Canadian Blood Services continues to urge eligible Canadians to roll up their sleeves to give blood to save lives.
Thousands of eligible donors have answered the organization’s call for 200,000 blood donations by July — but it is only halfway there.
A combination of factors, including missed appointments and new donation rules to protect the blood supply from the Zika virus, has led to fewer donations.
“We are pleased by the response we’ve seen from many returning and new blood donors, but we still need others to get involved,” said David Patterson, director of donor relations in the B.C. and Yukon region. “It’s very important for Canadians to do their best to keep their blood-donation appointments, and even bring a friend or family member to donate, too.”
People can download the GiveBlood mobile app and make an appointment online.
They can also walk into a clinic and donate on the spot. The Victoria the blood donor clinic, 3449 Saanich Rd., is open 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on alternating Saturdays.
For more info, go to blood.ca or download the mobile app.
Artist’s gift makes music for school
Late artist Ted Harrison’s gift of music keeps on giving, making a positive and significant difference to students in the music program at George Jay Elementary School.
When painter, author, teacher, philanthropist and Rotarian Harrison died last year, he left in his estate a bequest of $10,000 to the Rotary Club of Oak Bay.
Consistent with Harrison’s love of music and fine arts, the board and members of the club decided to donate $5,000 from the bequest to the elementary school, which in turn purchased ukuleles and xylophones.
Six school children from the school, led by music teacher Annie Shum, gave a short thank-you concert at the club’s luncheon meeting this month.
Rotary Club of Oak Bay has supported the school over the years, first with dictionaries and, subsequently, smart boards and data projectors for regular use in the classrooms. For more information, go to oakbayrotary.com.
Athlete-singer gives concert for MS
Hear Danny Daniels, distinguished track and field athlete, former World Masters Champion and Athletics Canada Hall of Fame member, sing at She’s Like the Swallow, a fundraising concert, June 5.
Proceeds from the event will support the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Daniels has sung on radio and television and with symphony orchestras in Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa as a tenor soloist.
As the final event in the two-week Spring Arts Festival, he will present a program of love songs for people and places, including favourites from Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Daniels was moved to focus on the work of the MS Society when one of his former athletes was diagnosed with this debilitating disease that affects more than 100,000 Canadians.
Admission will be by donation ($10 suggested minimum). The concert runs 2:30 to 4 p.m., June 5 at St. Paul’s United Church, 2410 Malaview Ave., Sidney. For more information, go to mssociety.ca.
Donor aids campaign for Fairyslipper Forest
A fundraising campaign to acquire Fairyslipper Forest on Thetis Island received a much-needed boost with the announcement that an anonymous donor has pledged to match donations up to $40,000.
The Islands Trust Fund has partnered with the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy and the Cowichan Community Land Trust to protect Fairyslipper Forest, named after the fairy-slipper orchid that dots the forest floor. The area is also habitat for several species of concern.
“This anonymous donation really brings new energy to our campaign, and we hope that it inspires others to give,” said Ann Eriksson, founding director of the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy. “We are asking conservation-minded people who enjoy visiting the islands in the Salish Sea to step forward and help us meet our Year 2 goal.”
A total of $560,000 is needed to purchase and protect 16 hectares of coastal Douglas fir forest in a community watershed.
In the first year of a three-year plan to purchase the land, more than 100 Thetis Island residents pledged more than a third of the purchase price, an impressive achievement for a community that has a full-time population of 350. Once matched, the gift will help meet the campaign goal of 50 per cent needed by the end of June.
When it is protected, the forest will become the first publicly accessible nature reserve on Thetis Island.
The Islands Trust Fund is the conservation land trust for Canada’s islands in the Salish Sea. Since 1990, the fund has protected more than 1,100 hectares of island ecosystems and helped partners protect another 300.
Tax receipts will be issued for gifts over $20. For more information or to donate, go to Islandstrustfund.bc.ca.
Program helps dementia patients stay safe
People with dementia can be independent and age in place and stay safe, thanks to the Personal Well-being Initiative, administered by the We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation.
The initiative provides guidance to make an educated decision on which of the available products/services (GPS, cellular, radio frequency or traditional) is most appropriate for each person.
Five devices have been vetted for use by people with dementia, their caregivers and families. They include the Prime Mobile, Smart Soles, CareRing, Project Lifesaver and Medic Alert Safely Home (Alzheimer Society only).
