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TDAVE OBEE
Editor and Publisher Times Colonist
he Spirit of Christmas is upon us again, as it has been for centuries. We all share that spirit; it is what compels us to help those less fortunate during the cold, dark nights of winter.
There are many ways to give back to our community. Through the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, you can provide food, clothing, comfort and more to people in need.
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund has been celebrating the Christmas spirit since 1956. Today it is run by the non-profi t Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, with help from Times Colonist staff and readers like you.
Last year’s campaign received 3,772 donations for a total of $1,070,629.65. We shared the joy by giving money to 53 charitable organizations on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
We hope to raise even more this year so we can help more people. With your support, we can do it.
We understand that you have many options for giving. Ours is not the only charity looking for help at this time of year. Many other organizations, all nonprofi ts with a commitment to helping, are featured in this magazine.
Why donate to the Times Colonist fund? We strive to ensure that the money is being used as efficiently as possible and helping the maximum number if people. We work with the Sovereign Order of St. John, a local non-profi t, to check every organization that we deal with.
Go to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund site, tcchristmasfund.com
The site is open 24 hours and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201655 Tyee Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5.
Most of the money is used to provide food, although the Christmas Fund donations also help to bring comfort and security to those less fortunate, as well as toys for children.
Thank you,
You can use your credit card by phoning 250995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
THE BAY CENTRE
FESTIVAL OF TREES
Featuring up to 100 sponsored trees that will be spruced up and on display at the Bay Centre for the community to vote on and enjoy over the holidays, all in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation. The display runs Nov. 15-Jan. 5, 2025. Go to thebaycentre.ca for more.
PONIES AND PIPSQUEAKS CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM
Start your visit with a barn tour to meet the horses before heading up to Santa’s workshop. Santa visits on weekends Nov. 24 through Dec.
22. Find out more at poniesandpipsqueaks.com
HABITAT VICTORIA’S 16TH ANNUAL GINGERBREAD SHOWCASE
An iconic Victoria holiday tradition, the Gingerbread Showcase is Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s premier annual fundraising event, contributing to helping local families get a hand-up into
at Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue, 1461 Blanshard St. Details, show times and tickets at events.downtownvictoria.ca
THE FESTIVAL OF TREES AT SEAPARC
Gorgeous trees decorated by a wide variety of community groups and local businesses are helping the holiday season shine bright! No cost to view the trees, text your vote for “favourite tree” with a donation in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital (instructions on site). Daily to Dec. 27 at 2168 Phillips Rd., Sooke. Info: 250-642-8000.
affordable home ownership. This year’s theme is Through a Child’s Eyes. Daily through Jan. 5 at Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St. More at habitatvictoria.com
A JEWISH SINGA LONG CHRISTMAS
Surprise! All by Jewish Songwriters! Christmas is a joyous time that celebrates goodness within the human spirit, Nov. 23-Dec. 1
ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET’S ‘NUTCRACKER’ WITH THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY
Friday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 and 7 p.m.
LADYSMITH FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
For all the details visit ladysmithfol.com
THE 42ND PENINSULA COOP SANTA CLAUS PARADE PRESENTED BY CHEK
4:30pm. (mustardseed.ca/ donate). Find out more at gvfs.ca
LIGHTS OF WONDER
Friday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 and 7 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH CHRISTMAS
Kick off the holiday season with this family favourite featuring floats, music, characters and fun. Starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Government and Belleville. The route will move north along Government, east on Humboldt and North on Douglas where it will disperse at the Victoria Public Market. We will once again be collecting food and cash for the Mustard Seed Street Church and Food Bank. They will be giving out hot chocolate at Douglas and Humboldt starting at
The DVBA welcomes back this fan favourite event with lights, food venues, artisan vendors and the favourite Ferris Wheel. Lights of Wonder opens Sunday, Nov. 30, following the Santa Claus Parade, Santa and Mrs. Clause with be taking photographs for donations. The Ferris Wheel, available Dec. 20-31 starting at 4 p.m., will be free, with donations welcomed on behalf of local non-profits. More at downtownvictoria.ca/lights-ofwonder
ROYAL B.C. MUSEUM
WINTER FEST
Celebrate arts, culture and community at the second annual WinterFest outdoor multicultural holiday market. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Royal B.C. Museum, 675 Belleville St. More at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
ROYAL WINNIPEG
BALLET’S ‘NUTCRACKER’ WITH THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY
RWB brings us the wintertime classic we all love – with a Canadian twist - a hockey game, Mounties, polar bears, reindeer, and a battle on Parliament Hill.
Celebrating the hits and Christmas music of John Denver. Saturday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at University of Victoria Farquhar Auditorium. Tickets at tickets.uvic.ca
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS AT BUTCHART GARDENS
Bundle up and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas displays, sing along to the sounds of the season with Traditional Carollers or listen to the Festive Brass, then stop in at the Coffee Shop to warm up with a hot chocolate and gingerbread by the fire. Dec. 1 through Jan. 6. Find out more at butchartgardens.com
CAROLALONG AT THE
ROYAL B.C. MUSEUM.
Gather under the Netherlands Centennial Carillon for a unique caroling celebration with friends, family, and fellow singers. Enjoy the carillon music performed by Provincial Carillonneur Rosemary Laing and join the Newcombe Choir as they lead the carol singing. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies as
PRESENTED BY THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY
we come together to brighten the season. Sunday, Dec. 1, 4:15-5 p.m. Details at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
CANDY CANES AND CAROLS PRESENTED BY SOUTH ISLAND HARMONY
A Cappella Men’s Chorus presents a diverse and uplifting repertoire of seasonal and traditional favourites, the perfect family-friendly start to the holiday season. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m. at Mary Winspear
Centre, Sidney. Tickets at marywinspear.ca
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD
Spectacular new holiday show as the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra rolls out their timeless hits also putting a twist on our favorite songs of the holiday season. Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
40TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ACROSS CANADA Celebration at the B.C. Legislature, Dec. 5
DECK THE HALLS! THE PENINSULA SINGERS
2024 CHRISTMAS SHOW is a celebration of music from traditional Christmas songs and Christmas classics to rock, jazz, and R&B. It is a compilation of music from well-known songs and contemporary music that
we have come to associate with the season. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Tickets at marywinspear.ca
IEOA TRUCK PARADE & FOOD DRIVE
Saturday, Dec. 7, go to ieoa. ca for route and time details.
CHRISTMAS POPS WITH CANADIAN BRASS,
From holiday classics to jazzy renditions of favourite carols, the world-famous brass quintet joins VS for this festive celebration! Saturday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts. bc.ca
SIDNEY SPARKLES
HOLIDAY PARADE
Join Peninsula Celebrations Society for the Sidney Sparkles Holiday Parade along Beacon Avenue in downtown Sidney. Sunday, Dec. 8, 5-6 p.m. More at peninsulacelebrations. org
BUDDY’S HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS
Zachary Stevenson is the leading man from the hit musical The Buddy Holly Story, the main attraction and host for this special Christmas concert. Monday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. at McPherson Playhouse. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
MESSIAH BY CANDLELIGHT, PRESENTED BY THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY
people most in need in the Greater-Victoria community. Saturday, Dec. 14, 1-3 p.m. at 560 Johnson St. Find out more at finearts.uvic.ca
HELMCKEN HOUSE OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS Step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 14-29, 12-3 p.m. More at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
PHOTOS WITH SANTA IN SIDNEY
Join Santa from 11 am to 2 pm in Sidney’s Winter Wonderland at Garden Court, 2360 Beacon Ave. for free photos. Pets welcome! Bring your own camera! Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Go to peninsulacelebrations.org
YELLOWPOINT
CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Christ Church Cathedral will be the candlelit setting as the Victoria Symphony, local choirs, and four leading soloists share a story rich in complex emotions and human drama. Lift your spirits once again! Thursday and Friday, Dec.
A celebration of music, dance, lights and decorations. Now in its 16th season, it has become a holiday tradition for many across Vancouver Island. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m. at McPherson Playhouse. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
12 and 13, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
46TH ANNUAL TUBA CHRISTMAS
Tuba Christmas returns to Market Square in downtown Victoria for one of Victoria’s most beloved holiday traditions! The annual gathering brings together more than 100 tuba and euphonium players from across the region to play your favourite holiday carols. Donations will be accepted for the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, a charity that assists the
This unique, variety filled program of blues-basted Yuletide tunes is one that has left audiences drenched in the Christmas spirit and coming back for more when the next holiday season rolls around. Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Tickets at marywinspear.ca
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Join us for a magical, delicious pancake breakfast at the Vic West Community Centre. Enjoy a cozy winter breakfast,
perfect for bringing families and friends together in celebration. Registration for this beloved event opens on Nov. 1, 2024, with seating times at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Go to victoriawest.ca for details and registration.
COOKEILIDH: MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Celtic traditions and modern Christmas cheer intertwine in a delightful musical concert that will enchant audiences of all ages. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Ticket at marywinspear. ca
O COME ALL YE SOULFUL
Join two award winning powerhouses — vocalist Dawn Pemberton and bassist/ bandleader Jodi Proznick — with an all-star, award winning band as they bring a joyful and soulful bounce to your favourite holiday songs. Monday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Tickets at marywinspear.ca
CHRISTMAS POPS WITH THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY AND VOCAL SOLOIST DIANE PANCEL
From holiday classics to spirited
renditions of favourite carols, join your Victoria Symphony for a festive celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Tickets at marywinspear.ca
A WONDERHEADS
CHRISTMAS CAROL
Bringing the magic of imagination to the stage, this unforgettable live experience features spectacular giant masks, whimsical puppets, and unfathomable theatrical invention. Wednesday, Dec. 18 through Saturday, Dec. 21 at McPherson Playhouse. For showtimes and tickets visit rmts.bc.ca
DANIEL LAPP’S HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Bringing the magic to the stage once again, Daniel Lapp leads
the very talented young fiddlers of the B.C. Fiddle Orchestra, the lively Folkestra!, and the uplifting voices of the Joy of Life Choir. All accompanied by the renowned Shiny H’ornaments, Swing’n Shepherds, and the Strings of Lights house band. Wednesday, Dec. 18 and Thursday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca.
CHRISTMAS POPS, PRESENTED BY THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. at Dogwood Auditorium, Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS
For the very first time in Canada, Murray and Peter
present A Drag Queen Christmas 10th Anniversary Tour hosted by Brooke Lynn Hytes. The longest running drag tour in the world. Friday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
A true holiday favourite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Victoria Symphony, Saturday, Dec. 21, p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22, 2:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE A Fireside Christmas. Immerse yourself in the warmth and joy of the holiday season with Capriccio Vocal Ensemble’s family-friendly Christmas concert, a heartwarming evening crafted to wrap you in comfort and fill you with festive cheer.
Monday, Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave. Tickets and more information at capriccio.ca
THE GIFT OF THE NUTCRACKER,
PRESENTED BY BALLET VICTORIA
This holiday classic with fresh elements each season, lifts everyone’s spirit, featuring Tchaikovsky’s score performed by the Victoria Symphony.
