The Capital Regional District Traffic Safety Commission recently awarded scholarships to two Camosun College students.
Monica Amos was the recipient of the Const. Sarah Beckett Memorial Scholarship, while Bryce Schiebel received a scholarship from the Vancouver Island Slain Police Officers Fund and Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan Retirement Donation.
This is the fifth year the commission has awarded the Const. Sarah Beckett Memorial Scholarship, worth $2,000, to a student living in the capital region who demonstrates academic achievement, financial need, community service and an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Additional donated funds through the Vancouver Island Slain Police Officers Fund and Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan Retirement Donation allowed the commission to provide $1,800 toward a second scholarship.
The memorial scholarship was created by the CRD Traffic Safety Commission after Beckett, the mother of two young children, died when her police vehicle was struck by a speeding drunk driver running a red light in Langford in 2016.
The goal was to raise awareness of traffic safety issues and the community service provided by police.
“These students are dedicated to building their careers in service to the well-being of our communities and overcoming many life challenges,” said Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes, chair of the CRD Traffic Safety Commission.
“We are happy to be able to help them continue on their learning paths and wish them much success. Through this support, we hope that the memory of Sarah Beckett’s dedication and sacrifice lives on in our communities.”
• For more information, go to crdtrafficsafety.ca.
Gift boxes of tea support housing for vulnerable youth
This week, Country Grocer’s seven locations on Vancouver Island started selling gift boxes of tea to raise funds for Threshold Housing Society’s work with at-risk youth.
The grocery chain has partnered with Silk Road Tea to offer the 12 Days of Tea gift box, featuring 12 flavours of tea, as a fundraiser for the society, which offers homeless youth acceptance and sanctuary.
A count done in 2018 found more than 150 homeless youth in Greater Victoria, and didn’t include youth who were couch surfing, living in unsafe homes, or aging out of foster care. More than half had their first experience of homelessness under the age of 25.
Threshold Housing Society is the largest youth housing provider in the Greater Victoria area with 45 beds, 30 youth on their waitlist and a nine-month wait time. Gift boxes are $20 each.
• For more information, go to thresholdhousing.ca.
Esquimalt High grad who beat the odds receives award
A recent graduate of Esquimalt High School was one of 44 students across Canada to receive a Coast Capital Standing Tall Education Award.
The $3,500 award recognizes youth who have succeeded against the odds and demonstrated commitment to continuing their education. It’s intended to make the cost of tuition and living expenses more manageable for young people who may not have access to funding through traditional sources such as parents or loan programs.
Despite a difficult childhood, recipient Jetzia Lassi was able to overcome her challenges, get involved in extracurricular activities and graduate with her peers. She now plans to pursue a degree in Community Family and Child Studies at Camosun College.
“This award gets me one step closer to achieving my dreams of helping youth build a strong foundation for their futures,” says Lassi. “Thanks to Coast Capital, the financial burden of going to school has been eased and I know I will be able to focus on my studies.”
Since its establishment in 2004, the program has supported almost 1,000 students, with an investment of more than $2.7 million.
• For more information, go to coastcapitalsavings.com.
Arts group seeks support for work at Old Town gallery
The Victoria Arts Council is seeking public support for its goal to place a piece of art on the exterior of its gallery in Old Town, at Store and Herald streets.
The arts group is hoping people will vote for the project in the City of Victoria’s Participatory Budgeting initiative.
The piece, in the form of a three-square-metre billboard, would be visible from blocks away, functioning as a place-making tool in addition to public artwork.
The work would be created by a local artist who identifies as Black, Indigenous or as a person of colour, to address systemic barriers to inclusion in the visual arts. In the past, the council has presented work by Coast Salish, Lekwungen, Nuu-Cha-Nuulth and other Indigenous artists, as well as Black artists and artists from communities of colour.
“As Old Town is a rapidly developing neighbourhood and earmarked as a future arts and tech hub, this BIPOC billboard will be an integral element reminding residents about the importance of civic-minded art and the city’s commitment to social justice,” said Kegan McFadden, executive director of the Victoria Arts Council.
• Residents can vote online until Nov. 19 at engage.victoria.ca/pb.
Sally Ann reaches out to Saanich, West Shore, Vic West
The Salvation Army is expanding its family services into three new communities in the capital region to meet growing demand from individuals and families who require social assistance.
Free programs and services will now be available in the West Shore, Vic West and Saanich. The expansion means individuals and families can access programs and services in communities where they live and work, the group says.
“For the past several years, individuals and families requiring assistance had to travel to our location in Quadra Village,” said Patricia Mamic, public relations and development representative for the Salvation Army.
“For people living in a fixed income, this was not ideal and it limited the number of people we could serve. With this expansion, we have removed those barriers.”
The three new locations will offer everything from food security programs to programs for children, youth and seniors, job training, counselling and spiritual care. Assistance also includes Christmas food hampers, toys, and other seasonal programs and services from October to December.
“The expansion comes at a critical point as we begin to think about Christmas,” said Mamic.
“Right now, our three locations are launching
their Christmas Assistance Programs, which helps families in the community who struggle to make ends meet and who need vital assistance during the Christmas season.”
Christmas applications are available from the three locations, as well as online. The Salvation Army is part of the Greater Victoria Christmas Giving Network. Applications will be available up to Dec. 23.
• For more information, go to salvationarmy.ca.
parrais@timescolonist.com
