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Our Community: Golfer aces his donation to hospice

A local golfer who spent 10 hours trying to hit a hole-in-one came still away happy, receiving more than $10,000 for his efforts.
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Craig Johanson guns for a hole-in-one at Highland Pacific Golf Course on Sept. 17. He didnÕt get the ace, but he did raise more than $10,000 in donations for Victoria Hospice.

A local golfer who spent 10 hours trying to hit a hole-in-one came still away happy, receiving more than $10,000 for his efforts.

Craig Johanson battled rain and wind all day Tuesday, even fighting blisters on his hands, as he hit 2,000 balls in a bid to get an elusive hole-in-one at the Highland Pacific Golf Course.

Despite not succeeding, that didn't dampen his spirits, as he was still able to raise more than $10,000 in donations for Victoria Hospice.

Johanson was inspired to raise funds for Victoria Hospice for the palliative care his father received during his final days. His father received the end-of-life care he needed, giving the family the opportunity to be in one place.

As a gesture of thanks, he decided to raise funds for Victoria Hospice through a pastime he loves. Having golfed his entire life, he saw a similar event online that inspired him to start Hole in One for Hospice.

“Hosting a community event can be a great way to remember a loved one,” said Shelley Engelhardt, development officer at Victoria Hospice. “Not only do events raise funds for essential programs, like bereavement services and Victoria Hospice's Palliative Response Team, but they also provide an opportunity to honour and remember loved ones in a meaningful way.”

Victoria Hospice is a not-for-profit charity providing quality end-of-life care, education and grief support to patients, families, caregivers and health-care professionals.

For more information, go to victoriahospice.org.

Sanctuary works to protect native plants

Some portions of Christmas Hill are off limits to the public as plant recovery work takes place to protect native plants, including, but not limited to, species at risk.

The hill, located within the bounds of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, has seen similar ecological restoration activity in the last 25 years.

“The decision to fence off one of the viewing areas was not made lightly by the Ecosystem and Facilities Committee,” said Kathleen Burton, executive director of the sanctuary. “In the end, we are a conservation organization and this recovery strategy meets the society’s commitment to recover species at risk as outlined in the management plan. Christmas Hill includes diverse assemblages of some of the region’s rarest plant communities and is home to approximately 250 plant species and seven plants deemed at risk.”

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is a wild oasis in the heart of the urban landscape and includes two distinct ecosystems, the marshland of Swan Lake and the rocky, oak-forested highlands of Christmas Hill. Both are home to an incredible array of native plants and wild animals.

For more information, go to swanlake.bc.ca.

Furniture donations a WIN for all

Women in Need is in great need of gently used furniture for its New Start program.

The community co-operative’s mandate is to support women along their journey between crisis and wellness.

The New Start program is aimed at women leaving a transition house and setting up a new home for themselves and their children.

The program strives to provide everything they need in the way of apartment-sized furniture, beds, kitchen items, linens and other household items.

Currently, the co-op is short of love seats, mattress and box-spring sets, tallboy dressers, small kitchen tables and chairs, armchairs and coffee tables.

Household items, such as kitchen utensils, pots and pans, house decor, kitchenware, toys and kitchen electronics, are also welcome.

Your donation might be directly used in the program, or sold at one of five WIN Resale shops, creating revenue for programs.

You can schedule a furniture pick-up, or bring gently used furniture to 555 Ardersier Rd.

For more information, call 250-480-4006 ext. 204 or visit womeninneed.ca.

Bursary for young musicians tops $1 million

The Eric and Shirley Charman Bursary for young musicians has just topped $1 million, and continues to grow.

The fund was established to celebrate the 85th birthday of Victoria philanthropist Eric Charman.

Awarded to musicians 25 years of age and under, the fund will ensure that any young person who wishes to experience music and requires financial assistance is able to pursue their musical dreams at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

“As long-term supporters of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, we have had the opportunity to watch many young people mature into outstanding musicians and we are so proud to know that our bursary fund will help to ensure that music is accessible to students who need some financial support,” said Eric Charman.

Many of the couple’s closest friends and colleagues provided the initial donations to the fund and, with the Victoria Foundation’s assistance, matching funding from the Canada Cultural Endowment Incentive Program was also secured.

All donations received before Oct. 31 will still be eligible for the additional matching from the program.

“We are incredibly grateful to Eric and Shirley Charman, their friends and colleagues, for the support of this bursary fund,” said Jane Butler McGregor, CEO, Victoria Conservatory of Music. “These amazing gifts will allow generations of music students to experience the power of music at the VCM.”

