OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION | SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 98 Publication mail agreement no: 40063603 TRAVEL SABLE ISLAND WHERE WILD HORSES ROAM FREE FINANCE WITHDRAWAL STRATEGIES RV LIFESTYLE GOLD RUSH HEALTH CARE ON THE ROAD
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Editor’s Message J. Ross Quigley Editor CSANews© is published four times a year and is Copyright SPRING 2016 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 Dr. Robert MacMillan Willa McLean David McPherson Andrew Moore-Crispin Rex Vogel Merv Magus Donna Carter Michael Coren Jennifer Cox Shari Darling James Dolan Barb & Ron Kroll Illustrator Bob Slack Jim Sherb Ron Steeves Karen Huestis John Foster Gerry Brissenden James Leroux Nancy Hopcraft Ted Popel 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 Vice President Art Director Director of Sales Account Manager Director of Operations J. Ross Quigley Bob Slack Chris Bradbury Peter Prusa Neville B. Levin Fran Castricone Paula McGovern SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 98 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. very year that goes by, it seems a little harder to leave our winter paradise in Florida. Spring has just begun and the flowers and trees are blooming with promise. The yellow dusting of pollen and its semi-allergic assault on our senses has passed. The March Break crowds, their lineups and the vehicular gridlock seem long gone and everything is peaceful and serene. I can sense an uncertainty and sadness in our friends as they consider the best day to depart and what route to take if they are driving. There is an obvious reticence to leave, but leave we must! We have been leaving for many years now, and the planning is routine and well organized, but it is still an emotional time as we say our goodbyes to friends and neighbours. Our homes and communities are just a bunch of houses and apartments when we leave, but they will patiently await our return. But once we turn our eyes and thoughts to the North, there are new challenges, new dreams to chase and new experiences to be had. Another spring awaits with all its splendour and our old friends always return. What a wonderful life we lead. And I will get those darn taxes filed on time, I promise. Sincerely CONTRIBUTING EDITORS E CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 3
Table of Contents 16 22 Features SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 98 OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION Sable Island The land of wild horses, preserved in a national park. By Barb and Ron Kroll The Goldrush Trail: California Highway 49 Wander through the mining towns and wineries of the original 49ers. by Rex Vogel Travel RV Lifestyle 4 | www.snowbirds.org
Table of Contents 25 28 Departments 32 Health Pulse 33 Longevity by Jennifer Cox 34 Golf by David McPherson 36 Fitness by Jennifer Cox 37 Book Review by Willa McLean 38 Food & Drink by Shari Darling 40 CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin 42 CSA Application 43 Benefits 44 Fun & Games 45 Grins & Giggles 46 Fast Facts 3 Editor’s Message 6 Snowbird Alert 8 Bird Talk 10 President’s Message 11 Government Relations Report 12 Insurance by Ross Quigley 13 Canada Clubs 14 Profile by Donna Carter 15 Opinion by Michael Coren Six retirement withdrawal strategies you should know about How you take money out of your portfolio can have a big impact on your lifestyle. by James Dolan Medical Care away From Home This doesn’t have to hurt…really! by Dr. Robert MacMillan Finance Health CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 5
SnowbirdAlert Go to the doctor Get those pre-existing medical conditions under control and work with your doctor to make any necessary adjustments to your medication as soon as possible. Get followup tests and procedures scheduled so that you have a clear 90-day stability period before you head south in the fall. File your 8840 Form When you fulfil the requirements of the substantial presence test, you can be treated as a resident of the United States and be taxed by the IRS on your worldwide income. Declare your closer connection to Canada by completing the IRS 8840 Form and send it in. Update your Personal Health Record When you or your spouse are dealing with a medical emergency either away or at home, you don’t want to run around looking for prescription medication bottles or be concerned with an accurate recollection of what year or instance in which either of you received medical treatment. Write it down now, while you have time and presence of mind, and keep it in a handy spot – such as on your fridge – for quick and easy access should the time ever come at which you need to answer medical questions quickly. Renew your CSA Membership Support the only organization that actively lobbies governments in Canada and the United States to protect and defend the snowbird lifestyle. Note: 8840 Form, Personal Health Records and CSA Membership renewal can all be accessed easily at www.snowbirds.org Five things you should know about the Canadian Census Long-form? Short-form? Mandatory? Voluntary? So much to know, so little time. The census begins on May 2 this year and some Canadians may find the process a bit confusing, given recent changes to the national tally. Set yourself up for census success by separating fact from fiction with these mythbusters: SPRINGTIME SNOWBIRD CHECKLIST www.newscanada.com 1. The census is mandatory. All Canadians must complete their census questionnaire, either online, through the mail, in person or by phone. The mandatory long-form census replaces the previous voluntary household survey, as of November 2015. 2. There are two types of census questionnaires. Three out of four Canadians will receive a short-form census with 10 questions, while one out of four will receive a long-form census with 60 questions. The short-form census provides basic household information such as address, marital status and number of children, while the long-form census digs deeper into such things as citizenship and immigration status, ethnic background, birthplace of parents, education, income, housing, child-care and other support payments, and employment status. 3. The census measures more than just the number of people in Canada and where they live. Data collected from the census are used to make life easier for people and the communities in which they live. For example, things such as traffic congestion, overcrowded schools or new or improved hospitals and retirement centres can all be addressed using information from the census. The actual questions, and other information about the 2016 Census can be found on the Statistics Canada website. 4. Your information is protected. Everything you report is kept confidential and is protected by law. Your identity gets separated from your information and is never attached to it again. Take note of the secure access code on your census letter from Statistics Canada, which you should receive on or around May 2. This code is one of the measures in place to ensure that you can securely complete your census questionnaire online. 5. The results of the census are released in 2017. Data from the 2016 Census will be released in a very timely fashion. The first data release (for population and dwelling counts) is scheduled for February 8, 2017. 6 | www.snowbirds.org
