Grey-Bruce Boomers Spring 2023

A FREE magazine for adults 50+ 

SPRING 2023 — Volume 10, Issue 1 

TRAVEL 

Surf’s up 

in Hawaii 

So much to do in the 

50th U.S. state 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 

Sexuality 

after 60 

Intimacy no longer 

a taboo subject 

Saving a 

BUCKET LIST 

WAR RELIC 

Local resident 

helps restore 

battle-tested tank 

FREE!

FROM THE PUBLISHER 

We’ve officially made through the darkest days of the year, in what turned 

out to be a pretty grey and drab winter in Grey and Bruce counties. 

Now, though, the sun is setting at 6 p.m. or later and it will continue to shine 

its light past 6 p.m. until the first of November, with each day of the spring 

getting longer until it gives way to summer and fall, and we again begin our 

preparations to hunker down. 

It’s glorious to have these extra hours of daily daylight to spend outside, 

whether it’s family activities, extra ‘me’ time with walks in the sun instead 

of under the cover of darkness, or more time to tackle the never-ending list 

of outside chores. 

CONTENTS 

Saving a war relic • 4 

Seniors’ sexuality • 10 

Hawaii • 16 

Finding love • 22 

Finance • 28 

Recipe • 30 

This issue marks the beginning of Year 9 for Grey-Bruce Boomers, an 

accomplishment of which our family is very proud. With each passing year 

I wonder if we will ever run out of topics that interest local older adults or 

educated and passionate local contributors to write for us. 

I will forever be amazed at the knowledge, expertise and talent in our area, 

and there seems to be more topics than space to address them all in our 

pages. This issue is no different, with our Bucket List story outlining a 

local man’s quest to restore an historic war tank. We also learn more about 

sexuality and finding love at an older age. We take a trip to Hawaii with 

travel writer Jill Ellis-Worthington, and learn 

tips on lining up your personal finances after a 

dementia diagnosis. Thank you to all our writers! 

Have a wonderful spring! 

Amy Irwin, Publisher 

Grey-Bruce Boomers 

SPRING 2023 

Publisher 

Amy Irwin 

amy@greybruceboomers.com 

Magazine Design 

Becky Grebenjak 

Advertising inquiries 

Amy Irwin 


Grey-Bruce Boomers welcomes 

your feedback. 

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Grey-Bruce Boomers is distributed for free in Grey and Bruce 

counties, and is published each March, June, September, and 

December. Distribution of this publication does not constitute 

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advertisers are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Grey-Bruce 

Boomers reserves the right to edit, reject or comment on all material 

and advertising contributed. No portion of Grey-Bruce Boomers may 

be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

THE BUCKET LIST 

Saving the 

Holy Roller 

LOCAL RESIDENT LEADS CHARGE TO SAVE WAR RELIC 

BY DOUG ARCHER 

4 • GREYBRUCEBOOMERS.COM

y Doug Archer 


Three years ago, Bruce County resident Steve 

Hearn undertook a rescue operation. The 

mission? To save a Canadian war memorial 

known as the Holy Roller. 

One of only two Canadian Army Sherman tanks 

in the Second World War to have survived from 

D-Day on June 6, 1944, to Victory in Europe 

(VE) Day on May 8, 1945, the Holy Roller is 

legendary in the Canadian military. Manned 

by members of the 1st Hussars – an armoured 

reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces 

– it landed on Juno Beach in Normandy just 20 

minutes behind the initial assault wave. For the 

next 11 months, the tank remained in the thick 

of battle, fighting for beachheads in France and 

helping to recapture besieged towns in Belgium 

and Holland. It was hit four times by enemy antitank 

fire, but it never lost a crew member. 

Above: The turret before preservation. 

Below: The incredible result of a lot of hard work. 

When the war finally ended, the Holy Roller had 

advanced about 4,000 kms, participated in 14 

major battles, and outlasted 346 other tanks. 

Not wanting to abandon this distinguished tank 

in Europe, military commanders successfully 

petitioned to bring it home, and in 1946 the tank 

was shipped across the Atlantic and repatriated 

on Canadian soil. 

Ultimately put on display in Victoria Park in 

London, Ont., the Holy Roller became a war 

memorial dedicated to members of the 1st Hussars 

who fell in action during the two World Wars. 

Yet time took its toll on the relic. After almost 75 

years exposed to the harsh Canadian elements, 

the tank that survived a World War was again 

in a battle for its life. Corrosion had eaten away 

at much of it, and a 2017 inspection revealed 

that, without refurbishment work, the hull of this 

treasured war memorial would collapse over the 

coming decade. 

SPRING 2023 • 5


by Doug Archer 

A team of dedicated 

volunteers worked 10,000 

hours to restore the relic. 

That’s when Steve and three other dedicated 

individuals – fellow Veterans Gary Cambridge and 

Ron Janus, as well as Perry Kitson, an expert in the 

restoration of armoured vehicles – embarked on 

their rescue mission. 

Steve’s passion for the Holy Roller comes naturally 

enough. He spent 17 years in the military before 

moving to a second career in private security. As 

a member of the 1st Hussars – the same regiment 

that commanded the celebrated tank in battle – he 

manned reconnaissance jeeps, armoured cars and 

fighting tanks, first as a driver, then gunner, and 

ultimately as a crew commander. 

“The Holy Roller is a significant memorial to the 

1st Hussars who fell in action – we couldn’t let it 

end up as scrap,” Steve said. “So, in June 2019, the 

four of us got together and vowed to spearhead its 

preservation.” 

