OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2016 | ISSUE 99 FINANCE Understanding Risk RV LIFESTYLE California Gold Country HEALTH Important Health Tips TheCanary Islands Publication mail agreement no: 40063603
Protect your home and auto with an insurance plan designed for your lifestyle. Your world is unique… we insure it. Call us for a quote today 1-800-267-8000 Group Services Insurance Brokers Limited
Editor’s Message J. Ross Quigley Editor CSANews© is published four times a year and is Copyright Summer 2016 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. 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 Dr. Robert MacMillan David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Robert Wiersema Rex Vogel Merv Magus Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox Shari Darling James Dolan Barb & Ron Kroll Illustrator Bob Slack Jim Sherb Ron Steeves Karen Huestis John Foster Gerry Brissenden James Leroux Nancy Hopcraft Ted Popel Michael MacKenzie Wallace Weylie President First Vice-President Second Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Past President Director Director Director Executive Director Legal Counsel CSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Editor CSA Editor Vice President Art Director Director of Sales Account Manager Director of Operations J. Ross Quigley Bob Slack Chris Bradbury Peter Prusa Neville B. Levin Fran Castricone Paula McGovern SUMMER 2016 | ISSUE 99 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS I try to nurture some of the child left in me at the fine age of 71 and watching fireworks is one of many things that can still give me that sense of awe and wonder. My older self relates more to the fireworks of the British exit from the European Union and the similar fireworks of the Clinton-Trump battle for the U.S. presidency. I should probably mention the fireworks of “Climate Change,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Gun Control,” the “LGBT Agenda” and “Immigration Reform,” and the list goes on. But the old expression “May you live in interesting times” is truly applicable to the current world in which we live. It is thought that this expressionmay have originated in China as a curse and, perhaps, there is some truth to that thought. But real fireworks are when they blow up things in the sky with magical patterns and amazing colours and sonic booms. Where people scream “Wow” and “Amazing” and they actually clap in appreciation of the spectacular light show. Now that is what I really want – an escape to the wonder of childhood through an adult’s eyes, and an alltoo-brief respite from our complex world. Should you ever get the opportunity to attend an international fireworks competition in which different countries present their skills at fireworks, accompanied by classical music, just go! We are Canadians! We are very, very lucky to live here! And, although a little belated… Happy Canada Day! CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 3
Table of Contents Features SUMMER 2016 | ISSUE 99 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION 18 24 The Canary Islands Find year-round warmth and a captivating culture in subtropical Europe. By Barb and Ron Kroll Eureka: Exploring California Gold Country Continue your tour of the Gold Country and explore Amador County. by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 27 32 Departments 36 Health Pulse 37 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 38 Golf by David McPherson 40 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 41 Book Review by Robert Wiersema 42 Food & Drink by Shari Darling 44 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 46 CSA Application 47 Benefits 48 Fun & Games 49 Grins & Giggles 50 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 8 Bird Talk 10 President’s Message 11 Government Relations Report 12 Insurance by Ross Quigley 14 Canada Clubs 15 Special Events 16 Profile by Donna Carter 17 Opinion by Michael Coren Understanding “risk” What risk is, what it isn’t and why it matters to your portfolio. by James Dolan 10 Important Health Tips for Snowbirds Planning and preparing for your trip carefully and living a safe and healthy lifestyle. by Dr. Robert MacMillan Finance Health CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 5
SnowbirdAlert Errors in your credit report could be a sign of fraud Many Canadians work hard to keep their finances on solid ground and do their best to make smart decisions when budgeting and saving. Your credit report is a powerful source of facts about your finances, so why not make it a practice to review your own report regularly? Consider it to be your own economic health checkup. Credit reporting agencies TransUnion Canada and Equifax Canada generate reports when you apply for credit. These reports include information about your bank accounts, your credit usage, whether you have declared bankruptcy and your debt payment history. They also include information about the people and the companies who have made inquiries about your creditworthiness – which represents the degree to which you are in a financial position that is sound enough to warrant receiving credit from a lender. You should review your credit report for any mistakes. False information about your credit history may indicate that someone is using your name to fraudulently obtain and use credit. If there are errors on your report, ask the credit reporting agencies to make a correction. You may be able to speed up the process by contacting the lender yourself about the error. Ask the lender to verify its files and provide the credit reporting agencies with updated information. Contact TransUnion Canada or Equifax Canada and ask them to put a fraud alert on your file if you feel that you have been a victim of fraud. The alert will tell lenders to contact you and confirm your identity before they approve any credit or loan applications. You also have the right to dispute any information on your credit report that you believe is wrong. “Any incorrect information may give lenders the wrong impression of your creditworthiness,” says Lucie Tedesco, commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). “You could be turned down for a loan or receive a higher interest rate than you should. Even errors such as a misspelled name or a wrong address could cause problems when you apply for credit.” More information about the importance of checking your credit report is available on the FCAC website at itpaystoknow. gc.ca. www.newscanada.com Tips and safeguards for avoidingSCAMS! ■■ Keep all personal documents in a secure place. If you don’t need them, do not carry your birth certificate, passport or SIN card. ■■ Never tell another person your PIN or account passwords and take care to cover your hand when entering your PIN, both at bank machines