Snowbird Currency Exchange Program TheSnowbird Currency Exchange Program is designed specifically for the snowbird lifestyle. It’s that unique! Join ranks with thousands of satisfied snowbirds who transfer money from Canada to the U.S. at exclusive, preferred exchange rates with little or no fees. It works with all major financial institutions, and the transfers are automatic. The Snowbird Currency Exchange Program is the ultimate in cross-border banking for Canadian snowbirds. The program enables you to transfer money automatically from your regular Canadian chequing account to your U.S.-based bank account. The rest is up to you! You can specify which months and what amounts you want to transfer, or you can have the same amount transferred every month on a continuous basis. What makes this program really unique is that we pool the funds of every enrolled snowbird and complete a single bulk transaction. This grants us access to bulk exchange rates otherwise unavailable to the consumer, and we pass the savings on to you. Unlike most exchange programs, the Snowbird Currency Exchange Program will not subject you to additional fees when your funds are transferred to your U.S. bank account. It’s that good! TheSnowbird Currency Exchange Program – it’s convenient, secure, trusted by thousands and worry-free. Proven by thousands of snowbirds 1-800-265-3200 For information please call the CSA or download the application from www.snowbirds.org
BirdTalk Dear Bird Talk, We recently used our Canadian credit card to pay for a meal in a U.S. restaurant. The total was $22.15 before tip, so I left a $4 tip for a total of $26.15. I noticed a few days later that my credit card was charged $ 53.15 Canadian...I know our dollar is low, but not that low....I inquired and it seems the restaurant charged me US$38.15…so a $16 tip on a $22 bill. I contacted the manager and he advised me that his server made a mistake. It seems that they only do up the actual final credit card charges later in the day and he applied this $16 tip to the wrong card. I’m not convinced of this and I told him so...he did refund me the overcharge. This does not occur in Canada, as we have chip/pin identification on our credit cards and we enter the tip amounts ourselves, usually on hand-held devices...just thought I should share this information with your readers. The lesson here, always keep your restaurant receipts and check them against your actual purchases. Richard Fortier Bath, ON Ed.: Good Advice! I would also not return to that restaurant; this was not a simple mistake, in my opinion. The other point to make here is that the bank charged you a 40% currency exchange – this is a huge ripoff and very common. Using a Canadian credit card or debit card in the U.S. is very, very expensive. I have found that having a U.S.-based bank account with a debit card attached is, by far, the best and cheapest way to buy anything in the U.S. Wells Fargo (my U.S. bank) has also given me a small line of credit for unexpected emergencies. Dear Bird Talk, Your article speaks glowingly about the outstanding benefits and recommends without exception that everyone should consume green tea and enjoy the amazing health benefits to be derived as a result. My eyebrows were raised on reading the article, particularly because I have a disease called atrial fibrillation and I consume the prescription Warfarin daily as an antidote to the possible blood clots which can be prevalent with this disease. Upon being diagnosed with Afib, I was provided with a manual developed and provided by Alberta Health Services. Page 11 of this manual states that there are only two foods to be avoided if you have Afib; the foods to avoid are GREEN TEA and pistachio nuts. Both of these foods are extremely high in vitamin K, which is a problemwith Afib and where potential blood clots are concerned, every effort should be made to avoid anything that could contribute to this potentially fatal situation. I do believe your writer should have noted a precaution in this regard and, because this was not the case, I sincerely hope this can be corrected in the letter section of the next issue. Doug Hughes Seba Beach, AB Ed.: Excellent information, Doug, thank you. You could also add bananas to that list of high “K” foods to be aware of. It is funny that what is good for high blood pressure is bad for atrial fibrillation. I have been advised to seek out foods with high potassium for my high blood pressure. There are some very interesting and effective new drugs for treating atrial fibrillation and you should discuss these with your doctor. They are: • Apixaban (Eliquis) • Dabigatran (Pradaxa) • Edoxaban (Savaysa) • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) Dear Bird Talk, At our park, the residents often repeat their pledge of allegiance and were in the habit of holding a minute’s silence to recognize Canadians. We determined that we are not dead so, rather than a minute’s silence, we created the following Canadian Pledge: “As Canadians, we honour our flag and the country for which it stands. As winter visitors, we will endeavour to uphold the laws and traditions of the United States of America. May the border between our two countries always remain free and friendly.” It has been well received by our U.S. friends and we would like to share, so others may use it if they so desire. Isobel Wilson Millbrook, ON Ed.: A very nice and meaningful gesture, now shared. Dear Bird Talk, Just received the I-194 Form from a past conviction 40 years ago. My wife and I just crossed at Calgary on our way to Vegas. My passport was stamped February 26-August 23 – can we go to Arizona in November for 90 days? Really confused…been travelling back and forth for many years. Thomas Twells Airdrie, AB Ed.: This is an impossible question to answer definitively. You have been granted a B2 Visitor Visa and have been permitted to remain in the United States for up to six months, as indicated by the stamp on your passport. If you do not stay in the U.S. for the entire six-month period, you MAY be permitted to enter the U.S. again for a limited period of time within the 12 months following your first border crossing on February 26. However, that will be up to the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer who interviews you when you try to cross the border. It’s up to the CBP Officer 100% of the time; period. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