That turned out to be no easy task. Discussions had to 

be held with commanders and committees of the 1st 

Hussars. Detailed condition reports on the tank had 

to be prepared. Authorizations were needed from 

the City of London. Proposals were written. Finally, 

in December 2019, Steve and his fellow rescuers 

received approval to begin the preservation project 

on the Holy Roller, though they were provided with 

no funding. If the project were to proceed, they 

would have to raise the money themselves. 

“So that’s what we did,” Steve recalled. “We 

developed a website, went on Facebook, applied for 

grants from the Federal Government, and reached 

out to Royal Canadian Legions, Veterans and local 

businesses. The response was overwhelming. The 

Toboggan Brewing Co. in London even created a 

Holy Roller lager, and donated proceeds from its sale 

to the project.” 

Their goal was to raise $250,000 and, by early-2021, 

they had reached $220,000, with money still coming in. 

Other types of donations also poured in. Fanshawe 

College provided an oversized automotive repair 

bay where work on the tank could be carried out, 


y Doug Archer 


as well as student volunteers and unlimited use of 

welding torches, grinders and other tools. Employees 

of General Dynamics – an aerospace and defense 

company that builds military vehicles for Canada – 

also stepped up, volunteering to work weekends on 

the project. 

By June 2021, they were good to go. Now they just 

had to get the tank from Victoria Park to Fanshawe 

College, which required a 400-ton crane! 

“It took hours to assemble that crane,” Steve recalled. 

“A second, smaller crane had to be used, and it was 

such a complex operation that it attracted a crowd 

of spectators. Finally, on the afternoon of June 8, 

2021, the Holy Roller was hoisted onto a flatbed 

truck and transported through the streets of London 

to Fanshawe.” 

That’s when the real work began. The plan was to 

strip the tank down to its bones and rebuild it shiny 

and new. The problem was they couldn’t get inside 

it. 

“The hatches were rusted shut. We were hitting the 

main hatch cover with sledge hammers, wedging 

angle bars under it, anything to get it open. There is 

even a photo of me (as seen on Page 4) on top of the 

tank, leaning my whole 240 lb frame on a crowbar, 

trying to pry that hatch up.” 

They also struggled to get the Holy Roller’s turret 

off, as well as the gun attached to the turret. The 

tank’s mechanical casings, armoured plates and bolts 

also presented quite the challenge. 

As Steve put it, “That tank fought us the whole way!” 

Finding parts for the Holy Roller was also difficult. 



by Doug Archer 

students and teachers to the staff of General 

Dynamics, to the community and business volunteers. 

Most of all, it was important to the Veterans. 

“Every one of us wanted to be there, helping to 

preserve this wonderful piece of military history.” 

Opening the driver's hatch. 

Working in 10-person crews, the volunteers worked 

nearly every weekend – and many weekdays – for almost 

a year, logging more than 10,000 hours. Virtually every 

part of the Holy Roller had to be removed, sandblasted, 

refurbished and then epoxy painted. Throughout 

the project, Steve kept the world informed about 

its preservation. Anointed the ‘Project Historian’ 

because of his passion for military history, he started 

a blog, documenting the facelift, detailing the history 

of the tank, and highlighting the stories of some of 

the soldiers who fought with it. 

“The tank and its crews were involved in some of the 

most intense fighting in World War II,” Steve said. 

“From the battles for the beaches in France, to the 

taking back of German-occupied towns in Belgium 

and Holland, to the final drive to the Rhine in what 

is known as Operation Blockbuster. They were 

courageous soldiers and I wanted to tell their stories 

with this celebrated tank.” 

When the Holy Roller finally departed the Fanshawe 

College repair bay after its year-long revitalization, it 

looked reborn. 

Removal from Victoria Park, in London, Ont. 

A lot of scarce components had to be sourced in 

Europe, because most tanks from the Second World 

War never came home. “Many were turned over to 

the Dutch Army,” Steve said, “so we had to do a lot 

of research to track them down and see if any parts 

were still salvageable.” 

Despite the difficulties, preserving the tank was a 

labour of love for all involved, from the Fanshawe 

“It was a very emotional moment. Standing there 

with fellow Veterans and volunteers, and seeing 

the amazing result of our tireless labour, was 

overwhelming. It was also a very proud moment. For 

the first time in over 75 years, the Holy Roller was 

rolling under its own steam. We had accomplished 

what we had set out to do!” 

The tank was returned to Victoria Park on May 31, 2022, 

and rededicated on June 5. It was quite the celebration, 

with Veterans and military personnel, bands, and even 


y Doug Archer 


a gala at the London Convention Centre. 

As project historian, Steve acted as an ambassador at 

the rededication, talking to the press and answering 

questions for the public. Everyone was captivated by 

the story – including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

On a visit to London that day, the Prime Minister 

spent 45 minutes talking with the Holy Roller 

Preservation Project’s core team about the life and 

legacy of this famous tank. 

“Explaining to the Prime Minister the history 

behind the Holy Roller and the 1st Hussars who 

commanded it was definitely a high point for me,” 

Steve said. 

The rescue of the Holy Roller now complete, Steve 

is looking at another preservation project. This time 

it is a tank known as BOLD. Sunk during the D-Day 

landings on the morning of June 6, 1944, BOLD was 

recovered from the bottom of the English Channel 

in 1970. It now stands on Juno Beach in France, a 

memorial to the 1st Hussars who took part in the 

D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. 

“It’s very early stages of planning, but this memorial 

to the 1st Hussars also needs to be preserved. Lest 

we forget.” 

To read more about the Holy Roller and the 1st 

Hussars, visit www.holyrollermemorial.ca. 

