Scoop December 2025
South Shuswap Health Services Board and Volunteers wish to extend a Very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2026! Much has been accomplished in 2025, and we look forward to the new year. Please contact Alysha at 250-675-3661 sshealthss@gmail.com, if you wish to know more about the programs offered or if you wish to volunteer.
The Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday, November 22nd. Highlights included increased usage of SSHSS services, and positive feedback from the community. We wish to congratulate and welcome the new board: Dena Short, Sandi Reutlinger, Dawn Miles, Kristine O’Connor, Brenda McCormick, Jennifer Parsons, Linda Martens, and Taylor McLean Morin. Sue McCrae and Mary Johnston retired from the Board this year.
Sue was one of the founding members and was instrumental in the creation of the South Shuswap Health Services Society in 2013. A great team of volunteers stepped up to help “Bring Health Care Closer to Home” and support “Seniors Helping Seniors.” The Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre opened in 2016 when lab services were added. Sue’s dedication to the community and her strong focus on wellness have been greatly appreciated. Thank you, Sue and Mary for your hard work, vision, and leadership!
Another key supporter of the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre has been Shuswap Lake Estates, which partnered with the society in 2016 to renovate the Centre.
SSHSS will continue to work with communities in the South Shuswap to offer a variety of programs to help seniors “Age in Place.“
We would like to thank everyone who attended our “Winter is Coming Dance.” It was a fantastic evening! The Serious Dogs did an excellent job keeping everyone on their feet and dancing all night. The proceeds will help support the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre. Watch for details about our upcoming Spring Event and Fundraiser!
Programs and Services at Copper Island
Copper Island offers many programs and services at the Centre. For information, call 250-675-3661 or email sshealthss@gmail.com. Programs include mental health support, yoga, walking groups, introductory exercise classes for seniors, foot care, and lab services. We also provide support to seniors who need help accessing online services, government programs, housing support, health resources, and other assistance to help them AGE IN PLACE. We welcome Lisa-Marie Young, registered Clinical Counsellor, to the Centre every Monday (lisamarie@shuswapcounselling.ca). If you have questions, need assistance, or have suggestions, we’re here to help!
One-on-One Computer Training
New Horizons Grant We offer one-on-one computer training. This service is offered free of charge thanks to the New Horizons Grant, instruction takes place locally. Please email sshssprograms@ mail.com to learn more or register also include your phone number and what area you need assistance with. Eric will contact you.
Seniors Lunch Program United Way Grant
Our Seniors Lunch Program will continue to offer active or educational sessions. Each session is approximately one hour followed by free lunch and time to socialize. This is a great opportunity to meet people, learn about available services and personal wellness. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive updates about the lunch program, please email your request and contact information to sshssprograms@gmail.com.
Scoop November 2025
South Shuswap Health Services Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday, November 22nd. We are looking for community members who would like to volunteer or join our Board. Your participation is key in helping us best meet the wellness needs of the community. We operate the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre, a local facility that provides easier access to many services and also manages many of the grant programs available for rural communities. Your input is needed and valued. Please call 250 675-3661 or email sshealthss@gmail.com if you would like to join our team. With the leaves falling, winter is on the way. That means cold days and slippery conditions. Below are a few reminders to consider before clearing snow from our driveways and walk-ways.
Before you start
• Warm up: Do some light stretches or movements to get your muscles ready.
• Dress in layers: Wear layers of warm, water-repellent clothing and adjust as needed.
• Wear proper footwear: Choose shoes or boots with good traction to prevent slipping.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after shoveling.
• Avoid stimulants: Stay away from alcohol, coffee, and smoking before and after shoveling. Don’t shovel right after a heavy meal either.
During shoveling
• Push, don’t lift: Push the snow to the side instead of lifting it to reduce strain.
• Lift with your legs: If you must lift, bend your knees, keep your back straight, and use your leg muscles to lift. Keep the shovel close to your body.
• Take smaller loads: Don’t overload your shovel.
• Pace yourself: Shovel small amounts frequently, especially if the snow is wet and heavy. Take breaks every 15–20 minutes.
• Avoid twisting: Do not twist your body to throw the snow. Instead, pivot your feet to face the direction you are throwing the snow.
• Listen to your body: Stop if you feel pain, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Farmers’ Market Program
We are so grateful to partner with the Sorrento Farmers’ Market along with The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program. We are the community partner that applies for the
Provincial Government Grant for this healthy eating initiative that supports farmers’ markets and strengthens food security. We are also the organization that distributes weekly coupons to lower-income families that can be used to purchase vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs, dairy, herbs, vegetable and fruit plants, honey, meat and fish. Our participants are generous too and donate back any unused coupons which we use to buy food for others in need. Along with the generosity of the farmers and vendors, this year we were able to put together 14 boxes for the food bank along with boxes for three additional community families.