BirdTalk Featuring the letters & concerns of our members SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Bird Talk, c/o CSANews 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 or by e-mail: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, Confused; friends go out of country for just under six months each and every year. How is this possible with calculating back two years prior. Is there something I am not understanding, as a lot of people I know do five to six months every year. Herman Bulger Port Colborne, ON Ed.: Your friends are allowed to visit the U.S. for six months, every year, as indicated in the above answer. Your confusion is mixing up the U.S. tax man and the U.S. immigration man. If you regularly go for three months or longer, I recommend that you file a Form 8840 with the IRS (the tax man). This will tell the IRS that you have a closer connection to Canada and are taxed in Canada. Also, to avoid additional confusion, the IRS works on a calendar year for tax purposes. The Form 8840 is available from the CSA on their website at www.snowbirds.org. Dear Bird Talk, I have faithfully submittedmy IRS 8840 Form for quite a few years now. My question is, can I stay past the 182-day limit by filling out the form? Or am I not protected by the friendly country alliance after the 182 days is up? Alex Badiuk Victoria, BC Ed.: Congratulations on regularly completing the Form 8840 for the Internal Revenue Service known as the IRS (the tax man). This will very likely prevent you from being taxed in the United States on your worldwide income. If you stay in the U.S. for longer than the six-month period allowed in any calendar year, the IRS will consider you to be a resident, and tax you. They will tax you on what you earn in Canada AND anywhere else, for that matter. The rare exception is when you have received special permission to extend your stay beyond six months, in writing, and this is rarely granted. Now, to answer your question. Filling out the Form 8840 has nothing to do with your length of stay – it has to do with taxes. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, which forms part of the Department of Homeland Security, monitors and enforces your length of stay. If you stay for longer than six months in any 12-month period, you are breaking the law in the U.S. and are violating the verbal visa which you received when entering the U.S. This is not a good idea!! Being barred from the U.S. for five to 10 years is a common punishment. Dear Bird Talk, We simply forgot to file our Form 8840 in June and filed in November – are there any likely consequences? Ross Ellison Alberta Ed.: I believe that, as long as you filed the form, you will be fine. This is not something which you should worry about. Dear Bird Talk, As a result of a recent medical trauma, I have discovered a disturbing aspect of the use of top-up insurance. In the event of a medical incident occurring late on the last day of primary insurance, it will probably not be covered by the primary insurer if treatment is not sought until the next day. On the other hand, Medipac insurance will not cover the incident based upon the fact that it occurred before midnight on the last day prior to the top-up period. In my case, the situation was resolved favourably as it was minor and actually occurred after midnight, but I would like to hear your comments on this issue. What would happen, for example, in the event of a major automobile accident that occurred at 11:30 p.m. Chris Hemstead Ottawa, ON Ed.: A great question! So let’s read the Medipac policy: “This policy covers Reasonable and Customary Charges incurred by You outside Your province or territory of principal residence; that result from a Medical Emergency occurring during the period of coverage (as explained below); and that You incur for Medically Necessary Medical Treatment. Your insurance begins at 12:01 a.m. on Your Effective Date of Insurance and ends on the earlier of: (a) 11:59 p.m. on the scheduled return date set out in Your Application for insurance; (b) the date You return to Canada for any medical reason. Once treatment ends You may apply to Medipac Assist to have Your policy reinstated.” This clearly states that the medical emergency must “occur” during your policy coverage period for expenses to qualify. So, in your example, the accident at 11:30 p.m. would be the responsibility of the primary insurer. If your primary insurer refuses coverage in this situation, Medipac would undoubtedly pay your claim and seek restitution from the offenders. This has actually happened to Medipac several times and is very unfair to policyholders; the insurers do always pay us back…eventually. Just as an aside.What happens at exactly 12:00 midnight? Since most policies are written in this manner, I would suggest that the bills be split evenly between the two insurers. CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 9
President’s Message Bob Slack CSA President As I sit down to write this column for CSANews on this beautiful Florida spring day, I can’t help but notice how cold it is back home. The snowbird lifestyle definitely has its privileges! Hopefully, the temperatures will have improved by the time you read this column. Yet again, Lois and I kicked off our winter tour with the annual Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland, Florida at the end of January. From there, we headed to McAllen, Texas for the Winter Texans’ Snowbird Extravaganza followed by the Canadian Snowbird Celebration in Mesa, Arizona. We then embarked upon our Winter Information Tour. This year, we kicked things off with a stop in Lake Havasu City, Arizona before visiting our friends in both Indio and Winterhaven, California. After a stop at a new location in Green Valley, Arizona, we were headed back to Florida for shows in Punta Gorda, Clearwater and Immokalee. Another great winter of informational meetings, top-notch entertainment and new members joining the Canadian Snowbird