We have been responding to COVID-19 for several months now and there is more to come – keep washing those hands, stay physically distant from one another, don’t touch your face, and stay home if you’re sick! – but we have some good news to share.

Our Clothes and Collectibles thrift boutique in the Denman Place Mall has reopened with reduced hours. We are carefully following WorkSafeBC guidelines including limiting the number of customers, requiring masks and hand sanitizer, and closing the fitting room. We are unable to accept donations at this time. Please visit our store page for the most up-to-date information, including hours of operation and COVID-19 safety plan. Thank you for continuing to support the West End Seniors’ Network with your purchases!

Kay’s Place, our information and referral centre in the Denman Place Mall, has also reopened and is back to regular hours of operation. The social space and newspaper are not available, and food and coffee will not be served at this time. However, information and referral services are still available on a drop-in basis, while housing navigation and peer support services are by appointment.

Unfortunately, the status of our Barclay Manor location is more complicated. The building is operated by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, and it is considered a satellite location of the West End Community Centre Association (WECCA). Though the West End Seniors’ Network is a separate registered charity and not-for-profit organization, we have an agreement with WECCA to be the primary user of Barclay Manor. When the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (rightly) made the decision to close community centres across the city, Barclay Manor also had to close.

We know that the province has now moved into Phase 3 of its Restart Plan in response to COVID-19, and we want Barclay Manor to reopen safely as soon as possible. We are actively working with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, WECCA, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health and WorkSafeBC to make a plan for Barclay Manor to reopen. This will still take some time, so we appreciate your patience. In the meantime, our other locations will be open and we will continue to offer as many programs and services as we can. Check out the latest edition of our newsletter to see everything we are still offering, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date information.

Last Updated: 14-Jul-2020

The engagement question we asked in June was a fun and light one. We wanted to know: What is your favourite summer beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)?

The responses were:

Home-made iced decaf chai!

Aperol Spritz…looks and tastes cool!

Fresh squeezed lime juice is a nice summer treat 😋

Non alcohol always 💕 health and wellness for the win!

Thanks for participating!

Racism is an issue that impacts people in Canada, in Vancouver, and in our local community. The West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) opposes racism and discrimination in all forms and stands in solidarity with those who are and have been affected by it.

WESN’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults by providing social, recreational, educational and supportive programs and services that foster connection and inclusion in the broader community. Inclusion is a key word and value. We strive to be a safe place for individuals of all backgrounds and all sexual orientations to participate in the community and live with a high quality of life.

Humans are social creatures. We are stronger together. One of the best things you can do during these times of heightened awareness of racism and calls for change is to educate yourself. Learn about the racism that exists today, learn about the history of racism towards Indigenous, Asian, Black, and other minority groups, learn about the organizations that are dedicated to fighting racism, and learn about what you can do to support the cause. 

Please see below for select resources with information about the Black Lives Matter movement, how you can support the fight against racism, and local organizations that support marginalized populations.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) Vancouver works in solidarity with other BLM chapters across North America. They work to celebrate people of colour, uplift marginalized people, and undo systemic racialized violence.

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Hogans Alley Society is a non-profit organization that advocates for Black Vancouverites and Black history in Vancouver throughout BC. They aim to preserve and promote the historical, cultural, societal and economic contributions made by Black Settlers and their descendants to Vancouver. Their current projects include a 52-unit temporary housing development, a cultural centre, and a Black Experience Project.

https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/

National Congress of Black Women Foundation is a registered charity that provides activities and programs to foster advancement of health and education of black women and their families. They offer educational opportunities, employment services, cultural associations, and more.

http://www.ncbwf.org/what-we-do.html#ourwork

Battered Women’s Support Services provide education, support, and advocacy for women who have suffered abuse or violence. They offer Indigenous, LGBTQ2S, Black Women’s, and Latin American Women’s programs. They operate a 24/7 Crisis Line at 604-687-186 for women dealing with violence/effects of abuse.

Domestic violence COVID 19 quarantine support at Battered Women’s Support Services

Educational Webinars 

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation hosts webinars on topics related to racism and multiculturalism in Canada.

https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/en/programs/webinars

Vancouver Dialogues: First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and Immigrant Communities is a compilation of memories and oral histories of Vancouver’s First Nations, urban Aboriginal and immigrant communities who have taken different journeys to create a home in Vancouver.

