As the Labour Day long weekend approaches, the Canadian Blood Services is calling for donors in Victoria to fill more than 550 appointments to rebuild a precarious inventory of blood.
Somewhere in sa国际传媒, a patient needs a blood transfusion every 60 seconds.
Blood donations often decrease during summer months.
鈥淲e anticipated a drop in blood donations during the summer months as a result of holidays, changes in routines, travel and family activities,鈥� said Mark Donnison, vice-president of donor relations. 鈥淭he Labour Day long weekend is particularly challenging as families spend time wrapping up the summer before transitioning into the back to school period.鈥�
Those with appointments are encouraged to keep their appointment and, if possible, bring a friend or family member to donate with them.
Victoria residents can donate blood at a mobile clinic event or at the Victoria blood donor clinic, 3449 Saanich Rd.
To book an appointment, locate a clinic, check your eligibility and more, download the GiveBlood app (available for iOS on the App Store or for Android on Google Play) or visit blood.ca.
Sign up for Paws听for听a听Cause
Join animal lovers from across the province by registering and fundraising for the upcoming Paws for a Cause walk, an annual Scotiabank and sa国际传媒 SPCA event that takes place Sept. 10.
The event brings together animal lovers and their furry friends 鈥� from all walks of life 鈥� for a simple walk in the park. They have a great time as well as supporting a fantastic cause.
Victoria is one of more than 20听communities in sa国际传媒 helping to fight animal cruelty.
鈥淭his is the largest single event to help fight animal cruelty in British Columbia,鈥� said Carina Stirling, sa国际传媒 SPCA officer of fundraising events. 鈥淲e are overwhelmed by the participation each year 鈥� it鈥檚 so great to see thousands of people come together across the province to help sa国际传媒鈥檚 most vulnerable animals. Our amazing supporters not only raise essential funds, the听events are so much fun for two-legged and four-legged participants.鈥�
Provincial sponsors include Scotiabank, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, TV Week and CTV.
The sa国际传媒 is a local sponsor of the 2.5-kilometre event.
Proceeds from the Victoria walk benefit the sa国际传媒 SPCA Victoria Branch and Wild ARC.
After the walk, participants can enjoy entertainment, activities, a barbecue and check out community vendor booths.
Registration is $20 adult and $10 youth and begins at 10, with the walk starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at Clover Point, 1250 Dallas Rd.
For more information, and to register, go to support.spca.bc.ca.
Firefighter honoured with top national award
Former Cowichan Bay Fire Rescue chief Dave Ferguson has been honoured with the 2017 Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Lifetime Achievement Award.
This is the first time the prestigious award 鈥� some say the highest honour a volunteer firefighter can receive 鈥� has been awarded to a firefighter in sa国际传媒
Ferguson joined the department in 1981 and went on to spend more than 27 years on the team. He was promoted to captain in 1986, deputy chief in 1987 and chief in 1999. During his career, he responded to more than 2,100 emergency calls.
Although he retired at the end of 2008, he still serves as an auxiliary member and works on initiatives such as fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy sa国际传媒.
鈥淏eing a firefighter in sa国际传媒 is something that has to be experienced to be fully understood and appreciated,鈥� said Ferguson after learning he鈥檇 earned the award. 鈥淵ou become a member of a team of committed individuals who give of their personal time to learn the skills needed to look after their neighbours in the event of an emergency. Little did I know how the friendships created, and the opportunities to serve the broader fire service in other ways, would impact my life, and the life of my family, in the most positive and satisfying way imaginable.鈥�
Ferguson will receive his award in Wolfville, N.S. on Sept.听30 during the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association鈥檚 annual general meeting and educational presentations at Acadia University.
For more information, go to the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association鈥檚 Facebook page.
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Local talent featured at听charity concert today
Disaster Aid sa国际传媒 and their local Soap for Hope program has partnered up with Victoria House Concert B to showcase local talent at a charity concert today.
Brett Smith Daniels, a 19-year-old sa国际传媒 singer/songwriter who has performed all over North America and the United Kingdom, will play an intimate concert to raise awareness and funds for the Soap for Hope program.
Phillips beer will be served.
People attending the concert are encouraged to bring gently used or un-needed hygiene products. These will be made into hygiene kits distributed to 58听shelters, transitional homes and food banks.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth (14 and under). The concert starts at 6:30 tonight at the Disaster Aid sa国际传媒 warehouse, 426 William St. For more information, go to disasteraid.ca.
Take a dip or a walk by听the Salish Sea
The Salish Sea Trust is encouraging people to go for a swim, stroll in the shallows or a walk along a coastal beach, river or lake to experience their heritage on the Labour Day long weekend, the last of the summer.
鈥淲e鈥檙e inspired by the prime minister鈥檚 dip in the Salish Sea over the August long weekend,鈥� said Laurie Gourlay, interim director of the organization. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 a splashdown, getting into a canoe or boat, or just dipping your big toe in a stream or lake, we鈥檙e inviting one and all to have fun on the last long weekend of summer. Over the Labour Day long weekend the Salish Sea Trust is encouraging our 15,000 supporters to get out with family and friends, and make a 鈥榮plash鈥� 鈥� immerse themselves in the cultural and natural heritage of sa国际传媒鈥檚 waters.鈥�
The Salish Sea Trust has submitted an application to the federal government to have the Salish Sea recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Citing the 10,000-plus years of history of the Coast Salish peoples and more than 3,000 species of the Salish Sea, the submission details the outstanding universal values which local residents and international visitors regularly enjoy and benefit from.