Association. Thanks again to everyone who came out to one of the shows and thank you somuch to all who volunteered. Without our volunteers, none of this would be possible. Finally, thanks to our partners at Medipac for all that they do in bringing these great events to our members year after year. On April 4, Saskatchewan residents went to the polls to elect their new provincial government. Premier Brad Wall was returned with his third consecutive majority government, in which he almost equalled the record-setting 64% of the popular vote he captured in 2011. As you can see from the date of the election, many of our Saskatchewan snowbirds were still enjoying their winter in the sun during the campaign. That’s where our popular election handbooks come into play. Not only do these publications outline the limitations of the respective province’s reimbursement rates for out-ofprovince emergency medical care, time permitted out of province and prescription drug allotments, they also tell you how to vote, particularly if you are absent from your home province. Voting bymail can be confusing, particularly if you’ve never done it before. The good news is that our handbooks have you covered in every province and territory in Canada. As amatter of fact, Elections Saskatchewan reached out to us and asked if we would help get the word out to Saskatchewan snowbirds regarding how to vote.They were pleased to hear that we were already on top of that. There’s also a provincial election in Manitoba on April 19 . No word on the winner there yet, but rest assured that our Manitoba members will have access to all the tools which they need to cast a timely and informed vote. In Toronto, CSA staffmembers are hard at work getting prepared for the 2016membership renewal campaign. Included in our first mailing will be the most recent version of IRS Form 8840, the Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens. As most of you are aware, any Canadian snowbird who typically spends four months or longer in the United States every calendar year needs to file this form with the IRS, in order to be treated as a non-resident for tax purposes. One form needs to be filed per person and forms must be submitted by the June 15 deadline. If you have any questions related to the 8840 Form, please do not hesitate to contact our office toll-free at 1-800-265-3200 or by e-mail at csastaff@snowbirds.org. Those who renew their membershipwith the CSAwill receive a hard copy of the newly revised fifth edition of the CSA Travel Information Guide. The fifth edition of this booklet will feature a range of timely updates relating toU.S. taxation, import/export restrictions, the vehicle exportation process and cross-border currency regulations, as well as up-to-date embassy and consulate contact information.The invaluable information found throughout the pages of our travel guide is alone worth the price of CSA membership. The JOLTAct, which contains our provision for the creation of a Canadian Retiree Visa, now has 110 congressional co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. Of those 110 co-sponsors, 56 are Democrats and 54 are Republicans. It’s tough to get much of anything done in Washington these days, folks; clearly, we have more work ahead of us. Thank you all again for your continued support. With a current total membership in excess of 100,000, we continue to grow…thanks to all of you. Welcome home. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
Government Relations Report Jim Sherb First Vice-President Newly installed Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott has indicated that one of her highest priorities will be the negotiation of a new Health Accord between the provinces, territories and federal government. The stated goal is to set national standards and provide provincial and territorial partners with stable, predictable, long-term funding. The 2004 Health Accord expired in 2014 and was not renegotiated by the previous federal government. Early indications are that the discussions will initially focus on expanding access to affordable home care and affordable prescription medication. We know that our population is aging and, statistically, we are living longer so affordable expansion in these areas is more important than ever. As an association, we are always concerned when the conversation concerns national health-care standards. One of the five pillars of the Canada Health Act is portability. Sub-paragraph 11(1)(b)(ii) of the act clearly establishes that portability includes emergency health services provided to Canadian residents while outside of the country. The act states that when emergency health services “are provided out of Canada, payment is made on the basis of the amount that would have been paid by the province for similar services rendered in the province.” The intent and purpose of sub-paragraph 11(1) (b)(ii) are clear. Unfortunately, the federal government has shown an unwillingness to enforce the standard which it has set in the act. Travellers seeking to protect their entitlements under the act, through litigation, have been told by the courts that it is up to the federal government to decide whether the act has been contravened and whether to impose a penalty on the provinces.The failure of previous federal governments to act in this regard is a disappointment to travelling Canadians and undermines the credibility of their own legislation. Rest assured, we will be reminding our federal members of parliament of our concerns during the negotiation of the new Federal Health Accord. In October 2014, we asked our Saskatchewan members to engage in an e-mail and letter-writing campaign requesting that the government of Saskatchewan amend its temporary absence policy in order to increase the amount of time which residents may spend outside of the province and still remain eligible for their provincial health coverage, from sixmonths to seven months. At the same time, the CSA remained active in advocating for this policy change in meetings with the premier and the minister of health, as well as members of the Human Services Policy Caucus Committee. We are pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan government has, effective January 1, 2016, formally increased the length of time for which residents may be absent from Saskatchewan, from six to sevenmonths (over any 12-month period), while still retaining continuous provincial health coverage. Saskatchewan is now the eighth province to permit out-of-province absences more than six months in length. Saskatchewan snowbirds will now be able to visit friends