The camp, for children eight to 12 years old, would usually cost $220 to attend. But thanks to sponsors, families who don’t have the financial means can send their child to camp for free.
Children will be exposed to a variety of musical instruments — violin, guitar, band-in-a-box and the harmonica — and taught how to write songs. The teachers are Serena Jack, who has taught music for four years, and Gerry Barnum, a 40-year veteran.
Kiwanis International has provided the use of the Kiwanis Club House in Oak Bay for the week-long camp, with various businesses and organizations pitching in to cover the cost of the camp for underprivileged children.
Along with a fun and educational experience, children will leave the camp with their own harmonica and some music books.
The camp runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 22 to 26 at the Oak Bay Kiwanis Club House, 2075 Milton St. For more information, or to register, call 1-250-228-6629 or email [email protected].
Workshop for people with recent Alzheimer diagnosis
People experiencing early symptoms of dementia are encouraged to sign up for Getting to Know Dementia, a free workshop providing basic information on the condition, Aug. 24.
Presented by the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C., the workshop is intended for individuals with a recent dementia diagnosis, as well as family members or friends who are supporting them. The workshop is not intended for the public or health-care providers.
With an aging population, an increasing number of Victoria residents are facing Alzheimer’s disease.
Participants in the event will receive an introductory session that reviews the challenges of receiving a diagnosis of dementia. People will learn about the different types of support available throughout the dementia journey, how to begin planning for the future and strategies for living well.
The workshop is free, thanks to partial funding from the province of B.C., Provincial Employees Community Services Fund, RBC Foundation, Seacliff Foundation, the 1988 Foundation, Paul Lee Family Foundation, Margaret Rothweiler Charitable Foundation, Tony & Mignon Fenton Trust, Newport Sales Co. Ltd., R.K. Grant Family Foundation, Cadillac Fairview, London Drugs Foundation, Division 15 Mechanical Ltd., Lohn Foundation, Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Jack Brown & Family Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, and contributions of individual donors.
The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. It runs 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Alzheimer Resource Centre, 202-306 Burnside Road West (at Tillicum Road).
Pre-register at 250-382-2052 or [email protected]. For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, visit alzheimerbc.org.
Learn about mental health services in Victoria
Care 2 Share is a resource fair to raise awareness about the availability of mental-health services in the community, Saturday.
Organizers have collaborated with Island Community Mental Health and other mental-health organizations to introduce the event to ensure members of the community are made aware of the range of support available in Victoria.
The event will also address issues such as stigma and a lack of education/understanding in the mental-health field.
Attendees will find a range of resources in one place, with information booths, as well as spoken-word poetry, music, food, speakers and prizes.
Net proceeds from the event stay in the community and will go toward funding mental-health projects.
The event is planned entirely by undergraduate students from Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria.
Admission is free. The event runs 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Island Community Mental Health, 125 Skinner St. For more information, call 250-588-9210 or [email protected].
Breakfast raises funds for grieving family
A grieving community is hosting Flipping Pancakes for a Cause, a fundraiser for a family who recently lost a mother and wife. Devon Jones lost her second fight with cancer Aug. 6.
The 36-year-old registered massage therapist, who had once battled leukemia into remission, succumbed to the disease after it returned.
Friends are rallying to raise $10,000 for her husband Mike and son Diego, who are in great need of financial assistance.
A Go Fund Me page: Devon Jones — Help the Helper, shows the community has already raised more than $7,000 toward the goal.
The pancake breakfast event is by donation. It runs 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hughesman Morris, Chartered Accountants, 9768 Third St. Sidney. For more information, call Elaine Hughesman at 250-656-3991.
Woman wins bursary from airborne association
Shaelyn Littlejohn, whose grandfather was a well-known humanitarian, has won a bursary for post-secondary education sponsored jointly by the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada and the Canadian Airborne Forces Association.
Littlejohn was presented with her bursary at a ceremony Saturday at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 292.
Littlejohn is the daughter of Paula Littlejohn, a past recipient of the same bursary. Her grandfather is Billy Willbond, who founded International Community for the Relief of Suffering and Starving Canada. The humanitarian non-governmental organization was formed in 1998 with a goal of sending life-saving medical supplies to the poorest of the poor in Africa.
Willbond approached medical institutions that were upgrading their equipment and asked them to donate their used equipment to developing countries in need.
He is also credited with starting the Izzy Doll (or African Comfort Doll), knitted dolls with blue berets (similar to the ones UN peacekeepers wear) made from packing material for glass medical supplies. The dolls would be given to children when they came in for medical treatment.