Doug Archer is a freelance writer and speaker who enjoys 

celebrating the multi-faceted lives of the 50-plus generation. He 

is also the author of three locally set mystery-adventure novels. 

Learn more at www.coldcasekids.com or archer@bmts.com. 

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TABOO 

no more 

OLDER ADULTS VIEW SEXUALITY AS AN IMPORTANT 

PART OF THEIR LIVES BY MONICA BLAIR 


y Monica Blair 

Sexual intimacy among seniors should not be a 

taboo topic. 

Although aging can introduce new challenges in the 

bedroom, it is possible – and healthy – for people of 

all ages to have fulfilling intimate relations. 

Sexuality is the way in which we experience and 

express ourselves sexually. It involves feelings, desires, 

actions, and identity, and can include many different 

forms of physical touch or stimulation. 

Intimacy is a feeling of closeness and connectedness 

in a relationship that can occur with or without a 

physical component.(1) Research shows that human 

connection improves mental health and well-being 

and can boost immune system function.(3) 

Sex can be a part of this connection for many 

people, including seniors. According to a study by 

the American Association of Retired Persons, 46 per 

cent of men and 38 per cent of women aged 60 to 

70 with partners have sex at least weekly, as do 34 

per cent of those aged 70 and older.(5) 

Canadian research also shows that older adults are 

interested in sex, have sex, and find sex pleasurable, 

according to a report from the Sex Information & 

Education Council of Canada. 

“Sexual health and well-being are associated with 


better relationships, quality of life, and physical 

health among adults of all ages,” the report states. 

“Older adults view their sexuality as an important 

aspect of their lives and consider sexual well-being 

to be a key component of their overall happiness and 

well-being.” 

The report says attitudes towards sexuality – 

particularly sexuality later in life – have changed 

dramatically in recent years. Gone are the days 

when seniors discussing sexuality was taboo. Today’s 

Baby Boomers have more positive and permissive 

attitudes towards sexuality in their later years than 

previous cohorts. 

Sex can even become more enjoyable later in 

life, as couples enjoy more alone time, have fewer 

responsibilities, and no longer have to worry about 

pregnancy. With this extra time to focus on their 

personal relationship, their emotional connection may 

also deepen, allowing their intimacy to be even more 

satisfying. They may also become more knowledgeable 

about what feels good for them and comfortable 

communicating these things to their partner. 

Life’s changes 

As people age, physical changes, body image issues, 

health problems, and other factors may impact 

sexuality and intimacy. The good news is, many of 

these factors can be addressed or mitigated. 



by Monica Blair 

In older adulthood, changes related to weight, skin 

elasticity, muscle tone, stamina, hair loss, and body 

odour, among other things, in addition to cultural 

perceptions of what is “attractive,” can impact how 

people feel about their bodies and this apprehension 

can impact one’s ability to relax and enjoy sex. 

Impacts of health on sexuality 

Aside from the normal, expected changes of aging, 

many people may experience a decline in their 

health, and new illnesses may crop up that can also 

impact their ability to have sex. Some factors that 

can impact sexuality and intimacy include: 

Some common physical changes can cause sex to 

feel less comfortable later in life. As women age, they 

may produce less vaginal fluid due to lower levels 

of estrogen, which can cause friction and irritation 

during sex. This is a normal post-menopausal 

change and there are many lubricants on the market 

that can help with this. 

For men, most commonly those over age 60, Erectile 

Dysfunction (ED) can be distressing. It can be caused 

by several physical, psychological, or social factors, 

including heart conditions, diabetes, metabolic, or 

neurologic conditions, anxiety, depression, stress, 

obesity, or substance use. This can be very normal 

and may last several months to years, but it is often 

treatable by a health care provider. 

Although these physical changes may be distressing, 

they can allow couples to be less preoccupied with 

performance, giving them the chance to focus more 

on closeness and connection and find other ways to 

express their affection. 

Some older adults may also feel less comfortable 

with their body image as regular physical changes 

occur. Body image is a subjective picture of one’s 

own physical appearance, established both by selfobservation 

and by noting the reactions of others. 

Chronic pain – Chronic pain and arthritis can 

make sex more uncomfortable. Pain should not be 

just “accepted” as a normal part of aging. There are 

many medications and strategies that can help with 

pain issues. 

Obesity – Obesity is a known cause of ED and can 

also cause decreased stamina. 

Diabetes – Diabetes is another known cause of 

ED. Diabetes that is not well-controlled can lead to 

other health and wellness concerns. 

Heart disease – Narrowing of the arteries can 

cause limitations with blood flow, making it more 

difficult to obtain or maintain an erection. Some 

people may also be nervous about engaging in 

sexual activity after a heart attack out of fear it could 

happen again. 

Stroke – Stroke can cause partial weakness or 

paralysis, which can be limiting for many aspects of 

one’s life. 

Surgery – It can be uncomfortable and anxietyprovoking 

to return to pre-surgery activities. 

However, most people are able to return to a similar 

level of activity. 


BRU_Switch-to-Save-Poster_SB_.indd 1 

2021-01-29 12:34 PM 



Depression – Signs of depression include a lack of 

interest or pleasure in activities that a person once 

enjoyed and a lack of energy. Depression can lead to 

a decreased sex drive. 

Medications – Certain medications, including 

some blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, 

antidepressants, sedatives, medications 

for Parkinson’s disease or cancer, appetite 

suppressants, and anti-ulcer drugs can cause side 

effects that impact sex or sexual desire. Individuals 

can talk to their pharmacist or health care provider 

about suggestions or alternatives.(1) 

Dementia – As the brain changes in the process 

of dementia, a person may become either more 

or less interested in sexual activity. They may also 

begin to express their sexuality in ways that are not 

generally accepted as social norms. Some people 

with dementia may also forget or not recognize their 

partner and may seek intimacy or sexual activity 

with others. The Alzheimer Society of Canada has 

many resources to help partners and caregivers to 

understand and manage these changes. 