and familymembers outside of the province, after returning from their winter vacation, without fear of losing their provincial health coverage. This is great news for Saskatchewan snowbirds and another big win for the members of the Canadian Snowbird Association. On behalf of the association, I would like to thank Premier BradWall and the Honourable Dustin Duncan, minister of health, for taking the concerns of our Saskatchewanmembers seriously and making this happen. It’s no wonder that they are currently the most popular provincial government in Canada. Please do keep inmind that current U.S. policy unfortunately still limits the amount of time that Canadian citizens can legally spend in the United States to six months less a day, in any 12-month period. The long-delayed implementation of the joint Canada/U.S. declaration titled Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness is, guess what? Still delayed. Part of the declaration includes a bi-national border initiative in which entry and exit data will be shared regarding individuals travelling between Canada and the United States. While the initial stages have already been implemented, the information shared has been limited to permanent residents and third-country nationals. In March, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Obama agreed to implement the arrangement which had been previously negotiated with the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The originally scheduled implementation date of this phase of the initiative had been June 30, 2014. Legislation must now be drafted and put to a vote in Parliament before the sharing of entry and exit data for Canadian citizens becomes a reality. As more information becomes available, we will certainly keep you updated. CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 11
Insurance J. Ross Quigley CEO Medipac International Inc. In mid-January, the peak snowbird season, the cost of one U.S. dollar was one dollar and 45 cents Canadian. Two and three years ago, we were getting rather used to a par dollar, but times change quickly in these uncertain days of volatility. We expected quite a change in our snowbird lifestyle this year, with some of the costs being so high due to the dollar but, in reality, we made few changes to our normal patterns and appear to have financially survived quite well. Our costs for gasoline and energy were reduced substantially and the grocery bill seemed about the same. The one thing we occasionally missed were the signs saying, “We take Canadian dollars at par.” No one was doing that anymore. The things we wanted to, or had to, buy were very reasonably priced, even in U.S. dollars. We made extensive use of Amazon.com (free delivery) and, to a lesser extent, Costco and Sam’s Club and I think that their low prices helped to save the day. We bought everything from dog food to novels to reading glasses and roast beef at less than half the price we would normally pay in Canada. Publix grocery stores also seemed to have unending specials on all of the things that we normally like to eat. The girls in our family are addicted to Bealls so, on Tuesdays (Seniors’ Day), they would gather up all their coupons and march off to “war.” They never spent very much, but they always seemed to come home with extraordinary bargains. I will never understand how anyone could sell, or buy, an article of clothing for $3 but I am a man, so what would I know. I must say that they all dress very well. At the gas station, I would fill up my large car for $30 and the automatic dollar calculator in my head would say that it really cost me $30 X 1.5, or $45 Canadian. I tend to be rather conservative with my money, so I overestimate the cost somewhat. That compares with the $75-80 per fill-up when we left Canada. Having two cars, that adds up to a lot of savings. I will be interested to see what the cost of a fill-up is when we return in a few days. Recently, we bought an additional $2 million worth of U.S. dollars to pay some of this month’s claims and our cost was $1.30 Canadian for each U.S. dollar. That rate is a lot better than the January, February and March rates, so things are looking much more positive for the upcoming year. Have a great Canadian summer! 12 | www.snowbirds.org
Canada Clubs PERICO BAY CLUB IN BRADENTON, FLORIDA OnMarch 11, 2016 a group of Canadians who live on Spoonbill Circle hosted a potluck at their Activity Center. A total of 92 people were treated to anEast Coast Ceileidh featuring the music of Dino Dunsford of Charlottetown, P.E.I. and fiddler Stan MacKinnon of Cape Breton Island along with some great local talent and lots of good food! SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Regular Series Plates with our Graphic. These plates have the CSA graphic and are one of a series (for example 01CS01). They can be ordered by contacting the CSA at 1-800-265-3200 or at any Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office in Ontario. The current cost for a set of these plates is $82.15. Personalized Licence Plates with our Graphic. These plates have the CSA graphic, and then a combination of letters and numbers chosen by you and approved by us (for example our graphic with SAMPLE seen above). The current cost for a set of these plates is $336.40. Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices can be reached by phone at 1-800-288-6758 or online at the ServiceOntario website: www.ontario.ca/page/personalized-licence-plate The phone number for placemat orders is 1-877-888-2505 Oh, say canyou see by thedawn'searly light What soproudlywehailedat the twilight's lastgleaming? Whosebroad stripesandbright stars thru theperilous fight, O'er the rampartswewatchedwere sogallantly streaming? And the rocket's redglare, thebombsbursting inair, Gaveproof thru thenight thatour flagwas still there. Oh, saydoes that star-spangled banneryetwave O'er the landof the freeand thehomeof thebrave? STARSPANGLEDBANNER OCanada! Ourhomeandnative land! Truepatriot love inall thy sons command. Withglowinghearts we see thee rise, TheTrueNorth strongand free! From farandwide, OCanada, we standonguard for thee. Godkeepour land gloriousand free! OCanada, we standonguard for thee. OCanada, we standonguard for thee. OCANADA! Arizona California Florida LakelandCenter Lakeland Florida McAllenConventionCenter McAllen Texas Toorderplacemats foryour social function,call theCSA/Medipacplacemat lineat 1-877-888-2505orvisit www.snowbirds.org. HaveaGreatTimeToday! SeeyouatanExtravaganzanearyou! MesaConventionCenter Mesa Arizona TheVoiceofTravellingCanadians. Ifyou'renotamember,becomeone! 1-800-265-3200 www.snowbirds.org Yourworld isunique. We insure it. 1-800-267-8000 Enjoy the freedomof the snowbird lifestyle. Callus…beforeyou travelagain! 1-888-MEDIPAC www.medipac.com Securecross-borderbanking. Preferred rates.$0-5 transfer fees. 1-800-265-3200 www.SnowbirdExchange.com They are FREE and make wonderful table accessories for your Canadian event. To get your supply of placemats, choose one of the following options: Please provide at least 2 weeks for delivery CSA/MEDIPAC PLACEMATS Order Now! Back Row: Harry Lowther, Art Gouriluk, Cam McAlpine, Louise Lowther, J.P. Levesque, Paulette Arsenault, Ralph Paget, Tony VanStraubgenzee. Front Row: Barb Gouliluk, Arlene Sargeant, Sharon McAlpine, Mary VanStraubgenzee, Cathy Paget. ●● Visit us online at www.snowbirds.org ●● Send an e-mail to placemats@medipac.com CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 13
