Volunteer Week

Sunday, April 10, 2011 - North Shore News - A21

Volunteer

WEEK

APRIL 10th to APRIL 16th

A special feature of the

Senior does a lot of good in the ’hood Ashley MacDonald amacdonald@nsnews.com

NINETY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Freddy Titcomb is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of quite a few.

Volunteering since 1981 at West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre, Titcomb is in charge of statistics and manages some finances for the centre. His volunteering started years before, when his brother-in-law was a volunteer fire fighter in West Vancouver and he and Titcomb would go to the fires together. Eventually, the fire chief told him that he may as well join the department — and he did.

Titcomb volunteered as a fire fighter in West Vancouver for 15 years and made two dollars for every fire and five dollars for every fire practice.

“It didn’t matter how big the fire was either, and some of them were pretty big,” said Titcomb, through a broad and endearing smile that stretches from ear to ear.

These days, he volunteers five days a week and takes an hour and a half for lunch and in return he doesn’t take any vacation days.

“For what? Where would I go?” he asked.

He has lived a life that is hard to believe, which is why he’s in the process of penning his autobiography.

In the 1940s, he was one of B.C.’s few jukebox repairmen and travelled across the province fixing broken music machines.

His resume is filled with a whimsical assortment of professions: Styrofoam mold-maker, owner of a craft store and a baker for the opening of the Hotel Vancouver in 1939.

“I probably baked some buns for the Queen,” said Titcomb, who also came close to becoming a pilot..

He’s been awarded for all of his volunteer work in the community. But even if he hadn’t been recognized, that wouldn’t change anything.

The two most important things to Titcomb are his beloved late wife, Ada and his volunteer work, which helped fill a void when she passed away from Alzheimer’s disease 18 years ago.

“This placed saved me, and it’s my home,” he said.

The two were married in 1939, while the Lions Gate Bridge was being built and he would take weekly pictures of its construction.

Volunteering has been a part of Titcomb’s life since childhood. His parents volunteered, and he and his wife would always contribute their time in whatever way they could.

“Every time I say I’m going to retire, all hell breaks loose,” he joked.

The District of West Vancouver will be celebrating its centennial next year; right along with one of the hardestworking men in the neighbourhood.

News photo Mike Wakefield

Thank You Volunteers! Community Volunteer Leadership in Action Behind every program, facility or working group, is a volunteer helping to shape the direction of the community and willing to serve others. This selfless investment makes West Vancouver a wonderful, caring and creative place to live. Thank you for your commitment, leadership and loyalty!

West Vancouver Special Events • Harmony Arts Festival • West Vancouver Museum • Ferry Building Gallery • Ambleside Youth Centre • Seniors’ Activity Centre Kay Meek Performing Arts Centre • West Vancouver Community Centre • West Vancouver Memorial Library • West Vancouver Arena • Gleneagles Community Centre

westvancouver.ca

A22 - North Shore News - Sunday, April 10, 2011

Volunteer

Thank You to our many Volunteers at North Vancouver Detachment

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

WEST Vancouver secondary students Anitra Paris and Nicole Snowball volunteer with school clubs and help organize events with the Ambleside Youth Centre.

Girls have fun giving back Ashley MacDonald amacdonald@nsnews.com

Celebrating National

Volunteer Week APRIL 10-16, 2011 To all the helping hands in our community

THANK-YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING FROM: • A Place to Call Home • Alzheimer Society of B.C. North Shore Resource Centre • Canadian Red Cross Society • Capilano Community Services - Seniors’ Hub • Eldercollege at Capilano University Continuing Education • Harvest Project

• North Shore Neighbourhood House & John Braithwaite Community Centre • North Vancouver Museum & Archives • North Vancouver Recreation Commission • Plea Community Services Society of BC - The KidStart Program

• Lynn Valley Seniors Association

• Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity Centre

• North Shore Community Resources Society

• West Vancouver Community Services and Cultural Affairs

THE Ambleside Youth Centre has been an important hub for the West Vancouver community since its doors opened in 1994 — and driving many of its operations is a team of dedicated youth volunteers.

