Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia

Participants: 39 + SCZS drivers + ZSBC volunteers
Drivers: 8
The 9th session of the Sharing and Caring Zarthushti Seniors program was held on November 21, 2010, again at the Arbab Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr. This session was primarily conducted by Ms Kaynaaz Dholoo who led a discussion on the Essence of being a good Zoroastrian and how a healthy and active mind results in healthy and happy living. Copies of the 7 Amesha Spentas were circulated for information and discussion.

At this sessions we were fortunate to also tap into the wisdom of mobed Ardeshir Behi who happened to be at the Darbe Mehr that day. In the absence of our regular Farsi translator, Shahrzad Rostamirad, mobed Behi very kindly undertook to translate the information, conversation, and questions into Farsi, and also very ably translated his Farsi explanations into English. By doing so he had an engaged the audience, and we are grateful to mobed Behi for his time and commitment to ZSBC and to the SCZS program.

It was heartening to see active audience participation and many had to be coaxed to proceed to lunch.

Iranian cooking was introduced to the gathering this time, and lunch this time around was cooked by Mr Farmarz Soroushi and comprised of a meat and yellow lentil stew (khoresht-e-gayme) accompanied by white rice and a tossed salad. As it was a cold and snowy day the delicious hot food was much appreciated by participants as was Faramarz's short talk on the nutrition benefits of the stew he had cooked and the importance of a well-balanced diet.

SCZS also thanks Mr Homi Italia, one of our senior lead volunteers for bringing in a cake that day for dessert in celebration of his wife Koomi's birthday.

The next SCZS session (19 December 2010) will be led by Mrs Armaity Hathidaru and is again open to all seniors in the neighborhood.

SCZS Session VIII: ZSBC/SCZS Joint Session -- Jashan-E-Mehergan & SCZS 8th Session

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Participants: 37 + SCZS drivers + ZSBC volunteers
Drivers: 7
The eighth session of Sharing and Caring Zarthushti Seniors program, held 17 October 2010 was attended by 37 seniors, 4 ZSBC volunteers, and 7 drivers half of whom were participants themselves. This event was combined with ZSBC's Mehergan function.

The meeting commenced with prayers in the ZSBC prayer hall led by mobed Jamshid Jamshedi. These type of sessions are truly appreciated by the seniors as they get spiritual stimulation and also get to meet a lot of the other community members that do not attend the SCZE events on a routine basis.

ZSBC had arrange for catering by Mrs Hutoxy Dadimaster who provided a nutritious and enjoyable lunch for all present.

At this event ZSBC and the Arbab Rustam Guiv Trust also distributed scholarships for Zoroastrian youth pursuing further studies. The presentation ceremony was followed by a short scholarly presentation on the history of Zoroastrianism and its observance in Iran today.

This 8th session of the SCZS program was another success, enthusiastically attended by the participants who stated they look forward to each monthly program and are somewhat concerned that funding for this program is winding down.

SCZS Session VII: 2010 ZSBC/SCZS Annual Picnic

Sunday, September 19, 2010
Participants: 37 + SCZS drivers + ZSBC volunteers
Drivers: 6

The seventh session of Sharing and Caring Zarthushti Seniors program, held 19 September 2010 was attended by 37 seniors, 4 ZSBC volunteers, and 6 drivers half of whom were participants themselves. Due to inclement weather conditions SCZS’ picnic was transferred indoors to our community centre, Arbab Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr. The strength of this program lies in the attendance of seniors many of whom have not been to the Association’s events in the past.

This session started with games and ended with 10 gift certificates that were awarded as prizes to Behram Bhesania, Jangoo Parakh, Adi Balsara, Furdoon Mehta, Cyrus Kabeer, Yasmin Damji, Hutoxi Dadimaster, Arnavaz Mondi, Bakhtawar Daruwala, Hosy Bharucha.

Homi Italia, Kashmira Suraliwalla, Kaynaaz Dholoo, Sheraz Bhesania and Shahrzad Rostamirad conducted the Bingo and Name-Place-Animal-Thing games.

