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HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR

As we bid farewell to 2024, lets now turn the page and begin a new chapter in 2025 by having you join the SSSC, a very active, outgoing, energetic and fun-loving group of seniors who enjoy life to the fullest.

Since our last posting in September of 2024, our club has remained extremely active.  We added a number of new members this past year, attendance at most events has grown exponentially and the enthusiasm of members to attend events is phenomenal.

Fall saw two elections, one in British Columbia and one in the USA.  Our President hosted two events to celebrate the incoming Premier and President Elect.  Both events were well attended and although the outcome may not have been what members expected, the US election brought out close to 50% of our membership. 

Dinner and drinks flowed to capacity, watching the results on TV brought about a bit of tension at times but the high light of the evening was a two-page Quiz provided by our President and needless to say, the majority of us need a refresher course in US history, although the evening was tons of fun!

We in the club try and host one house party monthly and one such event was a Sadie Hawkins party hosted in the social room of a member’s condo.    We learned to do the Virginia Reel, a dance the majority of us learned during our teen years and after a trial run, we perfected the reel with gales of laughter and hilarity.

Our Christmas Luncheon held at the Vancouver Golf & Country Club was a very fashionable affair with a great program, excellent buffet luncheon, dancing, prizes and a tremendous way to wish each and every member attending a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

“THE NEW YEAR STANDS BEFORE US, LIKE A CHAPTER IN A BOOK, WAITING TO BE WRITTEN”.  This is a quote I spotted in the Vancouver Sun, written by Melody Beattie.

Until next time, enjoy and remember “on each of the following 365 pages, add a positive thought for 2025”.

FALL IS IN THE AIR

FALL IS IN THE AIR

It has been a great summer! Golf continues at Country Meadows Golf Club, Central Park Pitch & Putt and Ambleside Pitch & Putt with many enjoying the game. Whether one is having a good game or not, the camaraderie is awesome with encouragement that next week our game will be better (or better still, we refer to how great we golfed when we were younger).
We enjoyed two wonderful live theatre performances,” Guys and Dolls”, a romantic comedy premiering on Broadway in the 1950’s as well as “Ring of Fire”, a musical tribute based on the ballads of Johnny Cash. Both of these events had outstanding attendance with dinner following at Bin 4 on Granville St. and Tap & Barrel on Granville Island.
Baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium always draws a good crowd as do picnics, lunches and walks. House and garden parties continue to be our most popular events. As attendance is limited to 20-22 members, there is always a wait list should a cancellation occur.
Our club members love “get-aways”. Eight members enjoyed a wonderful vacation to Costa Rica in Nov/Dec of 2023 and, April saw eight members fly to San Diego for a repositioning cruise back to Vancouver. Plans are unfolding for a vacation to Greece in 2025 as there are many interested members.
Fourteen members recently enjoyed a tour of the Chinese Canadian Museum, the first of its kind in Canada. The historic Wing Sang Bldg. on East Pender in Vancouver, now the museum is a docket of Chinese history. It was in this historic building that Yip Sang built a ‘community within a community’.
Although this museum is still undergoing construction, the Exhibition Gallery (The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act) is a must see. We were encouraged to read and learn about the hundreds of certificates used to track Chinese Canadians. As this exhibition will be moved across Canada in December, this incredible exhibit should be seen by as many people as possible. Our featured photograph was taken at the Chinese Canadian Museum.
Until next time, enjoy our beautiful fall weather.

The Joys of being a member of the SSSC

The Joys of being a member of the SSSC

Cherry Blossoms, a sure sign of spring have shed their beauty!   The much-needed rain to fill our reservoirs hasn’t dampened spirits as members of the SSSC are gearing up for a glorious summer of golfing, walking, hiking, playing bocce, picnicking and generally being as active and involved in our social club as one can be.

Our club continues to put on phenomenal functions, drawing both new and long-time members to attend lunches, dinners and house parties including “A Tribute to the Eagles” night at the Centennial Theatre.   

One of our events, an Oscar party in March, inspired an awesome runway of members being bold and dressing in their best! Twenty plus members enjoyed delicious hor d’oeuvres and canapes in a beautifully decorated home.  A new event for our club was Vancouver’s TV personality, Erin Cebula entertaining members as a guest speaker in the Rogue Restaurant at Waterfront Station.

A wine & cheese pairing drew many members to attend and sample delicious cheeses and wines.   The origins of various cheeses and wines were explained so, it was a wonderful afternoon of imbibing and sampling.  

A new event for our club was a tour of the famous Arthur Erickson Garden in the Point Grey area of Vancouver especially enjoyed by the Gardeners of the SSSC.

