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When people reach their retirement years, they often look for ways to enjoy life without the difficulties of looking after the family home, and once they’ve made the transition to an older adult community, they don’t want to move again should they need extra health care. They want to simplify their lives while continuing to enjoy a positive, active lifestyle that encourages health, creativity and lifelong learning.
United Active Living is a senior living and retirement community in Calgary with two locations – Garrison Green and Fish Creek – that champion creativity and lifelong learning by integrating them into their daily offerings. To ensure the
programming is relevant and interesting to residents, many of the programs come from resident suggestions.
Both communities provide residents with the opportunity for emotional, creative and intellectual expression with a full calendar of interesting and informative programming and events every week.
The depth and breadth of opportunity available to each resident encourages active minds, bodies and imaginations, and is a big part of what makes United Active Living unique.
Residents have access to fully equipped art studios that are staffed seven days a week with professional artists who can provide guidance.
“I like to draw, but I’ve never had an art lesson in my life,” says Olive, a United Active Living resident. “When I came here, the creative facilitators introduced me to the art studio, and it turned out I had a natural talent for it!”
Libby, another United Active Living resident, says she has learned so many new things in her community. “The programming is basically over the top,” she says. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
Older adults are looking for a community that values their contributions, that provides a stimulating environment and supports their ongoing health needs. It’s a discussion that should happen when you are still in good health. In other words, make the decision when you want to, not because you have to.
One resident who moved recently into United’s Fish Creek community said, “I was so familiar with my community all my life so moving here was an adjustment, but I can’t say enough about the employees. They’re the most caring, efficient, pleasant, and helpful people.”
United’s large luxurious suites are appointed with everything residents need, and United offers a wide range of lifestyles, from independent living, to assisted living to memory care. A unique aspect is that those living with dementia aren’t separated from the rest of the community. They have the opportunity to take part in everything the communities offer.
That’s because United Active Living approaches aging from a social perspective rather than a medical one. Residents are in control of the programs and their activities. While the medical side is important, the emphasis is on the arts,
socialization and community, which research has shown can go a long way towards improving a person’s health and well-being.
As well, United Active Living believes that living in an older adult community should extend beyond the four walls to include partnerships with arts, cultural and educational institutions such as Mount Royal University, St. Mary’s University, the Calgary Philharmonic and more.
The whole idea of positive aging is to be able to give residents the opportunity to continue to grow and to learn, as well as to be part of a community that’s sees them as valuable contributors.
United Active Living can answer your questions about their unique approach to aging.
Tours can be booked through their website.
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Published on April 26, 2022
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WASHINGTON — The World Bank says commodity prices that reached historically elevated levels because of the war in Ukraine will remain high through the end of 2024.
The agency’s commodity markets outlook report released Tuesday says energy prices, food and fertilizer have sustained the largest commodity shock since the 1970s.
“As was the case then, the shock is being aggravated by a surge in restrictions in trade of food, fuel and fertilizers,” stated Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s vice-president for equitable growth, finance and institutions.
Energy prices, which over the past two years have sustained the biggest increases since the 1973 oil crisis, are expected to rise more than 50 per cent in 2022 before easing in 2023 and 2024.
Global Brent crude oil prices, currently at about US$105 per barrel, are expected to average US$100 in 2022. That’s the highest level since 2013 and an increase of more than 40 per cent compared with 2021. West Texas Intermediate rebounded Tuesday to about $101 per barrel.
Brent prices are expected to moderate to US$92 in 2023 — well above the five-year average of US$60 a barrel.
European natural-gas prices are expected to be twice as high in 2022 as they were in 2021, while coal prices are expected to be 80 per cent higher, with both prices at all-time highs. High natural gas prices raise fertilizer prices, putting pressure on agricultural prices.
Non-energy prices, including agriculture — of which Russia and Ukraine are big producers — and metals, are projected to increase almost 20 per cent in 2022 and will also moderate in the following years.
Commodity prices are expected to remain well above the most recent five-year average.
The World Bank added that a prolonged war or additional sanctions on Russia could boost prices even higher and make them more volatile than currently projected.
“Commodity markets are experiencing one of the largest supply shocks in decades because of the war in Ukraine,” added Ayhan Kose, director of the group that produced the report.
“The resulting increase in food and energy prices is taking a significant human and economic toll — and it will likely stall progress in reducing poverty. Higher commodity prices exacerbate already elevated inflationary pressures around the world.”
Wheat prices are forecast to increase more than 40 per cent, reaching an all-time high this year. That will put pressure on developing economies that rely on wheat imports, especially from Russia and Ukraine.
Metal prices are projected to increase by 16 per cent in 2022 before easing in 2023 but will remain at elevated levels.
