Seniors in several locations across B.C. took a walk for a reason Thursday (March 21) morning.
In White Rock, as well as at locations in Vernon, Terrace, Ladysmith, Kamloops and Prince George, seniors gathered with signs, posters and placards for the Tin Cup March for Fair Senior含羞草研究社檚 Pensions, held simultaneously across the province to draw attention to the plight of seniors living in poverty.
In South Surrey, a small group of seniors gathered outside South Surrey-White Rock MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay含羞草研究社檚 office and marched around the area with signs saying 含羞草研究社淲e want change now 含羞草研究社� not charity含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社�1-2-3-4, we含羞草研究社檙e sick and tired of being poor,含羞草研究社� among others.
This event marks the inaugural march for the Semiahmoo Peninsula. The original was started in Vernon just last year by organizer Carole Fawcett, and has expanded across B.C. since.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 growing, and I think it含羞草研究社檚 going to grow even more, moving forward,含羞草研究社� said White Rock/South Surrey march organizer Sue Reid, who has heard there含羞草研究社檚 about 15 seniors who are homeless and living in their cars 含羞草研究社� if they含羞草研究社檙e lucky enough to have a car 含羞草研究社� in White Rock.
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含羞草研究社淲hen they only make $17,000 with old age pension and the Canadian poverty threshold is $25,252 a year, it含羞草研究社檚 clear (seniors) don含羞草研究社檛 have enough. (Old Age Pension) should be increased up to poverty level.含羞草研究社�
As cars driving past honked their horns in support of the march, Reid noted more and more seniors are unable to afford the cost of living.
She said she knows of one family who say they are supplementing their senior family members every month 含羞草研究社� taking funds out of their own, stretched budget 含羞草研究社� because they can含羞草研究社檛 make ends meet without the monthly help.
含羞草研究社淭hese are just regular, everyday people, just like us含羞草研究社� you see (the poverty) happening more and more.含羞草研究社�
In Vernon, nearly 100 protesters showed up to march, Fawcett said.
含羞草研究社淭he turnout is amazing and I am just so touched,含羞草研究社� she said.
Fawcett含羞草研究社檚 goal is that the government will increase pensions, to reflect the rising inflation across the country.
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Because it was spring break, youth as well as seniors came out in support in Terrace, with sunny views of the city含羞草研究社檚 snow-capped local mountains as a backdrop, gathering outside the Tillicum Twin Theatres.
含羞草研究社淲e were the second community that came on board with the organizer,含羞草研究社� said Diana Penner, president of Skeena Valley Seniors Society.
The demonstration, which later turned into a rally to the office of MLA Ellis Ross, MP Taylor Bachrach and to city hall, was also joined by some young faces who held the signs of 含羞草研究社淪eniors on government pension live in poverty含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社淩aise government pensions above the poverty line.含羞草研究社�
In Ladysmith, seniors marched along 1st Avenue in support of the march, in solidarity with all the other seniors and events around the province. Ladysmith march organizer Joanne Burroughs said 23 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in B.C. are seniors.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 the highest it含羞草研究社檚 ever been,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e just not getting anything and you can含羞草研究社檛 live on what they含羞草研究社檙e giving people. I was just really mad at the situation and people not being aware of it.含羞草研究社�
Burroughs said she hopes the Tin Cup movement makes its way across the country, as old age security is a federal file. She stressed that higher pensions won含羞草研究社檛 only benefit today含羞草研究社檚 seniors.
含羞草研究社淚t is for seniors and future seniors含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 going to be worse for them,含羞草研究社� she said.
Visit seniorstincup.org for more details.
含羞草研究社� with files from Bowen Assman, Prabhnoor Kaur and Greg Sakaki