We have many more interesting events planned for the summer including a walking tour of Barnston Island, a pretty hamlet with no stores or restaurants, just the sheer beauty of walking the island surrounded by the Fraser River.  Mintara Restaurant on Burnaby Mountain, run by the City of Burnaby will be a new venue for our members to enjoy this fall.  The views alone will entice many members to attend and enjoy the beautiful rose garden and eco-sculptures.

Join us!  We would love to have you in our Club.

NEW BEGINNINGS

NEW BEGINNINGS

Our Singles Club has had a surge in membership! As more men join our club, dancing at The Legion balances out the numbers and everyone is happy with tired feet.
We have had extremely successful autumn and fall activities with continued Concerts in Deep Cove as well as Classical Music Recitals at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. We had a full summer of golf with weekly Pitch & Putt at Ambleside as well as Central Park and our monthly game at Country Meadows Golf Course in Richmond. Bocce at Ambleside along with various walks rounded out our outdoor activities this summer and fall.
Lunches and dinners continue in their popularity as hosting members tried various restaurants both in Vancouver, Burnaby and the North Shore to accommodate members who didn’t want to drive distances to participate. Bravo Cucina Ristorante in North Vancouver was thoroughly enjoyed by the many who attended and received fantastic service and great food.
A “Sock Party” hosted by a member turned into a night of many laughs and three winners of guess what? Socks!
Adventures within our club this year included two weekends in Whistler hosted by a member with time share options and as well, eight members travelled to Costa Rica for two weeks in November. The trip was a huge success, so planning another International Holiday is already on the minds of those who missed this fantastic vacation.  The happy faces of the Costa Rica gang!
Our Annual Christmas Luncheon at the University Golf Course was as successful this year as it was last with forty plus members attending the wonderful Buffet hosted by the Golf Club.
We are all looking forward to the Vancouver Art Gallery Tour and lunch as well as a Luncheon at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club this month.
Our Annual AGM and President’s Wine & Cheese party will be another lovely affair at the end of January.

SUMMER FUN

SUMMER FUN

Group activity and attendance at our SSSC functions remains at an all time high since COVID and the mask mandate are no longer enforced.

Attendance at lunches and dinners brings forth 22 – 28 members respectively; Golf Pitch & Putt at Ambleside as well as Central Park draws 2 – 3 foursomes weekly and our monthly golf at Country Meadows draws 2 foursomes generally.

Event/party planning including a Ukrainian Charcuterie Board party had maximum attendance as did our St. Patrick’s Day event with overflowing numbers; the club had two very successful weekend get aways in Whistler hosted by a member with two-time shares; monthly music recitals both in the city and Deep Cove have had steady attendance.

Our pool party held on July 30th was over the max with 34 members in attendance along with one prospective member. It was virtually impossible to capture a group photo at the pool party although the ambience and scenery were absolutely awesome.

What a great calendar of events for our membership. On the docket, a trip to Costa Rica with eight members raring to go.

Come join our club – we are a fun and energic group of seniors enjoying life to the fullest.

“Gong Xi Fa Chai” Happy 2023

“Gong Xi Fa Chai” Happy 2023

The Single Seniors Social Club wish readers of this blog success and prosperity in this Lunar year of the Rabbit. “Gong Xi Fa Chai” Happy 2023.
Our club had a great 2022. Attendance at many events surpassed our expectations and Covid, although present, didn’t deter our members from attending pub functions, lunch and/or dinner functions and dancing at the Legion. All our club members are vaccinated and most have had their second and third booster shots.
SSSC gained twelve new members through our website in 2022 and we look forward to new members in 2023.
Our Club enjoyed an array of events including a wonderful Museum of North Vancouver, (Monova) tour where attendance overwhelmed the organizer of the event. We also travelled to Chemainus on Vancouver Island and enjoyed a stage production with eight members in attendance. How great was it to attend a backyard BBQ with twenty-five plus members? A boat cruise up Indian Arm has been a favourite with many, golfing, bocce, hiking/walking and picnics continued on our calendar of events in appropriate weather. Bowling will soon be back on our docket as well.
Our Christmas Luncheon held at the University Golf Course in December was a very festive affair, the dance floor filled to capacity with all members dancing as couples or singles and just having the time of their lives. This wonderful venue has been booked once again for our Christmas Luncheon in 2023.
In closing “Fu Lu Shou”– Happiness, Prosperity & Longevity!

Summer/Fall, 2022

Summer/Fall, 2022

And before we know it, fall is in the air and we wonder where summer went!

It was a busy summer with golfing at two pitch & putt courses as well as monthly games at Country Meadows in Richmond. Bocce continues to be well attended at Ambleside.

Horse racing enthusiasts are back at the race track since Covid restrictions have been lifted although all members continue to be very vigilant and staying as safe as possible.

Eight members ventured to Chemainus on Vancouver Island to enjoy their musical festival as this event has been re-introduced and proving to be extremely popular as previously.

