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Our Community: A souper event for Victoria’s youth

Get a bowl of soup with a healthy slice of compassion at Souper Bowls of Hope, an annual lunchtime fundraising event with soup and entertainment for the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society, April 6 at the Victoria Conference Centre.

Get a bowl of soup with a healthy slice of compassion at Souper Bowls of Hope, an annual lunchtime fundraising event with soup and entertainment for the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society, April 6 at the Victoria Conference Centre.

This year’s stage presentation includes a tribute to Helen Hughes, the founder, soul and driving force of the event. Over the past 18 years, Hughes has raised more than $950,000 for the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society.

The event typically sees as many as 400 caring members of the community become a Souper Hero over lunch every year. This year, they get to enjoy delicious soup from the kitchens of the Fairmont Empress, Union Club, Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry and 10 Acres Bistro, with bread for dipping from Portofino Bakery.

This year’s entertainment is provided by the Victoria High School R&B Band.

“We are encouraged by the support Victoria has demonstrated for our youth,” said Michele Davis, event chair. “We are thrilled that the downtown businesses have really stepped up this year with sponsorship, including presenting sponsor CIBC Wood Gundy, who kicked us off with a $15,000 donation.”

People can try their luck with raffles, or bid on silent and live auctions, which include a WestJet Gift of Flight for two people, Capital Iron gift baskets worth $500 each and a Langara Lodge Fishing Adventure in the remote and tranquil region of Haida Gwaii for two people.

Diners don’t just leave with a full belly, either; all attendees have an opportunity to take home a handcrafted bowl, made by a local artisan, as a memento.

Proceeds benefit the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society, which provides programs for Victoria’s vulnerable youth (ages 13 to 19) and supports families and parents of youth at risk.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at bit.ly/SBHTickets. The event runs 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 6 at the Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas St.

For additional information, tickets, to become a sponsor, to donate to the silent auction or to volunteer for the event, go to souperbowls.com.

 

Meeting will discuss pets and housing

Make your voice (and your pet’s bark or meow) heard at a community meeting discussing the issue of pets and housing, hosted by Pets OK B.C. and the Mustard Seed Street Church, April 8 at Cook Street Activity Centre.

As people struggle to find affordable housing amid extremely low vacancy rates, those with pets find themselves at a particular disadvantage. It can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to find suitable shelter.

In 2016, the B.C. SPCA recorded almost 1,800 pets surrendered due to lack of affordable, pet-friendly housing.

“For many in our community, companion animals are family members who provide meaning, support and friendship, all of which becomes even more significant in times of stress and challenge,” said Bruce Curtiss, Mustard Seed executive director. “We know this is magnified for those living in poverty, on the streets and on the margins of society. Restrictive housing policies can add to their level of trauma. We support a community conversation of key stakeholders with the goal of arriving at win-win ways forward.”

The meeting looks at ways to accommodate both pets and the concerns of landlords. It will examine Ontario’s solution to the issue. Panelists representing various viewpoints will speak briefly, followed by a moderated public discussion. The meeting will be facilitated by an executive coach, national host broadcaster, keynote speaker and international orchestral conductor.

“We’d like the opportunity to sit down and engage with fellow stakeholders on this issue in order to work out an equitable solution,” said Jordan Reichert of Pets OK B.C.

The town hall meeting is free. The Mustard Seed will be accepting donations of pet food and cash. It runs 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Cook Street Activity Centre, 380 Cook St.

For more information, contact Lisa Warden, the Mustard Seed Street Church, 250-953-1591, lisa@mustardseed.ca, or Jordan Reichert, Pets OK BC, 250-216-0562, petsok@gmail.com.

 

Trek for Tourette is five kilometres of fun

Lace up your shoes and join the ninth annual Trek for Tourette, a five-kilometre fun walk to raise awareness and support Tourette Canada, today on Dallas Road.

Tourette Canada relies on the generosity of Canadians to support its ongoing work to educate, promote awareness and provide a supportive network for families diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on the grassroots nature of our organization, but the needs of our stakeholders are outgrowing our ability to service them,” said Janet Rumsey, a member of the board of directors.

“With more than one in 50 kids being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and/or one of its associated disorders like OCD and ADHD — not to mention other conditions like anxiety and rage disorders — it’s time we as a nation recognize that neurodevelopmental disorders are mainstream and growing rapidly in the frequency of their diagnosis.”