Profile by Donna Carter Becoming snowbirds was not an idea that Doug and Heather Reid had ever considered until fate stepped in. The Meaford, Ontario couple in their mid-sixties was comfortably retired, spending summers sailing on Georgian Bay and winters skiing and snowshoeing. Heather, a former school teacher, dabbled in watercolour painting, while Doug’s big passion after a successful career in the computer industry was flying remote-controlled model airplanes. They also took various short-term vacations and cruises. To say the least, life for the Reids was both full and fulfilling, enjoying their retirement in one of the prettiest waterfront towns in the Georgian Bay region. Leaving their winter activities behind for a snowbird existence was a non-issue. Life seemed perfect just as it was. Enter fate. In 2012, snowbird friends in Lakeland, Florida unexpectedly invited them down for a week. The friends owned a house in Highland Village, a manufactured home community near the south end of the city. When the Reids accepted the invite, they were unaware that the die was cast. They immediately liked what they saw – both the park and the snowbird lifestyle. The seed, as they say, had been firmly planted. Shortly after returning home, and negotiating long distance, they sealed a deal to purchase a Highland Village home on a generous pieshaped lot. “We knew the house needed plenty of work, but it had good bones and the fact that it was situated overlooking the park’s only lake was a big selling feature,” says Doug. Fast forward to 2016. Today, Heather says that she wonders why they didn’t become snowbirds much earlier. The purchase price of the house that they bought, together with major renovations including a new kitchen, altered floor plan, all new appliances and much more, came in at a total tab of just over US$23,000. For the most part, the home is entirely new from the inside out with a back deck overlooking the lake that is home to pelicans, egrets and other Florida waterfowl. In a bright south-facing sunroom, Heather has her easel set up where, instead of painting snow scenes, her inspiration is a landscape of palm trees, brilliant bougainvillea, blue water and exquisite birds. Likewise, Lakeland could not have been a better fit for Doug, who hit the jackpot involving his favourite sport – flying remote control airplanes. Just a few miles down the road from Highland Village is the Imperial R/C Club (Imperial Radio Control Club). “The facilities there are excellent,” says Doug. “There’s a 30x600-foot runway together with cross runways. It’s a superior club that surpasses anything available to me at home.” Here at this Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), where there are a half-dozen certified flight instructors, Doug is working toward achieving the Imperial R/C Club’s certificate of recognition denoting that his pilot skills meet the club’s criteria for safely and efficiently flying a model airplane. The AMA site is equipped to provide trainer aircraft but, not surprisingly, Doug has a small fleet of his own which he built himself. “I can fly here in the winter and at home during the summer,” says Doug. “It’s the best of both worlds.” Overall, the couple both agree that life is sweeter since becoming snowbirds. “We love the Highland Village park and, from day one, people here were extremely friendly and inclusive,” says Heather. “We never have a boring moment.” The park has a large clubhouse, heated swimming pool, library, games lounge, exercise room and shuffleboard court. Heather helps organize weekly golf outings at several local courses and Doug was appointed stage manager for a February play written and presented by park residents. “It was a sold-out performance with every seat in the clubhouse filled,” says Doug. “Next year, we plan to produce a musical.”The park also has a monthly events calendar that includes everything from line dancing to card games, potluck dinners and more. “There’s always something going on,” says Heather. The Reids say that they are often asked why they didn’t opt for a community on or near the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. The simple answer which they give is that they initially liked what they saw, so why shop around. Heather explains that Lakeland isn’t just a long stretch of retail outlets and high-rise hotels. “It has a real downtown and a good community vibe,” she says. Nicknamed the City of Swans, at least 80 of the gracious birds are permanent residents on some of Lakeland’s several small lakes. Also, throughout the town itself, there are large swan sculptures everywhere. Overall, the Reids are delighted that fate stepped in and led them to their snowbird retreat. Not even the declining Canadian dollar has dampened their enthusiasm. “It’s not the end of the world and, in spite of the negative exchange rate, we are committed to riding it out,” says Doug. THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE it turned one couple into avid snowbirds 14 | www.snowbirds.org
