‘BC in the pink’

"B.C. Is In The Pink" was the lead story of Vancouver Sun which highlighted the recent data released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information. We are very proud of the fact that residents of British Columbia are the healthiest in Canada and tops all other provinces on a number of health indicators.

For starters, the average life expectancy in B.C. is 80.4 years, the highest in the country and a full year longer than the national average of 79.5. Secondly, B.C. has the lowest smoking rate in Canada and the highest rate of physical activity. Here are the other encouraging facts: For obesity, Vancouver is the leanest; for drinking, the lightest is Richmond; for smoking, the lowest; for stress, the least is North Vancouver Island and for diet, most fruits and vegetables is East Kootenay.

Ontario’s Smoke Free Act or World No Tobacco Day took effect recently which hopefully will make smoking a thing of the past in Canada. The Act is to ban smoking in all indoor public facilities including bars, restaurants, bingo halls, casinos, sporting venues and office buildings. There will be no designated smoking rooms and smoking in work vehicles will be illegal as will prominent displays of tobacco products.

As can be expected, some business owners and casino operators claim that the bar will have detrimental effect on their businesses. The tourism industry will also be affected, specially those who rely on American visitors. However, there are some casinos who are considering going smoke-free because they have discovered it is good for business.

In Canada, specially in Vancouver and Victoria, you will likely see an occasional pair of shoes dangling by their laces over hydro wires in different parts of the city. The shoes look like a dislocated graffiti or a childish prank or a meaningful message about pollution.

There are many theories about the anonymous shoes but nobody has come up with the right one. Here are some explanations:

•A murder or an accident happened and the shoes serve as a directional or memorial sign.

•It is a warning for danger.

•The completion of school or military training.

•It marks the loss of virginity of a young man or woman.

•They mark gang turf.

•The mark that drugs and crack are sold nearby.

•Emblem of completed childhood and recent graduates.

•A dark message and symbol of our age of mass consumption when material objects are acquired only to be tossed and left to rot in the sun and rain.

•Owner was abducted by an alien ship.

The real reason is still a mystery and the culprits remain anonymous. Fortunately, it is not a safety issuance since the high voltage wires are out of reach of the average tosser and has become a city conversation piece. What next… bra and Armani briefs?

There are currently countless and inspiring articles in Canadian and American publications about people turning or already 65 years of age. Typically, a generation earlier, a 65-year-old man or woman is totally retired and phased out of active life. But today, many boomers are leading alternate careers, starting businesses or even going back to school.

There’s even a bestselling book here called "The Baby Boomer’s Guide to the New Workplace," meant to advise readers how to start a whole new career past midlife. Some of the boomers’ jobs include, consultant, teacher, tour guide, accountant consultant, real estate agent and Bed and Breakfast owner/manager.

And many boomers deal with a layoff by trying to turn their passions into careers instead of turning to pills and liquor and gambling. So the big question now for those supposedly retired people is basic – What are you going to do the next 40 years of your life?" It is apparent that growing up and growing old is now different in North American culture.

Bookstores are also laden with self-help books directed to the niche such as Finances. After 55 (Make the Transition from Earning a Living to Retirement Living), The Automatic Millionaire (A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich), How to Survive Without a Salary (Learning how to live the Conserver Lifestyle), and The Third Act (What To Do With Your Life After 65) and the books of Dr. Andrew Weil like Healthy Living (A Lifelong Guide to Physical and Spiritual Well-Being).