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Our Community: Philanthropist fuels Broadmead fund drive

When Rudi Hoenson offered to donate $20,000 to the Broadmead Care Society for its recent Overhead Lift Campaign, he never imagined his generosity would balloon to $100,000, one of the largest individual donations the society has ever received.
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Rudi Hoenson started by offering $20,000 to buy specialty mattresses for Broadmead Care Society residents. His generosity ended up matching $100,000 in donations.

When Rudi Hoenson offered to donate $20,000 to the Broadmead Care Society for its recent Overhead Lift Campaign, he never imagined his generosity would balloon to $100,000, one of the largest individual donations the society has ever received.

Last fall, the non-profit society, which provides day programs and residential care for veterans, seniors and adults with disabilities at the Lodge at Broadmead, was holding a fundraising drive to purchase much-needed overhead ceiling lifts to care for its residents.

Hoenson, 91, was already well-known to the folks at the Lodge as a regular visitor.

“He holds residents here in a special place in his heart,” said Jennifer Jasechko, acting director of development at the society.

Hoenson, an ex-prisoner of war who made his money in the oilpatch, has made it his mission to help make the lives of residents more comfortable, donating more than $650,000 to the facility in the past four years.

But when he pulled out his chequebook this time, Jasechko asked if he would consider using his $20,000 as a challenge for others to match.

He readily agreed. To everybody’s surprise, that goal was met in two days. Emboldened, he increased it to $30,000, which was matched in a week. The bar continued to be raised, from $50,000 to $70,000 and finally $100,000. It was all matched by other donors.

“I am proud of the people that donated because — being a veteran myself — I know what they have gone through,” said Hoenson about the campaign. “I am happy and proud that people responded so nicely to my challenge. This was a fun thing to do and hopefully we can do it again."

The funds raised will be used to install ceiling lifts in each resident room. At least half of the 110 seniors who live at the lodge require help from caregivers to get them comfortable in their beds.

Overhead lifts will make it more comfortable for residents and help ease the physical load for staff. Each lift system costs $5,300 and includes the lift, motor, track, slings, installation and training.

“Broadmead Care is very grateful to Rudi and to all the donors who responded to his matching-gift challenge,” said Dave Cheperdak, CEO of the society.

Broadmead Care is the primary provider of residential care and day programs for veterans on Vancouver Island. It owns and operates the Lodge at Broadmead, Veterans Health Centre and the Nigel Program for Adults with Disabilities, a residential program.

The society works with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Veterans Affairs Canada and B.C. Housing. For more information, go to broadmeadcare.com

Blood-pressure monitor destined for heart clinic

The Rotary Club of Oak Bay recently donated $3,000 toward the purchase of a blood-pressure monitor for the Pacemaker Clinic at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

The machine takes a patient’s blood pressure at scheduled intervals. Features include a heart-rate monitor and a finger clip to measure blood-oxygen content. The machine will be put to use in the only cardiac program on Vancouver Island, recognized as the provincial leader for its diagnostic tools, treatment capacity and the skill and dedication of the Heart Health team. Patient care ranges from diagnostics to surgical intervention to rehabilitation.

The Royal Jubilee Hospital takes care of the 3,200 people in our community who require in-hospital cardiac care.

The donation is part of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay’s ongoing commitment to support the local community through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. For more information, go to oakbayrotary.com.

Commissioner explores impact of film on economy 

The Canadian Club is holding its monthly luncheon on Tuesday with Kathleen Gilbert, Victoria film commissioner, as the featured speaker. Her presentation is entitled Impact of the Film Industry on the Victoria Economy.

Guests are welcome but reservations are required.

Cost is $25 for members and $30 for guests. The event runs 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Harbour Towers Hotel, 345 Quebec St. Call 250-370-1837 or visit eventbrite.ca. For more details about the Canadian Club of Victoria and the speakers series, please visit thecanadianclubofvictoria.com.

Tears Are Not Enough recorded again 

A group of talented independent musicians from across Canada were in Victoria last week for a re-recording of Tears Are Not Enough.

They were brought together by Jon Ede, executive producer, and Alex V, main producer, to record an updated version of the original 1985 Northern Lights single, for a drive to end homelessness in Victoria and across Canada.

