Italian Night Social

These are the 2 cooks Linda & Maria above who worked very hard. Meals was Pasta first then chicken with salad & veggies & finish it off with icecream.
as well afterwards we had entertainment.

Lee's Flaming Britannia Bruins Relay for Life

Dear Team members, Relay for Life coordinator, friends & family!
Here It Is!
Painted by our most talented artist & team member Ann over the weekend. She explained to me that the different sizes of bears denotes that cancer strikes all sizes, shapes & ages. She has included all that we discussed at the team meeting (Relay for Life logo + daffodils symbol, bears carrying a Torch + flames). June & I think her work is very impressive & we thank Ann for her tremendous efforts.
Lee Turner

Walking Club Sat 10 April

Today our group consisted of Marilyn, Ken, Linda, Susan and new member Jean.
We Took the #20 Bus to Richards/Seymour. From there we visited The Northern House for the last time.  It closes on April 18th.

Afterward we took the Canada Line to Yaletown/Roundhouse Station and walked through Yaletown  and along the Seawall.  From there we headed to the Main Library to see Women's History Fair.  At the fair there was an exhibit of VGH Nurse uniform that Florence Nightingale wore, and as well cap & gown worn in nursing school.

Lead by Marilyn

Lesson one learns

All I need to know .......

I learned from the Easter Bunny!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.

Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

May the joy of the season fill your heart.

Happy Easter!

Stone Soup Festival Volunteers needed

STONE SOUP FESTIVAL
WANTS YOU!!!
Hello!
Now, more than ever, people are aware of the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources, and eating ‘local’. Stone Soup celebrates the global diversity of food, the environment and its importance to the ‘culture’ of our community.

In the spirit of celebrating our global food community, Stone Soup will feature food vendors, artists, musicians, and presentations. Last year, we launched a new partnership with the Multicultural Family Centre in bringing the Fiesta de las Madres (Mothers Day Festival) to Stone Soup in celebration of the food and cultural traditions of Latin America.

This year, we’ve added a new segment to our festival – the Stone Soup Film Festival!
Last year’s festival was a success and we hope to introduce more films that emphasize the positive efforts being made to change our current food system and empower this generation to take action. Some films include:
“Guerrilla Gardening: Can you dig it?”
“What’s on your plate?”
“A thousand suns”
“Dirt” and more…

Volunteer on MAY 8Th, Saturday, and you’ll get a chance to experience 3 festivals all rolled into one!

Last year almost 30 volunteers helped to make our community event a success!
This year, you can make a difference too! Come join our volunteer family of over 60 individuals and be a special part of this festival!
Ways to assist:
STONE SOUP

Run operations and set-up, serve soup, host workshops (build a seed `bomb’!), assist vendors/artists…
Shifts: May 8, 9am-2pm or 1:30-6:30pm
*******************

FiESTA de las MADRES

Run operations and set-up, assist vendors…
Shifts: May 8, 9am-2pm or 1:30-6:30pm
*******************

STONE SOUP FILM FESTIVAL

Greet/welcome patrons, sell tickets, usher…
Shifts: May 8, 11:30am-4:30pm, 4pm-9pm or 7pm-11pm.

Positions fill up fast for this busy, creative festival, so don’t wait until the last minute, sign up now!
It’s a fun, great way to meet new people and give back to the community too! Plus, you’ll have a chance to snack all day and experience the festival in the best way possible – by volunteering!
If you’re interested, please email me with your choice of shift and position.
ORIENTATION takes place on WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, from 4:30-5:30pm at Britannia.
Hope to see you all soon!
Charlene Wee
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Britannia Community Services Centre
1661 Napier St
604-718-5860 or charlene.wee@vancouver.ca

ENDLESS KNOTS

This is David Fukuhara who designs & makes Knot Designs. He belongs to the International Guild of Knot Tyers . He exhibits in the Spring & Fall in Courtenay BC at festivals, as well Wooden Boat Festival at Granville Island, Britannia Xmas Artist sales etc..
He is 71 yrs young & started to do this at age of 12 yrs old.
He is one of our new members who loves to play bridge. The design you see is using only 1 cord. This is just a small sample of his work.
He may be reached at 604-251-4316. This is Original Celtic Knot Designs.
Wish him good luck.

