Fascinating - Canadian Snowbird Association

Transcription

Publication mail agreement no: 40063603
OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 92
Fascinating
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Planning Your Legacy
Managing Your
Health Care
Amish Country
Stay & Play Where you
want to be!
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more, plan next winter’s stay with us now and receive up to 30% off each booking* after your initial reservation to make the
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Editor’s message
FALL 2014 | ISSUE 92
Editor
CSA Editor
Vice President Art Director
Director of Sales
Account Manager
Director of Operations
Marketing Coordinator
Staff Photographer
J. Ross Quigley
Bob Slack
Chris Bradbury
Peter Prusa
Neville B. Levin
Fran Castricone
Paula McGovern
Kim Saunders
Doug Miller
CSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Past President
Director
Director
Executive Director
Legal Counsel
Bob Slack
Jim Sherb
Ron Steeves
Karen Huestis
John Foster
Gerry Brissenden
James Leroux
Nancy Hopcraft
Michael MacKenzie
Wallace Weylie
Contributing Editors
Michael Coren
Jennifer Cox
Shari Darling
James Dolan
Barb & Ron Kroll
Illustrator
Dr. Robert MacMillan
Willa McLean
Andrew Moore-Crispin
Rex Vogel
Ron Bellamy
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government
of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the
Department of Canadian Heritage.
CSANews© is published four times a year and is Copyright
FALL 2014 by Medipac International Communications Inc.,
180 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5. (416)441-7000.
Subscription Price: $ 9.95 Canada; $20.00 U.S. and foreign.
Single copy: $3.95. Prices include tax.
Published by Medipac International Communications Inc.
As expected, many of the other travel insurance plans
have implemented substantial rate increases this year. Their
overhead costs and poor claims administration systems
have finally caught up with them and rates appear to be up
by 10-15% – and sometimes as high as 50%. What a terrible
way to treat your clients.
For years, many insurers have attempted to match our rates
by providing poorer coverage, low benefit limits and very
long and arduous pre-existing condition clauses. Some of
them also were, and are, quite brutal in their claims denials.
It reminded me of North Korea for some ridiculous reason,
so we are highlighting South Korea in this issue, for fun. It
sounds like a tremendously interesting place, and safe to
boot. I am adding it to my bucket list.
Our Early Bird travel insurance sales have again smashed all
previous records and we took more than 50,000 phone calls
in the 45-day period. What a pleasure to have such great
employees who pitch in and help at every turn, and stay
late into the night to get your questions answered and your
policies issued. People who care are hard to find and we
have a lot of them.
Fall is upon us and I am already thinking about the things
that we have to take with us when we go south. We always
forget something, but we do seem to be getting better
every year. I am a little excited, thinking what the future will
bring.
We crossed another milestone recently by transferring more
than $50 million dollars for our snowbird clients during
the past year, through our Snowbird Currency Exchange
Program. So if you still have some loose ends before your
trip, give us a call and we may be able to help.
As always – travel safely!
Opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not necessarily
those of the CSA, Medipac International Communications Inc. or its
affiliates, their Directors, Officers, or other employees or agents.
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No: 40063603.
ISSN No: 1195-2393
J. Ross Quigley
Editor
CSANews | FALL 2014
5
Table of Contents
FALL 2014 | ISSUE 92
5 Editor’s Message
7 Snowbird Events
8 Bird Talk
10 Snowbird Alert
12 President’s Message
FEATURES
Travel
22 South Korea
by Barb & Ron Kroll
Old traditions and modern
technology blend together to
form a fascinating culture.
overnment Relations Report
13 G
14 Provincial Picnics
15 Canada Clubs by Gerry Brissenden
R.V. Lifestyle
16 Canada Club Listings
30 Touring Amish Country &
the RV Capital of the World
18 Insurance by Ross Quigley
20 Opinion by Michael Coren
22
by Rex Vogel
Travel back in time to Amish country in
Elkhart, Indiana…which is surprisingly
the RV capital of the world!
44 Health Pulse
45 Fitness by Jennifer Cox
Finance
46 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin
34 Planning Your Legacy
47 Book Review by Willa McLean
by James Dolan
Plan now for the most important
financial event of your life.
48 Food & Drink by Shari Darling
SA Application
50 C
51 Benefits
Health
52 Fun & Games
40 Managing Your
Health Care
53 Grins & Giggles
54 Fast Facts
6
www.snowbirds.org
40
by Dr. Robert MacMillan
Take control of your own health
care, because no one else will!
Snowbird events
Snowbird
Extravaganza
Winter Texans’
Snowbird Extravaganza
Canadian Snowbird
Celebration
The Lakeland Center
McAllen Convention Center
Mesa Convention Center
701 West Lime St.
Lakeland Florida
700 Convention Center Blvd.
McAllen, Texas
201 N. Center St.
Mesa, Arizona
Tuesday and Wednesday,
January 27 and 28, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday,
February 2 and 3, 2015
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday,
February 10 and 11, 2015
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Join us at a CSA Winter Information Meeting!
Hundreds of people and sometimes even thousands attend these one-of-a-kind meetings. Join us for a taste of Extravaganza entertainment, hear
presentations from the Canadian Snowbird Association, get a Medipac insurance update and pose questions to the panel right from the audience.
LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ
Friday, February 13
The Nautical Beachfront Resort
1000 McCulloch Blvd N.
INDIO, CA
Monday, February 16
Fantasy Springs Casino Resort
84245 Indio Springs Parkway
PUNTA GORDA, FL
Monday, February 23
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center
75 Taylor Street
YUMA, AZ
Tuesday, February 17
Yuma Civic Center
1440 Desert Hills Drive
LARGO, FL
Tuesday, February 24
Largo Cultural Center
105 Central Park Drive
CASA GRANDE, AZ
Thursday, February 19
The Property Conference Center
1251 W. Gila Bend Highway
BONITA SPRINGS
Thursday, February 26
Elks Lodge No. 2753
3231 Coconut Road
All events start at 1:00 p.m. (doors open at noon). For more information or to volunteer, call the CSA at 1-800-265-3200 or visit www.snowbirds.org.
CSANews | FALL 2014
7
Bird talk
Dear Bird Talk,
I am a lifetime member of the CSA and, as such,
have a question to ask today. I am involved
with a company that owns several vehicles in
the U.S. and I would like to inquire about being
able to drive one of these U.S. vehicles back to
Ottawa, Canada. This incorporated company
has holdings in both Florida and Canada and
is registered in Florida. I have no intention
of selling the car in Canada; it would simply
be for travel convenience. With free trade
between Canada and the U.S., I am hoping to
be permitted to drive one of the corporation’s
U.S. cars back to Canada, when required from
Florida, as flights are not always convenient and
I enjoy motoring.
Ed: The article was correct. This is quite unfair
in our opinion and is one reason that we really
need this Snowbird Visa. If you come home for
Christmas in the middle of your trip, the U.S.
counts the time in Canada as time in the U.S.,
because you just left the U.S. temporarily and are
planning to return.
Dear Bird Talk,
I recently heard that the six-month rule was
changed to seven months. Is this true? I also
heard that nine months is in the works. Is this
true?
Dear Bird Talk,
In a previous answer, you stated that provinces
should be happy to extend the number of days
of out-of-country health-care coverage as this
will reduce their health-care costs? Would you
explain?
Winston Sharkey
Cambridge, ON
I have inquired to Customs and Immigration on
this question, but I can’t seem to get an answer
pertaining to my particular situation. As such, I
have no idea whether I am permitted to do this
or not.
Ed: Every emergency operation and every
doctor’s visit that happens outside of Canada is
a medical expense that would normally be paid
by the provincial medicare plan. Provinces pay,
basically, nothing for services provided outside of
Canada, usually in the range of 5% of the actual
bill. You still fund your “free” PEI health care with
your taxes, payroll taxes and other levies but, by
travelling, you end up using fewer services than
the person who does not travel. I must commend
PEI, however, for being one of the few provinces
that complies with the Canada Health Act. They
pay for medical services outside of the province at
the same rate as if the services had been provided
in the province. This represents 12-15% of most
bills from the U.S. In reality, the people who do
not travel benefit from our absences as we take
pressure off the medical facilities and better care
can then be provided to them.
Your help with this matter would be greatly
appreciated.
Ann from Ontario
Ed: So many rules and regulations! The short
answer is “No!” A Canadian driving a car licensed
in the U.S. into Canada raises every red flag
known to a border guard. If you do want to bring
a car back, you must “import” it and pay taxes
and fees. As a car nut, I have done this and it is
relatively easy, but it becomes a little expensive
with the HST. And then, you have to export it back
to the U.S. – again, with taxes and fees. This is
all nonsense, of course, but I would not take any
chances with your future right to visit the U.S. by
trying to avoid it. Years ago, I had a very similar
issue with a boat that I had purchased in Miami.
Customs agents found it at a marina in Toronto
(apparently they check marinas regularly) and
issued me a “pay tax” or “get it out” summons.
They also advised me that they could seize the
boat and sell it. I now only drive a Canadian car
both ways when I drive.
Dear Bird Talk,
I recently read a newspaper article supposedly
written by a U.S. immigration lawyer that states
that, when snowbirds like ourselves spend time
in the U.S., if we take a trip to another country
from the U.S. and are gone for fewer than 30
days, when we calculate our six months’ time
period, we must include the time outside of the
U.S. It did not sound correct to us and we are
wondering if you can clarify?
Jeannette Ramsden
West Kelowna, BC
8
www.snowbirds.org
Nancy McRae
Charlottetown, PE
Dear Bird Talk,
Having recently purchased condos in both
Ontario and Florida, we are just about to join
the ranks of the snowbirds. Is it necessary
to set up a bank account in the U.S., or have
you found it possible to get along with just a
Canadian bank and a VISA card?
Arthur Wenk, ON
Ed: Congratulations! You CAN get along with
just your Canadian bank account and a VISA
card, but I would not recommend it due to all
of the charges and possible inconveniences. We
opened an account with Wells Fargo and carry
their debit card, which we use for everything. The
money which we need is transferred every month,
through the CSA Currency Exchange Program,
directly into our U.S. account. Your condo
fees and other normal living expenses can be
automatically deducted from your U.S. account as
well, which will prove to be very convenient.
Also, for how long can I winter in the U.S. and
not lose my Canadian pension?
Ed: Just to recap, most Canadian provinces now
allow you to be outside of the province for seven
months without losing your health-care benefits;
Ontario is one of them. Newfoundland currently
allows you to travel for nine months…the only
province to do so. Unfortunately, the United
States will only allow you to stay for six months,
so you just can’t go to Florida or Arizona for the
full seven months. CSA is very close to having
the U.S. extend our stays to EIGHT months with a
Snowbird Visa, but that is not yet fully resolved.
As to losing your pension because you travel – I
have never heard of that in Canada and highly
doubt that it is correct. This assumes that it is a
Canadian pension. You should be able to live in
the U.S. forever and still maintain your Canadian
pension. There would be some withholding taxes
applied, usually 15%. Other countries can have
very different rules for what we call “ex-pats.”
Dear Bird Talk,
Like many snowbirds, we do our banking online
while in Florida. While away from home, we
use Kathy’s debit card information to access
our company and personal bank accounts but,
last winter, we discovered that her card was
about to expire while we were away. It had a
November expiry date.
According to the bank, a new replacement card
had been mailed to our home. To authorize it,
we had a choice of either phoning the bank’s
1-800 authorization number from our home
telephone number of record, or authorizing it
online using details only available on the new
card and in the transmittal letter. It was a Catch
22 situation, since we could not do either. I
called our local bank branch, but there was
nothing that they could do to help until we
returned home.
Luckily, I found that my debit card had a June
expiry date, so was able to use this to reset
our online banking access. If not for this, we
would have lost complete control of our online
banking while away, including all monthly
utility payments and several major annual
expenditures planned through the winter
months.
Bird talk
Lesson learned. On arriving home in April, the
bank adjusted Kathy’s debit card to a summer
expiry date.
A similar situation occurred with our home
insurance renewal a few years ago. As a result,
we had our insurance company change all of
our renewal dates (home, car, etc.) to a summer
month, so that we would be home and able to
handle any complications.
Snowbirds might want to make similar
adjustments to winter months’ renewals, to
avoid similar situations. Being a six-month
snowbird with no family back on the home
front can certainly be interesting at times.
Dave Hunter, author/broadcaster
“Along Interstate-75” – the Florida snowbird’s
bible.
“Along Florida’s Expressways” – endorsed and
used by VisitFlorida.
Ed: Thanks, Dave and Kathy. Have U.S. renewal
dates for everything U.S. come due when you
are in the U.S. The renewal dates for everything
Canadian should renew when you are in Canada,
of course. And don’t forget your passport and
driver’s licence, too.
Dear Bird Talk,
Inadvertently, I have done something really
stupid. I made an honest mistake muddling up
my days spent in the U.S. for 2013 and only now
realize that I was in the U.S. for more than my
allotted 182 days...by six days (188). Am I the
first idiot to have ever done this? I have been
to the States two or three times since then,
blissfully unaware of my error, and there was
no problem at the border. I did read the CSA
“heads up” that the U.S. and Canada border
services do not yet share dates of entry and
exit, but that they eventually will. What advice
would you give me? I am happy to apply for a
“Waiver Pardon” or something. Ideally, I would
like to spend at least some of this winter at our
Florida house – if only to get it ready to rent –
and then I could wait out a year while applying
for this “pardon,” but it does seem like a storm
in a teacup! Any avenues or advice would be
gratefully received.
Andrew G.
Ed: The names have been changed to protect
the innocent! A new effective date has not been
established, but soon there will be a full border
information exchange between the U.S. and
Canada. My advice is to ignore the past issues
and just comply with the laws going forward.
IF you are asked by the border guards how long
you spent in the U.S. last year, I would just say “six
months.” If you start to parse the number of days,
they get suspicious. There is no Waiver Pardon,
but you can apply for extended stays which are
often granted if you have a good reason. They
take months to process, so apply well in advance.
We really need our Snowbird Visa, so that all of
these problems will disappear.
Bird Talk
Featuring the letters
& concerns of our
members
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO
Bird Talk, c/o CSANews
180 Lesmill Road
Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5
or by e-mail: [email protected]
Dear Bird Talk,
There have been many questions regarding
the wisdom of submitting a form 8840 to the
IRS and it certainly makes sense to do this.
Would you please provide clarification on two
points? First, we are assuming that both my
wife and I must submit separate forms. Is this
correct? Second, can these be submitted at
any time during the year, or should we wait to
submit it nearer to their normal tax deadline
which I understand is mid-June? Thank you for
the excellent advice and service that you are
providing to all snowbirds.
Doug Hodgins
Bobcaygeon, ON
Salt Spring Island, BC
Ed: Both you and your wife should file the 8840
and I would tend to file it when you file your
Canadian taxes, just so that it acts as a reminder.
Any time between January 1 and the end of June
of the following year is fine.
JUST A NOTE
Our comments on the gun issue woke up every advocate in the CSA, for both sides. Their comments ranged from “they only want a gun
to shoot someone” to “how dare they restrict our right to bear arms and defend ourselves.” The following comments, from someone who
has obviously had some direct experience with this, are worth repeating.
“In general, non-immigrant aliens are
prohibited from possessing or receiving
firearms or ammunition in the United States.
There are exceptions to this prohibition,
including: (1) a non-immigrant alien in
possession of a valid hunting license or permit
issued by a State within the United States,
and (2) a non-immigrant alien in possession
of an invitation or registration to attend a
competitive target shooting event or sports or
hunting trade show sponsored by a national,
State, or local organization devoted to the
collection, competitive use, or other sporting
use of firearms.”
This quote is from the back of Form 6NIA, which
is used to import firearms into the U.S. with
detailed information and subsequent approval
of the ATF. My personal experience has been
that, since 9/11, not only do you have to prove
residence in a state of the U.S., you must also be
a U.S. citizen to purchase firearms directly from
a dealer. Your comment that “We know that we
can buy a gun easily at the local gun show” is
extremely misleading and totally untrue – there
may be a few exceptions, but this is not a “fairly
simple process.”
