Victoria-trained tenor Ken Lavigne will sing for the suppers of people in need at a black tie/evening gown gala next month.
The Union Club will host the inaugural Food for Families Gala Fundraiser on Feb. 9, featuring music sung by Lavigne, who began his singing education at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Proceeds go to the Mustard Seed food distribution system.
Union Club executive chef Nicolas Hipperson will be crafting the three-course dinner.
Also part of the evening will be a champagne reception, silent auction and locally procured wines throughout the meal.
The Food for Families Gala Fundraiser is on Saturday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Union Club of British Columbia, 805 Gordon St.
Dress code is formal, with black ties and evening gowns. Tickets are $180 per person with a $60 tax receipt provided.
Videos help families of dementia patients
When Shona Fallon’s husband first started showing signs of dementia and confusion and repeatedly asked the same question, she remembers struggling to cope.
So Fallon was nearly bowled over by a new video series Sharing the Journey: Practical Approaches to Caring for a Loved One With Dementia. It’s an 18-part series produced by Island Health and the Victoria Hospitals Foundation with narration, interviews and even common scenarios portrayed by actors.
“This is an Oscar-award video,” she said in a telephone interview from her home in Comox. “It showed the sorts of things that really do happen.”
Her experience began back in the 1990s when her husband started to fall ill with dementia. Back then, Fallon was still in her 60s, “full of piss and vinegar,” and found herself losing patience. Eventually, she realized there was no point.
“We have to learn to go into their world and make them feel as good as possible,” she said. “It’s much easier than trying to correct them.”
Now 85 and widowed, Fallon said she finds herself starting the journey all over again. Her beloved older sister, who lives with her, has been showing signs of mental decline for the past three years.
“I’m not a complainer. There’s no point in getting angry or nasty; I believe in doing what works,” said Fallon. “Now these videos are out there, people are getting more cognizant of this illness.”
To view the videos, go online to IslandHealth.ca/dementia-videos.
Shelters get boost from fundraising
Real estate agents from Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty will be turning over a total of $84,589.86 next month to support four local shelters.
The money has been raised by Victoria-area agents for Royal LePage Coast Capital to support the Cridge Centre for the Family, Victoria Women’s Transition House, Sooke Transition House and Margaret Lawrence House.
“The fact these shelters even exist in our community is unfortunate,” said Sarah West, agent for Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty. “But the fact is no matter how much we might wish we didn’t need them, we do.”
West takes pride in describing how the donations are raised. In 1998, Royal LePage formed a national charity, the Shelter Foundation, to assist Canadian women’s shelters and help prevent family violence.
Since its formation, it has raised $27 million.
Locally, it is supported by fundraising events such as the annual Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty golf tournament. Also, agents can donate a portion of their commissions to the foundation.
But West said despite the national presence of the Shelter Foundation, part of its operation ensures all money raised stays in the communities from which it came.
“So all the money we raise locally, stays local,” West said.
City of Victoria grant fund builds community
From community Christmas carols to special gardens for bees and other pollinators, the City of Victoria has been encouraging local projects with My Great Neighbourhood Grants.
This year, 22 separate projects will be supported with grants of up to $5,000, to make neighbourhoods more exciting, vibrant, interesting and fun.
Besides the pollinator garden and Christmas songs, other projects include a solar-power system and a community tool shed.
My Great Neighbourhood Grants are given to community projects to encourage creating amenities that bring neighbours together.
The city provides up to $5,000 to fund an installation, such as a community garden, and up to $1,000 for activities such as songs. Community residents are expected to match the grant with in-kind donations or volunteer time.
Last year was the first year the My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program was fully subscribed, with $120,000 in grants awarded. Since the program began in 2016, $329,681 has gone out in grants for 101 projects.
To learn more, go online to victoria.ca/neighbourhoodgrants.
Cakes say thank you to first responders
Police, paramedics and firefighters all deserve a slice of cake now and then, say Anglican church parishioners.
Following a suggestion from Church of the Advent in Colwood, a few other Anglican parishes are getting on board to honour first responders in their communities with Cakes for Caring.
At St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church, parishioners decided to bake their cake for the Saanich police. After getting advice from the department, they made it big enough to feed 15, a weekend day shift, and presented it on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Barb Prescott, spokeswoman for St. Luke, said parishioners are especially grateful for protection and assistance from Saanich police when the church celebrates Palm Sunday, part of the Easter services.
St. Luke parishioners team up with their neighbours at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. They start the service at the Church of the Cross, then form up and walk to St. Luke in procession.
Throughout the whole process of walking from one church to another, parishioners are protected and guided by Saanich police officers. “They are there to stop the traffic for us,” Prescott said. “And they are always there for us whenever we need them.”
Drive is on for winter gear
Our Place and Bosdet Homes are teaming up in a drive to collect gently used outerwear.
Our Place, a food kitchen and shelter, and Bosdet Homes, a real estate company, are reminding Victorians that winter is still with us and a warm coat, clean dry socks, tuques, scarves or even a sleeping or a tarp can make a huge difference to someone living destitute.
To drop off items, swing by 3035 Nanaimo St., between U-Haul and the Comfort Inn, on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 9 a.m.
23,000 teddy bears go to kids
More than 23,000 teddy bears were donated over the past holidays to kids in families experiencing tough economic times through B.C. Liquor Stores’ Share-a-Bear program.
The total number of bears surpassed the 2017 campaign by more than 1,000, reported the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch.
Share-a-Bear works by offering bears for sale to customers. Its twin is then donated to a local charity, hospital or shelter.
Friendly competition often arises between various outlets to see who can sell the most Teddy bears. Dawson Creek won, selling a total of 1,961.
It’s Monopoly time again
Tycoons who love flipping houses, buying hotels, passing Go and collecting $200, Victoria’s fifth annual Monopoly Affair is for you.
The annual charity fundraiser for the Vancouver Island Canadian Cancer Society pits tables of six players in games of Monopoly to determine the real real-estate moguls.
Jan Buehler, manager of annual giving for the Vancouver Island Cancer Society, said the event is always lots of fun.
Many participants dress up as their favourite tycoons or flappers from the 1920s and 1930s.
“And for some, it’s quite amazing how competitive they get,” said Buehler.
Each game lasts only 90 minutes. Scores rules, tallies and winners are all determined according to rules established by game-maker Hasbro.
The Monopoly Affair is on Saturday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will be held at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel, 100 Harbour Rd.
Details and tickets can be found at cancer.ca.
