BY MAUREEN CAMERON
There’s a bittersweet element to our days at TAPS when staff or volunteers come and go. While our staffing is generally consistent, and exemplified by the number of years most have been with the program, this past few months we’ve had more ‘wishing you well’ parties as folks retire or we host ‘welcome to the team’ lunches for new staff.
This month we welcome Justine Balderson. Justine is filling the position of Driver/Program aide that Nellie Daniels is retiring from at the end of June. Justine brings 21 years of experience driving transit vehicles in Calgary. You may also have seen her driving the Handi Dart and Flex Route in Creston from time to time. We look forward to having Justine’s energy and enthusiasm as part of our team
Nellie is retiring along with her husband Jim Daniels and their combined absence will be felt after many years of serving TAPS. Nellie has brought light heartedness, laughter and a creative and playful mind to every occasion while her kind and professional way made everyone at ease and each day seem brighter. Jim dedicated his time and skills as our vehicle maintenance angel. We have acknowledged Jim’s volunteering over the years for his unwavering attention to keeping the TAPS busses humming. This has been no small feat as they aged (like all of us!) over time. He kept us running, vehicle compliant and ever watchful of money saving opportunities and advice and always ready to respond when ‘something’ wasn’t working.
Wendy Garland TAPS Program Assistant is now on a year’s leave and just gave birth to a baby boy. She says she misses all the grandmas and grandpas who hovered over her during her pregnancy. We see baby visits in the future at TAPS or maybe a field trip to Wendy and John’s farm.
It’s that time of year again when the Greenhouse at the College of the Rockies becomes a weekly destination for some of our seniors working under the direction of Melissa Flint. It’s a welcome community activity as folks participate in various tasks each time. It’s also a way for us to give back as TAPS is a grateful recipient of extra vegetables over the season.
For two years, TAPS did a fundraising calendar during which we discovered how much we all liked dressing up and creating a scene! During this next year TAPS is involved in creating ‘Roadshows’ to involve other seniors and perform at different locations in the community. On Canada Day July 1st TAPS and Crestview Drama Club and Band will present their inaugual show at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market between 12:30-1pm. Historical vignettes are the theme, and they are having a lot of fun with the help of Gail Kitt and Luanne Armstrong and Tammy Bradford from the Museum with researching, writing, costumes and rehearsing. They will be getting the audience to join with them to sing ‘The Creston Valley Song”. Frank Brumment who passed away this year was a prolific writer and excellent at re-writing lyrics, many referencing Creston. This one is known to many with the tune of “Red River Valley”.
Earlier in the month, TAPS and 15 youth from Wildflower school, grades 1-8 met for one of our favourite outings, a picnic at Centennial Park. The weather cooperated and everyone made new or rekindled connections and a sharing of old and new games were the order of the day.
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.