and when making store purchases. ■■ Safely dispose of old bills and statements – shredding is best. ■■ Do not click on pop-up windows or respond to e-mails, open attachments or go to Website links sent by people you do not know. Your bank or credit union will not send you anything by e-mail unless you ask them to. ■■ Never give out your credit card, bank account or personal information to someone over the phone, at the door, or over the Internet unless you know the person or organization you are dealing with, or you made the contact. ■■ Do not sign an agreement or contract to buy anything without giving yourself time to think it over. If a salesperson insists that an “offer” is “time-limited” and you must decide at that moment, it is probably better not to buy. ■■ Be suspicious if someone you don’t know asks you to send them money or a cheque, or to return money which they “accidentally” sent you. ■■ Before hiring someone or agreeing to have work done on your home, ask for proof of identity and references…and check them. CBSA Entry/Exit InitiativeUPDATE Currently, Canada and the U.S. exchange biographic entry information on third-country nationals, permanent residents of Canada who are not U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. who are not Canadian citizens, at land ports of entry. Both countries securely share entry records of approximately 16,000 to 19,000 travellers (non-U.S. and non-Canadian citizens) daily, with no impact on the traveller experience. No information is shared regarding Canadian citizens, U.S. citizens, Registered Indians or protected persons. In the future, both countries will exchange biographic entry data about all travellers, including Canadian and U.S. citizens, at land ports of entry. Biographic information includes first name, middle name, last name, date of birth, nationality, sex, document type, document number and name of the country that issued the travel document. In addition to the biographic information that Canada and the U.S. currently collect on travellers at ports of entry, the date and time of entry, as well as the port through which the traveller entered, will be exchanged as part of the Entry/Exit initiative. Government of Canada 6 | www.snowbirds.org
Easy Come. Easy Go. Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, stay connected with come-and-go flexibility. • TV: Premier TV includes hundreds of channels and exclusive local programming with Bay News 9, News 13, InfoMás, Bright House Sports Network, and NY1 News. • Internet: Choice of speeds – up to 300 Mbps • Phone: Unlimited nationwide calling within the U.S. and to Canada and Puerto Rico. When it’s time to return home, check out our great Seasonal Plans! Call 1-855-884-8587 or visit brighthouse.com/seasonal Interested in a Home Security solution? Visit brighthouse.com/homesecurity Serviceable areas only. Some restrictions apply. Products and price of equipment and services subject to change. Money-saving Seasonal plans for your Florida home. TV | INTERNET | PHONE HOME SECURITY AND CONTROL FL Lic# EF20001092
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, Just spent our first winter in Florida and left for home on March 31. Traffic leaving Florida on I-75 was extremely heavy and we were wondering if this was because we left on the last day of the month? If so, we may change our plan next year. Does anyone have more experience in this area that they can share? Marilyn Anderson Mitchell, ON Ed.: Change your plan for next year. The end of February, but especially the end of March and April are when hundreds of thousands of snowbirds are heading north, back to Canada and to their homes in the northern United States. Many rent by the month and these rentals usually run from the first of the month to the end of the month and, when finished, they all head home at the same time. I would leave three or four days after the end of any month, if that is convenient for you. Dear Bird Talk, Any further information about a rumour that Canadians who have property in the U.S. and stay for longer than four months in a calendar year are deemed to pay income tax, the same as an American citizen would? Also, any news about the visitor visa for Canadian seniors? Stan Smith Toronto, ON Ed.: Nonsense! Don’t believe any of these rumours. You can simply call the CSA lines and they will give you the real facts about most things and can provide an update regarding the snowbird visa, but that is already addressed later in this issue. Make sure that you file that 8840 form, every year. Dear Bird Talk, I recently read an article where a Canadian couple had to make a significant claim on their travel insurance. The insurance company then went after their in-province insurance company for a good portion of the claim. This reduced the total life claim available from the person’s normal health insurance. If the travel and health insurance companies were the same, it wouldn’t have affected the person’s life amount. This is called subrogation and I wonder if this tactic is used by Medipac? Donald Rose Salt Spring Island, B.C. Ed.: This is not a tactic, but a policy condition. When you buy a travel insurance policy, you assign your rights to the insurance company and they will then seek to recover payments (subrogations) from other insurers and other third parties. I am unaware of any travel policies in which these rights are waived. Medipac has very generous conditions for subrogation and will not subrogate against any amount less than $100,000 of your lifetime maximum. Other insurers may just take it and, in some cases, they may only subrogate over a $50,000 limit. Read your policy carefully! Dear Bird Talk, Would it be possible to file Form 8840 only after the IRS has noticed that you have gone above the 183-day threshold? How are they able to keep track of this? Would it be brought to your attention when you try to cross the border? Drew Bohonos Vancouver, B.C. Ed.: That’s a scary question. First, if you stay for longer than 183 days in the United States in any calendar year, you are considered a U.S. resident and, therefore, are subject to tax on your worldwide income! Period! If you stay for longer than three months per year on a regular basis, they can also deem you to be a U.S. resident for tax purposes. The way to avoid very unpleasant results is to file the Closer Connection Form 8840 by June 15 every year. There have been several cases involving B.C. residents in which hundreds of thousands of dollars became payable in U.S. taxes. Believe me, you do not want anything to be drawn to your attention at the border, and they do know much more than you expect. There is also a new reciprocal arrangement between Canada and the U.S. to share border-crossing data. Big Brother really is watching. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