The Airborne Regiment Association of Canada and the Canadian Airborne Forces Association are the two national paratrooper associations in Canada.
Artists show off work in garden
Carolyn Kowalyk is opening the gates to her garden to host the Art Under the Umbrellas show and sale, today.
The artist and gardener has invited 20 of her artist friends and colleagues to display their wares in what she calls “my oasis garden” nestled in the hayfields just north of Mattick’s Farm in Saanich. People are invited to stroll around the two-third-acre garden and admire the assembled paintings, jewelry, sculptures and pottery.
There will also be a booth and examples of art, in support of We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Society, which brings art and music to stimulate the minds of people with Alzheimer’s.
Free admission, with donation to We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Society suggested. The event runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6051 Hunt Rd.; parking is available at adjacent hayfield. For more information, call Carolyn Kowalyk at 250-652-8995 or [email protected].
MS bike tour raises $310,000
Last month, hundreds of Vancouver Island residents got on their bikes to fight to end multiple sclerosis, at the Scotiabank MS Bike Cowichan Valley Grape Escape, raising more than $310,000 for the MS Society of Canada.
More than 300 people rode together in one of the most beautiful tours in B.C. They started at Shawnigan Lake School and visited farms, wineries and artisans along the way. Participants also enjoyed evening entertainment in the Riders Village with a gourmet dinner and musical festivities.
Among the riders was Cowichan Valley resident Kevin James, who has been participating in the tour since 2000, after his wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Being so deeply connected to the cause, fundraising has become his tool to aid both his wife and anyone else battling the disease to reach a cure.
He is one of the country’s top bike fundraisers. To date, his contribution, combined with his team’s total, is a staggering $800,000.
“Our Scotiabank MS Bike tours are our most popular fundraising events,” said Rowena Veylan, senior director of development, B.C. and Yukon Division, MS Society of Canada. “Many participants tell us that they felt like they were on a world-class cycling vacation in their own backyard. The tour was a success, as we saw over 300 cyclists with varying riding levels who participated. We hope to see even more riders join us next year.”
Four Scotiabank MS Bike Tours take place across Canada every year from June to September, including upcoming rides in the West Kootenay (Aug. 20) and Okanagan (Sep. 17).
In the ride to help cure this disease, people can raise money while taking in the gorgeous scenery of the region.
For more information, go to msbiketours.ca.
Sponsor a seat at new Oak Bay High theatre
The Greater Victoria School District has just given the Keys to Our Success fundraising campaign permission to accept as many as 100 theatre-seat sponsorships to assist with the purchase of a concert piano.
The local group has been raising funds to buy a $100,000 concert grand piano for the new $4-million Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High School. Donors can sponsor a theatre seat, with a plaque to recognize the act.
Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis and all sponsorship payments will receive a tax receipt as charitable donations. Sponsorship is $450 in a single payment or $75 in six monthly payments.
The campaign also includes Pianorama, a benefit concert next month with Louise Rose, Toni Blodgett, Arthur Rowe, Karel Roessingh, Julia Zhu, Brent Jarvis and Jan Stirling donating their time and talent. They will play a variety of forms — from gospel to ragtime to classical to modern jazz.
Advance tickets are at Oak Bay Recreation Centre and Scotiabank Oak Bay. The concert starts at 1 p.m., Sept. 11 at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd.
Donations at canadahelps.org or to Oak Bay Rotary Foundation, 210-2187 Oak Bay Ave. For more information, call 250-595-1500.
Art show celebrates our common humanity
A special art display, Colours of the Community, opens in the Chapel of the New Jerusalem at Christ Church Cathedral on Friday.
The collection of art, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Anawim House, has been created by Anawim’s guests, residents, neighbours and supporters.
“Each piece of community art has been created by a collaboration of five to 20 people from within the Anawim community,” said Rob Hurst, house manager. “They will all be available for purchase through a silent auction.”
The purpose of the show is to highlight people who are living on the street and the commonality of all humanity through the face of art. It also raises awareness about issues of homelessness and poverty in Victoria — and how Anawim is addressing them.
“We aim to seek the support of the community to carry forth with Anawim’s vision and goals to address the issue of poverty in Victoria,” said Hurst.
Anawim House is a safe and sober house for people transitioning from poverty to a more stable life. It serves 13,500 meals a year and welcomes as many as 70 guests daily.
Opening night of the show is 6 p.m. Friday. The chapel, which serves as an art gallery for the exhibition, will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 20 to 26. There will be a representative from Anawim to collect donations and answer questions.
For more information, go to christchurchcathedral.bc.ca or anawimhouse.com.
