ABBOTSFORD
28 Glebe Report February 14, 2020
Busy right out of the gate
Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 pm
(doors open at 6:30 pm)
Trinity Anglican Church 1230 Bank Street Tickets: $20 per person through Eventbrite.ca (free 12 years and under) By e-mail at annflynn@rogers.com or call Ann at 613-407-9717
Abbotsford Bazaar volunteers support and bolster Bruce Hill, Director of Charitable Giving at the Glebe Centre and Abbotsford. From left: Susan Chibuk, Bruce Hill, Bev Hellman PHOTO: KAREN ANNE BLAKELY
By Julie Ireton
Bruce Hill wasn’t quite sure what he was getting himself into when he arrived for his first day on the job as the new director of charitable giving at Abbotsford House at the Glebe Centre. On that Saturday morning, a long line of people trailed down Bank Street and through the door into Abbotsford’s famous annual bazaar. “The place was brimming,” said Hill with a laugh. “There was stuff in every room. The place was full of people.” The bazaar is the senior centre’s popular fundraiser held every November. It’s just one of the activities Hill
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will help oversee now that he’s settling into his new role. “For me it’s very much about revenue diversification,” said Hill. “I want to look at different events, maybe making use of facilities at Lansdowne Park right across the street, and have two big events, something in the spring and fall.” Hill has been living in Ottawa since 2003 and has worked in fundraising for other organizations including the Arnprior Regional Hospital Foundation. While there, he worked towards raising money to build a long-term care centre in Arnprior. “We all could end up in long-term care and we want to make life easier for the residents and staff,” noted Hill. Some of the fundraising projects he’s now working on will help pay for new equipment at the Glebe Centre, including electric beds that Hill notes are not provided by the Ontario government. He sees great value in having the Glebe Centre long-term care facil-
ity and the Abbotsford House senior centre side by side, and recognizes the “valued” volunteers who help in both buildings. “We’re very fortunate to have great volunteers at Abbotsford and in longterm care,” said Hill. “I’ll also be looking for people who embrace the idea of charitable giving. Maybe some can help with more significant amounts in terms of giving.” He said one of his strengths is getting out of the office, meeting local residents and business people and convincing them that this seniors’ facility is a good place to give their money or their time. And there are plenty of projects that require charitable donations. “We need a new porch which will cost $50,000 to $60,000,” said Hill, who hopes to learn more about Abbotsford’s history and make sure the building is properly preserved. Already, Hill said from his second floor office, he can hear the active seniors singing, working out and sharing a laugh at the seniors centre every day. He hopes more neighbours will come by and see what they have to offer. Abbotsford is your seniors active living centre for adults 55+. It houses the community programs of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, notfor-profit organization which includes a 254-bed long-term-care home. Find out more about our services by dropping by 950 Bank Street (the old stone house) Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., telephoning 613-230-5730, or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca. Julie Ireton is a journalist who contributes regularly to the Glebe Report on issues affecting Abbotsford.
