HOW THE ISLAND GIVES
Here’s how to make an impact in your community this year
MAKING AN IMPACT CAN LOOK LIKE VOLUNTEERING, DONATING, OR LEARNING ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS.
2025 can be your year to get involved in your community’s wellbeing – be it through volunteering, or by giving to a charity or two that are meaningful to you. But with so many organizations in need, where do you even begin?
The Victoria Foundation has been helping community members connect with causes that matter since 1936, be it through donating, starting a philanthropic fund, or attending communityminded events. To date, it has granted over $375 million to the community.
But the work is far from over. Here are some ways you can join your neighbours to make a lasting impact.
1) TIME IS A MAJOR GIFT
So many charitable organizations rely on the dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers. Be it mentoring, packaging necessities, collecting food, dog-walking, or other opportunities, you can make a big impact simply by donating your time to a non-profit or charity.
How do you find volunteer opportunities? If you know a cause you’d like to support but don’t know where to start, contact a local volunteer services organization, such as Volunteer Victoria, Oak Bay Volunteer Services, or the Saanich Volunteer Services Society.
They connect willing volunteers with causes that need support, and are an excellent place to start your volunteering journey.
2) COMMUNITY ACTION FUNDS
Community Action Funds (CAFs) at the Victoria Foundation are a convenient and flexible way to make confident decisions in your giving so that you can make the greatest impact.
Simply choose from 10 funds that represent different cause areas in the community, such as food security, housing, education, gender equity, and more.
Your gift will be combined with other donors’ gifts. The funds are the granted strategically to organizations within the cause area, that serve the community in crucial ways.
Organizations like The Soup Kitchen, in Victoria, received a grant from the Food Security fund last year to help with 36,000 meals for people facing hunger. It’s all thanks to donations from good-hearted people in the community.
3) LEAVING A LEGACY THROUGH YOUR WILL:
Wills are one of the most popular ways to leave a legacy gift. Whether you want to support a local organization or a registered charity anywhere in Canada, the Victoria Foundation can help you plan your gift for the most lasting impact. Donors can designate a specific gift or a portion of their estate to the Foundation and, in doing so, become members of the Victoria Circle.
Victoria’s Kirsten and Barb are proud to have left a gift from their Will to organizations that support women’s needs – a cause close to their hearts, as former teachers and union workers.
4) BECOME A GADSDEN MEMBER AND ATTEND PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS
The Gadsden Initiative invites emerging generations of philanthropists to attend networking sessions with all kinds of social purpose leaders.
Recently, Gadsden members took a tour of Greater Victoria’s Food Security Distribution Centre, a wide-scale centre that connects our community’s most vulnerable with fresh, local food. Past events included an ‘enterprise mini market’ at Ecologyst, a sustainable clothing factory, where members networked with local vendors selling products to benefit social causes. This year-long, flexible cohort program helps new donors build philanthropic relationships and create their own fund they can use to make charitable grants every year.
5) TAKE THE VICTORIA’S VITAL SIGNS SURVEY
Now in its 20th year, Vital Signs provides an annual checkup on Greater Victoria’s health and wellbeing. Respondents rate quality of life in 12 key issue areas, including housing, health and wellness, and art and culture, and more. The results are published in the annual Vital Signs report, used by many community leaders and decision-makers.
Take the short-form survey by May 30th, for a chance to win 1 of 3 $100 gift cards to Country Grocer. Double your chances by taking the long-form survey. Visit go.victoriavitalsigns.ca/survey/ or scan the QR code!
COMMUNITY ACTION FUNDS MAKE GIVING CONVENIENT AND FLEXIBLE. PHOTO: TOWFIQU BARBHUIYA
KIRSTEN AND BARB ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT WOMEN’S CAUSES THROUGH A GIFT FROM THEIR WILL.
KIRSTEN AND BARB
How one Island family’s health journey inspired them to give back
OurdonorsensureIsland familiescan stay together throughouttheir child’shealthcarejourney,evenwhenit takes them farfromhome.
Your gift—nomatterthe size—makes it possiblefor them tofocus on what matters most:their child’swell-being.
For Penny and Roger Gosselin, giving back has always been a way of life.
As retired educators and long-time monthly donors, they generously support both Jeneece Place in Victoria and Q w alayu House in Campbell River—two homes operated by Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island that provide a comforting place to stay for families who must travel for their child’s medical care.
