For the past 20 years, the Eldercare Foundation and University of Victoria’s Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), have hosted a special event to recognize the International Day of Older Persons and to celebrate volunteerism with the Valued Elder Recognition Awards (VERA).
VERA honours individuals who, over their lifetime, have given exemplary service through volunteerism by highlighting the extraordinary contributions made by local volunteers throughout the Capital Regional District on Southern Vanouver Island.
This year, on October 1st, eleven amazing volunteers were honoured.
ANDREE GALBRAITH
Andrée Galbraith was a founding member of the BC Schizophrenia Society Victoria Branch, established in 1984, now called Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island. Andrée has a family member with a mental health diagnosis, and knows first-hand the impact it can make on a family. The agency found its start as Andrée and several of her family members realized there needed to be community support for families supporting a loved one with schizophrenia. They organized a psychiatrist to give a public presentation at the local library, and expected a few people to attend. Over 100 people came together to learn more about helping their loved one.
Andrée has remained committed to the organisation for over 40 years. She was on the board of directors for several terms and when she retired in 1999 became an office and event volunteer. As an office volunteer, she would welcome community members and share her story as well as navigate community resources to help people feel less alone in their journey of mental health, whether as a person with an illness or a family member.
People who worked with at the Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island speak of Andrée’s selfless commitment, lovely smile, warmth and compassion, and her wonderful sense of humour. They say her kindness, empathy, and generosity of spirit has made a big difference in the lives of many people over the years.
Andrée’s pre-retirement occupation was a special student assistant in schools. She also volunteered on the board at Capital Mental Health Association (CMHA) for nine years in the 1980s and1990s, and worked in the CMHA gift shop once a week when she retired in 1999 until it closed in 2017. She enjoyed seeing the happiness it brought to patients in the hospital.
BEVERLY UNGER
Beverly Unger believes “music is food for the soul”. She cares deeply about the value of live symphonic music to youth. With the Victoria Symphony, Beverly supports programs of music for children in schools, and the Composer in Residence (CIR) program, which consists of members of the Symphony working with high school students, who compose music and play a public concert at the end of the project. Her attendance at one of these concerts in 2009 lead her to make her first of many contributions to the Victoria Symphony.
Colleagues at the Victoria Symphony describe Beverly as invigorating and insightful, with an endless amount of energy. They highlight her determination, generosity, and keenness to help local youth to have more access to musical education and performance opportunities. She is the greatest supporter of the Victoria Symphony’s Education & Outreach program; at her urging, the Symphony expanded a special program called Adopt a School in which they bring many of their programs free of charge to schools with marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Beverly has provided for the longevity of these programs through a gift to the Foundation for the Victoria Symphony.
Prior to retirement, Beverly was a social work psychotherapist in New York City. At the James Bay Community Project, Beverly volunteered in her professional capacity, leading a workshop for depressed women, and acting as a helper to a ‘new mothers’ group. She has also volunteered at Our Place and Victoria Cool Aid Society, participating in the creation of the community’s branch for Planned Parenthood, as well as the Salt Spring Island Community Centre and Youth Centre.
DONNA ZWIERS
Donna has been volunteering with the Saanich Volunteer Services Society for 23 years. Volunteering for at least two hours each week, she has completed over 830 “jobs” for the agency to date.
As a Companion Visitor, a program that matches homebound older adults with a volunteer who visits them weekly, Donna enjoyed her time with each client. “The clients were so very friendly. I’ve sat in many kitchens in Saanich and was privileged to hear life stories,” she says. “We keep people in their homes as long as possible. Often I was the only person they got to talk to that week – thus the long chats in kitchens or on doorsteps.”
Donna has a caring, good-natured demeanor that makes it so easy to talk with her.
She has also been a Driver, helping clients stay healthy by taking them to medical appointments. Because literacy is very important to her, Donna has volunteered at the Times Colonist Book Sale for more than 15 years. From 1986 to 1995, she volunteered in numerous school libraries (in Victoria BC and Newmarket ON), assisted in computer labs, and hauled band equipment as needed. She also volunteers with the Garth Homer Society in Saanich.
Donna has an infectious smile, and is the kind of person who upon first meeting them, you want to know them more. Her skills, attributes and loyalty would be welcome in any organization and staff at Saanich Volunteer Services consider themselves very lucky that she chooses to share her time and skills with them.