Saturday, Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 29 and Monday, Dec. 30, 2 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
CANDLELIGHT CONCERT
Discover the music of Christmas under the gentle glow of candlelight. Saturday, Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave. Tickets at feverup.com
A NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATION
Presented by the Victoria
Symphony. Effervescent soprano Tracy Dahl hits the high notes as VS breaks out the bubbly. Revel in a musical banquet of much-loved arias, choruses, glamorous dances, and toe-tapping instrumentals from favourite operas and operettas. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca
POLAR BEAR SWIM IN SIDNEY
Join fellow hardy islanders and enjoy an invigorating start to the new year with a polar bear swim. Find us through the beach access at the end of Beacon Avenue at Glass Beach. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, 12-12:30 p.m. Go to peninsulacelebrations.or
A NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATION WITH SOPRANO TRACY DAHL
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre
It was the day before Christmas, but the sky was a clear crystal blue and we were in the middle of summer.
It was 1957 and I was in Cape Town South Africa.
How did I come to be so very far from home during this time when I would usually be with family and friends in Victoria? I was 21 and just recently graduated as a nurse from the Royal Jubliee Hospital. My best friend, Gail, who was also a nurse at the Jubliee, decided that we would like to see the world outside of Victoria.
Where would we go? China? Hong Kong? New Zealand?
Then one of our doctors suggested we should consider applying and working at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town for a real adventure.
We had just enough money to book a one way ticket on a bitumen freighter sailing out of New Orleans and the trip would take a full month before we got to Cape Town.
We were beyond excited for this adventure that would take us out of country for the first time!
Why? Because as was the tradition in the 50s, most young women did not travel and were instead thinking about marriage and starting a family.
Upon arriving at the hospital, we were assigned our wards and began our duties in this new and very foreign land. In the park next to the hospital there were zebras and monkeys, but no lions! Thank goodness!
The day of Christmas was a memorable one. Upon my arrival I had met this handsome young American navy sailor in his nicely pressed white uniform. He had crossed the street to ask me out on a date as a dare from his friends.
His ship was in port en route on a tour of duty in Antarctica and Cape Town was their last port of call.
Then the sound of an engine roaring and our baby screaming at the noise.
My husband, George, leapt out of bed and raced down the stairs stark naked, only stopping to pull on the jeans I threw after him. He caught himself in the zipper. With the help of some appropriate cussing he untangled himself and plunged out the front door to find a red truck in our driveway, the radiator crushed and the driver struggling to get the truck to back up. Fortunately (for us) it would not.
A very drunk older man climbed down from the cab, where my husband confronted him. Then a very drunk woman
That evening, on Christmas Day, the ship’s company had been invited to have a special dinner as guests of the beautiful Mount Nelson Hotel.
Jim, my new sailor friend, has asked me if I wanted to join them. I said I would and asked if my friend Gail could come along as well.
With a big smile, Jim said “Yes!”
So that evening Gail and I joined the captain, officers and crew of the USCG West Wind for a very elegant dinner in Cape Town Africa!
Looking back, I think how thoughtful and generous it was for our South African friends to invite the ship’s company for dinner and for the captain to include two young Canadian nurses to join them.
This has been a delightful memory for Gail and I. We now had a company of new American friends and one who was special.
(Did I meet Jim again? Yes, but then that is another story!)
emerged and staggered into the house. While tending to my crying baby, I really didn’t know what to do with this person as she was almost incoherent.
I left my husband to deal with the man, who had apparently driven straight across a road and into our driveway. The crash was his truck colliding with our little Volkswagen Beetle, bouncing it several yards ahead and damaging the cover of the engine. Meanwhile, our other four girls stood at the bottom of the stairs watching wide-eyed at this unusual turn of events. I shooed them back to bed.
While I was dealing with the woman wandering about our house, my husband
came in to phone the police, when the man told him he was a businessman but had no insurance on the truck. He then offered us $250 to cover our costs if we would let it go.
It was December 1966. We were quite poor at the time, and $250 was a lot of money in those days. George checked our little car, found the engine undamaged and accepted the offer. A taxi arrived and took the two miscreants away. A tow truck came the next day and collected the truck.
George hammered out the dented engine cover and we had the best Christmas ever.
Bernice Ramsdin-Firth
Our parents love any holiday, but particularly Christmas. It’s a time for playing games and visiting with lots of celebrations with family and friends who have become family.
One tradition stands out and that is how my dad always brought fun and lightheartedness to our celebrations. Every year on Christmas Eve, as kids we would be ‘forced’ up Mount Tolmie. At the top we would be on the look out for Rudolph’s red nose and one year we even met Santa’s brother! Once we found Rudolph’s nose, which was the red light on the top of Pkols/ Mount Doug. We would race home to get to bed before Santa arrived.
These traditions remain a highlight and a memory I hold dear, as our dad has now passed on. But every Christmas Eve, as adults, we still make the drive to the top of Mount Tolmie. It’s a bunch of 40- and 50-something adults plus our mother enjoying the true spirit of Christmas. It’s about family, joy, magic and connection.
Vanessa Lee
In 1972, the state of Victoria, Australia recruited many Canadian and American teachers.
My husband and I chose to go. We befriended two couples who were stationed in other parts of the state. For Christmas, we all flew to Tasmania. In a rented car, the six of us explored Hobart and then drove to Cradle Mountain for some hiking. My mother had sent us a large care package with a canned ham, Christmas cake, Christmas crackers and candies. We enjoyed our Christmas goodies along with beer and wine and then decided to go carolling around the other cabins (Crazy Canucks!).
As we were singing, a light dusting of snowflakes fell, magically giving us a little taste of Canada.
Lesley Fraser
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As a child, I lived with my grandparents.
When I was nine, I saw a pair of white Barbara Ann Scott figure skates in the window of a local shop. They were a princely price of $11. Every little girl wanted to be Barbara Ann, an Olympic heroine of the day. I told my grandparents that was what I was hoping Santa would bring me for Christmas.
I did not understand that my grandparents were facing some tough economic times just then. When grandma said we might not have a Christmas tree that year and saw the disappointment on my face, she hauled out a ladder, climbed up a fir tree in the back yard and sawed off the top five feet. Out came the decorations.
On Christmas morning, the Barbara Ann Scott skates were under the tree. Grandpa took me to the outdoor rink to try them out, and elderly Mr. Moore, who minded the bunkhouse, taught me the best way to tie them. I was in heaven.
Many years later when both grandparents were gone, I was sorting through things from their house and I ran across an old bank book in grandpa’s dresser. It included the dates of that memorable Christmas. When I scanned the bank balances, I noticed a bank balance of $26, and a withdrawal of $11 for the skates.
It was only then that I fully appreciated the situation, and what my grandparents had done to make a little girl happy at Christmas.
Shirley McBride, Cordova Bay
Where your generous gifts are routed to the best possible places
At the Victoria Foundation, the Community Actions Funds (CAFs) are one of the most convenient and exible ways you can make con dent decisions in your giving to ensure that your gift has the greatest impact in our community.
Simply choose from any of the 10 CAFs representing di erent cause areas in the community, such as food security, housing, education, gender equity, and more, that align with your giving interest.
Your gift will be combined with other donors’ gifts, and the funds are then granted strategically to many organizations within the cause area, that serve the community in crucial ways.
Victoria’s Sue and Carl Stovel have supported the CAFs because they knew their donation would have the greatest reach and impact by being granted to multiple nonpro ts in the cause areas they care about.
“ e Victoria Foundation has a pulse on the community and knows the charitable organizations that deal with the social issues where we focus our giving each year,” they said.
“We are also very pleased to see the movement towards trust-based philanthropy, where more exible funding application and reporting procedures are making it easier for grantees to access funding.”
Below are some examples of how donations to the Community Actions Funds have made some incredible impacts in the community.
and Carl Stovel say they trust the Victoria Foundation to put their donations to best use.
Funding from the Arts and Culture Fund –Received $30,000 in 2024
In 2024, the society received funding, thanks to donations to the Community Action Funds, to support sta and operations at the Philippine Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society, a vibrant hub where the Filipino community in Greater Victoria celebrates heritage and cuisine. Now in its third year of funding, the impact has been tremendous: the number of groups using the centre has more than tripled; rental agreements and schedules have been computerized; and new equipment has been installed to make meetings more e cient and accessible. Regular o ce hours have also made it easier for visitors and clients to plan their visits.
e grant has also supported the growth of the Cultural Arts Studio, where regular rehearsals for choral, theatre, and dance performances now take place. Over the past year, the studio has successfully hosted a theatre production and a choral concert.
“Before receiving funding, volunteers managed all the centre’s activities—until the pandemic struck—and understandably, their time and availability were often limited and unpredictable,” says treasurer Leila Pires. “Without this crucial grant, recovery post-COVID would have been slow
and challenging. Without dedicated sta , maintaining the centre’s long-term viability would have been impossible.”
Funding from the Food Security Fund –Received $17,000 in 2024
The 9-10 Club Serving Soup to the Hungry serves up to 160 people per day who are food insecure. 9-10 Club
e 9-10 Club Serving Soup to the Hungry, known as e Soup Kitchen, is one of many food security charities that has received grant funding, thanks to donations to the Community Action Funds. In 2024, the Kitchen was given funding to help with the costs of serving over 36,000 meals to Greater Victoria residents facing food insecurity. On average, the program serves up to 160 people per weekday, and operational costs have increased signi cantly with general in ation and the rise of food prices.
“ e Victoria Foundation grant has helped the program not only support at-risk community members but also address a signi cant increase in the number of diners served,” said a volunteer for e Soup Kitchen.
To learn more about the Community Action Funds and other ways to give, please visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca/community-actionfunds
WWW.WILLPOWER.CA/CHARITIES/THE-VICTORIA-FOUNDATION/
At 28 weeks pregnant, Port Alberni mom Nikki was terri ed to learn her baby had Down syndrome and hydrops fetalis—a sometimes fatal condition where uid builds up around important organs. His chance at survival was 20%.
e moment Bellamy was born, doctors whisked him away to drain his uid— beginning a chain reaction of near-death experiences and life-saving interventions.
During Bellamy’s tube placement to drain uid, he caught E.coli meningitis, which led to seizures and hydrocephalus— uid on the brain. His doctors were able to drain some, but Bellamy still needed critical brain surgery to give him a chance at living longer than a month.
Bellamy’s hospital stay was looking longer with each complication, and the cost of a hotel nearby was impossible.
When a social worker told Nikki about Jeneece Place, our Home away from home in Victoria, it was exactly what she needed.
Staying there meant Nikki was able to remain close to her son, saving her time and stress.
“I’d hold [Bellamy] for an hour and a half, then I’d come back here and pump for an hour, then I’d go back. I did that all day every day for two and a half months.”
Nikki’s other children were able to visit and even stay at Jeneece Place with her. Being together helped bring the family comfort and a sense of normalcy.
“We lived in the art room when [my daughter] was here, and she loved the little fairy garden.”
Nikki’s is one of nearly 550 families who stayed at one of our Homes away from home last year alone.
With your support, we can help keep kids with complex needs close to their loved ones this holiday season. CHILDREN’S
As the holiday season approaches, many Island families whose kids need medical care are grappling with fear and uncertainty. ey need your help!
Pregnancy brings a mix of emotions for many, but for Hayley Henry, joy and excitement were tempered by the knowledge that she had a 50/50 chance of passing on the neuro bromatosis (NF) gene — the same gene that led to her own cancer diagnosis in 2012.
“Every little piece of me knew I wanted kids, but that it came with an added risk,” says Hayley. With support from BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program, Hayley and her husband, Aidan, found guidance and reassurance.
“We were set up with a genetic counsellor at BC Cancer –Victoria who gave us all the facts and information we could ever need.”
