IN THIS ISSUE IT’S PARTY TIME! Travel EYE HEALTH Health DE-STRESS YOUR LIFE Finance OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | FALL 2023 | ISSUE 128 Publication mail agreement no: 40063603
Love your ears FREE 30-Day Hearing Aid Trial for Canadian Snowbirds This Fall, embark on your next adventure with better hearing. Whether you’re planning a roadtrip or travelling abroad, embrace all moments to the fullest with the latest hearing aid technology which provides a clearer and more natural sound experience. Start your FREE trial* of our latest hearing aids for 30 days – no referral required. *A comprehensive hearing assessment is provided to adults ages 19 and older at no cost. The results of this assessment will be communicated verbally to you. If you request a copy of the Audiological Report, an administrative fee will apply. Child hearing tests are conducted at select locations for a fee, please contact us for more information. Offer not available in Quebec. Not applicable for industrial hearing tests. This promotion is valid for select hearing aid models and cannot be combined with more than 1 partner promotion or discount unless stated otherwise. Offer applies to private sales of select hearing aids and discount is applied after any Government funding has been deducted. Some conditions apply, see clinic for details. Offers not valid in Quebec. Offer expires 11/30/2023. Book your FREE hearing aid trial!* Scan to visit HearingLife.ca/CSA-TBYB OR call 1-888-696-4564 and use MAG-TBYB-CSA to claim this offer
Editor’s Message CSANews© is published four times a year and is Copyright Fall 2023 by Medipac International Communications Inc., 180 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5. 416.441.7000. Subscription Price: $9.95 Canada; $20.00 U.S. and foreign. Single copy: $3.95. Prices include tax. Published by Medipac International Communications Inc. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and are not necessarily those of the CSA, Medipac International Communications Inc. or its affiliates, their Directors, Officers, or other employees or agents. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No: 40063603. ISSN No: 1195-2393 Barb & Ron Kroll Dr. Robert MacMillan Shari McIntyre David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Rex Vogel Robert Wiersema Judith Adam Gabrielle Bauer Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox James Dolan Milan Korcok Karen Huestis Ron Steeves Garry McDonald Ted Popel Wendy Caban Bob Slack John Foster James Carl Simpson Johanne Blain Michael MacKenzie Wallace Weylie President First Vice-President Second Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Past-President Director Director Director Executive Director Legal Counsel CSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Editor CSA Editor President Art Director Director of Operations Marketing & Events Specialist J. Ross Quigley Karen Huestis Christopher Davidge Peter Prusa Paula McGovern Fran Castricone FALL 2023 | ISSUE 128 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada. Merv Magus Cover photo: iStock.com/GregMeland Illustrator I find it somewhat ironic that N95 masks are back in vogue. After the government basically forced us to wear masks during the Covid crisis, there is almost no mention of wearing a mask to protect us against the terrible smoke and residue spewing from our forest fires. This smoke is dangerous, especially to anyone with any kind of breathing problems and, at times, it reaches every nook and cranny in Canada. There is really not enough information about masks and their effectiveness. The N95 masks are the most effective and the ones that you should wear. The masks which you are commonly given at restaurants and even at hospitals are not very effective. The normal rectangular blue masks leak and they remove far fewer toxins than an N95 mask. I think of them as “feel good” masks and I wonder why the proper N95 masks have not been mandated and distributed. I imagine that cost is the reason – or sweetheart government contracts. Full credit should be given to the B.C. government, as they are the only ones who have even mentioned masks as protection. And they recommend N95 masks. There are forest fires in every province of Canada and the resulting smoke is, as I said, deadly. Winds blow that smoke everywhere – even down to parts of the U.S. Please get a few N95 masks and wear them on those hazy days – and when there are air quality alerts on your TVs. If you can, make sure that you have HEPA filters in your home and keep the windows closed. Then you can breathe easily. Sincerely,. J. Ross Quigley Editor CSANews | FALL 2023 | 3
Table of Contents FALL 2023 | ISSUE 128 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION It’s Party Time! Excite your senses with the sights, sounds, colours, scents and tastes of international special events. by Barb & Ron Kroll Features Snowbird Special Events 14 7 53 20 The Towns Too Tough to Die Discovery three towns in which the spirit of the Old West is still alive. by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle Snowbird Extravaganza CSA Winter Information Meetings Provincial Picnics 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 40 Golf by David McPherson 42 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 44 Gardening by Judith Adam 46 Food & Drink by Shari McIntyre 48 Fun & Games 49 Grins & Giggles 50 CSA Application 51 CSA Benefits 52 CSA Update 53 CSA Events 54 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 7 Snowbird Events 8 Bird Talk 10 President’s Message 11 Government Relations Report 12 Insurance by J. Ross Quigley 13 Opinion by Michael Coren 36 Health Pulse 37 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 38 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 39 Book Review by Robert Wiersema 32 34 24 Cataracts, Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma Preserving your eyesight as you age. by Dr. Robert MacMillan As Canadians drink less, Alcohol Guidelines Stiffen Canada’s national drinking guidelines have changed. by Milan Korcok Finance De-stress your financial life Simple strategies for minimizing money worries and getting rid of financial anxiety. by James Dolan Health Departments CSANews | FALL 2023 | 5
