Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., 30 to 35 women, armed with knitting needles and colourful yarn head into Steveston's Waves Coffee House to share a laugh or two and a little friendly gossip over coffee or a latté, all the while knitting for family, friends and charity.
In 2009, Edith Petersen, a feisty "young" 88-year-old Steveston resident, began the Village Knitters as an opportunity for knitters to get together and socialize.
Today, women as young as 30 and as old as 90 converge on the coffee house for two hours every week.
"I like to compare it to the birdhouse at London Zoo," said Petersen with a hearty laugh. "There's so much camaraderie-. We also take on many charitable projects such as the 650 balaclava helmet liners for our troops in Afghanistan."
Petersen has lived in Richmond for 35 years and the last four in Steveston.
"I'm in the village nearly every day, whether it's to get groceries, flowers or have a coffee with a friend," said Petersen. "I no longer drive, so Steveston is great because I get on my Scooter and go anywhere in the village."
She often takes part in the Steveston TALK series, a Third Age Learning educational series for those aged 50 or over.
Petersen frequently lunches at many local restaurants. Her favourites include the Steveston Seafood House, Kari House Restaurant and Le Nakamura Japanese Dining.
"I get my nails done at Steveston Nail & Bar on Chatham Street and go to the London Heritage Farm House for tea," she said. "And what could be nicer than heading to Garry Point Park on a sunny day?
"I love the Sunday farm market in the summer and the Friday evening music at the Gulf of Georgia, organized by Steveston Folk Guild and the Beatmerchant. Barbara at Treasures Boutique loves to help me choose clothes and what would I do without Herringers?"
Joan Glossop, 60, and her husband 75-year-old Don Glossop, spend lots of time in Steveston, as do her 96-year-old parents, Verna and Bill Porteous.
"My parents love to dine at the Charthouse Restaurant," said Joan Glossop. "Every day, my parents have Always There for You (a home support service for seniors based in Steveston) come to prepare lunch and dinner for them.
"They love their care support worker Jean. She is trustworthy, caring and warm and she does all those little things around the house so they can remain independent."
Glossop said it means so much to her and her husband to know they can go away on trips without worrying about her elderly parents.
Meanwhile, Glossop and her husband are in Steveston village nearly every day themselves.
"When the weather gets warmer, we cycle into the village to meet friends over coffee or lunch or dinner at either Dave's Fish and Chips, Timmy Kitchen or Cimona Café," she added.
"I also joined The Glee Club for the 55+ crowd at the Steveston Community Centre. Every second Thursday a group of us get together and sing."
Not only that, Glossop enjoys attending a yoga class at the community centre as well.
"Steveston has a great vibe and you can walk everywhere," she said. "When we go walking along the boardwalk, Don always says, 'And we live here!'"
For more information about programs and services available for seniors in Steveston and across Richmond, call Senior Link Independent Society at 604562-4427 or visit www.seniorlink.info.