The report said higher prices threaten to disrupt or delay the transition to cleaner forms of energy with several countries announcing plans to boost production of fossil fuels, while high metal prices are driving up the cost of renewable energy.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2022.
The Canadian Press
Published on April 26, 2022
By
EDMONTON — Christian Dedonato doesn’t see Connor McDavid much in the off-season, at least not until at least mid-afternoon. McDavid is too busy working out in the gym or staying sharp on the ice.
When the longtime friends get together to skate, surf, kick a soccer ball around or throw a baseball, Dedonato still sees an intensity in McDavid, now seven years into a standout if frustrating NHL career.
“I see him do these skill drills and he won’t stop until he gets it perfect,” Dedonato said. “Even going to throw a baseball around or surfing, everything just has to be perfect, and I think that shows on the ice and shows in his personality — his commitment.”
Knowing McDavid for more than a decade before the two entered high school, Dedonato isn’t surprised by the success of the Edmonton Oilers captain. What he knows better than most is how much McDavid sacrifices off the ice in his drive to be the best player in the league.
At 25, McDavid is on pace to be the league’s top scorer for the fourth time and led the Oilers to a third consecutive playoff appearance. His dazzling play is the culmination of decades of work designed to prepare him to be at peak performance when it matters most.
“He wants to be the best,” said Dedonato, a hockey player at Brock University who lives less than 10 minutes from McDavid during the off-season. “He knows it’s going to take a lot of work to be the best, and he’s been working his entire life to be the best.”
The playoffs are now his proving ground because McDavid has done just about everything during the regular season. He is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, a three-time pick by his peers for the Ted Lindsay/Lester B. Pearson Award as most outstanding player and five times has surpassed the 100-point mark.
For all those accolades, he has never reached the Stanley Cup Final and the Oilers have only won one playoff series in his tenure, back in 2017.
“There’s probably a level of frustration, which is natural,” said retired NHL forward Matt Hendricks, who played with McDavid for two seasons from 2015-17. “But then, saying that, he just keeps coming out and performing the way he does every game. It’s incredible.”
Hendricks noticed right after McDavid was picked first in the NHL draft the so-called “Next One” wanted to put the Oilers on his shoulders and “be the focal point and the reason that they came out of those dark days.” That has not changed.
“Obviously I want to play well and contribute to the team as much as I can,” McDavid said. “When I’m at my best, I contribute a lot.”
McDavid was at his best when Edmonton needed him. Since the Oilers fell out of playoff position March 4, McDavid has averaged more than 21 minutes of ice time and put up 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 24 games. They’ve won 16 of 24 games to clinch a playoff spot.
“Me at my best would be skating, having the puck, playing aggressive,” McDavid said. “That’s kind of when I’m at my best.”
What’s harder to see is how McDavid has grown as an all-around player.
“He’s driven to win. He has put a lot of emphasis in some of the areas that our staff when we’ve come together (recently) has put a lot of emphasis on, which is his work back to our own end,” said coach Jay Woodcroft, who was promoted from the minors when Dave Tippett was fired in February. “For me, we’re asking some of our higher-minute players to do a lot of things and assume a little bit more responsibility.”
McDavid has also spent the past several years shoring up his biggest weakness.
After getting picked first in the 2015 draft, he struggled on faceoffs. McDavid won just 42% of draws his first three seasons and is now over a 54% success rate, which ranks 21st in the league.
Much of that is thanks to the work McDavid does in the off-season with retired forward Gary Roberts, who has become a high performance trainer, and at the annual BioSteel camp. He also does his own training, sometimes passing up a round of golf with buddies to work on his craft.
“For me it’s those characteristics are what separate really, really good hockey players from great hockey players,” Hendricks said. “Connor from Day One, I knew that he had that. He has a game plan. Everything has a purpose.”
During the season, McDavid’s leadership combined with fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl reminds defenceman Duncan Keith of his days in Chicago alongside stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
“Kane, Toews, Draisaitl, McDavid, those guys are where they’re at because they’re competitive and they want to be the best,” Keith said. “Connor and Leon absorb and take a lot of responsibility because they feel the pressure. They want to win here.”
McDavid’s desire to win even bleeds into his social life, where he drinks only light or gluten free beer and clear liquor along with wine — when he even drinks at all. His healthy diet is a 24/7/365 effort.
Almost three years into watching the young centre up close, general manager Ken Holland has learned a thing or two about McDavid and his ability to carry the Oilers to the playoffs and, one day, the Cup.
“He competes every night, he competes every day, he competes all the off-season,” Holland said. “He trains all season. He’s a focused, motivated athlete. He’s competing both directions. I think that he’s doing everything he can for us to have success.”
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Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
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