Raising their two sons in Powell River, they embraced outdoor adventures, sports, and the arts.
Penny’s journey into teaching began at the University of British Columbia, where she discovered her passion for working with young children.
Penny and Roger’s connection to the Foundation’s mission began with Jeneece Place. Penny recalls the impact of learning that a local child had a vision to create a home away from home for families with children receiving medical care. “Jeneece Place immediately touched my heart,” she says. “My first impression
was wonder—that a young person could make such a difference in the lives of families.”
Their decision to give to the Foundation was personal. In 1984, their son Ryan contracted epiglottitis at 23 months old and was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital.
”Imagining the added stress of finding somewhere for me to stay was horrifying,” Penny explains.
“When we moved to Vancouver Island and heard of Jeneece Place, it opened a door for our family to give back.”
When Q w alayu House opened in 2021, they knew they wanted to give there as well. Living in the community, they understood its impact on North Island families.
“A warm and caring place to be during a time when health needs are front and centre is paramount,” she says. “I hope others will join my family in giving to CHFVI. It will warm your heart, as it does ours.”
Find out more about our monthly giving program at islandkidsfirst. com/storymaker
Ihave always been deeply grateful for our local hospitals, but it wasn’t until I needed care myself that I truly understood just how life-changing the work of our local caregivers can be. For years, dragon boating was a passion of mine. I loved the camaraderie of my team, and the energy of being out on the water. It kept me strong and active—until, suddenly, I wasn’t. Fatigue and chest pains crept in, forcing me to slow down.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but my heart was struggling. I am so thankful for the care teams at Royal Jubilee Hospital who performed lifesaving surgery on me. The care I received was truly extraordinary. Every nurse, every physician, and every specialist I encountered made me feel supported, safe, and in the best hands possible.
When I last updated my will, I made the decision to include a gift to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. After experiencing such exceptional care and witnessing how many
people benefit from the support of our hospitals, it just felt like the right thing to do.
By leaving a gift in my will, I am supporting the work of future doctors and all the doctors at the Heart Health Clinic who saved my life and allowed me to get back to doing the things that I love.
By choosing to give, you are doing something truly remarkable. You are making an investment in the future of healthcare—an investment in the lives of people who, like me, may have never expected to need it. I encourage you to join me in supporting the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. Together, we can ensure that the exceptional care I received—and that so many others rely on—continues to thrive.
-Ivan, Legacy Donor
From Hurt to Healing: Farley’s Journey Made Possible by Forever Guardians
Farley’s first interactions with people were in isolation when he arrived at his local BC SPCA Community Animal Centre because this innocent little guy (pictured here) was in such rough shape. This sweet kitty was met with unfamiliar hands and masked faces. But that didn’t matter to him. He was so grateful that he tried to give a loving headbutt to each animal care attendant and veterinarian he could get close to.
He never did meet the kind Forever Guardians who compassionately gifted his care over the many weeks he was in shelter, but if he could, we know he’d give them a headbutt full of love too. Forever Guardians are incredibly kind and choose to always be there for animals like Farley with a gift of care in their will or estate.
These compassionate supporters helped heal the lesions and wounds that caused Farley pain. His tiny tail was injured so badly that staff needed to amputate it so he would not risk future infections. On top of all that, he was
diagnosed with ringworm. This sweet little guy may have been the first cat ever to purr through ringworm bathing because he adored any gentle touch from a human. As one of his caregivers noted ‘he has a purr engine that doesn’t run out of gas’.
It is amazing how animals, no matter what they have endured, can be so full of love, and find it in their tiny hearts to trust again. Forever Guardians make this paws-ible because, just as they cared deeply for animals during their lives, they remained there to guide sweet Farley purring into the loving arms of his new forever family with a gift through their estate.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Forever Guardian so you can help animals and humans thrive 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 loving heart will always be there creating a kinder future for animals just like Farley!
WALKING IN MEMORY
Grief can be overwhelming, driving us to seek comfort in the memories of those we’ve lost. For Chuck Salmon, this search led him to the annual Hike for Hospice, a trail where memories are honoured and healing begins.