In her early career, Donna was a computer analyst and a mathematician. On becoming a mom in 1979, she retired to be at home with her children. Donna is a fibre artist, her main form being weaving but also knitting, felting, and quilting. Donna’s love of gardening is the extra gift she gives to Saanich Volunteer Services Society. She lovingly looks after the numerous varieties of flowers and shrubbery around McRae House, the heritage home of the Saanich Volunteer Services office, sharing her knowledge and love of gardening.
Author Roy Bennett’s words, ‘Be the reason somebody smiles” best describe Donna. If anyone deserves to be recognized as a Valued Elder, it is Donna Zwiers.
ELEANORE ARKESTEYN
Eleanore Arkesteyn volunteers at several organizations in Sidney BC: The Sendial Program at Thrifty Foods, the Sidney Historical Museum, the Sidney/North Saanich Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, and the BC Aviation Museum. She has also volunteered with St Vincent de Paul, and the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.
As a Thrifty’s Sendial volunteer, Eleanore is very committed. She focuses on coming in and helping and loves what she does. She’s personable, a pleasure to work with and likes to help her fellow volunteers. She is a great listener, which is so important when making phone calls to customers. Her patience and comforting personality make her indispensable. Eleanore an exemplary volunteer who cares.
At the Sidney Historical Museum, Eleanore has volunteered for the past fifteen years. Not only has she faithfully supported the museum by coming in one morning a week to work in the collections storage, but has served several years on the Board of Directors and Executive of Sidney Museum. Eleanore’s dedication and support have been greatly valued as she works with our team of volunteers, and her ideas have helped with the direction and growth of the museum.
Eleanore is an avid reader and library patron who attended her first Friends of the Library Meeting at the Sidney/North Saanich branch in 2007 at the invitation of a Friend. Eleanore joined the Friends and is now their longest serving member. Eleanore then joined the Friends of the Library Board, and has been a Board member and Secretary for most of this time. She keeps the Friends connected and well informed, and her positive attitude, her team-minded approach, and her knowledge and experience, have helped to ensure the Board’s sustainability over the years. Eleanore also works tirelessly with her fellow Friends to host the popular annual book sale, which brings people together who love books and support libraries, and raises funds to create enhanced library experiences.
Eleanore served a Secretary on the Board of Directors at the British Columbia Aviation Museum for two four-year terms, and lent her support to the Board members as they made operational and strategic decisions about the Museum. She continues to attend Board meetings to take the minutes. Eleanore is also a member of the planning committee for the museum’s Open House, and is currently the Cashier Coordinator, a member of the Gift Shop Team, and recently, with the outbreak of COVID-19, Eleanore lent a hand with feeding and caring for the Museum cat, until a suitable home was found for him.
In her professional life, Eleanore was a legal secretary. As a hard working and dedicated volunteer, Eleanore brings energy, initiative and great ideas to everything she does, and is a highly valued volunteer who deserves acknowledgement for her inspiring embracement of volunteerism.
MARGARET PALMER
Margaret Palmer believes communities need places of peace, tranquility and beauty, and her volunteer activities support her belief. For over 18 years, Marg has been volunteering at Abkhazi Garden. Rain or shine, Marg may be found serenely pulling weeds or welcoming people to the garden at the gate. On many a rainy, cool day when enthusiasm for being outside might be waning, Marg rarely misses being there, arriving on her bicycle with her yellow raincoat. Marg’s ability to engage in conversation with visitors from all over the world keeps every Thursday afternoon interesting for her fellow volunteers. As one Friends Board member added, “She’s a lot of fun to be around!”
Marg’s interest in gardening also brings her to be one of the volunteer gardeners for the DeMezey Memorial Abbeyfield Legacy Society (DMALS), at the Kildonan heritage house, an independent living housing project for low income seniors. Marg’s deep interest in Victoria’s heritage, her determination, and depth of knowledge on gardening makes her a “great asset to the garden, heritage and the community”.
Recently, the DMALS collaborated on two nominations for volunteer service awards, one of which has resulted in Abbeyfield Canada’s 2020 Lifetime Recognition Award being won by the Society’s longest-serving Board member, who is now 102 years old. Colleagues say it is typical of Marg that she would be selflessly involved with recognition for volunteer work of others when she does so much volunteering herself.
At Oak Bay Heritage, Marg has inspired and led many initiatives and projects and continues to serve as a heritage volunteer. Her experience, knowledge, and willing to take on special projects and tasks are invaluable to Oak Bay Heritage and to the community. Fellow volunteers say serving with Marg is a pleasure, that her enthusiasm and energy are contagious, and that she has a wonderful sense of humour.
