More than 50 vulnerable women who rely on the programs and services at Our Place received a little TLC when they were treated to Beauty Day last week.
A small army of volunteer hairdressers did their hair and added hair accessories, and estheticians applied cosmetics and nail polish. They also received a massage and tarot reading, and went away with gift bags containing costume jewelry and cosmetics.
The event was organized by Erin, a part-time employee who first came to Our Place as a family member. She has been able to make significant life changes that now enable her to give back in meaningful ways.
This event was special to her because she knows first-hand what it’s like to have survival as the only focus.
Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s vulnerable — the working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Care provider honoured for helping seniors
Sarah Reiter, a licensed practical nurse supervisor with Beacon Community Services, is the province’s Home Support Care Provider of the Year.
The award honours a frontline care provider employed by a B.C. Care Providers Association member, for going above and beyond in delivering care to B.C.’s seniors.
The award was presented at a ceremony on Monday attended by B.C. Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
“Sarah works in a rural part of the province, where staying late to help a client or a co-worker might mean missing the last ferry home,” said Bob Boulter, Beacon Community Services CEO. “But she’s unstintingly generous with her time and skills, and team members recognize her as a ‘go to’ person and praise her dedication and commitment.”
A Salt Spring Island resident, Reiter joined Beacon in 2015, starting with the not-for-profit organization as a community health worker care aide and then moving into a nursing leadership role.
Last year the association recognized Mari Green, who is Reiter’s supervisor, as the 2017 B.C. Care Provider of the Year.
Beacon Community Services serves about 10,000 clients in Greater Victoria and the outer Gulf Islands. For more information, go to beaconcs.ca.
Bursary aimed at kids with cerebral palsy
Pacific Medical Law, a medical malpractice law firm, has established a bursary in honour of Janna Epp, a young girl with cerebral palsy who died in 2012.
The company has announced that it will donate $5,000 to pay for care, therapy, equipment or recreation for a child living with cerebral palsy in B.C. every year.
The recipient of the bursary will be selected by Epp’s mother.
The deadline for applications is July 2. For more information, call 604-685-2361 or toll free 1-888-333-2361 or email info@pacificmedicallaw.ca or visit pacificmedicallaw.ca/ jannaeppbursary.shtml.
Library boosts its French offerings
The Greater Victoria Public Library is receiving a $15,000 grant to expand its French-language section.
The grant comes from the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on Official Languages for French-language Services. The library will match the grant with an equal contribution of its own.
“We are proud to be supporting public libraries and meeting the needs of the Francophone community by improving access to French-language content,” said Adrian Dix, health minister and minister responsible for Francophone affairs. “Promoting child literacy and enjoying the leisure of literature is a passion of mine, and in the past, I have even published a ‘reading list’ of my favourite books, much like the Francophone community’s wish list of new materials.”
The library has surveyed library patrons to create a wish list of new materials. Respondents asked for more books, CDs and films from Quebec; award-winning fiction translated into French; adult ebooks; and books for early readers.
The library already has more than 15,000 French-language items in its collection, plus digital resources in French.
Patrons can find examples of French digital resources through MaBiblioNumérique, kids’ ebooks, audiobooks and activities through Biblioenfants, an online French encyclopedia and newspapers through PressReader.
The library offers French programs for children throughout the year. For more information, go to gvpl.ca.
Seed library open for the season
The Victoria Seed Library, a community project featuring a regionally adapted seed collection, opened its doors for the season on Saturday.
A partnership between LifeCycles and the Greater Victoria Public Library, the Victoria Seed Library shares seeds through the public library. Just as you would sign out books, you can also sign out and grow seeds from the Victoria Seed Library.
Gardeners are encouraged to save seeds from the plants they grow and return them to the library at the end of the year.
“Almost everything we eat depends upon seeds,” said Matthew Kemshaw, project co-founder. “We believe that truly healthy and resilient communities cannot flourish without locally adapted seeds that are widely available in the public domain.”
The seed library, which turns five this year, features more than 200 varietals of seeds of vegetables, herbs, flowers and native plants.
