Chief Del Manak, along with Victoria Police Department and support staff will be freezin鈥� for a reason at the second annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Feb. 17 at Willows Beach.
They are joining their policing partners from Oak Bay, Saanich, Central Saanich and the RCMP, alongside Greater Victoria businesses for a dip in frigid waters 鈥� in full uniform.
The event will help send athletes with intellectual disabilities to Special Olympics events.
The Victoria Police Department is encouraging businesses, other police departments and first responders in Greater Victoria to create teams and raise money for Special Olympics.
The event will include a colourful-costume contest and law-enforcement vehicles on display.
People can support the cause by sponsoring the Victoria Police Department team or starting their own team.
Registration starts at 10, with the Polar Plunge taking place at 11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 17 at Willows Beach, Oak Bay.
For more information, go to .
Firefighters riding for cancer fundraiser
Firefighters in Victoria will get on spin bikes to take part in a 200-kilometre Spin Challenge on Monday in support of the Ride to Conquer Cancer, which benefits the sa国际传媒 Cancer Foundation.
World Cancer Day takes place on Monday. To raise awareness, the sa国际传媒 Cancer Foundation will be setting up four spin bikes at the Victoria Fire Department鈥檚 Firehall 1.
They are encouraging the community to come and join firefighters by taking turns pedalling on the stationary bicycles throughout the day to contribute to the 200-kilometre goal.
鈥淎s a department, we ride to honour those we鈥檝e lost, those who are currently battling cancer and to help negate the negative effects of cancer on future generations,鈥� said Jeff Cullen, a City of Victoria firefighter. 鈥淎s employees of the City of Victoria, we believe that it is not only important to provide emergency services but to also give back to and support a community that, in turn, supports us greatly.鈥�
The team at the Victoria Fire Department knows firsthand that cancer affects everyone, having lost fellow firefighters to the disease, including two former chiefs, Richard Couch and Doug Angrove.
This will be the first time all the rides across sa国际传媒 unite for an initiative of this kind. Teams in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Victoria will each do their part to raise cancer awareness the same morning.
People can come to cheer on participants or to ride themselves.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is presented by Wheaton Precious Metals.
The event runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at Victoria Fire Department Firehall 1, 1234 Yates St. For more information, go to .
Have dinner and help African village
There are still some tickets left for the One Love Gala, a Valentine鈥檚 dinner and dance at the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, Feb. 16.
The event is presented by the OneLove Africa Foundation, with proceeds going to support women and children in remote African villages.
The non-governmental organization helps create economic-development opportunities to improve the quality of life for African women and youth.
The gala features a three-course meal, champagne cocktails, door prizes and silent and live auctions. There will be African drumming and live music and dancing.
Tickets are $60. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay St. For more information, go to or .
Royal LePage donates to women鈥檚 shelters
On Monday, representatives from Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty will present the Shelter Foundation with a cheque for almost $68,500 to support emergency shelters and transitional shelters for women and children.
The money was raised by the real estate agents and the company from proceeds from hosting an annual golf tournament, other events and a donation of a portion of their commissions in 2018.
The golf tournament has raised a total of $288,000 over the 14 years it has been held.
The donation will go to the Shelter Foundation, a national non-profit. The foundation says all money raised locally benefits the local community.
In Victoria, the money will fund programs at the Cridge Centre for the Family, Victoria Women鈥檚 Transition House, Sooke Transition House and Margaret Lawrence House.
The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m., Feb. 4 at the Cridge Centre for the Family, 1307 Hillside Ave., with representatives from all four shelters and up to 20 Royal LePage Realtors in attendance.
For more information, go to .
Our Place needs coats and gear
Clean out your closet for the Coat Drive for Our Place by Bosdet Homes Real Estate.
Your donation of gently used outerwear will make all the difference to someone in need, especially during the current frosty mornings and evenings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still cold out and here I am with a nice warm coat on, but there are many others who don鈥檛 have that comfort and it鈥檚 really unfortunate,鈥� said Neil Bosdet. 鈥淗ave a look in your closet and you may be surprised to find some outwear you no longer use, but others will appreciate.鈥�
Along with coats, Our Place will also gladly accept tuques, gloves, sleeping bags and tarps 鈥� all in good condition.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 take much to make a big difference in somebody鈥檚 life,鈥� said Grant McKenzie, director of communications at Our Place. 鈥淎 warm coat, a clean pair of socks, just something to keep you warm and dry at night can help make someone鈥檚 difficult life a bit more comfortable. At Our Place, we鈥檙e not here to judge, we鈥檙e here to help. And it鈥檚 so wonderful when our supporters, like Bosdet Homes, take up the challenge.鈥�
Contact the Bosdet Homes Team to arrange an at-home pickup. For more information, contact [email protected] or .
Soup charity launches a new brand
A nationwide grassroots charity dedicated to providing comfort to women, children and youth through the making, sharing and donating of soup, has just launched its first brand product 鈥� cans of soup 鈥� at Costco stores in Eastern sa国际传媒.
In January, Soup Sisters launched its Hamburger Soup at Costco locations in Eastern sa国际传媒. Proceeds from the sale of the canned soup will support the charity鈥檚 operations 鈥� helping communities in need of comfort and nourishment.
鈥淭his is a big step forward for both Soup Sisters and for cause brands in sa国际传媒,鈥� said Soup Sisters founder and CEO Sharon Hapton. 鈥淎nd what makes this extra special is that our Hamburger Soup is available at Costco locations in Eastern sa国际传媒 on the 10-year anniversary of our charity.鈥�
Since its launch in 2009, Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers has delivered fresh soup to more than two million youth in crisis, as well as women and children fleeing family violence across sa国际传媒.
On March 3, National Soup It Forward Day participants from across sa国际传媒 will continue the tradition by hosting soup-making events for local shelters and people in need in more than 26 cities across sa国际传媒 and the United States.
鈥淭his year, with the launch of our Hamburger Soup, we鈥檙e making it even easier for Canadians to give back through the warmth and kindness of soup,鈥� said Hapton. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a win-win situation. Just by buying this soup, you not only can enjoy it at home and feel good about knowing your purchase helps people in need all year long, but if you鈥檙e pressed for time on Soup It Forward Day, you can pick up a few containers and give them to people in need 鈥� it鈥檚 just as good as homemade.鈥�
For more information, go to .
Christmas trees chip in for Easter Seals
Residents of Greater Victoria, Sooke, Chemainus, Shawnigan Lake and Duncan recycled their Christmas trees in January 鈥� and helped raise $18,000 for Easter Seals.
Funds collected from donations at the 29th annual Chip In For The Kids will go to help people with diverse abilities in communities across Vancouver Island.
鈥淥nce again, residents of Greater Victoria, Sooke and Duncan brought their live, cut Christmas trees to our collection depots in southern Vancouver Island and donated over $18,000 during our two-day campaign in support of Easter Seals programs and services for children with diverse abilities,鈥� says Daryl Driemel of the Esquimalt Lions Club. 鈥淭here is no doubt in my mind that our communities realize how important Easter Seals and the sa国际传媒 Lions Society for Children with Disabilities is, and it鈥檚 why I have participated with this event for the past 29 years along with fellow Lions members.鈥�
The event was held at nine locations and run by volunteers from Lion and Lioness Clubs, Davey Tree Service (Victoria locations), Western Island Tree Service (Sooke location) and Competition Tree Service (Duncan, Chemainus and Shawnigan Lake locations) who recycled the trees and collected the donations.
Since it began, Chip In For The Kids has raised more than $365,000 for Easter Seals sa国际传媒/Yukon.
The society is dedicated to providing programs and services to persons with disabilities that help build their self-esteem, confidence and sense of independence. For more information, go to .
Patient leaves legacy for hospital
A longtime donor 鈥� and patient 鈥� has left behind an enduring legacy for future generations of caregivers at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
The family of Florence Yong has donated $500,000 to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation. This donation is the first of two or more instalments.
The funds will be used to create an endowment fund, interest from which will fund projects and an educational scholarship program to financially assist those individuals who have shown a passion for, and commitment to, upgrading their skills to meet the unique needs of a rural hospital.
Financial aid will be supplied to hospital personnel to upgrade their professional designations, new advanced techniques in surgical nursing, imaging or laboratory technology, respiratory technology, orthopedics technology or rehabilitation assistance.
A regular at the hospital, Yong became acquainted with many of the nurses and other staff members.
During her time with them, she came to understand the need for financial aid for specific projects and regular upgrading, as well as helping people realize their professional dreams.
鈥淔lorence was devoted to her family and friends, always giving of herself,鈥� said a close family friend.
鈥淚t is great to see her legacy honoured with an extraordinary gift for an extraordinary purpose.鈥�
For more information, go to .