Other considerations 

Older adults may also begin to explore gender 

identities or a sexual orientation they felt they had to 

hide in the past. Homosexuality was decriminalized 

in Canada in 1969,(8) yet many of today’s seniors 

lived their formative years at a time when only 

heteronormative lifestyles were accepted. Many 

older adults may still feel that discrimination or 

stigmatization and fear “coming out” to their peers, 

family, caregivers, or health care workers. 

Alternatively, some LGBTQ2S+ older adults may 

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feel a greater sense of safety with the changing 

times and increased acceptance. This can sometimes 

be difficult for families or peers to accept and may 

lead to greater social isolation. The Government 

of Canada has developed a toolkit (Social Isolation 

of Seniors, Volume II: Ideas Exchange Event Toolkit) that 

outlines strategies for individuals and organizations 

to help decrease the social isolation of LGBTQ2s+ 

seniors.(7) 

As stated, intimacy and sexuality provide many 

positive benefits; however, everyone who is sexually 

active may be at risk of acquiring a sexually 

transmitted infection (STI), regardless of their age. 

Older adults may be less inclined to use condoms 

to protect against STIs due to difficulties related to 

normal physical changes, not being concerned about 

unplanned pregnancies, and dementia. In addition, 

similar to gender identity and sexual orientation, 

condoms were considered a taboo topic during 

the formative years of many older adults. It was 

forbidden to advertise condoms on TV or in print 

until the 1980s when HIV emerged as an STI, so the 

importance of using this protection for sexual activity 

was not something that many of these individuals 

recognized throughout most of their sexual lives.(8) 

Seniors may also begin dating again after losing a 

long-term partner. Since condoms were not a focus 

of their previous relationship, they may not be 

considered in a new relationship. 

STI rates among seniors remain relatively low 

compared to their younger counterparts, but testing 

rates in this age group may also be low. Health care 

providers may not discuss safer sex or regular STI 

testing with their older patients because seniors 

are not necessarily viewed as sexual beings and 

because the most common STIs may not exhibit any 

symptoms or they may have symptoms that mimic 

other common health conditions. 

However, Health Canada reports that between 2005 

and 2015, chlamydia cases rose by 142 per cent, 

gonorrhea cases rose by 87 per cent, and syphilis 

rates rose by five per cent in people 60 years of age 

or older.(9) 

Despite the unique factors that impact healthy 

sexuality for seniors, the need for intimacy and 

connection remains a constant for humans 

throughout the lifespan. These needs can be met 

in various ways, including through fulfilling sexual 

relations at any age. 

Sources 

Sexuality and Intimacy in Older Adults | National Institute 

on Aging (nih.gov) 

Erectile dysfunction: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and 

treatments (msn.com) 

Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection 

- The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and 

Education (stanford.edu) 

Body image Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster 

Medical 

Myths and Facts About Seniors and Sex | Newsmax.com 

Conversations-about-dementia-intimacy-and-sexuality_ 

Alzheimer-Society-Canada.pdf 

Social isolation of seniors: A focus on LGBTQ seniors in 

Canada - Canada.ca 

A Brief History of the Condom – HIV/AIDS (verywellhealth. 

com) 

Seniors have sex – and the STI rates to prove it - National | 

Globalnews.ca 

Monica Blair is a Registered Practical Nurse with 

Grey Bruce Public Health, which offers sexual health 

clinics for people of all ages. For more information, visit 

publichealthgreybruce.on.ca. 


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TRAVEL 

Surf’s up 

in Hawaii 

STORY AND PHOTOS 

BY JILL ELLIS-WORTHINGTON 

16 • GREYBRUCEBOOMERS.COM 

Buddha Point at Hilton 

Waikoloa Village.

y Jill Ellis-Worthington 

TRAVEL 

For many of us Boomers, travel to exotic locations 

has always been a dream. Now that our biggest 

obstacles – time and money – loom less large, 

achieving dream vacations is becoming more doable. 

Imagine lava fields instead of corn; jungles instead 

of piney woods; sparkling black sand instead of 

golden beaches; and surfboards bobbing on the 

waves instead of jet skiers whizzing around the lake. 

Pushing ahead on a life-list holiday that had been 

sidelined during the worst of the pandemic, my 

husband and I were ready to live the dream of a trip 

to America’s 50th state – Hawaii! 

Honolulu 

Waikiki Beach is the desired destination for most, but 

luxury hotels have luxury price tags (in an already 

very expensive locale), so we opted for a renovated 

older hotel – the Twin Fin – right across from one 

of the world’s most famous strips of sand. You 

can easily walk the beach; reach the iconic Moana 

Surfrider hotel, a former royal residence, to see its 

gallery detailing the history of Duke Kahanamoku, 

Olympic swimmer and legendary surfer; check out 

the oldest banyan tree on the island and shop the 

high-end shops of the Royal Hawaiian Center. 

The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour in Honolulu. 

Tiki’s Bar and Grill is adjacent to the pool, which 

overlooks the ocean, at the Twin Fin. It serves a 

mean smoked marlin melt sandwich and an excellent 

Mai Tai. If you’re looking for your sports fix and a 

casual bite, Cheeseburger in Paradise is just a couple 

of blocks down the street. As a couple of football 

addicts, we were able to quench our thirst and get a 

nice juicy burger, while getting an NFL fix. 

