Stewart Community Complex where par-ticipants will be served hot refresh-ments and have the opportunity to socialize.

This is a free event, though do-nations are welcomed. To assist in planning for refreshments and snow-shoes, participants are requested to register by January 20th by email at [email protected] or by calling Glen at 902-393-0163. Should snow conditions or weather be un-acceptable, the alternate date will be February 1st.

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EXCELLENCE IS IN YOUR HANDS.

Donate today.

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13

The P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation is a non-profit charitable organiza-tion created as the umbrella for sen-iors clubs, groups and organizations across the Island. The success of the Seniors’ Federation is due in part to the contributions of many volunteers (including our board of directors).

On behalf of our members and readers, we’d like to express our ap-preciation to those who have volun-teered their time and talents over this past year with the Voice for Is-land Seniors.

First, we’d like to thank our regular columnists for sharing their wisdom and experiences and for volunteer-ing many hours in creating and writ-ing monthly columns: John Boylan (Island Genealogy), Dale Dawson (Geezer’s Corner), Linda Harding (Our Yesterdays), Harry Holman (Strait Talk), Jan King (Grandparent’s Corner), Russ Noiles (President’s Report), Don Sanderson (Presi-dent’s Report), Frazer Smith (Island Tramps), Alma Steeves (Crokinole Scores), Steve Wong (Ask Steve), and Barbara Young (Seniors’ Club Activ-ities).

Because of the need for tried and true recipes, we ask seniors’ clubs from across the Island to host the monthly Recipe Corner column. We want to thank the contributors who searched the nooks and crannies of their kitchens to locate and share their favourite and most valued reci-pes. And our appreciation to the host clubs who gathered and delivered recipes from their members: Club 46 in Wheatley River (Barbara Bull, Nanne Garnham, Reta MacDonald), Dunstaffnage Seniors’ Club (Rena Thompson, Phyllis Watts), Eastern Kings Senior Neighbours Club in Munn’s Road (Minnie Campbell,

Margaret Ching, Woneta Fraser, Mil-dred Robertson), Lady’s Slipper 200 Year Club in Mount Stewart (Pat At-kins, Lynn Zanc), Maple Leaf Seniors’ Club in Kinkora (Gail Marks, Honey Roberts, Eileen Trainor), Morell Le-gion Seniors’ Club (Sharon Dunn, Leah Hogan, Joan Lapierre), O’Leary Seniors’ Sunshine Club (Ellen Campbell), Parkview Seniors’ Club in Summer-side (Judy Burton, Rena Gaudet, Joyce McCar-dle, Mary Morse), Senior Surfer’s Club in Kensing-ton (Lauretta B a l d e r s t o n , Ruby Cous-ins, Eleanor Evans), Sham-rock Seniors’ Club in Fort Augustus (Mar-lene Hughes, Gail Hughes, Donna New-ton), South-ern King’s 50+ Club in Cam-bridge (Louise Graham, Liane Good, Heather M a c P h e r s o n , Mary Murphy, Caron Senechal).

Just a reminder to our readers that anyone can submit a recipe to the Voice for Island Seniors, you need not be a member of a club.

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of individuals whose photos, articles, poems, stories, or letters were published this year: Phil Arbing, Georges Arsenault, Dorothy Bailey, Grace Blackette, Anne Burke, Mary Burke, Bernard Callaghan, Beth Constable, Michael Conway,

Janet Currie, Elinor Docherty-Mac-Aulay, Amy Duncan, Nikkie Gallant, Mariah Hogan, Fred Horne, the late Betty Howatt, Annie LeBlanc, Nicho-las Longaphy, Annie Lee MacDonald,

Mary MacDonald, Mena MacDonald, Ralph MacDonald,

Kelvin MacInnis, Joan Marie MacKin-

non, Reg MacLellan, Kathleen May, Clare Mul-

len, Janet Murphy, Angie O’Neill, Dhuey Pratt, Cara

Tannenbaum, Joanna Trimble, Marc Saltzman, Annie

Webb, and Petty Yo-ston.