Hayley’s twins, Hunter and Brody, both tested positive for the NF gene, but armed with this early knowledge, the family is prepared to monitor their health. For Hayley and her family, the guidance of BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program made all the di erence.
And now, BC Cancer Foundation is fundraising $11.3
million to fully fund the new, 12,000 square foot BC Cancer – Victoria Integrated Care and Research Pavilion — the new home for genetic counselling on the Island — to help ensure that other families facing similar hereditary cancer risks can receive the same peace of mind.
In addition to genetic care, Hayley is grateful the Pavilion will include enhanced supportive care services like Patient and Family Counselling and Psychiatry. ese resources were essential during her own cancer journey, not only for her but for her mother, who stood by her side through surgery and radiation treatments.
“I know I was the one with cancer, but my whole family was part of the journey,” says Hayley. “Having resources available to both patients and their support systems is massive.”
Peninsula Co-op is matching gifts to the Foundation’s campaign. Donate today at bccancerfoundation.com
YourdonationstotheBCCancerFoundation helpedsupportHayleythrough hercancer treatment.Byfundinginnovationincancer researchandcare,wewillsavemore lives on VancouverIsland.
DO NATE TO DAY
At e Salvation Army, people often hear stories that remind us of the profound impact volunteering can have—not just about those we serve, but about the volunteers themselves. One such story is that of Doug, a dedicated volunteer who has been ringing Kettle bells during the Christmas season for 17 years. Doug’s journey with the organization began with a simple yet powerful inspiration: his father’s experiences during World War II. Doug’s father, a veteran, often spoke about the comfort and support he received from e Salvation Army during the war. He speci cally remembered the warmth of receiving socks, a small gesture that meant a great deal during challenging times. is memory stayed with Doug, ultimately inspiring him to give back to the community after retiring from the RCMP in 2005. Volunteering has become an integral part of Doug’s life, especially during the Christmas season. He dedicates three days a week to ringing bells at a local grocery store, where he has developed meaningful connections with the community. Doug shares that the appreciation people express
when they see him volunteering is deeply rewarding. It’s these moments of connection and gratitude that fuel his passion for giving back.
Doug’s story highlights the importance of volunteering, especially now. As he notes, there are many people in need, including youth who require shelter, encouragement, and food. e Salvation Army plays a crucial role in providing these essential services, and volunteers are the backbone of those e orts.
Volunteering has also strengthened Doug’s relationship with his wife, Susan. Together, they have shared many volunteer experiences, from working at the Rainbow Kitchen in Victoria to participating in community festivals. is shared commitment to giving back has brought them closer together, enriching their 53-year marriage.
Doug acknowledges that balancing volunteering with family visits can sometimes be challenging, but the rewards far outweigh the di culties. His children have even joined him in his volunteer e orts, ringing bells and making donations. is family involvement underscores the ripple e ect of Doug’s dedication, inspiring others to contribute in their own ways.
e Salvation Army encourages everyone to consider volunteering. Whether you have a few hours to spare or can commit to a regular schedule, your contribution can make a signi cant di erence in the lives of those they serve. As Doug eloquently puts it, volunteering is not just about giving back; it’s about enriching your own life and making your Christmas more meaningful.
You don’t have to wait until Christmas to get involved. ere are many ways you can support your local Salvation Army throughout the year. From helping at food banks and community kitchens to assisting with outreach programs and special events, your time and skills are invaluable to those in need.
In Doug’s words, “Apart from time with my family at Christmas, it’s what makes my Christmas.” e Salvation Army invites you to join them in this ful lling journey and experience the joy of volunteering rsthand.
If you’re interested in volunteering with e Salvation Army, please visit salvationarmy. ca/volunteer for more information on how you can get involved. Your time and e ort can bring hope and support to those who need it most.
Anne Jarvis’s gratitude for the care her mother received at Victoria Hospice is boundless.
She has included Hospice in her Will, donates annually, and advocates for vulnerable seniors – all to honour the compassion she found at Victoria Hospice.
“I feel like it’s my way of giving back in exchange for everything I received,” she says.
“Victoria Hospice is my number one bene ciary because they were there to help my mother, Bonnie, when she needed it the most. Instead of spending her last days home alone and frightened, she got to spend them relaxed, free from pain, and without having to navigate the community health care network.”
“Once she arrived at Victoria Hospice, everything changed. Everything was taken care of. And we were both at ease.”
It was important to both mother and daughter that Bonnie was never alone while she was at hospice. e care team immediately took extra steps to grant their wish.
“ ey moved in an extra bed for me to stay
overnight next to Mum, so I could always hold her hand. She wasn’t alone once. ey made it happen with compassion and care.”
Anne’s experience with Victoria Hospice inspired her to advocate for seniors who need help.
“Since my mum’s experience at hospice, any time a senior has come to me asking for help, I’ve done everything I can to support them.”
“Anne’s generosity and foresight in leaving a gift in her Will is a powerful expression of love, compassion, and hope for the future,” Senior Development O cer, Planned and Legacy Giving, Michelle Atamanchuk says. “We are deeply grateful to Anne and the many other people who have chosen to leave a lasting legacy of care and comfort.”
Anne feels that Bonnie would be happy about her decision. “I like to think that Mum would approve. I can feel her hand in mine right now.”
A legacy gift is an unforgettable way to honour the memory of a loved one and support compassionate care in our community. Like Anne, you can create a legacy that extends far beyond your lifetime,
bringing care and comfort to patients and families when they need it most.
By leaving a gift to Victoria Hospice in your Will, you will be making a di erence for people during some of life’s most di cult times. Your gift will create a caring and comfortable environment on the 18-bed Inpatient Unit. It will provide 24-hour crisis support from the Palliative Response Team for patients who are dying at home.
Your generosity will also enhance programs like spiritual care, music therapy and volunteer services for patients and families and ensure people who are grieving receive the help they need through specialized grief counselling and support groups.
Almost 50% of the funding for Victoria Hospice programs and services comes from community donations and estate gifts.
Legacy giving ensures Victoria Hospice can continue to provide compassionate end-of-life care now and for future generations. To learn more, please reach out to Michelle Atamanchuk at 250-812-3753 or michelle.atamanchuk@ victoriahospice.org
eborah’s struggles with hearing loss were a ecting her life in unexpected ways.
Simple conversations became challenging for the senior, and everyday tasks like enjoying TV or hearing the turn signal in her car had become distant memories.
“I went to get a hearing aid, but the cost was just too much—$3,000 to $4,000. I couldn’t a ord it, so I just accepted that this was how my life would be.”
A chance encounter at the bank changed everything. After apologizing to a teller for her di culty hearing, the teller told Deborah that Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre might be able to help her–and provide her with free refurbished hearing aids through the Sound of Change program. She decided to follow up.
When Deborah received her hearing aids, the di erence was immediate.
She remembers the moment she got into her car and heard her turn signal for the rst time in years. “I hadn’t heard that signal for so long,” she says, smiling. “It took a little adjusting because, you know, you just have to get used to hearing again. But boy, it’s changed. I don’t have to repeat myself all the time, and it’s just made me be able to communicate with people better and socialize a bit more.”
“All my friends, everybody was so happy,” she says. “I didn’t have to keep saying ‘Pardon, pardon.’ It was a relief, not just for me, but for everyone around me.”
Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, one of a network of agencies supported by
United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI), gave Deborah more than hearing aids—they helped restore her connection with the world around her. Without any payment whatsoever.
It’s no secret that Southern Vancouver Island is home to many seniors. People over the age of 65 make up approximately 23% of the population in our region, and this number is projected to increase to 25% by 2025.
Our elders built the communities in which we live and created the social fabric that binds us together. As seniors enter their autumnal years, we have a collective responsibility to ensure they enjoy stable, supported, and socially connected lives.
But on Southern Vancouver Island, many seniors face isolation, mobility issues, limited income, and malnutrition or food insecurity.
ese are all factors that greatly impact their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
UWSVI believes that our elders should be able to age with dignity and respect, and have access to the important services they need when and where they need them.
Our goal is to ensure seniors in our communities have access to good nutrition, are able to age independently, and help them foster strong social connections to combat isolation.
at’s why we support social service agencies like Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, one of 69 agencies and 74 programs to whom we awarded grants in 2024-25. ese agencies—most of whom do not
have fundraising sta of their own—do incredible work that re ects and ampli es UWSVI’s mission: uniting to strengthen our communities in Southern Vancouver Island–and very often by making practical, meaningful changes.
It’s local donors who fuel this vital, transformational work. is year, UWSVI is asking donors to help meet its fundraising goal of $4 million. e funds raised will address UWSVI’s three Areas of Action: seniors like Deborah, families, and people with mental health and addictions challenges.
Even a small donation can have a huge impact. For example, giving up a latte a week and donating this money to UWSVI means $20/month ($240/year) will reimburse volunteer drivers of local seniors for 500 km of driving.
No matter the amount, your dollar buys measurable, meaningful impact–helping ensure that we’re all part of safe and resilient local communities where opportunity and belonging unite us.
Equipped with her refurbished hearing aids, Deborah is connected and optimistic. “I’ve lived a great, exciting life. My future? To just be happy. And being able to hear people makes me happy.” anks to donors like you, Deborah’s life has been transformed.
We see the future in people. And we know you do too.
To help others in our community, please donate now at uwsvi.ca
As Canadians live longer than ever before, chronic and age-related illness rates are skyrocketing. Nearly 1 in 10 Canadians aged 65+ now live with some form of dementia, for example, and the disease is a key reason why twothirds of BC’s long-term care residents need round-the-clock support.
And while dementia is scary enough on its own, most Canadian seniors are living with two or three chronic illnesses at the same time. is can include heart disease, osteoarthritis, and COPD, but also hearing loss, vision problems, and a host of other issues. In combination, these illnesses can create truly unsettling conditions.
For instance, take a moment to look around you. Do you see the oor, the walls, windows, or doors? Imagine for a moment what your life would be like if you couldn’t see these things. Imagine the oor and walls seemed to blend together, and you couldn’t tell the di erence between a door and a window.
at’s what life can be like for seniors with diminished contrast sensitivity – an increasingly common vision problem in seniors aged 80+. To them, life is like driving on a foggy day. Images appear washed out, and individual shapes – like a stair on a staircase – get harder to distinguish from the background.
Add in dementia – a disease that robs seniors of their memories and reasoning skills – and navigating your way in the world becomes a constantly confusing, and sometimes terrifying, experience.
Eldercare is working hard to nd ways to protect quality of life for a growing number of seniors.
Moving into long-term care can be a challenging adjustment for seniors. ey must get used to a new space, people, and routines, without many of the familiar trappings of home. Imagine how stressful your life would be with a disease that causes confusion, in an unfamiliar building where doors and windows all look the same.
“In long-term care, seniors are outof-sight and, for many, out-of-mind,” says Tom Arnold, Executive Director at Eldercare Foundation. “Our work is to shine a spotlight on this problem, and to raise money for the care and support they need. Fortunately, for seniors struggling with dementia and low vision, there’s a lot of exciting new research, technology, and tools now available to help make them more comfortable.”
With donor support, Eldercare can bring important additions to long-term care facilities across Vancouver Island. Here are just a few examples of new technology and tools to support seniors with dementia and low vision:
· interactive murals that add contrast and colour to hallways and provide fun activities for seniors to play with
· door murals and window stickers that make it easier for seniors to navigate and nd the places they’re looking for
· wall-mounted screens that – paired with wearable technology – detect when a senior is near and play familiar photos and videos (including those provided by family and friends)
· wearable technology that automatically opens the doors they need to access, while keeping others that might cause confusion or other risks, safely closed.
