TheReview Wednesday, April 4, 1990 AZ At least once this week one of our city’s senior citizens will be cuffed across the mouth, slammed up against a wall and, when he or she slides to the floor, kicked hard in the stomach. This is what’s called elder abuse. In Victoria there is a small committee of concemed citizens who have been working for over a year trying to convince the provincial goverment that physical, financial and/or emo- tional abuse of older people in their city is something worth spending a little (about $80,000) of the taxpayers’ money on. ‘For over a year provincial health ministry officials have been giving the committee the run around. These officials have withheld informa- tion, ignored some requests for meetings with the group, tumed up at other meetings ill-prepared and made promises to take action — promises which have not been kept. At the same time, I see by the B.C. govern- ment’s flashy paper, B.C. News, that our elected officials have, in their wisdom, given: - — $40 million additional funding to subsidize the construction of rental housing. — $200,000 to each of the Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb ski clubs so that their members will be able to build brand new club houses. — $75,000 to a Chilliwack builder of recrea- tional aircraft kits. — $426,240 to the Mount Waddington Regional District so that folks there can get busy on a pruning, tree-spacing, brush-clearing and recreation-site construction project. — $8 million to a fund set up for the flood victims affected by last November's rains. — $225 million to the Highway’s Ministry for the widening of a 16-kilometer section of the Okanagan Connector. — $785,000 from lottery funds to help cover the costs of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Alaskan Highway — in 1992. — $235,309 to Gold River citizens to help Abuse program kicked around them upgrade the bleachers, changing rooms, showers and washrooms in their arena. — $577,667 to the Matsqui-Abbotsford Com- munity Service Society to cover the cost of a new multi-purpose building. — $500,000 to the Canada West Sports Train- ing Foundation. The Foundation wants to make Vernon recognized as a world class activity centre for world-class athletes. The provincial jocks are not the only people mentioned in B.C. News. The February issue has some advice for seniors. It says older people can improve their fitness through regular, progressive exercise. Physical activity can be enjoyable, invigorating and benefi- cial. Through its newspaper, the B.C. government suggests that seniors should consider setting up a home exercise program which would include climbing stairs, stretching exercises and brisk walking. I assume that some Victoria seniors who take this advice, and it’s good advice, will be better equipped to absorb physical abuse and thus be able to survive a bit longer. With luck they might even live long enough to take advantage of a local support program for abused elders, should one eventually be deemed important enough by the province — and if it can somehow find $80,000 somewhere in its very, very, very tight budget. If I was a member of the Victoria committee, I would try to figure a way of pointing out to the people in the health ministry what elder abuse is all about. I might even waltz down to the ministry offices, pick out the most senior official I could find, and cuff him or her across the mouth, slam him or her up against a wall and, when he or she had slid to the floor, direct a hard kick to the belly — or a bit lower down. But I’m not on the committee, damn it. Earth Day celebrations planned ANOTHER DAY WITH a title is just around the corer and all sorts of organizations are getting ready. Earth Day 1990 is a global event which celebrates our caring for all life, acknow- ledges our individual responsibility for the cur- rent environmental crisis and inspires action leading to the healing of our planet and ourselves. The big day is April 22 and its agenda is becoming crowded. Schools, including Sansbu- ry/McTavish Elementary will visit the Hartland _ landfill and learn about recycling. Trevor Harton Productions of Sidney is helping to organize an 8 p.m. benefit concert at the UVic Centre Auditori- um featuring Molly Stearn’s official Earth day song, Mother Earth, with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Shari Ulrich, Valdy and the Total Experience Gospel Choir. * * * STUDENT NURSE Joanne Marceaux got a boost from the Auxiliary to the Saanich Penin- sula Hospital last month with a cheque for $1,000. The annual scholarship winner hopes to graduate in the summer of 1991 and find a full-time posting at the hospital. * Kx A NEW 26-FOOT totem pole has been started for the University of Victoria by Salish carver and artist Charles Elliott of Brentwood Bay, It’s scheduled to be raised June 3 as part of the activities when the university hosts the 1990 Learned Societies Conference. The pole is being shaped from a 40-foot red cedar that was trucked to Brentwood in the first week of March. Elliott’s work can be seen in front of the Lau,welnew Tribal School in Brentwood. kK * WHAT EXTRA SAILING were we talking about last week? The Sidney-Annacortes ferry service operated by Washington State Ferries will actually remain at one-a-day in each direction. No additional daily sailings are planned until the summer schedule begins June 17. KKK 8 A WHOLE BOX OF GERANIUMS ended up gracing the yard of an Oakville Avenue resident last week after a member of the crew from Partners Film Company accidentally backed over a couple of daffodils. The crew was filming a television commercial in Sidney near the home when a crew member mis-parked. He was back in 20 minutes with a box of geraniums and apolo- gies, realtor Grant Stewart said. * x PERSONS, GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS or small businesses can be nominated for a CJVI radio Environment Watch Award, a press release says. The awards will be presented in October and candidates can be nominated by anyone. Winners will have cash awards donated to environmental organizations on their behalf. x * * WHILE GIVING BABIES a better start in the March 21 issue of The Review we got all the baby’s names right but goofed on mom. Glenda Hingley is the first international board certified lactation consultant on the Peninsula. She offers services to new mothers, focussed on proper breast feeding. * DRAPERIES ETC. *«UPHOLSTERY ANTIQUES 6655 TRUDEAU TERRACE BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C. OFF 1 0 FOR SENIORS ~ Pah Q ONTUESDAYS 11-10 PM. SUDNAY DINNER RESERVATIONS R 4 PM. - 10 PM. 7120 Wesi Saanich Rd. Aare AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES A FREE SERVICE TO EMPLOYERS & EMPLOYEES lf you are a reliable worker looking for work or are an employer looking for reliable employees in the following areas: x*farm labour landscaping * construction *« greenhouse labour *general labour on a full time, part time or casual basis, contact us at 2661 Douglas Street, Victoria, ee 382-7201, Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm. 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