Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 1st December 2025
GinaT CISS
Have you booked your Christmas Dinner!?
You can join the Cortes Island Seniors Society (CISS) if you are 50+.
Membership in the Society is important as it shows your support for the organization and its programming. To sign up or renew your CISS membership, $10 only, or $45 with Christmas Dinner, mail your cheque to CISS, PO BOX 27, Mansons Landing BC V0P 1K0, or email your dues by e-transfer to cortesseniors1gmail.com.
For more information about our programs and activities, visit our Facebook page or our CISS Newsletter Archives.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
Saturday, December 13, Door opens at 5 p.m., Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The deadline to book your Christmas Dinner is December 6! Reserve now!
This will be a traditional turkey dinner, served buffet-style like last year. Bring your own wine or beer, as well as a wrapped gift (new or old, silly or serious) if you want to participate in the gift exchange/swap.
It’s also a good time to renew your society membership. Dinner, including membership renewal, is $45 per person. Members may bring guests ($40 per person), provided we have enough spaces available.
Use the attached form to pay/renew your membership and to book your space at the Christmas Dinner table!
If you prefer cash or cheque, you can give your payment to Peter Elliott or Gina Trzesicka.
?
BETTER AT HOME DONATION APPEAL
(submitted by the SOSS Board)
We would like to ask you to consider supporting the Better at Home program, especially if you are planning year-end charitable donations at this time.
Better at Home is a BC Health program, partially funded by United Way, and delivered by Cortes Island’s Support Our Seniors Society (SOSS). We provide practical assistance to all seniors (65+), enabling them to continue living in their own homes, here on Cortes, for as long as possible.
This year, SOSS has over 180 senior clients and contracted 34 staff to deliver a broad range of programs and services. Some of these are free, such as the Klahoose bus, exercise and movement classes, respite, community lunches and rides on and off the island with volunteers. And many other services are offered on a “sliding scale subsidy” model. These include help with housekeeping, gardening, gutter cleaning, window washing, small repairs, tech support, Meals on Wheels, summer veggie bags, foot care and a heat pump program. All staff providing these services have a criminal record check and are paid a fair hourly wage. Not only does Better at Home support our seniors, but we also help many families supplement their rural incomes.
This is truly a resourceful and valuable program for Cortes. Your donation would be much appreciated and well used.
For donations not needing charitable tax receipt:
– send an Interac E-transfer to sos.society.cortesgmail.com or
– send a cheque to Support Our Seniors Society, PO Box 97, Mansons Landing, V0P 1K0 (memo: donation)
For donations wanting charitable tax receipt:
– visit http://cortesfoundation.ca/better-at-home/ or
– send a cheque to Cortes Island Community Foundation, PO Box 436, Mansons Landing, V0P 1K0 (memo: Better at Home)
For more information about Better at Home, contact coordinator Ester Strijbos at 250-204-2116 or email Ester at betterathomegmail.com.
CISS CALENDAR FOR December 2025
Always check the Tideline Calendar for the latest updates.
CISS Christmas Dinner
• Saturday, December 13, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m. Deadline for registration is Dec. 6.
T’ai Chi Ch’uan
T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a low-impact exercise ideal for seniors. Judyth Weaver generously offers these classes for free; donations, passed on to some charitable Cortes organizations, are welcome. All are invited to join.
• Wednesdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Om Studio, Manson’s Hall
Free Community Lunches
• Wednesday, December 3, Whaletown
• Thursday, December 11, Manson’s
Noon to 1:30 – All welcome
Whaletown Winter Bazaar
• Saturday, December 6, Gorge Hall, 11 a.m.
Movement and Mobility w/Kelly
• Kelly takes a break mid-December!
• Mondays (except the first Monday of the month), 11 – 12, Manson's
• Tuesdays, 10 – 11, Gorge Hall
• Thursdays, 11 – 12, Om Studio, Manson's Hall
Registrations required. Email Kelly at kbrocks55yahoo.ca.