Mrs Hutoxy Dadimaster catered to this fun-filled event with a menu comprising a smorgasbord of snacks including a variety of sandwiches, kabobs, tandoori chicken, dhoklas, gulab jamuns, and drinks.

The Program’s success is marked by participants’ expression of appreciation and reluctance to leave on the afternoon of the event.

SCZS Session VI: Combined with the ZSBC Gathas prayers

Sunday, August 15, 2010
Participants: 33
Drivers: 4

This sixth session of the SCZS Program was combined with the Gathas prayers—Zoroastrian high days (per the Shahenshai calendar). 33 seniors were able to attend the prayers at ZSBC and socialize that afternoon with several community members at large. As usual the SCZSZ Program paid for the senior meals and provided the transportation to encourage participation.

Seniors were very appreciative of the Program especially as it allowed them to attend an important community event.

SCZS Session V: Exercise and Pain Management

Sunday, July 18, 2010
Participants: 54
Drivers: 6

This fifth session of the SCZS Program was led by Ms Nazneen Chow, a UBC graduate, and trained occupational therapist with 19 years of experience in the community. Ms Chow explained to attendees the role of occupational therapists in the community, of how they helped people to return to normal lives after accidents and surgeries and how rehabilitation was possible. Through various demonstrations and audience participation she showed attendees how to manage muscle pain through regular exercise. Seniors present got to learn about the different types of pain management techniques and specific lifestyle adjustments that are required in the prevention of falls. Attendees particularly liked participating in exercises with Ms Chow and her ability to modify them for different levels of ability.

There were several questions and SCZS hopes that by educating the senior members in the community that they will be better informed and be better able to manage their health and thus reduce stress on themselves and the health care system.

This session was followed by another well-balanced Indian lunch catered by Ms Havovie Suraliwalla. Our thanks again go to the volunteers who always help with the set-up, clean-up, and service required to pull-off the monthly events.

SCZS Session IV: Bowen Therapy + Memory Loss Prevention

Sunday, June 27, 2010
Participants: 42
Drivers: 6

This was a double-barrelled session with Ms Mahrukh Khajotia and Ms Naria Yaraee leading the two sessions.

Mahrukh Khajotia is a Bowen Therapy practitioner who had studied and practiced the art of this kind of healing in Mumbai India. Bowen Therapy is a non-interventional therapy that is particularly good for joint pains and she informed the audience of the successes she had had in the past in her practice. She gave a short demonstration on Mrs Roda Elavia so the audience could see what was involved. Ms Khajotia also indicated that her services would be made available to seniors at a reduced rate and that she would be willing to come out for group sessions.

Ms Nadia Yaraee’s session on memory loss prevention also provided members with useful information on a very common senior ailment. Information was presented on how to retain and work grey cells and how to maintain an active brain. This was an interactive session with translation again provided by Shahrzad Rostamirad.

The session was followed by snacks and drinks with and socializing.

SCZS Session III: Nutrition on a Tight Budget

Sunday, May 16, 2010
Participants: 45 + ZSBC Avesta Class children
Drivers: 6

Mrs Statira Balaporia, a senior from the Zoroastrian community and a long-time caterer was the chef-of-the-day. The day started off with seniors socializing and catching up with each other since the last Program meeting with some intermingling of children from the ZSBC Avesta classes. In keeping with the theme, Mrs Balaporia prepared a nutritionally-sound meal for all comprising rice, lentils, and ground lamb. This dish is traditionally prepared on good occasions by Zoroastrians originating from the Indian sub-continent. To accommodate for the taste of the young children and the milder Iranian palette the rice and lentils were essentially spice-free and there were two options of the accompanying curried lamb—a spicy version and a less-spicy version.