If you are travelling for less than 41 days and you are under the age of 56, you do not have to complete sections A, C and D of this application. If you are uncertain of your answer to any of the medical questions, consult your doctor. A. ELIGIBILITY ✓Check Yes or No APPLICANT 1 YES NO APPLICANT 2 YES NO 1 Have you been diagnosed as having a terminal illness, been advised by a physician not to travel or do you have HIV, AIDS or AIDS-related complex? 1 YES NO YES NO TRAVEL EMERGENCY MEDICAL INSURANCE 2016 EARLY BIRD PLAN Must be postmarked on or before August 8, 2016 ACCOUNT NUMBER *123 4 5 6* BirdTalk 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: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, Wondering if someone could confirm the due date necessary to file a Form 8840. Mike Black ON Ed.: There does seem to be some confusion about this issue. For almost all snowbirds, the deadline is June 15 of the following year. For those few snowbirds who have employment income in the United States, you must file the Form 8840 prior to April 15, which is when U.S. tax returns are due. You should file every year. Dear Bird Talk, In reply to the letter about atrial fibrillation and the avoidance of foods containing vitamin K. The editorial reply has confused vitamin K with K-potassium. The former, vitamin K, encourages clotting (and should be avoided if you have AFib), while potassium (found in bananas) is good for the heart and blood pressure. Another food high in vitamin K which should be avoided with Afib is kale. Cliff Overton Comox, B.C. Ed.: You are absolutely correct and I was mistaken. It is the potassium in bananas that is helpful for my high blood pressure. Potassium is a chemical element known as “K” in the periodic table and is element # 19. Vitamin “K” is a compound found in some leafy vegetables and meats, cheeses and eggs. We received several excellent letters about this subject. Thank you. Paying your premium just got easier and more secure! Pay your premium online with your bank’s website or mobile app. Here’s how… 1. Complete your Early Bird Travel Insurance application and calculate your premium. 2. Log into your bank’s website andaddMEDIPACas a payee. 3. Enter your Medipac account number, found under the bar code on your application. 4. Pay your premium. 5. Send your completed application to Medipac. CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 9
President’s Message Bob Slack CSA President As we all know, Canadian summers don’t last long, that’s one of the reasons we’re snowbirds. Before long, it’s time to start planning our next winter in the sun. Despite the challenges which we faced this past winter with the declining value of the Canadian dollar, Canadian snowbirds continue to winter in their second homes. One of the best ways to prepare is by attending one of our annual Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations. This year, we will be touring throughout Ontario with stops inOrillia, Belleville, Nepean, Burlington, St. Catharines and Sarnia.These annual presentations are very popular and give us an opportunity to meet our members and prospective members, and to provide them with snowbird information and entertainment. As always, these shows are free and open to members and non-members alike, so feel free to bring a friend or neighbour. Please look elsewhere in this edition of themagazine for specific ticket information, dates and times. To all the members who have already renewed their CSA membership, a sincere thank you. It’s hard to believe, but we now havemore than 100,000members. We have come a long way since 1992, when we began with 1092 members. If you have yet to renew your membership, I would urge you to do so. It’s as simple as mailing us your renewal notice, visiting our website (www.snowbirds.org) or picking up the phone and calling the office. Thanks also to all of you who have made donations to our Special Action Fund. The Special Action Fund is a vital resource on which we rely to fund our advocacy activities. Every dollar donated is held in a separate account that is independent of the daily operating budget of the association. We utilize the fund when the CSA does not have time to seek donations, and must engage immediately in government lobbying and consultation. The association is currently accepting applications and resumés frommembers wishing to serve on the CSA board of directors. The new board will be sworn in at the Annual General Meeting in Lakeland, Florida in January 2017. The nominating committee has been approved by the board and will be meeting in August to select a slate of candidates. I would like to wish all applicants the very best of luck. Unfortunately the JOLT Act, which contains our Canadian Retiree Visa, is currently stuck in Congress (along with everything else these days) with 111 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. Of those 111 co-sponsors, 57 are Democrats and 54 are Republicans. Not much is expected to happen on this or, frankly, many other pieces of legislation between now and the congressional elections this November. Our next move is to spend time lobbying congressional representatives immediately following the November elections in the so-called “lame duck” session of Congress. A “lame duck” session of Congress is one that takes place after the election for the next Congress has been held, but before the current Congress has reached the end of its constitutional term. Any meeting of Congress that occurs between a congressional election in November and the following January 3 is considered a lame duck session. The essential idea is that, after the elections, members are either elected or lose their seats. The benefit – particularly among those who have lost – is that the political considerations of getting re-elected are largely absent. This tends to allow more representatives to vote their conscience on pieces of legislation, as opposed to toeing the party line on contentious pieces of legislation in the time which they have left in office. These days in Washington, it seems as if every piece of legislation is considered to be contentious. As always, we will keep you posted regarding our progress. Congratulations to the newly elected premier of Manitoba, The Hon. Brian Pallister. As you can read in Jim Sherb’s Government Relations Report, ourManitobamembers have some ongoing concerns and we look forward tomeeting with the premier and attempting to get these resolved before the next winter snowbird travel season. According to a recent report in the Associated Press, some scientists now believe that people may have migrated south from Alaska, all the way to Florida, some 16,000 years ago. The hypothesis is that many of them may have migrated south for the winters and followed the mastodons back north for the summers, making them the first snowbirds! It’s a shame that golf was still thousands of years away from being invented. Have a great summer. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Jim Sherb First Vice-President In 2013, after a great deal of work on the part of the association, the Florida law requiring foreign drivers to possess an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to legally operate a motor vehicle was officially repealed. Almost immediately following this victory, we learned that we were facing a similar problem in the state of Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services: “Non-U.S. citizens holding a valid foreign driver’s license are allowed to drive in the state of Georgia for tourism or business purposes. If the foreign license is not printed in English the driver must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or similar translation issued in accordance with the provision of the Convention on Road Traffic, any similar treaty, international agreement, or reciprocal agreement between the United States and a foreign nation. Non-U.S. citizens must obtain an IDP from their home country prior to coming to the U.S.” So what is an International Driving Permit? Essentially, it is simply an English translation of a foreign licence. The intent is to assist local law enforcement officers in determining whether a person is legally operating a motor vehicle. Obviously, if you can’t read the licence, that is going to create all sorts of problems. Economic arguments resonate strongly with elected officials and we were hopeful that they would be helpful in obtaining an exemption for Quebec snowbirds. We had many discussions with Georgia officials and it took a great deal of work, but I am pleased to announce that we were ultimately successful. As of January 1, 2017, the requirement for non-English driver’s licence holders to possess an International Driving Permit while operating a vehicle in the state of Georgia will be rescinded. From this point on, Georgia will only require Quebec travellers to present their passport and provincial driver’s licence if prompted. Again, I appreciate that this is not a perfect solution prior to 2017 but, once it is implemented, it should provide a permanent solution to the problem. On behalf of the CSA, I would like to thank Georgia State Representative and Chairman of the Motor Vehicles Committee Tom Rice and Georgia State Representative Valerie Clark. Without their assistance, this would not have happened. I would also like to thank the CSA’s Director of Francophone Affairs Jim Leroux for pushing hard to get this resolved. On April 19, 2016, Manitoba voters went to the polls and elected a Progressive Conservativemajority government, thus ending 17 years of NewDemocratic Party government rule. We will give Premier Brian Pallister and his government a little time to get to know their way around and then we will be knocking on their door in short order. On April 1, 2013, as a result of our advocacy efforts, the Manitoba government increased the length of time for which residents may be temporarily absent fromManitoba to a maximum of seven months in a 12-month period. This extensionmadeManitoba the fourth province in Canada to permit absences of up to seven months. That was a big win for us and we are grateful to the previous NDP government for taking our concerns seriously and making this change. Unfortunately, Manitobans who wish to be away for longer than three months still need to inform the government of their expected dates of departure and return. Upon this notification, they will receive a term certificate confirming coverage from Manitoba Health. Manitoba is the only province in Canada that requires residents to make such a notification. It’s a real irritant and we hope to get this resolved with the incoming government. While summer is a time for many of us to concentrate less on politics, CSA staff members are hard at work putting together the sixth edition ofThe Canadian Travellers’ Report Card. This publication is a national evaluation of federal, provincial and territorial government policies of importance to travelling Canadians. We research these policies and then give each government an opportunity to comment on our work before it is published. After receiving this feedback, we retain an independent consultant to evaluate our findings and assign a grade to each category. The final report is then made available to our members, governments throughout Canada and the media. It is a very important tool which we employ when we sit down with our elected officials and we strive to keep it as current and relevant as possible. Look for its release at Snowbird Extravaganza in January of 2017. Have a safe and relaxing summer. CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 11
Insurance J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. First let me say “Thank you” to all who will complete our survey in this issue. The answers help us track trends and patterns of our snowbird community so that we can be more responsive to your needs. This has been an expensive year for snowbirds due to the nasty drop in the Canadian dollar. U.S. medical costs soared far higher than inflation, partially as a result of the so-called Obamacare introduction. Although a wonderful idea to move toward a more Canadian-like system, the highly touted medical care co-ops have just not worked. In fact, half are already bankrupt or in liquidation. U.S. citizens who are forced to pay for their health-care plans are also having to choose giant deductibles to be able to afford them. Of course, they then cannot afford to pay that big deductible when their claim occurs, either. Most hospitals are taking tens of millions of dollars in bad debt write-offs and they need more money to survive. An easy target is the insured people from out of the state, or from Canada or Europe, since we don’t vote. That ends up being you and me. Prices soar and insurance costs soar. The Canadian dollar seems to have settled down in the $0.75 area, which means that each U.S. dollar costs us $1.33. Many people do not understand this difference totally but, if you give someone a loonie, they will only give you back $0.75 USD. Everyone understands that. If you want to pay a $1.00 USDmedical bill, it will cost you $1.33 CAD. This is all at the exact same exchange rate just looking at it from both sides. It’s time for a commercial – Use the CSA’s Currency Exchange Program – it works and it saves! But back to the dollar!The general outlook for the upcoming snowbird season is positive. Most economists and particularly the banks, are forecasting exchange rates to remain at about the $0.75 level or slightly lower. It appears that the damage has already been done and absorbed into the system. Canada’s commodity economy is strengthening and oil is well off its