For more information, go to vcm.bc.ca.

City seeks Indigenous artist in residence

The City of Victoria has issued a call to artists for applications for their Indigenous Artist in Residence Program, with an information session on Sept. 26.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis professional artists across the country are invited to apply for the two-year term position.

Applicants will be reviewed on the basis of artistic merit and qualifications, a desire to create artwork for the public realm, the willingness to work collaboratively and an interest in learning about the cultural heritage of the Lekwungen Peoples.

The selection panel will be comprised of members of an Indigenous-led roundtable.

An information session will take place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 from at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, 231 Regina Ave. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Applications are to be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. Oct. 4 to culture@victoria.ca.

For more information and submission guidelines, go to victoria.ca/publicart.

Ice-cream company launches tasty fundraiser

A local ice-cream company has come up with a sweet way to support worthy causes in the community.

Forty Nine Below Ice Cream has launched a series called The Philanthropint Series.

The idea behind it is simple. They partner with individuals and businesses and ask them to dream up a flavour.

The company then heads back to their kitchen and creates it, sells it and gives the proceeds to a charity of the person’s/business’ choosing.

Their first partnership was with Discovery Coffee to make Coffee and Brownie, a coffee ice cream made with Discovery’s Tide Thief coffee with rich and chewy brownie bits added in.

All proceeds from the sale of this flavour will go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters Victoria.

Pints are $13 and are only available online. People can pick up their purchases within 48 hours at Fig Deli in Saanich, Savoury Cafe in Oak Bay and Discovery Coffee in James Bay.

For more information, go to 49below.ca/philanthropints.

Pioneer museum hires first paid archivist

The historical records of the Saanich Peninsula will now be more accessible, thanks to the hiring of first-ever paid archivist of the Saanich Pioneer Society Museum and Archives.

Sonia Nicholson, who spent 12 years with the archive department of the Municipality of Saanich, will bring her professional experience to the non-profit society that runs the museum.

“The volunteers have done amazing work here for a very long time,” said Nicholson. “I hope to build on those efforts, and to make residents and researchers more aware of this wonderful community resource.”

The archives, which was previously open by appointment only, will now also be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, with the exception of statutory holidays.

The museum and archives will also be more visible on social media and offer school and group tours by donation.

The Saanich Pioneer Society Log Cabin Museum opened in 1933. The museum and archives are located at 7910 Polo Park Cres., Saanichton.

For more information, go to saanichpioneersociety.com.

Pacific FC, Dodd’s team up for food banks

Pacific Football Club and Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress are teaming up in an effort to raise money for local food banks in a campaign called Feed The Isle.

Ahead of the club’s return to Westhills Stadium on Oct. 2nd, the team will offer a free ticket to the game for every two non-perishable food items donated.

“Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress is a proud sponsor of Feed The Isle and Pacific FC,” said Gordy Dodd. “We are really proud to work with the team to give back to the community as we always do.”

The campaign supports the Mustard Seed and the Goldstream Food Bank.

Donations can also be made to Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress on Finlayson Street or at the Pacific FC Store on Fort Street.

“Vancouver Island has embraced and welcomed Pacific FC from day one,” said Josh Simpson. Pacific FC president. “We are grateful and thankful for the support from our loyal fans and the business community. This is Pacific FC’s opportunity to give back and partner with one of the best known philanthropists on the Island.”

Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress will provide a truck for walk-up donations to be made.

For more information, go to pacificfc.ca/feedtheisle.

Motorcyclists collect toys for children in need

More than 400 motorcyclists braved the inclement weather last Saturday and Sunday to hit the streets of the Alberni Valley in support of the annual Port Alberni Toy Run.

This was the 35th anniversary of the event, which collects thousands of toys for needy children at every Christmas and tens of thousands of dollars for children’s programs and family events throughout the year.

“What makes this Toy Run unique are the thousands of people who line the route to cheer the riders, holding up signs thanking them for helping the children in the Alberni Valley and west coast communities,” said David Wiwchar, chairman of the organization.

“Since 1984, the Toy Run has raised almost $2 million for local children’s charities, and the people of Port Alberni really appreciate that.”

Motorcycles of every make, model, size, and colour — including one ridden by Santa — gathered for the event, hailed as Vancouver Island’s largest motorcycle event.

For more information, or to donate, go to portalbernitoyrun.ca.