Program coordinators Kaynaaz Dholoo and Kashmira Suraliwalla distributed handouts on the nutritional and medicinal value of the ingredients used in the day’s menu such as ginger, garlic, cumin, onions, tomatoes, lentils and rice. A short explanation was provided on how this meal was a balanced one that included the three important food groups—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. A short explanation was also provided on the Ayurvedic outlook to health and body care.

Program coordinators are particularly pleased with the growing numbers of participants from both Iranian and Parsi members of the community, and their positive responses. The success of this event is largely due to the free door-to-door transportation that enables seniors to get out and also due to the efforts of the senior volunteers--Noshir Fitter, Homi and Coomi Italia, and the telephone committee members.

The third session of the SCZS achieved it’s goal of reducing alienation of Zoroastrian seniors through wellness tips and offering a socialization venue.

SCZS Session II: Stress Management

Sunday, April 25th, 2010
Participants: 39
Drivers: 6

Armaity Hathidaru, an occupational therapist with a holistic background, conducted the April 25, 2010 session. There has been a great response from both Iranian and Parsi members of the community. The success of this event depends on the Lead Volunteers--Noshir Fitter, Homi and Coomi Italia, and Shahrzad Rostamirad.

Armaity introduced participants to the triggers of stress, the different breathing techniques, and ways to alleviate pressure. She then led the participants through several breathing and posture exercises, and these useful tips combined with audience participation resulted in the session running for 2 hours instead of the usual 1 hour presentation. When asked if the attendees wanted a separate 2- to 3-hour workshop on breathing, posture, and pain management techniques, the show of interest was tremendous. ZSBC Board of Directors will look into the possibility of hosting such a workshop that will be open to all members.

The education session was followed by delicious snacks prepared by Hutoxy Dadimaster. Participants also got a chance to interact with the kids from the Farsi and Avesta Classes and their parents. One of the participants, Nahid, came up to the coordinator to comment that she sure hopes that this program will keep running as the information provided is useful and it also gives people another reason to come to the Darbe Mehr.

The second session of the SCZS achieved it’s goal of reducing alienation of Zoroastrian seniors through wellness tips and offering a socialization venue.

SCZS Session I: Hypertension Management

Sunday, 14 March 2010 (11:00 AM to 1:30 PM)

The Sharing and Caring Zarathusti Seniors (SCZS) program was announced to all members of the Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia via the newsletter, by the diligent volunteers of the phoning committee, and through website, and e-mails.

Today was the inaugural session of the Program. There were 45 eager participants who were interested in wellness issues. Today’s session was focused on Hypertension Management and was presented by Dr Nahid Mehraein.

Dr Mehraein graduated with her BSc and MD from the University of Toronto, has done a year of fellowship in emergency medicine at the University of Ottawa, and is presently working as a general practitioner in the Vancouver area. A bonus for Program attendees was Dr Mehraein’s ability to communicate with seniors in English and Farsi. There was active audience participation—people were able to discuss their health problems in a candid manner and receive sound advice. The Program also provided all participants with a handout on How to Manage Hypertension, courtesy the Fraser Health Authority.

Seniors were grateful for the free transportation and many emphasized that they were able to attend the session only due to this facility. Lead youth volunteers and seniors assisted in the set-up, preparation of food, and cleaning duties. After the presentation, seniors and volunteer drivers were treated to appetizers and beverages.

As a senior participant stated, “. . . it has been a while since ZSBC has introduced a program that had been organized for seniors focusing solely about reducing their isolation and emphasizing their wellness.” He was ready and willing to join the phoning committee and stated he would be calling all of his friends to advertise the Program.

There are about 15 more seniors who were unable to attend on this date but are eager to participate in April. The Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia would once again like to thank Dr Mehraein for the interesting and interactive session, and appreciate the funding provided by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

SCZS’ schedule listing future Program dates and topics was provided to everyone and this information has also been posted on our web site.

Member participation is highly encouraged and recommended. We aim to provide maximum translation in Farsi for all events.

Government of Canada - Funded by Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program

Government of Canada - Funded by Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program

Questions? / Comments?