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鈥檚 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鈥檚 office and marched around the area with signs saying 鈥淲e want change now 鈥� not charity鈥� and 鈥�1-2-3-4, we鈥檙e sick and tired of being poor,鈥� 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 growing, and I think it鈥檚 going to grow even more, moving forward,鈥� said White Rock/South Surrey march organizer Sue Reid, who has heard there鈥檚 about 15 seniors who are homeless and living in their cars 鈥� if they鈥檙e lucky enough to have a car 鈥� in White Rock.
READ ALSO:
鈥淲hen they only make $17,000 with old age pension and the Canadian poverty threshold is $25,252 a year, it鈥檚 clear (seniors) don鈥檛 have enough. (Old Age Pension) should be increased up to poverty level.鈥�
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 鈥� taking funds out of their own, stretched budget 鈥� because they can鈥檛 make ends meet without the monthly help.
鈥淭hese are just regular, everyday people, just like us鈥� you see (the poverty) happening more and more.鈥�
In Vernon, nearly 100 protesters showed up to march, Fawcett said.
鈥淭he turnout is amazing and I am just so touched,鈥� she said.
Fawcett鈥檚 goal is that the government will increase pensions, to reflect the rising inflation across the country.
READ MORE:
Because it was spring break, youth as well as seniors came out in support in Terrace, with sunny views of the city鈥檚 snow-capped local mountains as a backdrop, gathering outside the Tillicum Twin Theatres.
鈥淲e were the second community that came on board with the organizer,鈥� 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 鈥淪eniors on government pension live in poverty鈥� and 鈥淩aise government pensions above the poverty line.鈥�
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.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the highest it鈥檚 ever been,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e just not getting anything and you can鈥檛 live on what they鈥檙e giving people. I was just really mad at the situation and people not being aware of it.鈥�
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鈥檛 only benefit today鈥檚 seniors.
鈥淚t is for seniors and future seniors鈥� It鈥檚 going to be worse for them,鈥� she said.
Visit seniorstincup.org for more details.
鈥� with files from Bowen Assman, Prabhnoor Kaur and Greg Sakaki