One of those volunteers is Nicole Snowball, a senior

at West Vancouver secondary who plans to study biology at Dalhousie University in the fall. But until then, her extracurricular activities keep her busy. She helps organize events in Dundarave, including the Festival of Lights and Easter celebrations, and volunteers monthly with The Harvest Project along with other staff at the Ambleside Youth Centre who help make meals for the homeless.

Snowball’s classmate, Anitra Paris, also volunteers with The Harvest Project and is involved

in many school clubs.

“I think that the idea of volunteering or participating in clubs has become more of a social thing, and my high school definitely encourages them,” said Paris.

Tamysn Loat is in her second year at Capilano University. When she isn’t studying, Loat works overnight at a bakery and is a volunteer at a crisis line , often attending classes on little sleep. For Loat, volunteering is a way to give See Youth page 24

Volunteer week honours helpers WITH National Volunteer Week around the corner, Volunteer Canada is hoping that more Canadians get on board and start donating their time.

It’s estimated that more than 12.5 million people currently volunteer across Canada. The purpose of National Volunteer Week, which runs April 10-16, is to pay tribute to the those who donate their time.

It was first proclaimed in 1943 as an initiative to make the public more aware of the important role women played in the war effort at home.

In the 1960s, the focus was broadened to

incorporate all community volunteers.

The theme for this year’s campaign is passion, action and impact — based on the individual volunteers across Canada who donate their time to making their communities a better place to live.

Every year in Canada, it’s estimated that Canadians spend 2.1 billion hours volunteering, the equivalent to 1.1 million full-time jobs.

A study out of Harvard University shows volunteering is a reflection of social connectedness that’s strongly associated with the health of the people in a community.

— Ashley MacDonald

Thank You! 150 volunteers serving 14,000 hours.

Delivering 3,400 coaching sessions over 9,000 food hampers.

If you would like to volunteer, call Volunteer North Shore at 604-985-7138 or visit us on-line today at www.nscr.bc.ca

“A hand up, not a hand out. For North Shore residents, by North Shore residents.”

NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES HOST AGENCY OF

VOLUNTEER NORTH SHORE 1073 Roosevelt Cres., North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 1M4 | harvestproject.org

Sunday, April 10, 2011 - North Shore News - A23

Volunteer

the place to volunteer

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

WADE Klimek, 20, volunteers at a soup kitchen for the North Vancouver Salvation Army. The West Vancouver man, who has autism, has donated his time to a number of restaurants and eateries across the North Shore.

West Vancouver youth finds independence in volunteering Ashley MacDonald amacdonald@nsnews.com

FOR years, Wade Klimek has been silently making a name for himself through his volunteer work across the North Shore.

From working as a volunteer in the bakery at the former Capers Foods in West Vancouver to his current gig at the North Vancouver Salvation Army soup kitchen, the 20-year-old West Vancouver resident has been chasing his interest in food while helping the community at the same time.

Wade, who is autistic and unable to communicate verbally, has been able to achieve a sense of independence and enjoyment through his volunteer work, said his mother Sherry.

According to Sherry, the family has tried to foster an environment for Wade that would let him be independent in whatever way he could.

“You have to go with the positives, that’s a huge thing they tell you in autism, to work with the positives and don’t worry about the negatives because they’ll be there regardless,” she said.

And for Wade, that opportunity came with cooking.

k n Y a o u h T

“I’d sit him up on the counter and he’d mix things. So we started baking just for something to do and so he wasn’t always so engrossed in the TV,” his mother said.

Since then, Wade has successfully graduated from the Art Institute of Vancouver’s culinary program, while working at Whole Foods and The Keg Restaurant in West Vancouver. These days, he keeps busy volunteering in his community.

