The first day of summer was beautiful and a welcome change in the Cariboo.
We are also thankful that Sunday, June 22 turned out to be sunny as well for the Williams Lake OAPO Branch 93 50th anniversary celebration at the Seniors’ Activity Centre.
We were also fortunate to have our B.C. OAPO president Jennifer Coburn attend for the 50th anniversary of our branch.
Jennifer presented the Williams Lake Old Age Pensioners Organization Branch 93 with their 50th year certificate as a branch of the provincial board of the OAPO and thanked them for their 50 years of dedication to the organization.
Jennifer also presented long service awards to Pat Cassidy and Win Gooding for their loyal, dedicated and devoted service to their Branch 93 and the B.C. OAPO provincial board.
Acting Mayor Ivan Bonnell welcomed everyone attending and congratulated the Williams Lake OAPO for all they do to support seniors and the community of Williams Lake and area.
Also attending the anniversary celebration were OAPO branch members from Quesnel and Lac La Hache.
The OAPO Branch 93 presented the Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin with an information browser in commemoration of the Williams Lake OAPO Branch 93 50th anniversary milestone.
Many thanks to all the OAPO members who helped to prepare the food and serve the tea coffee for the occasion.
Also to those who set up the tables and decorated the centre so beautifully for the occasion.
The branch is grateful for all the seniors and friends who came to make the day so very special.
June has been a very busy month. On June 10, 11, and 12 the B.C. OAPO convention was held in Agassiz. Three delegates attended from our Williams Lake OAPO Branch.
They were Floris Martineau, Marlene Davis and Win Gooding.
There were 60 members attending.
Over the three days 47 resolutions concerning seniors were dealt with.
A few of the ones concerning seniors that passed are as follows:
• Maintain medicare as it now stands.
• Maintain the Canada Health Act.
• High cost of prescription drugs and dispensing fees.
• Shingles vaccine for all seniors at no cost.
• Guaranteed income be at a level equal to 40 hours a week work at minimum wage.
• Drivers licence test for all seniors should be at no cost.
• Postal services not to be cancelled for door to door service.
There were three speakers during the convention.
Tannis Braithwaite, spoke about her work as director of the B.C. Public Information Advocacy Centre.
The speaker was Isobel Mackenzie, the seniors advocate for B.C. She spoke on housing, transportation, economic help, hospital, discharge and care facilities.
Speaker Katrine Conroy, the NDP critic for seniors and long term care also spoke about these issues.
Two workshops were held.
Annette O’Connor led the workshop on memory and aging.
Sheila Pither led the workshop on chronic disease.
Roundtable discussions were held by each group at the end of the sessions.
Next year the B.C. OAPO convention will be held in Merritt. Our delegates felt that the convention overall was well worth attending.
It’s comforting to know that OAPO branches from all over B.C. are fighting for the same concerns for seniors across B.C. and Canada.
The Williams Lake OAPO branch will not hold meetings in July and August but will resume again on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Seniors’ Centre.
Until next time enjoy a safe and healthy summer wherever you are.