Gordy Dodd, owner of Dodd’s Furniture, will again host his annual Thanksgiving Dinner event on Monday at Our Place.
This is the furniture store’s 18th Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and less privileged. The company puts on the much-anticipated event as an opportunity to give back to the community.
There will be enough food and drink for as many as 1,200 people.
Dinner starts at 4 p.m. Monday at Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave. (corner of Vancouver and Pandora). For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Scholarships pave the way at VIU
Almost 40 students will begin or continue their studies at Vancouver Island University this fall with fewer financial worries, thanks to full-ride scholarship programs.
Programs include the Chancellor’s Entrance Scholarships for Aboriginal High School Students, the President’s Entrance Scholarships for Vancouver Island High School Students, the President’s Entrance Awards for Scholar Athletes and the President’s Scholarships for Continuing Students.
“We are pleased that more of our area’s top students are choosing Vancouver Island University and choosing to study close to home,” said Ralph Nilson, university president and vice-chancellor. “Supporting excellence in education is one of (the university’s) core values, as is supporting local indigenous learners, our award-winning athletics program and our current students who are excelling in their studies.”
The president’s scholarships program began in 2008 when the school received its full university status. For more information on the scholarships, awards and bursaries, go to viu.ca/financialaid/about.asp.
Holiday weekend a time for blood donations
Canadian Blood Services wants people to consider giving blood — and give other families an extra reason to be thankful.
Donations often decrease around long weekends, as regular donors are away or busy with family activities. While there is a call for all blood groups, this Thanksgiving there is a particular need for donors with O and A blood types.
“Every week, more than 350 donations are needed in your community. You never know when you or a friend will need blood. It’s so important to understand that blood will always be there for us — but only if we have donors who give regularly,” said David Patterson, director of donor relations in the B.C. and Yukon region. “So far we’re on track to welcome 85,000 new donors this year, including 14,000 in the B.C. and Yukon region. But we’re looking for a total of 100,000 across the country.”
Victoria-area residents can donate blood at:
• Victoria blood donor clinic, 3449 Saanich Rd., 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on alternating Saturdays (from Oct. 22).
• Royal Jubilee Hospital, 1952 Bay St. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10.
Walk-in appointments are available at all clinics. To book an appointment, download the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca.
Girl needs life-saving spinal surgery
The parents of Madeleine Murray are hoping people can help them with the cost of a very complex, life-saving surgery for their little girl.
Nine year-old Murray has a rare form of arthrogryposis, a condition that derives its name from Greek, literally meaning curving of joints. Spinal deformity in arthrogryposis is complex, and specialized skill and experience are required to correct the condition.
She already has had two spinal surgeries, with rods placed in her back in the first operation in 2015. Unfortunately, her neck collapsed, and an ultimately unsuccessful revision was attempted in June. Her head is now fixed in a position looking down. She is in danger of choking because her neck has collapsed. Corrective surgery is necessary as soon as possible to bring her neck back upright, or her condition will be permanent.
Her parents have found a surgeon in Florida who is an expert and has corrected many children with arthrogryposis.
It is uncertain how much the British Columbia Medical Services Plan will cover, if any.
Dan and Laura, Madeleine’s parents, have already re-mortgaged their home and sold life-insurance policies to raise the money.
Friends have started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $500,000 to cover surgery and subsequent four-month rehabilitation costs. To contribute, go to gofundme.com/madeleinessurgery or Facebook.
One-stop shop aids Victoria’s homeless
The Victoria Cool Aid Society is looking for donations of clothing, hygiene items, food or cash donations — and at least 30 more volunteers — for Project Connect, held at its Rock Bay Landing facility on Wednesday.
Project Connect gives the Capital Region’s vulnerable and poor citizens access to many services all in one place at one time. It provides such things as personal portrait photos, identification replacement, food and hygiene items.
The event is an initiative of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness.
“This is an important annual event for members of the community experiencing homelessness and also for organizations providing much-needed services,” said Don Elliott, executive director of the organization. “Project Connect gives everyone the opportunity to access a range of services and information in one place — something that cannot be underestimated — and is an important part of coming together as a community in support of one another.”
The event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Rock Bay Landing location, 535 Ellice St. For more information, go to coolaid.org.
Families gather to remember lost babies
Royal Oak Burial Park is hosting its annual Remembrance Gathering for parents and families who have lost a baby through early death, in the park’s Little Spirits Garden on Saturday.
Oct. 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, created to provide support for those affected by pregnancy loss or infant death.
The event provides an opportunity for families to remember the babies, in a non-denominational, supportive environment. Activities include readings, songs, stories from parents, messages of inspiration and candle-lighting.
“It’s a terrible tragedy to lose a child, and no one should suffer alone or in silence,” said Stephen Olson, executive director of the park. “I am proud that our community was so supportive of creating a dedicated and beautiful place for families and friends to grieve and remember the precious infants lost.”
While typically attended by families who have suffered a loss, it is also an opportunity for the broader community to acknowledge and support those families.
The event runs noon to 2 p.m. in the Little Spirits Garden at Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Dr. In the event of rain, the ceremony will move indoors to the Burial Park Garden Chapel. For more information, go to robp.ca.