Snowbird Alert Source: www.newscanada.com Kids aren’t the only ones affected by RSV Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a highly contagious illness with mild cases having similar symptoms to a cold or flu. Many people associate RSV with young children; however, RSV can affect people of all ages. In fact, adults over the age of 60 are among those at increased risk of developing serious respiratory issues from RSV, even more so if they have underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes or congestive heart failure. RSV can worsen such conditions and may lead to hospitalization. And, while young children may have higher rates of hospitalization, most deaths attributed to RSV occur in older adults. So, what happens that makes us more vulnerable to RSV once we’re older? As we age, our immune system weakens, which makes us less able to fight off infections and can increase our vulnerability to viruses such as RSV. This natural, age-related decline in immune function becomes more evident the older we get, making older adults more likely to face severe problems and potentially become hospitalized with RSV. Getting sick with RSV at an older age can also have long-term impacts, including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke weeks or months after catching the virus, which can also lead to loss of mobility and independence. While preventive options for RSV are in development, there’s currently no vaccine or treatment in adults, making it crucial to take steps to avoid catching it. Regularly washing your hands and avoiding close contact with people who are sick, even if that means having to skip a visit with the grandkids or outings with friends, are effective measures which you can take. How to protect yourself when using money apps More and more apps are available to help us manage money online, and they seem to be gaining in popularity. With products, services and advice constantly changing and increasingly digital, here’s what you need to know. Many of these apps are designed to help you manage your finances online. Banks offer apps with personalized products and services, including product comparison tools and budgeting tools. Third-party providers may offer services to buy or sell cryptocurrencies or invest in the stock market. While money apps can be a practical and convenient method to manage personal finances, they can also pose risks, particularly when they’re not from your bank. Before using one, make sure that you understand how your personal and financial information may be used. If you’re unsure, ask your bank before providing details such as banking or credit card numbers or passwords. Big problems when using a money app could include data breaches and fraud. Read the app’s privacy and security policies and remember that it’s your responsibility to look for any purchases or withdrawals which you didn’t make and to check your bank’s policy regarding how customers are protected against fraud. If you become a victim of fraud, contact your bank and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Also notify Canada’s two credit reporting agencies – TransUnion and Equifax – to place a fraud alert on your account. Find out more about your online banking rights and responsibilities at canada.ca/money. Three helpful tips to boost your immune system as you age As we age, our immune system weakens, which is why older people are more susceptible to getting sick and often take longer to recover from illness than they did when they were younger. So, the older we get, the more important it is to give your immune system the support it needs. Here are three ways in which you can do that. Eat well The food you eat is the fuel that your body needs to function. Consuming a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables to get all of the nutrients you need – and minimizing processed foods – will help you stay healthy. Smoking and drinking alcohol both negatively affect your immune system, so you should avoid or minimize consumption of both if you’re looking to boost your immunity. Remember adult vaccines Throughout one’s life, vaccination including adult vaccinations provides effective protection against disease. While many of us are familiar with childhood vaccinations, they don’t provide lifelong immunity against every disease. As well, some vaccines are prescribed only for adults. Adults require helper, or booster, shots to maintain immunity for some conditions. And, if you didn’t get all of your shots as a child, you could still be at risk of infection from vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, if you are among the 90 per cent of Canadian adults over 50 years old who’ve had chickenpox, you should consider a vaccine to help prevent shingles. It’s a painful disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Exercise regularly Regular exercise improves your cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and helps protect against a variety of viruses and diseases. A balanced diet and regular exercise will also help you maintain a healthy body weight which, in turn, helps boost your immune system. While exercise is important, allowing your body to rest is equally valuable. Sleep is the tool which your body uses to recharge its batteries, including your immune system. 6 | www.snowbirds.org
Events Snowbird Events Join us at a CSA Winter Information Meeting! Florida Snowbird Extravaganza RP Funding Center 701 West Lime St. Lakeland, Florida Tuesday and Wednesday, January 30 & 31, 2024 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arizona Snowbird Extravaganza Mesa Convention Center 201 North Center St. Mesa, Arizona Monday, February 5, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winter Texans’ Snowbird Extravaganza McAllen Convention Center 700 Convention Center Blvd. McAllen, TX Wednesday, February 14, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All events start at 1:00 p.m. (doors open at noon). For more information or to volunteer, call the CSA at 1-800-265-3200 or visit www.snowbirds.org INDIO, CA Tuesday, February 27 Fantasy Springs Casino Resort 84245 Indio Springs Pkwy. WINTERHAVEN, CA Thursday, February 29 Quechan Casino 525 Algodones Rd. Hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of people attend these one-of-a-kind meetings. Join us for a taste of Extravaganza entertainment, hear presentations from the Canadian Snowbird Association, get a Medipac insurance update and pose questions to the panel right from the audience. SUBJECT TO CHANGE Florida WIM dates will be announced in the winter issue of CSANews CSANews | FALL 2023 | 7
Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, Is there a way to estimate the amount of provincial health plan coverage for health costs incurred in the U.S.? The reimbursement amount is important to know, in order to help snowbirds choose a deductible amount when they are buying out-of-country insurance. Snowbirds, beware! I received a disappointing 14% ($980) from OHIP of the CDN$7,000 cost of my emergency retinal surgery in the U.S. I had chosen an insurance deductible of $10,000 to reduce my premium, so I had to rely on OHIP to help cover my costs. I also learned that the cost of my surgery would have been many times more expensive if I went to a hospital, instead of visiting an ophthalmologist. I had wrongly assumed that OHIP would reimburse me for the approximate cost of the same surgery in Ontario, but it appears that it did not. There is no way that a vitrectomy and retinal tear surgery with an ophthalmologist and anesthesiologist only costs $980 in Ontario. This must mean that snowbirds save OHIP – and perhaps other provincial health plans – an enormous amount of money in health-care costs if they require medical care while travelling abroad. If this is true, Canada should be supporting snowbirds in any way that they can. Brad Gris Binbrook, ON Ed.: The reimbursement rate should not be a factor in determining your deductible. If you purchase out-of-country medical insurance and your medical insurance provider pays your claim, they will receive the reimbursement, not you. You will not be able to collect the reimbursement amount and apply it to your deductible. Your deductible amount should only reflect what you can afford to pay in the event of a medical emergency; nothing else. Your comments regarding Canadian snowbirds actually saving Canadian taxpayers money are well stated and well received. This is precisely what the CSA has been arguing for more than 30 years. Dear Bird Talk, Did CANADIAN SNOWBIRDS ever find out if you can leave your RV in the U.S. yearround? Or do you have to bring it home after six months?????? We have a membership at Port Susan Camping Club in Washington state which we use all year round – never exceeding 120 days – but the trailer stays down there all year. Do we have to bring the trailer back every six months? Sandy Guthrie Abbotsford, BC Ed.: If you leave your vehicle (or trailer) in the United States for longer than 12 months, the United States government assumes that you have imported it. Taxes and import duties may apply. You should also have a candid discussion with your RV insurance provider and read your policy to see what limitations the policy contains concerning time outside of Canada. Dear Bird Talk, We are selling our winter home in Arizona after 20 years. Are we able to bring to Canada some of our belongings purchased in the U.S., but long ago? We don’t have invoices, nor do we know exactly when they were purchased during the 20 years. Will we have to pay duty on these items? Are there special forms we need in order to bring personal belongings across the border? I tried calling customs but did not get a suitable answer. Sandi Elliott Calgary, AB Ed.: Duty and tax will be payable on these items beyond your personal exemption. There are no specific forms to complete if you will be arriving at the border with these things. It is recommended that you compile an itemized list of everything you are bringing back to Canada. Canada Border Services Agency will assess the applicable duty and taxes on these items at a depreciated value. I would also call the Canadian border station where you will be crossing and advise them you will be bringing your personal effects back to Canada; they have often been very helpful in allowing personal goods to cross. Dear Bird Talk, My husband and I have been spending our winters in Florida for a number of years. We are usually in the U.S. for fewer than 182 days. However, last year we went over by about 20 days and filed a Form 8840 for the first time. This year, if we travel when we want to, we will again be over by about 25 days. As long as we file the Form 8840, are we okay to stay in the U.S. for the extra 25 days, or should we shorten our trip? Judy Fisher Inverary, ON Ed.: Filing an 8840 form does not grant you permission to stay in the United States for longer than 182 days or six months. The IRS 8840 Form has absolutely nothing to do with customs and immigration; it is a tax form. If you intend to stay in the United States for longer than 182 days, you are intending to violate the terms of your verbal B2 visitor visa, which could lead to you being barred from entering the United States in the future. There are many examples of persons being barred from re-entry to the United States for two years, five years or even for life. Please restrict your trips to six months and definitely file the Form 8840. Dear Bird Talk, I own my own place in the U.S. and live there for the winter months. I’ve bought a vehicle and have it registered and insured in the state in which I own property. I use this vehicle as a daily driver while I’m in the states for the winter. I would like to drive it back to Canada for the summer months and use it as a daily driver and drive it back to the U.S. again for the winter months. Is this allowed? Randall Hiebert Grand Forks, BC Ed.: No, unfortunately you cannot bring your U.S. vehicle into Canada temporarily. If you want to bring your U.S. titled and registered vehicle into Canada, you will have to export it from the United States and import it into Canada, pay the applicable duties and taxes and register the vehicle in your home province. Dear Bird Talk, Realizing a profit from selling a car isn’t taxed as a “capital gain,” so why is a house which is registered as a vehicle, as per my requirement to buy a licence sticker for my front window from the Florida Department of Highway Safety? Which country is requiring me to pay this capital gain? Canada or the U.S.? Brent Murday Ontario Ed.: In accordance with the U.S. tax code, you are required to disclose the sale of the property and pay capital gains tax, if applicable. Similarly, this gain would need to be disclosed on your Canadian tax return as well, but you may be able to use foreign tax credits to offset or minimize any tax owed in Canada. To be succinct, selling a car for a profit will attract tax in both Canada and the U.S., but this is rare and the CRA does not pay much attention to the sale of a normally depreciating asset. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