lows, which bodes well for the future. Those of you who owned gold and silver stocks during the past few months are ecstatic with your incredible gains. Stock prices that doubled and tripled are common. I hope that you were there to benefit from this huge upswing in gold and silver prices. I believe that we can go even higher from here as we are far below the metals’ highs, which are close to double current prices. Our insurance prices have experienced very modest increases, but we have increased your Loyalty Credit by 1% to help offset this. Not to harp on this, but we are seeing very high claims for damaged lungs. COPD is the normal culprit and, if you still smoke, please get a laser treatment to help try to quit. It worked for me and most of our employees, as well. They basically just shine a light on you and it seems to kill your desire to smoke for about four weeks. Then, make sure that you get the free booster shot (lights) at the four-week point. It IS a miracle! Cost is about $100 – which you will save in a week – and it will give you lots more life to live. The occasional cigar will not kill you if youmust have a little decadence in your life, and we do not count that as smoking for the purpose of our smoking surcharge. And, once again, I should caution you about being careful to avoid falls both here and on holiday. Early Bird is here – the real one, of course. Look for the CSA and Medipac logos before buying. We are always flattered when other insurers try to copy features of our Medipac program, but we are not happy when they use our trademarked words “Early Bird Travel Insurance” to describe their inferior products. This is an attempt to mislead you, so what can you expect when you have a claim? Due to the dislocation in the snowbird market last year as a result of the dollar, we have decided to retain your prior discounts if you were unable to travel; you will see this reflected in your covering letter. If you have any questions you can, of course, call our information lines. The last item to address is the possible postal strike. If you are reading this in early to mid-July, everything is fine. If later, rest assured that we will protect your Early Bird pricing until the Post Office returns to normal. Happy summer! P.S. Please see our Bird Talk section to learn about our new direct payment option directly from your bank account. 12 | www.snowbirds.org
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Get your very own CSA graphic Licence Plate! Only $82.15 Call the CSA at 1-800-265-3200
Canada Clubs Hello again! It has been a long time since I wrote my last article. I did mention that I had moved to a place calledThe Villages; I am sure you all thought that I hadmoved to the sticks. Well, The Villages has more than 120,000 people living there. There are three Town Squares each with a pavilion where, every night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., they have free entertainment; you can either sit and enjoy it or you can get up and dance to the music. There is everything that you could want in the Villages. There are 60 par three golf courses and 9 championship courses. There is pickle ball, Bocce, senior soccer, swimming, tennis, card games and everything else you can think of. There is even a ROMEOs club – Retired Old Men Eating Out. Also, there is every kind of shopping that you could want. Most people drive around on their golf carts. I go to the supermarket on my golf cart to do my shopping and also to go to the theatre. You can check out The Villages Florida online. Instead of having a Canadian Club, they have a very active Loonies and Toonies club. In April, President Bob Slack, WallyWeylie and I were invited to speak to the members; this was followed by a dance. I had a large growth on my spine and had it operated on in June 2015. I lost the use of my legs and was in hospital and rehab for 101 days. I am now able to get around with the use of a walker and hope to be able to use just a cane very soon. I drive past the golf courses every day on my golf cart and hope that, eventually, I will be able to play again. This is all for now, I hope to see many of you at the Snowbird Extravaganza and I look forward to once again speaking at Canadian Clubs. Don’t forget, if you would like one of our directors to come and speak at your Canadian Club, all you have to do is call the office at 1-800-265-3200. It is free and you will be updated about the work of the association. Keep healthy! Gerry Gerry’s Report from the Villages Gerry Brissenden CSA Past President The phone number for placemat orders is 1-877-888-2505 Oh, say canyou see by thedawn'searly light What soproudlywehailedat the twilight's lastgleaming? Whosebroad stripesandbright stars thru theperilous fight, O'er the rampartswewatchedwere sogallantly streaming? And the rocket's redglare, thebombsbursting inair, Gaveproof thru thenight thatour flagwas still there. Oh, saydoes that star-spangled banneryetwave O'er the landof the freeand thehomeof thebrave? STARSPANGLEDBANNER OCanada! Ourhomeandnative land! Truepatriot love inall thy sons command. Withglowinghearts we see thee rise, TheTrueNorth strongand free! From farandwide, OCanada, we standonguard for thee. Godkeepour land gloriousand free! OCanada, we standonguard for thee. OCanada, we standonguard for thee. OCANADA! Arizona California Florida LakelandCenter Lakeland Florida McAllenConventionCenter McAllen Texas Toorderplacemats foryour social function,call theCSA/Medipacplacemat lineat 1-877-888-2505orvisit www.snowbirds.org. HaveaGreatTimeToday! SeeyouatanExtravaganzanearyou! MesaConventionCenter Mesa Arizona TheVoiceofTravellingCanadians. Ifyou'renotamember,becomeone! 1-800-265-3200 www.snowbirds.org Yourworld isunique. We insure it. 1-800-267-8000 Enjoy the freedomof the snowbird lifestyle. Callus…beforeyou travelagain! 1-888-MEDIPAC www.medipac.com Securecross-borderbanking. Preferred rates.$0-5 transfer fees. 1-800-265-3200 www.SnowbirdExchange.com Please provide at least 2 weeks for delivery CSA/Medipac Placemats Order Now! ●●Visit us online at www.snowbirds.org ●●Send an e-mail to placemats@medipac.com They are FREE and make wonderful table accessories for your Canadian event. To get your supply of placemats, choose one of the following options: The following topics will be covered: •Who we are •Lobbying the federal, provincial, territorial and U.S. governments •Benefits of being a CSA member •Trip planning •Border crossing issues •How to count days in the U.S. •Forms – 8840 and W-8BEN •Travel medical insurance •Canadian Retiree Visa •Question & answer period ATTENTION ALL SNOWBIRDS! To arrange a FREE presentation in your community, please email the CSA at csastaff@snowbirds.org Canadian Snowbird Association Directors are available for presentations in your local communities CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION 180 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario Canada M3B 2T5 1-800-265-3200 csastaff@snowbirds.org www.snowbirds.org 14 | www.snowbirds.org