Some new additions to our events have included “Come From Away” at the Queen E theatre, a tribute to Gander Newfoundland’s enthusiasm for welcoming passengers after all flights were diverted from NYC, the day of 9/11.

Some of our members continue to sponsor travel as great deals become available.

Our lunching and dining out continue to bring out the masses and an August BBQ had close to 29 attendees in a members backyard. This event was so well attended we hope our host will repeat it again in 2023.

Come and join us. We would love to meet you and welcome you to our club.

SPRING

Spring is the season of renewal! 43,000 beautiful Cherry trees line Vancouver streets, making our city a mecca for photography. Day light remains longer as temperatures rise and the birds sing, rejoicing in nature
Our club is looking at many activities our members can participate in. We have enjoyed walking & dining on Granville Island; Van Dusen Japan Blossom Days were enjoyed by many; golfing entices members to either play our pitch & putt courses or the Executive courses in Richmond but the wet weather has been unpredictable with cancellations of games.
Dinner at Medley’s Grill at the Holiday Inn & Suites in North Vancouver Easter weekend was one happy party as twenty members dined, chatted and planned on attending more events. Pub nites have drawn huge crowds and with the lifting of masks and vaccine passports, plans are underway for a fun night of dancing at the Legion. Picnics are being planned and a get away to view the Chamainus murals and enjoy their theatre on Vancouver Island is in the works for July.
Our club remains an active beehive of activity with many new members joining and enjoying new found friendships. Come and join us, you will always be welcome.

A New Year and New Beginnings

A New Year and New Beginnings

Our Single Seniors Social Club has had outstanding attendance at various functions since Vaccination Passports became mandatory in the fall of 2021.
While outdoor activities had high numbers (golf, picnics, Bocce Ball, walking/hiking as well as patio dining) it wasn’t until we had been double vaccinated that attendance increased two fold to twenty plus members at our dinner and pub functions. These functions were held in a separate room large enough to hold twenty plus members while other venues provided ample space for members to move freely visiting one another although, wearing a mask is now part of our apparel entering and exiting venues.
We had “reunion” type functions’ at Toby’s Pub, Jack London’s Pub and Cheshire Cheese Restaurant as members were anxious to once again socialize, feeling the protection of being double vaccinated.
Fifteen members gathered at Canada Place to view the magnificent Woodward’s Windows and Christmas trees followed by cocktails at the beautifully decorated Christmas themed Pan Pacific Hotel.
Our Christmas Luncheon held at the Beach House in West Vancouver was a wonderful celebration with thirty seven members in attendance and two guests, those being Musicians who have played for us over the years.
The Omicron virus has put a damper on events although we all look forward to the day Dr. Bonnie Henry tells the public we can once again gather indoors. Our January calendar held great promise of fun events but these have been cancelled with only Bocce Ball and walking slated, weather permitting.
Best wishes for 2022. Hopefully, we will open up to social events within a few months, and may the light at the end of the tunnel await us by spring.


FALL HAS ARRIVED

FALL HAS ARRIVED

What a great summer weather wise, perhaps a little too hot some days nonetheless, SSSC members had a full slate of activities. Picnics in the park, Bocce, lunches/dinners on patios along with golfing three Pitch & Putt courses including Ambleside in West Vancouver, Central Park in South Burnaby as well as Kensington in North Burnaby.

Pitch & putt games were played in Burnaby twice weekly and biweekly in West Vancouver with attendance averaging 8 – 12 players.

Our monthly golf game at Country Meadows has been a popular event drawing either two or three foursomes with dinner following along with a post mortem on the game played.

Bocce has proven to be extremely popular (averaging either 2 – 3 games monthly) at Ambleside Park after the lanes at the Vancouver Italian Club closed due to Covid with many members in attendance unless rained out.

The Van Gogh display at the Vancouver Convention Centre was well attended as an event although many members invited friends on their own as word spread how fantastic this immersive display really was. It has been held over two or three times.

Sea to Sky Gondola day proved to be popular with 10 members and 1 guest attending on a rather warm day but some easy trails were hiked and gorgeous photos taken.

A Lulu Island Winery Tour was very successful. Members were able to tour the winery, enjoy a cheese plate with their sampling as well as purchase their favourite Wine/Ice wine on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The most popular of all events on our monthly calendar have been patio lunches and dinners with the best attendance at The Northlands Golf Course where 21 members enjoyed a wonderful evening on the patio.

We look forward to our annual Christmas Lunch in December at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club. Unfortunately we were unable to hold this event due to restrictions in 2020. Another event most members attend is our Annual General Meeting and President’s Wine & Cheese Party in January.

Despite Covid variants, hopefully we will be able to enjoy various winter activities as Vaccine Passports become mandatory. We hope you will soon become a member of the Single Seniors Social Club making new friends along the way.