Your reference to the ATT (Authorization to
Transport) is only required for Canadians to
transport restricted or prohibited firearms
in Canada and is issued by each province.
Generally, for simplicity, this would be required
for all hand guns, but there are many nonhand-gun others, too. The individual with
registered hand guns would require the
registration certificate for each firearm, a valid
PAL (Possession and Acquisition License), an
approved Form 6 from the ATF and a temporary
ATT specifying the location (usually home
residence of the hand gun owner) to the border
crossing(s) and the approximate dates going
and returning from Canada to the U.S. Unless
there have been changes of which I am not
aware, long guns (rifles and shotguns) would
not require the use of an ATT – prohibited
firearms would be an exception.
The only other exception for Canadians owning
or possessing guns in the U.S. would be those
grandfathered owners who met all of the
resident requirements prior to 9/11 and who
purchased guns legally in the U.S.
CSANews | FALL 2014
9
Snowbird alert
Tax-Free Savings Account Woes
There is a common misunderstanding of TFSA rules that
continues to cause thousands of Canadians to face penalties
from the CRA. Warning packages were sent to 54,700 taxpayers
advising that they had incorrectly managed their TFSA in 2013.
The common mistake is to make a withdrawal and then replace
the money in the account too quickly.
The current maximum deposit which a Canadian can make into
a TFSA is $5,500.00 per year. The common error is to withdraw
funds and replace them within the same year, exceeding the
annual contribution limit of $5,500.00.
Taxpayers who broke the rule were sent a warning package
and given 60 days to respond. Those who did not respond in
time were sent an assessment and were fined accordingly. The
average fine was $516.00.
Canada Deposit
Insurance Corporation
The following financial holdings are NOT protected
by the CDIC:
• Mutual funds and stocks
• GIC and other term deposits with a maturity date
that exceeds five years
• Bonds
• Treasury bills
• Accounts or products in U.S. dollars or other
foreign currency
• Accounts or products held in institutions that are
not CDIC members
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
There is yet another reason to complete and submit the IRS 8840 form. Effective July 1, 2014, Canadian banks will be
reporting the financial activity of all clients who indicate to the CRA that they have a connection to the United States who, in
turn, will pass the information on to the IRS.
The law – the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) – has been created to catch Americans who are hiding funds
offshore. However, there is no distinction between persons who are wilfully avoiding taxes and “accidental Americans.” If you
spend enough time in the United States to pass the IRS 8840 Substantial Presence Test, you are deemed to be a resident alien
of the United States and are subject to U.S. income tax on your worldwide income.
By filing the 8840 form, you are declaring yourself as exempt from U.S. income tax because your home tax country is Canada.
Canada and the U.S. have a tax treaty in place, which is why we have the privilege to declare ourselves exempt from U.S.
income tax. However, this new law will increase the amount of information-sharing between the two countries so, if you have
not filed an 8840 before – for whatever reason, start now and keep a copy for your own records.
Douglas Harry Miller
March 28, 1928 – August 12, 2014
Medipac photographer Doug Miller passed away suddenly doing what he
loved, capturing the beauty and wonder of life with a camera. He dedicated
his time to helping others by working for children’s charities, youth
organizations and filming countless weddings, birthdays and bar-mitzvahs,
all free of charge. He had a lifetime career at the YMCA Business Man’s Club,
helping the leaders of Toronto get fit and ready every morning for more
than fifty years.
Doug was always happy, optimistic and looking forward to the next big
event in his life; his approach served as an example to us all. Over the years,
several of his photographs have appeared on the pages of CSANews.
He will be missed.
10
www.snowbirds.org
CSA update
Bob Slack
CSA President
President’s
message
Fall is in the air. For those of us in some
parts of Ontario, it feels like it’s been in
the air all summer.
Prior to the 2013 Nova Scotia general election, the Canadian Snowbird
Association received a written commitment from the leader of the then
Opposition Liberals Stephen McNeil
which stated that “a Liberal government
will introduce changes to the legislation
to extend the health coverage from six
to seven months.” We are pleased to announce that Premier Stephen McNeil has
kept his commitment. Effective August 1,
2014, residents of Nova Scotia may now
spend up to seven months outside of
Nova Scotia in a calendar year and still
retain their provincial health insurance.
In addition to the health-coverage
extension, also effective August 1, 2014,
beneficiaries of the Nova Scotia Family
and Seniors’ Pharmacare Program may
now receive up to three 90-day refills to
allow for a 270-day supply of prescription
medication for vacation purposes. This
represents a 90-day increase over the
previous 180-day supply maximum. This
policy change ensures that residents who
are enrolled in the Seniors’ Pharmacare
Program have an adequate amount of
prescription medication for their extended absences.
On behalf of the Canadian Snowbird
Association, I would like to thank
Premier McNeil and Minister of Health
and Wellness The Hon. Leo Glavine for
their responsiveness to our request and
for keeping their commitment to the
snowbirds of Nova Scotia. I would also
like to thank our Nova Scotia members
who participated in last year’s effective
12
www.snowbirds.org
letter-writing and e-mail campaign.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank
our Director for Atlantic Canada Ron
Steeves who, once again, played a vital
role in getting this done; yet another win
for the association and for our Nova Scotia
members. By the time you read this, I will
have travelled to Prince Edward Island
and Saskatchewan to sit down with their
respective ministers of health and I hope
that we will be able to announce similar
victories in those provinces shortly.
CSA staff are hard at work putting
together the fifth edition of The Canadian
Travellers’ Report Card. This document is a
national evaluation of federal, provincial
and territorial government policies and
regulations of importance to snowbirds
although, quite frankly, of importance to
all travelling Canadians.
We research these policies and practices and then share the information with
each government so that they have an
opportunity to comment before our
research is published. After receiving
feedback from government ministers
and senior ministry officials from across
Canada, we retain an independent
consultant to evaluate our findings and
assign a grade to each category. The final
report is then issued to our members,
governments throughout Canada and
the media.
It is a vital tool when we meet with
our elected officials. It is also important
to keep the report as fresh and as accurate as possible. Given all the wins which
we’ve had on the political front during
the last two years, it is definitely time
for an update. We will be releasing the
fifth edition of The Canadian Travellers’
Report Card at Snowbird Extravaganza in
January of 2015.
We are headed back to Washington,
D.C. in September and October to give
our “Canadian Retiree Visa” a further
push before the November midterm
elections. Right now, the JOLT Act
has 165 co-sponsors in the House of
Representatives – almost evenly divided
between Republicans and Democrats.
Given the overwhelmingly bipartisan
support which it enjoys, we remain confident that it will pass when it is called to
the floor of the House of Representatives
for a vote. Failing a timely vote prior to
the November midterm elections, there
is a great deal of talk in Washington
about President Obama issuing a series
of executive orders to bypass the gridlock that currently exists in Congress.
Make no mistake – this would be a very
controversial move but, as the President
has indicated his support for the Jolt Act,
it may well be a prime candidate for this
sort of action.
I would like to thank all of you who
have renewed your CSA memberships,
as well as those of you who have made
donations to our Special Action Fund
(SAF). Every dollar donated to the SAF is
held in a separate account and is utilized
exclusively for our engagements in government lobbying and consultation.
If you have not yet renewed your
membership, I encourage you to do so
right away. We need all of your help, particularly when we call upon our elected
representatives. We must never forget
that there is strength in numbers.
Lois and I look forward to meeting you
over the winter…safe travels.
CSA update
Jim Sherb
First Vice-President
Government Relations
report
In the last edition of CSANews, we told
you of New Brunswick’s decision to extend the amount of time for which eligible
residents may be absent from the province while still retaining their provincial
health coverage. New Brunswick residents
are now permitted to be absent from
the province for up to 212 days (seven
months) for vacation and visiting purposes. This provides New Brunswickers with
an additional month of coverage.
The province of Nova Scotia, after much
work on the part of your association, has
enacted a similar policy. Effective August
1, 2014, residents of Nova Scotia are permitted to spend up to seven months
outside of the province each calendar
year, and still retain their medical services insurance coverage. This is a big win
for the CSA and I encourage you to read
about it in more detail in Bob Slack’s president’s message elsewhere in this edition
of the magazine.
In 2013, due to the efforts of the CSA,
the governments of British Columbia,
Manitoba and Alberta all changed their
health coverage policies by increasing
from six to seven months the length of
time for which residents can be absent
from their home province and still maintain their provincial health coverage.
Currently, residents of Saskatchewan
may be absent for up to six months in a
calendar year and still maintain their provincial health benefits. Over the past two
years, CSA representatives have met with
the premier, the minister of health, the
government of Saskatchewan’s caucus
Standing Policy Committee on Human
Services and, most recently, the assistant deputy minister of health to discuss
formally extending coverage to seven
months. While supportive of our proposal,
the government of Saskatchewan has still
not proceeded with the necessary regulatory changes.
An integral part of many of our recent achievements was an e-mail and
letter-writing campaign by our membership. In order to further our efforts
in Saskatchewan, we are asking our
Saskatchewan members to write or e-mail
their local MLA, Premier Brad Wall and
Minister of Health Dustin Duncan requesting that the government of Saskatchewan
extend health coverage from six to seven
months. In your e-mail or letter, we recommend that you highlight the recent
changes made across Canada.
In the spring 2014 issue of CSANews, I
outlined the joint Canada/U.S. declaration
titled “Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision
for Perimeter Security and Economic
Competitiveness.” The purpose of the
program is to “enhance our security and
accelerate the legitimate flow of people,
goods and services.”
Part of the declaration includes a binational border initiative in which entry
and exit data will be shared regarding individuals travelling between Canada and
the United States.
We have recently learned that the full
exchange of data about Canadian and
American travellers has been delayed.
According to Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA), the required legislative
and regulatory changes have still not
been made. At this time, a new effective
date has not yet been established.
We will provide you with more information as soon as it becomes available.
Safe travels and I look forward to meeting you this winter at one of our many
shows.
Contact info for Saskatchewan MLAs:
www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas
Premier Brad Wall:
[email protected]
Minister of Health Dustin Duncan:
[email protected]
You may also find our Guidelines to
Writing Government Representatives
useful when composing your e-mails
and letters. These guidelines can
be found on our website at
www.snowbirds.org/writing-guidelines.
We kindly ask that members copy the
CSA on e-mails and letters that they
send.
Ron Steeves, Nova Scotia Premier McNeil and Bob Slack
Ron Steeves, Health Minister Glavine and Bob Slack
CSANews | FALL 2014
13
Canada clubs
2015 PROVINCIAL PICNICS
Meet your snowbird neighbours and friends from home!
Win prizes and enjoy live music; just bring a picnic lunch, lawn
chairs, sun block and any musical instrument you play. Also,
bring any grandchildren and visiting guests. FUN FOR ALL!
NOVA SCOTIA
ONTARIO
Lake Seminole Park, Shelter 13
Fort DeSoto Park, Shelter 5
Friday, February 13, 2015
10015 Park Blvd, Seminole
10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Myrna Stewart
In Canada: (902) 752-8781
In U.S.: (727) 475-9470
E-mail: [email protected]
Sunday, March 15, 2015
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Isabel Irvine
In Canada: (905) 814-6890
In U.S.: Shirley DeMarsh (727) 360-2227
E-mail: [email protected] NEW BRUNSWICK
PEI
Judy Steeves
Alex Campbell
NEWFOUNDLAND
& LABRADOR
QUEBEC
9698 SW 328 St., Homestead, FL 33033
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Monday, February 16, 2015
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
In Canada: (506) 459-4243
In U.S.: (727) 475-8347
Thursday, March 12 & Thursday, April 9, 2015
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Jeff Blackwood
In Canada: (709) 745-6200
In U.S.: (727) 329-8058
Sunday, March 8, 2015
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
In Canada: (902) 886-2081
In U.S.: (727) 530-9499
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Homestead Bayfront Park
Denise Leroux
In Canada: (450) 467-6190
In U.S.: (305) 246-8850
*Fort DeSoto Park is located at Tierre Verde beside St. Petersburg.
Take I-275 or US19 and watch for signs for “FORT DESOTO”.
Reminder: alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Pinellas County Parks.
14
www.snowbirds.org
Sponsored by:
•
Canada clubs
Gerry Brissenden
CSA Past President
Travels of
Gerry and Joan
W
e will soon be getting ready to head back down
south for another snowbird season. Joan and
I have had a quiet summer so far but, when
you look at the rest of this magazine, you will notice that
most of our directors have been very busy working on
behalf of our members.
The good news for us is that our four sons decided
to send Joan and me to London for our 63rd wedding
anniversary. They purchased the plane tickets and
booked the hotel for us for two weeks in August. We are
both looking forward to the trip; it has been 35 years
since I last visited London and I am sure that we will find
a lot of changes. I recently went online to check on some
of my old haunts only to find that they have been torn
down and replaced by condos. I do intend to visit my
old soccer club, Harrow Borough, where I first played
professional football. We plan to visit Tottenham, where
we were married and also where I signed on for the
famous Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. I played in the
reserve team with a few call-ups for the big club. I hope
to have some photos for the next issue of CSANews.
In September, the CSA will be holding the fall board
meeting in Newfoundland. This is the first time we
have been there for a meeting. We will also be holding
a Snowbird Lifestyle Presentation there and I am sure
that all of our friends and members will give us a big
welcome. Every year in Florida, the Newfoundland picnic
is the largest picnic held with more than 1,200 people
in attendance. We look forward to seeing them all again
next summer.
Don’t forget that if you plan on staying in the United
States for more than four months, you must complete
form 8840 Closer Connection to Canada. This form
is available either from the CSA office or online. The
completion of the form ensures that you do not pay
taxes in the U.S. Also remember that when you cross into
the U.S., the information will be entered in both the U.S
and Canadian border-control computers. Do not try to
stay for longer than you are authorized.
Last year, Joan and I mailed out 100,000 placemats to
members across the southern United States. If you are
having a breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting – or even
for your monthly coffee meetings – these placemats
are excellent, as they have both the U.S and Canadian
national anthems on them so that everyone can join in
and sing both anthems. Order yours as soon as possible
and make sure that you let us know when you would
like us to mail them. Also, if you would like one of our
directors to speak at your event free of charge, get your
request in early to ensure that a director is available. Call
the office at 1-800-265-3200. We talk about the work of
the association and bring everyone up to date about the
things that concern travelling Canadians such as bordercrossing issues.
Safe travels and keep healthy.
Gerry
STAR SPANGL
ED BANNER
see
Oh, say can you
early light
by the dawn's
the
ly we hailed at
What so proud
ing?
twilight's last gleam
t stars
stripes and brigh
Whose broad
us fight,
thru the perilo
ed were
arts we watch
O'er the ramp
ming?
so gallantly strea
t's red glare,
And the rocke
ing in air,
the bombs burst
our
the night that
Gave proof thru
.
flag was still there
star-spangled
Oh, say does that
banner yet wave
the free and
O'er the land of
brave?
the home of the
Lakeland Center
Lakeland
Florida
McAllen Convention Center
McAllen
Texas
O CANADA!
Have a Great Time Today!
See you at an Extravaganza near you!
The Voice of Travelling Canadians.
If you're not a member, become one!
Enjoy the freedom of the snowbird lifestyle.
Call us…before you travel again!
1-800-265-3200
1-888-MEDIPAC
Your world is unique.
We insure it.
Secure cross-border banking.
Preferred rates. $0-5 transfer fees.
www.snowbirds.org
1-800-267-8000
www.medipac.com
1-800-265-3200
www.SnowbirdExchange.com
O Canada!
Our home and
native land!
True patriot love
in all thy sons
command.
With glowing
hearts
we see thee rise,
The True North
strong and free!
From far and wide
,
O Canada,
we stand on guard
for thee.
God keep our
land
glorious and free!
O Canada,
we stand on guard
for thee.
O Canada,
we stand on guard
for thee.