Ed.: Please do not take idle chatter about individual experiences as evidence that things have changed. We often hear what we want to hear and that doesn’t always reflect the rules as they are written. Here is an excerpt from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website; today: Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2). During your visit to the United States, you may visit Canada or Mexico for up to 30 days and re-enter the United States, if you re-enter within the timeframe indicated on the Form I-94 that you received when you first entered. For instance, if you arrived in the United States on July 10th with a B2 visitor visa, and on or after December 10th you decide you want to visit Canada or Mexico, you must keep in mind that the six-month period is up on January 10 and you will have to depart from the United States on that same day to avoid an “overstay” (unless you applied for an extension of stay). If you enter the United States with a B2 visitor visa for six months and return to Canada or visit Mexico during that six-month period for fewer than 30 days, the end date of your six-month period hasn’t changed! It is still based on six months from the date of your initial entry. Border guards may interpret or apply rules a little differently, allowing visitors a little grace from time to time. We are guiding you by the rules as they are written in order to avoid grief when heading south. Bird Talk Featuring the letters & concerns of our members SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Bird Talk, c/o CSANews 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 Online at www.snowbirds.org/bird-talk or by e-mail: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, Good Day, CSA!!! I am a CSA member and have been for several years. I can assure you that I certainly appreciate the continued support to retirees and to Canada’s snowbirds. CSA News is always a welcome source of updated information. Fight on! I have chatted recently with several military and RCMP retirees about the change of healthcare providers, from Sun Life to Canada Life. There is yet much confusion and frustration regarding the overall transition. First of all, it is not widely known that the 01 July, 2023 health-care transition only applies to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), not to the Public Service Dental Care Plan (PSDCP)! Ergo, Canada Life, as of 01 July, 2023 is the provider for only our health-care plan, PSHCP claims, while Sun Life remains the provider for our dental-care plan, PSDCP claims, until 01 July, 2024. This information needs to be circulated far better than it has been, thus I decided to send an email to Bird Talk, where help will undoubtedly be found. Secondly, the Canada Life (cost-saving) declaration of “going green,” hence no cards will be provided, is equally not well understood, especially by the elder PSHCP population. Many retirees do not have computers, nor smart phones and are not necessarily electronically gifted...count me in! This situation needs to be remedied, I’d guess by Canada Life, with the issue of new client cards. Again, thank you for your continued support and for your excellence in pursuing the matters that have become so important to the overall Public Service community. Per Ardua Ad Astra! Glen Buchanan RCAF Retired Winnipeg, MB Ed.: We hope that publishing this information helps keep the confusion to a minimum for our retired servicemen and servicewomen. We believe that Canada Life should rethink their position and services. The quote above means ”Through Adversity to the Stars” and was the motto of the RCAF prior to 1968. Dear Bird Talk, In your summer 2023 response to the question posed by Leslie Bailey, you indicated that it has been made quite clear to the CSA by the USCBP Agency that short trips out of the U.S. (including visits home for the holidays) should not be deducted from days spent in the U.S. for immigration purposes. In the past two years, we have heard multiple reports from fellow snowbirds that USCBP officers at the Calgary airport have clearly indicated that the USCBP Agency no longer follows this policy. With the free exchange of travel data between Canadian and U.S. authorities, USCBP officers need simply look at their computer screens to see the exact number of actual days spent in the U.S. (i.e., they no longer have to do the math themselves). I recall that many years ago, the CSA obtained a letter from the U.S. authorities advising that snowbirds returning home for fewer than 30 days were still required to count these days as time spent in the U.S. With the advent of information sharing and real-time computer systems, this would no longer seem to make any sense. Further, the repeated advice of these Calgary airport USCBP officers would seem to confirm that this policy is no longer being followed. Can the CSA obtain an update on the current policy of the USCBP Agency on this matter? James M. Thibault Haliburton, ON CSANews | FALL 2023 | 9
President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President In July, aviation analytics company Cirium reported that fewer than 52% of Air Canada’s 36,017 flights in June arrived on time. The Canadian Transportation Agency has proposed a new set of regulations regarding air travel compensation that aims to close loopholes which have enabled airlines to avoid compensating customers who encounter flight delays and cancellations. The proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations outline the circumstances under which an airline would not be required to compensate customers, eliminating most “technical problems” as an acceptable excuse to deny compensation. The new rules will also permit travellers to claim a refund if the federal government raises the risk level of travel to a specific country, or if a delay prevents one from completing their trip within a “reasonable time.” Airlines will be required to provide compensation for inconvenience to travellers when there is a flight disruption unless there are “exceptional circumstances,” and airlines will have the burden to prove that the situation is an exceptional circumstance. Unfortunately, how these exceptions are to be defined remains unclear. Changes are also being proposed regarding what type of food and accommodation airlines would be required to offer if a flight is delayed or cancelled. The proposed changes would require airlines to provide this kind of assistance for any flight disruption, although those caused by “exceptional circumstances” would be limited to an undefined period of time. An attempt