• SEP • 13 Tue ORILLIA ONTARIO Orillia Opera House 20 Mississaga St W Box Office: 705-326-8011 or 1-888-ORILLIA www.orilliaoperahouse.ca • SEP • 15 Thur BELLEVILLE ONTARIO Empire Theatre 321 Front St. Box Office: 613-969-0099 ext 1 www.theempiretheatre.com • SEP • 16 Fri NEPEAN ONTARIO Centrepointe Theatre 101 Centrepointe Dr. Box Office: 613-580-2700 or 1-866-752-5231 www.centrepointetheatre.com • SEP • 19 Mon BURLINGTON ONTARIO Burlington Performing Arts Centre 440 Locust St. NO TICKETS REQUIRED • SEP • 20 Tues ST. CATHARINES ONTARIO FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Partridge Hall 250 St. Paul Street Box Office: 905-688-0722 or toll-free 1-855-515-0722 firstontariopac.ca • SEP • 22 Thur SARNIA ONTARIO Imperial Theatre 168 Christina St. N Box Office: 519-344-7469 www.imperialtheatre.net SnowbirdEvents Michelle Wright John McDermott PICK UP YOUR TICKET TODAY! For those events which are ticketed, FREE* tickets will be available at theatre box offices starting Friday, July 15, 2016. Tickets will be available on the day of the event provided that seating is still available. *Service charges may apply to telephone and Internet orders. We have arranged a spectacular line up of entertainment for this year’s Snowbird Lifestyle Presentation tour that will appear in six cities across Ontario. Appearing in all six cities: Country music superstar, Michelle Wright Scottish Canadian Tenor, John McDermott Events from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. doors open at 6 p.m. Schedule subject to change. FREE CONCERT CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 15
Profile by Donna Carter At 91 years old, Alfred “Al” Nelman is a role model for people of any age. His unwavering commitment to a keep-fit, livelong philosophy has rewarded him in many ways, including remarkable mobility, physical well-being and mental acuity. Living in Windsor, Ontario, this motivated nonagenarian is a multi-award-winning race walker, long-time civic activist, health proponent, exercise enthusiast and a SecondWorldWar RAF veteran. Today, his life revolves aroundmaintaining his fitness regimen, staying positive, keeping local politicians on their toes and, last but not least, competing in race-walking competitions in both Canada and the United States. Born in London, England in 1924, it’s fair to say that the young Nelman never once thought that he would one day become a repeat medalist in the sport of race walking. In fact, it has been a long and winding route that brought him to where he is today. Shortly after the Second World War broke out, the then-18-year-old enlisted with the RAF, becoming a wireless operator supporting the British intelligence network in both Europe and India. With the war over, Nelman eventually emigrated to Canada with opportunity on his mind. Arriving in Ontario, he spent a short period in Toronto before ending up inWindsor, where he has lived ever since. Here, he spent several years in business management before turning to real estate, first as a salesman and later as a broker. Avoiding the “all work and no play syndrome,” Al took up playing competitive squash and, by his own admission, was very good at it. He played until age 65 before being stopped in his tracks by a major health issue. A blood vessel in his heart burst and, following emergency surgery, it was touch and go as to whether he would survive. He did and what happened next eventually led him to the sport of race walking. As part of his post-surgery rehab, the simple exercise of walking was recommended and it wasn’t long before Nelman joinedW.R.A.C. (Walkers & Runners Around the County of Essex). An avid member of the club, race walking quickly became his passion. His first-ever race occurred inWindsor on a frigid April day – a contest for which Al was convinced he was ready. “The assembly of competitors were all dressed in their stylish outfits, bending and stretching as they readied themselves for the start gun,” he said. “I didn’t have a shiny outfit and I didn’t care. I’ll show them, I thought.” It was not to be. Both his pride and confidence took a heavy hit when he finished dead last. The defeat, however, lit a fire in Nelman’s belly that fueled a desire to do better and become a race-walking champion. To put things right, he joined a club in the cross-border city of Detroit, where he signed up for race-walking training with Olympian Frank Alongi. After learning the proper form specific to the sport, success soon came to pass. His first win was recorded at the 2012 St. George, Utah, Huntsman World Senior Games, where he not only won gold in his age group (85-89), he set a record as well. There have been many such wins ever since. He won again in Utah in 2014, together with several other wins including the 5k-metre race at the 2013 U.S. National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio. Last year, racing in the 90-94 age group, he again took gold and set a new record in the U.S.A. Track and Field Masters Championships in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Al’s scheduled races this year include a 5k-metre competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Closing in on his 92nd birthday, Nelman admits that he has no intention of slowing down. “I work extremely hard at maintaining my fitness level,” he said. “I go to the gym every single day, where I’ve settled into a routine of weightlifting and exercise machines. I also race walk two 5ks a week.” Various studies have shown that fitness is a key to long life and Nelman is certainly a poster person for such a claim. “It’s never too late to start and tremendous strides can be made,” he said. “It’s a mental deal, so you have to want to do it. To me, it’s mind over matter. Even baby steps can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be race walking.” Physical fitness seems to have spilled over into Nelman’s attitude about keeping mentally engaged. He is well known in Windsor as one of the city’s chief political activists. “I started to pay attention and get involved when I realized that politicians were not always doing what seemed like the right thing,” he said. “I make frequent presentations to city council on issues I am concerned about.” Neither does Nelman limit his activism to the political arena. Not long ago, he got into a public dust-up with VirginMobile over the telephone company’s late payment policy. Whatever his motives, this nonagenarian who claims that he never thinks about his age is living a long and productive life – thanks, he says, to simply keeping fit, active and involved. AGE IS JUST A NUMBER An elder Ontario athlete doesn’t just talk the talk – he walks the walk. 16 | www.snowbirds.org