Longtime literacy groups joining forces
The Victoria READ Society and Literacy Victoria are forming one organization after deciding they can have a greater impact by working together.
Both organizations have been long-standing players in the Greater Victoria literacy arena, with READ formed in 1977 and Literacy Victoria in 1986.
Christine Bossi will serve as the executive director of the new organization and will work toward creating a new name and logo.
The new organization will retain the existing programs, which include one-to-one tutoring for adults in the community and inmates at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre on Wilkinson Road, after-school literacy and numeracy reinforcement in elementary schools called the Noisy Kids Reading Club, small-group remedial instruction for children and youth, and academic-level assessment. For more information, go to readsociety.bc.ca or literacyvictoria.org.
Special performance of Swan Lake coming soon
Remember to put in the code SWAN when purchasing any ticket for the upcoming Moscow Ballet Company’s production of Swan Lake, so the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary will receive a portion of the proceeds from the ballet’s ticket sales.
The ballet company agreed to perform in Victoria on Nov. 12, in support of the sanctuary’s Bridges to Nature Campaign.
A special VIP block of tickets have also been released to the public on Swan Lake’s promotion page.
All tickets purchased directly from this promotional page will support the Bridges to Nature Campaign.
Purchasers of the VIP $150 Gold Circle tickets will receive — in addition to the ballet — an invitation to attend a VIP cocktails and appetizers reception, and a chance to be part of the show and arrive on stage in the Christmas sleigh at the end of Act One. Patrons can be part of an after-show meet-and-greet photo opportunity with the dancers. For tickets, go to rmts.bc.ca/promo/swan and use code SWAN.
It’s costume time for pets
Dress up your best friend in their best costume for the Halloween Dog Party at Clover Point Park on Saturday.
The event is hosted by the Boneless Project as a food and fundraiser for hungry pets in our community.
Dress your dog up as a fuzzy monster, superhero or spooky monster.
Treats and beverages by donation. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at Clover Point Park on Dallas Road. For more information, go to safars.org or 778-352-2999.
Peninsula hospital aims for $2 million
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation hopes to raise $2 million for the residential-care unit at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital through its annual campaign.
The funds will go toward new art, music and horticulture therapy programs and equipment. Proceeds will also be used to revitalize the library and improve walkways for residents.
Renovations to two palliative-care rooms include making them more comfortable for residents and their family members who want to be together at the end of life.
“Even from family experience, I know that, regardless of age, the things that make life rich remain the same,” said Paul Hames, foundation board president. “Art, music, literature, the outdoors, all are essential contributors to a person’s happiness and well-being. With an aging population like that of the Saanich Peninsula, these aspects are proving to be even more valuable than previously anticipated.”
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation was founded in 1985 by a group of Peninsula residents who wanted to support their community hospital. Its mission is to provide up-to-date equipment and facilities to support the Saanich Peninsula Hospital in promoting health-care excellence. For more information, or to donate, go to sphf.ca.
Dance and silent auction support art centre
Help grow the Island’s creative economy by attending the Raise the Roof fundraiser for the Coast Collective Art Centre at the Langford Legion, Saturday.
The Coast Collective Art Centre is the only community art centre on the West Shore. Over the past eight years it has introduced art, fine craft, art/maker classes and a wide array of cultural experiences to the community. The centre is operated by the Society for Arts on the South Island.
It welcomes more than 15,000 visitors per year, showcases the work of hundreds of talented Vancouver Island artists and craftspeople and holds more than 15 gallery exhibits. It offers more than 100 art workshops and classes and works with schools and other not-for-profit organizations to support the social and cultural development of the region.
The event is an opportunity to dance, enjoy music by Groove Kitchen, socialize and bid on silent-auction items. The master of ceremonies is Jack Knox from the Times Colonist.
Tickets are $20. The event runs 8 p.m. to midnight Oct. 15 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91, 761 Station Ave. Langford. For more information, go to coastcollective.ca/events/raise-the-roof-oct-15.
Buy a book to help struggling families
Support struggling families and animals in distress in perpetuity at the Garden House Foundation’s Charity Used Book Sale, at the Bonner School in Mill Bay, Oct. 15 and 16.
The foundation is a permanent fund formed under the umbrella of the Victoria Foundation. Since its inception in 2008, the fund has supported families and animals in crisis with annual grants to several organizations. The grants continue in perpetuity, meaning that everyone who purchases books at the sale will be providing support forever to Cowichan Valley community programs.
Programs include Children Who Witness Abuse, which provides group and individual counselling for children between the ages of four and 18 who might suffer anxiety, anger and sleep disturbances. Other programs include Strengthening Parenting, which looks at how a mother’s own trauma impacts her parenting skills, and the Books ’n’ Bubbles bus, which offers onboard pre-school literacy and reading programs.
Grants also go toward medical costs for stray and injured animals.
There will be 20,000 high-quality books, including 5,000 children’s books, at the event. All childrens’ books sell for 50 cents, with most others $1 to $3. There will once again be a silent auction of collector-quality books, with bids starting at $20. The sale is cash only.
The sale runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at the George Bonner Elementary School, 3060 Cobble Hill Rd., Mill Bay. For more information, go to gardenhousefoundation.wordpress.com or call 250-743-4627.