To make the most of our time in Honolulu, we put a 

couple of the don’t-miss things on our list – climbing 

Diamond Head and visiting Pearl Harbor. 

A somewhat strenuous two-hour hike (depending on 

your speed and number of breaks) takes you up an 

Ascending the trail to the top of Diamond Head. 


TRAVEL 

by Jill Ellis-Worthington 

often-rocky path to the island’s famous summit and 

the most amazing view of Honolulu and the ocean. 

This is a popular destination for tourists and requires 

you to make online reservations ahead of time. It’s 

only a $5 fee but the limited parking is extra. We took 

an Uber from the hotel and were dropped off at the 

gate. This allowed us to walk across the crater and 

get a panoramic view before our ascent. It opens at 

6 a.m. so being one of the first on the often-narrow 

trail is a good idea, as it gets much busier as the day 

wears on and gets hotter. 

Providing a properly somber atmosphere, it rained 

the day we visited Pearl Harbor. There’s no cost to 

experience the exhibits that detail events leading up 

to the attack, but the on-site museums do charge 

admission. It is also free to take the boat over to 

the Arizona Memorial. Reservations are strongly 

recommended as the walk-up line was long; there 

is a $1 reservation fee for a timed ticket. The boat 

is operated by the navy and manned by uniformed 

sailors. 

Travel writer Jill Ellis-Worthington and her husband 

Ralph Lembcke awaiting the luau, shown below, 

which celebrates the islands in music and dance. 

A part of American history less familiar to many 

will be the story of Hawaiian royalty, so a trip to 

Iolani Palace is a great way to learn a lot. Built by 

King Kalakaua (Kamehameha III), this beautifully 

restored American Florentine-style building houses 

period furniture and royal garb. Guided and audio 

tours are available. 

Ko Olina 

A resort area about 30 minutes from Honolulu, Ko 

Olina offers several lodging options. We chose the 

Marriott’s Beach Club, where you can book directly 

through the hotel or save some dough by renting 

one of the spacious condo suites through an owner. 

Suzanne Kelly, from Grand Bend, has been staying 

there as a Vacation Owner for 12 years. 

“I’ve visited most of the islands, and I love the crosssection 

of cultures because it’s in the middle of the


TRAVEL 

ocean,” Suzanne said, adding that the state’s colours, 

flora, fauna and topography keep pulling her back. 

Though the resort has two kid-oriented pool areas, 

the huge ‘reflection’ pool was a tranquil adults-only 

area. There are also many hot tubs with strong jets. 

The protected lagoon features an immaculately kept 

beach with plenty of lounge chairs for salt-water 

swimmers. 

Our 900 sq. ft., one-bedroom suite had a wellequipped 

kitchen that came in handy because Hawaii 

is expensive, and we like to cook our breakfast and/or 

grab a quick lunch or snack (I recommend stopping 

at a grocery store to stock up on food and libations.) 

Morning coffee on the balcony let us watch the 

sunrise over the mountains, and it was absolute bliss. 

There are a couple of restaurant options at the resort 

and a few more in the area. Longboards is the seaside 

bistro, and the nachos (ahi poke on wonton chips) 

were very tasty. Make sure to upgrade your Mai Tai 

with a Grand Marnier float for a real treat. The 

Nai’a pool bar is a great place to watch the game and 

enjoy a margarita, while the lovely-looking Longhi’s 

restaurant was a disappointment. A short walk away 

is Roy’s at the golf course across the road. It offers 

indoor and outdoor seating options overlooking the 

course and the food is excellent. The raw tuna on the 

appetizer Canoe for Two was fresh and tasty. Try a 

‘pinetini’ – a pineapple martini – delicious. 

A big highlight of this stop was the luau. Held on 

Tuesday evenings, this is a spectacular stage show 

demonstrating the music and dance of the cultures 

of the Pacific islands. The buffet food was good and 

drinks were generously poured. It was an expensive 

indulgence but worth every penny. 

Festivals, tours, and sweet treats - that's maple syrup season in Grey County! 

Play, Eat, & Stay when you #visitgrey. 

@visitgrey visitgrey.ca 


TRAVEL 

by Jill Ellis-Worthington 

sea creatures, but if they aren’t successful, you are 

able to rebook for a second chance to see them. I did 

and was rewarded with a beautiful show of leaping 

spinner dolphins and a brief sighting of migrating 

humpbacks. 

Waikoloa Village 

A short flight on Hawaiian Airlines took us to Hilo, 

on the Big Island, where we rented a car and drove 

over the volcanoes to our next destination, Hilton’s 

Waikoloa Village. The developer had visions of 

Disney because this spread-out resort has both a 

monorail and a ‘boat’ taking guests from one end to 

the other. 

The crashing waves are a 

mesmerizing sight. 

This type of resort is perfect for completely detaching 

and just being – reading, swimming, floating – but 

when you’re ready to move, walk the path that leads 

past the other resorts to its end. There’s a ‘secret’ 

cove where endangered Monk seals sometimes 

beach themselves to sleep in the sun. There are only 

about 1,500 of these beautiful creatures left, so staff 

from the adjacent Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute 

place cones to let you know to stay back. While we 

were watching a large male sun himself, we could see 

turtles swimming in the nearby waters. 

Walk in the opposite direction on the path and you’ll 

reach the marina, which houses Ocean Joy Cruises. 

