Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Our Community: Auxiliary revamp helps to reassure kids

Children who have to visit the Child and Family Ambulatory Unit at Victoria ­General Hospital for bloodwork and other lab procedures will now find the experience less stressful thanks to a $150,000 renovation of the laboratory area funded by the Vict
Child and Family Ambulatory Unit at Victoria General Hospital
A young patient has blood work performed while wearing virtual reality glasses in the renovated laboratory of the Child and Family Ambulatory Unit at Victoria General Hospital. The space underwent a $150,000 renovation funded by the Victoria General Hospital Auxiliary. COURTESY VIHA

Children who have to visit the Child and Family Ambulatory Unit at Victoria ­General Hospital for bloodwork and other lab procedures will now find the experience less stressful thanks to a $150,000 renovation of the laboratory area funded by the Victoria General Hospital Auxiliary.

The centrepiece of the project is a mural created by Victoria artist Marcela ­Strasdas. The mural depicts a Vancouver Island coastal scene where children are tasked to identify a variety of birds, whales and wildlife while they are having their procedures.

Alternately the children can don one of two virtual-reality goggles purchased by the auxiliary as a way of distracting themselves while they are having blood taken.

“We are so grateful for this wonderful gift to the thousands of Vancouver Island families who bring children for bloodwork and other lab procedures at VGH,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair. “This renovation will create a more ­soothing atmosphere for children who undergo procedures, sometimes travelling here on a regular basis.”

Other updates undertaken at the same time include new furniture, lighting, ­cabinetry, privacy walls and fresh paint.

• For more information, go to vgha.ca.

Girl Guide cookies return after 18 months

Girl Guide cookies are back this year, with sales of the classic chocolate-and-vanilla sandwich cookies possible to friends, ­families, neighbours, door-to-door and at public locations.

Fall usually arrives with rain — and Girl Guide cookies being sold by local girls. The organization suspended person-to-person sales for the past 18 months in accordance with COVID-19 health protocols. “At Girl Guides, girls have a place to shine,” said Diamond Isinger, provincial commissioner (B.C.), Girl Guides of Canada.

“By meeting weekly with their peers and adult volunteers, girls will have a built-in support group that cheers them on as they take the lead and explore new challenges.

“Every box of cookies supports those empowering opportunities for thousands of girls across British Columbia and helps young people have fun, make friends and discover the world around them.”

Online sales, developed for the first time as an adapted selling alternative ­during the pandemic, will continue alongside ­traditional in-person selling.

• For more information and a cookie finder map, go to girlguides.ca.

Do The Loop raises funds for at-risk youth

The South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association’s Do The Loop fundraiser for Threshold Housing Society raised more than $28,000 for at-risk youth in Victoria.

The event took place from Sept. 18 to 26 with a 25-kilometre run, bike or walk around the City of Victoria municipal border. Participants included local councillors Charlayne Thornton-Joe, Zac De Fries, Rebecca Merssesau and Andrew Appleton, who did four loops on his bike for 100 km in total.

Participants made a $25 donation to join and were encouraged to seek $25 donations from friends and family. More than 140 people participated and more than 400 people donated.

The campaign was initiated by the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association, a Victoria community where Threshold operates Forest House and Mitchell House, two of their largest homes.

The event’s goal was both to fundraise and to show Threshold youth that they are supported by the community.

For more information on the event, go to thresholdhousing.ca/dotheloop.

United Way relaunches youth leadership program

United Way Southern Vancouver Island is relaunching Youth In Action, its youth community leadership program, offering $500 grants to youth 11 to 16 living in the Sooke-Westshore region who want to make a positive change in their schools and communities.

Youth are encouraged to submit projects aimed at either improving youth well-being or addressing a local issue.

“COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on youth,” said Scott Stinson, superintendent of Sooke School District. “The loss of activities along with restricted social interactions with friends can be terribly challenging for a young person at this time.”

Research has found that more than 70 per cent of school-aged children (six to 18) reported deterioration in at least one domain of mental health (depression, anxiety, irritability, attention span, hyperactivity, or obsessions/compulsions). A further six in 10 Canadian youth 15 to 17 reported that their mental health in 2020 was worse than it was prior to the pandemic.

Youth In Action is part of the United Way’s Healthy Schools Healthy People initiative and comprises more than 30 local organizations working together to identify key issues facing Westshore families.

The deadline for grant application is Dec. 3. For more information, go to uwsvi.ca/youthinaction.

Oak Bay Rotary works to help eradicate polio

Sponsor someone to run, walk, swim or bicycle as the Oak Bay Rotary Polio Warriors join with Rotary International for Raise for Rotary, a fundraiser to eradicate polio around the world on Oct. 24.

Rotary International, along with other health organizations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been working to eradicate polio.

Rotary International began its fight against polio in 1979, with a multi-year project to immunize six million children in the Philippines. As of Sept. 19, there were only two cases worldwide, both in Afghanistan.

Sunday, Oct. 24 also marks World Polio Day, with a continued commitment to inoculate children for three years following the last documented case of polio.

That day, participating Rotarians will run, walk, swim or bicycle a significant distance. You can sponsor an individual, team or make a donation to support. Donations of $10 or more will be issued tax receipts. For more information, go to raise.rotary.org/OBR-Polio-Warriors/fundraiser.

Walk to Rebuild aids Indigenous Perspectives

Walk in person, virtually or just take in the activities at Walk to Rebuild, a fundraising event organized by HeroWork to support a renovation for the Indigenous Perspectives Society, at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre on Oct. 23.

Choose your distance and time, with the first lap of the day drummed by members of the Indigenous Perspectives Society.

The day-long event features music, games, karaoke and prizes. Pop-up activity walks include Happy Feet morning or Holy Walkamolies in the afternoon. The event runs 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, 1767 Island Hwy. For more information, go to victoria.herowork.com.

parrais@timescolonist.com