Mar 27th Walking Group

Five people went on the walk, (Marilyn, Ken, Linda Susan & Giyoung a friend of Susan).
We went to UBC. We walked past the aquatic centre, gym and went to the shopping centre and had a snack and coffee at McDonald. We walked through Regent College and saw beautiful Magnolia trees. We walked down University Blvd. to Main Mall Blvd past the UBC libraryand discovered UBC has a Tim Horton and White Spot near the library. We walked to end of main mall to see beautiful scenic view of Howe Sound and Mountains overlooking a rose garden and the Chan Centre theatre. We walked back on West mall blvd and saw the Irving Barber Centre which part of it. It was built in 1923 after the great trek of UBC students in 1922 to demonstrate buildings (3 not built yet).
The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) is a facility at the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia. The Learning Centre is built around the refurbished core of the 1925 UBC Main Library[1][2]. The Centre is named for Irving. K. Barber, philanthropist and a graduate of UBC.
There is a monument of Great trek in front of ubc library. It was a great walk and there is other areas to walk to at UBC.
walked lead by Marilyn

Mar 20 Walking group

March 20th walk , there were 5 people, Marilyn, Ken, Susan, Heesok,and a new friend of Susan . We took the Victoria bus to Richards and Hastings and walked to Northern Canada House, then we walked to Convention centre to the Cauldron and after we walked to Coal Harbour. We sat and had our lunch looking at the mountain it was beautiful day. We walked up Bute Street to Georgia to the BC Pavilion (Vancouver Art Gallery), which displayed the LEONARDO DA VINCI: THE MECHANICS OF MAN, this was excellent. It took 20 min. to get into the art gallery.
walk lead by Marilyn

Survey to Help Britannia

Britannia is taking steps to revitalize the site and our facilities, your opinions are valuble to us. Please respond the following survey. This will help us identify the priorites and vision of our members, residents and community members.

Reminder to distribute far and wide!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/somethingishappening

Lee carrried the torch again

She carried the torch on Friday for the Paralympic' s with Ann who ran alongside.

GINA,LEE,ANN & DIANE

Walkiing Group

Today they didn't walk but went to watch Paralympic curling to enjoy & support our team Canada!!
Walking group on March 13,2010, there were 8 People (Marilyn, Ken,Linda
Ssusan, Hewsok, Rosemarie,Louise, Flora) & we left Britannia at l0:30 am
on Victoria bus to Broadway station to catch the 99 to Main street and then caught the Main Street to 28 and Main. We walked to Hillcrest Park to curling Venue. Some of the people stop quickly at Sollys bagels before walking to venue. we saw wheel chair curling at 12:30 ROUND ROBIN CANADA PLAYING GREAT BRITAIN!!!
Horray for CANADA THEY WON 9 TO 2.
The other teams were Usa playing Korea usa won, germany playing Norway , norway won, and Swiss and Sweden playing. The Norway spectators were wearing the cute hats rainbow Viking hat and Great Britan spectators were wearing a couple cowbay hats with the Union Jack flag on them.
There were a lot of empty seats but it was fun the see, watch them play there style.
Lead by Marilyn walking group leader



Canada's curlers open Games with big win

Programs & Services

Hi there folks,
well the brochure is out for Spring.
New programs, bus trip,etc...
Registration will begin 16 Mar

One of our Ladies from the centre

EALADHA NA hEIRE

Featuring the Irish Art of Therese Milis
Opening Sat. March 13 2 - 4pm

Saint Patrick's Day March 17th 3 - 7 pm:

