When most people think of lawyers, they imagine what they see on TV: years of study and offices full of law books. Lawyers actually do commit several years to learning their craft, working hard to obtain an undergraduate degree and a law degree. They are also required to pass a provincial examination and article at a law firm for one year before they can practice.

Notaries also require an undergraduate degree, as well as a Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies. They then go on to write statutory exams and train with the Society of Notaries, where they complete a mentorship and must pass the society’s final exam.

A recent BC survey showed that 6 in 10 British Columbians would not know what to do if they encountered someone living with dementia that needed help. While awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is growing, the frustration experienced by the individuals who are affected remains a reality. Additionally, in a separate survey, 61 percent of Canadians thought they would experience discrimination if diagnosed. However, even bigger challenges lay down on the families of people diagnosed with dementia.

I would like you to tell a real-life story of Margot Bentley, an Abbotsford resident. She was a nurse who made her end of life wishes clear - she wrote a note in which she said explicitly — if she got to the point where she couldn't recognize her family, she wanted to die without having antibiotics, without resuscitation, and no to food or water.