(NOTE: The letters below are made up of three distinct but closely interrelated parts. Each one addresses different aspects of the same web of realities seniors may find themselves caught up in if they are not aware of the pitfalls in a system supposedly designed to serve them.
While each part can be read on its own, only the three parts together will provide a coherent overview of these insufficiently know aspects of government policies and programs to “serve” their senior population, especially in British Columbia, the country’s retirement haven.
These “letters” attempt to bridge this information gap, and to provide a foundation for further inquiry into conditions existing in different jurisdictions across the country.)
LETTERS FROM LOTUSLAND
An open letter to Canadian seniors everywhere
By
Paul Wagner
Paul Wagner
I
The Price of Independence
Thinking about retiring in Lotusland? You should! Carefully! Retired life in Canada’s scenic Pacific Ocean playground has a few surprises in store that you may not have counted on.
Yes, it’s all there in the “land of misty giants” as Oscar Peterson poetically dubbed Canada’s westernmost province: the majestic mountain ranges, miles of deserted beaches, the glorious rain forests with towering Douglas Fir and cedars, the pristine lakes, the mild climate that makes it possible to enjoy “The Best Place on Earth”, according to your new licence plates, practically year-round. You need a car, of course, or an RV if that’s your style and you can afford it, to get to all these places, but we take that for granted in a society that relies as much on the motor vehicle as the primary mode of transportation as ours. It’s the key to independence, to enjoyment of the outdoors, to what you always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. Now you do, you’re retired and the West Coast outdoor paradise is irresistible, you’ve always wanted to live there and now you can. But where? The Sunshine Coast looks inviting, so does the Okanagan Valley. You decide on Vancouver Island, it has the right mix of scenery, city amenities, climate and a reputation as Canada’s retirement paradise.
