After more than 9,000 kilometres pedalling a wooden bike to bring awareness to Green Ride for Green Jobs, Zac Wagman has reached the Terry Fox Mile 0 Monument in St. John’s, N.L.
Wagman is the green jobs manager for Project Learning Tree Canada, an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
His journey began in Victoria on May 13. Along the way he visited more than 100 communities in nine provinces, meeting more than 230 Green Jobs youth and their employers.
The youth Wagman met on his ride were some of the 2,000 students that Project Learning Tree Canada helped to place in green jobs since 2018, with support from more than 150 employers across Canada.
Funding was provided by the federal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
“This journey was not just about completing a bucket-list item, but I also saw it as an opportunity to connect with the youth and employers impacted by our Green Jobs program,” said Wagman.
“The diversity of jobs I learned about was amazing, such as forest technicians, Indigenous knowledge co-ordinators, wildlife technicians, park rangers, and invasive species interns — all critical roles that contribute to the sustainability of one of our greatest natural resources. It really educated me on the diversity of opportunities, and I hope to take this knowledge forward to inspire more youth to consider a career in the great outdoors.”
Go to mygreenjob.ca.
15th annual drive for junior diabetes
Enjoy a night of colourful entertainment to benefit a great cause at the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Promise Ball, Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Fairmont Empress.
This is the 15th anniversary of the annual fundraiser, the signature fundraising event for the Vancouver Island Chapter of JDRF.
More than 300 guests are expected to take in a fun and philanthropic night of magical performances and poignant stories under this year’s theme: Under the Big Top.
Proceeds from the event help accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.
For ticket information, go to promiseball.ca or Sarah Kalcsics at skalcsics@jdrf.ca.
Knitted socks benefit The Land Conservancy
The Land Conservancy recently received a $385,000 bequest from the estate of a long-time supporter — and all anybody could think of was knitted socks.
Maila Lehto loved the outdoors, gardening and long walks with her dog, Toto.
In 2007, she came up with an idea for a fundraiser knitting socks, which she called Karma Socks. For years these cosy, handmade socks warmed many pairs of chilly feet, with the money she raised benefiting the TLC.
After she died, the TLC received a substantial bequest from Lehto’s estate as well.
“As Maila’s story demonstrates, we are strongest when we work together. At TLC we are grateful for every gift we receive, no matter the size, because we know, collectively, these gifts make a big difference,” said Lisa Cross, donor relations manager and grants co-ordinator.
By including The Land Conservancy of B.C. in their estate planning, donors can inspire the next generation of naturalists to care for the planet through TLC’s knowledge-sharing and educational programs.
To discuss what your green legacy and how to include TLC in your estate planning, contact Cathy Armstrong by phone at 1-877-485-2422 or by email at admin@conservancy.bc.ca.
Veteran’s induction into French Legion of Honour
Philippe Sutter, the consul general of France for Western Canada will be in Victoria today to induct a Second World War veteran into the French Legion of Honour.
Edward Vaughan, a resident of the Veterans Memorial Lodge, will be inducted into France’s Légion d’Honneur. It is the highest decoration that France can bestow on an individual, the equivalent to receiving the Order of Canada.
The honour is an acknowledgment of Vaughan’s contributions in the liberation of France during the war.
Vaughan was a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Goose Squadron and flew 36 successful missions in Lancaster bombers.
The Legion d’Honneur was created in 1802, during the reign of Napoleon. It recognizes the outstanding merits of individuals who have served France or the ideals it upholds.
The ceremony starts at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Lodge, 4579 Chatterton Way. For more information, go to broadmeadcare.com.
Funds raised to resurface road to John Dean Park
The Friends of John Dean Park are hoping the public will pitch in to help pay for resurfacing of the park’s upper access road and parking lot in time for the park’s centennial in 2021.
The volunteer organization works in collaboration with B.C. Parks to help preserve and protect the park.
The park, located in the Saanich Peninsula, has an extensive trail system that provides a variety of walking and hiking experiences. There is a forest of old-growth trees, viewpoints, vivid wildflowers and historic sites.
Over the years, the main parking lot, located in the centre of the park, and road surfaces have been washed away by heavy rains and the traffic of more than 40,000 visitors per year.
B.C. Parks is unable to fund the entire project due to existing demands on its facilities budget.
The cost of the paving is pegged at $75,000. To date the Friends of John Dean Park, with support from the community and the society’s membership, have raised about $30,000.