Pre-retirement, Marg was Librarian for both the BC Ministry of Competition Science and Enterprise and the Ministry of Energy and Mines and Northern Development. Her tireless contributions to several societies, willingness to help others and determination to see projects and initiatives through demonstrate what can be achieved in the retirement years.
JANICE POULIN
In the words of Janice Poulin’s nominator, Barbara Sawatsky, “There are very few people who live in Metchosin who do not know the colourful, the upbeat swirl of energy, the dynamo, named Jan Poulin.”
When Jan was five years old, her parents bought the Metchosin Corner Store. The long store hours instilled a strong work ethic, compassion, and a sense of inclusiveness in Jan. Through growing up and working at the store, she knew most of the residents of Metchosin and Beecher Bay First Nation, as well as their difficulties as she loved to listen to thelr stories. Her caring traits are still evident these days as she takes the time to check in on people who are unwell or having difficulties.
While living in Cobble Hill as an adult, Jan volunteered in the Skeleem Village Recovery Centre, and at the age of 34 she enrolled in a University of Victoria Bachelor of Arts program. She completed the four-year program in six years as she juggled home life and her teacher assistant job at Discovery school in Shawnigan Lake.
In 2007, Jan and her family moved back to Metchosin. Jan jumped into the local volunteer pool with both feet. Because she loves the community’s history, she joined the Metchosin Heritage Committee, and volunteered as a docent at the Metchosin School Museum. With her passion for local history, she is an important information resource for the museum. She sat for six years on the Metchosin Museum Board of Directors, and served on the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Association Board. The Metchosin Community Association’s annual Metchosin Mighty Garage Sale would not be the success it is without Jan’s commitment, diligence, and willingness to put a hand to what needs to be done.
Jan’s list of interests and accomplishments is long. One of her historical projects has been the refurbishment of an 1899 cottage on her family’s Witty Beach Road property, built by the pioneer Witty family. Sharing her artistry and happiness with those around her, she hand-built “Jan’s Patchwork Fence” along the road, which is visited by people from all over the CRD.
Smart, motivated, and artistic, Jan brings laughter, encouragement, and inspiration to everyone around her. The Metchosin Community Association wholeheartedly supports Jan’s VERA nomination.
DICK AND DIANE PAYNE
When it comes to volunteering, Dick and Diane Payne each bring different skills to the table, and as a couple they are a powerhouse. At the Oak Bay Emergency Program, Dick and Diane were always scheduled separately, but always showed up together and ended up doing double shifts. It illustrates how much of an inseparable team these two are. They believe strongly in the value of volunteering in all of their communities. People are not just touched by their actions but also by their zest for life and their genuine caring for others. Along with the many hours they give to others, they bring calm and lots of smiles to every situation.
The Paynes have been active members of the Oak Bay Emergency Program (OBEP) for 28 years. Diane has been a member of the Emergency Support Services (ESS), Emergency Preparedness Education (EPE) and Amateur Radio (Comms) teams since she joined the program, and Dick has been with the Comms team since he joined OBEP and recently joined the ESS program. The ESS program provides referrals to essential services to evacuees during a Disaster. the EPE delivers face-to-face emergency preparedness training to the general public, and the Comms program trains volunteers to provide ham radio communications during an emergency or disaster, when other forms of tele-communications are not available.
Through their selfless dedication they have made Oak Bay a more disaster resistant community.
As educators in our community Dick and Diane have been providing our residents with the information and direction that they need to feel safe and secure with the knowledge that they are prepared.
Prior to retirement, Diane was a Physio Therapist with Juan de Fuca Hospitals, and Dick was an engineer with the Province of BC. They both enjoy cycling, hiking and spending time on their boat.
Their other volunteering activities include the annual Swiftsure Race and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club’s handicapped sailing program. At Oak Bay Lodge between 2009-2012, Diane assisted with the residents’ yoga program and socializing programs. In 2005, the Paynes initiated the Oak Bay Block Watch program on their block by pounding gently on doors and got 40 houses enrolled. Diane was the Block Watch Captain until 2015, contributing greatly to the success of the program.
Dick and Diane are seen as great examples of valued elders sharing their skills, knowledge and experience with the community, representing what helping neighbours and friends is all about.
MARY GIDNEY
After retiring from teaching high school, Mary Gidney first got involved with volunteering with organizing Metchosin Day in 2006. Metchosin Day is an annual fair that brings almost 6000 people for a celebration of rural life. For 14 years, Mary organized hundreds of tasks with a team of 10, contributing hundreds of hours to make the day a success. At the 2013 Metchosin Day, Mary was honoured with the Citizen of the Year award.