Opinion My new book might surprise some people. Truth be told, it surprisedme somewhat and, if you’d told me 10 years ago that I was the author of something called “Epiphany: A Christian’s Change of Heart and Mind over Same-Sex Marriage,” I would have thought you were mad. But there it is. I have, yes, changed my heart and mind. When I told my publisher, Signal/ Random House, that this was the next book I wanted to write, they were mildly surprised; which is my attempt at gentle euphemism. They were incredulous. “We’ve published four books in a row from you written from a conservative Christian point of view and they’ve done very well. Now you want to write this?” But they were extremely understanding in the end, and I did. I’ve been very fortunate in that the author, actor and international celebrity Stephen Fry wrote me an entire letter of support and endorsement, concluding that, “Michael Coren’s Epiphany is a wonderfully revealing read – an epiphany in itself. I urge anyone interested in the conjunction of faith and free thought to read this engrossing and fascinating book.” In that I have revered the man for many years, this was praise indeed. But there have been the usual type of attacks as well, of course. I reversed my position on equal marriage more than two years ago but as soon as it became public that I had, as it were, come out, I was subject to the most venomous abuse. I was accused of being a liar, an adulterer, of having a gay lover, of supporting the gay community for money. In fact, I’m way too unattractive to have an affair; I’mboringly heterosexual and as for money – I wish I could work this one out. Whenmy views became known, I lost newspaper and magazine columns, speeches and a regular guest host spot on a television show. If I were doing it all for money, I’m even more stupid than I look. More seriously, however, members of my family were attacked and some of my new critics trolledmy children’s Facebook pages and accused them of all sorts of things. There is none so angry as a fundamentalist scorned. I can joke about it now but, at the time, it was nasty, worrying and bewildering. I don’t have the space in a single column to outline my reasons for this reform of opinion, which is why I’ve written an entire book about the subject. Let me emphasize, though, that it’s not in spite of my Christian faith but precisely because of it. I could no longer reconcile the life and teachings of Jesus with the harshness and even anger of so many churches. Not that all Christian opponents of equal marriage and full gay rights are bad people – far from it – but I now believe that they are wrong on this particular subject. I changed because I realized that my faith was based less on laws than on love. I suppose I am late to the game and for that I apologize, but I am not as late as are many churches. Because what we have seen in mainstream Western society, from conservatives as well as liberals, is a total, complete and absolute acceptance of gay men and women and thank God for that. Most of us have realized that we should be judged not by what we are, but by how we behave; not by our sexuality, but by our character and that if at all possible, we shouldn’t be judged at all. That’s what the churches need to grasp. It’s partly generational of course, and our four children, ranging from 18 to 27, can’t even comprehend opposition to same-sex marriage, let alone homophobia. It’s more challenging for older people and definitely for a middleaged Englishman like me. But it’s worth it, because I have never felt more grounded inmy faith. I have met so many magnificent and kind people, have grown through having to questionmyself and have also matured by standing up to the criticism and the attacks. The world needs more inclusion and tolerance and not less of it, and those who fear change – and this was me for the longest time – usually discover that the fear was misplaced and the change was beneficial. So, my epiphany is something that I would not change for anything. Let’s hope the people who read my book agree with me. with Michael Coren CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 15
Travel Located in the Atlantic Ocean, 300 kilometres southeast of Halifax, the smile-shaped sandbar became Canada’s 43rd national park in 2013. The 34-square-kilometre island is known for its wild horses, plentiful grey seals, 350 bird species, sand dunes, extensive beaches and vegetation that ranges from yellow water lilies to red cranberries. So why have so few Canadians visited this natural paradise? Prior to Adventure Canada’s first cruise to Sable Island in 2014, getting to this Nova Scotia island wasn’t easy. Most visitors arrived on 70-minuteMaritime Air flights fromHalifax. (You must charter the entire plane for between one and seven passengers. Individual seat bookings and credit-card payments aren’t accepted.) Flights are often delayed for days or even weeks by fog, high winds or poor landing conditions on the eight-kilometre-long beach runway. Our Adventure Canada ship cruised southwest fromSt. John’s, Newfoundland for 33 hours until we reached Sable Island. Dining, entertainment, a well-stocked library and enrichment lectures by Parks Canada staff, marine researchers, ecologists, ornithologists and authors made the time pass quickly. Cruising allowed us to visit several areas of the island, much more than day-visitors see. (People who arrive by plane must depart before dusk, because Sable Island has no overnight tourist accommodations. Camping is not permitted.) We enjoyed three shore excursions and two tours on Zodiacs (sturdy, inflatable rubber boats) over three days. Sable Island Sable Island was on our bucket list for years. Zodiacs shuttle passengers between the ship and Sable Island Story and Photos by Barb and Ron Kroll 16 | www.snowbirds.org
Travel Shore excursions Excitement was palpable as our ship anchored next to Sable Island. But, before we could board Zodiacs to go ashore, our expedition leader gave us strict instructions. “Empty any plant material from your pockets and cuffs. Wash your footwear with brushes in the water troughs at the back of the ship so that you don’t transport seeds and organisms to the island.” Everyone obeyed. Walking on Sable Island is very different from hiking in popular national parks. There are no marked paths. No trail signs. No wooden steps or railings. Tominimize impact on the fragile environment, our group of just over 100 was divided into smaller groups, based on interests and physical abilities. We could choose from short, medium or long tours. All were interesting because the guides discussed Sable Island’s geology, flora, fauna and history as we walked. We selected the two-hour loop hike up to Bald Dune and back. Located in the middle of Sable Island at a height of 28 metres, it’s the highest point. Our feet sunk into the soft sand as we climbed the tawny sand dune. The hike wasn’t difficult, though, because we stopped frequently to observe birds and horses – including a frolicking foal running circles around its grazing mother. The panorama from the top of Bald Dune encompassed North Beach, where we had landed, as well as South Beach, the ridge of rolling, vegetated sand dunes along the length of the island and bands of wild horses grazing on the heath. Although