Broadmead Care’s services for veterans recognized with award
The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association awarded its Outstanding Service Award to the Broadmead Care Veterans Memorial Lodge and Veterans Health Centre on Monday, National Peacekeepers’ Day.
“The CPVA annually presents awards to its members that have made a significant contribution to our veterans’ wellbeing,” said Joseph Gollner, retired brigadier general. “Broadmead Care has cared for our veterans in an outstanding manner. They deserve our recognition and we are proud to present the CPVA Outstanding Service Award to them with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”
The award was presented by Harold Leduc, a decorated peacekeeper and former president of CPVA. It was received by Ron Lloyd, former commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, and a member of Broadmead Care’s board of directors.
“We are very honoured that the CPVA has acknowledged Broadmead Care’s Veterans Memorial Lodge and Veterans Health Centre for the Outstanding Service Award this year,” said Heather Parry, chair of the Broadmead Care board of directors. “Broadmead Care is grateful for the opportunity to care for Canada’s veterans, who dedicated their lives to serving our country.”
Herowork to turn shop into culturally welcoming facility
Herowork, a charity that provides free renovations for other charities, has announced that its fall 2021 project is the transformation of a building into a culturally welcoming facility.
The project, for the Indigenous Perspectives Society, will transform a former die-casting shop into a welcoming centre that reflects Indigenous cultures as well as psychological safety for the occupants.
The preliminary work will run from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, with the renovation taking place from Oct. 2 to Nov. 20.
• For more information, go to victoria.herowork.com.
NPower Canada looking to help young people in need
NPower Canada, a charity that provides underprivileged, diverse youth with free digital and professional skills training, is accepting applications.
The organization is looking for under-represented young adults, as well as referrals from community agencies, for its first cohort in British Columbia, including Victoria, beginning in September.
NPower Canada and its funding partners (Google, Microsoft and others) are focused on launching young adults into meaningful and sustainable careers in technology with some of Canada’s largest employers.
• For more information, go to npowercanada.ca.
Telus Island board puts meals on menu for seniors
Seniors facing stress and anxiety, increased isolation and challenges accessing healthy food will receive meals and friendly smiles thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Telus Vancouver Island Community Board.
Healthy meals will be delivered to isolated and marginalized seniors across Southern Vancouver Island through United Way’s More than Meals program. Partners include the James Bay New Horizons, Oak Bay Volunteer Services, Beacon Community Services and Silver Threads.
The program, launched in March 2020, has grown from 200 to 1,200 meals delivered a week.
“This support from Telus is wonderful and we very much appreciate it,” said Mark Breslauer, CEO at United Way Southern Vancouver Island.
“Many seniors in our community are often on a limited income which greatly impacts their physical, mental and emotional well-being. We continue to look for sustainable funding so that we can continue to operate this vital program.”
Since 2007, the Telus Community Board Board has provided more than $73,000 to United Way programs.
• For more information, go to uwsvi.ca/isolated-seniors.
Victoria Grandmothers for Africa to roll on virtual trip
Victoria’s cycling grandmas haven’t let COVID-19 put a spoke in their wheels, embarking on their 15th Cycle Tour yesterday.
Pre-COVID-19, the riders with Victoria Grandmothers for Africa cycled as a group. Now each woman sets her own route, choosing a distance that is personally challenging.
Every participant cycles her way on a virtual trip across sub-Saharan Africa, either on a conventional bike, an e-bike or a stationary bike, and invites donors to support the effort.
The group cycle to raise money to support African grandmothers bringing up their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. The funds are distributed through the Stephen Lewis Foundation to community-based organizations in Africa.
The 65 riders in this year’s ride are ages from 58 to 86. They come from Victoria, Campbell River, Duncan, Ladysmith and Merville.
Last year’s virtual tour was the most successful to date, with 67 women riding more than 27,000 kilometres and raising $145,000.
The participants, wearing their lime green, yellow and orange jerseys, will gather at Mile Zero on Sept. 12 to celebrate the end of their ride.
• For more information, go to victoriagrandmothersforafrica.ca.
Webinar to focus on care for those living with dementia
Learn about arranging long-term care for people living with dementia at a webinar hosted by the Alzheimer Society of B.C., Aug. 25.
The society has embarked on a series of free weekly webinars, each touching on a different subject. The videos are available in English, Punjabi and Cantonese.
The upcoming webinar, “Considering the transition to long-term care,” delves into when a person living with dementia requires full-time support due to complex needs. It explores options for caregivers or family, including moving their loved ones to a long-term care home.
It explains how to access long-term care and what other factors need to be taken into account.
A follow-up webinar, “Adjusting to long-term care,” continues discussing the experience of transitioning into long-term care and explores different ways to ease the transition.
The session includes how-to’s on preparing for a move, adjusting to the move for both caregivers and people living with dementia, and working with the care team. That session is on Sept. 1.
The hour-long webinar is free but registration is required. It starts at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25.
• To register, go to alzbc.org/webinars.
Do The Loop!, a virtual relay, helps housing society
Grab your running shoes, jump on your bike or assemble a team of friends, and Do The Loop!, a virtual run/bike/relay to circle the City
of Victoria with proceeds benefiting the Threshold Housing Society, Sept. 18 to 26.
Participants can walk, run, cycle solo or do it as part of a relay team. They will be travelling along a 25-kilometre Capital Bike-sponsored safe cycling route, which is great for children, families or new cyclists.
Threshold Housing Society serves at-risk youth experiencing homelessness, ageing out of care, or fleeing violence in the home.
Every participant will get a customized fundraising page where they can ask friends, family or the community for donations. Participants are encouraged to track their route using a GPS app so that organizers can share the results.
• To register, go to thresholdhousing.ca/dotheloop.
