Grand Boulevard Residents Association

START WITH WHY by Simon Sinek (2009)

Why am I enthralled with books about self-improvement? Maybe to find a new healthy direction in my retirement? Maybe to gain confidence in my ability to navigate the ‘Post-COVID New Normal’? Or maybe to help me to make plans for a livable, post-emergency future? Who knows? After what the world has been through in the last three years, so much of our future is uncertain, depending on the level of disruption COVID has caused us, our family and our community—financially, economically, socially and mentally. Chin up!

I remember, last year writing about a book called Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937). It  wasn’t about making money at any cost but rather about Continue reading →

Dressing up

This week I’ve been thinking of the Christmas gatherings that I have been invited to. And this year I think that we are feeling freed up to visit and meet others, without COVID restrictions. I’m feeling more relaxed about going to a large gathering, whether it’s indoors or in stores. I’m hopeful that you, our readers, are feeling the same sense of calm and quiet that comes with winter and the holiday season.

What I have noticed this month is that many people aren’t feeling the necessity to impress others with their new clothes or flashy look. At a recent Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, I didn’t ‘dress up’ and it seemed that most of the people there didn’t either. They were in clean, comfortable clothes and the females wore little or no makeup, hair dyes or jingle bangles.

Now, maybe that picture is related to the work of volunteers, who in their roles as volunteers don’t usually need to dress up. It’s important to be open and friendly, and, if they chose the organization they volunteer with, their heart is in it from the start. It might also be that most of the volunteers at the Appreciation Dinner were Continue reading →

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Part 3

I’ve been thinking seriously about the emotional toll of an emergency on all of us. In the last few weeks, I’ve watched a series of interviews about a possible collapse in the next decade of what we know as our economy and financial system, including health insurance, pensions and even our currency. I have loved ones living in other countries, who don’t have the security that I believe I have. They face risks every day that I don’t experience, such as being afraid to speak freely, not trusting anyone new—not to mention dealing with economic difficulties and increased violence.

Actually, I don’t feel as confident now as I did before COVID struck. And that’s a worry, adding to my fear of a possible environmental disaster resulting in a broken power supply, washed out roads or damaged bridges, poor communication lines and/or no access to my money. With all my emergency training, I think I’m not Continue reading →

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Part 2

My last TGIF was about how I began to learn about getting prepared for a serious emergency. The first step is really to understand how vulnerable your area is. If you’re near the waters edge, then you could be flooded; near a cliff or deep gully, a possible landslide; near the forest, a wildfire, windstorm or both at once. On the North Shore we need to be aware of the chemical plant down on the Maplewood flats. North Shore Emergency Management (NSEM) uses Alertable, which sends out public alerts for emergencies such as severe weather and natural disasters. (Click on Alertable and choose how you would like to be notified.)

As I became comfortable with all the information and participated in annual or semi-annual exercises involving many North Shore volunteers and the NSEM leaders, I also collected things for my Grab ‘n’ Go bag. That’s a backpack or a small suitcase that you can fill with Continue reading →

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Part 1

“What’s to prepare for?” you ask. What a silly question! But the next line is worse: “I’ve bought the whole kit and caboodle, so I’m ready.” Really? Most people haven’t got the faintest idea of what it means to Be Prepared. I remember the Girl Guide and Ranger promise: Be Prepared. Who can tell me what that actually means?

Before I joined the North Shore Emergency Management (NSEM) team of volunteers, more than 20 years ago, I attended Emergency Preparedness workshops to learn how things work in responding to an emergency; what part the provincial government plays in responding to an emergency; and how the staff at NSEM trained and managed their teams of volunteer. It was fascinating information that I had never thought of before. At work, I had been part of fire drills, earthquake drills and lockdowns—against potential Continue reading →