Chuck’s life has been profoundly shaped by Victoria Hospice, which has provided dignity and compassionate support to his loved ones in their final days. His first wife, Lorna, fought a devastating battle with metastasized breast cancer. She passed away in 1992, supported by the Palliative Response Team and surrounded by love—a gift his family will never forget. Since then, Victoria Hospice has brought solace to many more members of Chuck’s circle.
Grief, as Chuck knows, doesn’t end with a goodbye. It lingers in the quiet, in the moments when absence feels most acute. For Chuck, the annual Hike for Hospice is a help. Each step on the path is a tribute to Lorna and
all those whose lives were eased by compassionate end-of-life care.
“Nature can replace the pain of loss,” Chuck reflects. “And hiking can be exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. Just like grief and connection can coexist.”
On Sunday May 4, as he walks, Chuck will carry not only his memories but also the weight of others’ stories—the friends made along the journey, the shared connections of resilience, the understanding that grief, though isolating, can also bring us together.
Hike for Hospice is more than a fundraising event. It’s an enduring testament to love. Every dollar raised helps families navigate their most challenging times. For Chuck, as long as he can walk, he’s determined to keep hiking, keep giving his time, and keep honouring the legacy of those he’s loved and lost along the way.
Join us! Register or donate in memory at victoriahospice.org/hike
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Willows Park, Oak Bay NEW VENUE
Enter the 50/50 Raffle Anticipated jackpot of $15,000! GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE HIKE FOR HOSPICE 50/50 RAFFLE: www victoriahospice rafflenexus com
Join Victoria Hospice for a 3.5km walk to honour loved ones and support compassionate end-of-life care. Register today at VictoriaHospice.org/Hike
CHUCK SALMON (R) AND HIS SON DAN (L) AT HIKE FOR HOSPICE.
An Inspired Community for Healthcare
Ordinary People Making an Extraordinary Difference
Imagine a world where the values and passions you hold dear continue to flourish for generations to come. It can be a reality.
As we journey through life, we gather more than just possessions. We gather wisdom, experiences, friends, family, and a deep understanding of what truly matters. We witness and inspire change, overcome challenges, and hopefully, make a positive impact along the way.
As we face questions about how best to prepare for end-of-life and ensure our families and loved ones are cared for, we also face challenges of how to best leave a legacy that endures beyond our lifetimes.
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation (SPHHF) has the honour of witnessing remarkable individuals; ordinary people creating a legacy to make extraordinary differences through Legacy Giving
The true essence of Legacy Giving is leaving a gift to a charity or cause you care deeply about in your will ensuring your values live on, contributing to a brighter future. No matter how small or large a gift is, it has an impact.
People leaving Legacy Gifts to SPHHF are unique, but the one thing they have in common is the desire to make a meaningful contribution in the most profound ways to support healthcare.
What kind of world would you want to leave behind for your community? What values would you want to be remembered for? Consider these questions and begin shaping your legacy and ensuring your impact extends for the lifetime of many.
For almost 40 years, the Saanich
Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing healthcare by providing up-to-date facilities, innovative programs, and proactive solutions to support the health, wellness, and sustainability of the Saanich Peninsula and the Southern Gulf Island communities. Guided by the voices of our Inspired Community of Donors, we continue to expand access to vital medical services, ensuring quality care reaches those who need it, both within our community and beyond.
Enhancing patient care, improving accessibility, and attracting top healthcare professionals to this region remain at the heart of the Foundation’s mission.
To learn more about Legacy Giving, visit sphf.ca or connect with our Director of Philanthropy, Bren Moroz-Pettyjohn, to discuss how your gift can make a lasting impact: Email bren.moroz-pettyjohn@sphf.ca or call 250-656-2948.
DONOR STORY
My brother Lann Copeland was many things – a small business owner, a schnauzer dad, a gourmet cook, and a good friend to many people. He loved life on the Peninsula: walking through Centennial Park, having a beer and a Skookum burger at the Prairie Inn, or just chatting with the cashiers at Fairway.
When his health began to fail, he depended on the Saanich Peninsula Hospital to give him the health care he needed – especially after he lost his family physician. He always was treated with kindness and care, and the staff always gave him a sense of acceptance and respect. He felt real gratitude for the staff at Saan Pen.
It came as no surprise to us that when Lann passed, he had remembered Saanich Peninsula Hospital in his will.
