Overcome your fear of heights and raise funds at the same time at the Make-A-Wish Rope for Hope 鈥� by rappelling down a city highrise, May 24.
Make-A-Wish, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is the world鈥檚 leading children鈥檚 wish-granting organization, serving children in 50 countries worldwide. Proceeds from the Victoria event will go toward granting wishes for Vancouver Island children living with a critical illness.
There will be as many as 40 opportunities to dangle from the outside of a building for a good cause. Participants can take part as individuals, in teams or as part of a colleague group.
Participants are each required to raise a minimum of $1,500 to take part. Check-in takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on May 24. The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CIBC building, 1175 Douglas St. For more information, go to .
Magic Wand helps teens dress for grad
With high-school graduation quickly approaching, Magic Wand is once again ready to help students save money on their grad outfits.
Graduation can be an expensive rite of passage for high school students or their families 鈥� and a source of stress for those without the financial means to buy dresses, tuxedos and accessories.
The Magic Wand project provides an alternative, by offering a large selection of new and gently used, donated grad dresses and tuxedos, including all accessories, for a small rental fee. In certain circumstances, the fee is waived.
Clients don鈥檛 need to be financially challenged to qualify.
Any student can borrow instead of buying, for a saving of hundreds of dollars for tuxes or dresses typically worn only once.
For more information on the non-profit organization, go to or .
Rescued dogs need foster families
The Victoria Humane Society is looking for people who are able to foster dogs or puppies just rescued from communities where culls are being planned.
The society is saving a large number of dogs and puppies, who are scheduled to begin arriving this month.
Operating without a shelter, the society requires volunteers who are able to offer a temporary home to one or more dogs.
鈥淔ostering can be a challenge, but it is also one of the most rewarding things that you can do to help,鈥� said Marie Zirk, who has often acted as a foster. 鈥淪eeing a dog or puppy that you cared for meet his perfect home is a tearful yet joyful experience.鈥�
The society will provide food, collars, leashes and all the veterinary care.
Those who are able to offer temporary respite need to be aware that many of the dogs and puppies might never have been inside a home before and will require a fenced yard.
The condition of the dogs is unknown, and some might be anxious.
People with some previous experience would be preferable.
Those interested in fostering can fill out an application form at .
Creative artwork up for auction
Purchase a piece of art that was created using donated household items and building materials at ReFind Art, a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Victoria.
The art auction and fundraiser features the artworks of 31 local artists and businesses who have created a piece of art using materials found at the Habitat Victoria ReStore.
People are invited to stop by and visit the ReFind Art display where they can bid and become the proud owner of one 鈥� or more 鈥� of these one-of-a-kind art creations through a silent, sealed bidding process.
The public can also donate to vote for their favourite art pieces. The winner of the People鈥檚 Choice Award will be announced online at the end of the event.
Funds raised will go toward helping local families build their own homes.
People can view the pieces during regular mall hours between May 29 and June 10 in the lower level of the Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas St. For more information, to view the pieces, or to bid, go to .
New nature reserve planned for Lasqueti Island
The Islands Trust Fund and the Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy are partnering to raise funds for Salish View, a new Lasqueti Island nature reserve with old-growth trees and a stunning view.
The groups are hoping to raise $250,000 by the end of the year. A campaign is already underway, with almost 40 per cent of the funds in place.
The current landowners are selling the property below market value, a contribution through the Ecological Gifts Program 鈥� a federal program that promotes the sale or donation of ecologically sensitive land to charities or governments.
The Income Tax Act offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land 鈥� or a partial interest in land 鈥� to a qualified recipient.
Recipients, in turn, ensure that the land鈥檚 biodiversity and environmental heritage will be conserved in perpetuity.
Donations for the Salish View campaign can be made to the Islands Trust Fund鈥檚 Lasqueti Island Acquisition Fund and the Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy鈥檚 sa国际传媒Helps page. Tax receipts will be issued for gifts more than $20.
For more information, go to .
100+ Women pitch in for Broadmead Care
The Broadmead Care Society is $25,000 closer to paying for a new facility for people with disabilities, thanks to 100+ Women Who Care Victoria.
The donation will go toward the society鈥檚 Nigel House Replacement Project.
鈥淭his donation is a significant contribution toward building a new facility for people in our community living with health challenges,鈥� said Carol Pendray, board member of the Broadmead Care Society and also member of the 100+ Women Who Care Victoria. 鈥淎 new building will help ensure the residents receive the care and support they need in an environment that is fun, engaging and better suited for people with complex health conditions.鈥�
The Nigel Program for Adults with Disabilities is a residential-care program for adults between 19 and 55. Residents have disabilities as a result of physical trauma, neurological degenerative diseases or birth anomalies.
The new facility is part of a master plan to redevelop the entire 3.27 hectares of the Nigel Valley. The plan involves Broadmead Care Society, the Greater Victoria Housing Society, Garth Homer Society, Island Community Mental Health and led by sa国际传媒 Housing. The overall project cost is $17 million, with Broadmead Care Society providing $5.5 million, of which $2.5 million will come from fundraising.
Construction on the Nigel House Replacement Project will begin in mid-2019.
For more information, go to .
Choir sings for Rainbow Kitchen
The Dragon Song Men鈥檚 Choir is performing A Mother鈥檚 Day Concert, a fundraiser for the Rainbow Kitchen at St. George鈥檚 Anglican Church today.
The choir has been practising for the past six months to prepare for this concert. After the concert, there is a strawberry tea at the Cadboro Bay church.
Admission is by donation. The concert starts at 2 p.m. at St. George鈥檚 Anglican Church, 3909 St. George鈥檚 Lane.
For more information, go to .
Writers鈥� society contest back for 17th year
The Victoria Writers鈥� Society is holding a Writing Contest for Fiction, Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction.
This is the 17th year of the annual contest, with the winning entries published in the September issue of Island Writer Magazine. There are also cash awards of $300 for first prize, $200 for second and $100 for third.
The society is the region鈥檚 largest and longest-running writing group. They hold monthly meetings in the downtown branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.
The deadline for submission is May 15.
For more information, go to .
Craft equipment for sale for good cause
The original members of the Crafters and Quilters Group at St. Andrew鈥檚 Presbyterian Church are retiring and are offering their equipment and supplies for sale with proceeds going toward outreach programs at the church.
Items include quilting fabrics, yarn, quilt batting, stuffing, sewing notions, threads, ribbons, patterns, sewing and knitting needles, sewing machines, a small ironing board and a portable sewing machine table.
The sale runs 6 to 8 p.m. May 25 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 26 in the Kirk Hall of the church, 680 Courtney St. (near the corner of Douglas and Courtney streets). Cash only, please.
A new group, called Sewlutions, will be using the craft room. The group works on projects with new Canadians living in the Greater Victoria region.
For more information, call 250-384-5734 or email [email protected].
Learn how to survive spiritually
The Vancouver Island branch of Eckankar, the Path of Spiritual Freedom, is holding How to Survive Spiritually in our Times, a three-day seminar, May 18 to 20 in Sidney.
The event includes talks, workshops and discussions.
People can discover spiritual secrets to problem-solving, dreams and divine love.
Sign up for individual sessions or for the entire seminar. Registration is $40 adults, $25 for every additional adult, $15 students 18 to 24 years old, $10 for youth 13 to 17, $5 for children 5 to 12 and free for children up to 5.
There is also a free spiritual-exploration workshop, Experience Your True Identity, with registration at 12:30 p.m. and the workshop taking place 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney.
For more information, go to .
Doctors honoured for children鈥檚 health
The American Academy of Pediatrics has honoured Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health chief medical health officer, and Dr. Wilma Arruda, medical director of pediatric services, with Special Achievement Awards for their contributions to children鈥檚 health and wellness in sa国际传媒
Stanwick was acknowledged for outstanding contributions to healthy public policy and injury prevention. For more than three decades, he has contributed to policy on issues such as crib safety, preventing injuries on all-terrain vehicles and eliminating flammable children鈥檚 sleepwear. He has been a key figure in promoting infant and child car seats, including booster seats, across sa国际传媒.
鈥淐hildhood is a critical time that establishes lifelong health,鈥� Stanwick said. 鈥淚 am humbled to receive this honour for my efforts to encourage health and wellness for Canadian children.鈥�
Arruda is honoured for her work in starting Nanaimo鈥檚 John Barsby Wellness Centre in 2015. Arruda initiated the wellness centre, which provides health and wellness services to students on their school grounds. She champions youth-focused health care and brought together a wide range of community partners to support the centre.
鈥淢y vision is to empower youth in their own health and encourage health and resilience,鈥� said Arruda. 鈥淚 am honoured to be recognized for starting the Barsby Wellness Centre, which not only improves youth health, but also builds trusting relationships between caregivers and youth.鈥�
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 66,000 pediatricians committed to optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. The Special Achievement Awards recognize outstanding work of individuals or chapter achievements accomplished in the previous years. For more information, go to .