is also being made to improve the passenger complaint process. Currently, any passenger filing a complaint must enter into an informal dispute resolution process with the airline. If a mutually agreeable solution cannot be reached, the case then proceeds to a formal adjudication process which can take years. Under the new proposed regulations, a mediation stage must begin within 30 days of a complaint being filed. If an agreed-upon solution cannot be reached, a binding decision should be made within 60 days. Currently, the complaints backlog sits at more than 52,000 and requires an average of two years per case to complete. It appears that there is still a great deal of uncertainty concerning many of these new proposals and that the devil will be in the details. The government hopes to have the new regulatory regimen in place in time for the winter travel season. In July, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ) introduced the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, bipartisan legislation to extend the amount of time for which Canadians 50 years of age and older can visit the United States by two months. Current law limits the amount of time a Canadian visitor may spend in the United States to six months less a day in any 12-month period. The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act will allow Canadian citizens aged 50 and older who either rent or own a residence in the United States to remain in the country for up to 240 days each year. The bill prohibits these individuals from working for United States employers or seeking public assistance while in the United States and clarifies that they will retain their non-resident tax status. In February, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2023, S. 387 in the United States Senate. This bill was co-sponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). As always, we will continue to work on passage of the Canadian Retiree Visa and provide members with updates as soon as new information becomes available. As a reminder, after a lengthy pandemic-induced hiatus, we are resuming our traditional round of Fall Lifestyle Presentations. In September, we will begin our tour in Alberta with stops in Calgary and Sherwood Park before heading to Kelowna, British Columbia. We will then proceed east to Ontario for shows in Nepean, Port Hope, Oakville, Markham and St. Catharines. We will conclude our fall tour in the Maritimes with shows in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Summerside, Prince Edward Island and Moncton, New Brunswick. As always, you’ll be treated to another great evening of first-class musical and comedy entertainment. It’s also a great opportunity to learn the latest about what your association and our friends at Medipac are doing on your behalf. Admission is free and please feel free to bring your friends. On behalf of Bill and myself, safe travels and, hopefully, we’ll have a chance to meet at one of our upcoming events. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Ron Steeves First Vice-President Canadian travellers should be aware of upcoming changes to travel requirements for entry into 30 European nations next year. Beginning in 2024, Canadian citizens travelling to certain European countries will be required to obtain a permit known as a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorization. An ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Finland, Germany and Portugal. A full list of all 30 countries can be accessed here, travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/ who-should-apply_en#ETIAS-countries. The ETIAS travel authorization is linked to a traveller’s passport and is valid for a threeyear period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. When you obtain a new passport, you will be required to apply for a new ETIAS travel authorization. Please note that the ETIAS travel authorization is issued to only one person and is linked to their travel document. Other individuals, including family members, are required to have their own ETIAS travel authorizations. With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these 30 European countries as often as you want for short-term stays – normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That being said, the travel authorization does not guarantee entry. When you present yourself at a port of entry, the border officer will ask to see your passport and other documents in order to verify that you meet the entry requirements for that country. You can complete the application form for a travel authorization by using either the official ETIAS mobile application or the website – travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorization costs seven Euros (roughly CAD$10.30). The application form is available in all 24 official EU languages, including English and French. Applicants who are younger than 18 or older than 70 years of age are exempt from this payment, as are family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals, who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union. During the application process, you will be asked to provide the following information: ▶ Personal information including your name, date and place of birth, sex, nationality, home address, email address and phone number(s); ▶ Your parent(s)’ first name(s); ▶ Travel document details; ▶ Your level of education and current occupation; ▶ The country of your first intended stay and the address of your destination; and, ▶ Details about any past criminal convictions, past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been the subject of a return decision. While most applications are processed within minutes, it is possible that your application may take longer to process. If so, you will receive a decision within four days. Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview. This is why it is advised that you should apply for an ETIAS travel authorization well in advance of your planned trip. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an email confirmation which will include your unique ETIAS application number – make sure that you keep this number for future reference. Once your application has been processed, you will receive an additional email informing you about the outcome of your application. When you get your ETIAS travel authorization, you will need to ensure that your name, passport number and other information are accurate. Any discrepancy could result in your denial of entry. If your application is refused, the email will provide the reasons for this decision. It will also include information about how to appeal. As your ETIAS travel authorization is linked to your travel document, make sure to carry the same document which you used in your ETIAS application. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS. You do not need to print your travel authorization, as the check-in staff of the carrier and border officers can access your travel authorization on their internal systems. You may, however, carry a printout for your own convenience. More information about what to expect when crossing EU borders is available on the official ETIAS website. At the time of printing, ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected at this point. The Canadian Snowbird Association will be providing members with updates regarding this new requirement through our email advisories as soon as more information becomes available. Judy and I wish you safe travels. CSANews | FALL 2023 | 11
J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. Insurance We are ready to go South, today. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the birth of another grandson (daughter?) in early October and we must attend our office Christmas party in early December. The word “unfortunately” is probably incorrect, as we are very excited to have a new addition to our family. Our Christmas party is also a highlight of our year, but the sirens of the South are calling anyway. One of my goals this week is to get our travel insurance in place and it is getting expensive as we age, as you all know only too well. Pat’s mother, who usually travels with us, is aged 98 and, fortunately, she is still pretty healthy. She spent a few days in hospital this year, so we will need an underwritten policy to waive the hospital pre-existing exclusion for her. You should read the pre-existing exclusions in your policy to be sure that you are properly covered. Medipac does not wish to sell you a policy unless you have complete coverage for everything. Call us if you have questions. Medical inflation in the U.S. is ridiculous; the Canadian dollar is not behaving well and Covid and RSV are going to be issues for us to resolve. We have done our best to keep rates as low as we can, and we still have the fairest insurance policy in the snowbird marketplace. There are many “unknowns” this year. Have these terrible forest fires damaged our lungs? What are the long-term effects of breathing the poisons in the air? Is our drinking water safe, with all of the flooding and run-off from the forest residue? These are not simple questions, but they are overwhelmed by the people who have lost their homes and everything in them. Where are they going to go and who is going to help them? How do they rebuild their lives? I thought it rather bizarre that the U.S. compensation for losing everything in Lahaina, Hawaii was only $700 per household. What a joke! The Maui United Way is giving $1,000 to each person – a little better. Hopefully, our governments will step up and really help our people. I pray that you are all safe and have people to turn to during this terrible time. The sirens of the South are calling. 12 | www.snowbirds.org
Earlier this year, someone came to see me and told me that she wanted to die. Long pause, as we reflect on that statement. Yes, this poor woman wanted to die. The issue was assisted death – or MAiD – and the middle-aged woman (I can’t use her real name for obvious reasons) felt that life was simply too dark, too jarring and too utterly pointless to tolerate. She’d had a husband but he had left her, her birth family had been abusive and she no longer had any contact with them, she was unable to secure a job, lived in substandard housing and had, for some time, experienced mental health challenges in a system where finding a psychiatrist was almost impossible. She’d thought about it for a long time, but saw no hope of happiness or joy and only a life of further agony. She wept as she told me all of this. A situation, I’m afraid, that is much more common than you might think. It’s immensely humbling how people who have shown little, if any, interest in faith and religion turn to clergy in times of immense distress. This was the third time in four years that someone had approached me to discuss the issue; in one of them, death was imminent, and the other concerned longterm depression. The first passed away before a decision could be made, and I lost contact with the second. The requirements for MAiD are currently under further discussion, thank God. I believe that there should be such an option for those in ceaseless pain and suffering with no chance of improvement, or those facing death who want to leave on their own terms and surrounded by family. But the controls must be severe and strict, and access fiercely controlled. In this case, I explained that I wasn’t qualified to give advice, and urged more consultation with doctors and experts. Been done, she said. As well as repeated attempts to find better housing, any sort of work, or a hospital at which she could receive regular care. Here’s where we allegedly irrelevant clergy can help. We can listen, and we can point out possibilities. I’ve no special skills and have more than enough of my own demons, but I’ve come to know the system and how to open closed doors. Relationships have been formed, and trust built. We found someone who would employ her, albeit at minimum wage; there was a genuinely kind, if overworked, local authority manager who could make sure that housing was improved; and a doctor who is one of the saintliest people I know (a committed atheist, by the way) who agreed to take her on immediately for regular consultation. Was she serious in her talk of wanting to die? Yes, I think so. I’ve seen enough cries for help to know the real thing. For the time being, a support mechanism is in place and a group of us are there for her. Whether she’ll change her mind again, I can’t say. Organized kindness, a society coming together to help the most vulnerable, the way it ought to be. But this is one person and, for major change to take place, there has to be serious investment in the public sector. Which means spending money and perhaps raising taxes. There is simply no way in which individual effort and personal compassion can ever be sufficient. Yet, some of the fiercest critics of assisted dying are conservatives who oppose expanded welfare programs and are deeply cynical about the role of the state in public life. They argue against MAiD, while simultaneously objecting to the very policies vital to rejuvenating the health service and boosting social support. I, too, believe that life has innate dignity, but it’s too glib to offer mere phrases to those so deep in despair that they see death as preferable to existence. The debate about assisted dying continues, and eligibility in Canada is still under review, which is the way it should be. But the idea that we can come to a balanced and informed decision without considering how we treat and care for the most vulnerable is as deluded as it is dangerous. This is one of the most serious issues which we face and by God, we better get it right. Think hard and think long. Because while we can’t always heal, we can almost always help and certainly try to do so – if we have the will and are prepared to pay the price. Opinion with Michael Coren CSANews | FALL 2023 | 13