it was very windy, the air was so clean that we savoured each breath. Why is there so much sand on Sable Island? (Even its name, sable, means sand in French.) Our guide explained that the sand was originally deposited by rivers from retreating glaciers. The 42-kilometre island refuses to stay in one place. Currents, waves and wind constantly shift the sand. When we descended to the interior vegetated area, Parks Canada manager Jonathan Sheppard instructed us to stay together. “Walk in a single file on horse paths to minimize your footprints.” He reminded us of the park’s policy of no interference with the horses that were grazing around us. Canada’s Jane Goodall Zoe Lucas, who lives on the island for several months annually, accompanied us and answered our questions about the horses. What Jane Goodall is to chimpanzees, Zoe Lucas is to Sable Island horses. Both have devoted their adult lives to research and both are ardent advocates for the species which they’ve studied. According to Zoe, the population of free-ranging horses is approximately 500, but she has seen numbers fall to as low as 150 after a severe winter. “It’s a struggle for them to survive in winter because the vegetation dies back and it’s of a poorer quality,” she said. Zoe explained that the story about Sable Island horses being shipwreck survivors is a myth. A Bostonminister introduced them to the island in 1737 and 1738. Thomas Hancock (who transported expelled Nova Scotia Acadians to New England colonies) shipped five dozen of their horses to Sable Island in 1760. Between 1801 and the late 1940s, several horses were rounded up for sale in Halifax. In 1960, people who believed that the horses were causing ecological damage to Sable Island created a proposal to harvest the animals for pet food. In response, thousands of children wrote letters to PrimeMinister John Diefenbaker, asking him to save the horses. One letter-writer said: “Instead of sending them to the glue factory, they should be as free as the wind.” In 1961, the Diefenbaker government legally protected Sable Island’s horses under the Canada Shipping Act. Since then, the population has been genetically isolated. When Sable Island National Park Reserve was established, Parks Canada began managing the feral population of horses as a wild species. Because the horses are protected, you can’t touch them, harass them or even provide veterinary care if they are sick. To prevent them from becoming habituated or expecting treats from people, Parks Canada requires visitors to stay at least 20 metres from them. During our visit, the horses were nonchalant, grazing and living their lives as if we were not even there. We occasionally heard them vocalize – mares nickering to their offspring, a solo horse neighing and two males challenging each other with aggressive screams. Zoe Lucas, researcher and resident Walking across the beach runway A family band of wild horses Climbing up Bald Dune CSANews | SPRING 2016 | 17
Travel Although they are naturally selected to be shorter and stockier than artificially selected domestic breeds, Sable Island herds are genetically horses, not ponies. Their wind-blown manes, forelocks and tails are their most common features. We wondered how they could see through the forelocks that sometimes covered their eyes. Our trip was in June, whenmany of the horses were shedding their thick and shaggy winter coats. They travelled in bands comprised of a dominant male, mares, yearlings and foals. Sable Island has 40 to 50 bands of horses. Family bands of five-to-eight individuals are themost common. Young stallions that don’t yet have a harem often travel together in bachelor groups. Females usually give birth between April and July. We watched long-legged fillies and colts nursing and following their mothers. Horses are itchy.They are always looking for places to scratch their backs. They roll in the sand to relieve the itch. They also rub against the fence surrounding Environment Canada’s meteorological equipment on the island. “When we’re watching TV and it suddenly goes fuzzy, we know that a horse is rubbing its rear end against the satellite dish,” said Daryll Mooney, who was the Parks Canada operations co-ordinator during our tour of Main Station. To minimize their footprint, the two Parks Canada staff use the pre-existing Environment Canada infrastructure. “Three Environment Canada staff live in apartments on an eight-weeks-on, eight-weeks-off rotational basis. They’re self-sufficient with a dishwasher, fridge, WiFi, satellite TV and cooking equipment,” explained Daryll. Three diesel generators provide electricity. “Our maintenance guys are very resourceful, because they can’t just go to Home Depot for spare parts.” Other buildings include Zoe Lucas’s laboratory, the carpentry shop, warehouses, the Environment Canada office, the staff house (where visiting researchers stay) and the officer-in-charge house. “Collecting climate data on Sable Island goes back to the 1800s,” said Jonathan Sheppard. “It helps us understand the dynamics of global air currents.” Sable Island weather is characterized by wind and fog (125 days of fog every year). During our tour, white mist temporarily obscured Main Station. Daryll didn’t allow us to approach the buildings because roseate terns were nesting in the heath. “They will dive-bomb you if you get too close,” he said. “The birds aggressively protect their nests from people and horses that may trample them and from gulls that try to eat their eggs. Last year, we had six pairs of roseate terns.” (Roseate terns are listed as endangered in Canada, with fewer than a dozen breeding pairs.) Gulls soared above and cautiously watched us from their nests. “The adult plumage of a herring gull is white, with grey on the back and black wing tips,” explainedMarkMallory, a seabird biologist and resource person on the cruise. His on-board presentationmade us eager to look for other birds, including great black-backed gulls (the world’s largest gulls), Northern fulmars, great skuas, shearwaters, Arctic terns and the Ipswich sparrow, the only endemic bird. He posted a bird checklist on the bulletin board for passengers to record sightings. After we returned, Adventure Canada sent us the list. When on-board ornithologist Sarah Wong accompanied us on a walk, she warned us to be careful: “Herring gulls nest Photographing wild horses from a distance Daryll Mooney, rotating Parks Canada operations co-ordinator Environment Canada and Parks Canada buildings at Main Station Horse harems 18 | www.snowbirds.org
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