ett senate wenn an cee ec ece wns nenn ena we mene e wee en ny peewee we ee ee eee eee ee ee eee ee os SEVENTY-YEAR old Annie Karpyshyn has lived in Terrace for 46 years and she never wanis to live anywhere else, ‘This town's been very good to me,” she said, Everywhere she goes, businesses cater to her. Al the grocery store last December, a clerk cut a turkey in half when she didn’t want la pur- chase the whole bird. “‘When you live by yourself, who needs a 20- pound turkey?’’ she said, Karpyshyn said salespeople will carry her bags to her car and strangers are always willing to Jend a hand, Last week. inmates from the correctional _ centre shovelled her driveway. * In the past, seniors often moved away from ’ Terrace to exjay retirement. Nowadays, however, senior citizens, like Kar- pyshyn, are staying in town where friends and family are. Population uumbers show that the number of Seniors in Terrace is on the rise, “It's by far the fastest growing sector of the population,” said Ken Veldman, Terrace’s eco- nomic development officer. . Canada’s seniors population is one of the fastest growing in the world. “This town’s been very good to me.”* By the year 2041, about 23 per cent of the country’s population will be elderly (65 years old or older), which is up from 12 per cent in 1995, To recognize the world’s rapidly aging popu- - lation of baby boomers, the United Nations declared 1999 the International Year of the Older Person. There are currently about 1,280 seniors living ; in the city — about 8 per cent of the population. By the ycar 2026, it is projected that seniors , will make up 20 per cent of the population. _ “It’s not sao much that people are coming Housing issues, a major gripe Dr. R.E.M. Lee Foundation. Davies said suites will be One elderly person, who designed for independent living. However, there will also be a cafeteria, lounges, TERRACE SENIORS want more housing. didn?t want to be named, - Said there aren’t many low- Terrace great, says senior here, it’s thal people aren’t leaving,’’ Veldman said, He said medical services and home care ser- vices have vastly improved in the past 10 years to accommodate seniors. : “We're better equipped to help older people,’ said Dr. David Bowering, chief medi- cal officer of the North West Community Health Services Society. Bowering said there are currently two internal medical specialisis in Terrace, while there was only one specialist here 10 years ago. There are also more home care services avail- able, like Meals On Wheels, which delivers hot meals three limes a week to seniors who have trouble cooking for (hemsclves, ; Studies show that more than 90 per cent of Canada’s seniors live in their private homes. According to Bowering, the challenge in the future will be creating more hame support ser- vices to assists seniors who want to remain in their own homes. ““We need to find ways to provide these ser- vices withaut the costs breaking the system,” he said. Lisa Graham, R.N. supervisor at North West Community Health Services Socicty, said home support services lack money. ‘“‘There’s not enough demand,’” she said, Graham said as the population ages, the government will have to put more money into community services (o accommodate the need. Some seniors in Terrace don’t need home sup- port services because they have family members who can take care of them. Karpyshyn relies on ber daughter, son and funding for the . grandchildren to help shovel snow and mow ber lawn for her,. Since Karpyshyn suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and a weak heart, she said she also has to rely on friends and neighbours to do things for her. She said she likes living here because Terrace is such a friendly place. ‘You can go out for a walk and you don’t lave lo worry that your purse is being snatched,"’ she said, Karpyshyn docsn’t sce any disadvantages to’ living here. Vancouver, she said, doesn’t offer any better inedical services, ‘Medicare all over the coun- try is the same,’’ she said, “I don’t think we're any worse off here than anywhere.’! ~ She said? many of her ‘friends: who moved away, have returned, ’."They. don’t feel secure or safe in other cilles,”” she said. ‘It’s also harder to make friends when you get old.”’ In her spare time, Karpyshyn said she often babysits ber great-grandchildren, Her granddaughter Karri said Karpyshyn has been-her-saviour, -- ~~. os “She's helped my life completely,” Karri said. “I’ve had three kids in (three years and she’s been able to watch my children for me."’ “Medicare all over the country is the same. [ don’t think we’re any worse off kere than anywhere,”’ Like many seniors, Karpyshyn has also done: plenty of volunteer work over the years, Statistics show that almost a quarter of all Ca-- nadian seniors contribute some time each weck volunteering, They took after children or grand- children, volunteer at thrift shops or for a num- berof charitable organizations. The economic value of the volunteer work seniors do is estimated between $746 million and $2.3 billion cach year. For now Karpyshyn lives in her own bome,’ bul she’s put a $1000 deposit down Io move to Heritage House, a new seniors housing project in the warks, She likes the idea of Heritage House because the complex allows seniors to owa their own home, but also offers a number of home care services. “lf I don't feel like cooking dinner, Pll be able to go to the cafeteria,” she said. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 24, 1999 - AS CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD - cost rental suits available. a workshop aud other sup- She said only two places port services like home in town offer rental suits to clean, laundry, and nursing seniors: The Willows and services available. Davies said she'll know {hae 1eeh des ite tion. ha enough money, to go ahead. Terraceview Lodge, which’ 1 So far she has deposits offers seniors long-term from 12 seniors who want to care. purchase suites. The woman said she The Village of Peace couldn’t afford to: buy a Senior Care Society, a townhouse at Twin. River charitable organizalion Estates or one of the new founded by the Missionaries hames proposed to be built of the Poor, also wants to at Heritage House. offer seniors an altemative “*You have to sella house to Terraceview Lodge. to buy a house,’’ she said. Lori McGinlay, president “‘Heritage .House sounds of the society, explained great but unless you have members would like to build the--money lo buy one, a home far elderly people you're stuck renting on your who want to live ina family owt,” she said. _ almosphere, but who alsa Currently, there aren’t any peed minimal care. housing in projects in Ter- Two nuns would live in race where seniors can live the house to provide 24 hour independently, but also get assistance. belp if they need any. McGinlay said the house will be non-denominational _‘and welcomes all seniors living in the area. Monthly occupancy charges would be charged to cover aperat- ing costs, Currently, the society is looking for land within or close ta the city boundary for the project. The Terrace Elks have been thinking about build- ing a senior housing com- Don Norstrom “As you get older there's nowhere to go,’ said senior plex for the past 15 years. citizen Don Norstrom. “There's definitely a lack He said le knows peaple of seniors housing available who have been on the wail- in town,’’ said Elks secre- ing list to get into Ter- ‘tary Lawrence Baker, raceview Ladge for two “Twin River had about 37 years. people on its waiting list a The demand for seniors year ago.’’ housing is so. great, said Doris Mitchell, long-term plans to build a 22-unit care manager al Ter- senior’s apartment building raceview Lodge, that people just south of the Elks’ lodge _ who need long-term care ei- ther move to Prince Rupert units, which would be mod- or Kitimat or remain at ern one and two bedroom bome and rely on com- swites, would be for sale. munity home care services, ‘'We’re still hoping it'll like Meals on Wheels. geo ahead bul there area few With the need for seniors’ hurdles,’’ Baker said. housing growing, a number He said the project bas run of projects are in the works. —iitto property problems, The The Dr. R.E.M. Lee Foun !and they have isn’t big dation, a registered non- enough to build the 22 units, profit socicty, has bought 50 ,in order to dulld, the land. adjacent to Ter- property will bave to be ‘raceview Lodge to build fesurveyed and property Heritage House, a 42-unit ines will have to be moved. senior care facility. The Elks will vote mid Heritage. House is March on whether to go designed to provide affor- ahead with the project this dable ictirement homes and ‘year. support. .services,... said... ‘‘Eventually we'll - go Marilys Davies, who is an abead. even If ils postponed the board of directors of the fora year,’’ Baker said, - by March, 1), if the, founda-_ “Tt looks very positive, "se Baker said the Elks have . m@ Happy in Terrace! May McFarland and Connie Porter don’t pian on leaving Terrace. They've got