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When the cat’s away

Welcome back Bridget Currie who enjoyed a recent (well deserved) vacation.

By Maureen Cameron

Welcome back Bridget Currie who enjoyed a recent (well deserved) vacation, at least this is what Bridget called walking 191 miles across northern England.

You know the old saying: “When the cat’s away…the mice will play” Well, in this case a group of hardworking volunteers took on the job of cleaning up the kitchen while Bridget was away under the guidance of Sarah Stonehouse who has been filling in as cook. Thanks everyone for the stellar job.

Our well used TAPS vehicles are a visible indication of how much we value getting out and about in the community. On the flip side, we of course enjoy diverse activities inside at our Rotacrest Hall Centre. For example, over the past month as part of our Active Aging Program we welcomed groups and individuals to share their culture, passions and knowledge. We met over lunch and enjoyed presentations from Christine Munkerud who read from her Pioneer Stories Series from past Creston Valley Advance articles, Linda Price and other members of the Creston Refugee Committee Society about their ongoing work and the need to welcome and support families coming to Creston, the Ewashen Family of Alex, Julie, Larry and Bob telling of Dukoubour culture from history, Russian songs, food rituals and costumes and a singalong with the Happy Voices highlighting Canadian songs.

Gary Smith, yoga instructor is now offering regular weekly chair yoga which is well received. One participant was overheard emphatically telling the person who was to pick him up that he didn’t want to be picked up until after the class was over.

The value of maintaining physical activity is a clear benefit for our seniors, and we make regular use of the resources at the Creston & District Community Complex. There is a financial barrier to ongoing participation for some. We want to thank and acknowledge the support of the Creston Kootenay Foundation for a recent grant which contributes to enabling access by all to our physical activity program at the Complex.

We also want to thank the United Way and Better at Home through the Province of BC for the Active Aging funding for our Healthy Living program in 2016-2017. Also thanks to New Horizons for Seniors through Health and Social Development Canada funding for our 2017-2018 program: ‘Seniors Connecting and Reconnecting’. As many of you know, when programs are successful, the challenge is to find ways to continue funding them, and we appreciate it when that support is granted. As staff, volunteers, family and participants, we are aware of the benefits from having relevant and community based activities in addition to our regular services. We are pleased to be able to plan these additional activities with a TAPS Roadshow. We look forward to sharing some of our adventures throughout the coming year.

TAPS operates under the auspices of Valley Community Services. If you are considering a donation or would like to know about our Legacy Endowment Fund please visit www.valley.services or contact the VCS office at 250-428-5547 for more information.