Volunteer Week April 19

Sunday, April 19, 2009 - North Shore News - A31

Volunteer

WEEK

A special feature of the

Harvest Project volunteer is humbled by clients page

33

Program reaches out to Farsi-speaking seniors page

34

For BOOKtopia founder it’s about giving back page

35 News photo Mike Wakefield

Volunteers Enrich our Community In every West Vancouver Community Services facility or program there is a dedicated and caring group of volunteers helping us to fulfill our mission. Through your involvement, together you create a wonderful place to live — we salute you.

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Thank You Volunteers! westvancouver.ca

A32 - North Shore News - Sunday, April 19, 2009

Volunteer A time to honour volunteers

Cherished band may soon fall silent Volunteer-run group out of resources, and maybe options Jessica Barrett jbarrett@nsnews.com

AFTER 70 years in operation, one of the North Shore’s most iconic volunteer-run organizations is in danger of shutting down.

Due to a drop in membership and lower than expected grants, the North Vancouver Youth Band is facing a $15,000 shortfall that could see the group dismantle by June of this year.

According to Danielle Moore, whose two children both participate in the band, losing the institution would mean much more to the community than a couple of quiet parades.

“The North Vancouver Youth Band resurrected my daughter’s musical career,” Moore explained.

Alyssa, 12, was about to give up the clarinet after becoming frustrated with her band program at school. The youth band offered the girl a chance to play the instrument in a more relaxed environment, rekindling Alyssa’s love of music, her mother said.

“She likes that the North Vancouver

Youth Band is community based, and there’s a little less pressure involved because it’s not a marked element like when she’s at school.”

Moore said one reason she suspects enrollment is falling is because more music programs are cropping up through the North Vancouver School District. Studying music in school is great, Moore said, but it’s not a replacement for a community band.

The biggest strength of the youth band, she said, is that it brings kids from different schools together in a collaborative environment.

“The important part I’ve found with my kids, is they’ve found that they’re not just part of their local community — their school — but that they’re part of the North Shore,” Moore said.

She also likes that the band plays for municipal events, like Remembrance Day ceremonies, that connect them with other generations as well.

Moore has been so impressed with the band that she’s taken on the role of financial liaison. It’s up to her to find $10,000 by the end of May, and it’s a daunting task. In a sign of the times, Moore said she’s noticed people in the community, even parents of band members, are feeling pinched for time and money.

“In this day and age there are just so many people that are so needy that

EACH year thousands of events and organizations couldn’t get by without the precious hours that volunteers provide.

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

MUSICIANS from North Vancouver Youth Band hold on to their instruments. The 70-year-old institution has been an important part of the community and been embraced by many children. it’s hard to fundraise,” she said.

However Moore is optimistic the band’s 70th year won’t be it’s last.

She’s hoping alumni and parents will come out of the woodwork to support the institution, either by donating or helping with the fundraising effort.

Moore has a few initiatives on the

go. She’s currently selling raffle tickets to win free cruise line vouchers. A beer and burger fundraising night is also in the works for May 16 at Mosquito Creek Bar and Grill.

For information on how to get involved, call 604-980-5823 or e-mail info@nvyb.ca.

Their work is honoured each year during Volunteer Week, which this year takes places April 19-25.

“National Volunteer Week pays tribute to the 12 million Canadians who donate their time and energy to better the lives of others,” said Ruth MacKenzie, president of Volunteer Canada, in a press release.

The week was first proclaimed in 1943 as an initiative to draw the public’s attention to the vital contribution of women to the war effort on the home front.

For volunteer opportunities at various community organizations in North and West Vancouver, contact Volunteer North Shore, a service of North Shore Community Resources Society at 604-985-7138.

SUSTAINABLE REGION INITIATIVE…

TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION

National Volunteer Week April 19-25, 2009

April 19th - 25th, 2009 Regional Park Partners and Volunteers Metro Vancouver thanks all volunteers and partners who generously give their time to enhance our region.

