The summer months bring an energy to our lives. As people come back from weekends or vacations there is an energy about what activities families have been taking in. Kids are off to camps to build skills or try something new. Families are taking in live entertainment and enjoying the warm summer days.
A question I love to ask is what did you learn to do or what was your experience? Another question is do you know who is behind the scenes of these activities? Many of these activities are operated by organizations in the civil society (charitable sector). For example, the Pacific Institute for Sport Education runs camps to get kids moving from frisbee golf to learning to bike. You may have seen SKAM Theatre putting on their free annual outdoor live performances along the Galloping Goose trails. These are just two examples of non-profits bringing a vibrancy to our community.
I know this feeling carries into the back-to-school season as we head into September. People feel refreshed and ready for the fall period ahead which brings a lot of newness. For kids, it may mean entering school, taking on a new grade, or preparing for the first year of post-secondary. They may even continue to practice or participate in an activity that they learned during a summer camp hosted by a local charity. For most adults, their colleagues or clients are returning from time off in the summer and ready to complete projects before the end of the calendar year.
It is also a time when charitable organizations are busy getting fall activities in full swing for all ages and abilities. If you’re searching for something new, sometimes a conversation can help you sort out the pieces needed.
While the programs offered are usually low-cost or free to participants, we also have to remember that the organizations in the sector do have expenses and bills to cover to provide these programs. That is why it is key, if we have capacity, either through volunteering or financial support, that we continue to demonstrate our support for these organizations. Our team is always happy to have a chat about how that can look.
I am really looking forward to the fall and seeing the continued enthusiasm built through the summer!
Sandra Richardson is CEO of the Victoria Foundation
>>> To comment on this article, write a letter to the editor: [email protected]