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Few spectacles are more memorable than the sight of 500 multicoloured hot air balloons rising from a grassy launch site the size of 56 football fields. You can observe this mass ascension daily during Albuquerque, New Mexico’s International Balloon Fiesta, held for nine days every October. It’s no wonder that last year’s event attracted more than 828,000 spectators. But the festival offers much more than balloons floating slowly up and away. The 2023 fiesta (the 51st ) features hot air balloon competitions, drone light shows choreographed to music, skydiving, concerts and twilight balloon glows (when pilots illuminate tethered inflated balloons with propane burners). Each day ends with impressive fireworks. You can even book a flight. As crew members unfurl the 25-metre-long envelope and use a fan to inflate it with hot air from a propane burner, vivid splashes of ripstop nylon billow out like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Within minutes, the balloon is straining at its ropes to lift off. You scramble into the gondola with the pilot and other passengers. With a whoosh of the propane burner, you’re travelling with the wind, waving to pilots in other airborne balloons. It’s an unforgettable experience. balloonfiesta.com IT’S PARTY TIME! Excite your senses with the sights, sounds, colours, scents and tastes of international special events. Dazzling fireworks. Glittering costumes. Crowdpleasing spectacles. There’s nothing like a festival to introduce you to the pulse and personality of a destination. Ranging from obscure to world-renowned, no two festivals are alike. You’ll find festivals for every interest and season around the world and in your own vicinity. Here are some of our favourites: Story and photos © Barb & Ron Kroll 14 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
Patron Saint Festas Noisy fireworks, ringing church bells and brass bands characterize more than 100 annual Maltese festas on patron saint feast days. These traditional village feasts began four centuries ago. Marching musicians follow parishioners carrying flags and the saint’s statue through the streets. People watch from balconies decorated with lights, banners and paintings of the saint. Reaching into enormous bags, they pull out armfuls of handcut white paper ribbons to scatter over the procession. The confetti strips cover spectators’ heads, drape trumpeters and drummers and accumulate knee-deep in the narrow streets. Children are ecstatic, throwing gobs of paper at each other in the closest substitute Malta will ever have to a snowball fight. Deafening fireworks reverberate from buildings as the statue enters the church. In friendly intervillage rivalry, the success of a festa is determined by the quality, quantity and decibel-level of the fireworks. maltainfoguide.com/malta-village-feasts.html easts.html Calgary Stampede Hundreds of rodeos punctuate calendars of events across North America. A parade of marching bands, horseback riders and chuckwagons kicks off Canada’s largest rodeo – the Calgary Stampede – held annually for 10 days in July. Spectators fill the stadium to watch rodeo events every afternoon. Chutes burst open. Bucking broncs cannonball out, bouncing and jolting their riders. Cowboys and horses work together to rope calves and race around barrels. Competition is intense for $1.85 million in prizes. But the stampede is much more than a Western festival. You’ll enjoy agricultural competitions, midway rides, games and food, powwows, free pancake breakfasts, musical performances on numerous stages and nightly fireworks. It’s no surprise that the Calgary Stampede is called “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” calgarystampede.com Beaches International Jazz Festival If you love music, don’t miss one of Canada’s largest free jazz festivals, which attracts nearly one million attendees during its month-long span. Held in Toronto in July, the Beaches International Jazz Festival showcases both local talent and international performers. In addition to jazz, you’ll hear boogie-woogie, blues, Dixieland, hip-hop and soul music on outdoor stages in several parks, as well as along Queen Street East during StreetFest. During the Salsa on the Beach weekend, you can dance to Latin melodies and enjoy food trucks and a beer garden. beachesjazz.com CSANews | FALL 2023 | 15 Travel
Oktoberfest A parade of ox-drawn beer wagons. Seventeen massive beer tents (and 21 small ones) filled with imbibers and Bavarian brass bands. Amazingly strong waitresses gripping six, litre-sized mugs of beer at one time. Souvenir beer steins. The world’s largest folk festival draws six million visitors annually to Munich, Germany. First held in 1810, Oktoberfest runs from the first Saturday after September 15 until the first Sunday in October. Admission to the grounds and tents is free. Festivalgoers can buy traditional costumes – women’s dirndls and men’s lederhosen – online and in local stores, to add to the fun. oktoberfest.de/en Puck Fair The crowning of a wild male goat (puck) highlights Ireland’s oldest festival, held annually on August 10, 11 and 12 in Killorglin. Pipers and Celtic dancers accompany a float carrying a billy goat from the surrounding mountains to a weatherproof pen. Men hoist the pen – bedded with straw and stocked with water and food – to the top of a three-tiered platform in Killorglin’s main square. A King Puck mascot – wearing a goat costume – poses for photos with people in the crowded