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

Night Quest Volunteers - Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Regional park volunteers fill valuable roles in support of staff including invasive species removal, habitat enhancement, trail restoration, education programs, special events, visitor centre hosts and managing fish hatcheries.

04229126_870_P1

See our volunteer opportunities at www.nsemo.org

www.metrovancouver.org

Sunday, April 19, 2009 - North Shore News - A33

It’s a ‘privilege’ to help others

the place to give back!

Jessica Barrett jbarrett@nsnews.com

Volunteers Give the GIFT of Time

FOR Upper Capilano resident Muriel Ewart, volunteering at the Harvest Project has been more than just a way to give back to the community.

“I just feel that it’s a privilege to be able to work with these people,” said the 67-year-old self-described homemaker. “I actually come away humbled by how well some of them do.”

Ewart got involved with the North Shore non-profit — which offers food, clothing and life skill training for those in need — nearly four years ago. Her husband had started volunteering at Harvest and she decided to join him. “He had retired and he would come home and tell me how much he enjoyed working there,” she remembered. “I thought I may as well be down there too.”

Since joining the organization, Ewart has been a client care partner, assessing clients’ needs and providing information about local services they may require. That could mean referring new immigrants to an ESL class or connecting someone with an addiction to a recovery group.

According to Ewart, the most important service she and other client care partners offer is the simple act of listening.

“We’re giving people an ear,” she said. “The most important skill is just being able to sit down and listen to them.”

Ewart was careful to distinguish the role of client care partners from that of trained counsellors. The partners know they aren’t equipped to solve every client’s problem, but they do play a key role in connecting people with the resources they need to move forward with their lives. “All of us are there because we like people, we want to reach out and help. Personally I feel like I’ve been very blessed and I want to give back,” she said.

However, volunteering doesn’t come without its chal-

From providing one on one support to individuals participating in recreation programs, to providing input through advisory committees, our volunteers share their time, their talents and their commitment to recreation.

Their gifts make a difference in the lives of many in our community.

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

MURIEL Ewart has helped Harvest Project clients overcome difficult situations and achieve success for the past four years and is grateful to be able to do so. lenges. Ewart said working at the Harvest Project has opened her eyes to some of the hardship facing some families on the North Shore; particularly when it comes to dealing with addiction.

“I never realized just how deeply our society was affected by drugs,” she said. “When you work with clients, it’s like seeing the ripples spread out in a pond.

You see the families that are affected too. You see all the ramifications that it has with children and parents and so on. It’s just heartbreaking to see people caught in the grip of that.”

Through volunteering at the Harvest Project, Ewart has also seen the grim reality behind the North Shore’s image as an affluent community. “One of the things I have heard is that we don’t have poor people on the North Shore. And oh, I wish I could erase that myth,” she said.

Ewart said she sees many working poor, struggling to live on minimum wage jobs, turn to the Harvest Project. There are also a lot of single mothers try-

North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association

ing to support their children on a limited income. “My hat just goes off to them because they’re working so hard and doing much better than I would do in those circumstances,” she said.

But volunteering, she added, has also been an extremely rewarding and inspiring experience in her life. It is especially

satisfying to see people move beyond barriers and take control of their lives.

“Many times I’ve had people come back and say ‘I just wanted to give you a hug and say thank you,’” she recalled. “You just see their faces light up. They’re getting their self-esteem back and there’s nothing like it.”

SENIORS PEER SUPPORT

VOLUNTEER TRAINING Expand your helping skills, keep active in your community.

A special bond of trust develops between people who are of similar age, values and experiences.

So to the more than 100 volunteers who dedicated almost 5,000 hours of volunteer time during 2008, we say…

THANK YOU on behalf of our staff and our participants at the North Vancouver Recreation Commission.

We appreciate your gift of time and talent!