In 2007, Mary and two friends began regeneration plans to turn the disused Metchosin Elementary School into an art centre. In September 2012, the Metchosin Art Gallery (MAG) opened with an exhibition called Visions of Metchosin, and grew into an art gallery that encouraged idea exchanges between local students, First Nations and Metchosinites. The art centre continues today as a lively hub for many artists and craft persons.
As a volunteer with the Metchosin Fire Department and Emergency Operations Centre, Mary helped organize volunteers to prepare food for training sessions and meetings. She worked with the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), ensuring the EOC had enough food on hand to feed 50 people three meals a day for three days in case of a major emergency. If there was a fire call-out, Mary would help organize food to be ready for the firefighter once they returned, or to have food sent to the site of the fire.
Mary has been involved with refugee sponsorship since April 2016, when a group of local adults formed a committee to sponsor a refugee family to Victoria. In July 2016, the group welcomed an Eritrean family, who lived in a Sudanese refugee camp for over 20 years. Mom, dad and five children got off the plane and in early September, a sixth baby came along. Mary has been the major force in helping the family adjust to living in Victoria. Gradually, Mary became like a grandmother to the children, and a trusted friend to the parents. Typically, sponsorship agreements last one year but Mary continues to work with the family.
Mary began volunteering with Island Sexual Health (ISH) in 2019. While Mary’s primary volunteer responsibilities have included assisting the physicians, nurses, and patients, Mary takes on additional responsibilities whenever possible. Last summer, she offered her truck for use as a Victoria Pride Parade float. She not only let the team ride in the back of her truck while dancing and dressed in bright colors while blasting music, but she also helped paste all sorts of hilarious decorations to the outside of her vehicle, including what looked like 100 balloons. Mary then drove the float in the parade, proudly waving and honking at parade attendees.
Mary brings a wealth of knowledge, warmth, empathy and experience to everything she does, and is all-around such a uniquely brilliant individual. For all Mary is, and for all that she does, her supporters are delighted to nominate her for a 2020 Valued Elder Recognition Award.
SUELLEN GUENTHER
Suellen Guenther’s dream has always been to make a difference, and she has done this by being a lifelong learner, volunteer and teacher. Suellen embodies the caring and generous values which make a successful community.
When Suellen retired in 2007 from her position as the Textbook Buyer at the UVic Bookstore, she signed up for Bedside Singer training at Victoria Hospice. Suellen enjoys singing and is comfortable around people and their families at end-of-life. In this unique volunteer program, with the patient’s or family’s permission, pairs of singers sing to Hospice patients and their families. Suellen believes music opens doors to conversations between loved ones, and connects people to their past at a time when they may be reflecting on much of their lifetime.
When the long-time original leader and coordinator of the Bedside Singers needed to step down suddenly for health reasons, Suellen and several other singers who highly valued the Bedside Singer Program worked to ensure that it continued. As a natural leader, Suellen’s skills as a teacher, trainer and organizer as well as a team builder have been invaluable to the continuation of the Hospice Bedside Singers program.
Suellen has a long and varied history of volunteering at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, including teaching in the Sunday school; sitting on the church board; and organizing several major fundraisers including the annual Services Auction and Book Sale. In Suellen’s capable hands, both fundraisers became thriving social successes as well as fundraising successes. In 2019, Suellen was given the honour of Church Elder. and is consulted regularly regarding matters of concern.
Suellen was also a key to the church’s Refugee Sponsorship Committee, first in raising the money for our chosen family who were distant relatives of a Muslim Syrian friend of a member, then organizing housing for them. This involved building multi-faith connections especially with the Mosque and ICA, and with other refugee sponsorship groups in Victoria. When the family’s arrival date drew near, Suellen led a team of a dozen people who cleaned and repainted the family’s rental suite. In addition to being a consummate organizer and motivator of volunteers, Suellen rolled up her sleeves and wielded rollers, brushes and brooms until the suite was sparkling and ready for occupancy.
Suellen is the ultimate example of the saying: “If you want something done, always go to the busiest person you know.” With her quiet, positive energy, patience, and sensitivity, Suellen is the special kind of person who helps keep her community’s dreams alive. Susan makes a difference to the people around her and is a vital part of her community.