Come and celebrate with the artist.
Therese's art, along with the art of Jennifer Cocke will be at the Jem Gallery till mid April.
Gallery Hours are Wed -Fri. 1- 5pm, Sat. 11 - 5pm and by appointment.
Therese will be at the Gallery Sat. March 20th & 27th .
The Jem Gallery is located at #36 - 22 East Cordova and Carrall (in the Van Horne, entrance on Cordova in the gated sections, street side near the underground parking entrance)


thejemgallery@yahoo.com
theresemilis@shaw.ca

Saturday 06 Mar Walking Group

Saturday March 6 walking group
Marilyn,Linda, and Ken walked down Commercial Drive to Croatian cultural centre. Along the way we stop at 11TH and commercial at Moby Community Garden where they were having a workshop on planting seeds. We saw their community garden ( which is back of Giant Dollar store)and then we walked along the green way under the Skytrain there were beautiful blossoms and daffodils . We went to Croatian Centre as we were told there was craft sale but it was toy and computers swap. We then walked to Trout lake and around it, sat down for 20 mins. We then walked back to Commercial Dr. and met Judy and had a coffee at McDonald's. Linda and I went back to Britannia and listen to development proposal for AML and Britannia complex in Gym D.
Walk was lead by Marilyn

Planned Evening

ST PATRICK'S DAY

CELEBRATION 18 MAR

POTLUCK

5-8:30PM

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Yoga for Seniors

This is Graham Smythe, our instructor,Certified Yoga Teacher . He is 57yrs old & just started teaching summer of '09. You are never too old to change careers or learn something new. He started Yoga in '03, went on to get his credentials. As well he is a massage therapist, etc...
http://yogarockstandtall.com/
He has 2 classes a week on Mondays & Wednesdays 1p-2:15p
Please contact Britannia for more info & costs
My personal opinion is that it is nice to have a person over 55 teaching us. Who knows about the aging process & working with us on issues of either knee, leg, back or other problems we get as we age

POTLUCK 25th Feb

JUST A REMINDER THURSDAY
25 FEB NOON

Mourning the lost of Biagio Celio

I wish to let you all know of this very nice man. We lost him this week. He was a lovely man who was kind, generous & sweet. He would arrive at the Al Mattison Lounge often to play Italian Cards with the other men. He was a gentleman. I was rewarded one day with a bottle of homemade wine.

CELIO, Biagio Born in Palena, Abbruzzi, Italy on February 11, 1928. Passed away peacefully on Monday, February 8, at the age of 81 years at Vancouver General Hospital. Biagio is survived by his loving family: sons Amadio (Anna), Joe (Patrizia), Tony (Kim); grandchildren Anthony (Chrissy), Nadia (Dave), Nicholas, Deanna, Amanda, Michael and Mathew; brothers Domenico (Lina), Giovanni (Maria); sister Gaetanella (Domenico); sister-in-law Lucia. He was predeceased by his loving wife Maria. Biagio will also be lovingly remembered by his many other family members along with countless friends who were all blessed to know him. We would like to thank VGH for their outstanding care and support. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 12:00 noon at Out Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church 525 S. Slocan St. Vancouver, BC. Entombment to follow at the Abbey Mausoleum Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, BC. In lieu of flowers donations will be accepted to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Walking club 06 Feb

Hello! Back on the trail again! This time we explored a few of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic venues which were noted in websites to be open this weekend. However, events of this magnitude are often more time-consuming than anticipated. Linda, Ken, Marilyn, Marisa, Emily, Susan and I were joined at the last minute by a lady known at Britannia Seniors Centre as "Little Flora".

After perusing various venue maps and newspaper clippings of the downtown area, we caught the #20 Victoria bus to Broadway, hitched a ride on the 99 B-Line heading West, and descended into the underground tunnel to ride beneath False Creek on the new Canada Line railway. We rode the rail to Roundhouse Station in Yaletown anticipating the tasty offerings promised by the Italian Pavilion only to find the bootlanders were still setting up. And none of the Italians spoke English. Fortunately, Linda's ability to speak Italian was useful in finding out that the venue called "Casa Italia" would only be open this evening for invited guests; the general public was welcome starting tomorrow, Sunday.

