I do hope you asked your candidates questions about their mandate for seniors on affordable housing, long term care, agriculture, farming, the shortage of doctors, environment, water testing, transportation and any problems related to your community. If you don't vote, then you can't complain about your municipal council, so a senior told me!

Since September, I have attended two meetings on affordable housing and elder abuse, one on long term care, seat belts, Bill 14 Access to Justice, Aging in Place and AARP from the United States were in Ontario on a fact-finding mission.

The National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation's 62nd convention was held in Truro, Nova Scotia from September 19th - 23rd. We dealt with 95 resolutions which the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation will make into a brief to present to the federal government. All provinces except Alberta and Manitoba were represented. It was a very educational and enjoyable five days.

Their slate of officers is as follows:

President, Art Field, Ontario.
Ist Vice President, Don Holloway, Newfoundland.
2nd Vice President, Edda Ferguson, Nova Scotia.
3rd Vice President, Lorraine Foster, British Colombia.
Secretary, Ferne Haight, Saskatchewan.
Treasurer, Joyce Mitchell, Ontario.

I also learned that this is The Year of the War Bride. Has your community recognized or honoured war brides in your area? If so, please let us know what celebrations you had. It would be great to see pictures and write-ups in The Voice.

I understand there will be a train going from Montreal to Halifax to pick up war brides to attend the big celebration for them at Pier 21 on November 8, 2006. We were told the train was to go across Canada but it would be best to phone VIA Corporate Communications in Montreal at 514.871.6119 and speak to Ron Jackson or Peggy Topple.

If you ever go to Halifax, be sure to visit Pier 21. It has been renovated and the stories and films did not leave a dry eye in our group. Every immigrant or armed forces member left or returned through Pier 21 before, during and after World War II.

They have kept the doors intact so you can see them. Sketches of the war brides have been painted on wood from pictures they have received. There is one large bulletin board of pictures of the brides that they have collected. The outfits brought back many memories. It is rewarding to see our heritage being kept for future generations.

When we met with Monique Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, she told us that legislation would be coming down in the near future and it would not state the number of hours each patient was to receive in long-term care. Mrs. Jones may require five hours of care while Mrs. Brown may only require one hour of care; therefore the number of hours varies according to the patients needs.

October 19th was Ontario Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It you have any spare time, please adopt a senior in a nursing or retirement home if they have no one to visit them. Help us eradicate elder abuse.

It has been a joy to visit your clubs this fall and I'm looking forward to hearing from and visiting more clubs.

Enjoy each day and God Bless.

Marie M. Smith

VIA Rail Year of the War Bride | Pier 21 | Remembrance Day