On Friday, members of the 2017 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team were presented with their official tour jerseys.
This is the 20th anniversary of听the fundraising event, a 1,100-kilometre, two-week bicycle journey down Vancouver Island, raising money for pediatric cancer research and support programs.
The majority of the 24 riders represent law-enforcement agencies throughout Vancouver Island. This year, riders come from Port McNeil, Comox Valley, Nanaimo, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Tofino/Ucluelet, Merville, Lazo, Duncan, West Shore, Esquimalt, Sooke, Brentwood Bay and Victoria.
This year, in honour of this milestone 20th year, and to recognize their contribution over the years, the ride has includes some guest riders from the community and corporate world, as well as other first responders (paramedics and firefighters) for the first time.
Among the riders on the team are brothers Mark and Ryan Hendren. Mark is an officer with the Saanich Police Department, and his brother Ryan is a paramedic with sa国际传媒 Ambulance Services. Ryan, a childhood cancer survivor, volunteered last year for the ride as one of the accompanying paramedics.
Since 1998, the tour has raised more than $22 million for the Canadian Cancer Society, which uses the money to benefit children on Vancouver Island who are battling cancer to attend a special camp: Camp Goodtimes. It also supports important pediatric cancer research and programs that help children with cancer and their families.
The 20th annual Tour de Rock begins Sept. 23 in Port Alice. The team arrives in Victoria Oct. 6.
For more information, go to tourderock.ca.
听
Prizewinning author to听speak at fundraiser
Listen to an international award-winning writer, speaker and author at An Evening With Nahid Sewell, a fundraiser for the Victoria Women鈥檚 Transition House, Friday at the Victoria Golf Club.
The event is presented in partnership with the Victoria Golf Club and sponsored by Investors Group 鈥� Victoria Downtown Region Office.
Nahid Sewell was born in Tehran, Iran. After obtaining her MBA from Lehigh University, she launched a successful career in information technology.
She will be in Victoria for a reading of her novel, The Ruby Tear Catcher 鈥� An Iranian Woman鈥檚 Story of Intolerance, her debut novel. In it, she offers a glimpse into the life of women in Iran, and delivers a message of tolerance.
The reading will be followed by a discussion about the social, cultural and political impact on women.
The event includes a pre-presentation wine and cheese reception, a silent auction, book signing and door prizes.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Victoria Women鈥檚 Transition House emergency shelter, counselling programs and support services for women and children in the community fleeing domestic violence and abuse.
Tickets are $50 each (with a $25 tax receipt). The event runs 5听to 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Dr. Tickets available in person at the Victoria Women鈥檚 Transition House office, 100-3060 Cedar Hill Rd. or online at vgccharity.com.
听
Homeless campaign pushes for finish line
A former homeless youth turned CEO arrives in Victoria on Thursday after walking across sa国际传媒 to raise awareness and funds to prevent youth homelessness.
Joe Roberts and the Push for Change national campaign arrives in Victoria pushing a shopping cart 鈥� the symbol of chronic homelessness 鈥� after walking 24 kilometres per day to raise awareness of the issue. He will finish at Mile Zero.
Roberts, CEO of a multimedia company, will tell his story on the front lawn of the sa国际传媒 legislature in support of ending youth homelessness. So far, the campaign has raised more than $500,000 for youth homelessness-prevention initiatives.
People can join him on the last leg of the journey, from the sa国际传媒 legislature to Mile Zero. Roberts will be joined by members of the Threshold Housing Society and other local youth housing advocates.
Meet at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 14 on the front lawn of the legislature
For more information, go to thresholdhousing.ca or thepushforchange.com.
听
Learn about refugee听sponsorship
Learn more about current refugee issues by attending With Open Arms, a wine and appetizer social hosted by the Social Justice Committee of Lutheran church of the Cross on Saturday.
The church is passionate about refugee issues, and has contributed toward the sponsorship of several newcomers to sa国际传媒, including some from Syria, Burundi and Eritrea.
The event is an opportunity to learn more about the need for refugee sponsorship and to raise funds for ongoing refugee support.
There will be live entertainment, a relaxed atmosphere to mingle, sip and eat while learning more about refugee issues.
Tickets are $25 and includes vouchers for two drinks and a draw for a door prize. The event runs 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at 3787 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. Donations gratefully accepted and all donations of $10 and over will receive a tax receipt.
For more information, contact [email protected] or 250-477-6222.
听
Rehab patients invited听to听reunion
Victoria General Hospital鈥檚 Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit is hosting a drop-in reunion for past patients on Tuesday.
Every year, as many as 600听patients receive specialized neuro-rehabilitation at Victoria General Hospital, which has 22听beds in the specialized rehabilitation unit. In the course of a stay, a patient might see physiatrists, hospitalists, clinical nurse leaders, educators and a nurse clinician group leading teams of experienced RNs, LPNs and health-care aides.
