Seniors Choice NewsMagazine

MEDIA KIT

Al Akehurst – Anglican Priest

With the beginning of Holy Week and Easter Sunday, the holiest day on the Christian calendar, Sample Image

Al Akehurst graciously took time from his busy schedule to talk with me about becoming a priest at a time of life when most people are settling into more leisurely pursuits. Not many would make a transition from a career in human resources and labour relations to the priesthood when they retired, but Akehurst fulfilled a long term goal when he left his work with School District 23 and did just that. “For me, it’s been a blessing”, he said. “My only regret is that I didn’t do it twenty years earlier.” On second thought, he added “But twenty years ago I probably wasn’t ready.”

Senior Sports Personality of the Month –Ivan McLelland (Penticton)

We sometimes concentrate too much on the present and too easily forget accomplishments of the past. Sample Image

This month we bring to your attention a senior who remains a well-known sports personality from the past. Ivan McLelland was a member of the Canadian World Ice Hockey Championships in 1955 when the Penticton Vees represented Canada at the World Championships in Krefeld, Germany. The Vees were in Krefeld to avenge the Canadian loss of the year before by soundly defeating the Russians 5-0 to take home gold and lay claim to the world's best hockey team. Recently Ivan was called up from retirement to speak to the players of the Penticton 60+ Senior Old-timer Hockey Team. The event was their season wind-up gala and dinner held at their sponsoring organization The Penticton Elks Club on Ellis St. Not lost on many of the senior pucksters is the juxtaposition of the giant sized mural honouring the 1955 Vees on the South facing exterior wall. It was pretty much like Ivan was coming to his home turf and his home sponsor to preach to the converted who are, to a man, Penticton Vees supporters. As an informal Ambassador representing the present Penticton Vees Ivan is available through them or Penticton Minor Hockey to speak to any group of interested listeners who feel they could gain insight and benefit from an historical hockey perspective. Congratulation Ivan your words of encouragement, historical recall, courteous demeanour, and support for active seniors participating in active sport is appreciated. If you decide to come out of retirement, we have a goaltending position available for you in our Elder Division!

Wanted! More Senior Old-timer Hockey Players

The winter season is at a close, the curling season is winding down with the Briars, and the NHL is just getting into the interesting season of Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the most part the hardy group of senior old-time hockey players have finished their active season while a few die-hards play one of the final season tournaments at the Playmakers Tournament in Victoria. We focus this article on all those senior old-timers who have retained their passion and interest in staying physically active by continuing to play hockey well into their sunset years. Many people are not aware that the group of hockey players to which we refer as ‘senior old-timers’ are the people fifty-five plus (55+). These are men and women who are reaching, or have reached, the end of their working years and who continue to play for years well beyond that younger group known simply as ‘old-timers’- thirty-five and over (35+). It matters not to which parti Sample Image

cular age group you belong. The purpose is to continue to play hockey; to continue to develop hockey skills; to continue to remain active in a physically demanding sport. The collateral interest is to hold off the process of aging much too quickly and to maintain that physical sense of youthful vigour. There is no greater testament to the Spirit of physically active seniors than to see these people wheeling their hockey bags out of the wagon and into the local arenas. There are many such groups throughout the Okanagan. However, we pay particular attention to the Penticton Senior Old-timers Hockey Group because the group has decided that they want to expand their active ranks and playing time. They will warmly welcome all senior old-timers out there, regardless of their advanced age or limited ability, who would like to get back into their hockey playing harness. A few members fear that all the old-time hockey players wanting to play are already playing; and that there are no other old-time hockey players out there! Therefore, we are presenting all those seniors who do not presently participate with the opportunity to play Senior Old-timer hockey from the beginning of next season. Of particular interest is the need for a pool of willing goaltenders. We are convinced that there are more than a few folks out there who would welcome the invitation to participate in a formed group for hockey. We therefore extend an invitation to the latent old-time hockey playing folk in Summerland, Penticton, and Oliver (and the surrounding areas) to play senior old-timer hockey. Contact the writer at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 250-494-0615 and we will put them in contact with the person or people who can make it happen for them. Bon Chance and Keep your Stick on the Ice!

Summerland and Oliver are also canvassing their areas to fill the ranks for Senior Old-time Hockey Players. For further information contact Jerry Flaman @ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 250-494-0615.

William (Bill) Okas – Musician and Luthier Extraordinaire

We have all been to music stores and have seen the row upon row of instruments. The selection seems to be almost infinite. Is there really a difference between the playability and sound reproduction of each individual instrument or is it simply the design and dressing that makes one guitar better than the other? The major stringed instrument manufacturers believe that if they flood the market with a plethora of assembly line instruments painted and decorated with flashy designs and trinkets they will capture the musician consumer dollar. For the most part they do.