streets. Buskers, midway rides and livestock fairs entertain locals and visitors. Hot dogs and ice cream tempt appetites. Inside pubs, musicians gather around small tables, playing guitars, accordions and fiddles. On the final day, King Puck descends from his elevated throne. After a vet confirms that he’s healthy, a marching band accompanies him back to the mountains. Fireworks light up the sky at midnight. puckfair.ie Crop Over Originally a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest in Barbados, this annual summer festival draws thousands of locals and emigrated Bajans who return home to party. Participants enjoy traditional foods and drinks, steel bands, calypso music competitions and costume parades. Excitement reaches a crescendo during the Grand Kadooment on the first Monday in August – a national holiday. Wearing glittering makeup and costumes decorated with colourful sequins, feathers and chiffon, thousands of revellers wave their arms in the air and dance from the National Stadium through the streets to the pulsating rhythm of steel bands. Islanders welcome visitors to join their celebrations. But rest up before going, because partying leaves little time for sleep. ncf.bb/crop-over 16 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
Toronto Caribbean Carnival Canadians don’t have to travel to Barbados to experience the music, culture and costumes of Crop Over. In 2023, North America’s largest outdoor street festival celebrated its 56th year in Toronto. The month-long festival draws nearly two million people to the Grand Parade alone. Held on the first Saturday in August, it’s a breathtaking kaleidoscope of sparkling costumes and music. You can join one of several bands of parading merrymakers by buying a costume on its website. torontocarnival.ca Thimphu Tshechu Tshechus are multi-day Buddhist religious festivals held around dzongs (fortress monasteries). Thimphu Tshechu, the most famous, takes place in Bhutan’s capital every September or October (depending on the lunar calendar). Monk dancers wear fearsome masks to remind spectators of the need for vigilance against demons. Their dances depict gods that people may encounter between death and rebirth. Horns, drums, chanting and clashing cymbals accompany the masked dancers, as they twirl and leap in Tashichho Dzong’s courtyard, symbolically stomping out evil spirits with exorcism rituals. Equally enticing to watch are the monks and thousands of spectators – garbed in colourful national costumes – who travel here to observe the event, eat, drink and socialize. Visitors are welcome to join them. bhutan.travel Semana Santa Once you’ve experienced Semana Santa (Holy Week) prior to Easter in Seville, Spain, you’ll never forget it. Processions of penitents wearing medieval period robes and conical hoods parade through the streets, carrying crosses and immense candles. Drums beat incessantly as muscular men shoulder hefty, century-old floats bearing statues depicting the Passion of Christ. Crowds fill the streets during the day and night as nearly 60 processions travel to the cathedral. spain.info/en/calendar/easter-week-sevilla April Fair In vivid contrast to the solemn Semana Santa, Seville’s April Fair is pure joy. During the six-day festival, more than one million people gather in small tents and on the streets to eat, sing, dance and meet friends. Women, girls and babies wear frilly flamenco dresses and flowers in their hair. Men and boys wear traditional gaucho (Spanish cowboy) outfits with bolero hats. Both ride horses and festive, horse-drawn carriages. Spectacular fireworks end the celebrations. spain.info/en/calendar/april-fair/ CSANews | FALL 2023 | 17 Travel
Shinto Feast Days Throughout the year, visitors to Japan can attend Shinto shrine festivals, celebrating events as diverse as the coming of spring and the rice harvest. More than 80% of the population practises the Shinto religion. Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto is the most famous of the more than 32,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. Visitors are welcome 24/7 and entrance is free. You’ll find festival dates and descriptions on its website. It’s fascinating to witness white-robed Shinto priests waving wands with paper streamers during purification rites and see shrine-maidens carrying offerings to Inari, the deity of rice, agriculture and prosperity. The rituals performed by worshippers are equally captivating. After making monetary offerings, they bow, ring bells and clap to draw the deity’s attention, before praying silently at candle-illuminated altars. You’ll also see Shinto practitioners seeking blessings and good fortune by writing their requests on small wooden plaques. inari.jp/en Day of the Dead You’d think that a festival memorializing departed souls would be sombre, but Mexicans pay homage to deceased loved ones with decorations, special foods and street fairs on November 2 (All Souls’ Day). Festivities also take place on October 31 (Young Souls’ Day) and November 1 (All Saints’ Day). These observances began in pre-Hispanic Mexico with indigenous beliefs that the souls of the deceased return annually to visit living relatives and eat and drink with them. Families honour their ancestors both at home and at gravesite altars. Skulls and skeletons – often seen in Aztec art – decorate stores and homes. Mexican children exchange candy skulls with friends. Traditionally, families share pan de muerto (bread of the dead). Made with sugar, butter, eggs, flour, yeast, anise and orange peel, it’s decorated with strips of dough simulating bones and teardrops. visitmexico.com Festival Gourmet International If you believe that Mexican food is just fajitas, burritos and tacos, Festival Gourmet International will change your mind. Every November, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Tepic host this annual 10-day culinary event. The region’s best restaurants and hotels feature dine-around dinners, cocktail parties and gourmet buffets. Progressive dinners with paired wines include transportation between restaurants for each course. During wine tastings and winemakers’ nights, participants discover that Mexico produces surprisingly good wines. Mexican and international chefs from Europe, Canada and South America conduct cooking demonstrations. Tickets include recipes, culinary secrets and mouth-watering meals. festivalgourmet.com.mx 18 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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