For more information and to apply, call Lori Wall, Coordinator, North Shore Neighbourhood House 604-987-8138 Ext 211.

Now accepting applications for summer daycamp positions!

Please call to find out how to get involved.

k n Y a ou h T

AGM

AN N UAL G EN ER A L MEETING

WEDNESDAY MAY 6TH AT 7:00PM S EER UNT ED! L O V EED N

ICE SPORTS ARENA NORTH SHORE

www.nvmha.com

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

the place to be northvanrec.com | 604 987 PLAY (7529) NORTH VANCOUVER RECREATION COMMISSION

A34 - North Shore News - Sunday, April 19, 2009

Volunteer Organizer of mini rugby honoured PAUL Timperley, director of mini and age grade rugby for the Capilano Rugby Club, was picked as the North Shore’s community sport volunteer of the year at the North Shore Sport Awards held April 7 at Park Royal Shopping Centre.

In 2008 Timperley was inducted as an honourary life member at the club in recognition of his tremendous volunteer contributions in the development of the sport and the club on the North Shore.

Under Timperley’s leadership the Capilano Rugby Club has grown its youth program so much that Rugby Canada has labelled it “the

most successful minor and youth rugby program in Canada.”

Timperley’s work is not only limited to the Capilano Club, however, as he also created, designed and implemented a mini-rugby program for the entire province of B.C. Through his hard work mini-rugby in B.C. has grown from nothing into a program with more than 2,700 children age 5-19 playing for more than 25 clubs across the province.

Timperley is also an active coach with the Capilano Rugby Club. In his 12 years at the club he has coached several junior teams, each of them reaching at least the provincial final in their age group.

— Andy Prest

CELEBRATING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK APRIL 19 – 25, 2009

To all the helping hands in our community photo submitted

A group participates in the Hamrahan Seniors Peer Support Program at the North Shore Neighbourhood House for Farsi-speaking adults.

Building bridges for seniors BLENDING into a new community has its set of challenges.

Thank you for Volunteering from: A Place to Call Home Housing Society Alzheimer Society of BC - North Shore Resource Centre Capilano Community Services – Seniors’ Hub & Youth Program Harvest Project KidStart Mentoring Program – PLEA Community Service Society of BC North Shore Community Resources Society North Shore Keep Well Society North Shore Neighbourhood House & John Braithwaite Community Centre North Shore Schizophrenia Society North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre North Vancouver Rec Pacific Post Partum Support Society Parkgate Community Services Silver Harbour Centre West Vancouver Parks & Community Services 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

NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES HOST AGENCY OF

VOLUNTEER NORTH SHORE

To ease some of them, the North Shore Neighbourhood House launched a new seniors project on April 7 for Farsispeaking seniors as part of their existing Seniors Peer Support Program offering social and emotional support to seniors by trained volunteers.

The Hamrahan Seniors Peer Support Project will offer culturally sensitive, confidential, free individual and group support for Iranian seniors in the local community.

This program aims to encourage them in their personal life journey and support integration and inclusion into the community in general, Lower Lonsdale

in particular.

Volunteers of similar age and cultural background will be trained in the support process for sharing experiences of life changes, adjustments and health concerns.

“We believe it is important that no seniors in our community face barriers to support because of language or culture — we especially want to ensure language is not a barrier to understanding resources that are available to seniors in the community such as transportation options or beneficial health programs,” says Lori Wall, North Shore Neighbourhood House seniors co-ordinator for peer support, in a press release.

Feedback from peer support volunteers has been extremely positive over the years of service provided by

the Neighbourhood House, the release said. Seniors on the North Shore have benefitted from visits with peer support volunteers since 1992.

For one of the seniors the peer support visitors made all the difference to her feeling part of the community after her husband died.

Along with the friendly visits and chats, her volunteer was able to help her arrange assisted transportation to get to her doctor appointments and even helped her sign up for another program at the Neighbourhood House that helped her make new friends.