Mark Barrett, the athletics director at Handsworth secondary, initially met Wade when he was in university and took a summer job at the North Shore Disability Resource Centre that paired them up. Since then, he has continued to work and spend time with Wade.

“Wade is the type of person that would pay it forward and help others, partly because it is what has been modelled for him for so long,” said Barrett.

Wade won a West Vancouver Youth Appreciation Awards in 2008 for his work as a volunteer camp counsellor at the district’s recreation centre, and was a fixture in the West Vancouver Recreation Centre Summer day camps program.

“He is a incredibly friendly with everyone he meets. Polite to a fault — he goes out of his way to thank anyone who helps him. He has an infectious laugh and can almost always be found smiling,” said Barrett.

SUNRIS UNRISE OF LYN YNN VALLE ALLEY

Sunrise of Lynn Valley owes a great deal to its team of volunteers who visit regularly and assist with various activities and programs throughout our home.

In honour of Volunteer Week, we salute: Wendy, Hark, Gabriela, Karl, Maria, Jin, Janeth, Rafael, Terry, Joan, Margaret, Heein, Suji, Kelly, Dormie, William, Cindy, Elin, Elisa, Jerico, Ravi, Nicole, Debbie, Zach and Yayoi.

to all of our Volunteers.

We couldn’t do it without you.

NORTH SHORE CRISIS SERVICES SOCIETY

119 - 255 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7M 3G8 604.987.0366 • Fax 604.987.1623

Our ‘hats off’ also to the varied entertainment groups, health care professionals and members of our worship community, specifi specifically cally Father Jeremy and Father Frank, who have shared their passions and talents with us.

If you have an hour to spare throughout the week, and would like to become involved in our Sunrise home, please contact Sandra at 604-904-1226 for more information and to apply.

Impacting lives and building community!

THANK YOU to all our vibrant and dynamic volunteers who share their talents and skills and provide support to our participants and programs.

We truly appreciate the individual gifts you bring and the positive change you make in our community.

Volunteer this summer!

We are now recruiting for volunteers to help bring fun and learning to our summer daycamps (minimum age 14).

WPre-Teen Leadership Program NEIf you are 11-13 years old, check out our new leadership program.

Learn personal and leadership skills to be the best volunteer you can be!

For more information, call Meh @ 604-983-6417 or email: najakm@northvanrec.com

northvanrec.com 604 987 PLAY (7529)

A24 - North Shore News - Sunday, April 10, 2011

Volunteer Centre open to all youth From page 22 back to the community.

“What we get back from volunteering is way more than what we give,” said Loat.

Having recently been accepted into the University of British Columbia’s social work program, her involvement with the Ambleside Youth Centre and other volunteer experiences has helped shape her career path.

“For me, volunteering at the youth centre gave me the opportunity to test out whether it was the right career path for me and because of my time here, I know it is,” she said.

Debbie Shaw, a youth outreach worker at the centre said the volunteers play an irreplaceable role. They are often able to empathize with the young people in a different way than the actual staff because they are in the same age bracket.

The Ambleside Youth Centre has an open door policy and encourages kids to drop in whenever they want. It offers one-on-one and group support and provides a place to hang out and chat. Gig nights give local bands a chance to play in front of an audience.

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

Locks of love CORENE Lane, owner of Shear Bliss Hair Studio in West Vancouver, regularly donates her services to organizations like North Shore Family Services, Harell Synagogue and The Harvest Project. She also does the hairstyling for an annual fashion show for the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, to support kids with intestinal and liver disorders. This year’s Fabulous Fashions and Gala Luncheon will be held Thursday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. at the Terminal City Club, 837 West Hastings St., Vancouver. For tickets, $75, call 604-736-0645.

/,(9;-,3; ;/(52: from the staff at Family Services of the North Shore to our 289 compassionate volunteers who gave a combined 16,080 hours to our Agency and Foundation Boards, Palliative and Hospice Care Programs, Christmas Bureau, Advisory Committees and Special Events.