The hospital is a vital part of the Saanich Peninsula, and Lann wanted to make sure that his bequest would help his neighbours and friends have access to the quality care he counted on for so many years. –as told to us by Lann’s sister
A few lines in your will could impact generations of Island families
EIf you’re an older adult, retiree, or even a caregiver to an aging loved one, you are an expert. You understand the many issues that seniors face – social isolation, loneliness, living with chronic illnesses, facing the spectre of dementia, etc. – far better than anyone younger. You likely also care about these issues far more than anyone younger too.
At Eldercare Foundation, we see this reflected in those who make donations to help improve care and quality of life for seniors in need. Most are adults aged 65 plus. While these adults have more interest in ensuring local seniors receive quality care and support, many live
on a fixed income and feel constrained in the difference they can make. We often hear comments like, “I wish I could give more, but I’m not very rich” or “I wish I could give more, but I’m living on a fixed income.” They are often surprised to learn that many of the most impactful gifts that Eldercare has ever received are from older adults just like them.
Eldercare was established in 1982 thanks to a legacy gift from the estate of Margaret Nicholson, then a resident at Glengarry long-term care home who left a portion of her estate to the foundation. It was a larger gift than she likely could have afforded in her lifetime but, as a bequest, it
provided entertainment and support for other Glengarry residents for more than 35 years! Eldercare now provides program and care enhancements to eight long-term care homes – with plans to expand across Vancouver Island in the coming years – serving more than 1,000 residents last year alone. In 1983, Eldercare received another legacy gift, this time from Ruth Gardner, a local psychologist and social worker who dedicated her life to helping others. She wanted to continue helping people after she was gone, so she chose to create a remainder gift in her will. Ruth determined that, after her loved ones and
students, and Island Health staff working to improve care for older adults.
Eldercare has been the grateful recipient of more than a hundred legacy gifts in the years since those two key legacy gifts. In 2013, we received $141,000 from the estate of Sooke resident George Haslett. He knew about the West Shore Adult Day Program and wanted to make sure that those services would be available to others. He directed his gift to this incredible program that provides social connection and therapy support for seniors, as well as respite for family caregivers.
In fact, every pillar of Eldercare’s work – helping seniors to age in place at home, enhancing quality of life in long-term care, and advancing research and education to improve the care available to seniors everywhere – has enjoyed its biggest advancements because of gifts made via a will.
bills were looked after, any remaining value in her estate would be left to Eldercare.
This resulted in a donation of $53,215, which Eldercare promptly invested, using the interest to support research projects aimed at improving care for seniors and those living with chronic illnesses. Now more than $150,000 in research grants to dozens of projects later, Ruth’s legacy lives on and continues to grow. Each year, the Ruth A. Gardner Research Award provides $10,000 to a researcher at the University of Victoria’s Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health. The Gardner Award is now one of eleven Eldercare awards and bursaries geared to researchers,
Very few of the people who made these gifts would ever be considered affluent. They were simply experts in the trials and tribulations of aging who found a way to help others without impacting their own quality of life, or their ability to support their loved ones. With a few lines in your will, you could make an impact across generations of Island families, too. Want to learn more about legacy giving? Speak with a trusted financial advisor or call our Executive Director, Tom Arnold, at 250-370-5640 or email tom@eldercarefoundation. org. Eldercare Foundation of Vancouver Island is a registered charity that believes all seniors deserve the chance to age with dignity.
SINCE 1982, MANY OF THE DONATIONS TO ELDERCARE THAT MOST IMPACTED THE CARE AVAILABLE TO SENIORS HAVE BEEN LEGACY GIFTS MADE VIA A WILL.
A new outreach initiative is taking care on the road
If you find yourself noticing a zippy blueand-green Sprinter van out and about in the Capital Regional District, you may have just spied the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) Mobile Mission. Stocked with blankets, sleeping bags, socks, ponchos, warm clothing, and food, the Mobile Mission van is designed to offer immediate help to people experiencing hardship and in need of survival supplies.
“This van exists because, while there are a lot of incredible services out there, sometimes people are hesitant to access them,” says Mobile Mission Supervisor Brooke Wright. With Outreach Worker Will Chapman, Wright takes the van to locations all over Greater Victoria five days a week, ensuring that people who have lost housing or work aren’t being left out of services. “I’m sure a lot of people can relate to being one paycheque away from vulnerability, and it matters because we’re all in community together.”