Opinion Anti-Semitism: the hatred of Jewish people merely because of who they are. It’s obscene, dark, multi-faceted, complex in origin and impossible to properly define in a column but, as I say, it simply will not die. Its earlier form was religious, its more modern was racial, and now it has become political. In Europe in particular, Jew-hatred has been enabled by the debate around Israel and Palestine and here is where the discussion becomes acutely difficult…but absolutely essential: isolating and condemning the anti-Semite, but acknowledging and allowing the concerned critic of Israeli policy. In Britain the Labour Party, the official opposition and in government for decades, has been experiencing internal paroxysms as it investigates and sometimes expels members, some of them relatively senior, for comments about Jews that go far beyond anti-Zionism. In Canada, it may well be that the post-Mulcair NDP will have its own challenges, with the left sometimes losing its sense of balance over the Middle East. So how do we know, how should we respond and how do we react to the irrational? The first reality we need to embrace is that the last people who should be held responsible for anti-Semitism are the Palestinians. In spite of the contrived narrative around the repugnant Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1930s and 40s and his support for Hitler, the vast majority of Palestinians had absolutely nothing to do with the European genocide of the Jews. The anti-Semitic lunacy that culminated in the Holocaust was, to the shame of the church, a gruesome mingling of perverted Christianity, forest tribalism and political instability. Remember that for most Palestinians, the Jews were not victims begging simply to be left alone but strong, determined, bellicose young pioneers who wanted Palestine as their reborn homeland. A Palestinian hating Israelis is nothing at all like a moronic fascist hating Jews, and to confuse the two is unfair to Palestinians and dilutes the sheer horror of authentic anti-Semitism. While we should absolutely understand Palestinian agony, however, it’s a little more challenging to simply forgive some of the hysterical statements made by Europeans and North Americans. Whatever may have been done in the name of Zionism, the reality is that Israel was not some colonial or academic project but, to a large extent, an act of desperation by a people who had worked to be accepted in Germany, Poland, Russia and pretty much everywhere else. It’s simply too facile to condemn Israel without at least some empathy with the Jewish experience. But then, of course, we have the downright Jew-haters using Palestine as an excuse to perpetuate their racism. There aren’t as many of these crazed monomaniacs as some would have us believe, but they are certainly out there. They should be exposed by everyone, whatever their views on the Middle East. But in dismissing the racists, it’s important not to demonize those who have no hostility to Jews but who do believe that Israel acts unjustly and that the Palestinians have both an historic and contemporary grievance. Nor can it be denied that for decades, the label of antiSemite was thrown at pretty much anyone who criticized Israel. It was a short-sighted and unethical ploy and was so overused that today, tragically, the accusation is sometimes ignored even when entirely appropriate. It’s a dilemma. Pakistanis who have no knowledge of Israel or the Arab world screaming at Jews out of a misguided sense of Islamic solidarity, while saying nothing when Pakistan enforces its vile blasphemy laws. American Christian Zionists applauding every Israeli action out of an obsession with the end times, but dismissing the cries of fellow Christians who are Palestinian. White leftists comparing Israelis to Nazis, but admiring Iran even though it murders young gay men. And so on. Paradox, blood-thick confusion, hypocrisy, inconsistency and exploitation. The Arab rulers continue to oppress, the world powers continue to fight wars vicariously and Israel does pretty much what it wants to do. Yet the Palestinians continue to suffer and ordinary Israelis continue to wonder why they can’t just put down their guns and party. If there is to be genuine peace in the Middle East and if the stain of anti-Semitism is to be wiped from the map, people of goodwill from all sides have to come together. God willing it will happen. But, in all honesty, it won’t be at all easy. with Michael Coren CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 17
Travel Located at the same latitude as Florida, Spain’s Canary Islands are closer to Morocco than they are to Madrid. The archipelago boasts an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. Lanzarote’s volcanic landscapes, La Gomera’s verdant cloud forests, Fuerteventura’s golden beaches, Tenerife’s yacht-filled marinas and Gran Canaria’s multi-hued buildings with Moorish-style balconies exemplify its diversity. Because no two islands are alike, we wanted to explore as many as possible. We didn’t want to move luggage from one hotel to another, nor did we want to wait for flights and ferries among the sevenmajor islands. We also looked for alternatives to renting cars on each island. Canary Islands cruises vary substantially. Many ships depart from Britain, Spain or Portugal, stopping at several European ports before reaching one, two or three islands in the Canaries. While searching for an exclusive Canary Islands cruise, we found one on the website of GLP Worldwide. This Markham, Ontario tour operator represents Variety Cruises, a Greek line. In 2016, USA Today readers voted Variety as the best boutique cruise line in the world. Our eight-day round trip on Variety Cruises’ Harmony V embarked in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The 25-cabin ship looks like a private yacht. At each port of call, we had three options. We could stay on board, sunbathe or read books on the deck, chat with other passengers in the bar or enjoy the mini-spa. Alternatively, we could go for walks, arrange our own tours with a taxi or take Harmony V’s optional shore excursions. We did all three. Find year-round warmth and a captivating culture in subtropical Europe The Canary Islands Story and Photos by Barb and Ron Kroll 18 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel Were the Canaries named after yellow birds? On Gran Canaria, we joined a Variety Cruises’ tour of Las Palmas. “Don’t assume that the Canaries were named after yellow songbirds,” said our guide Nina as we admired several bronze dog sculptures in the Old Town. Legend claims that when the Spaniards conquered the islands in 1483, they called them “land of thecani” (Latin for dog) after encountering the original inhabitants with large dogs. Over the