Join Eldercare and help bring comfort, familiarity, and support to some of our most vulnerable long-term care residents. Eldercare supporters know that for seniors in long-term care, it’s often the things not covered by our healthcare system that make the biggest di erence. is includes homelike enhancements and technology that improve quality of life, therapy support, entertainment, and more. Join us to help seniors in long-term care have the best possible quality of life. Learn more at www. gvef.org, call 250-370-5664, or email contact@gvef.org. gvef.org
We sat down with Bette to discuss her legacy giving story. She tells us why she made the important decision to leave a gift in her will to support our local hospitals, and how it honours both her late husband and our caregivers.
“I can’t remember the exact moment we decided to leave a gift to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in our wills. However, I vividly remember the reason and intention: the exceptional care my husband received in our local hospitals, and particularly the cardiac care he received at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
My husband Jack passed away from complications with his heart, and I miss him everyday. Jack had dealt with many heart complications during his health journey, and I spent many hours walking the hallways of the hospitals. In 2010, Jack was having open-heart surgery, and I remember vividly walking down the halls and reading a sign about donating to the Hospital Foundation. I remember saying to Jack later ‘Did you know that we could give a donation to the Hospital Foundation?’
We had never ever considered that we could donate to help make the care at our hospitals better. We always assumed that it was just the government who had a hand in healthcare.
After his surgery, I remember how amazed we were by the care he received from the cardiac unit here in Victoria and how much we trusted the medical teams who looked after him. Jack always said he just felt safe in Victoria knowing that the hospitals were so close by.
When we decided to update our wills in 2016, we considered how we could best donate money to benefit the greater good in our community. This was incredibly important to us, and we spent a lot of time thinking and talking about it. We made the decision to support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in
our wills as we believe it is the best way to support the greater good of our community.
My husband Jack was so well taken care of at our local hospitals and we were so grateful for the care that he received. When we found out about the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, we knew that it was the only place we could donate to.
To champion care together is a great privilege and my purpose in this chapter of my life. I invite anyone who feels pulled by this cause to connect with the Foundation.”
—Bette
Discover inspiring donor stories and see how a bequest in your will can make a di erence: victoriahf.ca/will
Leavea giftin yourwilltoadvancecareatRoyal JubileeandVictoriaGeneral hospitalsandtheGorge RoadHealthCentre forfuturegenerations.
“Whenwedecided to update ourwills weconsidered howwecould best donate moneytobenefitthe greatergoodinour community. This wasincrediblyimportant to us,and we spenta lotoftime thinkingand talkingaboutit.
We madethedecisiontosupporttheVictoriaHospitals Foundationinourwillsas we believeitisthe best waytosupport the greatergood of ourcommunity.”
Lady (pictured) was rescued by a kind animal lover and brought to e BC SPCA’s Victoria Community Animal Centre after she was left abandoned in agony under a park bench with a fractured hind leg and su ering from parasites.
is Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was a bit shy, but quickly warmed up to the sta who gently scooped her up so that her healing journey could begin. Lady was not even a year old and had su ered so much, but thankfully there was a compassionate community of Forever Guardians by her side every step of the way.
Forever Guardians are caring people who chose to share their love of animals with a special gift in their will. Lady would never meet them, but their kindness was her best chance at a life free from pain and lled with comfort and joy.
Little Lady is just one of the hundreds of animals this year
across Vancouver Island who received immediate urgent medical care thanks in part to caring Forever Guardians. ey are a loving lifeline to vulnerable animals like her. Especially now as the BC SPCA is seeing a signi cant spike in animals coming into care, which is in part due to the rise in veterinary costs and the high cost of living.
Your kind heart may not yet know where your support will be needed most in the future, but when you become a Forever Guardian today, you’ll lovingly be there for the animals who need you most.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Forever Guardian to animals in need in your community you can visit foreverguardian.ca or contact Clayton at foreverguardians@ spca.bc.ca or 1-855-622-7722. By doing so, your love will always be there creating a kinder future for animals just like Lady!
Victoria Women’s Transition House (VWTH) is commemorating 50 years of proactive involvement against gender-based violence.
Since 1974, our organization has been a leader in the community, providing safe shelter, support and counselling services to women and their children impacted by intimate partner violence. And our 30-day, 18-bed Emergency Shelter will always be the heart of our organization.
Women and their children can access the Shelter by calling our 24-hour crisis and information line, and once an intake is complete, they can stay for up to 30-days.
Located in a con dential location, Shelter clients enter this welcoming space where a shared kitchen and dining room create a friendly family-style atmosphere. Sta and volunteers make the Shelter comforting and cozy, with home-cooked meals, a bright playroom and playground for little ones, a garden, counselling o ce, fresh linens, toiletries, and all other essentials provided. Counselling and supports are
available on-site and most importantly, this is a safe space for people to begin to navigate their abusive situation.
In 2023/24, 154 women and 53 children sought emergency stays at the Shelter, with 2,029 people contacting the crisis line. VWTH sta and trained volunteers answered these calls, providing kind, non-judgmental support and helpful resources.
Now, that support will be extended to the Westshore community where VWTH is poised to open a new, 50-unit transitional housing program facility. ese are studio, one, two and three-bedroom units, with some designated as pet friendly. e facility, with on-site supports, will provide temporary housing up to two years for women and their families. e goal is to have the rst group of clients move into our new facility this holiday season.
For more information and to help us continue our work to address gender-based violence, providing support to some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens, please visit transitionhouse.net/donate or call 250-592-2927
Ahospital is so much more than a building and medical equipment. It is a system built around people: patients seeking care, and the healthcare professionals – and extensive team of support sta – who care for them.
e Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation (SPHHF) believes that one way to ensure excellence of care is through access to training and education. Each year Saanich Peninsula Hospital sta are invited to apply for e Florence Yong Scholarship. is scholarship opportunity supports sta members who wish to pursue professional development that represents a major educational undertaking, such as the upgrading of professional designation (i.e. LPN to RN) to enhance or change a career path, or to learn new advanced techniques. Since the Florence Yong Endowment was established with a major gift donation in 2019, $160,000 have been paid in scholarships to Saanich Peninsula Hospital sta . In addition, the invested fund
continues to grow, ensuring a legacy of education and personal growth into the future. It’s a wonderful tribute to Mrs. Yong from her family. ey describe her as compassionate, thoughtful, curious and full of love. She had a desire for greater knowledge and understanding, and always wanted to learn more.
One of this year’s scholarship recipients is Ernesto Jr. Valdez. He shared how the funding is supporting his healthcare career aspirations at Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
“I am a proud husband and a father of a wonderful 7-year-old boy. I have been working at Saanich Peninsula Hospital Extended Care Unit as an HCA for over ve years now.
My journey as an internationally educated nurse pursuing certi cation in Canada has been lled with numerous challenges. Upon arriving in Canada, I quickly realized that the process would not be easy. I encountered obstacles such as language pro ciency exams, complex paperwork, and the need to complete additional training to meet
Canadian standards. e nancial burden of these additional requirements was also a signi cant challenge. Moreover, balancing the responsibilities of being a husband, father, and student while adapting to a new healthcare system and culture added to the emotional strain.
Despite these challenges, I remained determined and resilient. I sought support from community organizations and mentorship programs for internationally educated nurses. rough hard work and perseverance, I am on the path to nally obtaining my nursing certi cation in Canada.
Looking back, I am proud of how far I have come and the obstacles I have overcome. My nursing journey has been a testament to my passion for patient care and my unwavering commitment to making a di erence in the Canadian healthcare system. I am grateful for the support I received and am excited to continue growing and thriving in my nursing career in Canada.
I am incredibly grateful for the bursary provided by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation. is generous support has signi cantly alleviated the nancial burden of pursuing my nursing education. It has allowed me to focus on my studies and practical training without being overwhelmed by nancial stress. I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to be a recipient of this bursary and am committed to making the most of it as I continue my nursing journey.”
rough the establishment of the Florence Yong Endowment fund Dr Yong and his sons have enabled SPH sta , like Ernesto, to aspire to greater education and expanded possibilities. ey have also established a rich legacy that will impact many individuals for years to come.
Each year when SPHHF awards Florence Yong Scholarships to truly worthy candidates, we are reminded of how this endowment changes lives and the di erence it makes to the future of healthcare on the Peninsula. We appreciate the pursuit of excellence these candidates demonstrate, and the signi cant bene t they will bring to the hospital, care teams, patients and families they interact with. We are all so grateful for the legacy of excellence created in honour of Mrs. Yong. Legacy gifts can come in all sizes – if you are interested in making health care a part of your legacy please contact SPHHF today. sphf.ca/ legacy
Leavea giftthatwilllast.
WiththegrowingpopulationoftheSaanich Peninsula andsurroundingareas,thereisan increasingneedforqualityhealthcare.Saanich PeninsulaHospitaliswellrespectedforitsqualityof careandexpertise,andisamuchsoughtafterplace forhealthcareprofessionalstowork.
Thisisonlypossiblethroughthegiftsreceived fromourdonors,enablingthehospitaltopurchase state-of-the-artequipment,conductnecessary upgradesandrenovations,andstaffunitswith highlytrainedspecialiststoensurethebest careforallpatients.
Yoursupportnowandinthefuturewillensurethat theSaanichPeninsulaHospitalremainsattheheart ofcommunityhealthcare.
Visitourwebsitetomakea donation,orspeak with yourfinancialadvisortofindouthowto makealegacygiftthatwillleave apositiveand lastingdifference.
“Thanks to you, my Habitat home came with a mortgage I could actually a ord. Too many families can’t say that,” says Marilyn, relief in her voice as she re ects on her journey with Habitat’s Homeownership Program.
Out of options and living with her two boys in a cramped one-bedroom suite, Marilyn was determined to provide stability. at’s when she applied for a Habitat home.
An a ordable home has an immediate impact on families that lasts for generations. Since 1990, Habitat for Humanity Victoria has been bringing communities together to help families build strength, stability, and independence through a ordable homeownership. As a result, Habitat families experience better health, education, and economic outcomes.
When Marilyn surprised Habitat Victoria by using a modest inheritance to pay o her mortgage early, she knew the funds would help another family in need of a ordable housing. Her gesture was a heartfelt thank you to all the generous donors who helped build the house that became the anchor she and her boys urgently needed.
“Being able to lift up others who are struggling the way we did … I can’t
quite nd words that t how amazing and ful lling this feels,” Marilyn declares.
When you give to Habitat Victoria – whether you donate land, household goods, securities, cash, a car, or leave a legacy in your will – your generosity transforms the lives of families like Marilyn’s. Hardworking folks who need a hand up and are proud to give back in return. Your gifts can help create positive change in our community, today and tomorrow.
For more information or to donate, contact giving@ habitatvictoria.com, 250480-7688 ext. 105, or visit habitatvictoria.com/legacy
Michaela Monsigneur is a member of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program.
Seven-year-old Michaela Monsigneur is a double leg amputee, and a member of e War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. As a Champ, she receives nancial assistance for arti cial limbs and specialized devices, peer support from other amputees “just like me,” and the opportunity to attend regional seminars where Champs and their parents learn about amputation and access valuable resources.
Her parents Michael and Lyndsay describe how e War Amps has supported their family.
