Frank Poole, a former member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, recently received the French National Order of the Legion of Honour at the Veterans Memorial Lodge for his contribution in liberating France during the Second World War.
Poole was a member of the RCAF as an air gunner with bomber command. He was part of the deception plan over the D-Day beaches the night of the landings. His Halifax heavy bomber was shot down over Hanover and he was captured. He remained a prisoner of war until the end of the war.
Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution, the Legion of Honour recognizes exemplary service to France.
In commemoration of last year’s 70th anniversary of the end of the war, medals have been awarded to veterans in recognition of their personal involvement in the liberation of France.
Similar ceremonies took place at the Veterans Memorial Lodge in 2016 as other veterans received their medals.
At last week’s ceremony, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific Rear-Admiral Art MacDonald, along with close family members and friends, were in attendance as Poole was acknowledged for his contributions.
Poole is a member of the Veterans Health Centre, located at the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead. He has maintained his connection to the service and former comrades as a participant of the Veterans program at the lodge for the past 15 years.
At the lodge, he has made new friends, rekindling camaraderie with a former POW camp survivor as well as his pilot from his paratroop days.
For more information on Poole and the Veterans Health Centre, go to broadmeadcare.com or call 250-658-3274.
Fundraiser to aid in brain-cancer research
Friends of Dave Ranson are hosting A Gig for Dave, a fundraiser to aid in the research of brain cancer, July 1 at the Saanich Fairground.
Ranson, a husband, father and friend, lost his fight with brain cancer in January.
His friends are honouring his memory by helping raise money to aid in the research of brain cancer, specifically in the treatment of brain tumours. There are more than 120 types of brain tumours, making treatment a challenge.
The night of live musical entertainment will be provided by the Hector Street Band.
There will also be a raffle and balloon prize draw.
Tickets are $30, with tickets for the raffle at $10 each. The event runs 6 p.m. to midnight at the Saanich Fairground, 1528 Stellys Cross Rd., Saanichton. All of the proceeds from the night will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
For more information, go to agigfordave.ca. Donations can also be made in memory of Dave Ranson at cancer.ca.
Regional library seeks elder-in-residence
The Vancouver Island Regional Library is currently accepting nominations for the position of elder-in-residence.
The goal of this pilot project is to build mutually beneficial relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
The project is the library’s support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
“This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from the experiences, wisdom, and knowledge the elder will bring,” said Rosemary Bonanno, the library’s executive director. “I have no doubt that the elder’s presence will have an immediate positive impact on our collective path to reconciliation, both inside the library and out.”
The elder will:
• Engage in meaningful conversations with indigenous and non-indigenous people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Have an open, approachable personality.
• Assist people on their personal journeys toward truth and reconciliation.
• Provide the opportunity for indigenous and non-indigenous people to meet for cultural support, guidance and teaching.
• Possess strong leadership qualities, including excellent listening skills that put people at ease.
• Share their indigenous knowledge, traditions, ceremonies, languages and customs.
The contracted position will work two days a week at a branch of the library for a period of one year.
To nominate a candidate for this role, members of the public are encouraged to contact Joëlle Samson, Campbell River librarian, at [email protected] or 250-287-3655. The search will run until July 31.
Road-hockey fundraiser benefits Mustard Seed
Topaz Hockey is hosting Hockey for Food, its annual road-hockey fest to raise food and funds to benefit of the Mustard Seed Street Church, July 8 at the Save-on-Foods Saanich Plaza parking lot.
The event is held during a period when the food bank shelves tend to run perilously low. Children are out of school, with child care and food budgets stretched.
What better time to have a fun-filled day that brings together Canada’s favourite national pastime while doing something great for families in need in the community?
The team format is three versus three, plus a goalie. Four to 10 players per team, with each team guaranteed a minimum of two games. All skill levels are welcome.
There will also be a DJ, hot dogs and a skill zone to liven things up.
Advance team registration is required. Suggested donations are $1,000 (or 1,134 kg of food) for corporate and $500 (or 567 kg of food) for non-corporate teams
The event runs noon to 6 p.m. at the Saanich Plaza parking lot, 3544 Blanshard St. where there will be ball-hockey games throughout the day.
For more information, contact [email protected], 250-953-1591 or 778-676-1059.
Beauty baskets to moms of families in need
To recognize the challenges facing mothers of families in need, the Salvation Army Victoria Stan Hagen Centre for Families has distributed nearly 50 beauty baskets to its clients.
The gesture is meant to celebrate and honour how mothers-in-need are able to provide love and support for their children while facing extraordinary pressures with limited resources.
The Centre worked with local businesses to create gift baskets for mothers who rely on them for extra support.