They are asking for the public to help them meet their goal.
For more information, go to friendsofjohndeanpark.org.
St. Luke Cedar Hill church to bless animals on Oct. 6
St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church is once again opening its doors to four-legged loved ones of churchgoers at they celebrate the annual Blessing of the Animals Service, Sunday, Oct. 6.
This is always a popular service as people in the community bring their pets to church to be blessed. You might also bring a picture of a pet (living or deceased) so that the pet can be blessed or remembered.
Last year, 16 dogs and a bearded dragon (a type of lizard) attended the service.
The short service (about 30 minutes long) is geared toward children, families and all pet lovers.
The service will start at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the church, corner of Cedar Hill Cross and Cedar Hill roads. For more information about the service, call 250-477-6741 or go to stlukesvictoria.ca/events.
UrbaCity Challenge raises $76K for Island Prostate
The 2019 UrbaCity Challenge, an offbeat, fun, urban adventure fundraiser that took place last Sunday, raised more than $76,000.
Teams of participants completed challenging tasks that tested their brains as well as their bodies — all to benefit the Island Prostate Centre.
Apart from running, this year’s participants threw axes, stood up on paddle boards and made copper necklaces at some of the event’s challenge stations.
Go to urbacitychallenge.ca.
Valdy to help raise funds for community kitchen
Canadian folk and country musician Valdy will be performing at a fundraising concert for the Shelbourne Community Kitchen, Sunday, Oct. 6, at St. Philip Anglican Church.
Valdy, the Bob Watts Trio and Karel Roessingh, on piano, will all be performing at a Jazz Vespers Service at the church.
Proceeds from the concert will be matched, up to $10,000, by a donor.
Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $20 (donations $20 or more will be eligible for a tax receipt). The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the church, 2928 Eastdowne Rd.
For more information, go to shelbournecommunitykitchen.ca.
Campaign collects donations for food banks
A local food drive has collected 5,500 kilograms of donations for food banks.
Last week, 400 volunteers knocked on 15,000 homes in the capital region as part of the 10th annual B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive.
They collected non-perishable food donations that were delivered to Mustard Seed, Goldstream, Sidney and Sooke food banks.
The B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive was set up as a non-denominational project to help local food banks meet community needs throughout the province.
Participants included members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with family and friends.
Go to bctfooddrive.org.
Soap for Hope helping children in need
Soap for Hope, a local non-profit, is collaborating with Backpack Buddies to help children in need in Victoria.
Last year, Soap for Hope found that along with a call for hygiene amenities, children at one elementary school were asking for bed packs (sheets/blanket/towel/slippers).
This year they are partnering with Backpack Buddies, a non-profit that delivers 4,000 bags of food per month to children in Vancouver, to offer both food and basic hygiene products to children in need at five elementary schools.
This collaboration saw the two handing out food and basic hygiene amenities (including soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste) to students at the five schools on Thursday.
You can help by purchasing advance tickets for the Saanich Jr. Braves vs. Westshore Wolves hockey game at Pearkes Arena, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
Tickets purchased in advance from Soap for Hope will support the program.
Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. If you can’t go to the game, consider sponsoring some tickets so they can give them to children in need at the schools.
To donate, go to canadahelps.org and search for Disaster Aid Canada.
Langford’s Hulitan services receives award for giving
Hulitan Family and Community Services in Langford was one of the three recipients of Fortis B.C.’s $15,000 Community Giving Awards, announced at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention last week.
“Giving back to communities where we work and live is an important part of creating a sustainable future in B.C. and we look forward to seeing these deserving organizations put the funds to use in ways that will have a lasting, positive impact in their communities,” said David Bennett, director, communications and external relations for Fortis B.C.
Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, nominated by Langford Mayor Stew Young, provides services to Indigenous communities from the Greater Victoria area all the way to Port Renfrew.
The funds will be used to host a community celebration honouring the community members who have helped them serve more than 5,000 children, adults and elders in their decade in operation.
Each year, Fortis B.C. invites local government officials from across B.C. to nominate a charity or non-profit project for the awards.
Consideration is given to projects that promote safety, gas and electrical trades, energy literacy, skill development or leadership, environmental protection and preservation as well as projects that meet the unique needs of Indigenous groups, organizations or communities.
For more information about the program and the recipients, go to fortisbc.com/communitygiving.