The foundation will provide consultation, education, orientation and support to individuals, families, groups or businesses interested in any of the products/services under the initiative.
A portion of the proceeds of the sales will go toward funding community supports and growing a pool of subsidized devices for financially disadvantaged people with dementia.
For more information, go to werageweweep.com/personal-wellbeing-initiative.html.
Stem-cell drive comes to Panorama Rec Centre
Swab your cheek and potentially save a life at the Touch a Truck Event, today at Panorama Recreation Centre.
Attendees of Team 4 Hope’s fundraising event will have an opportunity to give someone a second chance at life by registering as a potential stem-cell donor.
The Canadian Blood Services’ OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network (OneMatch) will be encouraging people ages 17 to 35 to swab their cheeks and register at the event. The program matches healthy people with others in need of stem cells.
At any given time, hundreds of Canadians require a matching donor for a stem-cell transplant — and more than 75 per cent will rely on someone they don’t know to save their life.
Patients are more likely to find a donor from within their own ancestral group, which is why, to accurately reflect Canada’s diverse population, OneMatch needs more potential stem cell donors from a range of ancestries on the registry.
The event runs 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Panorama Recreation Centre, 1885 Forest Park Dr., North Saanich.
For more information, go to team4hope.com or blood.ca/stem-cells.
Market volunteers gain valuable experience
Oaklands Sunset Market is looking for volunteers for its 2016 season, which starts soon.
Volunteers are needed in a wide variety of day-of-event roles, including setup, takedown, sales and beer pouring.
You can gain valuable experience volunteering for a sustainability-focused market in the community — and receive five Market Bucks for each shift. No experience necessary, although completion of the Serving It Right course is required to work in the beer garden.
People can volunteer for one week — or all 10.
The market runs 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday, from June 22 to Aug. 24 at the Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave. For more information, call 250-370-9101, email [email protected] or go to oaklandscommunitycentre.com.
Grab a book and support church’s charity
Pick up a good-quality used book and help support parishioners of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church with their charitable work, every Saturday.
Members of the congregation last year opened their Churchmouse bookstore. Because of zoning and permit issues, the charity project is not a commercial venture. The donated books are not sold, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Last year, the group raised more than $7,000, which funded the church’s Outreach Mission and local charities, such as Our Place, the Church of St. John the Divine Food Bank and Services, and the Canadian Anglican Primate’s World Relief Fund.
The Churchmouse is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the church, 1701 Elgin Rd. (north of Oak Bay Avenue).
For more information, go to stmarysoakbay.bc.anglican.ca.
Lochside school celebrates 50 years
Current and past students of Lochside Elementary School are invited to attend a ceremony to mark a 50-plus anniversary celebration at the school on Wednesday.
A celebration assembly will be held, with songs, dance and a presentation of Lochside’s history.
It will be followed by an open house after school, with gym displays, slideshows and a timeline organized by the Grade 4/5 Enrichment Group.
A reception/social follows for former students, parents and staff, with music by Southard Quint’s Band and a choir presentation.
All events are free. The assembly runs 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., the open house 2 to 3:30 p.m. and the reception/social, 4 to 6 p.m. at the school, 1145 Royal Oak Dr.
For more information, go to lochside.sd63.bc.ca
Ride 200 kilometres and raise money for hospice
There is still room on the Cycle of Life Tour, a fundraiser for hospice care in communities on Vancouver Island.
This is the fourth year of the two-day group cycle event, presented by Think Communications.
The tour has room for only 60 riders. To join, each cyclist commits to raising a minimum of $500 in pledges for their local hospice.
On July 23, the riders embark on a 200-kilometre cycle tour through the Saanich Inlet, Cowichan Valley and Gulf Islands. Participants camp overnight on Salt Spring Island.
The ride supports those facing advancing illness, death and bereavement on Vancouver Island. Area hospices rely heavily on community donations and fundraising events to continue to provide care and comfort for clients.
To date, the Cycle of Life Tour has raised more than $230,000 for hospice care at 10 hospice societies on the Island: Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Sooke, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Oceanside, Alberni Valley, Pacific Rim, Campbell River and Comox Valley.
Get more information and register today at cycleoflifetour.ca.
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