Our gratitude extends to our great volunteers and the vendors at the Sorrento Farmers’ Market, especially Denise, the Market Manager. Thank you to all our participants and community members who support this much needed program.
One on One Computer Training
This service is provided free of charge as it is paid for through the New Horizon’s Grant. Instruction takes place locally. Please email sshssprograms@gmail.com to find out more or register and Eric will be in contact with you. Include in your email what you would like assistance with and your phone number.
Seniors Lunch Program
This summer we did a number of walks at Sorrento Blind Bay Park during our Activity Lunches. They have wide open areas and a
beautiful path through the trees. During the winter months we will be exploring indoor fitness activities. Local author Jim Cooperman gave a presentation at our educational session. He helped us learn a lot more about the area we live in. Visit his blog at https://shuswappassion.ca and look at his books. I really enjoyed Everything Shuswap.
We will continue our monthly lunches, one with a focus on activity and one based on an educational topic. To be placed on our mailing list to receive information about the
lunch programs, email sshssprograms@gmail.com.
Scoop October 2025
We would like to start this month with recognizing that October 1st was National Seniors Day. The South Shuswap is home to many seniors and they are an important part of our community. Some of the benefits they bring to our community include:
- Volunteer work: Many senior citizens volunteer their time and skills to help their communities.
- Supporting community businesses, local charities and non-profit organizations.
- Helping to provide security for the community by being present and aware.
- Mentoring and tutoring members of the community.
- Caregiving: Senior citizens often provide care for family members, neighbours and loved ones, both young and more senior members.
- Adding to the social needs of the community providing companionship.
Exciting Announcement!
Shuswap Clinical Counselling Centre and the South Shuswap Health Services Society (SSHSS) are partnering up to provide Counselling Services at the Copper Island Health & Wellness Centre!
Starting September 29th, counselling services will be available by appointment or walk-in (if space permits) for clients residing in the South Shuswap area. Services will be located at #10-2417 Golf Course Dr, Blind Bay every Monday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
There are two options to sign up for appointments:
- Option 1:** Clients may arrive at the center at 9:45 AM to book a same-day appointment, if available.
- Option 2:** Create an account and book online using this link: https://shuswapclinicalcounsellingcenter.janeapp.com/locations/copper-island-clinical-counselling-services/book#/staff_member/6
Alternatively, new clients can contact Shuswap Clinical Counselling by phone at 778-489-5630 or email info@shuswapcounselling.ca to discuss their options.
You can learn more about SSHSS at https://sshss.ca/
One on One Computer Training
A reminder South Shuswap Health Services Society is once again able to offer One-on-One Computer Lessons. Through our New Horizons Grant (Federal Government of Canada), we are able to fund these lessons designed to assist beginner and novice users of technology.
This service is provided free of charge as it is paid for by the grant, and instruction takes place locally. Please email sshssprograms@gmail.com to find out more or register and Eric will be in contact with you. Include in your email what you would like assistance with and your phone number.
Seniors Lunch Program
We would like to thank a few local businesses for their support of our Seniors Lunch Program. We have truly enjoyed meeting at the Sorrento Centre. They prepare excellent meals for our groups that are appreciated by our participants and they have facilities to host a wide variety of group sizes for dining and conference needs. Zandunga Restaurant in Sorrento frequently serve us a traditional Mexican meal after our activity programs. Their food is fresh and the staff go out of their way to provide an excellent experience. We have also used Sorrento Chicken and Sushi for our lunches. Their food is always a great hit; it is not greasy like many fried chicken experiences and the sushi is fresh. It is definitely a meal that our participants look forward too. White Lake Hall is another community resources that really goes out of their way to assist us. They have a great hall that can be used for a variety of events at a very reasonable rate. There is plenty of parking and great views.
We will continue to do monthly lunches, one with a focus on activity and one based on an educational topic. Recent sessions have included: Planning for End-of-Life Arrangements, FireSmart and Activity Walks. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list to receive information about the various lunch programs, email us with your request and email address sshssprograms@gmail.com
Take time to look at the marvelous fall colours as our seasons change.
Scoop September 2025
As the summer comes to a close and we settle into our fall and eventual winter routines, South Shuswap Health Services Society and Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre offer a number of services to assist you with your personal wellness. Please visit our web page sshss.ca/additional-services to see the wide variety of services available for you to access.
Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre, located in the Blind Bay Market Place Mall by the library, is a physical location that is used by a number of wellness providers. The purpose of the Centre is to provide local access to residents of the South Shuswap to a variety of services. It is open to all members of our community, not just seniors. An important part of the operation of the Centre is feedback from the public on what services you would find helpful if they were available locally. As we design our programming, we can then use your feedback to give us direction. A few services that are completely funded by grants that will be available up to the end of March are:
• Senior Lunches (twice a month – one centred around an educational component and the other involving a physical activity). These are funded by the United Way and start with the program component for 1 hour, followed by a lunch and time for socializing. Topics explored are wellness related for seniors such as services available or general interest presentations. The activity sessions are presented by certified instructors and are meant to encourage movement and activity. They are easily adapted to different skill and ability levels. Please email sshssprograms@gmail.com if you would like more information. You are able to choose which sessions you would like to register for each month.
• One on One Computer Assistance is funded by a grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which is a Federal Government Program. The One-on-One Computer Assistance program provides seniors with support and instruction in using technology. This could involve setting up new equipment, using on-line services, file management or just about anything assisting seniors with technology. You arrange with our instructor a time to meet and he will tailor the time spent together to your unique needs. This is a free service to help seniors in our community. We encourage you to drop in on weekday afternoons and say “hello” to Alysha. She will let you know how you can best utilize our services and help direct you to a number of different services. We are very interested in hearing what other services you would find useful to have local access to. We are fortunate to have a community-based location to use and it is our goal to meet a wide variety of needs for local residents.
Enjoy the fall and we hope you drop by to see us!
Scoop August 2025
Receiving Assistance at Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre
We are extremely excited to inform you that we now have a staff member available every afternoon at the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre. We welcome Alysha to our team. Alysha is there to assist you in finding wellness services you may require. She is also able to assist you in completing on-line forms and paper forms that other organizations request. Alysha will provide a great resource to our community.
Born and raised in BC, Alysha moved to Blind Bay one year ago and is excited to be joining the Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre as Administrator and Program Coordinator. She is also a passionate Massage Provider and Yoga Teacher with a deep interest in community health and wellbeing.
Alysha brings a calm, nurturing, and bright presence to her work and loves helping people feel more at ease in their mind and body. She believes that connection and movement are powerful tools for healing and wellness.
When she’s not at the Centre, you’ll likely find her hiking the local trails with her two rescue dogs or playing high up in the mountains.
You can find Alysha at the Centre Monday through Friday from 12–4 pm — feel free to stop by and say hello!
One on One Computer Training
South Shuswap Health Services Society is once again able to offer One-on-One Computer Lessons. Through our New Horizons Grant (Federal Government of Canada), we are able to fund these lessons designed to assist beginner and novice users of technology. This can involve assisting with using Smart Phones, iPads or tablets and computers. Skills like email use, surfing the web, completing online documents, security concerns, file management, setting up a home network and similar skills can all be a focus. This service is provided free of charge as it is paid for by the grant, and takes place locally. Please email sshssprograms@gmail.com to find out more or register and Eric will be in contact with you. Include in your email what you would like assistance with and your phone number.
Seniors Lunch Program
We had two Senior Lunch activities in July. The first one was an educational session on Increased Levels of Care provided by Angela from Interior Health. The focus was on what housing options are available for us once we can no longer deal with managing in our own residence. The information was extremely useful as we all look to what we may require in future years. Sorrento Chicken and Sushi provided the lunch. Feedback from the group was extremely positive on the menu of Fried Chicken, Mojos and Sushi. Many commented on how tasty it was and they will be visiting Sorrento Chicken and Sushi more often.
We also held an activity lunch at the end of the month. We went for a walk at the Sorrento / Blind Bay Park. It started with a stretching activity followed by an outdoor walk. Participants altered the intensity and distance of the walk depending on their comfort level. It was a beautiful day and not only did we get some exercise but it also provided an excellent social activity. The walk was followed up with a lunch at Zandunga Restaurant in Sorrento. We enjoyed Quesidillas and chips. It was a fantastic lunch and many of our group did not realize we have the opportunity to enjoy Mexican Food locally. The restaurant offers fresh food with a great atmosphere. Be sure to check them out.
This is all made possible through a grant from the United Way covering all the costs involved. We are planning two events for August.
If you would like to be placed on our mailing list to receive information about the various lunch programs, email us with your request and email address sshssprograms@gmail.com
Keep active over the summer and welcome Alysha!