Like many families, the things that bring them joy have passed down through Van, her daughter Katherine, and granddaughter Ursa. All three share a love of books, music and learning, of being curious and pursuing knowledge throughout their lives. They also share a talent for handcrafting beautiful things. Van was a lifelong knitter, and although she had to quit because of vision issues, Ursa has inherited her knack with needles and yarn.
“I like wearing warm, woolly things and I like making those warm, woolly things as well,” says Ursa. “It’s wearable art.”
Her mother Katherine is hooked on crochet, but these days the retired dental hygienist keeps her hands busy with needle felting, using wool to make soft, textural works of art that look almost like paintings. For her, the act of creating is a form of meditation.
“You just lose yourself in your heart, and drift and feel like you’re making something beautiful. It’s incredibly satisfying.”
It’s clear that all three generations have found joy in the simple pleasures of creating something by hand. But there’s another common thread woven throughout their lives – a shared love of Knowledge Network, British Columbia’s public broadcaster. They’ve watched it for years, with the British dramas and mysteries (perfect to knit by!) among their favourites. Van and Katherine have been known to catch up, and occasionally cry, over the twists and turns in the lives of Heartbeat’svillagers, and they all hate to miss an episode of Midsomer Murders.
They value the fact that Knowledge showcases documentaries and factual programming from around the world, as well as local BC stories, such as recent programs that took to the streets with paramedics and went behind the curtains in Vancouver General Hospital’s fast-paced ER. Not having to sit through commercials is a bonus, but there’s more to it than that.
“Knowledge isn’t beholden to any corporation,” explains Katherine. “Nobody is dictating what they’re going to show, whether it’s a nature series or a documentary about Vancouver’s housing crisis. We get the real story.”
Realizing how much Knowledge brings to their lives, they each decided to become ongoing donors. It wasn’t something they discussed; they just felt it was the right thing to do.
“My grandmother, my mother and now me – we all love the shows and watch them regularly. Knowledge is such a big part of all our lives and we wanted to do our bit to support it,” says Ursa.
Giving back to causes and organizations they believe in has always been part of the family – another inherited trait, or perhaps more a matter of leading by example.
“Even when the kids were young and we didn’t have a lot of money, we always made small donations,” says Van. “If I have enough to share, that’s what I want to do. To me, it’s a way of living a good life in our Canadian society.”
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are most meaningful, and by including a legacy gift to Knowledge in her will, Van is supporting the programming that she and her family have enjoyed so much over the years. “Knowledge has given me a lot of pleasure. This is one way I have of giving back to Knowledge.”
There are many ways to support Knowledge Network, including gifts for annual programming and charitable bequests to the Knowledge Endowment Fund.
To find out more, visit Knowledge.ca or call 604.431.3222 or toll-free 1.877.456.6988.
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