Richmond Chapter: Richmond’s net casts wider

Below is an article published by Richmond News on April 9th, 2015.  Click here to read the article.

It’s been a little more than a year since a group of committed Richmondites pooled their collective organizational muscle to form Richmond’s first ever CARP chapter.

Since then, the local entity of CARP — a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization that has a mission to “enhance the quality of life for all Canadians as they age” — has boosted its original membership by around 25 per cent to almost 1,000 members.

Whether it has been informative events with engaging speakers for people in the second half of their lives or social occasions to bring like-minded folks together, few can deny CARP Richmond has been a resounding success in its first year.

“We’re very happy (with the growth),” said Richmond CARP’s chair Dr. Victor Pauls, a retired dentist, father of four and granddad to nine.

“If we look at other chapters close by as a comparison, I think we can give ourselves a little pat on the back.

“The people on our committee put a lot of effort into it to get media coverage and word is getting around about us.”

Pauls said the chapter is fast becoming the “go-to place for advice on insurance, de-cluttering the home, everything really.”

“We’re having a lot of impact on the community and we seem to be filling a void out there for a lot of older people.”

CARP Richmond is gearing up for a big event this spring, a one-day Seniors Health and Resources Expo (SHARE) on June 27.

Featuring resource information, dozens of exhibitors, live entertainment, seminars and a multi-cultural food fair, Pauls anticipates upwards of 1,000 people to attend the six-hour event at South Arm United Church.

“We’ve been working on this for the last few months; this will probably be the biggest event we’ve put on, so we’re very much looking forward to it,” added Pauls.

For more information in CARP Richmond, call 1-800-363-9736 (toll free)