Cool Aid’s dental clinic is hoping to put smiles on the faces of more than 5,000 vulnerable people as it launches a campaign to raise funds for dental services for those who can’t afford to pay.
It hopes to raise $50,000 by the end of the month with the Everyone Deserves to Smile fundraising campaign to support the clinic, which offers a full range of dental care, including hygiene, fillings, extractions, root canals and even dentures.
“We receive hundreds of calls a day from people who desperately need dental care, but don’t have insurance or the money to pay for it,” said Kathleen Quast, dental clinic manager for Cool Aid. “We are doing the best we can to meet demand, but our waiting list is growing by the day.”
Andrew Beckerman, a philanthropist and longtime supporter of Cool Aid, is matching the first $25,000 in donations to the campaign and calling on others to join him in the challenge.
“I am one of the fortunate people who can afford my dentist’s fees,” said Beckerman.
“But many of Cool Aid’s clients cannot. That’s why I’m directing my annual $25,000 matching challenge to support this important service and I hope others, including local dentists, will join me.”
Oral health is directly linked to overall health, but people experiencing poverty and homelessness often don’t have what they need — healthy food, toothbrushes, toothpaste or just a place to brush their teeth — to maintain adequate oral health, Cool Aid says.
The clinic, which operates out of the organization’s Community Healthcare Centre on Johnson Street, is the only one of its kind in the capital region.
• Donations to the campaign can be made online at coolaid.org or 250-383-1977.
Maritime Museum seeks submissions for Queer at Sea exhibit
The Maritime Museum has put out a call to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and two-spirit community for submissions for its upcoming Queer at Sea: Tales from the 2SLGBTQ+ Community exhibit.
Queer, trans and two-spirit communities have long been a part of B.C.’s maritime history and culture. The goal of the exhibit is to showcase their histories and to celebrate the roles and contributions the community has made to the maritime sector.
“It is important for queer, trans and two-spirit communities to speak for themselves and share their own stories,” said Brittany Vis, executive director of the Maritime Museum of B.C.
In keeping with the theme and mandate of the museum, stories should have a connection to B.C.’s maritime history, culture or industries — anything from working in the maritime field, being a member of a maritime-based community/culture or partaking in maritime recreational activities as a queer, trans, or two-spirit person.
Submissions can be written, photograph-based or object-based stories, an oral or video interview, short quotes or any combination thereof.
“Since January, we have already received a dozen stories and lots of feedback on the exhibit,” said Vis. “It goes to show the appetite the public has for the topic.”
The exhibit will open to the public on May 17 and run for the duration of the summer.
The deadline for submissions is March 4. For more information, or to submit, go to queeratsea.ca.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria marks Black History Month
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is hosting both virtual and in-person events as it celebrates Black History Month, including a free Family Sunday event today.
At the event, families can join artist Sade Alexis on the gallery’s YouTube Channel for a virtual portrait-drawing video workshop. Sade describes herself as passionate about creating art that celebrates Blackness and invites everyone to be their creative selves.
Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of Denyse Thomasos: Odyssey, an exhibition that includes works from all phases of Thomasos’s career and celebrates her historic contribution to Canadian art.
Enhance your visit with a free activity sheet created especially for young visitors. It was inspired by the artist’s body of work recalling the history of the African diaspora. The worksheet is available to download at home or a copy can be picked up at the front desk at the gallery. The exhibit will remain on display until March 13.
How you can help families in need during spring break
The Mustard Seed is asking the community for help to support families in need over spring break, a period when many face increased levels of financial stress, due to childcare costs, the absence of school-meal programs and the added costs of day camps and activities for kids.
Every $62 raised is enough to provide a struggling family with a hamper full of nutritious food (including an abundance of healthy snacks for children). Every donation helps to alleviate a financial burden and reduce anxiety.
Going, going … Peninsula Streams Society auction ending soon
Bid on a lunch with Elizabeth May, or a chance to soar over Vancouver Island in a helicopter, pick up some fishing gear, take a cruise or win fresh crabs, art or an oil change at the Peninsula Streams Society’s fundraising spring auction, Feb. 26 to March 6.
Proceeds from the auction go towards funding a variety of restoration and habitat conservation projects the group carries out throughout Greater Victoria.
Items will be added daily until the auction goes live at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. It closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 6.
Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover: Talk set for Tuesday
Retired colonel Jamie Hammond is the featured speaker at the Canadian Club of Victoria’s talk Afghanistan 20 Years On: What does it mean for Canadians, a presentation at the Hotel Grand Pacific on Tuesday.
The presentation will bring the audience up to date on developments since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 and reflect on the nature of Canadian involvement in conflict zones around the world.
Club member and retired Colonel Jamie Hammond will provide a thoughtful presentation based on his 28-year military career — including multiple tours in Afghanistan — as well as academic study.
Tickets are $45 for members and $55 for non-members. It runs from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
parrais@timescolonist.com
