Scott Burley says he’ll never forget where he came from, and will not walk away from his commitment to leaving the community — especially the most vulnerable — a little better off than he found it.
The owner of the 2 Burley Men moving company knows only too well what it means to be broke, to have little in the way of hope and even fewer places to turn for help.
Just over 10 years ago, it was Burley who needed the helping hand and a new direction in life. As a result, the 44-year-old knows just how far a little help at the bottom of the pile can go to turn a life around. “I remember not being able to afford a Slurpee at the 7-Eleven,” he said of an old life that featured a divorce and a stint in rehab to clean up.
Burley, who has been clean and sober for more than 10 years, found hope in a job at Our Place.
“It was the first place I cleaned up. I started working there when I was eight months clean,” he said.
Burley worked as an addictions worker at Our Place and eventually with the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
He saw what the work did for him in building himself back up, and saw the effect it had on the hundreds of people who came through Our Place’s programs.
It was after he had been sober for three years that he started his moving business, and he said it’s been “a whole new life, a dream” since then.
But he has never forgotten the impact Our Place made on him.
“I think it’s a little like your first girlfriend, you always think about her,” he said with a laugh. “That’s where it started for me.”
As his business has grown, he has maintained his connection with Our Place by donating time and money and helping to drive new programs.
Burley said giving back has always been part of the 2 Burley Men business plan.
“Because I worked at Our Place, I always did stuff for them. But as I’ve been able to afford more, I do more,” he said, noting that last year he gave Our Place about $20,000. This year, through cash and services, it could be as high as $40,000.
In total, he expects he will spread about $70,000 in cash and kind around the community this year, because he feels it’s the right thing to do. “I’m not rich, but I do well. And the better I do, the more we as a company are going to do,” he said. “The Island supports the Island. I think you can’t ask for help unless you’re willing to give back. If you ask for the community to support you, then you had better be ready to support them.”
So far, that’s worked nicely for 2 Burley Men. In less than eight years, the moving firm has grown into a fleet of 55 trucks moving people all over the province and into Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Burley is doing so much long-haul business between B.C. and Alberta that he expects to launch a Calgary division in the new year and, from there, spread across Alberta.
Our Place executive director Don Evans said Burley is a great example of how Victoria rallies around good causes.
“We rely on the support of people like Scott and organizations like 2 Burley Men to do this work, because most of our support comes from individuals and corporations. He steps up and it makes a difference,” Evans said. “Without that support, we couldn’t do what we do.”
Evans said Burley has a big heart and a passion for helping vulnerable people.
“He has been a supporter of Our Place for a long time. He has personal connections here, he worked here at one point, and he always wants to make a difference,” Evans said.
Burley believes supporting Our Place is especially important at this time of year.
“You do tend to think about the homeless more when it’s Christmas. It’s cold and raining,” he said. “You do think about it more every time your feet get wet and you can appreciate what you have and think about the guy who doesn’t.”
“What Don Evans has done there is insane. The people are getting so much more out of it than just a coffee and a safe place off the streets,” he said. “It gives a person a chance, it really does. If that place wasn’t open, Victoria would be a mess, all of those people would be on the street.”
But Our Place, like other outreach services, charities and shelters, is stretched thin this year. It has served 100,000 more meals this year than last and is having to consider cutting back its hours in January if fundraising goals fall short in December.
Evans said the need continues to grow, and Our Place is seeing more young people on the streets.
But despite being stretched thin he remains optimistic.
“There’s a lot of compassion in the city and we are well supported in the city,” he said. “That always gives me hope.”
How to donate
Since 1956, this newspaper has collected money to benefit the less fortunate. Last year, through the Christmas Fund, we raised and distributed about $320,000, and we hope to beat that total this year.
We work with the Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed, which handle the disbursement of most of the funds, and also provide financial help to Our Place.
To donate, go online to: timescolonist.com/donate. You will be directed to a Canada Helps donation form; once you make your donation, a tax receipt will be provided immediately.
Or mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, V8T 4M2.
You can use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.