They offer snorkeling trips that guarantee spinner 

dolphin and/or humpback whale sightings, along 

with snorkeling. Captain Doug and his crew are 

friendly and do their best to find these magnificent 

Our studio suite was equipped with a kitchenette 

(fridge, microwave, coffee maker), so we could 

continue feeding ourselves for breakfast and lunch and 

indulging in dinner out most days. Disappointingly, 

the adult pool is surrounded by a building, so it only 

gets sun part of the day. The man-made beach on 

the lagoon and most pools are heavily populated 

by families, so not ideal for the reading/relaxing 

scenario we desired. 

A breezeway extends from one end of the resort 

to the other and is populated by artifacts, art and 

craftworks from the area. We really enjoyed learning 

more about Hawaiian history. Walking the resort 

took us by the dolphin lagoon; we were entertained 

by watching them be fed in the evening on our way 

to the lava beach for sunset. Notable restaurants at 

this resort include Nui Italian, with its excellent pizza 

choices, and the Kamuela Provision Company. The 

latter offers beautiful sunset viewing and musical 

entertainment to enjoy with your dinner. 

We were fortunate enough to visit soon after Mauna 

Lua had erupted, so we took the once-in-a-lifetime 

opportunity to drive into the mountains to see the 

still-steaming lava. The arid terrain is a real contrast 

from driving the perimeter highway back to Hilo 

through the lush jungle areas along the coast.


TRAVEL 

Hilo 

Our next destination was the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 

a moderately-priced place to stay right on the bay 

and surrounded by majestic banyan trees. A walk 

around Lili’uokalani Gardens and over the bridge to 

Coconut Island provided a post-drive stretch. 

Rumoured to be the location where some waterfall 

scenes in Jurassic Park were filmed, Akaka Falls is a 

short drive from Hilo. An easy walk on the paved path 

takes you through lush jungles with amazing flora 

to one of the world’s tallest waterfalls. Admission is 

only $5 but go early because parking is very limited, 

and the lot fills up with tour buses. Make sure to stop 

for a taste of fresh coconut juice or pineapple at the 

farm stand outside the park gates. 

is Isaac Kepo Okalani Hale Beach Park with its long 

stretch of magnificent black sand. 

In Hilo, two not-to-be-missed stops for foodies are the 

Ola Brew House and the Hilo Bay Café (HBC). The 

former brews craft beers, hard seltzers and ciders, 

and serves to-die-for burgers and sample paddles of 

its products. Ola Gold is a tart pineapple cider that I 

loved. The latter was just a block from our hotel and 

enjoying a leisurely sunset dinner of incredibly fresh 

sushi and innovative cocktails was a great way to cap 

off a trip of a lifetime. 

A writer, public relations professional, traveller and football 

fan, Jill Ellis-Worthington celebrates life every day. You can 

follow her blog at www.writeoncommunicationservices.com. 

A trip to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without 

visiting a black sand beach. Not far outside of Hilo 

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OPINION 

Falling 

MY STORY: 

in love 

THE ONLY ‘FALL’ SOMEONE SHOULD EXPERIENCE 

LATER IN LIFE BY AUDREY OTTER 


y Audrey Otter 

My name is Audrey Otter. I am 91 years old, as 

I write this. I was born in England, married 

my childhood sweetheart, Eric, and we moved to 

Canada in 1956, with our two wee daughters in tow. 

Canada’s immigrations system was wonderful to 

us. We had the skills to get jobs and eventually buy 

property and settle in the hamlet of Crawford, in 

West Grey County. In September 2003, Eric, my 

beloved husband, passed away from pneumonia, 

having endured Parkinson’s disease for many years. 

I spent the last 12 years of his life caring for him at 

home. 

The death of my husband created an unbearable 

hole in my life. I did not know how to be among 

ordinary people anymore. I had been isolated for so 

long. We had always been active in our church and 

when Eric passed, I figuratively and literally fell into 

their collective arms and activities. All of a sudden 

I was a 71-year-old woman with a 12-year gap in 

her life. 

In 2004, I read a ‘Stay on Your Feet’ article about 

the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s (GBHU) volunteer 

theatre group that was teaching people about fall 

prevention. While I had been on stage years ago in 

amateur musicals, I had never actually acted, but I 

decided “What the heck? I will be among outgoing 

people, probably strangers who are far easier to be 

with during my grief, instead of those who know me 

and my loss.” 

The article mentioned that we would be under the 

direction of Joan Chandler, the Sheatre’s Artistic 

Director. Sheatre is a professional communityengaged 

arts organization based in Grey/Bruce. 

Working primarily in rural and small urban 

communities, Sheatre has 37 years of experience 

in creating and presenting interactive, issueoriented, 

and celebratory theatre and the arts. 

The coordination would be under the guidance of 

Marguerite Oberle Thomas, a public health nurse 


OPINION 

Audrey fell in love with Ted 

unexpectedly while they acted in 

‘Bruno and Alice: A Love Story.’ 

skilled in health promotion, employed by the GBHU. 

This initiative was under a ‘Stay on Your Feet’ grant, 

at that time organized by the Ontario Neurotrauma 

Foundation, which no longer exists. 

During a snowy January of 2004, five volunteers, all 

women, met for the first time. We were told about 

how so many seniors fell, requiring surgery to mend 

broken bones. Their lives were often permanently 

changed, with many required to go into a long-term 

care home. The expense to the health care system 

is enormous. We were cajoled and prodded into 

shape. The first original plays we pulled together 

were with Walkerton and Wiarton theatre groups, 

“Friends Helping Friends” and “Family Helping 

Family.” Our coordinator found many venues for us 

to perform at, from seniors’ clubs to church groups, 

to retirement homes and Royal Canadian Legions. 