“We didn’t know this when we conceived our idea, but we will be re-recording our version on exactly the same day as the original single was supposed to be released, from my understanding, 30 years ago,” said Ede. “We have a fantastic group of artists who are eagerly committed to this project and can’t wait to get in the studio together. This is something people have been waiting for. It’s going to be a huge success.”

The project has gone forward with the help and support of Lisa Helps, mayor of Victoria, Sooke Mayor Maya Tait, Flora Pagan, chairwoman for Advocacy to End Homelessness, and Karla Anderson, head spiritual adviser for the Salvation Army.

The producers have the written support of the original songwriter, Jim Vallence.

Contributors and sponsors include Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, B.C. Ferries Corp., Capital City Centre Hotel in Victoria, Canadian College of Performing Arts and Barbara Coultish Talent and Modelling Agency.

Proceeds from recording sales will be directed toward a drive to help people in need get off the streets and into homes or shelters across the country.

The recording is tentatively set for release between Easter and mid-April and will be available on all digital downloads and from eandlrecords.ca.

Youth show off hairstyles to aid community centre 

Help support youth programs at the Quadra Village Community Centre by attending a community Dinner and Hair Fashion Show on Saturday.

The event, hosted by Akai Hair Design and Caribbean Village Café, features a delicious dinner hosted by the café, followed by a hair fashion show put on by youth from the community.

Tickets are $15 adults, $10 for children 12 and under. The event runs 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 950 Kings Rd. Tickets available at Caribbean Village Café, Akai Hair design and Quadra Village Community Centre. For more information, go to quadravillagecc.com

Victoria engineer helps orphanage in Guatemala

A structural engineer from Victoria was part of a team of engineers from across North America recently in Guatemala providing planning and design for an orphanage.

Leon Plett, a local structural engineer, was part of a team by Engineering Ministries International Canada invited to the Central American country by the Rio de Vida church.

He spent time with the team surveying the site and exploring infrastructure options. The resulting report will be used by the church for both fundraising and future construction.

This was the fourth trip with the organization, which mobilizes volunteer architects, engineers, surveyors, building technicians and other design professionals on projects to help people around the world. For more information, go to emicanada.org

Campaign nears goal of buying bus

Receipt of an unexpected $20,000 grant and a couple of extraordinarily generous donations from individual supporters brings the purchase of a new bus much closer for Beckley Farm Lodge.

With the grant from the Greater Victoria Savings and Credit Union Legacy Fund, the lodge has more than 80 per cent of the purchase price of the bus sitting in the bank. More than half of the $100,000 cost of the bus has came from fundraising events put on by the non-profit organization, including the annual golf tournament, the mainstay of the group’s fundraising efforts.

The new bus will be used for the lodge’s day and outreach programs and to take the seniors on outings — the weekly highlight for residents.

The volunteers hope to get the new bus on the road before summer, taking the strain off their present aging vehicle, which recently fell victim to spray-painting vandals.

Anyone interested in contributing is invited to contact Lorraine Gee, director of resident and outreach services, at 250-381-4421 ext. 234, or Dorothy Adam, auxiliary chair, at 250-386-9923. For more information, go to beckleyfarmlodge.com

Science Studio opens in Nanaimo

The Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society marked Saturday’s International Pi Day with a big community science celebration and the opening of its new Science Studio at Departure Bay Elementary School.

“As a non-profit society, our mission is to inspire families and get kids excited about science through fun hands-on learning,” said Liz DeMattia, co-founder of the society. “We feel the opening of our new Science Studio puts us one step closer to our goal of getting a permanent science centre in Nanaimo.”

Students and faculty from the Vancouver Island University, as well as other community partners, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, local engineering firms, environmental consultants and non-profit groups, attended the event.

The studio is in classroom space rented from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, with Linley Valley, a beach and a salmon-bearing stream close by.

“These natural resources complement our new studio and will serve as outdoor classrooms for our spring and summer science camps, after-school programs and other activities,” said DeMattia, an ecologist and instructor in the university’s biology department.

The hope is that the studio will spark an interest in science for children.

“There are no dedicated science and math teachers in elementary schools from kindergarten through Grade 7 in this province,” she said. “Enrolment in secondary school science programs in the mid-Island north is declining. We believe teaching kids about science and introducing them to what the university is all about at an early age is important.”

For more information about the society and new studio, visit nanaimoscience.org.