Mesa Convention Center
Mesa
Arizona
Arizona
California
Florida
To order placemats for your social function, call the CSA/Medipac placemat line at 1-877-888-2505 or visit www.snowbirds.org.
CSA/Medipac Placemats – Order Now!
They are FREE and make wonderful table accessories
for your Canadian event. To get your supply of
placemats, choose one of the following options:
●● Visit us online at www.snowbirds.org
●● Send an e-mail to [email protected]
The phone number for placemat orders is
1-877-888-2505
CSANews | FALL 2014
15
Canada clubs
CANADIAN CALENDAR 2014/2015
Please note: Always call the information person listed for exact details, such as time and location.
FLORIDA
Clearwater/St. Petersburg
Ballantrae Golf and Country
Club Annual Picnic
Wednesday, March 11, from 11:00 a.m. to
dusk; Fort DeSoto Park, shelter #5 in St.
Petersburg. $5.00 per couple.
Info: Julia Bryant, FL (727) 797-1601,
[email protected];
Barb Breckles, FL (727) 797-5924,
[email protected].
OPP Veterans’ Association –
Suncoast Annual Dinner
Wednesday, March 4; Meet and Greet
at 12:30 p.m.; dinner at 1:15 p.m. Cody’s
Original Roadhouse, 26210 U.S. 19 North at
Enterprise Road, Clearwater, FL.
Info: Mack and Shirley
Rutherford, FL (727) 726-8439,
[email protected]; Liz Wickland,
FL(727)530-9438,[email protected].
RCMP Annual Picnic
Thursday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m. at Sand
Key Park, Site 2 in Clearwater Beach. Bring
your own “everything” event. Members and
guests are all welcome.
Info: Jack Burbridge, ON (613) 824-2513,
FL (727) 729-4565 after November 15.
Canadian Club of Gulf
Coast Florida
Happy group of Canadian guys who meet
monthly during the snowbird season at
Banquet Masters, 13355 49th Street North
(SE corner of Ulmerton Road) in
St. Petersburg, to enjoy Canadian talk, good
refreshments, a wonderful meal and great
speakers. First luncheon of the 2014/2015
season will be on Wednesday, November
19 (doors open at 11:00 a.m.). There is an
inexpensive weekly golf group and several
other events which will include our ladies
(dinner/cruise, Xmas party, ladies’ lunch).
Info: Dann Oliver, ON (705) 242-9606,
FL (727) 343-3843 after October 28,
[email protected].
16
www.snowbirds.org
Lakeland
Royal Canadian Legion,
United States, Eastern Zone,
Pinellas County Post 144
Our busy winter schedule begins on
Monday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. at
the Turner-Brandon American Legion
Post 7, 1760 Turner Street in Clearwater.
Our regular meetings are on the second
Monday of each month, until April.
Canadian Remembrance Service at MacDill
AFB on Tuesday, November 11, hosted by
the CENCOM Canadian Contingent and our
RCL Colour Party. To attend, please contact
Dann Oliver by November 5 for security
vetting. Then we are into our ongoing
picnics, dances, invasions, potluck parties
and any other excuse to get together to
be Canadian. Whether you are a snowbird
looking for something interesting to do, or
are already a Legion member, come and
join us for some down-home comradeship. Also, look for us at the Snowbird
Extravaganza on Tuesday, January 27 and
Wednesday, January 28 in Lakeland.
[email protected].
Toronto Police Retirees
Reunion
Wednesday, March 4, from 11:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m. NEW LOCATION: Banquet Masters,
13355 49th Street North in Clearwater.
Numbers must be guaranteed in advance,
so please contact Hugh Ferguson or Gary
and Muriel Hooper in December or January
to sign up.
Info: Hugh Ferguson,
FL (727) 391-1083, [email protected];
Gary and Muriel Hooper, FL (727) 943-2512,
[email protected];
www.mtppa.com or
www.berndeau.startlogic.com.
United States, Eastern Zone
An historic northern United States, Eastern
Zone Post is transferring to Lakeland. Meets
on the second Thursday of each month,
starting on November 13 at 7:00 p.m. at
American Legion Post 4, 1375 Ariana St.,
Lakeland. Join and help us grow with lots of
picnics, dances, invasions and potluck parties throughout the snowbird season.
[email protected].
Zephyrhills
United States, Eastern Zone
Another venerable northern United
States, Eastern Zone Post is transferring to
Zephyrhills. Meets on the second Tuesday
of each month, starting on November 11
at 7:00 p.m. at American Legion Zephyr
Post 118, 5340 8th St., Zephyrhills. Join and
help us grow with lots of picnics, dances,
invasions and potluck parties throughout
the snowbird season.
[email protected].
Ellenton/Bradenton
Canadian Club of
Colony Cove
Meetings are held on the second Monday of
each month at 9:30 a.m. in Ellenton Hall, beginning in November and ending in March.
Annual events include a breakfast before
the meeting in January, Just for Fun shuffleboard contest and Can/Am golf tournament
in January and a dinner/dance in February.
The Farewell Picnic takes place in March and
includes games and prizes.
Info: Murray Gow, FL (941) 729-7907.
Canada clubs
Lehigh Acres
Port Charlotte
Canada Club of
Lehigh Acres
Canadian Club of
Port Charlotte
Potluck dinner/meetings are on the first
Sunday of each month, beginning in
December. All meetings will be held at
Faith Lutheran Church, 705 Leeland Heights
Blvd. E at 4:00 p.m. Our only planned event
at this time will be our annual picnic at
Franklin Locks. Other activities – such as
card parties and outings – are planned
throughout the season.
Third Thursday of each month, at
12:00 p.m.; November through March. Held
at the Hibachi Buffet, at the corner of US 41
and Forest Nelson in Port Charlotte.
Info: Linda Killip, FL (239) 369-6984.
Wednesday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. in the
recreation centre at Maple Leaf Estates. Cost
is $20.00 per person for lunch with wine
and dessert. Please make your reservation
with Lyle Rea before February 27.
Mexico City Beach
Canadian Snowbird
Information
Wednesday, February 4, at 1:00 p.m. at the
Civic Centre, 105 North 31st Street.
Info: Hazen Walters, NL (709) 535-1971,
FL (941) 624-2073.
University of Guelph
Alumni Annual Picnic
Info: Lyle Rea, FL (941) 505-0183,
[email protected].
Info: Nancy Hopcraft, FL (850) 233-8376
after January 1.
Port Charlotte
Panama City Beach
University of Guelph
Winter Excursion
Panama City Beach –
Canada Day Event
Sunday, February 15, from 3:00 p.m. to
10:00 p.m., at the Wyndham Bay Point Golf
Resort and Spa, 4114 Jan Cooley Drive.
The largest single gathering of Canadian
snowbirds and their neighbours in the panhandle! Food, music, dancing and prizes.
This is a special year, as we are celebrating
the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag.
Tickets are US$22.00 per person and are
available for sale on Wednesday, February
4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon (one day only!) at
Wyndham Bay Point. All seating is reserved.
Individuals may purchase up to 10 tickets.
TICKETS ARE LIMITED.
Info: Daniel Bazinet, FL (850) 236-0624 after
January 1, [email protected].
Canadian Snowbird
Luncheon
Thursday, February 12 at 12:00 p.m. at
Harpoon Harry’s in Panama City Beach.
Info: Nancy Hopcraft, FL (850) 233-8376
after January 1.
Usually held the first week in February.
Date, time and location TBD.
Info: Lyle Rea, FL (941) 505-0183,
[email protected].
CALIFORNIA
Palm Desert
Canada/Snowbird Fest
Saturday and Sunday, February 28 and
March 1, at the University of California,
Riverview, Palm Desert. Saturday from
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday from
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $10.00.
Parking is free.
Info: CA (760) 202-4007,
[email protected].
HAWAII
Kailua, Kona
Annual Canadian Potluck
Thursday, January 29, at 4:00 p.m. in the
large pavilion at the old airport. Bring a dish
to share, your place setting, chair and beverage. Please confirm attendance with Terri.
Info: Terri Haberman, HI (808) 334-0508.
ARIZONA
Buckeye
Canada Day Party at
Sundance Adult Village
Saturday, January 31, at 4:00 p.m.; consists of Canadian game, potluck dinner,
entertainment and a dance. Cost is $5.00
per person. Open to all Canadians living in
Sundance Adult Village.
Info: Jerry & Elaine Merritt
[email protected]; Al & Paula Aiello
[email protected].
TEXAS
Mercedes
Llano Grande Lake
Resort Picnic
Wednesday, March 4. Cost of tickets
includes food and beverages. Open to
all Canadians living in Llano Grande Lake
Resort.
Info: Roxanne Beddington,
ON (613) 881-0107, TX (956) 825-1134.
CSANews | FALL 2014
17
Insurance
A Little Mexican
Surprise
A young family with their first baby
decided to take a little rest from their
very busy lives. He is a police detective
and she is a nurse in a very busy
hospital and, of course, a mother. The
destination was Mexico and the price
was right!
They were even wise enough to check
up on their travel insurance before
they left. A group plan through their
employer was in place – providing full
benefits – and they were assured that
it would take care of them if there was
any sign of a medical problem. They
were especially concerned about their
youngster, as this would be the first
real trip that they would be taking
with her. But they were good parents,
and they would make sure that she ate
no salads and did not drink the water,
so everything should be fine.
Well…not quite. On the third day, the
little girl woke up with what appeared
to be stomach pains and, as we all
do, they just hoped that it would go
away. It did not! This is probably the
first time that any of us would even
think about travel medical insurance;
that first time, when we find ourselves
in a foreign country and we are sick
(or injured) and we don’t know what
to do. Everyone around us is speaking
a foreign language and the ones who
do speak a little English seem to not
really understand what we are trying
to tell them. This can be very scary and
intimidating.
Moving this story along, they finally
18
www.snowbirds.org
made their way to the local
Mexican hospital; it had
excellent facilities as it was in
one of the major tourist areas.
There, she was admitted in
Spanish and some broken
English and assigned to a bed.
They had already called their
insurance company, which
had assisted in getting them
to this stage of their journey. It turns
out that the little girl had a fairly bad
case of gastroenteritis and needed
some of those fancy medications to
kill it. The family was not totally aware
of what was happening around them
as all of the important words were in
Spanish, but some bilingual people
were helping them understand, so it
was working out OK.
would do nothing more! I want to
remind you that her parents had called
the insurance company BEFORE they
left and told them of the ear infection.
The little girl was cleared to travel with
full coverage by both her doctor AND
the insurance company!
Just as she was 95% better (but still
lying in her hospital bed), a call came
from the insurance company to the
hospital saying that their claim would
be denied and that they would not be
paying the bill. Everyone, of course,
panicked. The hospital panicked and
Mom & Dad panicked, but the little girl
was just starting to feel much better.
Our young family knew that their
bills were running up quickly in
the hospital…probably into many
thousands of dollars by now, and
they had to stop that quickly. So they
tried to check out of the hospital, but
they were blocked and told that they
would not be allowed to leave until
the entire bill was paid, IN FULL. This
is commonly known as kidnapping in
my book, but it happens much more
frequently than you would expect.
The insurer stated that a minor ear
infection which the little girl had a
few weeks prior to their trip was a
pre-existing condition and that her
gastroenteritis was just a continuation
and therefore, not covered. This is
total nonsense, in my opinion and,
now that I have more of the facts, it is
outrageous! The insurance company
The normal thing to do in these very
tense situations, usually in a foreign
language, is just to pay the bill and
then get the heck out of there. You
can fight it later. That brings us to
the next problem. There are very few
credit cards issued to young families,
or seniors for that matter, that have
a limit high enough to pay a hospital
Insurance
J. Ross Quigley
CEO
Medipac International Inc.
bill. They were still unable to leave,
even after giving the hospital 100% of
their credit limit on their credit cards.
Fortunately, one of their relatives
was able to give them his credit card
number for the balance of the bill. The
hospital bills which Medipac receives
run $40-50,000 per day, so even a
one-day stay can be beyond the credit
limit of 90% of the people in Canada.
So how do you get out of a hospital if
they “kidnap” you? That is a question
which you need to resolve before
travelling and you need to consider,
very carefully, how your travel
insurance provider will respond.
First, you need an insurance plan that
speaks many languages. You need
an insurance plan that can, and will,
transfer money to foreign hospitals
in their currency, in an instant. You
have, I am sure, heard many stories
about people being denied admission
to a hospital unless they paid up
front. This story is about the other
side of the page, trying to get out of
a hospital when you are finally better.
Some hospitals like to keep you in
for another day, or two, or three, as
this obviously means more money for
them. My advice is always to get out of
any hospital as fast as you can. There
are some very nasty diseases floating
around in there.
It is also interesting to note that some
Mexican hospitals will bill you in U.S.
dollars. Could you imagine a Canadian
hospital billing you in drachmas? Of
course, Canadian hospitals actually
do not send anyone a bill, but you do
get the point. This is almost always
a sign of inflated “tourist” bills and
you should not pay them unless
they are less than $200US. Leave it
to the insurance company. Also, pay
attention to a bill that says 1200 with
no mention of what currency it is. It is
most likely in the local currency, but
they will gladly accept U.S. dollars
in that amount. The comment will
be, if challenged, that they did not
understand the language – ha, ha, ha.
Back to an insurance policy for a
minute; lots of group policies do not
provide for emergency evacuation.
If you need to return to Canada in
an air ambulance, the cost starts at
US$10,000 and runs to US$200,000,
and more, if you are on the other
side of the world. I hope that you
have noticed the Canadians being
evacuated from Africa in special,
ultra-secure containment units due
to the Ebola virus; that is even more
expensive. Another simple question
to ask before you leave on your trip is,
“Am I covered for such an evacuation?”
I would also postpone that African
safari for at least a year, as this virus is
spreading quickly.
You should also watch out for those
low limits of $50,000 and $100,000
on some insurance policies. We are
aware of claims in which an insurer
would send a cheque to the hospital
for $50,000 on the first day and then
wash their hands of the claim, leaving
you stranded and without help. The
full terms of the policy have been met,
you see, and you are no longer their
problem. Disgusting!!
This story does have a happy ending,
though. The young family was my
niece and nephew and, in desperation,
they called Medipac from their
hospital jail, hoping that we could
help. We called a senior officer at the
offending insurance company, as
we know him well, and told him that
Medipac would take over the claim
and bill them for all charges and
services unless they, instantly, fixed
these ridiculous hospital problems.
They did! But it still took many months
to get their money back from
the insurer.
Note: I do not want to imply that Mexico is a bad place to visit; it is a wonderful place to visit and is generally very safe, with the
exception of some border towns in which criminals are active. English is very common and well spoken at the resorts and in the
tourist towns. The medical system is for Mexicans and, therefore, English and French are not at the levels which we would hope.
The insurance company name shall remain nameless, but the little girl’s name was Claire, and she’s fine.
CSANews | FALL 2014
19
Opinion
with
Ready for some nice, gentle, relaxing reading? Let’s start with this: “The
Jews control the media, control the
banks, control governments, control
everything. Harper can’t move, Obama
can’t move, without their say-so.” This
was shouted in my face by the man
in front of me, cheered on by a mob
of men and women who quickly assembled around him. “Will I condemn
the murder of the three Israeli teens?
Speak sense! They were killed in a car
accident two weeks earlier and used
by the Zionists to justify the holocaust
on Gaza. Their families were part of the
plot.” More screaming, chanting and
cheering. Yes, welcome to the wonderful world of a Toronto protest this
summer against the Israeli response
to Hamas and its killing of Jewish kids
and firing of thousands of rockets into
Israel. A protest, by the way, that was
entirely typical of such events.
At this gathering, there were several
hundred Palestinians lined up across
the road from the Israeli consulate in
downtown Toronto, joined by Muslims
from various countries, a few dozen
Marxists and even a couple of ultraorthodox Jews. These fringe anti-Israel
Jews – some of them appearing to be
mentally handicapped – are paraded
around at every demonstration and,
on this night, were pushed in front of
me quite aggressively to prove that the
Holocaust-denying, Jew-hating lunatics to whom I was speaking were not
anti-Semitic. Quite so. It’s horribly misleading, because they speak for a tiny
number of Jews, just as those black
people who supported the apartheid
regime in South Africa spoke for so few
black men and women.