Family Services of the North Shore is an accredited not-for-profit community based agency that offers education, support and counselling services. We also lead the provincial work in eating disorders prevention. Family Services of the North Shore has been caring for the community for over 60 years. Our high-profile, proactive presence throughout the province connects the community through a variety of programs that create an environment for all families and individuals to thrive.

FSNS acknowledges the contribution of the Province

#101 • 255 West 1st Street

of British Columbia, City of North Vancouver, District of

North Vancouver, BC

North Vancouver and the District of West Vancouver.

tel 604 • 988 • 5281 fax 604 • 988 • 3961

V7M 3G8

www.familyservices.bc.ca

Sunday, April 10, 2011 - North Shore News - A25

Spotlight on Volunteers

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES SOCIETY It takes thousands of volunteers to keep to create the Volunteer Action Centre, as it community organizations flourishing. was originally known, and the North Shore Since 1976 North Shore Community News provided space in its paper to Resources, under various names, promote volunteer positions on a has been providing a volunteer weekly basis. The now named information and referral Volunteer North Shore centre is Organizations service to residents on the fortunate to still have United depend on North Shore. The Volunteer Way of the Lower Mainland the skills and Action Centre opened its and the North Shore News as doors on June 2, 1976 with community partners. This experience of funding and support from two long standing support has volunteers key partners, United Way and been greatly appreciated by North Shore News. individuals looking to do volunteer service and community organizations United Way provided start up funding

who utilize volunteers to deliver local programs.

Today there are over 200 agencies who work with Volunteer North Shore to list and promote their volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in leadership, events, research, education, arts, or other local activities, go to www.nscr.bc.ca and review the volunteer jobs webpage. Organizations depend on the skills and experience of volunteers to deliver programs and services.

Whether it’s helping to organize a weekend run and festival, assisting a frail senior,

or coaching a sports team so kids can stay healthy, the community needs your help. People interested in volunteering are encouraged to call 604-985-7138 and make an appointment to talk with a volunteer interviewer who will assist them in their search for the perfect volunteer position.

As National Volunteer Week begins North Shore Community Resources Society wishes to extend our thanks to the many North Shore residents who generously give their time, energy, and inspiration every day to make our community better.

KAY MEEK CENTRE - Volunteers bond the community Kay Meek Centre’s success can be measured in many ways, but at the heart of it are the people who contribute the enduring qualities of passion, community, time and talent... they are our volunteers.

Look These are the people who work the frontline as greeters, ushers and ticket-takers—the people who put the “face” on Kay Meek Centre. They establish the welcoming atmosphere and sense of place creating the

hallmark experiences that are enjoyed by the thousands who visit our theatres.

Through the selfless gift of time, Kay Meek Centre’s volunteers create a community within Kay Meek behind Centre and, as our friends and the success of neighbours, they forge the bonds with the community Kay Meek Centre we serve.

and you will find our volunteers

By their contributions, our volunteers instil a sense of pride in their work, in themselves, and in Kay Meek Centre for what it

“

is and will be. Our volunteers are the vital team who come together, share together, work together and succeed together. During Volunteer Week, Kay Meek Centre offers a loud and sustained “bravo” to our volunteers who have helped to shape the Centre into what it is today.

“Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one’s ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them.”

Volunteering makes a better place in which to live by providing a little touch of kindness in this busy world.

”

KAY MEEK CENTRE VOLUNTEER

Thank you!

The North Shore Emergency Management Office wishes to thank its volunteer teams for making a difference where your community needs it most: EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH SHORE RESCUE

See our volunteer opportunities at www.nsemo.org

Thank you to all the Kay Meek Centre volunteers who give the extraordinary gift of time and talent.

We are privileged to have you on our team.

1700 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver Box office: 604-913-3634 www.kaymeekcentre.com