Have you had your second vaccination yet? Many members have received their final vaccination and are feeling more positive about a post-Covid future!

Of course there are still Covid and variants around and so we have some vaccine news and info to share!

If you're looking for an available vaccine appointment, try Vaccinehunters. Enter your postal code for the appointment nearest you.

Here's an interesting article from the BBC re Covid and variants. You can check it out here!

Starting Friday June 18th, Halton Region is accelerating vaccine doses to anyone who received their first dose on or before May 30th. You can reschedule here.
Update from Halton's Medical Officer of Health
Dr Hamidah Meghani discusses the importance of getting our second doses, mixing different vaccines and finding an appointment.
In other news.....
What's the life you want post Covid? Here's advice from Martha Beck.

Cybersecurity is always a present threat, here's a good article about protecting yourself online from NPR.

Do you live in a community where developers are eyeing golf courses for development? Check out this article from the Hamilton Spectator about how residents in Burlington and Oakville are pushing back on redevelopment plans in their neighbourhood.

Reminder: Saturday June 19th Crimestoppers is hosting a shredding event. Get rid of all those old documents and papers in one quick drive through event. Check out the details here!
‌
International Widows Day

International Widows' Day, June 23rd recognizes widows and their unique situations worldwide.

After their husbands have died, many widows especially in developing countries are forced to fight for their human rights and overcome many obstacles to ensure their social and economic status.

According to the United Nations there are an estimated 245 million widows worldwide and many live in extreme poverty and are subject to violence.

International Widows' Day was declared by the United Nations and first celebrated on June 23, 2011 in an effort to empower widows and help them regain their rights, which have long been ignored and violated.

We are very appreciative of all the rights and freedoms we have as Canadians and will remember our sisters in widowhood who live in less fortunate circumstances on Wednesday, June 23rd.
Recipe of the Week
Guacamole Salad
Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) has a quick, easy, healthy salad recipe for summer nights when you want something simple and fast!

Ingredients:
1 pt grape tomatoes, halved
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and 1/2-inch diced
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

½ cup red onion, diced
2 Tbsp jalapeno peppers, minced seeded (2 peppers)
½ tsp lime zest, freshly grated
¼ cup lime juice, freshly squeezed (2 limes)
¼ cup olive oil, good
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
½ tsp garlic, minced
¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper
2 ripe Hass avocados, seeded, peeled, and 1/2-inch diced

Directions
1.Place the tomatoes, yellow pepper, black beans, red onion, jalapeno peppers, and lime zest in a large bowl. Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper and pour over the vegetables. Toss well.
2. Just before you're ready to serve the salad, fold the avocados into the salad. Check the seasoning and serve at room temperature.
Events!
Loss Workshop with Dr. Flavia Ceschin

Dr. Ceschin returns for another session focusing on life after loss, loneliness and Covid on June 25th at 1pm.

This session has limited registrations -if you'd like to attend, pls let us know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com asap.

Registered Participants
For the June 25th session, we are asking you to send 2 questions you would like discussed at the session. Of course this is optional, and you are welcome to attend whether you submit questions or not, it just helps to guide the discussion to have your areas of concern submitted prior to the session.

Depending on the variety and number of topics, Dr. Ceschin will do her best to address as many as possible during the hour and may defer some to later sessions if we can't cover them all off on June 25th.

Note: If you registered previously for an earlier cancelled session we will automatically rebook you to this session and thank you for your previous $10 payment. If you haven't confirmed already, could you pls do so or let us know if you won't be able to make it so someone else can take your spot. Thank you.
Royal Scandals!
Gossip, intrigue, love affairs, clandestine meetings, mystery children . . . secrets shared and confidences broken—it’s all in a day’s work for the royals!

Some royal scandals were just juicy tittle-tattling or passing fancies–but some were real ‘game changers’ and altered the course of history.

Tiptoe around the European courts for an hour with Lianne Harris on July 9th at 3:30pm, and uncover the true scandals that really did change history.

Save the Date!!! Lianne returns Friday August 13th for Superstitions!!
Zoom Event Calendar
June

Sunday June 20th 1pm - Help us celebrate fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and friends on Father's Day

Tuesday June 22nd 2pm - Social Chat and What Am I?

Wednesday June 23rd 6:00pm Bring a glass of wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz or bring a quiz of your own if you would like to share!
Note: Today is International Widows Day!

Thursday June 24th 2:00pm Chat about Loss & Grief -Join us for a discussion of the grief journey and steps we can take to support one another.
Thursday June 24th 4:30 pm - Bingo! Join us for an hour of virtual bingo. Let us know if you would like us to email or mail bingo sheets to you and bring your own dabbers or markers.

Friday June 25th 1:00 pm - Loss Workshop with Dr. Flavia Ceschin (see details above!)

Sunday June 27th 1:00 pm -It's National Ice Cream Cake Day! Join us for ice cream history and trivia and fun!!

Tuesday June 29th 2:00 pm - Social and Who Am I Quiz

Wednesday June 30th 6:00pm Bring a Glass of Wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz and a quiz of your own if you would like to share!

JULY

Thursday July 1st Happy Canada Day!! We will still hold our usual Loss and Grief sessions at 2pm.
Thursday July 1st This week we will move bingo to 3:30pm in case anyone has Canada Day plans later!!

Sunday July 4th 1pm - Quiz day and chat!

Tuesday July 6th 2pm Social and Who Am I Quiz

Wednesday July 7th 6pm Bring a glass of wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz or a quiz of your own if you would like to share!

Thursday July 8th 24th 2:00pm Chat about Loss & Grief -Join us for a discussion of the grief journey and steps we can take to support one another.
Thursday July 8th 4:30 pm - Bingo! Join us for an hour of virtual bingo. Let us know if you would like us to email or mail bingo sheets to you and bring your own dabbers or markers.

Friday July 9th 3:30pm Join us for Lianne Harris and Royal Scandals

Please let Penny know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com if you'd like to be added to the attendee list for any of these Zooms or if you have any questions! Penny sends out the link the day of the zoom, if you don't have it before noon, please contact her and she'll send the link to you. All games are just for fun, no pressure!

Join us June 24th at 4:30pm for the next game! Please email us at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and we'll add you to the group. 

Winners from the June 17th game include:
Game 1: Donna, Sandra
Game 2: Sushma, Leslie F
Game 3: Leslie F
Game 4: Sandra, Leslie F, JoAnn
Game 5: Donna
Game 6: Sandra
Game 7: Leslie T, Sushma, Fran
Game 8: Leslie F

We are drawing a monthly prize from all the bingo game winners of the month's 4 sessions. Since a prize is offered, we ask members to use a dabber (or thick marker) for verification of each game. Widowed Friends has some dabbers available to give out during the lockdown. If you need a dabber or more bingo cards, please let us know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com.
Feeling the Funky Walk
Music for dancing in the kitchen!!