For more information on the Hamrahan peer support program for seniors, contact co-ordinator Wall at 604987-8138 or visit www.nsnh. bc.ca.

Thank You to our many Volunteers at North Vancouver Detachment

Sunday, April 19, 2009 - North Shore News - A35

Volunteer

BOOKtopia founder keeps giving back Jessica Barrett jbarrett@nsnews.com

YOU might call Fanny Patterson a professional volunteer.

Best known as the founder and chairwoman of BOOKtopia, West Vancouver’s festival of children’s literature, on any given day Patterson can be found participating in an array of community-minded projects.

A commensurate organizer, Patterson volunteers with Friends of Whytecliff Park removing invasive species from municipal green spaces. She also sits on the board of Vetta Chamber Music and Recital Society, where she organizes a seniors’ concert series three times a year.

If that weren’t enough, Patterson’s most recent addition to her volunteer roster is her involvement with Caring For Our Youth or Lyimntm S7ulh Sta7exlh.

The youth advocacy program, spearheaded by Doris Xelemith Paul of the Xwemelch’stn (Capilano 5 Reserve), works with volunteers and local law enforcement, including West

Vancouver Police Department Cpl. Fred Harding, to steer First Nations youth away from drug and alcohol abuse.

Given all her commitments, Patterson said the most challenging part of volunteering is juggling her time, but it’s a small price to pay for the vast rewards.

“I love the new relationships, the people that I meet,” she said. “It’s an excellent way to have that deeper knowledge of your community and the people around you.”

Volunteering also fosters a sense of ownership in the community.

“It creates enfranchisement: That’s not a public park out there, that’s my park,” she chirped enthusiastically.

Patterson added that, for her, volunteerism is about taking the initiative to build a better world. “It’s the business of being able to work to create a world that looks more like you think it should.

It’s entrepreneurial. It’s a fundamentally optimistic thing to do, volunteering.”

It’s also a chance to build something from a lifelong

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

FANNY Patterson shows a poster for BOOKtopia, a children’s literature festival. passion — such is the case with BOOKtopia, kicking off this year on Friday, May 1 at the West Vancouver Memorial Library.

Patterson said her love affair with children’s literature began, understandably, as

a small child. “My mother always read a bedtime story to us and she chose the classics of children’s literature: C.S. Lewis and Arthur Ransome and George MacDonald, so it was pretty easy to be quite well-read by the time I was

12,” she remembered.

After her family moved from Toronto to West Vancouver in 2001, Patterson was impressed by the West Vancouver Memorial Library’s youth collection.

A mother of three girls,

Patterson decided to build on her experience organizing an authors and illustrators festival at her daughters’ school back in Toronto.

She contacted the library and the West Vancouver School District and found there was a natural marriage between the two and the annual celebration was born.

“I like to say that when you’re not asking people to pay you, they’ll let you do things,” she said.

For those looking to get involved in their community, Patterson recommends starting by taking a look around and seeing what needs improvement.

“Find a public green space you could support and start an little friend group among your neighbours and go down and start removing Ivy,” she suggested, adding that no act is too small to reap the benefits of volunteering.

“I see it as a personal thing as much as it is a public contribution. . . . People say you get as much out of it as you give.

“That’s not an empty sentiment, it’s true.”

T

hank you

volunteers!

Harvest Project would like to thank all of our hard working volunteers.

We acknowledge that it takes many hands to “Extend a Hand Up.” Harvest Project lends a hand to individuals and families in need on the North Shore.

Every day Vancouver Coastal Health volunteers make someone’s day brighter. Our volunteers support patients, clients and residents in communities across the North Shore, Richmond, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver.

Thank you volunteers!

http://www.vch.ca/volunteers

If you would like to offer your hand to help please contact us at Harvest Project 201 Bewicke Ave., North Vancouver www.harvestproject.org 604.983.9488 ext 303

EXTENDING A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT!