Archive for August 2014
Central Saanich Lions Club In The Spotlight
August 2, 2014 | 
Author “Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and will make, not only our own happiness, but that of the world at large.”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869—1948), Indian political and spiritual leader
Formed as a Charter on March 20, 1969 by 28 local men who saw a need for a service club, the Central Saanich Lions Club remains committed to community volunteer work by helping, leading, planning and supporting citizens and groups at the local, regional, national and international levels. The Central Saanich Lions Club was originally sponsored by the Sidney Lions Club and is part of Lions Club International whose mission statement is “to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.”
Over the past four decades, Central Saanich Lions Club members continue to uphold their motto—“we serve” by extending their acts of charity in two ways: (1) awarding grants to local, regional and national organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Foundation, Peninsula Soccer Association, Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association and Sidney Lions Food Bank (Christmas Fund); and (2) providing manual labour and event coordination for such initiatives as the annual Christmas tree chip, firewood sales, annual Easter Egg Hunt, annual Halloween bonfire, various cookouts on the Saanich Peninsula as well as general landscaping and maintenance at Mount Newton Centre…just to name a few. Lions Club International is best known for its work in ensuring vision for all. In upholding this commitment, the Central Saanich Lions Club, in cooperation with School District #63 and local optometrists, provide vision screening/testing and eye glasses to students in need who require vision correction.
Most notably, the Central Saanich Lions Club’s initial acts of charity began in 1969 with Club members volunteering their time, labour as well as fundraising skills for various projects at Centennial Park on Wallace Drive. In Central Saanich Lions involvement in Centennial Park, Past Lions Ken MacDonald and Joe Sparrow documented the Club’s history with Centennial Park which included, but was not limited to, the following projects—“…one of the first Centennial Park projects that the new Lions Club undertook was the building of a lacrosse box….In 1973, the Club prepared the ground, constructed the brick wall and assembled all of the equipment in the current (children’s) playground….In September 1983, the Municipality (of Central Saanich) approached the Lions about the possibility of creating a much needed bowling green in the Park….In 1990, the Club spent 40 hours seeding the Park’s soccer pitches. In a later project, the Club supplied labour for fencing the soccer area…the Club supplied labour to construct the Babe Ruth concession and washroom facilities….Centennial Park is a prime example of the value of voluntary work in drawing people together to supply needed facilities.”
According to Ken Marriette, Central Saanich Lions Club Member, “approximately 75% of the work that we do, stays in the community…the remaining 25% of our work supports projects on southern Vancouver Island and select national and international initiatives.” Marriette is the Central Saanich Lions Club’s Public Relations Representative where he liaises with the media about upcoming Club events, coordinates guest speakers for presentations to the Club membership, and promotes Club membership.
For Marriette, volunteering with the Club is about giving back to the community. He recalled how his parents shared with him at an early age that “charity begins at home.” This September, Marriette is entering his sixth year as a Central Saanich Lions Club Member. When Marriette initially joined the Central Saanich Lions Club, he was invited as a perspective member by a Lions Club “sponsor” to attend one of the Club’s general meetings. Marriette was moved by the Club members’ approval of funds to be provided to a local family in need for specific disability resources. After bearing witness to the approval of said funds in a unanimous vote, Marriette knew right then and there that this was the service club that aligned with his core values of commitment, camaraderie, volunteerism and connection to one’s community in terms of helping local citizens and their families when they are in need of assistance.
At present, Central Saanich Lions Club members are raising funds for the creation of a skateboard park which may “potentially” be located at Stelly’s High School. This fall, at the start of the school year in September, you will see the Lions “in action” cooking for several schools in the District. Other upcoming events in September 2014 are the Terry Fox Run (September 14, 2014 at 9:00 am—Centennial Park on Wallace Drive) where the Lions will be preparing breakfast for the annual Run, and “An English car affair in the park” (September 14, 2014 from 11:00 am—2:00 pm at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site) where the Lions will be serving meals at this event which is coordinated by the Victoria English Car Club.
