"Life on Gabriola: Reflections on Health and Well-being," Ep. 2: "The Palette People"

Life on Gabriola TV brings you Ep. 2 of a series from People for a Healthy Community, focused on healthy ways to age, whatever your age.

PHC is a community-based, not-for-profit organization on Gabriola Island supporting individuals and families during vulnerable times in their lives, while also strengthening community resilience. First released in August, "Life on Gabriola: Reflections on Health and Well-being" adds to that mission by asking Gabriolans of all ages, "What makes for a full life?"

In this episode, videographer Sharon Kravitz visits The Palette People, a visual arts collective comprised of seniors. In a community where the median age is over 60, health services often struggle to keep up with the needs of an aging population. But these elders have found their own way to maintain at least two of the fundamentals of a healthy life beyond retirement -- continuing to find meaning in their activities, and remaining in community.

🎨 One artist, retired after 25 years of teaching, finds direction and relaxation in painting. "It keeps me sane," she says. "That's debatable, whether I am sane. But yeah, it's a purpose."
🖌️ For another, painting serves as a therapeutic activity, helping to alleviate worries and connect her again with a youthful passion.
📘 Another painter is compiling a book of paintings and history to preserve coastal stories that, he says, "are being lost."
🌴 "I've got this real loving connection here," says the former teacher.

Learn more about People for a Healthy Community's many programs at https://www.phcgabriola.org or on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/peopleforahealthycommunity.

Life on Gabriola TV is generously sponsored by:

The Gabriola Arts Council https://artsgabriola.ca/

The Haven, Gabriola Island https://haven.ca/