The plays demonstrated the dangers present in the 

home and looked at what we can do physically for 

ourselves, as well as creating a safe environment for 

our homes, outdoors and public spaces. Each was 45 

minutes in length, leaving about 15 minutes for us 

to mingle with participants and take questions. We 

handed out information pamphlets and resources for 

the audience to take home. 

I enjoyed acting with the women but left that August 

and September to have a visit in England. As soon as 

I got home, Marguerite told me that another troupe 

was being formed to adapt the play “Bruno and 



Alice: A Love Story.” This play had been written 

for CBC by Health Canada. This would be a new 

group of volunteers and I learned that the rehearsals 

would be in Owen Sound, some 40 km from where 

I lived. One of the new volunteers, Ted Codack, the 

man who would play Bruno, was prepared to pick 

me up as he lived close by. He was also a widower, 

having lost his wife Shirley to cancer. He too had 

been happily married for almost 50 years and had 

cared for her during the last difficult year of her life. 

This play was, of course, to demonstrate the dangers 

of slips, trips, and falls, but it also explored the 

relationship between older adults. During the play, the 

effort of the characters to have a date was thwarted by 

one or the other falling. There were to be other actors 

to play Alice, but in the end, it was Ted and I who 

became the leads. We were both rather disconcerted 

to find ourselves, in our 70s, the hero and heroine of 

a love story. Ted had a fine bass voice, and, to all our 

delight, he played the ukulele banjo. He had been on 

stage as a stand-up comedian in Toronto and had 

appeared in various hotels and pubs. This was not his 

day job, but he also was on the TV show “Pig and 

Whistle” from back in the day. 

Despite both being English, of the same vintage, and 

able to work easily together, we were both extremely 

uncomfortable with the love scenes. This caused our 

director Joan to become exasperated and say, “At least 

look at each other as if you actually like each other!” 

The play ended with a big kiss as Bruno asks Alice to 

marry him. We settled for a quick hug at first. 

We were both still grieving our spouses and quite 

able to understand each other. That autumn will 

always stay in my mind because of its beautiful fall 

colours, as we drove from venue to venue, with tears 

and laughter as we shared stories. 

The play proved to be immensely popular. We loved 

playing to seniors, but we also often had young staff 

present who thought we were a marvelous contrast 


OPINION 

by Audrey Otter 

to the stereotype of seniors being frail. There 

gradually became a slow healing and acceptance of 

our losses. 

Over those months we presented the play 136 times 

to nearly 4,000 people. Some of the places included 

the Shoppers Home Innovations Conference in 

Toronto, Cape Croker Madookii Senior Centre, 

Elliott Lake Senior Centre, Home and Community 

Care Network Barrie, Oneida Nations of the 

Thames People of the Standing Stone, the Smart 

Risk Conference in London, Ont., and, much 

to our delight, a co-presentation with both the 

Canadian Snowbirds in Hanover and their English 

Counterpart, the Red Arrows in London, England. 

“ 

A program for ‘Bruno and Alice: A Love Story,’ which 

soon became a real love story for the actors. 

It was a delight to work with Ted and 

Audrey. When I first brought them 

together, Ted used to make outrageous 

claims about how Audrey flirted with him. 

Audrey would protest indignantly... well, 

kind of. After a few weeks, I was 

thinking, “Methinks the lady doth 

protest too much.” Shortly after that, he 

quit claiming the flirting was on her part 

and she quit protesting his teasing. The 

next thing I heard, they were going on a 

real date, and the rest is history.” 

We travelled unfamiliar territory with our 

relationship and Ted got back to enjoying singing. 

On New Year’s Eve, to welcome in 2005, we had a 

proper date and danced the old year away. We were 

the best dressed and certainly the oldest couple on 

the floor and the only ones able to dance ballroom 

style! I am glad to share with you that the Alice and 

Bruno romance became a Ted and Audrey romance. 

Whatever our spiritual affiliation, we must face the 

fact this life is not a dress rehearsal for an afterlife. 

We must live it each day and that – with the help of 

Stay on Your Feet theatre – Ted and I were doing 

just that, and in spades. 

Shirley and Eric were still always with us, the gentle 

shades who supported and loved us for so many 

years. They were both excellent artists and their 

paintings surrounded us. The beautiful afghan 

blankets Shirley made kept us warm. The house 

Eric built sheltered us. They were never far from our 

thoughts, and we spoke of them every day. 

We felt so fortunate to have found each other in a time 

of mutual need, and we were even more fortunate 

to have so much in common. I’m here to tell you 

our dear Marguerite, our unpaid matchmaker, was 

- Marguerite Oberle Thomas


OPINION 

even our flower “girl” at our commitment ceremony, 

throwing rose petals ahead of me as I walked to 

where Ted and the minister were waiting. 

Sadly, my Ted passed away suddenly and painlessly 

in his sleep from a heart attack. I had always felt 

like I was hanging on to the tail of a comet with my 

energy-filled Bruno. 

We met so many wonderful people who enriched 

our lives, and we were both so fortunate to have had 

volunteer work so suited to who we were. 

Following his death, I stayed on as a fall prevention 

volunteer, but we never could replace the “Ted and 

Audrey” Bruno and Alice. At age 91, I now live alone 

in a senior’s apartment and stay connected with my 

dear Marguerite. 

I am well and content, surrounded by family and 

friends, and I often think fondly of that special part 

of my life. 

Audrey Otter moved to Hanover in 2018 after she found she 

could no longer manage her country paradise ‘Misty Glen.’ 

She has written many stories about her adventures there. She 

now lives in a seniors apartment building where she enjoys 

the company of many friends new and old, including those 

from her years with the Women’s Institute and United Church 

Women. 