TRUDINE WILSON
A 2014 article in the Goldstream News Gazette celebrated Trudine Wilson as “proof positive that guiding is for life.” As a girl growing up in Colwood, Trudine joined Brownies at the Colwood Children’s Hall in 1962, and stayed on as a Guide and then a Ranger. In 1967 she volunteered as Junior Leader for the 1st Colwood Guides and is still running the unit in the same Colwood Hall, over 50 years later. Her leadership skills and passion for the Guiding program led her to become the unit’s Lieutenant and then the Captain, plus numerous positions including District Events Coordinator, District Treasurer, District Commissioner, and Division Commissioner.
Trudine strongly believes that Guiding provides learning benefits, team building, social skills, and peer guidance to youth. Her dedication has led her recognition with numerous Guiding awards, including the Gold Thanks Pin, Silver Merit, Medal of Merit, Honorary Life Membership, BC Guiders Appreciation Pin, and the District Commissioners Pin.
She is willing to take on innovative or unusual tasks. When Guiding brought in a new computer system for tracking member information, Trudine joined the iMIS team, even though she had never used a computer before. She’s even willing to use her home as a temporary storehouse: All the local Girl Guide cookies get delivered to Trudine’s house, before distribution to the districts from there. Think of Trudine next year when you buy your box of Girl Guide cookies!
Trudine joined the Royal Canadian Legion, Prince Edward Branch #91 in 1997, and continues to be an active member with the Legion as well as the Ladies Auxiliary. She has held numerous positions of leadership including th Ways & Means Chair, Awards Chair, Volunteer Coordinator and Treasurer. Trudine keeps the Legion humming as she manages the books, files, records, and monthly reports, organizes and runs the two annual craft fairs ands annual Book Sale, arranges for birthday cards for all the residents of Broadmead Lodge, and makes monthly visits to the LA’s adopted Veteran with another LA member and a therapy dog.
Giving freely of her time comes naturally to Trudine, and she’s an excellent fundraiser. For the past 10 years, she has almost single-handedly organized an annual Christmas gift-wrapping event at the West Shore Shopping Mall, as a fundraiser for Guiding for the first six years, and for the Legion for the last four. Trudine helps organize and oversee the volunteers, canvasses for donations for boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon, etc and spends 12 hours of every single day of this fundraiser ensuring the operation runs smoothly.
Trudine thrives being around people of all ages. She is always ready, willing and able to help others and she gives countless hours of her time to the community. Hard-working, dedicated volunteers like Trudine allow not-for-profit organisations to keep their doors open. For this, Trudine Wilson is an exemplary recipient of the 2020 Valued Elder Recognition Award.
Andrée Galbraith
Nominated by: Mental Health Recovery Partners, S. Vancouver Island
Beverly Unger
Nominated by: Victoria Symphony
Donna Zwiers
Nominated by: Saanich Volunteer Services Society
Eleanore Arkesteyn
Sendial Program, Thrifty Foods, Sidney
Nominator: Anne Trueman, Staff Lead for the Sendial Program, Sidney Thrifty Foods
Margaret (Marg) Palmer
Agencies: The Land Conservancy – Abkhazi Garden, Kildonen (De Mezey Memorial Abbeyfield House), Oak Bay Heritage Foundation, the Victoria Horticultural Society.
Nominator: Cherie Miltimore, Volunteer Coordinator at Abkhazi Garden
Janice Poulin
Organizations: Metchosin Community Association, Metchosin Heritage Committee, Metchosin School Museum, Metchosin Museum Society, District of Metchosin, Heritage Advisory Select Committee, Metchosin Arts & Cultural Association, St Mary’s Church
Nominator: Barbara Sawatsky, MCA Board Member
Dick and Diane Payne
Oak Bay Emergency Program
Nominated by Eileen Grant, Manager, Oak Bay Emergency Program
Mary Gidney
Organisations: Island Sexual Health Clinic, Metchosin Day, Metchosin Arts and Cultural Association (MACCA), Metchosin Fire Department and Emergency Operations Centre, Refugee Sponsorship
Nominator: Maria Weaver, Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator, Island Sexual Health Society.
Suellen Guenther
Organisations: Victoria Hospice, First Unitarian Church of Victoria, Single Parent Resource Centre
Nominator: Barbara (Barb) Boyle, Bedside Singers Program, Victoria Hospice
Trudine Wilson
Organisations: Ladies Auxiliary (LA), Prince Edward Branch 91, Royal Canadian Legion, Girl Guides of Canada.
Nominator: Belina LeBlanc, Chair, Ways and Means Chair, Ladies Auxiliary (LA), Prince Edward Branch 91, Royal Canadian Legion