Mammography coach in Ashcroft
The B.C. Cancer Agency’s digital mammography coach will be providing breast screening outside People’s Drug Mart on Railway Avenue in Ashcroft on August 19 and 20. Mammograms are available for all women aged 40 and over; to book a free appointment call 1-800-663-9203. Spaces are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Music in the Park
The Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society presents another Music in the Park concert at the Heritage Park in Ashcroft on Wednesday, July 27. Tanya Lipscomb returns to town, bringing her spicy stage presence, three-octave voice, and prowess on a variety of instruments to Ashcroft, in an exuberant performance that will set toes tapping and have people dancing. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. with a set by local musician John Kidder, with Tanya taking the stage at 7:00. Admission is by donation, so bring your favourite chair or blanket and enjoy an evening of great music.
BC SPCA adoption event
Anyone thinking about adopting an adult cat from the BC SPCA can get all the love for half the price through July 28. A cat adoption program sponsored by Hill’s Science Diet encourages animal lovers to come and check out the adult felines in the society’s care. The province’s shelters are filled with cats of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colours, all looking for a good home, and it’s a fantastic time to consider adding a furry feline companion to your household. The program offers 50 per cent off the usual adoption fees for all adult cats, and it’s hoped that many people who have been considering cat adoption will take the next step and make it a reality.
The event hopes to find more loving homes for cats throughout the province, meaning the BC SPCA will have more space to help the many animals in need of care in B.C. While kittens are appealing, mature cats are calmer and more settled, litter trained, fully grown, and have fully developed personalities, so adopters are completely aware of what they are going to get. For more information contact the Kamloops branch of the BC SPCA at (250) 376-7722.
Youth entrepreneurship workshop
Community Futures of the Central Interior First Nations is presenting a youth entrepreneurship workshop and information session on Thursday, August 11. The event is for youth aged 12 and older, and features lunch, door prizes, and workshops. Participants will learn about economic development and the freedom and creativity that entrepreneurship has to offer, as well as discuss their vision for the community. The event is free, and will be held at the Lytton Memorial Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, or to reserve a place, call CFDC of CIFN at (250) 828-9833.
Free family fun in Kamloops
The Kamloops Arts Council’s Rivertown Players theatre troupe is holding free family fun theatre at Kamloops parks and events, every Tuesday through Saturday until the end of August. The Players’ productions are overseen by Project X Theatre, and the plays have all been written by members of the cast. The children-friendly shows feature a mix of humour, mystery, adventure, and even science fiction, and some invite audience participation. The shows are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily; for a schedule of where the troupe will be performing each day, visit their Facebook page (Kamloops Arts Council’s Rivertown Players).
Medieval tournament at Sun Peaks
Knights of the Sun: Medieval Tournament Theatre, produced by award-winning Chimera Theatre, will be at Sun Peaks on weekends from now until the end of August (except the weekends of Aug. 12–14 and Aug. 19–21). The show is a grand medieval pageant filled with song, dance, intrigue, romance, and fierce combat, as knights vie for the title of Champion of the Sun. It’s also a chance for anyone who has ever wanted to test their strength against a knight, learn how to use a sword, or dance with a beautiful maiden to give it a try. Performances are at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11 a.m. on Sunday, and take place at the Sun Peaks soccer field. Tickets can be reserved by calling 1-800-807-3257. For more information go to www.chimeratheatre.com or www.sunpeaksresort.com.
No pharmacy reward points
The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal filed by major B.C. retailers, who had hoped the court would overturn a bylaw passed by the College of Pharmacists of B.C. (CPBC) that banned pharmacies from offering loyalty rewards or other incentives on the sale of prescription drugs. The CPBC passed the bylaw on the grounds that offering incentives such as redeemable points was unethical, unsafe, and unprofessional, stating that patients might be tempted into buying drugs they do not need. One objection was that patients who have insurance that covers drug costs might continue to get a prescription refilled when it is no longer needed just to collect more points. It was also argued that the unneeded drugs might be abused, or diverted to the illegal drug trade. The ban was originally overturned by a B.C. Supreme Court judge, but the B.C. Court of Appeal sided with the CPBC, and reinstituted the ban in Jan. 2016.
CounterAttack roadchecks in place
Summer can be a deadly time on B.C. roads, with 46 per cent of impaired driving-related deaths occurring between June and September. With more traffic on the roads, and vacation plans that could involve alcohol, ICBC and the police have stepped up awareness activities and CounterAttack roadchecks. Impaired driving is the third-leading cause of road deaths during the summer, after speeding and distracted driving, and motorists are advised to have a plan for a safe ride to and from their summer activities if they involve alcohol. Boaters also need to avoid mixing alcohol and being on the water, as the combination can be lethal.
New residents should beware of scammers
Immigrants and new Canadians are common targets of scammers, as they are often not familiar with our language, legal system, and other areas of western culture. Scams that often target immigrants are the Canada Revenue Agency scam; the similar Citizenship and Immigration Canada scam; employment scams (such as “mystery shopper” and work-from-home opportunities, or companies that require you to buy materials or pay to work there); passport and identification fraud; dating and marriage scams; and rental scams (where a fraudster tried to rent out properties that aren’t theirs or don’t exist).
Easy ways to safeguard yourself include not replying to requests for personal or financial information; installing anti-virus software, filters, and firewall programs on your computer; verifying that any requests for information are legitimate; monitoring your bank statements; dealing only with legitimate investment advisers; and deleting suspicious e-mails, then deleting them from your trash. And remember that it is okay to hang up the phone or close the door if you suspect a scam or are uncomfortable.