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/dialogues-project-book.pdf

UBC’s Department of Asian Studies provides anti-racism links to resources, news stories, opinion pieces, and scholarly articles on race in Asian, or in Asian diaspora communities.

https://asia.ubc.ca/about/department-initiatives/anti-racism-resources/

VictimLinkBC is a multilingual and confidential telephone service available 24/7 across BC. They offer information and referral services to victims of crime including counselling resources. Call toll-free at 1-800-563-0808 or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.

How to Report a Hate Crime

For emergency situations including attacks, assaults and threats: Call 9-1-1 and state that you are reporting a hate crime.

For non-emergency situations including graffiti, vandalism and hate propaganda: Contact the BC Hate Crimes at 1-855-462-5733 (toll free) or email BC_Hate_Crime_Team@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Hello Everyone!

I’m in the midst of writing a book about the eleven-year journey my husband and I travelled following an early onset diagnosis of his struggles with dementia leading to his death this past Fall.  This is what I call a “sideboard” or an in-the-moment essay as I struggle through the pandemic in a Bubble of 1.

A BUBBLE OF 1 – A sideboard to our dementia journey

The dictionary says the word “bubble” is used to refer to a good or fortunate situation that is isolated. What a perfect word to grab ahold of in this covid pandemic. I never dreamed that eight months ago, in October, I would be encapsulated in a Bubble of 1 as my husband died in my arms one early morning due to complications from late stage Alzheimer’s disease.

I have lots of stories to tell later but this “sideboard” is about the bubble due to the pandemic. From late October to March 15th I was wailing-in-grief mode, not sure what was happening at times. Then the new rules and regulations due to covid came into effect with distancing, masks, no get-togethers, no dinner parties, no popping in to chat with friends and neighbours. Virtually no nothing. We were locked away, slowly coming outside but distancing, many unrecognizable even in our apartment buildings due to masks.

But here’s the thing. Partners, husbands, wives, children, roommates, people living together, could eat, drive and socialize but others weren’t allowed in that circle as the theory was if you lived together before the covid you were deemed to be safe together or you also could be infected together. What was the choice here?  Families should break up and live in separate places? Families should try and live in separate rooms? Nope.

The consensus seemed to be a household who stuck together, walked together, ate together, slept together – became their special circle that was – you got it, a Bubble! A FaceTime or Zoom get-together was referred to as a bubble by some but the “real bubble” was the person to person in your group – from two people to five or more depending on your household. This bubble kept you safe from others psychologically and physically. You could comfort each other, touch, hug – it was your risk.

It’s pretty obvious what a Bubble of 1 would consist of – you! No one else, just you. Think for a second how sad that is for a person to be a Bubble of 1. No hugs, no touching, no sharing. If you are a Bubble of 1, you know exactly the feeling. You can phone everyone. You can email everyone. With the unpredictability and not knowing who tested positive for covid, it was and continues to be a scary unknown.

As to my personal experience, I lost my husband of 33 years to Lewy Body disease and Alzheimer’s. I am in the vulnerable category of over 70 but fortunately without health issues. The virus is not abating. It’s so lonely and isolating being in a Bubble of 1. Add the grief of loss and it’s a huge setback. I can’t get invited into anyone’s bubble. I have no family here. I live alone. My husband was my life. I know I’m not alone in this isolation as so many others share a similar circumstance.

As April and May moved by a bit of social distancing with a few friends took place. No touching, no hugs, no meal sharing. We all seemed safe but knew we had to get groceries, get out, and there always seemed to be the underlying fear you weren’t all that safe from others. A cough and you felt panicky. So my Bubble of 1 continues.

Fear threatens to keep you even more isolated as you fear the runners coming up behind you passing too closely exhaling their droplets since they don’t wear masks. I’m one of the very few who wears a mask as I walk or cycle since I’m old and more at risk than the youngsters zipping by me. I looked with envy at the big bubbles enjoying their picnics in the park today. I understand I could be a risk to be invited into someone’s bubble. No one wants a lone wolf from a Bubble of 1. I might feel the same way if the roles were reversed. Would I? Would you?

Maybe things will change soon but for now I have to content myself with my bath bubbles!

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Note that this post has been provided by a WESN member and is not to be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.

We have created a fun activity book containing puzzles, riddles, colouring pages, and more! You can download the book or print it out here!