The recent Power to Golf celebrity golf tournament helped raise a record-breaking $555,000 for Power to Be.
This was the 12th year of the event, with funds raised in support of Power to Be’s inclusive adventures rooted in nature.
In celebration of the 20th year of the forming of the Vancouver-based non-profit organization, the event featured an outdoor gala Aug. 1 followed the traditional golf tournament Aug. 2 at the Victoria Golf Club.
“We have ensured inclusive adventures in nature are available in our community for 20 years. This incredible milestone is worth celebrating, and we are so grateful for the support we received this week,” said Dana Hutchings, director of advancement and communication. “These fundraising events are directly in support of our programs. The $555,000 raised will ensure we can offer more than 450 adventures this year to more than 1,600 participants in Victoria and Vancouver.”
The gala featured a private concert by the Jim Cuddy Band, featuring the front man to Blue Rodeo. Guests were served food prepared by four award-winning Canadian chefs from Calgary, Tofino and Victoria.
Donated door prize adventure packages and silent auction items were made possible by donations from across Canada and as far away as Switzerland and French Polynesia.
For more information, go to powertogolf.ca.
Wounded Warriors riders hit the road
The first annual Wounded Warriors Canada Highway of Heroes Bike Ride B.C. will start Aug. 25 in Fort Langley and conclude at the Afghanistan Memorial in Victoria Aug. 26.
The ride will take a group of 100 Canadians on a two-day journey that honours those who made the ultimate sacrifice — while raising awareness and funds in support of our ill and injured Veterans, first responders and their families living with operational stress injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The ride will take place simultaneously with the third annual Highway of Heroes Bike Ride in Ontario.
From 2001 to 2014, more than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served in the Afghanistan theatre of operations.
During this period, 158 Canadian Forces members died. Thousands more were physically and/ or mentally injured as a result of the operations.
In 2011, a dedication ceremony was held to officially rename a section of the Trans-Canada Highway — between Langley and Abbotsford — the Highway of Heroes.
It is the second such designation in Canada (the first was in Ontario) that honours the men and women killed in Afghanistan, including 13 from British Columbia.
Riders can choose between a 160- or 240-kilometre route.
For more information, go to woundedwarriors.ca/hhr18-bc.
Fernwood fundraisers share the wealth
The Vining Street Party, a neighbourhood celebration usually held the second Sunday in September, is taking a break this year, but organizers are pushing ahead with community improvement projects.
For the past 10 years, the party entertained Fernwoodians and Victorians, with singing, dancing, games, a community barbecue, a market and bidding on 400 auction items.
Thanks to volunteers, participants, donors and sponsors, the event raised $70,000 for a variety of community organizations.
It enabled the organization to donate $10,000 to the Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia’s Learning Curve program to support of children and families — so that their diverse learning needs can be met.
This year, the event is taking a sabbatical. Organizers instead will devote their energy to advocating and spearheading community-improvement projects.
The group is behind the new lighting on the exterior and storefronts of the Fernwood Community Association building, 1923 Fernwood Rd.
Future projects might involve the revitalization of Fernwood Square, Child’s Play — a portable marine-themed 5x7-metre playground.
If you or your group want to take part in the new direction of the group, please contact Laurie or Mary Jane at [email protected]
Cars and bikes drive for Tour de Rock
A caravan of cars and motorcycles took a scenic drive Saturday with the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team from Victoria, through Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan, to help support children battling cancer.
The Cruise 4 the Kids event took participants on a 160-kilometre (or 100 miles for the British car enthusiasts) tour from Victoria, ending up at the Lake Cowichan Show ’n’ Shine.
“I have been involved in Tour de Rock for over 20 years, and seen the great work we do to help kids who are fighting cancer,” said Sgt. Derek Tolmie of the Victoria Police Department. “There is still so much we can do to ensure the kids don’t just survive but thrive. This will be a beautiful drive and most importantly, help eradicate childhood cancer. What could be better?”
Tolmie, along with car aficionado Ron Dempsey, came up with the idea for Cruise 4 the Kids.
“Derek and I wanted to create an opportunity for people to get out and enjoy their special or everyday car over a fun route through spectacular scenery while raising money for a great cause,” said Dempsey.
Junior Riders — children and siblings of children currently or formerly facing childhood cancer — took part in the event, riding along in cars.