At least 1,665 people in the region are experiencing homelessness, many of them in harder-to-reach areas like forests, along rivers, and far from the nearest support services. In operation for three months, the Mobile Mission is already connecting with anywhere between 150 and 200 people per week already, and that number is expected to rise as the team continues to build strong relationships.
While the Mobile Mission is new in the CRD,
UGM’s Mobile Mission programming has an established history of building connections in the Lower Mainland. Currently, there are two Mobile Mission vans that have routes in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and the impact that mobile outreach has had in the lives of struggling community members has been palpable.
“This work is deeply rooted in dignity and proximity,” says Kris Knutson, UGM’s Vice President of Outreach & Community Services.
“It’s about showing up consistently, meeting people where they are, and saying: ‘You matter. We see you. We are here to journey with you.’
Whether it’s in Langford, Sooke, or tucked away in a forested area, we are here for you. We aren’t just handing out snacks or survival gear—we’re building trust, and sometimes, trust is the first step towards recovery and transformation.“
One community member who experienced transformation through the support of the Mobile Mission is Kristy Ransome, who met with van staff at a crucial moment in her own journey. Ransome had been living on the streets of Abbotsford, isolated, in an abusive relationship, and struggling with addiction and homelessness when she first encountered the Mobile Mission van. Initially, the team provided her with survival supplies including food, clothing, a sleeping bag, and, perhaps most importantly, a listening ear.
“It felt like a miracle when the van showed up,” Ransome says. “I was in such a dark place, and I didn’t know where to turn. They didn’t just give me stuff—they listened, they talked to me, and they made me feel like I mattered. It was the first time in a long time that I felt seen.” When Ransome’s health began to deteriorate and she found herself exhausted and afraid, the Mobile Mission van appeared—and she got in. “I was terrified; I was shaking the whole time. But I also felt this weight lifting off of me.” Mobile Mission staff took Kristy to a shelter and then she entered recovery programming at UGM; her life has been on a changed trajectory ever since. In Victoria, the Mobile Mission will be providing referrals to the many relief
organizations already doing incredible support work, including Arrow Home, UGM’s recovery home for women with infants in Saanich. The goal is to further build out the region’s network of care.
“We see our role in Greater Victoria as one of relationship and collaboration,” says Knutson. “There’s already incredible work happening here—we’re simply coming alongside, with a van and a heart for service, to strengthen what’s already being done and help more people take that first step toward hope.”
If you know an area that our Mobile Mission team should check out, or if you are in need of support yourself, please contact us at 250-513-3323.
Wil ly ou jo in us in ca r in gf or pe op le ex pe rie nc ing po verty,h omel es sness, and addi cti on in Greater Vi ctoria?
It costs around $25 for our O ut reach Wo rkers to offe rs upporta nd life-chang ing next step st oap erson ex pe rien cin gh om eles sn ess.
Supportyour community by making agiftatugm.ca/victoria
HO PE LI VE SO N
Honouring Brenda: A Legacy to Bring Cancer Care Closer to Home
Su ppor tt he fu t ur eo fc anc er car e wi th ag if ti ny ou rw il l .
Th an ks to le ga c yd onor sl ikeK im Pi ri e, th e
BC Ca nc er Fo un da ti on fu el sr es ear ch and ca re ad va nc em en ts th at wi ll be ne fit ou r co mmu ni ti es fo rg ener at io ns .
To lea rn mo r ea bou tr emem berin gt he BC Ca nc er Fo unda ti on in yo ur wi ll, visit bccancerfoundation.com/legacy or co nt act Jor da nM cC ly mo nt at j or da n. mc cl ym ont @b ccan cer.b c. ca o r( 250 )4 15 -1 888
Isaid if they ever announce a BC Cancer centre in Nanaimo, I’ll donate $50,000,” Kim recalls. Now, with BC Cancer – Nanaimo set to open in 2028, he’s fulfilled that promise — and gone a step further by including the BC Cancer Foundation in his estate plans.
A Gift to Bring Care Closer to Home
Kim and Brenda Pirie believed in living life to the fullest. They travelled extensively — Bora Bora, Mexico, Baffin Island and beyond — making memories that became even more precious after Brenda’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2014. Now, Kim is honouring Brenda’s spirit of resilience by supporting cancer care close to home, including a gift in his will to the Foundation.
While Brenda’s journey was marked by incredible strength, the long trips from their Nanaimo home to BC Cancer – Victoria were challenging. Inspired by the community’s generosity in bringing Vancouver Island’s first PET/CT scanner to BC Cancer – Victoria in 2019, Kim was determined to do more.
A Legacy for Future Generations
Their daughter, Lindsay, witnessed the importance of accessible, highquality care during her mother’s illness, which inspired her to pursue a career as a nurse in Nanaimo. “She called recently to say she saw trees being cleared for the new centre — it’s so exciting to see.”
BC Cancer – Nanaimo will not only ease travel hardships for thousands of patients from north of the Malahat, but also free up vital treatment space at BC Cancer – Victoria, ensuring more timely care across the Island. Kim encourages his community to think about how they can ease the burden for future families — whether by supporting the new centre or advancing BC Cancer’s life-saving research.
“I have no doubts about the quality of care my wife received at BC Cancer. If you want to support cancer care, I tell people that’s the place to give to.”
To learn more about leaving a legacy gift, contact Jordan McClymont at jordan.mcclymont@ bccancer.bc.ca or (250) 415-1888 Or visit bccancerfoundation.com/legacy
PIRIE
Help someone’srewritestory:
Leave a legacy of Hope:
Imagine being afraid and alone. Not sure where to get help or who to even ask. Not sure where your next meal will come from or where you will sleep tonight. This is reality for so many people in Victoria.
Now imagine that someone stepped in to help before you reached that place of crisis –someone who helped you apply for housing or disability status. Someone who recognized your brain injury and guided you in accessing supports. Someone who saw you struggling as a single parent and helped you find childcare and a supportive community.
Suddenly your story could look very different – and end up much happier.
For over 150 years, The Cridge Centre for the Family has been that someone, walking alongside individuals and families and
stepping in to provide support and safety.
Today, thousands of people in Victoria are safe and thriving because of The Cridge Centre for the Family.
Our legacy of care and commitment to community is powerful and life-giving. Your support can create a legacy of care that continues to give to our community for years to come. Giving a gift in your Will to The Cridge Centre will ensure that your legacy will continue.
For more information about leaving a gift in your Will to The Cridge Centre: cridge.org/getinvolved
Or donate today to bring hope and safety to someone in your community: cridge.org/donate
For more information: Joanne Linka jlinka@cridge.org 250 995 6419
KidSport Greater Victoria celebrates 25 years, and launches
Since 2000, KidSport Greater Victoria has supported local families living in financial need, so their kids can access diverse sport opportunities. Demand is rising fast, and community help is needed to provide over $550,000 in registration fees to support 1500+ local kids, this year alone
As BC’s largest KidSport chapter, KidSport Greater Victoria has reached over 17,600 children and youth from across the CRD with access to sport, with over $4,700,000 in registration fees. That impact has only been possible thanks to the incredible supporters who donate to KidSport’s work.
As need continues to grow, community support is essential so KidSport can keep helping more kids to access the sports they love, and all the benefits participation can bring, including improved physical and mental health, friendships, and life lessons related to teamwork, leadership, resilience, commitment, and more.
Please consider giving a Dollar a Day So a Kid Can Play – the gift of a season of sport for a local child who wouldn’t otherwise have opportunity.
Notes like this attest to the value of KidSport – and your – support:
“The impact KidSport’s help has on families goes beyond covering a participation fee - it introduces families and children to a new community, opportunities and friendships. Beyond the registration fees, which are so helpful and ensure kids get to participate, support from KidSport creates a community with lasting impacts. Our family has witnessed and benefited from these outcomes firsthand, and we are grateful for the invaluable connections that got their start through KidSport Greater Victoria’s help.”
- KidSport-funded parent TS
We welcome donations in any amount; gifts of $20+ are tax deductible.
To donate, scan the QR code, or visit www.kidsportvictoria25.ca
www.kidsportvictoria.ca for more information.
War Amps key tag mailing celebrates 50 years of CHAMP
As The War Amps is mailing key tags to residents across Canada, it is also celebrating 50 years of its Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, which supports young amputees thanks to donations from the public.
Gabriel Ferron-Bouius, 21, is a right leg amputee who grew up with the support of the CHAMP Program since he was born, including financial assistance for artificial limbs, peer connections through CHAMP events and so much more.