centuries, the name evolved to Canary. “This is a myth,” said Nina. “The name actually came from the Canarii people of North Africa who settled here. These dog sculptures depict European breeds, not Canary Islands’ dogs.” We walked along cobblestone streets bordered by old mansions with hand-carved pine balconies. The Old Town looks much like it did when Christopher Columbus stopped in Las Palmas on his way to the New World. Columbus House, the residence of the first governors, is now a museum about the explorer. Street signs point to other attractions, including the cathedral, town hall, theatre and Hermitage San Antonio Abad. According to legend, Columbus prayed at this bell-topped shrine before his voyage to America. Our February arrival in Las Palmas coincided with the final day of Carnival (the third-largest in the world after the Carnivals in Rio and Santa Cruz de Tenerife). We previewed one of the elaborate costumes when a participant visited the Old Town with a photographer. Garbed in a sequined dress with a flowing blue feather cape, she wore a towering hat and blue eye makeup enhanced with rhinestones. Before leaving the historical quarter, we viewed dazzling displays of fresh fruit, vegetables and bags of spices in the indoor market. A vendor offered us samples of the sweetest oranges that we’ve ever tasted. Our tour continued by bus to Teror, home to the Our Lady of the Pines Basilica. We strolled along Royal Street, also called Balcony Street, because its pink, yellow, green and blue homes feature carved pine balconies. Nina explained that Canarian architecture was a mix of Spanish, Portuguese andMoorish styles because the owners hired foreign architects. Before returning to Las Palmas, we stopped in Santa Brigida. At its market, we shopped for local wines and sampled Canary Islands’ cheeses and pastries before our cruise continued to Los Cristianos in South Tenerife. Harmony V docked the next morning near a marina filled with yachts and fishing boats. Vasileios Panagiotou, our ship’s affable captain, gave us walking directions through the resort area. 1. Hermitage San Antonio Abad where Columbus prayed in 1492 2. Columbus House, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 3. Flower stand in Santa Brigida market 4. Fruit and vegetable shop in Old Town indoor market 5. Carnival costume 6. Balcony Street or Royal Street with coloured buildings and balconies in Teror Bronze dogs sculptures in the Old Town 1 2 3 6 4 5 CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 19
Travel Beaches galore Flower and palm-lined walkways joined one beach to the next. Playa de Los Cristianos is the closest beach to the marina. The wide stretch of sand is popular with families. Like Pied Pipers, two buskers attracted children by making giant bubbles above the walkway encircling the beach. The kids gleefully jumped up and down to burst the floating iridescent globules. On the opposite side of the marina, Playa de las Vistas has a very different personality. Along the long beach, you can rent lounge chairs and blue umbrellas and enjoy massages in a tent. A sign described the short-finned pilot whales and dolphins that inhabit the protected coastal waters. Parents with baby strollers, dog walkers, hand-holding couples, people on motorized wheelchairs, cyclists and rollerbladers enjoyed the balmy weather from a tiled pedestrian walkway along the beach. From park benches, we viewed beach volleyball and elaborate sandcastles. Opposite the beach, cafés and shops sold liquors, beachwear, massages and manicures. At Playa del Camisón, sunbathers relaxed on lounge chairs under thatched umbrellas on the crescent beach. Near Playa de las Américas, a resort known for its hotels, water sports and nightlife, we watched surfers riding the waves. Billboards displayed restaurant menus for tapas, paella and sangria. Beach bars enticed patrons with mojitos to go. On the way back to Los Cristianos port, we walked along a breakwater painted with an undersea mural of fish, sea urchins and a coral reef. The walkway offered great views of the marina and Los Cristianos before we departed for the next island, La Gomera. When we arrived, a spectacular rainbow arched over the town of Valle Gran Rey. The town of 4,200 people is very safe and easy to see on foot. In one day, we walked from the port through the municipality’s six districts and returned back to the ship along the road bordering the Atlantic. Canary-yellow flowers Each district radiated a unique personality. Palm trees lined the road through Vueltas. Cats slept next to potted jade plants, canary-yellow hibiscus blossoms and cascading pink bougainvillea in narrow alleyways between houses. Artisan shops, restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries attracted visitors and locals. Vueltas merged into Borbalán. We admired a yellow, tileroofed building with a wooden balcony. Small plantations of banana trees, laden with clumps of fruit, grew between buildings. From the turning circle where one branch of the road goes to San Sebastian, the whitewashed houses of La Calera fronted a mountain like a pile of giant sugar cubes. Walking up the road, we discovered a beautiful white chapel crowned with bells and a cross. After a downhill walk, we arrived at the black sand beaches of La Playa district. Even though it was mid-February, the temperature was warm enough for sunbathers. The road continued back to the port and theHarmony V. That evening, our cruise co-ordinator offered passengers glasses of pale-yellow, semi-sweet Platé banana wine, made in the Canary Islands. The next day, we visited San Sebastian on a shore excursion from the ship. The 600-year-old capital city is home to 12,000 people, half of the population of La Gomera. We sauntered along cobblestone streets to Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Artists painted the interior frescoes in the mid-18th century. From a nearby well, Christopher Columbus collected water for his three ships before he crossed the Atlantic in 1492. Columbus was supposed to stay on La Gomera for four days. Legend claims that he had a love affair with his widowed landlady, so he stayed for one month. Casa Colón is now a museum that commemorates his visit. Inside the courtyard, our guide Meike pointed out a dragon tree with sword-like leaves. “The sap turns red when it’s exposed to oxygen,” she said. (Called dragon’s blood, it was historically used to heal wounds.) 1. Yachts and fishing boats in marina 2. Children play with bubbles on walkway by Playa de Los Cristianos 3. Pedestrian walkway in Playa de las Vistas 4. Strolling along cobblestone street towards Our Lady of the Assumption Church in San Sebastian 1 2 3 4 Viewing dragon tree in courtyard of Casa Colon in San Sebastian, La Gomera 20 | www.snowbirds.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx