The Queen Alexandra Foundation announced a new name for itself Wednesday to better reflect its funding of child and youth organizations across Vancouver Island.
The Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is the new name for the charitable organization that supports children and youth and their families.
"The name Queen Alexandra will forever be part of our legacy," said Ron Hewitt, the foundation's president, before a large gathering at the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre on Wednesday.
"With this new name, there is no doubt about what we are here for: children, health, Vancouver Island," Hewitt said.
The foundation supports:
? Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health, which provides physical therapy, wheelchair seating and bracing for children with special needs and assists with early childhood development;
? HerWay Home program, which works to reduce the long-term effects of substance use during pregnancy on babies; and
? West Shore and Sooke child, youth and family centres, one-stop locations for child and youth service agencies.
The foundation also funded, built and operates Jeneece Place, a 10-bedroom home for families who travel to Victoria for their child's medical care.
The change comes as the result of confusion over the foundation's name, who it served and where, stemming in part from a series of name changes, expansions and amalgamations.
Hewitt said the new name celebrates the growth of the foundation's support of children's health across the Island, including literacy programs, a therapeutic riding association and a violence-prevention program. ceharnett@timescolonist.com
THE FOUNDATION'S ROYAL ROOTS
? 1922 - The British Columbia Women's Institute raises funds to build the Queen Alexandra Solarium for Crippled Children in Mill Bay. The facility is named for Queen Alexandra after the royal family makes a contribution.
? 1927 - The first patient is admitted to the hospital, which focused on treating diseases such as polio and tuberculosis.
? 1958 - The solarium relocates to Cadboro Bay.
? 1968 - The Cerebral Palsy Clinic moves onto the grounds and becomes the G.R. Pearkes Centre for Children.
? 1973 - The solarium is renamed the Queen Alexandra Hospital for Children.
? 1986 - The Pearkes centre and the Queen Alexandra Hospital amalgamate to form the Arbutus Society for Children. The George R. Pearkes Foundation for Children and the Queen Alexandra Solarium for Crippled Children Foundation become the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children.
? 1993 - The Arbutus Society for Children is renamed the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health. Source: Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