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FINANCE 

Dealing with 

DEMENTIA 

GETTING FINANCES ORGANIZED 

IS IMPORTANT 

BY CHRISTY KELLY 

Dementia has affected several families, including my own, as I have a close 

family member navigating the effects of the disease. The daily worries impact 

the entire family as all live with the challenges of the dementia journey. I’ve learned 

to cope by journalling and finding humour within the daily misadventures. 

More than 500,000 Canadians are living with dementia, a number projected to 

double in less than 10 years. The impact doesn’t stop there, because one-in-five 

Canadians have experience caring for someone with dementia. The seniors, parents 

and grandparents of our communities often face unique financial challenges that 

come with age. For those facing the journey with dementia, the need for advice has 

never been greater. 

If you are concerned about what to do if you or a loved one is starting to experience 

memory loss or a decline in decision-making capacity, below are a few suggestions. 

Act quickly, and act early. In most cases, individuals experience a gradual 

decline in their decision-making capacity over an extended period of time. If you 

are starting to struggle with some of the decisions you are being asked to make, reach 


y Christy Kelly 

FINANCE 

out for help from trusted sources. Communicate with 

your doctor, financial advisors and family members 

about the challenges you are experiencing so that 

you can get the type of help you need. It’s important 

for those in your close circle to understand that you 

are starting to struggle, so they know you may need 

more assistance with the more complex decisions in 

your life. It will also alert them to be on the lookout 

for financial abuse, as individuals who suffer from 

dementia are more likely to be the victim of scams. 

Communicate your limits and your 

abilities. Decision-making capacity is very timeand 

situation-specific. Although you may no longer 

have the ability to make complex decisions, you 

may still have capacity to make simple decisions. 

Tell your advisors and doctors which decisions 

you are struggling with, and when you need 

help. Understand that simply asking for help in 

some circumstances does not mean that you will 

not be able to make any decisions on your own. 

Review your overall financial plan. Speak to 

your financial planner to ensure your plan is up to 

date. Explain that you are having difficulty making 

complex decisions. Your advisor may recommend 

moving to a more conservative portfolio or 

consolidating your investments, so you have fewer 

accounts or different types of property to worry 

about (for example, businesses or real estate). Your 

consultant can help you to find ways to simplify 

your investments and help you manage your 

assets for as long as you are capable of doing so. 

Maximize the use of available tax credits. 

As your condition progresses, you may be able to 

claim various tax credits, including the disability 

tax credit, the medical expense tax credit, and the 

caregiver tax credit. Speak to a tax accountant 

or your consultant about which credits you may 

qualify for, and what you need to do in order 

to be eligible to claim them on your tax return. 

Consider whether your wishes are properly 

documented. Ensure your estate plan is up to 

date. In the early stages, you may still have capacity 

to sign documents like a will, power of attorney or 

protection mandate (in Quebec), but that may no 

longer be the case as time goes on. Speak to a wellqualified 

estates lawyer (preferably someone who 

has their Trusts and Estate Practitioner designation) 

about how to best protect yourself in the event you 

suffer a serious decline in your decision-making 

capacity. Although it is always important to have 

these documents in place, the issue will become 

even more acute as your mental capacity starts to 

decline. If you do not know any estates lawyers, 

speak to your financial consultant to see if they 

can provide you with a referral, as they often work 

with professionals who have that type of expertise. 

Build a network to provide you with 

support. Reach out to associations like the 

Alzheimer Society of Canada for support. These 

groups have extensive experience in supporting 

individuals through various challenges and can help 

you to prepare for what may come next. Knowing 

that you’re not alone can help to bring peace of 

mind. 

The onset of dementia can be a difficult experience, 

but you don’t have to go through it alone. Reach out 

to your network and confide in your close advisors 

to get the support you need to live your life to the 

fullest. 

Christy Kelly, CPA, CA, CFP®, RRC®, MFA-P, is a 

Certified Financial Planner® with Investors Group Financial 

Services Inc. This article was written and published by IG 

Wealth Management as a general source of information only. 

Not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell specific investment, 

or to provide tax, legal, or investment advice. IG Wealth 

Management is a proud sponsor of the Alzheimer’s walk, 

and as part of that, we want to support Canadians who are 

dealing with dementia, or may have a family member dealing 

with dementia. Contact Christy at Christy.Kelly@IG.ca or 

visit her website at ChristyKelly.ca. 


FOOD & DRINK 

Creamy asparagus 

and mushroom risotto 

Preparation Time: 20 minutes 

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Servings: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 lb asparagus 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 onion, chopped 

1 garlic clove, minced 

½ lb mushrooms, sliced (about 4 cups) 

1 cup arborio (short-grain) rice 

2 cups chicken stock 

½ tsp each of dried tarragon and basil 

1 can 2% evaporated milk 

½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated 

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped 

¼ tsp black pepper 

Instructions 

Break off and discard tough ends from asparagus; cut into 

1½ inch diagonal pieces. In large pot of boiling water, cook 

asparagus, uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender-crisp. 

Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside. 

In heavy saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add 

onion, garlic and mushrooms; cover and cook for about 5 

minutes or until onions are softened. Stir in rice, chicken 

stock, tarragon, basil and milk; cook, stirring, until mixture 

boils. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 10 minutes, 

stirring frequently. 

Uncover, and cook, stirring, for 5 to 10 minutes longer or 

until thick and creamy. Stir in Parmesan cheese, parsley, 

pepper and reserved asparagus. Serve immediately. 

*Recipe courtesy of Foodland Ontario 


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