Carpet Bowling
• Sundays and Wednesdays. Call De0305 for more information.
Friday Market at Manson's Hall
• Fridays, Manson's Hall, noon to 3 p.m.
• Last Friday Market this year on Friday, Dec. 19
Cortes DeathCare Collective
If you have any death-related questions or needs, don’t hesitate to contact us, even on short notice: Margaret at 250-204-3709 or Emma at 250-208-4468. Our monthly meetings are structured with a time for optional sharing, an educational presentation, and an update about projects in our community. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Room. In the educational portion, we’ll talk about shrouds – what they are, their history, uses, and explore ideas for making your own.
Visit our website https://islanddeathcare.ca/
Walking Group
• The walking group meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m. in Manson's Hall parking lot for a 30-minute to one-hour walk, followed by coffee. Never cancelled! Come and join the walking group. Dogs are welcome to tag along.
Cortes Island Museum and Wild Cortes
• Museum, 957 Beesley Road, Friday and Saturday, noon. to 4 p.m.
o Sunday, December 7 – Card-making Workshop with Jane Newman. Registration required, $25 payable at the workshop.
o Wednesday, December 24, 1 to 4 p.m. – the Museum is open for your last-minute holiday shopping.
• Wild Cortes, 1255 Seaford Road, Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
PERSON OF THE MONTH
Always looking for new stories. Please contact Gina0080 or seniorscortesgmail.com.
***********************************
More is included in the newsletter sent to CISS members' email boxes on the first day of each month.
To read the newsletter sent by email to CISS members, click here: https://mailchi.mp/cdf8e3dd0c2b/ciss-december-2025-newsletter
Visit us at Facebook
***********************************
If you are a CISS member, you should receive an email with the newsletter on the first day of the month. If you cannot find it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder and mark "NOT SPAM." Additionally, add seniorscortesgmail.com to your email contacts. If in doubt, call Gina at 250-935-0080.
You can join the Cortes Island Seniors Society (CISS) if you are 50+.
Membership in the Society is important as it shows your support for the organization and its programming. To sign up or renew your CISS membership, $10 only, or $45 with Christmas Dinner, mail your cheque to CISS, PO BOX 27, Mansons Landing BC V0P 1K0, or email your dues by e-transfer to cortesseniors1gmail.com.
For more information about our programs and activities, visit our Facebook page or our CISS Newsletter Archives.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
Saturday, December 13, Door opens at 5 p.m., Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The deadline to book your Christmas Dinner is December 6! Reserve now!
This will be a traditional turkey dinner, served buffet-style like last year. Bring your own wine or beer, as well as a wrapped gift (new or old, silly or serious) if you want to participate in the gift exchange/swap.
It’s also a good time to renew your society membership. Dinner, including membership renewal, is $45 per person. Members may bring guests ($40 per person), provided we have enough spaces available.
Use the attached form to pay/renew your membership and to book your space at the Christmas Dinner table!
If you prefer cash or cheque, you can give your payment to Peter Elliott or Gina Trzesicka.
?
BETTER AT HOME DONATION APPEAL
(submitted by the SOSS Board)
We would like to ask you to consider supporting the Better at Home program, especially if you are planning year-end charitable donations at this time.
Better at Home is a BC Health program, partially funded by United Way, and delivered by Cortes Island’s Support Our Seniors Society (SOSS). We provide practical assistance to all seniors (65+), enabling them to continue living in their own homes, here on Cortes, for as long as possible.
This year, SOSS has over 180 senior clients and contracted 34 staff to deliver a broad range of programs and services. Some of these are free, such as the Klahoose bus, exercise and movement classes, respite, community lunches and rides on and off the island with volunteers. And many other services are offered on a “sliding scale subsidy” model. These include help with housekeeping, gardening, gutter cleaning, window washing, small repairs, tech support, Meals on Wheels, summer veggie bags, foot care and a heat pump program. All staff providing these services have a criminal record check and are paid a fair hourly wage. Not only does Better at Home support our seniors, but we also help many families supplement their rural incomes.
This is truly a resourceful and valuable program for Cortes. Your donation would be much appreciated and well used.
For donations not needing charitable tax receipt:
– send an Interac E-transfer to sos.society.cortesgmail.com or
– send a cheque to Support Our Seniors Society, PO Box 97, Mansons Landing, V0P 1K0 (memo: donation)
For donations wanting charitable tax receipt:
– visit http://cortesfoundation.ca/better-at-home/ or
– send a cheque to Cortes Island Community Foundation, PO Box 436, Mansons Landing, V0P 1K0 (memo: Better at Home)
For more information about Better at Home, contact coordinator Ester Strijbos at 250-204-2116 or email Ester at betterathomegmail.com.
CISS CALENDAR FOR December 2025
Always check the Tideline Calendar for the latest updates.
CISS Christmas Dinner
• Saturday, December 13, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m. Deadline for registration is Dec. 6.
T’ai Chi Ch’uan
T’ai Chi Ch’uan is a low-impact exercise ideal for seniors. Judyth Weaver generously offers these classes for free; donations, passed on to some charitable Cortes organizations, are welcome. All are invited to join.
• Wednesdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Om Studio, Manson’s Hall
Free Community Lunches
• Wednesday, December 3, Whaletown
• Thursday, December 11, Manson’s
Noon to 1:30 – All welcome
Whaletown Winter Bazaar
• Saturday, December 6, Gorge Hall, 11 a.m.
Movement and Mobility w/Kelly
• Kelly takes a break mid-December!
• Mondays (except the first Monday of the month), 11 – 12, Manson's
• Tuesdays, 10 – 11, Gorge Hall
• Thursdays, 11 – 12, Om Studio, Manson's Hall
Registrations required. Email Kelly at kbrocks55yahoo.ca.
Carpet Bowling
• Sundays and Wednesdays. Call De0305 for more information.
Friday Market at Manson's Hall
• Fridays, Manson's Hall, noon to 3 p.m.
• Last Friday Market this year on Friday, Dec. 19
Cortes DeathCare Collective
If you have any death-related questions or needs, don’t hesitate to contact us, even on short notice: Margaret at 250-204-3709 or Emma at 250-208-4468. Our monthly meetings are structured with a time for optional sharing, an educational presentation, and an update about projects in our community. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Room. In the educational portion, we’ll talk about shrouds – what they are, their history, uses, and explore ideas for making your own.
Visit our website https://islanddeathcare.ca/
Walking Group
• The walking group meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m. in Manson's Hall parking lot for a 30-minute to one-hour walk, followed by coffee. Never cancelled! Come and join the walking group. Dogs are welcome to tag along.
Cortes Island Museum and Wild Cortes
• Museum, 957 Beesley Road, Friday and Saturday, noon. to 4 p.m.
o Sunday, December 7 – Card-making Workshop with Jane Newman. Registration required, $25 payable at the workshop.
o Wednesday, December 24, 1 to 4 p.m. – the Museum is open for your last-minute holiday shopping.
• Wild Cortes, 1255 Seaford Road, Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
PERSON OF THE MONTH
Always looking for new stories. Please contact Gina0080 or seniorscortesgmail.com.
***********************************
More is included in the newsletter sent to CISS members' email boxes on the first day of each month.
To read the newsletter sent by email to CISS members, click here: https://mailchi.mp/cdf8e3dd0c2b/ciss-december-2025-newsletter
Visit us at Facebook
***********************************
If you are a CISS member, you should receive an email with the newsletter on the first day of the month. If you cannot find it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder and mark "NOT SPAM." Additionally, add seniorscortesgmail.com to your email contacts. If in doubt, call Gina at 250-935-0080.
(Dinner-2025.pdf)