Not that every person at the protest
20 www.snowbirds.org
Michael Coren
was motivated by racism, and I can understand the anger of the Palestinians.
They have been mistreated by other
Arabs for generations, used by their
leaders, manipulated by Islamism and
do have a genuine case for a two-state
solution. The suffering of any innocents
is obscene. Problem is, every time Israel
does things like leaving Gaza or giving
up the Sinai the result is not peace, but
more terror. As has been said, if Hamas
put down their arms there would be no
war; if Israel put down their arms there
would be no Israel.
But back to the gates of hell. I was repeatedly pushed, screamed at, called
a racist and a fascist, threatened, and
one very white leftist student said that
he would pour coke over me. I said that
if he did, I would “resist him” and use
whatever force was necessary. He gave
a silly grin and backed down. These
people are generally bullies and do not
like being challenged. His comrade was
distributing leaflets advertising the
previous week’s gay pride. I explained
that Israel had pride parades in all of
its major cities but that they were illegal in the Arab world. I told him that I
had gay Palestinian friends who had to
leave for Haifa and Tel Aviv out of fear
for their lives. And that gay men were
hanged in Iran – a country frequently
championed at this very rally. The idiots laughed.
A man called Elias Hazineh, a former
assistant to the eccentric Liberal MP
Carolyn Parrish and himself a failed
Mississauga council candidate, roared
at me for several minutes and told me
that if I ever criticized Israel I’d be fired
from my job as a television host at Sun
News. Hazineh had been on my former
TV show at least a dozen times by the
way, and was given complete freedom
of expression, even if he did sometimes
say extreme things.
This is significant. Almost all of the people I spoke to shared the view that Jews
have a supernatural influence. None of
my employers at Sun News or pretty
much any of the places I write and
broadcast are Jewish, none have ever
told me what to write or say. But Jewobsession permeates anti-Israel protests. Witness, for example, the latest
“Hitler was Right” hashtag on Twitter,
the most popular in all of Pakistan.
Speaking of Pakistan, there were
Muslims from numerous Islamic dictatorships at the demonstration, where
women, gays, minorities and dissidents
were treated appallingly. It was irrelevant to these fanatics. All that concerned them was a Jew-free Middle
East.
Is peace possible? Perhaps, but not if
these ghouls were in any way typical,
and I rather fear that they are.
God save us.
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Travel
Fascinating
Photo: Getty Images
Story and Photos by Barb and Ron Kroll
Traditions are important in South Korea. Located on the Korean
peninsula, east of China and west of Japan, the country is
about the same size as New Zealand. Although it abounds
with traditional palaces, temples, festivals, music, foods and
clothing, the place that brought us Hyundai cars and Samsung
cellphones also boasts modern technology, transportation
and tourist facilities. For us, the contrast between Korea’s
time-honoured customs and contemporary way of life was
fascinating.
Take Jeju-do, for example. The largest of 3,300 islands in the
country, it dangles like a jade pendant 100 kilometres off the
southern tip. Known as Korea’s Hawaii, the popular honeymoon
destination is a one-hour flight south of Seoul, South Korea’s
capital city. Ringed with a 356-kilometre coastline and crowned
by 1,950-metre-high Mount Halla, it’s a picturesque retreat.
Travel
Traditional dolhareubangs (stone grandfathers) are everywhere.
They guard bridges and building entrances. They peer through
green leaves and store windows. They’re easy to recognize.
Ranging in size from fist-sized souvenir models to street lamptall monoliths, they have rounded shoulders, stubby noses,
bulging eyes and tightly closed lips. Round hats with narrow
brims cover their porous basalt heads.
Currently, 41 original dolhareubangs remain, although there
are countless newly carved versions scattered throughout
the island. Commemorative plaques identify the weathered
originals as cultural treasures. Created in the mid-1700s, they
were placed near the gates of ancient walled towns to ward off
evil spirits.
To us, the stone grandfathers were more than historical monuments. They were benevolent spirits that brought us luck.
Although we arrived in Jeju-do in June, at the beginning of the
monsoon season, brisk winds dispersed the clouds. When we
stopped at Jeongbang to photograph a waterfall cascading
into the sea, they showered us with good fortune again. We not
only saw Korean honeymooners, but also a unique and vanishing tradition on the island – haenyeos.
These women divers wear masks, but no snorkels or scuba
gear. Holding their breath for long periods of time, they gather
seafood at depths of up to 10 metres. We watched a half-dozen
haenyeos emerge from the ocean, clad in black wet suits and
carrying white cylindrical floats, which they use as resting
stations in the water. Their nets were filled with abalone, conch
and sea urchins. All the haenyeos that we saw were middleaged. Young women no longer wish to learn this difficult craft
and men want nothing to do with it. When these females
become too old to free-dive, no one will replace them.
Until then, these mature mermaids make a good living by
setting up impromptu restaurants on the rocky beach. We
watched a haenyeo (wearing a broad-brimmed hat to protect
her face from the sun) wash a freshly caught octopus, chop
it into bite-sized sections and serve them, still wriggling, to
customers. Diners sat on rocks, balanced trays on their laps and
used chopsticks to eagerly devour the seafood. Small dishes of
chili paste and garlic cloves were the only accompaniments.
On Jeju-do’s Yongmeori (Dragon Head) Coast, pounding surf
has eroded the rock into grottos, stone bridges and whimsical
shapes. We scrambled up and over elephant-sized boulders,
occasionally getting splashed by sea water exploding between
rocky crevasses. Mount Sanbang towered above the beach.
From the parking lot at the base of the 395-metre-high peak,
600 breath-wrenching steps make their way through an evergreen forest to a natural grotto called Sanbanggulsa.
CONTINUED 
Face of dolhareubang
(stone grandfather) at
Jeju-do
Hwears
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on rocky Yongmeori
(Dragon Head) Beach
Ealong
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Yongmeori
(Dragon Head) Coast
CSANews | FALL 2014 23
Travel

A monk turned the cave into a temple in the year 1000. Stone
steps lead up to a statue of a serene Buddha, which people
have visited since ancient times. At the ear-shaped cave
entrance, a grey-robed monk with a scarlet sash observed
worshippers cupping their hands to collect and drink water
drops falling from a spring in the ceiling. Legend claims that
they’re the tears of the patron goddess of the mountain. A sip
ensures a long life.
Halfway down the mountain, a 20-metre-high Bodhisattva
(saint, next in importance to Buddha) presides over an
elaborately painted temple. A monk’s chanting drew us to the
entrance. Flickering candles illuminated three gold Buddhas,
an ornate drum and the source of the chanting: Samsung
electronics. We were awestruck by the green, gold and red
eaves depicting abstract designs, Buddha images and fanciful
flowers. Called tanchong, it’s the traditional Korean art of painting beams, eaves and ceilings.
We huffed and puffed up several hundred stairs to the
182-metre-high rim of Sunrise Peak. Looking east, we saw the
Yellow Sea, from which the sun casts its first rays each day.
Gazing west, we viewed the village of Seongsan.
Many homes on Jeju-do are constructed from black-lava rock
blocks and covered with thatched straw roofs. The government protects them as cultural properties. Villages such as
Seongeup, which contains 3,000 thatched-roof homes, are
designated as folk villages even though they’re still inhabited.
As we peered inside the doors and examined large glazed
urns used to store rice and soy sauce, we sensed someone
watching us. Looking around, our eyes met the amiable gaze of
a dolhareubang.
From the temple, a dolhareubang looks out over the
1,825-square-kilometre island. Like all stone grandfathers,
he had both hands placed over his stomach, as if he had just
finished a satisfying meal. It was not surprising. Many people
come to Jeju-do to eat local shiitake mushrooms, golden
honey, juicy tangerines and bindaetteok (mung bean flour
pancakes flavoured with pork and green onions), as well as the
fresh seafood.
In the Korean Folk Village just outside of Seoul, a costumed
craftsman demonstrated the age-old art of basket-weaving
while listening to MP3 music on his iPad. We watched a
re-enactment of a traditional Korean wedding and observed
woodcarvers create masks that are still used at New Year’s
and Harvest Day celebrations. A woman wearing a hanbok
(traditional dress) made wall hangings decorated with Korean
calligraphy. Outside, on the street, visitors inserted coins into a
computerized fortune teller that read fingerprints. The juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern is endlessly fascinating.
Mount Halla, an extinct volcano and Korea’s highest mountain,
is the source of at least 15 volcanic flows that have left lava
tubes throughout the island, including Manjanggul Cave. It’s
the longest lava tube in the world. Seongsan Ilchulbong is
the most spectacular volcanic mountain on Jeju-do. The 99
buttress-like rocks that surround the crater’s circumference are
the origin of its name: seong (fortress) san (mountain).
Even in Seoul, modern architecture such as the Seoul Tower,
Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the wave-shaped Seoul City
Hall stood out in vivid contrast to traditional palaces, such as
Gyeongbokgung. Tiled pagoda roofs top the National Folk
Museum and the Pavilion of Joyous Meeting, which is reflected
in a man-made lake. Colourfully painted eaves and decorated
tiles accent the buildings.
Monk stands at entrance
to Sanbanggulsa Temple
Vwedding
isitors watch traditional
reenactment
Soutside
tatue of Bodhisattva
temple on Mount
Sanbang
Vupisitors
climb steep path
Seongsan Ilchulbong
Dtemple
ecorated eaves on
at Mount Sanbang
Travel
Buddhist temples are good places in which to experience
Korea’s religious culture. Inside the tile-roofed Jogyesa Temple,
paper lanterns painted with requests festooned the ceiling.
Flickering candles illuminated a golden Buddha. Worshippers
knelt on straw mats, bending their heads in prayer. A closer inspection jarred us back to the present, as we spotted a security
camera mounted high on a lacquered red pillar recording the
centuries-old scene.
Several school groups were visiting the palace while we were
there. Korea’s children are disarmingly charming. We spotted
some preschoolers picnicking under a tree. Although they
didn’t speak any more English than we spoke Korean, they
were as curious about us as we were about them. When we
squatted down to allow the youngsters to peer into our cameras, a little guy reached up and gently tugged Ron’s beard. (It’s
rare to see a beard in Korea.) The mothers who were chaperoning the children looked on with amusement.
On Insa-dong, a narrow street lined with shops and galleries,
we viewed stores selling antiques, floral arrangements and
celadon pottery. At a traditional tea shop, we selected ginger
tea from dozens of varieties, including green, barley, ginseng,
arrowroot, citron, Chinese quince and herb. As we sipped
our drinks from artfully designed pottery cups, we relaxed
in the subdued surroundings before visiting the bustling
Namdaemun Market.
While few Koreans speak English outside of large cities,
travelling on public transit or walking along streets is safe. You
may get lost but, if you carry directions to your destination
written in Korean, a hospitable local is bound to help you out.
Many signs for washrooms and stores are in English. (Calling
1330, the 24-hour travel-tip hotline, gives you access to travel
information and translation services.) English tours are readily
available for less adventurous visitors.
CONTINUED 
TKorean
anchong, the traditional
painting of eaves
and beams
KRon’s
orean boy looks through
camera
Lattached
anterns with prayers
at Jogyesa Temple
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Much of the action takes place outside of the shops. We spotted stands laden with pigs’ heads and hocks, tubs of crabs and
baby turtles and a shopping frenzy of housewives attacking
a pile of bargain-priced clothing. Buckets of garlic cloves and
chili paste, stacks of ginger and scallions, jugs of soy sauce and
golden sesame oil filled stand after stand. Large jars displayed
ginseng roots. Ginseng tea is reputed to combat fatigue, high
blood pressure and diabetes. Cooks chop the root and mix it
with chestnuts, garlic and glutinous rice to make a chicken
stuffing. They boil the stuffed bird with more ginseng to make
a soup that’s supposed to increase stamina.
In addition to fresh fish, meat and vegetables, several vendors
sold kimchi. Koreans eat this fermented vegetable dish at
every meal, including breakfast. There are at least 100 varieties.
Restaurants can make or break their reputations based on the
quality of their kimchi. Housewives jealously guard their recipes
and pass them on as family heirlooms. The most popular kimchi
is made from cabbage, which is seasoned with chili paste
and garlic, sometimes stuffed with seafood, and left whole or
wrapped into bundles. Our favourite was water kimchi, made
from white radishes, green onions, red peppers and Korean
pears, pickled in seasoned brine and served chilled.
We first tasted it during a meal of bulgogi, Korea’s best-known
dish. The thinly sliced sirloin is marinated in soy sauce, garlic
and sesame oil and then barbecued at the table. We sat
cross-legged on bamboo mats on the floor, in front of a long,
low table. The waitress draped a domed charcoal brazier,
inserted into the table, with the well-marbled beef. As it sizzled,
we each placed a crisp leaf of romaine lettuce in one hand and
then topped it with vegetables, green onions and garlic. After
adding some grilled bulgogi, we wrapped the leaf around the
contents and bit into the scrumptious bundle. The combination was even better than the individual ingredients.
Seoul restaurants offer several options for light meals. We were
surprised to see one restaurant serving a bulgogi and kimchi
pizza. McDonald’s sells bulgogi burgers. They look like Big Macs,
but are seasoned with garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil. Our
favourite Korean snack food was pajeon, green onion pancakes.
Far tastier than Aunt Jemima’s, they were addictive.
One of the most satisfying lunches that we had in Seoul
was mandu guk, a handmade dumpling soup served in an
unpretentious noodle restaurant near Gyeongbokgung Palace.
It had only a few tables inside. Most of them were occupied by
locals enjoying large bowls of broth with homemade noodles,
fried vegetables and dumplings. We simply indicated that we
wanted what they were eating, because the short menu on the
wall was in Korean. As we ate, we watched a cook busily stuffing the mandu wrappers with a mixture of ground beef, tofu,
onion, kimchi, garlic and sesame oil.
Shoppers and stores in
Namdaemun Market
Brazier with bulgogi
(BBQ beef), kimchi and
side dishes in Insa-dong
restaurant
Kimchi and chile paste in
Namdaemun Market
Bulguksa Temple
Monk prays before a
gilded statue of Buddha in
Bulguksa Temple
Tile-roofed pagoda beside
Seochulji Pond in Gyeongju
Travel
Korea’s traditional foods, architecture and culture aren’t
restricted to Jeju-do and Seoul. Gyeongju, just four hours by
train southeast of Seoul, is home to 25% of Korea’s historical
treasures in an easily explored area of 10 square kilometres.
From this ancient capital, the Silla Kingdom ruled Korea from
57 BC to 935 AD. Thirty-six per cent of Gyeongju is a national
park. Because of its wealth of historical buildings and treasures,
the city is called “a museum without walls.” Laws prohibit construction of any structure higher than three storeys. Those that
are built must be in Silla style. Homes, grocery stores and even
gas stations masquerade under tiled pagoda roofs.
Bulguksa Temple was built in AD 535. Two hundred years
later, it was one of the largest Buddhist temples in existence,
comprised of more than 80 buildings. The Japanese invasion in
1592 destroyed much of the complex. Today, monks still live in
the restored structures, nestled in a grove of twisted pines.
We peeked into one building and time-travelled back a millennium. A grey-robed monk knelt on a red silk cushion in front
of a gilded Buddha. He rang a tiny silver bell and tapped a
hollow drum with a wooden stick, in rhythm with his chanting.
Candles burned in brass holders on the altar, casting their
flickering amber light on the Buddha and the monk. A scented,
hazy gauze of incense enveloped them both. As we followed
a group of pilgrims through the temple buildings, we admired
the vividly painted eaves (tanchong). Inside nearby Seokguram
Grotto, on Mt. Tohamsan, the 3.8-metre-high granite Buddha
has gazed serenely at the sunrise over the East Sea for more
than 1,200 years. UNESCO includes both Seokguram and
Bulguksa Temple on its World Heritage List.