Tourette Canada is the only federally registered, charitable organization of volunteers assisting individuals affected by Tourette syndrome and its associated disorders.

Register online. Trekkers meet at 1 p.m. on Dallas Road (at the bottom of Cook Street) and begin walking at 2 p.m. Trekkers will walk along Dallas Road to Ogden Point and back — a total of five kilometres.

For more information, make a donation or register, go to tourette.ca/trek.

 

Canada 150 projects are unfolding

The Community Fund for Canada’s 150th is funding a wide variety of local projects, initiatives and events set to unfold over the year to help celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.

National and community pride will be in full celebration in Victoria this year, thanks to $350,000 in funding shared among 35 organizations that will produce a varied collection of public activities connected to Canada’s sesquicentennial celebration.

Locally, the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th is a collaboration of the Victoria Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada and the government of Canada.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this funding as a part of the Victoria Foundation’s ongoing celebration of Canada 150,” said Sandra Richardson, CEO. “These projects encourage residents to investigate and celebrate what it means to belong and to be Canadian, and we’re delighted to be able to support them.”

Projects include those that:

• Encourage participation in community activities and events to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

• Inspire a deeper understanding about the people, places and events that shape our country and our communities.

• Build vibrant and healthy communities with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, groups that reflect our cultural diversity, youth and official language minorities.

Projects include a performance by clients of the Victoria Brain Injury Society of songs embracing Canada’s heritage, a video honouring Canada’s veterans produced by the Broadmead Care Society, a refugee and immigrant photo essay, community talks on belonging by the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria and community conversations hosted by the Pacific Opera Association about a new opera on missing and murdered indigenous women.

For the list of all 35 projects, including dates and links to details, visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca/ whats-new.

 

Cool Aid Society holding a job fair

Are you interested in making a difference in our community by helping people who are homeless and vulnerable? The Victoria Cool Aid Society is hosting a job fair on Wednesday at its Rock Bay Landing emergency shelter.

In particular, the aid agency is looking for:

• Emergency support workers — A frontline shelter worker providing a variety of shelter services, including accepting referrals, registering and orienting clients, and offering supports and advocacy to clients who are homeless. The emergency-support worker is available for overnight shifts and interacts with other service agencies and professionals in support of the client needs.

• Resident support workers — A frontline housing worker providing a variety of support services, including case management, assessment, life-skills development, problem-solving, conflict resolution and crisis intervention. The resident-support worker is available for overnight shifts and delivers day-to-day support of the tenants, as well as maintenance, security and cleaning for the building.

Cool Aid offers a culture that embraces innovation, teamwork, inspirational leadership and knowledge-sharing. They address local issues through relevant work in the community, guided by a mission and a history of service. The workplace also offers flexibility and training opportunities.

Successful applicants will have one year of recent related work or volunteer experience and a diploma or certificate in a social-services-related field such as mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or trauma; or combined equivalent experience. The ideal candidate will also possess current Food Safe and First Aid Level 1.

The job fair runs 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the society’s Rock Bay Landing emergency shelter, 535 Ellice St. For more information, go to coolaid.org/jobs.

 

Rotary Club marks 100 years

Rotarians from Vancouver Island and western Washington were in Victoria recently to celebrate the service club’s 100 years of worldwide philanthropy.

Rotarians from District 5020 met at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel for a centennial celebration dinner to recognize the Rotary Foundation’s centenary.

The foundation was the brainchild of Rotary International president Arch C. Klumph, who declared: “We should not live for ourselves alone, but for the joy in doing good for others.”

The foundation is a not-for-profit that is funded by contributions from members and friends of Rotary who support its mission to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace.

In 2015-2016, the foundation received more than $265 million US donations, with a cumulative total of $4.1 billion US since its inception.

Using grants, Rotary clubs develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects, provide scholarships and offer professional training opportunities. Its programs promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education and strengthen local economies.

Rotary, through its partnership with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is part of worldwide efforts to eradicate polio. It has contributed more than $1 billion and many thousands of hours to its eradication efforts.

Established in 1905, Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries.

For more information, go to rotary.org/en/about-rotary/ rotary-foundation