Other members of the multi-disciplinary team include neuropsychiatrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, speech language pathologists and support personnel.
On Tuesday, past patients will share their stories during the reunion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly empowering to work with rehab teams to help our patients recover to the best of their ability,鈥� said Dr. Paul Winston. 鈥淎s a physician, we sometimes see these patients in the intensive care unit when they are paralyzed and unable to speak, communicate or even recognize their family members. Together, we use our clinical expertise to help people regain cognitive function and the ability to walk and care for themselves.鈥�
The reunion party gives families and the staff who cared for these patients the opportunity to re-connect and celebrate the lives of the patients.
鈥淎n injury from illness or stroke can occur in a manner of seconds, but it can take years to recover,鈥� said Winston. 鈥淢y inspiration comes from something I call the hallway of wonders at Victoria General Hospital, where I see past patients walking to their appointments. Seeing them move on their own after helping them through one of the worst time of their lives, it makes听it hard for us not to shed a听tear. Our patients continue to inspire us every day.鈥�
All past patients are encouraged to attend. The event starts at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Unit 5 North, Neuro Rehab, Victoria General Hospital, 1 Hospital Way.
听
Exhibit will recall sinking of SS Princess Sophia
The Maritime Museum of sa国际传媒 has received funding for a travelling exhibit set to launch early next year.
The museum has received $190,884 from the government of sa国际传媒鈥檚 Museums Assistance Program, Access to Heritage, to help support the production of the SS Princess Sophia Exhibition.
The travelling exhibit will start its tour in January. It will travel to communities through British Columbia Yukon, and Alaska, with major stops in Vancouver, Whitehorse and Juneau.
A smaller version of the exhibit will also be available to tour smaller communities.
鈥淭his funding is a tremendous support for the museum,鈥� said Don Prittie, president of the museum. 鈥淲e have not received a grant this size in quite a few years, so it is an honour to receive this now.鈥�
The exhibit commemorates the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia, a Victoria-based vessel that transported passengers up the coast to Skagway, Alaska, with stops along the way. She served from 1912 to 1918 before she sank, with all hands, in October 1918.
Her sinking had major effects on communities along the West Coast, which relied on the ship as their main mode of transportation.
鈥淭he ship鈥檚 tragic sinking on Oct. 25, 1918, and the loss of everyone onboard was the largest maritime disaster in the Pacific Northwest,鈥� said David Leverton, executive director. 鈥淲e are honoured to be given the opportunity to develop a travelling exhibit that commemorates the 100th anniversary of this event, and we are very grateful that the Canadian government is assisting us in this process.鈥�
The exhibit includes artifacts salvaged from the wreck, as well as digital interactive displays and personal stories of the victims.
For more information, go to princesssophia.org.
听
Grab a pizza so kids can听get in the game
Jon Montgomery, host of CTV鈥檚 Amazing Race sa国际传媒 and a 2010 Olympic gold medallist in the skeleton, has joined forces with KidSport Victoria to launch the first Jon Montgomery Pizza Pigout in October.
Montgomery and his wife Darla have assembled a committee to create a new event to raise some 鈥渄ough鈥� to get children off the sidelines and into the game.
They have enlisted the support of local and national athletes and media personalities, to raise funds and awareness for the initiative.
鈥淜idSport is the charity that we targeted when we wanted to get more involved in our community,鈥� said Montgomery. 鈥淲hen your goal is to make an impact around you, we often defer to things that are comfortable and familiar. Sport has shaped our lives in a profoundly positive way and we want to be able to lower the barriers to participation however we can. KidSport makes a tangible difference in our community and we are proud to be a part of those efforts.鈥�
The event will be presented by Jake Brumby鈥檚 team at CIBC Wood Gundy.
For the past 15 years, KidSport Greater Victoria has put children facing financial barriers onto the playing field, paying the registration fees for more than 1,400 children a year.
Tickets to the event are $50 to $100 (19 and older). The event runs 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Distrikt Nightclub, 919 Douglas St. The event is on Facebook. For more information on KidSport, go to kidsportcanada.ca.
听
Do you know a听junior听superhero?
The Superheroes of Victoria are looking for 10 children to be part of a special project.
The charity group is looking for children battling illness, chronic pain and other health challenges to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime superhero experience.
This includes a custom-made superhero costume, a themed photo shoot and a giant poster of their photograph.
Selected children will be featured in a Superheroes of Victoria Junior Supers calendar, with proceeds going to Help Fill A Dream Foundation.
People are asked to share their story 鈥� and why your child would make a junior superhero 鈥� for consideration.
Deadline for nominations is Sept. 22.
Send an email to [email protected] or send a message on Facebook to Superheroes of Victoria.
For more information, go to superheroesofvictoria.org or helpfilladream.com.