After lunch at a restaurant that specialized in Gyeongju-style
bulgogi, we visited Seochulji, a willow-swept pond famous for
its lotus. In July, white-and-red blossoms accent the jade leaves
covering the pond. We meandered around the circumference,
photographing a wooden pagoda-roofed building overlooking
the water.
Equally peaceful, Tumuli Park contains 20 of the 200 royal
tombs found in the city. The ancient Silla emperors rest beneath grassy burial mounds up to 23 metres high. We strolled
along pathways that curled like ribbons around the base of the
pregnant knolls.
CONTINUED 
Travel

All of the tombs are unexcavated, except for one.
Cheonmachong, or Heavenly Horse Tomb, is named after a
five-colour painting of a flying horse on a white birch bark
saddle guard, found inside. Cheonmachong is to Korea what
King Tutankhamen’s tomb is to Egypt. More than 10,000 royal
ornaments, weapons and equestrian objects were discovered
when the grave was opened in 1974. The most impressive
relic is the tall Silla crown. Its gold, antler-like prongs support
comma-shaped pieces of jade, which may be vestiges of the
claws and fangs once used as amulets.
Within walking distance of Tumuli Park is Cheomseongdae,
Asia’s oldest observatory. From this seventh-century bottleshaped structure, early astronomers watched the stars, predicted eclipses and helped farmers determine planting times
according to movements of the moon. The tower contains 362
stones, stacked in 27 tiers to honour Queen Seondeok, the 27th
Silla ruler at the time it was built.
We couldn’t leave Gyeongju without visiting Mt. Namsan, a
sacred mountain considered to be the spot at which Buddhism
originated in Korea. Although it’s only 500 metres high, it spans
eight kilometres north-to-south, and 12 kilometres east-towest. Forty deep valleys slash its interior, creating slopes for
waterfalls which materialize on rainy days. Amid this picturesque backdrop, 100 temples, 78 Buddha images and 61 stone
pagodas emerge from the rocks. Hiking along paths through
the giant art gallery, we noted that many statues lacked noses.
Centuries ago, women chipped them off as guarantees of
fertility. Nowadays, the figures rest in peace, surrounded by
Buddhist inscriptions, stone stelae and pink azaleas.
During our final evening in Korea, we enjoyed a traditional hanjeongsik multi-course meal. It included two kinds of soup, three
main dishes and a dozen side dishes. We could barely see the
table under the maze of little white dishes. A woman dressed
in a beautiful hanbok played music on a kayagum, a 12-string
zither-type instrument.
It was a memorable way to celebrate Korea’s fascinating
traditions.
Resources
Korea Tourism Organization: www.visitkorea.or.kr or call
1-800-TOUR KOREA (868-7567)
Barb & Ron Kroll publish the trip-planning website:
www.KrollTravel.com
Gold crown inside Heavenly Horse
Tomb in Tumuli Park
Cheomseongdae Observatory
Bas reliefs carved in rock at
Mt. Namsan
Stone Buddha and bas reliefs at
Mt. Namsan
Woman in hanbok plays a kayagum
Home sweet home
5
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RV Lifestyle
TOURING AMISH COUNTRY &
THE RV CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop
It’s a soothing sound, this rhythmic
beat of hooves on asphalt. And it’s a
sound heard often in Amish Country.
Driving the country roads that zigzag
Indiana’s Amish communities, you’ll
pass numerous horse-drawn buggies
– a visible reminder that life is different
here.
You’ll share the roads with Amish
buggies and marvel at these quiet
people of faith who choose to live a
simple, uncluttered lifestyle. Think
of this as an opportunity to slow
your pace and enjoy the calm of the
country.
And that’s one of the best things about
Amish Country – taking things slowly.
breads and fruit pies made by Amish
women.
Time seems to travel backwards,
asphalt changes to dirt with scenes
becoming more 1800s than 21stcentury.
Rows of black pants and pastelcoloured dresses flap from the
clotheslines in the autumn breeze.
Young girls wearing bonnets and
homemade cotton dresses manoeuvre
horses and buggies and horse-pulled
lorries loaded with colourful fall
produce.
Green squares of lawn with unadorned
white farmhouses advertise fresh eggs,
honey and chickens and, if the timing
is right, sales of just-out-of-the-oven
It is 19th-century farm life in an area of
northern Indiana called Amish Country.
Each of the communities in Amish
Country – Nappanee, Shipshewana,
Goshen, Middlebury, and Wakarusa
– has its own distinct personality and
unmistakable charm.
Amish Country is famous for its wide
variety of skilled artisans. In fact, the
area has gained a reputation as one
RV Lifestyle
of the finest places to shop in the
Midwest. Furniture crafting is one
of the most widely acclaimed arts in
Amish Country.
Deli. Sample boxes throughout the
store invite visitors to taste the doughnuts, chocolate cookies, caramel rolls,
spreads and just about everything else!
Hundreds of farmhouses dot the
countryside and many of them have
signs outside, indicating that you are
free to stop and purchase what they
may be selling.
Another specialty food shop that’s particularly tasty is Guggisberg Deutsch
Kase Haus, the Cheese House. Located
between Middlebury and Shipshewana
on County Road 16, this shop offers
homemade cheeses including Colby,
Colby Jack, Monterey Jack and Pepper
Jack. In the mornings, you can watch as
the cheese is made.
You’ll pass houses and cottage
industries selling quilts and quilting
frames, popcorn, peanut brittle, plants,
crafts, oak furniture, baked goods, jam,
relish, strawberries, kitchen cabinets,
nuts, egg noodles, honey, rabbits,
antiques and brown eggs.
One of the first things that you think of
when someone says Amish Country is
food. Throughout Amish Country, you’ll
find bakeries and restaurants that not
only serve this wonderful food, but
also offer items for sale.
Why, you can almost smell the aroma
of one-of-a-kind caramel cinnamon
doughnuts at Rise ‘n Roll Bakery and
Quilting is another craft associated
with Amish Country – and rightly so.
Beautiful quilt shops can be found
throughout the area as skilled quilters
patiently create hand-sewn quilts destined to become heirlooms.
Heritage Trail
Driving Amish Country’s 90-mile
Heritage Trail takes you on a winding
loop along rural highways, down quiet
country lanes, through friendly cities
and along small-town Main Streets.
The Heritage Trail will take you
through the towns of Goshen, Elkhart,
Bristol, Middlebury, Wakarusa and
Nappanee. You’ll wind through the
heart of the Amish communities,
passing fast-trotting horses pulling
black buggies and Amish children
riding bicycles home from school. If
you’re wondering which farms and
homes are Amish-owned, just look to
see whether there are electrical lines
running to the farmstead.
A free audio tour CD packed with fun
facts leads to can’t-miss attractions
and local gems such as Shipshewana’s
Davis Mercantile, Elkhart’s historic
Lerner Theatre or tasty finds such as
the jumbo jelly beans at the Wakarusa
Dime Store.
Maps, CDs and information are
available at the LaGrange County
Visitor Center, the Elkhart County
Visitor Center, or by download from
AmishCountry.org .
CONTINUED 
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RV Lifestyle

RV Capital of the World
Elkhart County, Indiana is considered
the Recreational Vehicle Capital of the
World.
More than 80 per cent of the nation’s
recreational vehicles are manufactured
in Elkhart County. You’ll find everything
RV here, from manufacturing, service,
repairs, parts and accessories to
dealers, campgrounds and rallies. Take
factory tours and watch recreational
vehicles being assembled.
Although the majority of northern
Indiana RV manufacturers are located
in the surrounding communities of
Goshen, Middlebury, Shipshewana,
Wakarusa and Nappanee, the city of
Elkhart is considered the hub of the RV
industry.
How did it all begin?
Wilbur Schult, a dynamic promoter and
retailer, bought Elkhart’s Sportsman
Trailer Company from Milo Miller in
1936. Producing one trailer each day,
the products were sold to consumers
for the amazing price of $198.
Schult was such a promoter that, by
1939, he was the largest manufacturer
in the industry and Elkhart was
beginning to attract numerous
suppliers and more manufacturers.
Elkhart’s central location proximate to
large metropolitan markets, along with
its major highways and railroad links,
made it accessible for easy shipment of
goods.
By the late 1940s, when things began
to boom again after the war, industry
magazines began calling Elkhart the
“Trailer Capital of the World.”
Today, the RV industry is a multibillion dollar industry. In fact, nearly
one thousand manufacturers of
recreational vehicles, parts and
supplies are located in Elkhart County.
of the recreational vehicle and
manufactured housing industries, with
displays and restored units dating back
to 1913. America’s most scenic vistas
come to life as you wander the varied
exhibits showcasing the evolution of
recreational vehicles.
Shortly after the RV/MH Heritage
Foundation was formed in March
1972, the foundation honoured the
inaugural class of inductees into the
RV/MH Hall of Fame.
Since that time, 347 industry pioneers
and leaders have joined the elite
group.
In 2007, the RV/MH Heritage
Foundation moved from its cramped
quarters in downtown Elkhart into a
new 56,000-square-foot facility easily
accessed from either the Indiana Toll
Road (take exit 96 off of Interstate
80/90) or from within Elkhart via
County Road 17.
You won’t want to miss the RV/MH
Heritage Hall of Fame in Elkhart.
The RV/MH Hall of Fame showcases the
growth, history and accomplishments
Two halls are available for public
viewing. The RV Founders Hall displays
Please note: Touring Amish Country
travel experiences will continue
in a future issue.
Worth Pondering…
The Amish are islands of sanity in a
whirlpool of change.
– Nancy Sleeth, Almost Amish:
One Woman’s Quest for a Slower,
Simpler, More Sustainable Life
There is on-site parking for up to 200
vehicles, including an area for large
recreational vehicles.
The facility also features a conference
centre that seats 350 and a theatre
with 75 permanent seats, a stage and
a screen. After hours, the lobby can
accommodate table seating for up to
200.
RV/MH Hall of Fame
trailers, photos and memorabilia
reaching back to the 1920s and 1930s.
The RV/MH Exhibitor Hall contains
interesting displays illustrating the
history and products of many of the
parts manufacturers and service
providers to the RV and manufactured
housing industry.
Story and photos by Rex Vogel
Vogel Talks RVing website vogeltalksrving.com
E-mail me at [email protected] with
your comments, issues and topics that you’d
like to see addressed on this page.
3
Chickasaw Cultural
Center, Sulphur
Beavers Bend,
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National Cowboy
and Western
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Oklahoma City
75
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Claremore
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the great outdoors with an up close and personal view of Oklahoma’s majestic mascot, the American bison.
collection of Western art. Wax nostalgic at iconic Mother Road attractions along historic Rt. 66, or experience
Celebrate the sacred customs and cultures of 39 unique tribal nations. Tip your hat at the world’s largest
Medicine Park
283
Gloss Mountain State Park,
Fairview
Finance
Planning Your Legacy
What do you want to leave behind – financially and otherwise?
By James Dolan
No one likes to talk about it. Most people don’t even like to think about it. But there’s no getting around it: sooner or
later, all of us are going to pass away. And, ironically, that may be the most important financial event of our lives.
Figuring out what happens to our estate after we die is no one’s favourite subject. It’s complicated, it’s timeconsuming and it forces us to focus on issues which we’d rather not think about. Taxes, probate fees, trusts – these
are highly technical topics that require advanced tax and legal knowledge. Not the kind of stuff that’s easy for the
layperson to understand.
Perhaps the best solution is to put the technical issues aside and think of the topic from a different perspective.
Instead of thinking about “estate planning,” maybe we should think about it as legacy planning – that is, planning for
what kind of lasting impact you want to make on your family, your friends and your community in the years after
your death.
The big benefit of such a shift is that you don’t have to get bogged down in financial and legal details. Instead, you
can address some of the important “big picture” issues and focus on the most positive, most noble part of estate
planning – protecting and providing for your heirs.
Finance
Core principles of your legacy plan
Just as no two people are exactly the same, no two legacy plans are exactly the same. That said, there are several common ideas or
principles that every well-written legacy plan should follow. These include:
Don’t be “penny wise, pound foolish”
Go into your neighbourhood bookstore and chances are that
you’ll find a few “do-it-yourself” estate-planning or will-writing
kits. Resist the temptation to buy them. Writing your own
legacy plan (or will) might save a few bucks up front but, unless
you’re an expert in tax and estate law, it could end up costing
your heirs plenty.
How regular? Well, that really depends on your life circumstances. Sometimes, your life can change significantly in a
short period of time (due to divorce, the death of a spouse,
or perhaps because of a large windfall that you receive), and
those changes can require you to modify your plans. At other
times, things will be “steady as she goes” for several years, making changes unnecessary.
Wills require careful attention and proper wording – without
professional help, you could leave your estate open to legal
challenge. A vague or imprecise plan can leave a family bitter
and divided for years, as heirs fight over the distribution of
estate assets. Not the kind of legacy most of us want to leave
behind.
Even if there have been no significant changes in your life, you
should take a look at things every two years or so. If you don’t
need to make changes, that’s fine, but reviewing things is a
great way to focus again on your legacy and see whether your
plan is still aligned with your current personal and financial
circumstances.
Sure, a properly written legacy plan will cost more than a $29
software kit or a stack of pre-fab forms. But that old lesson
which your mom and dad taught you still applies: you get what
you pay for.
Intentions come first
A lot of people think that legacy planning is all about minimizing taxes, fees and other costs associated with administering
and distributing your estate. That’s an important consideration,
to be sure. But it’s a secondary consideration. The first and
most important part of your legacy plan is to figure out your
intentions – what you want to do with your assets, and why.
For each of your goals, you’ll need to think about how important it is to you, and does it “cost” too much in taxes or fees.
Such compromises are a normal part of legacy planning, but
don’t let the tail wag the dog: intentions come first, taxes come
second.
CONTINUED 
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Finance

Writing your legacy plan: six simple steps
A legacy plan can be as complicated or as simple as you’d like. While we don’t have the space to discuss every feature of every
possible legacy plan (that would take an entire book), it is possible to discuss the basic six-step process used by most financial
professionals when writing a legacy plan.
Step 1: Outline your goals
The first and most important step in your legacy plan is to
outline what you want to do with your assets. For some people,
these goals will be rather simple: you want to ensure that your
immediate family is well taken care of and that’s about it. Other
people will have more complicated and more detailed goals.
Having trouble articulating your legacy goals? Ask yourself the
following questions. While they don’t cover every aspect of
your legacy, your answers will go a long way toward determining exactly what you’re looking to do:
Who are your estate beneficiaries?
Do you want the bulk of your assets to go to your spouse and
children? Or, are there other family members or friends to
whom you’d like to give things?
For how long would you like to provide financial support?
Those of you with young families will want to provide some
degree of financial support so that your family can secure
a high quality of life after you’re gone. For those with adult
children, this isn’t as much of an issue.
Do you have significant assets that need to be distributed?
A business; the family cottage; a large investment portfolio
– these significant assets may require you to utilize more
sophisticated, more complex estate-planning strategies to
minimize taxes and other costs.
What about your mementos and personal effects?
Distributing financial assets is one thing, but what happens
to your furniture, your jewellery, your keepsakes and family
photos? These and other personal items may have immense
personal value to certain family members (or not), so put some
thought into who gets what.
Do you want your beneficiaries to receive their inheritance
immediately, or at some future date?
This is a particularly important question if you have young
children. Knowing the temptations which young people might
have with a large, lump-sum inheritance, you might want
to use trusts and other structures that can delay passing on
wealth until your heirs mature. On the other hand, if your heirs
are mostly grown, a delayed inheritance likely isn’t a priority.
Is there a particular cause or charity which you’d like to help?
Once you’ve made sure that your spouse and children are
taken care of, you may want to leave something behind for
a special cause or organization that’s important to you. We’ll
discuss this more fully later on.
Step 2: Write your will
The next step in your legacy plan is to put the vision and goals
into action. To do that, you’ll need a professionally drafted legal
will. Writing a will is a process best done with an experienced
estate lawyer. Working closely together, you’ll be able to
determine the combination of bequests and specific estateplanning strategies that will enable you to accomplish your
legacy goals.