All proceeds will go toward pediatric cancer care and Camp Goodtimes — a special summer camp for children and families affected by childhood cancer.
To donate, or for more information, go to tourderock.ca or bccancer.bc.ca.
$165,000 goes to Special Olympics
July was the first month of Kia’s Special Summer Celebration, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for its partner, Special Olympics Canada.
As part of this campaign, Kia Canada and its dealers across the country each donated $10 for every car sold in the month of July, raising a total of $165,820 in support of Special Olympics Canada programs and athletes.
“Thank you to Kia Canada and all of your dealers across Canada for your outstanding commitment to Special Olympics Canada,” said Sharon Bollenbach, CEO of Special Olympics Canada. “Kia Canada has gone above and beyond to show its commitment to Special Olympics as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. We are thrilled with this additional $165,820 in funding which will go to support over 45,000 athletes from coast to coast to coast continue to challenge their limits and reach their full potential.”
For more information, go to kia.ca or specialolympics.ca.
St. Luke’s needs cleanup help
It’s cemetery cleanup time again at St. Luke Cedar Hill on Saturday — and the last one for the year, as the weather in the fall can be unpredictable.
Join other volunteers to weed and tidy St. Luke’s historic churchyard.
People can help by cleaning headstones or weeding and cleaning graves.
St. Luke’s Churchyard is one of Victoria’s earliest church burial grounds, with burials dating back to 1886. It is the final resting place of many Cedar Hill, Lake Hill and Gordon Head pioneers, as well as others who settled in the area. Learn about early residents of the area while helping with this cleanup.
If possible, please bring your own gloves and tools, but tools are also supplied. Light refreshments will be served.
The clean-up runs 8:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 18 at the church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.
For more information, go to stlukesvictoria.ca/events or call 250-477-6741.
Elephant defender speaks in Victoria
Attend a presentation by Patricia Sims, co-founder of World Elephant Day, today at the Robert Bateman Centre.
World Elephant Day brings together millions of people around the world to heighten awareness to the plight of elephants and the conservation solutions required to protect them.
Sims, who is based in Victoria, is also a documentary filmmaker who has released the theatrical feature documentary When Elephants Were Young. The award-winning 30-minute film is narrated by William Shatner.
Her organization works with more than 100 elephant conservation organizations in 50 countries worldwide.
Celebrate the day by learning about elephant conservation and the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. The event includes a viewing of the documentary Return to the Forest, also narrated by Shatner.
Admission is $10. The event runs 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Robert Bateman Centre, 470 Belleville St. For more information, go to batemancentre.org or worldelephantday.org.
Save-on gives $250,000 to food banks
Save-on-Foods has pledged $250,000 to support local food banks across Western Canada after the successful conclusion of its Share It Forward campaign.
The campaign, which ran in June, saw 25 per cent of net proceeds from every Western Family product sold at Save-on-Foods and PriceSmart Foods set aside to support local food banks.
Each store promoted and celebrated Share It Forward in its own way, and raised additional funds through in-store activities, including hot dog sales, barbecues and Spin the Wheel for prizes.
“We are absolutely thrilled at the level of enthusiasm our customers and team members showed for Share It Forward,” said Darrell Jones, Save-on-Foods president. “Their support means we are able to donate a quarter of a million dollars to food banks across Western Canada, which do amazing work every day to feed families in our communities.”
Food banks will receive a portion of the $250,000 total based on the amount of money raised at the stores in their communities.
Each year, Save-on-Foods donates food and consumer goods worth more than $3 million to local food banks in Western Canada. For more information, go to saveonfoods.com.
Kids get a chance to go to camp
The recently established Tom Harris Fund for Families has raised $30,000 to send more than 200 underprivileged local children to camp this summer through the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.
Tom Harris was a loving father, husband and successful businessman who built the Harris Auto Group on Vancouver Island and Tom Harris Cellular.
Harris always cared for the community, giving back through numerous leadership roles in community organizations such as the Nanaimo United Way, Nanaimo Community Foundation and Nanaimo District Hospital Foundation.
“This initiative would have dad bursting with pride and gratitude; young people enjoying summer to the fullest gave him immense joy,” said Tony Harris, Tom’s son and organizer of the Tom Harris Charity Classic, held in Nanaimo.
To learn more about the Tom Harris Fund for Families, go to tomharris.com/fundforfamilies.