Baskets were filled with beauty supplies, teas and gift certificates for hair, cosmetics and chocolates.
Contributors to the baskets include Jamie McCallum at Hive Hair, Marisa Gaudio and Gerrard Hardisty at The Red Mirror Salon, Piper London at The Old Hat, Yvonne Foord Duclos at Ugly Duckling Nails Inc., Moda Fina Hair Studio and Day Spa, and Jennifer Loo and Janet Molia at Fairway Markets.
For almost 130 years, The Salvation Army has been there to comfort and care for Victorians in crisis. For more information, go to salvationarmy.ca.
Kidsport Greater Victoria funds 10,000th local child
KidSport Greater Victoria has reached a major milestone with the funding of the 10,000th local child in need into sport.
Since 2002, the organization has made it possible for children from families facing financial barriers to access the positive experience of sport and physical activity.
The demand from local children and families has never been greater. This year, the non-profit organization anticipates reaching more than 1,500 children at a cost of $420,000 — double the annual funding distributed just five years ago.
In the past two years, it has faced a new challenge — demand for help regularly exceeds donated funds.
“The capacity to play is an innate quality every human on Earth is born with, but sadly capacity does not always translate into opportunity. Here in Canada the biggest, and often only, hurdle is an economic one,” said Jon Montgomery, host of CTV’s Amazing Race Canada and KidSport Victoria ambassador. “Local families are feeling increased financial pressure tough to contend with. A record number of families are applying for KidSport funding — more than is currently coming in through the donations the organization relies on.”
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization — and the ongoing ability to fund every eligible child who requests help — KidSport Victoria needs to increase donations, or decrease the number of dollars distributed in order to continue to help families in need for the long term.
“We are thrilled and proud to have assisted 10,000 local children over the past 15 years with access to organized sport. We regularly hear and see evidence of the amazing benefits sport can offer all children, and particularly those who wouldn’t otherwise have opportunity to play,” said executive director Jill Shaw. “We are exploring ways to increase revenue, and also looking carefully at how to decrease the dollars we distribute annually, to ensure our long-term ability to help. At this point, there is simply more need for our support than donations to disperse.”
In the last 15 years, KidSport Greater Victoria has distributed $2.24 million in sport registration fees to local sport organizations for youth in need.
For more information, or to donate, go to kidsportvictoria.ca.
New resource for aboriginal communities
Aboriginal Sport Circle and its partner, the Sport for Life Society, last week unveiled Aboriginal Communities: Active for Life, a new resource for indigenous communities.
The culturally tailored resource promotes physical activity and healthy living as a vehicle to the holistic development of both the individual and the community. The resource is designed for indigenous community members, such as parents, elders, educators, recreation leaders and coaches.
More than 260 sport and physical-activity leaders from across the country contributed to the publication, which received financial support from the Government of Canada through Sport Canada, a branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Partners in the development of the resource include the Cowichan 2008 North American Indigenous Games Legacy, the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council.
“The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council is excited to see the national launch of Aboriginal Communities: Active for Life,” said executive director Rick Brant. “This long-anticipated resource will be an important tool for us as we further the impact of our work in aboriginal communities throughout B.C. It creates an opportunity to better support the training of community champions as they design and deliver culturally relevant physical activity and sport programs that will improve community health outcomes.”
The nearly 40-page document, and its accompanying workshop, supports and empowers members of the communities who seek to develop quality sport and physical activity programs.
The resource will be available in both English and French at sportforlife.ca/portfolio-view/ aboriginal-communities-active-for-life or sportpourlavie.ca/ portfolio-view/communautes-autochtones-vie-active.
$66,000 donation to expand Cowichan Hub
Co-Op Community Spaces has announced a donation of $66,000 to the Cowichan Station Area Association to help expand an important community facility in Duncan.
The donation will help create new community rooms at The Hub at Cowichan Station, which has operated since 2011 in the former Cowichan Station School.
Renovations will create two spacious rooms on the second floor that can serve as meeting spaces for numerous community and recreational events.
“We are delighted with the support Co-Op Community Spaces is providing for this worthy community project,” said Barry O’Riordan with the Cowichan Station Area Association.
“Providing welcoming spaces for people to gather and recreate is critical for community health and resilience. The creation of these new community rooms, and the opportunities they present, is a wonderful gift to the Cowichan region.”
Since launching in 2015, Co-op Community Spaces has provided $4.5 million to more than 60 projects across B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The funder is administered by Federated Co-operatives Limited on behalf of more than 190 independent retail co-operatives that form the Co-operative Retailing System.
For more information, go to communityspaces.ca.