Why do you need a will? Most provinces have pre-set rules
that determine who gets what in the case of dying without
a will (the legal term is dying intestate). These rules probably
don’t reflect what you actually want to have happen to your
assets. Most of the time, intestate rules take little or no account
of blended families, adopted children or other complicated
family situations. The rules also have little or no regard for
tax-efficiency. All of which means that those who pass away
without a will are squandering their wealth and destroying a
portion of their financial legacy.
Also keep in mind that there are certain things which you
won’t be able to do in a will. Many provinces establish certain
minimums to which spouses and close family members are
entitled, and most require your estate to continue providing
adequate support for your dependents. In addition, wills
have no jurisdiction over assets that already have other legal
means of being distributed – property that is jointly owned, for
example, or a business that has a buy-sell agreement, or even
an RRSP that has a named beneficiary.
Most jurisdictions also have laws that prevent the draconian
“power-beyond-the-grave” provisions that were possible in
previous generations. If you’re looking to have your will establish exactly who your granddaughter is supposed to marry
and, if she doesn’t, she’ll be disinherited – well, forget about it,
because such provisions are almost certain to be overturned.
Finance
Step 3: Assign your executor
The next component of your legacy plan is the
appointment of your estate executor. Think of
your executor as the “manager” of your estate.
He or she will have several responsibilities:
Arranging your funeral. If you’ve chosen
not to leave specific instructions in your will
about your funeral, your executor will work
closely with your family and make appropriate
arrangements.
Managing your estate. Your executor will be
responsible for locating estate assets and registering them in the name of the estate, in preparation for their distribution. Depending on the
provisions of your will, your executor may also
have a hand in overseeing the management of
those assets until they are distributed.
Paying bills, fees, taxes, etc. Your executor will be in charge of paying all bills, fees, taxes and any other debts related to your estate.
He or she will also be responsible for filing your final (“terminal”) tax return.
Distributing assets. Finally, your executor will also be responsible for handling the bequests which you make to your heirs. This will
be done according to the provisions in your will.
Naming an executor is largely a personal choice, but it’s not a decision that you should take lightly. It makes sense to choose someone who’s comfortable with managing and handling finances
– perhaps someone with a business background, or maybe a
professional (lawyer, accountant, etc.) whom you’ve known for
some time. Most of the time, executors are entitled to a basic fee
for their service, regardless of whether they’re financial professionals or not. But executors who are close friends or family
members often don’t charge for their services at all.
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If your estate is more complicated (i.e. you have business assets;
you want to set up trusts for your kids or grandkids; you have
a complicated family situation or you anticipate that your will
might be challenged by some or all of your heirs), then it’s probably a good idea to think about hiring a professional executor.
Professional executors are usually accountants, lawyers or members of a trust company. They know the law, they get the job
done, and they are capable administrators and asset managers.
If you’ve got a simple estate, then you probably don’t need one.
But for complex estates, these individuals can be well worth the
money that they charge.
Whomever you select, make sure to discuss the matter closely
with your prospective choice. Many think that being appointed
an executor is an honour but, in reality, it’s a difficult job.
Accepting the role often means accepting legal responsibility for
the ongoing management of estate assets – something which
not everyone is willing or prepared to do.
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Finance

Step 4: Write your power of attorney
No legacy plan is complete without writing a power of attorney.
Much like your executor, your power of attorney is in an immensely powerful position. In theory, this person has the power
to implement any financial decision which you would make –
including the power to pay bills, buy or sell investments or real
estate, make charitable contributions, loan money, and so on
– in the event that you’re unable to do so yourself. Obviously,
the broad scope of this power makes it easy to abuse, so
you want to give very careful consideration to your choice. A
spouse, child, trusted family member or very close friend who
understands who you are and what financial choices you’d
make in any given situation is usually the best choice.
However, trust can only take you so far. That’s why it’s often a
good idea to write some limitations as to what decisions your
power of attorney is actually entitled to make. Another possible
suggestion: appoint joint powers of attorney, or insist that the
decisions which your power of attorney makes are subject to
review by a third party.
Spurred on by changing values, many provinces are now scrapping the old laws that supervise powers of attorney in favour
of new laws that allow for broader powers over the individual’s
health and welfare, as well as their finances. Make sure to
investigate what the standard is where you live, and make appropriate arrangements.
Step 5: Consider your charitable legacy
The first and primary goal of your estate plan is to ensure your
legacy for children and other family members. That done, you
may also want to show your support via a donation to a special
charity or cause about which you feel strongly. In so doing, you
can ensure that your legacy will be felt far beyond your family
and circle of friends.
No matter how selfless and altruistic it may be, a charitable gift
is still a financial transaction. And this means that it deserves to
be considered with care. If the extent of your charitable giving is
limited to writing a modest cheque once or twice a year, there’s
no need to spend much time planning. But if you’re thinking
about making a more substantial gift, or if you’d like to make a
gift through your will, then it makes sense to follow a process.
You’ll first need to understand what you want to accomplish.
Are you looking to make a difference mostly in your community? Or do you want to give to a national or even international
cause? What aspect of the cause are you looking to support:
academic or practical – medical research, for example, or buying
new medical equipment for a new hospital? The more you think
about your motivations before you give, the better able you’ll be
to match your gift with the legacy which you want to leave.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that you find the right organization to which to donate According to Canada Revenue Agency,
there are slightly more than 85,000 registered charities in the
country. Before you give any of them your money, it’s a good
idea to find out exactly what they do and how they plan to put
your money to use. So telephone your choice and ask questions
about how they intend to use your money.
That done, you’ll want to think about the best way in which to
make your charitable gift. You could simply write a cheque but,
if you’re interested in getting the greatest impact from your
charitable gift, you’ll want to investigate other giving structures.
Depending on your personal circumstances and the size of the
intended bequest, you may want to consider giving via an insurance policy, or through a charitable remainder trust. If the donation is particularly large, a private charitable foundation might
make sense. There are a lot of options, so make sure to consult a
financial professional before making any final decisions.
One last thing: make sure to “check in” on the charity after
you give. Ask yourself whether the gift is being used as you
expected. Also, whether the size of the gift was adequate. If the
charity has changed direction, or is focusing on other projects
since you made your donation, ask yourself whether the organization is still in sync with what you envision for your legacy.
Asking yourself these simple questions after you’ve donated will
enhance the pleasure of giving.
Step 6: Communicate your plan
A generation ago, a legacy plan was considered an intensely
private affair: often, the first time spouses and children learned
of the contents of a loved one’s will was in a lawyer’s office.
Needless to say, the surprise nature of many of the stipulations
had the potential to cause friction and animosity.
Thankfully, communication is now the norm. While there’s
certainly no legal requirement to share the finer details of your
plan with anyone (except for the lawyer who drafts your will,
of course), there’s really no good reason why your close family
shouldn’t be aware of your intentions.
One-on-one discussions with heirs is always a good idea.
Depending on your family circumstances, however, a family
meeting (perhaps with a third-party mediator) might be even
better. To some, such discussion may seem like an unnecessary
Finance
intrusion on one’s private affairs. But there’s a very sound strategy
behind such an approach: by giving heirs a “heads up” about
your legacy plan, they’ll have a chance to discuss concerns with
you and you’ll have an opportunity to resolve issues before your
will is finalized.
This can be particularly important if you know that certain
elements of your legacy plan will be contentious. By communicating your intentions ahead of time and allowing your heirs to
communicate their objections, you’ll be able to take formal legal
steps to address those objections or, in a worst-case scenario, to
render them moot.
Taking the next step …
There’s no denying it: legacy planning can be a big responsibility.
But it’s a responsibility which we all need to accept. Every one of
us needs to be a capable steward of our wealth and protect it for
the next generation.
Give the issue the attention which it deserves, and make sure to
examine your legacy goals with an experienced wills and estates
professional. By thinking about what you want to leave behind
for your heirs – both valuables and values – you’ll be in a better
position to select individual strategies and opportunities that will
maximize your wealth for the people and the causes which you
care about. That way, you’ll be sure to leave behind a legacy
of which both you and your family can be proud.
Health
Managing Your Health Care
by Robert MacMillan MD
When I first started my family practice
many years ago, there was an elderly
physician in the nearby village who
would be quite offended if anyone
asked about his diagnoses or his
treatment. The faithful patients knew
that he would not discuss their illness;
he would simply tell them what to do
and to “take these pills.” It was a fading
way of practising medicine and the
unabashed loyalty to him from many
of his longtime patients was amazing.
Medicine was changing, patients
were becoming more knowledgeable
and my new patients expected me to
discuss their diagnosis and explain
the treatment, including the type of
medication prescribed and the possible
side-effects. In those days, I would
often be confronted with a Reader’s
Digest article possibly being related
to their problem. Now, the doctor is
often confronted by a patient who has
already researched his/her symptoms
on the Internet and presents having a
probable diagnosis and being aware of
the appropriate treatment. The doctor
is expected to take the time to discuss
the diagnosis and treatment and warn
of drug side-effects and other potential
risks.
In spite of these advances in medical
care and patients’ more knowledgeable
involvement, there are still many gaps
in overall quality of care. With increased
effort on the part of patients and
health-care providers, patient care and
outcomes can be improved. Here are
some tips, some of which are based on
recent experiences with friends and
family, that you can follow to help avoid
some of the gaps in our health-care
delivery.
Health
Get a Good Family Doctor.
There has been a shortage of family
physicians in Canada for more than
10 years, although the number of
persons without one is dropping
as more family doctors are being
trained. Nevertheless, individuals in
certain areas of the country, especially
rural areas, still have less access. In
addition to the shortage, doctors
generally do not work the extended
hours of those in my era and half of
the graduates are now women, who
often have obligations to family life
and may not be working as physicians
full time. I am still asked to help in
getting a family doctor for friends and
I give them this advice. You may have
to expend some effort, but you will
probably be successful. Get on the
waiting list of any doctor who has one.
Find a friend or relative with a family
doctor and ask them to see if you can
be added to that physician’s practice.
Check to see if the area doctors’
association or academy of medicine
keeps a list of doctors accepting new
patients. Don’t be shy in repeatedly
phoning a receptionist to ask. Find
out who may be opening a practice
in your community and try to sign
up. Don’t be afraid to be persistent.
All doctors, even those with “closed
practices,” lose patients through
patients moving away, changing
doctors and dying. Upon request,
new patients are often added to the
practice.
Be sure that your doctor is keeping good medical records
and discloses to you all abnormalities.
Currently, about 70% of family
doctors in Canada are maintaining
electronic medical records. While this
is a major improvement in practice
management, it is not without
drawbacks. A common complaint is
that the doctor often seems more
focused on the computer screen
than on the patient. A good patient
encounter is when the physician is
looking at, and carefully listening
to, the patient and then records
the information. For snowbirds in
particular, knowing the details of your
medical history is important when
you are completing an application for
travel health insurance. All diagnoses
should be known, as well as the
names, dosages and purpose of any
prescribed medications, so that you
can accurately answer the questions
relating to your health. Be sure and
ask your doctor if there is any doubt,
or ask to see your records (to which
you are entitled under provincial
physician college rules).
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41
Health

If in doubt as to the care being given to you or a family member, speak up!
This is probably the most important
advice which I can give. Unfortunately,
all too often I am made aware of
instances in which patients have
fallen through the gaps. My earliest
recollection of this was the case
involving my sister’s new baby years
ago. She had taken her newborn
(suffering with persistent projectile
vomiting) to two different doctors,
only to have been reassured and
given symptomatic care. Dissatisfied,
she turned to her “Dr. Spock” baby
care manual, suspected that her baby
had pyloric stenosis – a congenital
narrowing of the stomach outlet –
went to the Hospital for Sick Children
and immediately received the
corrective surgery needed.
More recently, a friend of mine went
to both the emergency room and
the family doctor on three separate
occasions with worsening pain and
weakness down both legs. Only
after his daughter refused to let him
be turned away again with more
pain pills, did the doctors more
closely assess his condition, now
realizing that his spinal cord was
being compressed and calling in a
neurosurgeon for consultation and
subsequent urgent decompression
surgery. Following his surgery, there
has been gradual improvement, but
he will probably always need a walker.
More urgent attention may have
prevented such permanent damage.
Just yesterday, I talked with a
relative who said that he was having
considerable pain and discomfort
from bilateral inguinal hernias which
had recently developed. When asked
what was being done, he said that an
appointment was being arranged with
a surgeon. The request was sent in to
the pool of general surgeons by his
family doctor and he was still awaiting
the date for an appointment with
one of them. That was two months
ago. My prediction is that once he
receives the appointment date, he
will have a considerable wait and
probably a further six-month wait for
the actual surgery. Not good enough!
First, he should find out when his
appointment is, even if this requires
daily calls. There are other options
for him. He can inquire about access
to a reputable surgeon in a nearby
community where waiting times are
often far shorter, or he can inquire
about having it done at a specialty
facility such as the Shouldice Hospital
in Toronto, which performs thousands
of these procedures annually.
Each of these cases demonstrates the
necessity of being actively involved
in your care or the care of a family
member. Patient advocacy bylaws
have been invoked in most Canadian
hospitals and you must not be shy in
advocating for quality care. Maintain a
keen interest in the way in which care
is being delivered and, if dissatisfied,
be certain to speak up for timely and
proper treatment.
If you think an incorrect diagnosis or treatment plan has been made, seek another opinion.
I read this week in The Kingston
Whig Standard the story of a
Queen’s University student who
had become chronically ill, and had
received inappropriate treatment
from a number of physicians for her
symptoms. Many months later, with
her condition worsening after doing
her own research and getting one
doctor to agree to send her blood
to California, the diagnosis of Lyme
disease was confirmed and the correct
antibiotic treatment was begun.
She is gradually improving, but the
missed diagnosis resulted in months
of suffering and the risk of permanent
disability. Lyme disease is a bacterial
infection initiated by a tic. In her
case, as with many others, there is no
42
www.snowbirds.org
history of a known tic. Diagnosis of
this relatively rare condition is often
missed, as is the case with West Nile
virus from infected mosquitoes.
This story is especially important
to snowbirds who travel to various
regions of the world, and who may
become infected with a native
organism and then return to Canada
seeking attention from their doctor.
Although many parasites, bacteria
and fungi may be well known by local
physicians (depending upon which
area of the world visited), Canadian
doctors may be quite unfamiliar with
such diseases and their symptoms
and diagnoses are often missed,
especially if disclosure of recent
travel is not mentioned. The most
common such situation is Valley
Fever (coccidioidomycosis), a fungal
infection acquired most commonly
in certain regions of California,
Texas, Nevada and Mexico. Since the
symptoms are general – including
fever, cough, rash, muscle and joint
pain – and Canadian doctors are
unfamiliar with this disease, correct
diagnosis may be delayed or missed.
If you return from a part of the world
and have symptoms, do your own
homework on the Internet and be
sure to inform your doctor of your
travels and concerns. Often, an
appropriate medical test can confirm
the correct diagnosis and lead to
proper treatment.
Health
When away from home and requiring medical attention, be sure that you are getting good
care.
Last winter, while we were travelling
to the Canadian Snowbird Association
winter shows, my wife became
wheezy in Nevada and we attended
a walk-in clinic. After completing a
lengthy medical questionnaire and
advancing $200.00, we were escorted
into a room and met with a pleasant
young woman who proceeded to
take a history, present a diagnosis
and prescribe a breathing treatment
and a prescription to be filled. I
was impressed with the attention
which I deemed appropriate, but
was rather surprised to learn that
she was a physician’s assistant and
that the doctor only came in once a
week to check charts! (I remembered
that, after eight years of university
training as well as interning, I received
$2.50 per office visit.) Although I was
satisfied with my wife’s management,
the quality of care and the training
of the health-care provider may be
affected depending upon where in
the world you are being treated.
relevant information such as recent
travel and don’t be hesitant about
doing your own research from
reputable sites on the Internet.