“We attended our rst CHAMP Seminar when Michaela was three months old. While there was a lot of information to take in, it was also very empowering. Seeing the older child amputees really showed us that everything would be OK and that Michaela would have a great childhood.”
“Whenever we’ve reached out to e War Amps since then, they’ve always provided the help we need to make life a little bit easier for Michaela and our family. Michaela was
one and a half years old when she started wearing arti cial legs, and it didn’t take her long to start walking with them. She has everyday legs that she wears to school and for playing sports, as well as water legs to keep her safe on wet, slippery surfaces. Her arti cial limbs are costly and need to be replaced often as she grows.”
e War Amps encourages Champs to develop a positive outlook on their amputation and to pursue any activity they desire. “Michaela’s determination and enthusiasm for life inspire everyone around her,” says Danita Chisholm, Executive Director of the CHAMP Program. “ anks to the public’s support of e War Amps Key Tag Service, we are helping young amputees achieve their goals.”
e War Amps does not receive government grants. Its programs are made possible through the public’s support of the Key Tag Service.
For more information, or to order key tags, visit waramps.ca or call toll-free at 1 800 250-3030.
Christmas is a time for memories, children, family, and the magic of community giving and sharing. Your support will help create an everlasting memory of a special gift, one that will brighten the season for a local child.
Gifts:
Each child registered with CFAX Santas Anonymous receives Christmas gifts they wished for. Parents select gifts in consultation with Santas volunteers.
e newest, most popular gifts are purchased by donors through Santas Virtual Tree of Wishes, and volunteers do the shopping for you!
e second gift is chosen by volunteers in Santa’s workshop, based on information provided by parents about their child’s
interests. ese toys are purchased by donors and delivered to Santas workshop.
e Food Hamper:
With schools on break and meal programs unavailable for two weeks, we help local families tackle the challenge of feeding their children.
Each family receives three thoughtfully packed bags of groceries.
Grocery Gift Card: Additionally, each family is provided with a $100 grocery gift card to purchase perishable items, meet special dietary needs, and add a little extra holiday joy to the season.
Visit cfaxsantas.com – Greater Victoria’s Christmas Hub.
Do you feel frustrated and helpless after watching the news or reading the newspaper? Do you wonder how you can make a di erence in our community? Do you wish you had a magic wand that would x everything? Me too.
At e Cridge Centre for the Family, our realities are:
· We turn away 90% of housing applications due to insu cient number of housing units.
· Up to 90% of the women we serve who have left an abusive relationship have received a brain injury from their abuser.
· ere are over 850 families in our Respitality program, but only enough resources to serve 300 families
It would be easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the growing needs of our community.
But we don’t! Because we face these realities as well:
· We serve over 2400 individuals with passion and care, helping them to nd healing, safety and belonging
· Our Second Chance Café has given new skills and opportunities to sixteen survivors of brain injury, increasing their well-being and employability.
· Clients tell us that our support changes their lives for the better
In a world that seems to be falling apart, we see joy, healing and new opportunities. We see HOPE.
Your support makes this all possible – your donation is a gift of hope. With your support, we can do MORE.
Donate today at www.cridge. org/donate or call us to discuss your gift of HOPE 250-995-6427.
There are few quiet places left in modern life. Ironically, one of the few spaces remaining where I can hear myself think is in the concert hall.
Invariably, out of the “quiet” emerges powerful and often unexpected feelings of awareness, consolation and the joy of a shared human experience.
Nearly every week, incredibly gifted and dedicated musicians create a magical bond with Victoria Symphony audiences. It’s a profound social connection that allows for self-discovery as well as the reassuring knowledge that, as humans, we can create and share beautiful things when we choose. Providing the opportunity for the audience to connect with themselves, our musicians, great art, and each other is what I love best about what we bring to communities across the Island.
Marvie McEown felt that way, too.
While Marvie enjoyed classical music, she always looked forward to — and took a special delight in — the Pops
concerts. For her, they never failed to express the unique vitality each composer brought to the music, and that connected deeply with her own experiences of the world.
Marvie’s generous, enthusiastic spirit is remembered, and her support continues to shape the work of the Victoria Symphony. Gifts to the Symphony and its Foundation have helped us persevere through lean times and are building what comes next for Victoria. It’s gifts from people like Marvie — and you — that have launched our Share the Music ticket program and helped us bring music programs into local schools. Your gifts tune the pianos, underwrite extraordinary artists, nurture emerging talent and invite everyone to share in an extraordinary experience. ank you.
Music moves us together; it really does.
To learn about making a gift to Victoria Symphony, please contact Amy Hinrichs at 250.412.1985
VictoriaSymphony.ca/support
This giving season, you can make an impact for children or older adults in Saanich by donating to one of two programs that provide access to vital community and recreation programs.
KidsFUNd and reCREATE community grants, partnership initiatives of Saanich Community Services and the Saanich Legacy Foundation, support low-income residents and help reduce nancial barriers to participating in programs, camps, lessons, social activities, and more.
A gift to one of these programs opens the door to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.
You can help children learn, grow, and make memories
Since 2012, KidsFUNd has provided over 200 grants to children aged 3-18, helping
families with program registration fees and making activities more a ordable.
Summer day camps, swimming lessons, arts and dance classes, and early childhood programs are just a few of the many enrichment opportunities that KidsFUNd opens to families who may not otherwise be able to a ord them. In these important programs, children make friends, develop skills, and create memories for life.
You can help foster an active and connected older adult community
Older adults also rely on community and recreation opportunities to connect and stay active, continue learning, and maintain crucial social connections.
e new reCREATE grant for adults aged 60 and up helps supplement program fees and reduce nancial barriers to promote active living and social connection. For many older adults, these grants can make the di erence between joining in and sitting out.
You can be a community hero is giving season, your donation to KidsFUNd or reCREATE gives the gift of participation to Saanich families and older adults in need. Every dollar helps provide access to the programs that keep our community active, connected and learning for life.
Learn more and give today at saanich. ca/communityhero
Donationsto KidsFUNd and reCREATE help low-incomeSaanich community memberspar ticipate inthe District ’s community and recreationprograms.
KidsFUNd hashelped over 200 childrenaged3to18attend Saanich day camps, swimming lessons, spor ts programs,and more!
Thenew reCREATE grantisspecificallyfor olderadults 60+, fosteringvital social connections, continued learning, andpromotingactive lifest yles.
Give to KidsFUNd or reCREATE todayandhelp build aSaanich whereeveryone belongs.
Finding Hope in Canada:
A Ukrainian Family’s Journey with e Mustard Seed
With Christmas upon us, it’s a time for re ection, gratitude, and the spirit of giving. For families like Taya and Slava’s, the journey to nd safety and security in Canada has been lled with challenges. eir story reminds us that through compassion and support, we can help rebuild lives shattered by con ict.
Taya, a mother from Ukraine, has been living in Victoria with her family for almost two years after eeing the devastating war. Like many Ukrainian families who came to Canada, their lives were dramatically upended in February 2022. Taya recalls, “Our family was happy in Ukraine. We had jobs, a stable income, and our daughter was a dedicated athlete. But when the war began, everything changed.”
Since arriving in Victoria, they’ve had to start from scratch. Adjusting to a new country, language, and culture has been particularly di cult for their young daughter, who is still coming to terms with the fact that not all her needs and desires can be met like before.
For families like Taya’s, e Mustard Seed has become a vital source of support. “I started coming to the food bank a year ago, and it has truly helped our family,” Taya explains. She shares a touching memory from April 2023, when she wanted to give her daughter a special surprise for her birthday. “ e Mustard Seed invited me to their o ce to pick out a gift for her. I chose a toy, a manicure set, and a baby blanket. It was such a
meaningful moment for us, and we are incredibly grateful to every employee and volunteer.”
e Mustard Seed’s support extended beyond birthdays, providing school supplies and sports sneakers for their daughter as she began a new school year. For Taya, these acts of kindness have helped ease the transition to life in Canada.
“We thank each individual, family, organization, and all of the Canadian people for their compassion, tolerance, and assistance. My daughter loves it here. She is calm, free, and most importantly, safe—something we couldn’t guarantee back home.”
Having worked for over 15 years as a social worker in Ukraine, Taya re ects on her changing perspective. “My work in Ukraine was challenging, sometimes requiring a balance of ‘good cop, bad cop.’ But in Canada, every person I meet teaches me to be kinder, more understanding. is experience is shaping me, and I am changing.”
Taya’s story is just one of many. At e Mustard Seed, we witness rsthand the power of community, compassion, and support in helping families navigate di cult transitions. By supporting e Mustard Seed, you are directly helping families like Taya’s rebuild their lives, ensuring they feel welcome, safe, and cared for.
Consider contributing to e Mustard Seed to help us continue providing muchneeded services to families in need. Whether it’s through food, gifts for children, or essential school supplies, your support makes a profound di erence.
Lifeturned upsidedown: Slava experiencedthe horrors ofwar.
Starting over: Slavaandher family movedtoCanada.
Recovering: Step by step,Slava rebuilds securityandhope.
Grateful hearts: “Thanksfor thesupport thatchanged ourlives.”
Lifetime Networks’ 19th Annual Gala Raises $100,000
Victoria, BC – Last Friday, Lifetime Networks held its 19th Annual Gala and Auction at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, and it was an overwhelming success. anks to the generosity of sponsors, attendees, and community members, the event raised an impressive $100,000, all of which will directly support Lifetime Networks’ mission of fostering inclusivity and empowerment for individuals with diversabilities.
About Lifetime Networks Lifetime Networks is a non-pro t based in Victoria, BC, dedicated to building and supporting enduring relationships for individuals with disabilities. Since its founding, Lifetime Networks has been committed to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, and community engagement, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can lead a ful lling life.
Our programs are diverse and designed to meet a variety of needs, from o ering one-on-one friendship programs that match individuals with supportive friends, to employment services that help participants
nd meaningful work, and community inclusion initiatives that foster a sense of belonging. At the heart of our work is the belief that everyone deserves a place in the community where they can thrive.
A Heartfelt anks to Our Sponsors e success of the gala would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors:
· Title Sponsors: Wilson’s Transportation and Maximum Express
· VIP Sponsor: Western Design Build
· Wine Sponsor: LA Limousines
· Brown Bag Sponsor: Peninsula Co-op
· Live Auction Sponsor: Times Colonist
· Table Sponsor: H2 Accelerator
· Matching Sponsors: AOS Partners and Operation Trackshoes
· Dinner Sponsor: Country Grocer
· Entertainment Sponsor: Alitis Investment Counsel
We also deeply appreciate our Good Neighbor, Good Friend, and Just Like Family sponsors, including Gallagher, Smart Dolphins IT Solutions, Bakertilly, Proline Management, Catherine Knight, Allied Glass, Inclusion System, Browns
A Night to Remember e evening was a testament to the power of community, bringing together supporters who share the belief that every individual, regardless of ability, deserves the opportunity to lead a ful lling life. e funds raised will enable Lifetime Networks to continue delivering programs that create spaces where everyone can thrive and feel included.
How You Can Help If you missed the event but would still like to support Lifetime Networks, it’s not too late to make a di erence! To donate, simply scan the QR code below. Your contribution will directly support programs that empower individuals with diversabilities in our community.
For partnership opportunities or to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Carlene at 250-447-4112 or via email at carlene@lnv.ca. Together, we can continue building a community where everyone belongs.
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Be ap ar tofb uildin gL ifetim eN etworks— wher ee veryconnectionan de very contributionstrengthen st hesuppor t systemfo ri ndividualswithdivers e disabilities.Yourdonationismorethan just ag ift;it’s al ifelin et ha th elpsfulfill dreams ,u nloc ko pportunities ,a nd transfor ml ives .T ogether ,wec ancreate an etworkofhopean de mpowerment thatlast sa lifetime.Joinusinweavin g ab righte rf uture,on ed onatio nata time .D onat en owan dm ak eani mpac t thatechoesfo ra lifetime.
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When our daughters were six and eight, we drove to Saskatchewan for Christmas.
They had experienced the odd few days of snow in Victoria, sledding and building a snowman until it disappeared into puddles. So our three-day odyssey driving through mountains and valleys buried in snow with freezing cold weather was an unusual occurrence for them.
Swimming in hot springs steaming beside snow banks was exciting, too. They loved seeing trees and bridges covered in frost. But a real surprise was in Saskatchewan
at Lake Blackstrap, near my hometown of Hanley, when my husband drove off the highway onto the lake. They thought we would sink!
Other adventures were skiing for their first time (on a man-made mountain) and going for a horse-drawn sleigh ride, carolling. I’m from a large family, so they had a great time playing with all the cousins and experiencing a huge traditional Christmas.
A blizzard on the drive back home was a little scary, but it made them realize Victoria is truly lucky to have such mild winters.
Rosalie Jones Knogler
MADEINITAL Y
‘Welcome to Canada’ sounds great in every language
Perhaps I was feeling unusually “Grinchy” on that day before Christmas two years ago, or perhaps the shopping, crowds and over-the-top Christmas hoopla had finally got to me. Either way, I wasn’t feeling the holiday spirit when I entered the coffee shop at Park Royal with my daughter to meet up with a family member. “Nowhere to park, too many cranky people –Christmas, can’t stand it,” I muttered.
As we waited for our hot drinks, I noticed a family, including two women, a teenage girl and two younger children looking over at us in wonder. They couldn’t take their eyes off the gingerbread house that we had just finished making at my brother’s, which is an annual family event.
As we heard the family speaking, my daughter recognized their language as she had learned it from a school friend. She was able to greet and converse with them; they were astounded that this blond, blue-eyed Canadian girl was speaking to them in Farsi. It turned out that they were recent immigrants to Canada, arriving only a few weeks prior and this would be their first Christmas here. They were a bit sad, missing family and friends left behind, but glad to be in Canada.
I looked over at my daughter and with a glance between us, we said: “Please, take the gingerbread house as a gift, from our home to yours and welcome to Canada.” The little girl was jumping up and down with delight and the boy’s grin was ear to ear. One of the women said, “Oh, Canadians are so wonderful, we thank you for your kindness.” And then, right there, this “Grinchy” old heart melted in a big puddle right in the middle of the Starbucks.
I wonder now, two years later, how that family is doing, were they able to settle in, find jobs and feel truly welcomed as Canadian citizens? Do they remember their first Canadian Christmas, and the gingerbread house?
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, and to welcome new Canadians, including Syrian refugees and those from many other countries and cultures, please take the time to learn a few phrases in another language because “hello and welcome to Canada” sounds great in every language.
Pat
Woods
As a young girl I loved nothing better than spending time with my nan Baker in the kitchen of the family home at Linden Avenue and Faithful Street in the Fairfield neighbourhood of Victoria.
Early in the fall, we brought out the big porcelain wash basin saved for the occasion and we made the mincemeat. The suet always looked a little dodgy to me, but I loved wielding the big wooden spoon to mix everything up.
Then it was stored to ‘cure’ until it was time to make the tarts in December.
We made Christmas cakes a few weeks later in the same wash basin, measuring and chopping all the fruit on the marble countertop. Then the mixture was soaked overnight in fruit juices and brandy before mixing up the batter that turned it into cake.
The family were teetotalers, but there was always ‘medicinal brandy’ in the family home. In fact, apparently one year great grampa Daniels commented that the Christmas cake was particularly flavourful, likely because my teenage dad had snuck more brandy into the soaking fruit.
Once the batter was made and mixed into the fruit, it went into an assortment of tins lined with grease-proof paper and baked to perfection.
When the cakes were cool, I got to poke holes in the tops and we drizzled more juice (and brandy?) into the tops, wrapped them in their cooking papers, then stored them in tightly closing tins until mid-December.
Kneading the almond paste to top each cake was hard work, before shaping it with the big wooden rolling pin to fit the top of each cake. Then we iced each cake with very white Royal Icing, and decorated them with little silver balls and bits of candied maraschino cherries, green ones and red ones.
My nan was an expert at making the puff pastry for those mincemeat tarts, a skill I never quite mastered. She would roll and fold and roll and fold the layers, dotting each one with tiny bits of butter each time.
But I did get to whip the cream to go on top, and make the hard sauce for the Christmas pudding.
It always came to the big dining table with brandy flaming. I still have that table, although nowadays we seat eight or 10 at it, not the 14 or 15 I remember back then.
Nan and I made the puddings together, too, carefully filling the white porcelain bowls with the batter and topping each with plastic wrap and squares of clean white sheeting tied it on under the lip of the bowl with string. We folded the corners over the top and tied them into a knot, very convenient for lifting the steamed puddings
out of the big pot when they were done. These days the pudding is too rich for us, and the mince tarts aren’t quite the family favourite they were years ago. But I do make Christmas cake, just half a recipe, often varying the alcohol the cakes get soaked in for several months. And I make them small, giving a few away most years to special friends who love Christmas cake. Making them keeps my nan close and all the ancestors before her, and satisfies that after-dinner sweet tooth. A tiny slice is plenty, afterall.
Linda Baker, Victoria
It happened around 7 o’clock on Christmas Eve, the moment that changed everything.
I was an eight-year-old boy living in a small village in the southwest of England. It was the early 1950’s, the “consumer society” was decades away and the last of the wartime rations were still in effect.
Like most of our neighbours we had had no car, no phone, no TV. Money was tight. Our tree was sprigs of holly from the garden, our decorations mostly home made from coloured paper.
As Christmas Day approached I would count the slowly growing pile of wrapped presents sitting by the fireplace. One from my parents, one from aunts and uncles, one from grandparents — double figures in a good year! And then there was the stocking; that moment in the pre dawn darkness when I would thrust my toes to the foot of the bed hoping to feel something lumpy and full of promise. The toe of the stocking was always stuffed with an orange or a grapefruit, but one year there was a prize I had long hope for — a pocket watch!
But the true gift of that Christmas was nothing I could touch with my hands.
It came unannounced and unseen out of the
darkness of the street, a sound I had never heard before, a sound which sent me racing to the front room to pull back the curtains — the sweet sound of a brass band playing Christmas carols.
There were about eight of them in dark Salvation Army coats, their instruments glinting under the streetlight. A magical sight. But it was my ears that were truly captured and I felt an overwhelming urge to get out of the house and hear the band up close.
“We’ll take care of him and bring him home,” the bandmaster said to my puzzled parents. And so it was that I followed that band from streetlight to streetlight all through the village and the outlying areas, ears pink with the cold but gorged on these silvery sounds.
It wasn’t long before I was making music too — first in brass bands, then orchestras and for the last 30 years with my voice, singing in choirs and still today as a member of the chorus of Pacific Opera Victoria.
Music has been a joy in good times, a companion in tough times, a constant source of beauty. And now when I look out at an audience I often find myself wondering if somewhere in the crowd there might be a young boy or girl hearing sounds that set their pulses racing like mine did that Christmas Eve all those years ago.
Steve Wadhams
Florestina and Isaie and their children were excited about the festive season. On the one hand Christmas was a solemn commemoration of the birth of Christ, but it was also a special time of family gatherings with fiddle music and dancing. The family had virtually nothing material, lived in a log shack on a poor homestead, always cold in the harsh winters of northern Alberta, and often with barely enough food to survive. At Christmas time, Florestina would save up for weeks to scrape together a special meal which always included tourtiere, raisin pie and a wooden crate full of oranges – a real feast.
Late on this particular Christmas Eve, Isaie and Florestina set out with their youngest child Germaine in the “caboose,” the covered horsedrawn sleigh. Germaine was a thin five-year-old with dark hair and bright eyes. She was excited to be going to her first Midnight Mass at the church some ten miles from the homestead. Although it was 20 below, the air crisp and the snow crunchy, the caboose had a small stove and plenty of blankets to keep them warm.
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Despite her anticipation, Germaine slept most of the way, only waking briefly once they sat in the church. She was enthralled with the candlelight and seasonal hymns on this most special and wonderful night of the year. The church was warm and crowded and she couldn’t stay awake for long. Before she knew it, she had slept through the long ride back and they were home again.
Her older brother Oliva had stayed back at the homestead to keep an eye on things and keep the stove going. “You’ll never guess who came by while you were gone” said Oliva with a twinkle in his eye, looking at a box on the kitchen table. “Although he had no toys left, Santa came here anyway, dug deep into the bottom of his sack, and finally found this little box.”
By now Germaine was wide awake although it was about three in the morning. She was so excited she couldn’t believe her eyes. This was the first present she could remember having received from Santa. She tentatively lifted the box and opened it gently: a set of miniature dishes, shiny and new. She lifted a tiny plate out of the box. It was creamy white with pink roses and tiny green leaves, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. There was a little teapot, dainty teacups and saucers and a creamer and sugar bowl.
She would never forget this wonderful night!
As told to Irene in 2015.
‘ANIMALS
G rowing up as a kid, I had to sometimes work on Christmas Day. My dad was coowner of Claremont Poultry. If no one was able to work on Christmas Day, my brother, sister, dad and I had to work on the farm that day.
Our day would start by waking up, going downstairs to find our stockings beside the wood fireplace. We opened the stockings followed by our present from Santa. We ate breakfast. Then we would walk a few minutes through the back fields over to the farm. We would collect the eggs by hand. My dad would push the egg cart between the barns. The eggs were normally collected four times per day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. But on Christmas Day, we only collected the eggs twice. An average day’s collection would be 15,000 to 17,000 eggs.
After we finished the first collection, we would go home, clean up and get ready for our Christmas tree. Mom’s side of the family would arrive and we would open the presents. We would have lunch then head back to the farm again.
The second collection was done. Back home to clean up. Then to grandma and grandad’s house a couple of minutes’ walk down the road. By that time, dad’s relatives had arrived from the Mainland. We would have dinner with 15 to 18 people. Grandma would make a great turkey dinner for us on her birthday, Dec.25. After dinner, we all would help do the dishes, clean up and put everything away. Then grandma would open her birthday presents first. Then we got to attack the Christmas tree. The last present was usually not opened till at least 9 p.m. Then we would say goodnight and go home.
We usually did not have to work on Boxing Day, other people were able to work. On Boxing Day, my uncle, cousin, brother and I would drive downtown, park and then visit A&B Sound, with the ad from the Times Colonist in hand. Then a couple of days of visiting with relatives, playing board games and card games.
So, growing up on a farm does not mean taking days off. As my dad would say, “Animals don’t take days off.”
Bruce Goddard
It was May 1985 when my parents, little sister and I arrived from Holland on the east coast of Canada. We had been so seasick during the stormy Atlantic crossing and then had to face an immigrant train to Vancouver.
Our Dutch uncle and his Canadian family, greeted us when we reached the mainland. He was our sponsor. A little house was being prepared for us, next door to our uncle, aunt and my six cousins’.
I had the summer to learn English. In the fall, I was enrolled in school and started Grade 1.