too many friends and family members here. They said Terrace is a great place to live. i Bus also a problem, Terrace seniors say | PUBLIC TRANSIT is an- olher issue that needs work, . say Terrace seniors. When the = cily Kalum St. last’ year and Tuck Ave. was turned into a cul de sac, senior citizens living in the Senior Citizens Apartments on Tuck were left stranded, Now that Kalum St. is dlocked off, the bus no longer gocs to the bus stop by their apartments to pick them up. ; Seniors who live at the seniors residence have to walk a black and a hall to Sparks St. to catch the bus. For Joyce Relling, who broke her lip after falling oulside her apartment last year, that’s too far to walk, Farwest Buslines employ- ee Sonja Krug said there isu’t enough room at the bottom of Tuck Ave. to turn buses around, - “The buses are too long,” she said. She said scniors can use housing, It’s all foretold in a new report by the Ur- ban Futures Institute and The Land Centre, Kitimat-Stikine entitled Housing the Regional District's Demographics and Demand 1996 to 2626. The most startling fact emerging from the report is that every age group in this region from 55 onward will more than double in size by 2026. By then, the 60 to 79 age group is projected to make up 20 per cent of the Kitimat-Terzace and atea population, com- pared to just 8 per cent in 1996, . That's simply a result of baby: boomers getting older and life expectancy increas- rebuilt . . seniors Joyce Relling the HandyDart — service, which is a smaller bus for and handicapped people who can’t take the regular transit. Relling said the problem with the HandyDart is that its inconvenient. She has to book days in advance if she wants to be picked up, And, the Handydart only runs from 8 am. to 5:20 p.m. Monday to Saturday. “It's is very busy,” said Krug, who beoks appoint- nents for seniors, She said the city needs more Handydaris to meet the demand. Relling doesn’t understand why they can’t turn the bus around in a,driveway. “If they can bring the school bus down (here, they can bring the bus,’’ Relling said, remains a problem, Relling said she’s glad moved to Terrace from Comox two years ago. She said she moved here to be closer to her son and her six grandchildren. “My son figured he could look after me now,’ she said. She’s said she’s made friends through the Happy Gang Centre and her church, “Ll don’t feel like I’m growing ald,’ she said. “*] enjoy life. Maybe some people don’t think I do, but I do.”’ on Teraut St all of te. N@W population report startling THE TREND toward an older population as Baby Boomers age into senior citizens will affect everything from the need for schools and hospitals to the demand for ing, the report says. Lower down on the demographic tree, there will be slightly more 30 to 49-year- olds in 2026 than there are today. And the age 15-29 group is projected to dren, Population: be almost the same size as it is now, But there will be decidedly fewer chil- The 14-and-under age group is projected to shrink by about 10 per cent by 2026, largely due to declining birth rates and the fact that the bulk of the population will be out of their child-bearing years. “It Is possible to begin preparation now lation will for some of the effects (hat an aging popu- bring, 1 tourism, higher-levels of demand for health care ad social’ services, and: the need for ‘longer walk lights and bigger. ‘print on menus,’the reportadds, ~~ including increased Although public transit The Mail Bag Repent or else An open letter to The city of Terrace: I see here a city that is truly blessed. Having natural beauty, a good size population, a very high standard of . living and generally very friendly people. However, if you take all that away the exterior and get to the nitty gritty, you will find a place that is very, very sick, not to mention evil. CO I find a fot of misery, a lot of poverty, and a lot of rebellion. People are so caught up in materialism, gain- ing and hoarding wealth for themseives, idolatry, self fulfillment, rebellion, hatred, racism, sexual immorality (adultery, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, cte,), lust, pornography, perversion, drunkenness, drug . abuse, witchcraft (divination and spiritism), belief in teincamation, seeking false - gods, spirituality in all the wrong places, ete, The stench of this ‘nice’? little town, is going up to heaven. The Father in Heaven — Jesus — sees all of this filth here, His message is very simple: Repent of your sins. Do you not know that