Choose destinations in which good
medical care is readily available. Make
inquires about access to good medical
care upon arrival at your destination
and be sure to check with your insurer
when services are needed. Travel
insurance companies have networks
of quality medical resources in many
locales and can give you good advice.
In short, be vigilant about the care
and medical attention which you
or your family are getting, whether
at home or away. Don’t be shy in
speaking out when you see that
quality is suffering. Seek someone’s
help in advocating for good care, be
certain to inform your doctor of all
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Health Pulse
WATCH YOUR HEAD
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), such as
concussions (in which the head gets
shaken or hit so hard that the brain
hits the skull) or contusions (in which
the brain actually gets bruised from
impact), are a major cause of death or
disability among older adults.
Persons who survive TBI may suffer
from long-term impairment of vision,
hearing, memory, sensation and
emotional function. More than 80%
of traumatic brain injuries in persons
aged 65 or older are the result of falls.
Every year, one in three adults over
age 65 falls. Men are more likely to be
hospitalized or die from falls than are
women.
The best way to prevent falls is to
exercise regularly, focusing on leg
strength and balance. Have your
prescription drugs reviewed by
a doctor or pharmacist to avoid
medications that cause dizziness. Get
your eyeglasses checked regularly.
Avoid wearing bifocals when moving
around. Reduce tripping hazards in
your home, add railings diligently and
wear a helmet when participating in
any outdoor sporting activities that
place you at risk, such as cycling,
recreational vehicle operation or
competitive sports.
DANCE THOSE CARES AWAY!
Dancing can reduce seniors’ knee and hip pain and also improve their walking,
a new, small study finds.
The research involved 34 seniors, average age 80, who all had pain or stiffness
in their knees or hips as a result mainly of arthritis. The
participants – mostly women – were assigned either to a
group that danced for 45 minutes up to two times
a week for 12 weeks, or to a control group that
did not dance.
By the end of the 12 weeks, those who danced
had less pain in their knees and hips and
were able to walk faster. Also, the use of
pain medicines fell by 39 per cent among
seniors in the dance group, but rose by 21
per cent among those who did not dance.
The findings about walking speed are
important, because seniors who walk
too slowly are more likely to fall, be
hospitalized or require care from others.
Researchers noted that walking just a
little more rapidly can make enough of a
difference for a person to get across the street
more quickly or get to the bathroom faster,
which keeps them functional and independent.
In the study, those who danced didn’t walk
dramatically faster, but had a meaningful
change in their walking speed.
Dance-based therapy for older adults needs
to be gentle, slow and include options so
that it can be performed standing or sitting,
because their fatigue or pain level can change
from day to day.
Source: Medbroadcast.com
ROUTINE ERRANDS ARE A RISKY TIME FOR FALLS BY SENIORS
For older people, a fall can sometimes bring serious health consequences. And a new study finds that seniors are more likely
to fall while carrying out routine daily errands than when they are walking for exercise.
As the researchers noted, seniors are in a bind when it comes to walking: Frequent walking actually boosts muscle strength
and balance, but studies also show that up to 63 per cent of falls among older people occur while walking.
So, is it safe for seniors to take that daily recreational stroll?
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts tracked the walking habits and rates of outdoor falls among 765 Bostonarea men and women aged 70 and older.
The researchers found that people who walked mainly to do shopping and other errands suffered more falls than those who
walked for recreation. They also found that people in poorer neighbourhoods walked primarily to do errands, not for exercise.
Seniors in poorer neighbourhoods also had higher rates of falls on sidewalks, streets and curbs. That’s important, the authors
wrote, because “compared with falls in recreational areas, falls on sidewalks and streets were twice as likely to result in an
injury and nearly four times as likely to result in a serious injury that needed medical attention.”
Source: Medbroadcast.com
Fitness
A PET EVERY DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
by Jennifer Cox
How being a pet owner is good for your health.
For anyone who has ever owned a
pet, be it a dog, cat, or even fish, it’s
obvious how much enjoyment pets
can bring into our lives. A companion,
a household fixture and, often, a
source of entertainment, pets are a joy
to have. But it goes beyond that…
Did you know that having a pet is
scientifically proven to be beneficial to
your overall health, physically as well
as psychologically? Pets can lift our
spirits and lower negatives, such as
cholesterol and blood pressure. They
can get us moving (after all, dogs need
to be walked regularly). And they can
be visually and mentally stimulating.
There are numerous studies to
back this up. For example, WebMD
explained: “Pets help lessen anxiety
and they boost our immunity. People
in stress mode get into a ‘state of
dis-ease’ in which harmful chemicals
like cortisol and norepinephrine can
negatively affect the immune system,”
says Blair Justice, PhD, a psychology
professor at the University of Texas
School of Public Health and author of
Who Gets Sick: How Beliefs, Moods, and
Thoughts Affect Your Health. “Studies
show a link between these chemicals
and plaque buildup in arteries, the red
flag for heart disease,” says Justice. “Like
any enjoyable activity, playing with a
dog can elevate levels of serotonin and
dopamine – nerve transmitters that
are known to have pleasurable and
calming properties.”
The article goes on to explain how
heart attack patients who have pets
oftentimes survive longer than those
without, and that male pet owners
have fewer signs of heart disease
(lower triglyceride and cholesterol
levels) than non-owners.
Further to that, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and
the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
have both conducted heart-related
studies on people who have pets, and
the findings showed that pet owners
exhibit decreased blood pressure as
well (Animal Planet).
It’s not just larger animals, such as dogs
and cats, that have an impact on their
owners – believe it or not, even fish can
be therapeutic for a number of reasons.
“Displaying tanks of brightly coloured
fish improves eating habits and curtails
disruptive behaviour in people with
Alzheimer’s disease. A survey of more
than 11,000 people found that pet
owners made 15 to 20 per cent fewer
visits to the doctor each year than nonpet owners.” (CNCA Health)
Pets also encourage us to get moving
and get outside – that “look” from your
pup when he or she would like to go
for a stroll is irresistible, meaning that
dog owners are more physically active
than those who don’t have a pooch.
They also force you to get some fresh
air and sunshine, something everyone
needs for general good health.
A pet can help someone who is lonely
to find friendship as well. According
to the National Institutes of Health,
a benefit of pet ownership and
attachment in combating depression
was found among older persons in
situations of personal stress who
were without adequate human social
support (e.g. bereaved persons without
a close source of human support).
Believe it or not, pets will let you
lean on them and they can provide a
surprising amount of comfort.
And, finally, pets love you
unconditionally. They provide
companionship and are a great
distraction from everyday life. There’s
always someone there to greet you
when you come through the door,
and they can be fantastic travel
companions and keep you company
when you’re away from home.
Pets are a fantastic way to add a
new fixture in your life that is fun,
promotes active living and offers a
healthy addition to your household.
So consider bringing a pet into the
family (even better, get your pet from
an animal shelter…who knows:
maybe you can save each other).
CSA online
WHAT THE HECK IS “THE CLOUD?”
by Andrew Moore-Crispin
All of my e-mail is in the cloud. My
contacts, too. Family photos, my music,
podcasts I’ve saved, videos and articles
I work with in my day job, books I’ve
read or that I plan to read. All in the
cloud.
So what, exactly, is the cloud
and why should you care?
to lay out a 3D design
project such as a home
renovation (Planner 5D –
planner5d.com), to learn a
new language (Duolingo
– duolingo.com), scan, track
and sort receipts (Shoeboxed
– shoeboxed.com) and many
more.
Granted, “the cloud” is a bit of a...
nebulous term. At its most basic, it’s
really just marketing/technology speak
for online storage: Things that you
can access, but that aren’t necessarily
saved on your device’s internal storage.
Things stored “in the cloud” can be
accessed remotely from any of your
connected devices. Therein lies the
power of the cloud. It doesn’t matter if
you’re on the home computer or travelling with a laptop, on your tablet or
smartphone or even using a computer
in the library just to check in. Your important files are there for you wherever
you have an Internet connection.
The easiest way to get
started with cloud applications on your computer is to
download the free Google
Chrome browser from
chrome.google.com. In that
browser, go to chrome.
google.com/webstore and
see what’s on offer.
When you back up your iPhone or
iPad with iCloud, or your Android
phone and/or tablet with Google Sync,
you’re storing a complete backup of
your device in the cloud. If you ever
lose your device, or when the time
comes to upgrade, all of your contacts,
photos, personal preferences, Wi-Fi
access passphrases and much more are
automatically moved over to your new
device when you log in.
Google Docs
In addition to cloud storage, there’s
also a growing list of cloud applications. These are services that run in a
browser window and take the place
of traditional computer applications
which you’d download and install
locally on your computer. We’re not
talking about simple little apps here
either: There are cloud apps to edit
photos (Pixlr – pixlr.com) and even
videos (WeVideo Next – wevideo.com),
The following are a couple
of favourite cloud-powered
online services and apps.
The cloud apps mentioned below will
work in any modern browser (Chrome,
Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox).
If you have a Google account (an @
gmail.com e-mail address), you already
have access to Google Docs. If not, said
account is free and easy to create at
account.google.com.
Google Docs offers a suite of office
tools to rival Microsoft Office, but
without the onerous price tag.
Without spending a dime, you can
access a powerful word processor,
spreadsheets, form creator and
slideshow presentation-maker, all at
docs.google.com.
Google Drive, also unlocked with a
Google account, is tightly integrated
with Google Docs. It offers a place in
which to store all of the stuff which you
create in Docs, and anything else that
you might want to store “in the cloud.”
Pixlr
If you’re a photo guru or if you just
want to touch up a couple of pictures
with simple edits, such as red-eye
removal, adjusting brightness and contrast and the like, Pixlr is where it’s at.
Going to pixlr.com, you can choose
from Pixlr Editor, Pixlr Express or Pixlr
O-Matic. Editor is a full-featured,
image-editing suite that lets you do
some pretty heavy image manipulation, including layers. Express keeps it
simple, letting you make adjustments
to brightness and contrast, add
effects, stickers, frames and the like.
Pixlr O-Matic lets you choose from a
series of filters and effects to give your
photos a new edge.
If nothing else, the Pixlr Editor app
shows just how powerful a cloud app
can be. It won’t replace the professional image-editing capabilities of
Photoshop, however, but it comes
surprisingly close.
Book review
Butterfly of Venus
Willa McLean is a
freelance writer who
lives in Brampton.
By Susan Ferrier MacKay
Harper Collins - ebook
In Butterfly of Venus, Susan Ferrier MacKay
has written a spicy, sophisticated and erotic
romance novel that should appeal to the
same folks who made the Fifty Shades of
Grey trilogy a publishing phenomenon.
That novel started off as a self-published
ebook, but went on to top the bestseller
lists around the world, selling more than
100 million copies and translated into 52
languages – all despite scathing reviews
trashing the literary qualities of the writing.
Butterfly of Venus, on the other hand, is a
compelling, fast-paced read with a complex
plot and fascinating characters.
Elizabeth Harding, the protagonist, is a
dynamic executive; she’s the sole owner and
founder of Alternative Talent Management,
the biggest and most successful music
agency in Canada. Elizabeth skillfully
interfaces with international entertainment
moguls to get the best deals for her clients.
We know that she is really successful
because she wears a Cartier watch and has
a personal driver to take her home to her
renovated Victorian house in glamorous,
downtown Toronto. Elizabeth is not romantically involved at this point, and hasn’t
been for a year. She had abruptly dumped
Sampson, the lying, cheating real estate
tycoon who had been her co-vivant for six
years, and was now avoiding his calls. It’s the
day before her 40th birthday, so Elizabeth is
very aware of remaining alone and growing
older. However, she is looking forward to a
spa day and birthday dinner with Effie, her
longtime very best friend. Effie, a flamboyant “Auntie Mame” type and successful
fashion entrepreneur, is estranged from
her “blue-blooded Rosedale establishment
family.”
Elizabeth has long made it a policy to never
mix business with romance but then, at the
birthday dinner which turned out to be a
surprise party, she met Declan Thomas, a
ridiculously handsome, talented singer/
songwriter. It was like a bolt of lightning.
This successful, mature woman was smitten,
pole axed, besotted, over a prospective
client 16 years her junior. She later agonized
to Effie that she had all the symptoms of a
love-struck school girl (weak knees, fluttering stomach, feeling faint). She even had the
nerve to blush “50 shades of red.”
After Elizabeth saw Declan perform in a club,
she knew that he was superstar material.
He was not only talented, but also witty and
charming. Declan was all of these things
but, behind the confident, charismatic
exterior, there was a troubled human being.
He had suffered such a traumatic early childhood that he had completely blocked those
years from his memory, and he was left with
basic identity issues. And then there was the
possessive ex-girlfriend from hell, Natasha
Khomeini. Talk about foreshadowing. You
knew that she was trouble when she arrogantly pretended to assume that Elizabeth
was Declan’s mother when they met.
The drama and suspense in this story are
supplied by the psychopathic malice of
the vengeful Natasha. Not only did she
almost kill Elizabeth, she then got a job as
receptionist at ATM and tried to destroy the
company while Elizabeth was recovering.
She was only foiled by the intervention of
Effie and Manny, Elizabeth’s loyal personal
assistant who concocted a diabolical plot to
stop her (funny, too).
When Elizabeth was struggling for her life after the attack, she was stunned to learn that
she was pregnant. Now the quandary: she
was pregnant by a man who had adamantly
declared that he did not want to father any
children and then had a vasectomy to make
sure – after the fact. Was Declan mature
enough to handle parental responsibilities??
Elizabeth went
to her retreat
in Scotland to
consider her
options and wait
for the arrival of
her baby.
Former television producer
Susan MacKay
writes about
the Toronto show business and club scene
with an authentic “been there” authority.
She also seems very comfortable with the
restaurants, hotels and museums of Paris.
Elizabeth had taken Declan there to arrange
his image transformation from grunge
performer to polished star. It was in this
sensuous city that they had their first lovers’
spats and then made up in “one of the most
beautiful hotel rooms in Paris” – with its
view of the Eiffel Tower lit up with sparklers
every hour on the hour. What could be more
romantic?
MacKay’s descriptions of Elizabeth’s croft
house retreat in a remote Scottish hamlet
between the mountains and the sea are
lyrical. But the evocative descriptions of her
interaction with her Scottish neighbours,
their daily concerns (sheep, oil rigs, music)
and even their accents, all ring true.
It has been written that the unlikely success
of 50 Shades of Grey proves that more
women now feel free to openly read and
discuss sex. In Butterfly of Venus, this attitude extends to sexual fantasies. To quote
the irrepressible Effie, “in a fantasy, you can
have sex with a dolphin or Big Bird or Barack
Obama and no one will be any the wiser.”
Butterfly of Venus is currently downloadable
to an e-reader, iPhone or tablet
from Kobo, Amazon or iBooks.
CSANews | FALL 2014
47
Food and drink
by Shari Darling
B-complex Vitamins
Whether creating meals at home
or dining out, it’s important to pick
dishes that provide a sufficient level of
B-complex vitamins. If you are unable
to sustain a healthy diet, then it may
be important to take a B-complex
supplement.
Working together, B-complex vitamins
break down carbohydrates into
glucose to supply the body with
energy, as well as breaking down fats
and proteins. This group of vitamins
also keeps our muscles toned,
intestinal tract healthy and our skin,
hair and eyes looking younger!
The B-complex vitamins consist of
vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and
B12.
Vitamin B1 is thiamine and it gives us
nerve and muscle function and aids
in our digestion. Milk, potatoes, sweet
corn, liver and beans are all rich in
thiamine.
Riboflavin is vitamin B2 and is found
naturally in asparagus, popcorn,
bananas, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs,
fish, leafy green vegetables, legumes,
tomatoes, mushrooms and almonds,
to name but a few. This vitamin helps
to give us healthy skin, mouth and
eyes and promotes energy production
and antioxidant protection.
Vitamin B3 is also called niacin and
is known for helping to eliminate
depression and anxiety. It also offers
antioxidant protection Tuna, salmon,
crimini and shiitake mushrooms,
asparagus, tomatoes, brown rice,
sweet potatoes, green vegetables,
cantaloupe and summer squash are
but some of the foods containing
niacin.