“I had never met anyone else who was an amputee until my first CHAMP Seminar. There, I met older Champs that I could look up to and who showed me that my amputation didn’t have to limit what I could do. I learned to walk by watching Champs like me and learned all about life as an amputee,” Ferron-Bouius says.
“Now that I’m older, I get to pass this knowledge along to the younger Champs I meet. I would not be the
Gabriel grew up with the support of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program thanks to donations from the public to the Key Tag Service.
person I am today without the support of War Amps donors.”
The Key Tag Service is a free key return service for Canadians that generates funds for The War Amps many programs, including CHAMP. Since amputee veterans started the service in 1946, it continues to employ amputees and people with disabilities and has returned more than 1.5 million sets of lost keys to their owners.
Each key tag has a confidentially coded number. If you lose your keys, the finder can call the toll-free number on the back of the tag or place them in any mailbox in Canada, and The War Amps will return them to you by courier, free of charge.
The War Amps receives no 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 tollfree 1 800 250-3030.
make a charity a beneficiary
Giving to charity can be a rewarding endeavor that makes a difference in the lives of people in need. Many people donate throughout their lives, and some people may want to impart a more lasting legacy by continuing to support a charity even after they have passed away.
Incorporating a charity into an estate plan is a great way to continue giving after you pass away. Individuals may not know how to make charities beneficiaries in their wills. A financial planner, attorney or accountant can answer the more complex questions individuals have about naming charities as beneficiaries in a will. In the meantime, this general guide can serve as a solid foundation for individuals who want to give back in their wills.
Most people think of beneficiaries as loved ones, but a beneficiary can be any person or entity one chooses to leave money to, including nonprofit organizations. It’s relatively the same process to name a charity as a beneficiary as it is an individual. According to the resource Trust & Will, first identify the charity that will be supported, including getting its Employer Identification Number or Taxpayer Identification Number. Next, determine which type of gift to make, which may be a predetermined financial contribution, a gift of property, or other assets like stocks. For large donations like real estate or cars, it may be best to contact the charity in advance to ensure they are able to accept such gifts. Finally, be sure to include your wishes in an estate plan. A qualified attorney can help clients draft a will that spells out their wishes in detail.
Keep in mind that charities also can be named as beneficiaries on life insurance policies or individual retirement accounts. They also can be listed on bank accounts. Again, people are urged to discuss all options with estate planners to ensure their plans fully reflect their wishes.
When naming a charity as a beneficiary, it can be wise to inform family members and other beneficiaries so no one is caught off guard upon your death. This way the charitable gift is not held up by delays in executing the will.
Where Kids Like Lydia Find Courage, Confidence, and Community
Brimming with excitement, 14-year-old Lydia first stepped onto the grounds of Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan near Victoria. Lydia is diagnosed with Kabuki Syndrome, a rare genetic characterized by developmental delays and affecting multiple parts of her body, including the face and skeleton. Her vision and hearing are also severely affected.
Lydia faced more than just basic camp jitters—everything was a new sensory experience. The scrambling up rock-climbing walls, meeting other children with disabilities, and attempting to ride the beloved Big Swing, she was venturing into uncharted territory.
Initially, the unfamiliar environment led to feelings of homesickness. But as Lydia acclimated, she flourished in a space designed to support kids with disabilities, earning the nickname “Prankster Princess” for her playful spirit.
The impact of these experiences on Lydia extends far beyond Camp Shawnigan. At camp, she developed social connections and learned self-care skills like showering independently – lessons that
followed her back into daily life. The camp also provided a stage where Lydia’s personality could shine through. Each activity, whether an arts session or a swim in the lake, was an opportunity for her to push her boundaries.
Lydia’s mother, Lana, sees Camp Shawnigan as an irreplaceable program where her daughter can explore her capabilities and enjoy a slice of normalcy. “Easter Seals Camp is all about opportunity, accomplishment, growth, and the joy of discovering yourself, something everybody deserves,” she shares.
The transformative experiences at Camp Shawnigan come with substantial costs to Easter Seals BC/Yukon. Camps are accessible and inclusive, providing a welcome environment, specially trained staff and equipment to support children and adults with all types of disabilities. While families cover a portion through camp fees, we rely on generous donors to support the remainder. In addition, we offer other programs to support people with disabilities like the Easter Seals House that has served over 1,700 Vancouver Island families last year.
