Vancouver Islandโค Seniors Findโค Community and Connection Through Rapidly Growing โฃFacebook Group
VICTORIA, โฃBC -โข A Vancouverโข Island Facebook group launched just seven months ago has blossomedโ into a thriving community for senior women, offering โฃconnection, support, and a renewed sense โคof belonging for its over 3,000 members. Vancouver Island Senior Ladies, founded by โฃTrish Westeveld, โprovidesโค a dedicated space for women across โฃthe island to forge friendships and participateโข in local activities.
Westeveld created โฃthe group after โคsearching for aโ similar online forum and finding none โฃto meet herโ needs. โ”I lookedโ and looked and couldn’t find whatโ I was looking for, and now I’ve found what โI was looking for – and it seemsโ like it’s โคwhat everyone โelse was โฃlooking for as well, but couldn’t find,” sheโข explained. The group’s success highlights a โคgrowingโค need for accessible socialโค networks tailored to theโค interests andโฃ experiences of senior women.
The group’s rapid growth is fueled by โthe genuine connections members are making. “The positivityโ and the happiness and things it’s โฃgiven everybody, it’s reallyโฃ heartwarming,” Westeveld says. Members are organizing events and activities in โtheir own communities, often discovering they live near one another.
The group maintains a strict membership policy to ensureโข a โsafe and inclusive surroundings. “Definitely no men,” โWesteveld stated, notingโ frequent requests fromโ male applicants. “Weโ don’t wantโฃ that, โthough we โฃkeep getting them applying, so I’m โขnot sureโฃ if they โjust want to hop in on the fun.”
Activities range from casual walks and shared โmeals to book clubs, โคjournal groups, and invitations to โlocal concerts and art shows.For members like Rosie Tyskerud,the group has been life-changing. “I signed up and I went the next day for the first โคwalk โฃand โฃI came home and I phoned my husband about it and โฃmy kids, and everybody was โคsoโค excited that I found something,” she shared.
The impact extends beyond social engagement. Judy Kauwell recounted a particularly meaningful connection made through โขthe group.โ “My first time out I met โa girl whoโ had cancer and I was just going through the process of finding out if I had it myself, so we โconnected really strongly on our very โฃfirst visit out, and Iโข was like, wow.”
westeveld envisions continued growthโ for Vancouver Island Senior ladies. “Iโ hope โto have this grow and be more,” she said.”The sky is the limit toโค where I think I โcanโ go with this.”
Those interested in joining can find the group on Facebookโค at โ https://www.facebook.com/groups/652108080645852. More stories about inspiring women on Vancouver Island can be found at https://cheknews.ca/tag/inspiring-island-women/.