B5 is pantothenic acid and is known
as the anti-aging vitamin. It is also
required for cell processes and optimal
maintenance of fat. Foods high in B5
include baker’s yeast, liver, chicken,
sunflower seeds, shiitake mushrooms,
avocados, meat, wheat germ and sundried tomatoes.
B6 helps us resist disease, while B7
makes our nails, skin and hair healthy.
B9 is folic acid and helps to synthesize
and repair our DNA cells.
B12 is considered the most important
of the B-complex vitamins. It is
essential for the manufacture of red
blood cells and a deficiency of this
vitamin can cause many issues, such as
anemia and peripheral neuropathy, a
debilitating condition.
B12 is important to nerve cell function
and is required for the replication of
DNA. When this vitamin is deficient,
our DNA cannot replicate normally.
This means that we cannot generate
new, healthy cells and will experience
the effects of aging.
For more information on
wine and food, go to
www.sharidarling.com.
It is not as hard as you think to include
the complex Bs into your daily diet.
Try spaghetti with meat sauce and
add onions, spinach and shiitake
mushrooms. The ingredients in this
dish, which includes tomatoes, will
help to replenish any deficiencies in
your B-complex vitamin level. Said
another way, spaghetti and meatballs
can keep you looking young!
I love beef stroganoff – the classic
Russian dish. It’s also packed with
B-complex vitamins. However, my
husband’s doctor told us that, “If it has
four feet, we must not eat.” So I create
dishes using chicken more often.
Chicken stroganoff is downright tasty
and is also loaded with B-complex
vitamins. Enriched egg noodles
contain B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12,
while chicken is an excellent source of
B3, B5 and B6. By adding spinach and
yellow zucchini, you also add to your
dish a greater source of vitamins B1,
B2, B3 and B6.
This Hungarian rendition is packed
with other vitamins and minerals as
well. I aim to keep the fat content in
my recipes as low as possible, without
eliminating too much flavour. Here’s a
low-fat, low-cholesterol version.
Food and drink
Low-Fat Chicken Stroganoff
Serves 4
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
500 g of lean ground chicken
1 cup spinach or kale, chopped
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
All-purpose flour (as needed)
2 tablespoons cholesterol-free margarine
1 cup homemade chicken broth (preferable to store-bought versions)
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
Salt and black pepper
1 cup fat-free sour cream
Cooked egg noodles*
Fresh basil for garnish
Fill a large skillet with about ½-inch
of water. Add garlic and onions. Sauté
until tender. Add ground chicken
Simmer until chicken is almost cooked.
Add spinach and mushrooms. Sprinkle
with one teaspoon of flour. Continue
to cook on low, stirring occasionally,
until the chicken is cooked
* My husband and I also eat gluten-free. So you can
substitute the egg noodles with any gluten-free pasta.
throughout. Add margarine, chicken
broth and mushroom soup.
Simmer on low for about 30 minutes.
Adjust seasoning to taste, adding salt
and pepper as needed. Stir in the sour
cream in the last few minutes, right
before you serve. Serve over cooked
egg noodles, pasta or gluten-free
pasta. Garnish with fresh basil.
Suggested Wine: If you prefer white
wine, go with a big-fat Chardonnay
If you like red wine, choose Shiraz or
Merlot. The smooth texture of these
wines will complement the creamy
texture of the dish.
CSA application
Sign up five new members and
become a Key Member of the CSA!
Let us grow together
The CSA is constantly looking for new members, just like you. Sign up five new
members and get your next annual membership FREE. Download five applications
from our website at www.snowbirds.org or photocopy the application below. Have
five of your travelling friends become new and valued members of your association.
Your efforts will be honoured with:
•• Free Annual Membership
•• Special Key Member Pin
•• Your name published in CSANews
Canadian Snowbird Association
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
1-800-265-3200
www.snowbirds.org
180 LESMILL ROAD, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA M3B 2T5
Membership Number (for renewing members)___________________________________Language
English
Français
Applicant’s Name____________________________________________________Date of Birth_________________
/
/
DD MM YY
Spouse/Partner’s Name________________________________________________Date of Birth_________________
/
/
DD MM YY
Canadian Address____________________________________________________________________________
City________________________________________ Province________________Postal Code_________________
Telephone ( )__________________________________ Cell ( )__________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________________________________________
Winter Address______________________________________________________________________________
City________________________________________ State__________________ Zip Code___________________
Telephone ( )__________________________________ Referring Member Name or Number_______________________
1 Year
$25
2 Year
$45
$20
$30
Payment
VISA
MasterCard
Membership per household (maximum 2 people)
3 Year
5 Year
Lifetime
$65
$99
$325 Credit provided for any dues paid in the last 5 years; call to confirm savings.
Special Action Fund Donation
$50
$100
Other _____________________________
Cash
Cheque (Make payable to: Canadian Snowbird Association)
Credit Card # __________________________________________________ Expiry _________________
I/we hereby apply for membership in the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) and, if
accepted, acknowledge and/or agree as follows:
1) M
embership dues are non-refundable and are renewable every June 30.
2) Information contained in this application may be used by the association for various
purposes in accordance with privacy legislation including, but not limited to the following:
a) Marketing purposes or research.
b) Association-approved third parties as may be necessary.
3) The association will make reasonable efforts to ensure that we are advised of the purposes for which the
information may be used.
4) T he letters patent, by-laws, rules, regulations and policies of the association are binding.
The Canadian Snowbird Association is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic
Documents Act (PIPEDA) of the Government of Canada.
To exclude your subscription to the CSANews magazine, deduct $9.95 from the annual dues rate.
Membership dues and fees are subject to change without notice.
Signature _________________________________________ Date _____________________________________
REV. 08/2013
Source code: E92
CSA benefits
BENEFITS & SERVICES
Commitment, Service and Advocacy for Travellers
CSA INFORMATION BOOKLETS
The CSA provides members with
information booklets such as The
CSA Travel Information Guide, The
CSA Member Handbook and The CSA
Travellers’ Checklist. Within these
publications, you will find information
pertaining to border crossing, tips to help
you plan a lengthy trip and the various
benefits of being a member of the CSA.
CSANews
Official News MagaziNe Of the caNadiaN sNOwbird assOciatiON | wiNter 2007 | issUe 65
Publication mail agreement no: 40063603
THE CSA MEMBER HANDBOOK:
The Amazing
Canadian Dollar!
The official news magazine of the
is filled with valuable advice,
timely tips and informative articles
regarding issues that impact
travelling Canadians. As an active
subscriber and member of the CSA,
you will receive four issues per year.
CSA AUTO CLUB
For twenty years, Medipac International has earned the
respect and repeat business of snowbirds, coast-tocoast. Endorsed by the Canadian Snowbird Association,
Medipac has proven time and time again to be the
insurance company that snowbirds rely on. Before you
travel – talk to Canada’s only “real” choice for travel
medical insurance benefits.
1-888-MEDIPAC • WWW.MEDIPAC.COM
When your vehicle is stranded by the side
of the road, you want help, fast. Joining
the CSA auto club means choosing ANY
service vehicle and getting on your
way. Just submit the claim to us and we
GUARANTEE payment within 30 business
days.
1st car…$54
2nd car…$33
Designed exclusively for members of the Canadian Snowbird Association
CSA
AUTO CLUB
No matter where your road leads,
you will never be alone.
Total Family Protection
Endorsed by the
1-800-265-3200
Snowbird Currency Exchange Program
Not only is there strength in numbers…there are
dollars in your pocket because of them! As a member
of the CSA, you can take advantage of highly
competitive rates negotiated through the CSA’s group
purchasing power. For your home, car and cottage
protection, look to the CSA.
1-800-267-8000
The Canadian Snowbird Association
offers its members a hassle free service
to convert their Canadian currency into
American funds, and it has never been
better. Every month we will deduct
the funds from your Canadian financial
institution, exchange the currency and
deposit the funds directly into your U.S.
based bank account. No paperwork, no
phone calls. Just convenience.
Designed Exclusively for the Canadian Snowbird Lifestyle
Snowbird Currency
Exchange Program
Proven by thousands of snowbirds
Exclusive, preferred exchange rates
Automatic monthly transfers
Low or no transfer fees
Save $100s each year!
Endorsed by the
1-800-265-3200
Personal Accident
Insurance Plan
GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE LIFE INSURANCE
You are invited to take advantage of rates as low as
$12.56 per unit on up to $20,000 in life insurance
coverage. Once you enroll your rates will never increase.
There are NO medical questions and NO medical
examination, guaranteed!
No one likes to think about accidents.
Protect you and your spouse against the
severe financial hardships that accompany
sudden death, dismemberment or loss of
sight. Endorsed by the CSA.
1-877-474-0044
1-800-268-3336
Designed exclusively for members of the Canadian Snowbird Association
Personal Accident
Insurance Plan
Endorsed by the
CSANews | FALL 2014
51
04
IN
05
06
Fun & games
Outside the04
Box Puzzles 0
TREADING
CSA News Autumn 2014 (No. 92) Edition Candidates
Dashotrk
CHIN A
01
02
03
TREA
Outside
the
Box
Puzzles
These Outside the Box puzzles will definitely tease your brain!
Can you guess
ICE them all?
44 4
4
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IC
Dashotrk
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CSA News Autumn 2014 (No. 92) Edition Candidates
1.
07
01
F
PUMPKIN FLOOD
LEMON
FLOOD
G
FLOOD
APPL E
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he Box Puzzles
04
10
14 (No. 92) Edition Candidates
02
FLOOD
08
FLOOD
FLOOD
KEEP
10AM 4PM
04
11
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FLOOD
06
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10
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Alan Morgan
05
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Copyright 2005-2014
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CSA News Autumn 2014
(No. 92) Edition
Candidates
a
IN
IN
TREADING
IN
IN
03
ICE
10
03 Outside the Box Puzzles
BITTEN 5. s p r i nCHIN
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SHYSHY
07
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Answers
Copyright 2005-2014 Alan
SHYSHY
08
09
Grins & giggles
The Twosome
A fellow was getting ready to tee off by himself on the first hole when a tall, stately,
grey-haired gentleman approached and asked if he could join him. The first man said
that he usually played alone, but agreed to the twosome.
They were even after the first two holes. The tall, stately gentleman said, “We’re about
evenly matched, how about playing for five bucks per hole?”
The first fellow said that he was a pretty good player and that he wasn’t much for
betting, but agreed to the terms, thinking, “we’re pretty even so far, so why not?”
The stately gentleman played ‘straight & true’ golf for the rest of the round and won
the remaining 16 holes with ease.
They were walking off the 18th green and, while counting his $80, the tall, stately
golfer confessed that he was the teaching pro at a
neighbouring course and liked to pick on suckers.
The first fellow revealed that he was the parish
priest. The pro got all flustered and apologetic,
offering to return the money.
The priest said, “You won fair and square and I was
foolish to bet with you. You keep your winnings.”
The pro asked, “Is there anything I can do to make it
up to you?”
The priest said, “Well, you could come to mass on
Sunday and make a donation. And, if you want
to bring your mother and father along, I’ll marry
them.”
Yes, This is a
Woman’s World
When a man is born, the first
thing people ask is: “How is the
mother?” When he marries, people
say, “Oh, what a lovely bride!”
And when he dies, they ask, “How
much did he leave her?”
Master of
His Domain
On the phone with a golf buddy
who has asked him to play, a guy
says: “I am the master of my home
and can play golf whenever I
want. But hold on a minute while I
find out if I want to.”
Ron Bellamy needs your
cartoon ideas! Please send
your quips, stories and/
or snowbird anecdotes to
[email protected].
Fast facts
FINDING A DOCTOR
SNOWBIRD STATS
In most provinces and territories, the Ministry of Health or a
provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons offers an online
directory of physicians, often sorted by location and specialty.
Canadian Snowbirds trips
in excess of 30 days in 2013
Alberta
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
www.cpsa.ab.ca, 1-800-561-3899
British Columbia
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
www.cpsbc.ca, 1-800-461-3008
Manitoba
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba
www.cpsm.mb.ca, 1-877-774-4344
New Brunswick
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick
www.cpsnb.org, 1-800-667-4641
Newfoundland and Labrador
College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Newfoundland and Labrador
www.mnb.ca, 709-726-8546
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Health and Social Services
www.hss.gov.nt.ca, 1-800-661-0830
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Department of Health
novascotia.ca/dhw/physicians, 1-800-670-4357
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
cpsnsphysiciansearch.com
Nunavut
Government of Nunavut, Health and Social Services
www.gov.nu/ca, 1-867-975-5075
Ontario
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
www.cpso.on.ca, 1-800-268-7096
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
www.health.gov.on.ca, 1-866-532-3161
Prince Edward Island
Government of Prince Edward Island
Department of Health
www.healthpei.ca/patientregistry, 855-563-2101
College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI
www.cpspei.ca, 902-566-3861
Quebec
Collège des médecins du Québec
www.cmq.org, 1-888-633-3246
Saskatchewan
Government of Saskatchewan
www.health.gov.sk.ca, 1-800-667-7766
Yukon
Yukon Medical Council
www.yukonmedicalcouncil.ca, 867-667-3774
Source: www.youth.gc.ca
1,330,224
Canadian Snowbird trips to the United States Canadian Snowbird trips Overseas
896,864
433,360
Canadian Snowbirds aged 55 – 64
Canadian Snowbirds 65 and over
511,285
818,939
Canadian Snowbirds covered
by private insurance
82%
Number who purchased individual trip insurance
Number who purchased multi-trip annual plans
Number covered by an employer or group plan
Number relying on credit card coverage
Total Canadian leisure trips
taken in 2013
37%
24%
26%
10%
27,598,000
Trips to the United States
Trip taken elsewhere
18,920,000
8,678,000
Source: Conference Board of Canada
Congratulations to the
Winners of the
2014 CSA Early Bird Renewal
5-year memberships:
B and S Coulter, Milton, ON
H and A VanGemert, Burlington, ON
JD and NL Lawson, Fort St. John, BC
L and J Moore, Dryden, ON
D and D Mscalister, Calgary, AB
$250 Petro-Canada gift cards:
W and M Olan, Lindsay, ON
S and M Johnson, Inverary, ON
W and S Standeven, Victoria, BC
R and S Cumming, Unity, SK
B Guay and L Masse, Shefford, QC
Answers to Outside the Box
Puzzles from page 52
1. Flood lights
2. What goes up must come down
3. A shot in the dark
4. Look before you leap
5. Make a mountain out of a mole hill
6. Once bitten, twice shy
Snowbird Currency
Exchange Program
The Snowbird Currency Exchange Program is
designed specifically for the snowbird lifestyle.
It’s that unique!
Join ranks with thousands of satisfied snowbirds who
transfer money from Canada to the U.S. at exclusive,
preferred exchange rates with little or no fees. It
works with all major financial institutions, and the
transfers are automatic.
The Snowbird Currency Exchange Program is the
ultimate in cross-border banking for Canadian
snowbirds. The program enables you to transfer
money automatically from your regular Canadian
chequing account to your U.S.-based bank account.
The rest is up to you!
You can specify which months and what amounts
you want to transfer, or you can have the same
amount transferred every month on a continuous
basis.
Proven by thousands of snowbirds
What makes this program really unique is that we
pool the funds of every enrolled snowbird and
complete a single bulk transaction. This grants us
access to bulk exchange rates otherwise unavailable
to the consumer, and we pass the savings on to you.
Unlike most exchange programs, the Snowbird
Currency Exchange Program will not subject you to
additional fees when your funds are transferred to
your U.S. bank account. It’s that good!
The Snowbird Currency Exchange Program – it’s
convenient, secure, trusted by thousands and worry-free.
1-800-265-3200
For information please call the CSA or download
the application from www.snowbirds.org
Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company.
LUCK ISN’T ENOUGH.
Visit medipac.com or call 1-888-MEDIPAC.

Fascinating - Canadian Snowbird Association

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