As always, this year we worked

with other non-profit organ-izations and g o v e r n m e n t agencies who c o n t r i b u t e d useful and in-

formative arti-cles as well as notices

of community programs, events and gatherings of interest to sen-iors: Acadian Museum, Alzheimer Society of PEI, Arsenault Family Reunion, Big Brothers Big Sisters

of PEI, Bonshaw Hall, Canada Rev-enue Agency, Canada Revenue’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, Canada Safety Coun-cil, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadian Federation of University Women, Canadian Red Cross, Com-munity Legal Information Associa-tion (CLIA), Deprescribing Network, Efficiency PEI, Eptek Art and Culture Centre, Fire Prevention Canada, Fort Augustus Irish Descendants, Friends of the Confederation Centre, Friends

of Summerside Library, Garden Club of PEI, Health Canada, Hillsbor-ough River Association, Hospice PEI, Health Canada, International Children’s Memorial Place, Island Nature Trust, Kings United Pastoral Charge, Lions Clubs of PEI, MacKin-non Homestead, Montague Rural Action Committee, Ostomy Canada, Park Royal United Church, PEI 55 Plus Games Society, PEI Chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing As-sociation, PEI Genealogical Society, PEI Humane Society, PEI Lung As-sociation, PEI Seniors’ Secretariat, PEI Sociable Singles, PEI Public Ar-chives and Records Office, Prince of Wales Alumni Association, Public Safety Canada, QEH/Eastlink Tele-thon, R.C.M.P., Seniors College of PEI, South Lake Christian Church, Souris Legion, South Shore United Church, St. James’ Church, St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Church, Spring Park United Church, Summerside Community Choir, The Mount, Toastmasters, Tracadie Lions Club, Victoria Historical Soci-ety, West River United Church, WO-HE-LO Club, and Zion Presbyterian Church.

As of the end of the year we have, as the late Betty Howatt once said, “arti-cles that are still in the cupboard.” If your submission to the Voice has not yet been published and you’d like to know why, please drop us an email at [email protected].

A special thank you to editorial committee members Linda Harding and Barbara Young.

And finally, we are very fortunate to be able to work with the Guardian newspaper on this publication and we are greatly indebted to them.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

LOOKING BACK

Thank You, Contributors


14

For those of a certain age living on Prince Edward Island, the memory of being stuck in the ice on the ferry is a part of our collective heritage. If nothing else, it taught us patience, for there was truly not a single thing passengers could do. And in some cases, nothing the crew could do either.

We seldom think of being stuck in the ice as one that tourists would come here to ex-perience. But the passage below paints a more attractive picture and one which suggests the firm editor-ial hand of the Board of Trade.

Because the passage and the delay was a common event, we have few eyewitness accounts. Written early in 1905 this one predates the terrible winter when Pictou was blockaded by an ice jam for weeks on end and no passengers were able to reach the Island except in the small iceboats on the Capes route where no freight was carried at all. As we liked to say before the bridge, “The mainland is cut off from civilization again.”

ICE-LOCKED IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The trip in one of these steamers is a novel one, and during the sea-son many tourists journey north to make it. The writer was deter-mined to take this trip last January and procured passage on the Minto, which sailed the next morning for Georgetown. We were a party of 40 and, to make a pleasant voyage, we indulged in more or less light rev-

elry. At 7 o’clock we steamed out of Pic-

tou harbor, and when about three miles out we struck the real thing – ice. Ice by the ton. The boat’s bow went up and her stern went down, the pumps were working constantly, and quaver of her machinery shook the whole steamer. Bang! On the top of a large cake of ice. Crash! It broke and she sailed on but only for a few minutes the ice was too much for her – the wind unfavorable – she could go no further.

The captain gave orders, she wheeled around, and to the dis-appointment of all, headed for Pic-tou. At noon the captain sighted the Stanley off Pictou Island heading for Pictou harbor. There was no time to loose, the whistle blew and the Minto steamed out again. The wind had shifted, she ploughed through

the ice and seemed to have a free-way. In about an hour we passed the Stanley. She was making good headway and was soon out of sight. For the next couple of hours we encountered little ice, but about 4 o’clock we came to a sudden halt. A rush was made for the deck: pike poles and crowbars were plying the ice. Slowly she backed a few lengths, put on full steam and headed for the enemy. She ploughed away for two miles through six feet of ice. Again she halted – stuck solid.

The captain, from his position on the bridge, quickly took in the situa-tion and ordered the engines to be stopped. In enquiry we learned that we were to remain on the top of this jam until morning at least, but some on the boat who had been caught in like circumstances before, remarked that we might be there much longer,

so we prepared ourselves to bear it.For the next half hour there was

more or less confusion among the passengers to get located for the night. The captain called us together and told us not to be allarmed [sic], but to keep cool. One passenger as-sured him rather sarcastically that they would have no difficulty keep-ing cool in the midst of such arctic surroundings.