People can participate by bringing their surplus garden seed to the project’s weekly Seed Swaps. To sign out seed from the library’s collection, people must first attend a free, one-hour orientation and sign up to become lifetime members.
The organization also offers a variety of free garden learning events throughout the year.
Seed swaps take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until April 21 at the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch, 735 Broughton St.
For more information, go to lifecyclesproject.ca/seed-library.
Poker run takes to the slopes
Vancouver Island Adaptive Snowsports is hosting the Herb Bradley Poker Ski Run, its biggest fundraiser of the year, March 4 at Mount Washington Alpine Resort.
This year, the non-profit group has redesigned its traditional dual slalom race and will host a Poker Run with a twist — you will ski or snowboard the mountain to dealer locations to fill your poker hand.
“This is a fun-filled day on the mountain, the first leg of the event will be a unique barrel slalom with one of our students leading you through the course to the finish line, where you choose your first card from a dealer,” said Ken Kemper, event chairman.
Each player will receive an all-mountain lift pass, an official score card, plus a buffet lunch. Tax receipts are available upon request.
Volunteers will be on hand to teach people how to ski, snowboard and cross-country ski at the resort.
The entry fee is $100, with registration running from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on the Marmot Level of the Alpine Lodge. The event starts at 9 a.m., March 4.
For more information, or to download a registration form, go to visasweb.ca or Facebook.
First Nations give from the heart
First Nations volunteers came together to feed and clothe Greater Victoria’s vulnerable people last week.
Members of the Ahousaht First Nation and other Nuu-chah-nulth communities brought 1,000 kilograms of donated food, warm clothes, coats, blankets, underwear, winter footwear and toiletries for the city’s vulnerable citizens on Friday.
They were also treated to two traditional First Nations feasts accompanied by drumming and entertainment.
“We plan to feed and give from the heart to those who need it most,” said Curtis Dick, chief councillor of the Ahousaht First Nation. “We appreciate what Our Place does for people from our community, and this is our way of giving back. We also want all Aboriginal people struggling in Victoria to know they are loved and cared for.”
More than a quarter of the people served at Our Place are Aboriginal.
Our Place provides about 1,800 meals per day, hot showers, education, job skills, free clothing, counselling and outreach services. For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
School looking for scholarship applicants
Glenlyon Norfolk School has unveiled its 2018 Community Scholarship Initiative, with $10,000 scholarships to students entering Grades 9 to 12 from Greater Victoria.
This will be the third school year the school has provided the scholarships. They help ensure the school can offer its unique brand of education to students regardless of economic circumstance.
Applicants can be athletes, academics or artists. The school is hoping to attract enthusiastic, engaged young minds who want to contribute to school life in a manner that benefits all of its students.
Sixteen such scholars will study at the school, which has more than 700 students.
For more information, go to mygns.ca/admissions/ community-scholarships.
Film explores role of immigrant workers
Learn about the role of Chinese and Sikh immigrant workers in the development of Butchart Gardens at Beyond the Gardens’ Wall, a film presentation by the Saanich Pioneer Society on March 4 at the Log Cabin Museum.
The film about the history of Tod Inlet is part of the society’s ongoing Talk and Tea series of community events, with tea and refreshments served following the presentation.
Admission is $7.50 for the public, $5 for members. The presentation starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4 at the museum, 7910 Polo Park Cres., Saanichton (in the park behind Thrifty Foods). For more information, go to saanichpioneersociety.com.
Blood donors needed urgently
Canadian Blood Services has issued an urgent call for Canadians to give blood, with more than 35,000 donors needed to donate blood by March 10 for spring break.
The national blood inventory has steadily declined over the winter months, and the organization hopes the arrival of spring will spur Canadians to make donating blood part of their routine.
“Canadian patients rely on blood donors to live longer and healthier lives. More than 35,000 donors are needed over the next few weeks across Canada to help meet patient needs this spring,” said Rick Prinzen, Canadian Blood Services’ chief supply-chain officer.
People can make an appointment to donate by downloading the GiveBlood app or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE to find a nearby donation site. Walk-in appointments are also available at all locations.
For more information, go to blood.ca.