the Lord destroyed Is- rael because of ils sinfulness. He warned that nation through prophets and other men of God. Oh I know that Jesus is a gracious Lard, but do you think He will not eventually pour oul His wrath on a cesspool like Terrace? Do you think He is just gonna sil there, and tet the evil in this city reign forever? Christians in this city, step outside and take a breath of air, Can you smell the stench of rottenness in this place? Do you see the suffering here? Do you see the lost souls on their way to hell? What are we doing to bring about revival here? Let’s stop the bickering, and start repenting and weeping before our Lord. Preachers, board members and congregations of Christianity in Terrace, listen to me: Stop playing churchanily, aud slart to preach Christianity! Through repenting, prayer and fasting, this city can and will change. I mean it has to! The ward of Lord is more powerful than a double-edged sword. Davinder Olak, Terrace, B.C. Helmet theft abhored Dear Sir: I was up on Copper Mountain Sunday afternoon, Feb. 7, taking an avalanche course for search and rescue. We were just down over the bank doing a mock search from an avalanche, When we retumed to our snowmobiles, my helmet was gone. How low can a person get, especially a snowmobiler, if you cau call yourself that; ] wouldu’t. I was there training to maybe one day having to save your lowlife life. Maybe you, who stole my helmet, should think about this when your out snowmobiling. A. MeKenna, Terrace, B.C. Big land, big bucks Dear Sir: Please inform city council that my figure of $400 looking for * million for the airport land is for the whole package, the big picture, the whole enchilada — the land, 6,000 acres, the airport, the tiniber and the mushrooms. That number may not be accurate, but it’s better than the number they have, because they don’t have one. Certainly, if they have one, they have never told any one, The quote that they have spent only a few hours of staff time on this big enchilada, that must nican plan- ning time, for the planning is on a par with the other planning done in town. But what about the ‘subdivision opportunities " studies’ done, what about the over flight doue, what about the year’s of staff time of the economic develop- ment department? . Tell them that one public information meeting could have negated this charade in your wonderful paper. Les Watmough, Terrace, B.C. _ It's a good treaty Dear Sir: lam becoming highly concerned about the conti:ual pressure from certain groups around the province and, sadly, in our community, to hold a province-wide referendum on the Nisga'a treaty. Was there a referendum for any of the other First Na- tions treaties signed in Canada going back to the 1700s? No! Was there a referendum when Canada united in 1867? No! Was there a referendum when Canada entered WWI or WWII? No! Was there a referendum when British Columbia entered Confedera- tion? Nol If there were no referenda covering those and many other important events, why are people pressing for one now? Even if a referendum were to be held, in justice, it should be a Canada-wide one since this agreement is with the federal government. My great admiration goes out to the Nisga’a. They have played by the rules in this matter. Did they turn terrorist and bomb and burn? No! They went to the courls and used the laws, our laws, With very few ex- ceptions, First Nations people in Canada all played by the laws. Did we have the great Indian wars, with their resultant destruction and slaughter, that occurred In the United States? No! Instead, when my great grandfather came to Vancouver Island in the 1870s, the local folks not only did not shoot at him, they taught hin: to fish! When my father joined the navy in WWIL, who did he find as ship mates? First Nations men as ready to defend their country as my father was. Perhaps it is nol to everyone’s liking bul would we rather this were Bosnia or Rwanda or any of those inany other places on our planet where people really were unable to agree’? I Jove Canada and this Nisga’a treaty is one of those many things that make this coun- iry so special. RS, Earl, Terrace, B.C, About letters THE TERRACE Standard wetcomes letters to the editor, Our deadline is noon Fridays; noon Thursdays on 4 long weekend. You can wrife us at 3210 Clinton Sh, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2, Our fax number ts 250- 638-8432 or you can email us at standard@kermade.net ; Letters must be signed and must have a phone nuin- ber, -