The party were a jolly lot and soon we became acquainted and exchanged cards. At six supper was served. All sat down and being possessed of healthy appetites. We enjoyed a hearty meal. During the trip the steward and his staff were very kind to us and kept us well sup-plied in such luxuries of life as the Minto could afford under the cir-cumstances.

SEE BREAKING, PAGE 15

Minto in Georgetown, winter of 1905.

STRAIT TALK

Breaking Through the Ice, 1905

Harry Holman


15

FROM PAGE 14Supper over, we had an im-

promptu concert. Gramophone selections, songs and recitations were rendered interspersed with violin and harmonica solos and step dances. After the concert the ladies enjoyed a few games of whist and the gentlemen retired to the smok-ing room to indulge in the philo-sophic weed and swap a few short stories. In this manner the evening was whiled away.

At 11 o’clock we turned in. There were not staterooms for all and some slept on couches. By the next morning the wind had shifted a little and the massive ice pan was mov-ing. This looked encouraging and we hope to be able to make an early start.

By 7 o’clock the wind and tide had again shifted. The captain gave or-ders and we were once again moving towards Georgetown. Every piece of shroud trembled like a leaf. The flag-

pole on the stem shook like a signal staff in a gale, but the Minto broke the jam and crushed the enemy, quivering the while with the exer-tion.

Up in the wheelhouse the strain was felt as strongly as below. The passengers were alarmed. A severe storm was blowing up from the north-east that kept the captain peering anxiously into the snow ahead. We listed now to the star-board, now to port, ran up, crashed down and hammered our way ahead. Could she stand this sort of thing long? Twenty minutes later she halted.

It took an hour to cut her out. We were making headway, altho the throb of the big engines could be heard in the wheelhouse, and the pumps were throwing frothing streams from her sides. For three hours she kept at it, and then came a blast of the whistle. She stopped. We had been going through some

heavy ice.Her bow was deep down; another

list to starboard, she backed up a few yards, stuck her bow up in the air, made for the driving snow and ice, and for a while ploughed dog-gedly along. Presently we struck open water, and the beat of the en-gines was restored to a normal state.

The sea was a little rough but we sailed along for three-quarters of an hour without any exertion. At last the open water came to an end and we saw the glistening peaks of a pack of heavy ice stretching as far to starboard and port as we could see. In a few minutes we were upon it, and dashed into a lead between two fields of heavy ice eight feet in thick-ness. When the crash came it was followed by a sharp grind that tells of heavier ice. The Minto trembled, lurched and stopped, backed up and made at it again and this time went through into an expanse of thin ice. The openness we had just made

closed up, and quickly too; the ice fields on either side were moving together and in less than two min-utes the opening was welded strong.

It was now 3:30 in the afternoon. We had been on the ice since 7 o’clock of the previous morning. Five miles of grinding and crushing had yet to be done before we could reach Georgetown.

In the distance we could see the Island coast, the sight of which was hailed with joy, for it assured us that the dangers and anxieties of the trip were over. We sailed along beauti-fully now, hammering away towards the homestretch. The rest of the trip was pleasant: the wind had died away, the storm abated, and a crim-son and golden sunset on the west-ern horizon turned the peaks into great, glittering crystals, presenting a beautiful picture.

An archivist, historian and small boat sailor, Harry Holman shares Island sea stories on his award win-

ning site www.sailstrait.wordpress.com.

STRAIT TALK

Breaking Through the Ice, 1905

55+ GAMES SOCIETY

The Town of Souris will be hosting the Eastern Kings Winter Games from Wednesday, January 22nd through Saturday, January 25th with events being held at several loca-tions in the Souris area.

Current scheduled events include curling, cribbage, hockey, Scrabble, washer toss doubles, 45s, Pickle-

ball (competitive and recreation), shuffleboard, Duplicate Bridge and snow shoeing.

A luncheon will be held on Sat-urday, January 25th at the Eastern Kings Sportsplex.

Participants must be 55 years of age to be eligible to participate.

Preregistration and prepayment of fees for the games is required. There is no online registration for

these games, but registration forms can be obtained at the Souris Town Hall, 75 Main Street or on the PEI 55+ Games Society website. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, January 14th.

In February, the city of Summer-side will host the 2020 55+ Winter Games.

The games will take place the week of February 24th through the 29th.

Events will include hockey, curling, darts, cribbage, bowling, walking, skating, swimming, and many more.

A full scheduled of events will be released in January.

For up-to-date information about the winter games in Summer-side, visit the PEI 55+ Games Soci-ety on Facebook, www.pei55plus gamessociety.ca, or phone 902-368-6570.

DON’T MISS THIS

Get in the Games!


16

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