Many new things had to be learned, eating new foods and surviving a frightening event called Halloween. Time flew by and soon it was December. Did Sinterklaas come to Canada? Finally, it was Sinterklaas day. We received little gifts of colouring books and chocolate letters. My
cousins thought it was strange as their own excitement for Santa had begun to build. My parents cut a tree down from the backyard and with great care, hung our precious décor that had survived the overseas trip. On Christmas morning, long before first light, my cousins came to show us all the gifts they had received from Santa. No gifts under our tree, but my parents carefully lit all the little candles on the tree and the entire room glowed like magic. In broken English, the story of Christmas was shared. We learned from one another, enjoyed the different traditions and made new ones along the way. Now 72 years later, we still enjoy sharing the Christmas Story with our family and now it’s our grandchildren that receive the chocolate letters.
Alida Gilmour Victoria
Christmas on the Africa Mercy, the world’s largest charity hospital ship, is an amazing experience of the “reason for the season.”
I was a volunteer for the global medical charity Mercy Ships in December 2012. It’s a cherished memory for two reasons.
First, our 75-bed, state-of-the-art hospital was filled with patients who had received free surgeries.
This unexpected access to healing was considered a miracle by the world’s poorest of the poor living in a country where health
care was virtually non-existent. By Christmas, four months into our field service, the Africa Mercy hospital ship had transformed the lives of hundreds of people — removing tumours, goiters, hernias and cataracts, repairing burn injuries, reversing obstructed birth damage, straightening bowed legs and club feet, and extracting painfully decayed teeth. Our patients were able to return to their families, livelihoods and communities thanks to the gift of healing I was so grateful to be part of.
Second, I was in the company of 400
With each and every Christmas season a unique and special occasion has occurred while delivering the Times Colonist newspaper to readers. One such experience occurred some years ago with a family who had moved into the neighbourhood in December and taken out a subscription to the newspaper. It was the third week in December, and each morning, like the previous few mornings, I was greeted by Mr. Duegan and his five-year-old son, Jimmy. On this day, dad and Jimmy were laying out strings of lights and Christmas decorations to adorn their house. As I approached the walkway that ran along the front of the house to the front door, I could hear Jimmy ask his father a question about Santa. “Can I see Santa?” he asked. Dad had a surprised look on his face. Dad said nothing for a moment, as I gave a friendly wave while
walking up their driveway, and he then said something about Santa only visiting children when they are asleep. Jimmy appeared disappointed with the answer as he frowned, bowed his head and turned away from his father.
Having finished delivering the papers along their street I passed by their house again and noticed Mr. Duegan without Jimmy decorating the house. He looked up, and I said, “How lovely the house will look when done.” He thanked me, and I mentioned I had overheard the conversation about Santa. Before he said anything I said, “I have an idea about seeing Santa.” He listened, was grateful for the idea and the two of us set out details of how and when Jimmy’s wish could happen.
Christmas Eve morning arrived and I delivered all the papers on my eight routes, except for the Duegans’ paper. I parked
or so fellow volunteers from more than 35 different nations. Christmas on the Africa Mercy was an amazing amalgam of different traditions and celebrations. Festivities began with Sinterklaas, a Netherlands tradition marking the arrival of Father Christmas on Dec. 5 and culminated in a beautiful Christmas-morning carol singing followed by a smorgasbord of food dishes that made everyone feel like being at home. The wrap-up was on the U.K. Boxing Day and featured an “open house” activity, where everyone on board was invited to “tour” the different cabins styles we lived in – from the coveted singles cabin, to the spacious family cabin, to the eight-berth where the rotating nursing crew bunked in. Mercy Ships now provides free lifechanging surgeries on two hospital ships. Thanks to the generosity of all manner of donors from around the world, a new double-capacity hospital ship, the Global Mercy, joined the Africa Mercy in transforming lives in 2022.
Joanne Thibault Victoria
my vehicle down the street from their home, putting on my Santa suit, boots, cap, along with white beard matching my hair. I approached the house from the side leaving the paper in the garage and picked up a small wrapped box with the words “Merry Christmas Jimmy. Love Santa.” Dad had arranged for Jimmy to be seated at the table that faced the front bay window. Santa appeared walking across the front walkway to the front door and placed the present in front of it. Santa and Jimmy looked at each other. Jimmy’s eyes opened wide and I could hear him squeak with delight. Santa waved and gave out a big HOHOHO before swiftly exiting along the walkway and out of sight. That afternoon Mr. Duegan phoned to thank me. I was grinning from ear to ear at seeing how happy Jimmy was and for fulfilling his wish.
Drew Van Brunt
Three days! That all I was asking for. Three days so I could be home for Christmas. By the stony look on the headmistress’s face and her incredulous tone of voice you’d have thought I was a schoolgirl version of Dickens’ artful dodger, begging for the impossible. “You want MORE!!” No, Miss Oakley, not more. Less. Three days less. Three days out of school before the end of term because there was only one plane a week from London to Newfoundland and if I missed it I would miss Christmas with my family in St. John’s. Finally, “Miss Battleaxe” relented, but with a frosty penalty clause: “This is the last time. Don’t EVER ask again.” Clearly a lack of holiday spirit then in this English girls’ boarding school! And so, a few days later, I packed my bags and headed for Heathrow airport, joining a handful of other Canadian teenagers going home for the holidays. In those days – the early 1960s – it was not uncommon for Newfoundland families who could afford it to send their kids to school in Britain. Newfoundland had joined Canada well over a decade earlier but ties to the “old country” remained strong. And so off I went. My route was clear. Step one, a flight across the pond from London to Gander. Step two, a short plane ride from Gander to St. John’s. What could possibly go wrong? Well, have you, I ask, ever experienced a Newfoundland winter? If so, you might guess what happened next. As the
plane touched down in Gander, I saw a landscape engulfed in snow with more snow piling up fast. This was a winter wonderland I did not want. In the arrivals area the dreaded announcement came – everything grounded. All flights cancelled. And worse, the road to St. John’s reported to be impassable. Stuck in Gander on my own for Christmas? Had a vindictive English schoolmarm put a hex on my holiday plans? Not so fast, Miss Oakley, you reckoned without the Newfie Bullet! This splendid narrow gauge railway had been chugging across Newfoundland since 1898 and now all these decades later would be my salvation. Its proper title was “the Caribou” but it earned the affectionate nickname due to its sprightly pace –average speed barely 30 kilometres an hour. The local joke was that you could hop off anywhere on the line, pick blackberries, and hop back on again, no problem! Slowly but surely, the Newfie Bullet battled its way along the snow packed track and by late evening we were in St. John’s. Home for Christmas. Just one more job to do. Let my aunt in England know I’d made it. This meant sending a telegram – no easy phone calls in those days, no email, no internet – and with a telegram each word cost money. Messages were often masterpieces of concise communication. My mother’s was no exception: “Deb arrived safely. Bullet ridden.”
Deborah Baird
Ihave always “believed” in Santa Claus but there was one Christmas where Santa made an entrance that will be a very special memory for me forever. It was Christmas Eve of either 1999 or 2000 at the early evening candlelight service at St. John the Baptist Church in Cobble Hill. Our young daughters were too young at the time to remember, but I think of this “appearance” every Christmas. Partway through the evening service, all was quiet in the church, dark except for the candlelight, when a thump was heard at the rear entrance to the church. Very quietly, a large man in a red suit with a white beard walked up the aisle, approached the altar, knelt down for a few moments then he stood up, turned and disappeared out the side door. Not a word was spoken but I’m sure there was not a single non-believer left in that church that evening. I may not remember the exact year, but I do remember that the Reverends Scott and Susan Pittendrigh were responsible for making believers of so many that Christmas Eve.
Colleen Fraser Mayne Island BC
Perhaps I was feeling unusually “Grinchy” on that day before Christmas two years ago, or perhaps the shopping, crowds and over-the-top Christmas hoopla had finally got to me. Either way, I wasn’t feeling the holiday spirit when I entered the coffee shop at Park Royal with my daughter to meet up with a family member. “Nowhere to park, too many cranky people – Christmas, can’t stand it,” I muttered.
As we waited for our hot drinks, I noticed a family, including two women, a teenage girl and two younger children, looking over at us in wonder. They couldn’t take their eyes off the gingerbread house that we had just finished making at my brother’s, which is an annual family event.
As we heard the family speaking, my
daughter recognized their language as she had learned it from a school friend. She was able to greet and converse with them; they were astounded that this blond, blue-eyed Canadian girl was speaking to them in Farsi. It turned out that they were recent immigrants to Canada, arriving only a few weeks prior and this would be their first Christmas here. They were a bit sad, missing family and friends left behind, but glad to be in Canada.
I looked over at my daughter and with a glance between us, we said: “Please, take the gingerbread house as a gift, from our home to yours, and welcome to Canada.” The little girl was jumping up and down with delight and the boy’s grin was ear to ear. One of the women said, “Oh, Canadians are so wonderful, we thank you for your
kindness.” And then, right there, this “Grinchy” old heart melted in a big puddle right in the middle of the Starbucks. I wonder now, two years later, how that family is doing, were they able to settle in, find jobs and feel truly welcomed as Canadian citizens? Do they remember their first Canadian Christmas, and the gingerbread house?
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, and to welcome new Canadians, including Syrian refugees and those from many other countries and cultures, please take the time to learn a few phrases in another language, because “hello and welcome to Canada” sounds great in every language.
Pat Woods
Christmas has always been a take-noprisoners type of holiday for my family, and we had been consumed with making it memorable and wonderful and great fun for many years, until the year that both my parents died, and we were forced to make some changes. My father left us first, after a long battle with cancer, and we handled it fairly well, having the knowledge, in some part, of what was coming. But when mother started to sicken and fail only months later, and given the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, our family was ill-prepared for what we knew was going to be another exhausting round of caregiving, rearranging our lives and making the most of the time we had left with her. She was admitted to hospice in the second week of December; we spent most of our time there with her while the Inexhaustible Commercial Christmas Machine plowed relentlessly on without us.
For others, Christmas plays were being staged, throngs were out shopping for their last-minute gifts, home cooks were preparing the treats that everyone comes to expect, and friends were joyously gathering. Anticipation was building for most everyone except us. We were busy with a different set of preparations, and these would not be executed with joy or anticipation of good times ahead.
Those of you who have spent any time in hospice will know and understand that it is its own little microcosm, a sanctuary away from the busyness of daily life and all its expectations. When you enter this special place, there is an understanding and awareness that this place is given over to the care and treatment of people who are at the end of their lives, and to the families and friends who are there to make it a beautiful experience of letting go and letting God. Time moves at its own pace there, and so it should have come as no surprise that this particular Christmas ambushed me, and was fully underway before I had a chance to even consider how the changes in our lives would impact our celebrations.
I remember, toward the end, having a quiet cry in the corner of the family lounge of hospice after a very long night of holding space in the room with my mom, when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. A volunteer had seen me there and had come to ask if there was anything she could do to help, and I suppose the interminable sleepless nights and gruelling days of anticipatory grief had take their toll, because I opened up about all the issues that were occupying my heart and mind, not the least of which was how I was going to make a Christmas for my family with the little energy I had left and
the fact that it had snuck up on me and I had done absolutely nothing at all in the way of preparation for it.