Successful applications will be announced in December by the prime minister.
鈥淎s Canadians get ready for school, and our daily schedules call us back to work, we should all enjoy one last fling of summer,鈥� said Gourlay. 鈥淟et鈥檚 kick up our heels, and enjoy our cultural and natural inheritance - our coastal waters, lakes and rivers all across the country.鈥�
For more information, go to [email protected].
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Hospitality golf tourney a听major fundraiser
There is still time to register for the 5th Annual sa国际传媒 Hospitality Foundation Victoria Golf Tournament, which takes place Sept. 19 at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa.
Presented by Tourism Victoria, the event is an opportunity for hospitality and tourism colleagues to connect while raising funds for their industry鈥檚 charity.
Last year, the event raised more than $40,000, with proceeds supporting members in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a medical condition 鈥� and fund scholarships that support the next generation of leaders.
To date, the foundation has supported nearly 290 industry workers and students with close to $840,000 in financial support.
For more information, go to bchospitalityfoundation.com or register at [email protected].
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Help future MDs hone听their clinical skills
The University of British Columbia Island Medical Program is looking for volunteers to help medical students with their clinical-skills training.
Clinical skills are a critical component of a medical student鈥檚 education. Students not only learn how to perform certain medical procedures 鈥� such as a physical exam or checkup 鈥� but also how to interact with real patients.
The sessions are overseen by a licensed physician.
鈥淰olunteers give our students an opportunity to practise their skills with a real person,鈥� said Karen Basi, the patient programs co-ordinator. 鈥淏ut just as important, students also learn how to connect with patients in a sensitive, empathetic, and respectful manner. This is crucial, and we want the community 鈥� whom our students are training to serve 鈥� to be involved in this process.鈥�
There are several volunteer streams, including: Volunteer Patients, on whom students learn how to perform various physical exams; Standardized Patients, actors who portray real patient symptoms and histories; First Patients, who highlight the unique healthcare needs of those with chronic health conditions; and Female and Male Clinical Teaching Associates, who help teach second-year medical students how to perform gynecological and urogenitary exams, respectively.
To help promote volunteer opportunities, faculty, staff and students will attend Men鈥檚 Health Day, an annual, community-wide event that offers free testing, health-assessment consultations and health materials to men of all ages. The event runs 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 9 at Tillicum Centre, 3170 Tillicum Rd.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Karen Basi, program co-ordinator, at 250-370-8111 ext. 12386 or [email protected].
For more information, go to imp.uvic.ca/community/clinical-teaching-associates/index.php.
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Cancer victim seeks donations to end disease
A terminally ill Victoria woman is asking for donations in lieu of gifts for her 60th birthday.
Kathleen Ward is an avid adventurer who was blindsided when she found out she has ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, she is not alone. This year, 2,800 Canadian women will be diagnosed with the disease, and more than half of them will not live past five years. Unlike other cancers, outcomes for this disease have not changed in 50 years.
Despite learning the disease has spread to her vital organs, she has continued to walk daily.
She will take part in the Ovarian Cancer sa国际传媒 Walk of Hope, which takes place in Victoria and more than 35 communities across the country.
The walk is an opportunity to empower sufferers, support one another and demand better for women living with this disease. The event increase awareness and raises vital funds. To date, it has raised more than $23 million to provide support, education and to fund research.
Ward is asking people to donate $60, in lieu of gifts, to support the Ovarian Cancer sa国际传媒 Walk of Hope.
People can take part in the fundraising by pledging a participant, walking as an individual, or joining or starting a team.
People can choose between a 2.5- or five-kilometre walk. Registration starts at 9:30a.m., opening ceremonies at 10:30 and the walk starting at 11 a.m. Sept. 10 at Royal Roads University, 2005听Sooke Rd.
For more information, go to ovariancanada.org.
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Woman2Warrior event today on West Shore
More than 200 women and girls will be wearing war paint and tutus to the 2017 Woman2Warrior challenge in support two local charities today at West Shore Parks and Recreation.
Participants will take part in Victoria鈥檚 only women-only obstacle challenge, testing their abilities on a range of secret, yet, fun obstacles all in support of Easter Seals sa国际传媒/Yukon and for priority medical equipment and special projects at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
鈥淥ur team and volunteers have been sworn to secrecy on the type of obstacles this year 鈥� as a past participant myself, let me just say, I wish I was participating,鈥� said Nirm Blatchford, vice-president of philanthropy at Easter Seals sa国际传媒/Yukon. 鈥淚 love this day, as it鈥檚 a day that women do what we do best 鈥� support each other and our communities.鈥�
Spectators are welcome to join in the fun and cheer on the gals. The site will be filled with lots and lots of pink, purple, tutus and smiling faces.
For more information, got to woman2warrior.ca.