A quick walk around nearby David Lam Park, site of LiveCity Yaletown, showed us an impressive collection of tents and security measures which forbade our setting foot on that site, so we headed back to the underground for the Athlete's Village Station. From there, a few steps beyond took us to the temporary tent where excited locals and visitors lined up to ride the Bombardier trolley that had traveled all the way from Brussels, on loan from the country of Belgium. The Canadian leg of the trolley's journey was overnight by flatdeck truck, a very long truck that required assistance getting through the downtown to the rail line. According to last night's news coverage, the truck manoeuvered a few tight corners by mere inches.

The Bombardier was built in Quebec, so it's part in the Olympics was a much appreciated contribution to the success of the 2010 Vancouver celebrations. This train runs from the south end of Cambie Street Bridge following West 2nd Avenue to the entrance of Granville Island. There we looked for the Atlantic Canada Pavilion and its promise of a Maritime Kitchen Party, but it was still packed up in two long white trailers parked beside the Market. Further investigation towards the east end of Granville Island did not locate the Winterruption Festival or the French Quarter Market, Artists Alley and Bistro.

So we were a little hasty, a little early in our eagerness to size up the venues. However, we will be back downtown on opening weekend, Saturday February 12th with full expectations that our mission will be successful and satisfying.

Until then, get downtown and get some Olympic Spirit happ'nin'.

Oh, by the way, on our walk back along the north shore of False Creek, we met a group of five guests. I asked where they were from and what their role was in the Games; two women and three men were competing in the downhill luge races, two going single, the rest going in pairs at 150 km per hour down the run at Whistler. We wished them good luck and headed east to catch the Main Street Sky Train
The luge team were from Slovakia .

Virginia

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

New class 22 feb

Al Mattison Lounge
Computer room
New Class
22 Feb/6sessions
1p-3pm
$45.00
Instructor Michelle Zeibart


Limited availability

Sat Jan 16 Walking Club‏

Well Happy New Year!
Brit Seniors 55+ Saturday group is back in the swing of things - as much as possible with the usual unpredictable weather - with the added restriction of chain link fences marking the Winter Olympic territorial boundaries around False Creek and other areas of downtown Vancouver.

Linda, Susan, Judi, Marissa (recently back from Ottawa), and myself decided to stay south of the city core, so we walked to Broadway, took the 99 B-Line to Granville, and met Lorna on the way down to Granville Island where we stopped for lunch in the market. Two old men, brothers, were entertaining the crowds with music from the 1930's-50's; one sat playing the accordion while the other stood behind him doing his best to sing along with the music sheet. Linda was quite taken with them, especially as they played an Italian favourite.

Outside in the triangle plaza, we watched a funny man juggling fire sticks. As we made our way to the ringside, he noticed us and commented to the crowd, "Here come my dancing girls." Not one to miss a cue, I did a little hip swinging and arm waving to which he quickly retorted, "You can take off your parachute, Granny, you've landed." (he was referring to my backpack).

As the wind was coming up and the air was chilly, we decided to walk to Burrard Bridge to keep Lorna company on her way home to the West End. Our trail took a convoluted route around the waterfront, up and across busy streets until we reached the south end of the bridge. By then, we had enough exercise and stopped in front of Molson's Brewery to catch a city bus, there being a temporary bus stop sign mounted on a power pole. After 20+ minutes, a light bulb went off in Judi's head as she realized the buses we wanted actually came along Cornwall Avenue from Kits Beach so we moved to that stop barely minutes before the next bus arrived. From Burrard Skytrain Station, we rode the light rail to Commercial/Broadway where we parted ways.

Winter being the temperamental season it is, I will call walkers no later than Thursday IF THE WEATHER FORECAST IS FOR SUN OR LIGHT RAIN: no call will be made if the weather is seriously cold, raining or snowing.

Growlin old

Observations on Growing Older

~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them
...but your grandchildren are perfect!

~Going out is good.
Coming home is better!

~When people say you look "Great"...
they add "for your age!"

~When you needed the discount you paid full price.
Now you get discounts on everything ...
movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them.

~You forget names ... but it's OK
because other people forgot
they even knew you!!!

~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose
is now 15 and you have a better chance
of losing your keys than the 15 pounds.

~You realize you're never going
to be really good at anything .... especially golf.

~Your husband is counting on you
to remember things you don't remember.

~The things you used to care to do,
you no longer care to do,
but you really do care that you
don't care to do them anymore.

~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair
with the TV blaring than he does in bed.
It's called his "pre-sleep".

~Remember when your mother said
"Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"?
Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident!

~You used to say,
"I hope my kids GET married ...
Now, "I hope they STAY married!"

~You miss the days when everything worked
with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..

~When GOOGLE, ipod, email, modem ...
were unheard of, and a mouse was something
that made you climb on a table.

~You used to use more 4 letter words ...
"what?"..."when?"???

~Now that you can afford
expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~Your husband has a night out with the guys
but he's home by 9:00 P.M. ...next week it will be 8:30 P.M.

~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.

~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~Now that your husband has retired ...
you'd give anything if he'd find a job!

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet ....
2 of which you will never wear.

~~~But old is good in some things:
old songs
old movies

And best of all OLD FRIENDS!!

Falls, Eagles & Trains

On Tuesday 12 Jan we went on a Bus Trip to Brackendale BC. We left a little after 9am & in the way we stopped for a break at Shannon Falls. Great, as no snow & a number of us were able to walk up to the falls. What a view & noisy rushing water. With all the rain we have been having it sure was heavy flowing. When we left Vancouver it was raining & continued till after we got to Brackendale. After that we had cloudy skies with a bit of sun. Not too many eagles were there but we had a guide, Bruce J Matthews who was a volunteer waiting for us on the dyke with binoculars & was very informative. www.naturesquamish.ca Afterward we went to the village of Squamish for lunch wherever our group wanted with free time. Then our driver took us to the Westcoast Railway Heritage Park. www.wcra.org That sure made up for the lack of eagles. Most of us had not been & were very impressed. Nathan our guide was really super with us & we lucked out with being able to see all, ride the mini train & as well the man who takes care of the miniature outdoor train was there. All these people are volunteers. We then head off back to Vancouver with great memories & great friends.

LEE'S FLAMING BRITANNIA’S BRUINS

"RELAY FOR LIFE"

THIS IS A NON-ATHLETIC EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CANCER RESEARCH. THERE IS NO COMPETITION OR PRESSURE.
YOU WALK A FEW 1/2 HOUR LAPS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, AT YOUR OWN PACE. YOU CAN RUN OR STROLL THE ROUTE, UP TO YOU.
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL AGE GROUPS & CAPABILITIES. IT USUALLY TAKES PLACE TOWARDS THE END OF MAY. EXACT LOCATION & TIME IS TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
IF YOU REGISTER BEFORE JAN 31/09 THE FEE IS ONLY $10.00. AFTERWARD IT INCREASES TO $40.00. MINIMUM FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT IS $100.00 & YOU WILL HAVE 5 MONTH'S TO COLLECT THIS.
GO TO WWW.RELAY FOR LIFE.CA FOR DETAILED INFORMATION.
GO TO THE ABOVE LINK - CHOOSE BC - THEN VANCOUVER - THEN CLICK ON "JOIN AN EXISTING TEAM".
JOIN MY TEAM:
"LEE'S FLAMING BRITANNIA’S BRUINS"

IS MY TEAM NAME. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A SERIOUS EVENT WE DO HAVE FUN SO COME & JOIN US!!!! LAST YEAR THIS EVENT WAS HELD IN THE MIDDLE OF HASTINGS HORSE RACING TRACK! HOW NEAT IS THAT!

PLEASE JOIN ME IN FIGHTING CANCER.

THANK YOU,
Lee

MY NAME IS LEE TURNER & I AM A MEMBER OF BRITANNIA & A SENIOR WHO SWIMS & W/O HERE.

Bus Trip!!

Seats still available, limited!!!

Tuesday 12 Jan 2010

Brackendale to view the Eagles

Sqaumish to visit West Coast Railway Museum

Olympic Torch at Party 17 Dec

Lee Turner who was a Torch Bearer on the first day from Victoria, BC brought her torch to the PotLuck Xmas Party 17 Dec. She is very proud of this & let everyone enjoy the moment with her.
The following people are Vera, Michelle, Norman, Patricia & Lynn.

Potluck Xmas Dinner 17 Dec

Great time we all had. Great food, music & bingo to end the evening with some draws for gifties

the last pic is the dessert Buffet & half gone but what a spread we had tonight.

Burnaby Village Museum

Please be sure to play the video of the carousel!!!

Volunteer positions

Volunteer Opportunities
December 14, Monday 3-5pm

Youth Mentorship Carving Project

Blessing Event Videographer

Aaron Nelson Moody was engaged by Britannia to work in collaboration with local youth to design and execute First Nations themed house posts and ridge beam entrance way for the Britannia Ice Arena. This entranceway is now completed and installed on its permanent home attached to the Britannia Arena. Witnesses are invited to this blessing event to participate in a ceremony which will include singing, drumming, blessing of the posts and beam either through smudging or perhaps water and cedar boughs. Witnesses at this event are there to remember the event and to pass it on as validators of the event.



A volunteer videographer is wanted to record the entire ceremony on a digital video camera so that we can archive this event and present it to members of the community on Dec 16! Volunteer should have an eye for composition or set-up so you know what to record and how and must be comfortable using digital video equipment. Access to your own equipment is an asset, but not necessary. Refreshments available. Entire ceremony is expected to take about 1 hour.



December 18, Friday 8:30am-10:30am and/or 1-2pm

Pre-School Winter Party Assistants

It’s the end of year party for the Pre-School at Britannia and pre-school families are invited to come celebrate! Volunteers are wanted to help make this event happen – main activities are setting up, making coffee etc, and taking down of the event



December 20, Sunday (10am- 4pm) and 21, Monday (4-8 or 5-8:30 or 7:30-11pm)

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival Operatives

It’s that wonderful time of year when we celebrate the longest night of the year and a return to light! Come join other community residents to celebrate this One Festival in Five Neighbourhoods!

Volunteers wanted in various areas

– Dec 20 is set-up day when we build the labyrinth of light (600 over candles used!) and prepare the performance rooms

- Dec 21 is the day of the event: Performance Hosts, hot chocolate sellers and labyrinth guides needed



December 15-March 1, 2010

Britannia Aquaponic Project Assistant Coordinator (BAPAC)

A volunteer is wanted to help with the sourcing of material and building of a self-contained food producing system utilizing fish to produce fertilizer for plant food! (how cool is that? :P) Volunteer will report to the Project Coordinator with the Grandview Woodland Food Connection & work closely with Britannia students to help monitor and maintain the system during this time period. Experience and interest with public education and outreach (creation of press releases, posters etc.) are assets but not necessary. The ideal candidate would be resourceful in finding materials, have a keen interest in sustainability and sciences (biology, agriculture, etc.), have some knowledge of fish and gardening and access to a vehicle for transporting materials. The volunteer will gain some training on this amazing system and build your knowledge of aquaponics! There are also opportunities for potential spin-off projects after the successful completion of this in March. Bus tickets and/or gas will be reimbursed for transportation incurred.



If you’re interested in any of these positions, call or email me directly! Thanks and have a wonderful winter season!

Charlene

Coordinator, Volunteer Program

Britannia Community Services Centre

604-718-5860 or charlene.wee@vancouver.ca