The advice this lovely lady gave me was to let things go sideways, and she gifted me a book she had purchased that contained legions of ideas for celebrating a non-commercial, user-friendly, simpler Christmas. At any other time I might’ve scoffed at the idea of cutting back on spending, or limiting attendance at special celebrations or even eliminating the baking and buying the treats instead, but I was in a very receptive place and needed an effortless plan for celebrating the season differently.
And after reading the book from cover to cover during another midnight vigil, I ran some of the possibilities by the others, and they were game to try them so that we could celebrate the holiday and perhaps even make it enjoyable and memorable in spite of the sadness that engulfed us. Memorable it turned out to be.
Our Sideways Christmas looked like this: We had the usual turkey and all the trimmings catered, but instead of eating it on Christmas Day, we opted for Christmas Eve, and that was a wise choice, as it left the day itself for quiet pursuits without the hassle of trying to fit everything into one day. I wasn’t up to doing my usual over-the-top house decorating, preferring to just keep everything simple, but a friend kidnapped me and we set off to find a tiny real tree that we decorated with angels that had been waiting around our house for just that purpose, and it glowed in the front window as a gentle reminder of what the season could and, perhaps, should be. The best part of that experience (according to my frugal husband) was that the tree lot had a half-price sale, and so it made it doubly enjoyable.
Finding just the right Christmas presents for everyone turned out to be a challenge, until our beautiful future son-in-law suggested we pair up to buy a few things in Sidney, where we live. We set a price point, limited the time each pair had to purchase said gifts, and then reconvened at a local coffee shop, where new pairs were formed. We repeated the process until everyone was taken care of. It proved to be a real success with lots of laughter and crazy hijinks, and we’ve made a lastminute trip to downtown Sidney a bit of a tradition since.
Christmas morning found us all together at a later-than-usual quiet breakfast, followed by the opening of gifts, which consisted mainly of bottles of wine, chocolates and lots of books. Because dinner was to be turkey leftovers (a
family favourite), we were free to lie about in our jammies, reading our new books, fuelled by tea and chocolates, and, later, wine. My memories of it consist of each of us finding time for ourselves and each other, taking time for naps or long soaks in the tub and even heart-to-hearts and teary moments. When Boxing Day came around, a former intern teacher of mine rolled up with goodies and flowers and wine and a fabulous backlog of hilarious stories that kept us engaged and thankful for the blessing of good friends.
Mom passed away on Dec. 17 of that year and losing her and dad so close together would have repercussions that influenced how we have lived our lives differently since then. Allowing ourselves to experience the joys of the holiday season with few expectations for how it should be done has been a blessing, and when I had my own surgery for breast cancer in early December a few years ago, it seemed like second nature to create a Sideways Plan, and it became another low-key but very enjoyable holiday.
It seems to me now that we can all find ways to deal with the big losses in our lives by allowing ourselves the freedom and finding the courage to change and grow when the need arises. Change is the one constant we can count on in this life, but too many of us become cemented to ideas and habits and traditions that have long outlived their usefulness or relevance. While we were standing in loss and making decisions about what we needed to let go, our mother was answering the door through which she would finally depart.
I’d like to think that circumstances allowed us to jettison what was superfluous to a holiday that should be about meaningful opportunities to celebrate with those we love. Having done it once, and being surprised with the outcome while creating space for some magic to appear, we now find it easier to change gears when stress and unhappiness threaten to derail something that should be wonderful. As the poet David Whyte says in his essay on courage, “courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation with life” and to be fully human is to enter into challenging situations with the belief that we can and will make the best of what life offers, and it is truly ”what love looks like when being tested by the simple everyday necessities of being alive.”
May you find the courage this holiday season to make a few adjustments to your expectations, and in return, find a larger measure of happiness and magic for which the season is known.
Susan Bruce Sidney, B.C.
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Once upon a time in early December 1980, a 3 ½ year old little girl declared to her mother: “For Christmas, I’m gonna ask Santa to bring me a “‘Noopy ’no-Comb Macheem”. Whereupon her mother, in her wisdom, responded with a logical explanation about how Santa did not like to bring children gifts that might not work properly – as was the case with the 1980 version of the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine – and thus be disappointing. Likewise, her mother explained, Santa did not usually bring children gifts that their parents would not like them to have.
Despite these perfectly reasonable explanations, the little girl responded emphatically:
“Now Mommy, you listen to me. You’re an adult an’ you know a little bit about Santa. But I’m a kid an’ I know A LOT about Santa – and I’m tellin’ you, if I ask Santa to bring me a “‘Noopy ‘No-Comb Macheem’” – he’s gonna bring me one!”
Fortunately for the mother, the request for a Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine was superseded a couple of weeks later by other items on the little girl’s Christmas wish list. But in the years that followed, it was never quite forgotten by either the child or her mother.
And so, on Christmas Day in December 2010 – 30 years later – to the amusement of all, a gift was born. At long last, the little girl – now a grown woman and international advocate for children’s rights – received her much-desired Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine from Santa. Not surprisingly and to her mother’s satisfaction, the machine proved rather challenging to use.
Post Script: That little girl ended up becoming the mother of two feisty little girls who are as equally challenging as was she. Fortunately for her, they have not yet discovered nor requested the 2024 version of the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine for Christmas.
Jani Cardinal
INGREDIENTS:
2 loaves of bread (old dry) - (mix of sourdough trim / white loaf)
2 cups whipping cream
1 egg
4 Tbsp butter + 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 Tbsp fresh sage, fi nely chopped
3 Tbsp fresh thyme, fi nely chopped
2 large white onions, diced 1/8“cubes
2 stalk of celery, diced 1/8“cubes
1 medium carrot, diced 1/8“cubes
6-7 cups of fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb of mild Italian sausage
1 cup chicken stock
Salt + pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash, prep and cut all vegetables & herbs.
Cut bread into 1 inch cubes and place in a large bowl.
In small bowl, whisk whipping cream and egg. Pour over bread and toss to coat.
In a large frying pan, heat butter and oil at low heat. Add finely chopped sage and thyme and cook until the butter is golden brown.
Add cubed onion, celery and carrot and sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables are “al dente. ” Add the mushrooms, increase heat to high to quickly cook the mushrooms.
Add salt and pepper to taste, pour over the bread mixture and mix gently. Set aside.
Remove sausage meat from casings. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat, add sausage meat and cook until nicely browned. Pour in chicken stock, scrape bottom of pan to deglaze it, not letting it reduce. Pour over the bread mixture and mix gently.
Cover the bowl and let rest in the refrigerator overnight.
The next day, line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper and arrange stuffing to make level. Bake for 45 minutes at 350F. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the pan, if it comes out clean (no batter stuck to it) it is done and is ready to be served. 10acres.ca
At Pendray Tea House, the festive season is a time for elegant traditions and irresistible treats. Nestled in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, our tea house exudes Victorian charm and warmth, especially during the holidays. This year, we’re bringing a little bit of
& Pumpkin Cake with White Chocolate Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
· 4 eggs
· 1.25 cups vegetable oil
· 1 cup brown sugar
· 2 cups grated carrots
· 1 cup pumpkin puree
· 0.5 cup roasted cashews, ground
· 0.5 cup dried cranberries
DRY INGREDIENTS:
· 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 cup cake flour
· 2 tsp baking powder
· 1 tsp baking soda
· 1 tsp salt
· 1 tsp cinnamon powder
· 1 tsp ginger powder
INSTRUCTIONS:
our festive magic to your kitchen with chef Onille Pitogo’s delicious carrot & pumpkin cake with white chocolate frosting. Perfect for Christmas morning or any holiday gathering, this cake blends the warmth of spices with the sweetness of pumpkin and carrots.
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9”x13” pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, pumpkin, carrots, and brown sugar. Stir in cashews and cranberries.
3. Sift the dry ingredients (flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger) and fold into the wet mixture until just combined.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat half the cream until steaming, then pour over the white chocolate.
2. Stir until smooth, and cool completely.
3. Whip the remaining cream until soft peaks form, then fold in the cooled chocolate mixture.
4. Spread the frosting over the cake and refrigerate until set.
4. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top.
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let the cake cool before frosting.
WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
· 2 cups whipped cream
· 125g white chocolate chips
· Pinch of salt
This delicious cake will make your Christmas extra special — courtesy of the Pendray Tea House!
Christmas is a blessed time of celebration and relaxation. Hahaha! I’m just kidding; it’s about trying not to stress-murder anybody at the mall or in the airport or around the family dinner table. Also, it’s about buying the perfect gift for your loved ones, which has nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas, but does keep the economy ticking over.
For the most part, when it comes to stressful gift-buying we’re talking about gifts for men-type loved ones, because according to medical science — I swear I am not making this up — it doesn’t matter what gift you buy women-type loved ones, unless you buy her a vacuum or some other household cleaning appliance.
Keep in mind this is not me talking, but the American Psychological Association in a 2008 study which discovered that men feel “decreased similarity” to their romantic partner after receiving a bad gift, whereas women respond to bad gifts more positively, probably because they know how to settle. True, I don’t know exactly what decreased similarity means, but what I do know is last Christmas when my wife bought me a very nice bottle of single malt scotch, I felt such a joyful sense of increased similarity that I had to take a couple of aspirins and a fi ve-hour nap.
Research into the psychology of gift-giving has discovered two goals to consider when buying someone a gift. The first is to make the recipient happy, which is important because happy people almost never punch you in the
DAVID SOVKA
mouth. The result mostly depends on the gift being something they want.
body glitter this holiday season, it’s probably time to join a different bowling league.
Of course, sometimes what people want is a) not what they need; b) too expensive for the budget, which should be based on how hard the recipient punches; or c) dangerous and illegal to bring into the country. In any of these situations, my suggestion is to shake your head and angrily blame Canada Post when no gift appears under the tree.
is achieved by giving a thoughtful and
The second goal is to strengthen the relationship between giver and recipient. This is achieved by giving a thoughtful and memorable gift — one that shows you really know the recipient. Unfortunately, this means really knowing the recipient, which can be tricky if that person is your boss, or — and here I am presenting a completely hypothetical situation which did not at all happen to me — when you had really bad luck in the family’s Secret Santa draw and picked your sister’s second husband, the one about whom you know only two things: he has irritable bowel syndrome, and he really likes Donald Trump.
The point I want to make is there is a perfect gift for everyone. The key to finding it is to really think about your relationship with that person. What does he or she really like? What have you been talking about lately? Those insights can give you a good idea about what to do. For example, if your friend Ted subtly lets you know he most wants iridescent
an oil change, or a really good can you stole from a building site. get something that implies
jigsaw puzzle or carefully drawn plans
You may have a special someone in your life who is more excited about a toolbelt than a designer purse, in which case you are probably safe to buy a practical gift. I mean something he or she can use in daily life, like an oil change, or a really good can opener, or a box of dynamite you stole from a building site. Other people really appreciate activity-based gifts. For them you want to get something that implies “we’re going to work on this thing together,” like a jigsaw puzzle or carefully drawn plans for robbing the government liquor store down the street.
My favourite present to receive is a gift certificate from anywhere I normally spend my money, which is pretty much just bookstores, because everything else comes from the office supply cabinet at work.
Of course, gift certificates likely won’t cut it for people who get misty-eyed at handmade cards, scrapbooks, and other crap like that. Because gifts for a sentimental loved one should symbolize your relationship, it may be simpler to just find another loved one. I’m kidding! There are plenty of online businesses using children in Southeast Asia to make sentimental gifts quickly and cheaply.
They’re like little elves working for Santa, something else which has nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas, but does keep the economy ticking over.