Led by Ken Burkowski (President of the Central Saanich Lions Club), the Lions meet at their “den” (aka. the Lions Hall at 6994 East Saanich Road in Saanichton, BC) on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month for their general meetings. Marriette and his fellow Lions recognize that to sustain their community projects and fundraising endeavours, capacity building is needed in the form of increased Club membership. The Central Saanich Lions Club currently has 42 members and, on average, they are approximately 50+ years of age. Marriette indicated that “through the Club Improvement Program, we are looking for ways to attract new members and engage in promotion about our service to the community…in particular, we are exploring concepts related to having a portable information booth when we are hosting or participating in various community events, creating a Junior Chapter Program of the Central Saanich Lions to engage ‘the next generation’ of Lions which includes establishing a social media presence. In order to achieve all that we want to do and raise the money that will be required to do it, we need to increase our (membership) numbers to continue our commitment to serving our community.”
Did you know?
Founded in 1917, Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization! There are 1.35 million Lions club members worldwide—working in over 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.
The Central Saanich Lions Club is part of Lions International District “I-19” which includes 51 other Lions clubs on Vancouver Island, BC and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.
Saanich Peninsula trivia: The lions “den”
According to Past Central Saanich Lion Joe Sparrow, the Central Saanich Lions’ current “den” (aka. Lions Hall Building on East Saanich Road) served the Saanich Peninsula in one semblance or another since 1894. The Hall was originally built by the Temperance Society with the original trustees being Harry Tanner, Alfred Gale, Harold Oates, William Michell and Andrew Stewart.
The Temperance Hall was built to provide a place where abstainers could conduct social activities and was available for use by other organizations strictly on a non-alcoholic basis. Organizations such as the South Saanich Women’s Institute and the South Saanich Farmers’ Institute utilized said facility in the early 20th century.
The Central Saanich Lions Club’s original “den” was at the Keating Coffee Shop near the Peninsula Co-op Store. In 1974, Lions Club President Ron Tidman, along with fellow Lions Ed Gait and Dick Gibson, convinced the District of Central Saanich Council that the former Temperance Hall (owned by the District) had a viable future, and that it was still valuable to the community if placed in the hands of the Lions Club. The council concurred. From 1974 to present, the Lions Club has held the Hall on East Saanich Road on a $1.00 registered lease, on a five-year renewable basis.
Did you know?
The Central Saanich Lions Club stores its cookout trailer at the Central Saanich fire hall. The cookout trailer has grills, tents and chairs that can be utilized as a remote/mobile grill for cooking at a triage center in the event of an emergency or related disaster in Central Saanich.
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Growing Children’s Literacy and Creativity
As I sit in Dana Waite’s back yard and listen to her speak about the Paper Maché and its humble beginning, her passion and love for this newspaper shine through. “..I think it’s a fall in love kind of idea; it’s a sweet little idea. It generates enthusiasm.” Previously a journalist and elementary school teacher, Dana says “the idea of a paper for kids was sort of a natural morphing of those two particular careers” and led to the creation of the Paper Maché Newspaper as a place to showcase and promote children’s stories, drawings and other creative ideas. 
Originally, the Paper Maché was started in 2002 as a part time venture, however Dana had to stop for several years before restarting the newspaper full time in 2012. This time she was faced with challenges that had not been present in 2002. Being primarily funded by limited advertising (strictly monitored by the school boards) Dana sought out her advertisers and sponsors from 2002. By 2012 many businesses had adopted a much smaller advertising budget following the recession, and would no longer advertise with her. Although she has now managed to regain some of her former advertisers and a few new ones, she is looking to the future growth of the paper and possibly expanding its reach.
Currently, the newspaper can be found in all elementary schools in Victoria and Sooke school districts. Dana has faced challenges getting into all eight schools in Saanich school district. The paper is published monthly from September to June, and distributed to schools, libraries and rec. centers. Dana currently publishes around 6000 copies of the Paper Maché, but looks to possibly increase this number in coming years. All submissions are done by elementary age children across Victoria and between 70 and 80 of roughly 500 submissions are published each month. Dana has observed that kids love the format of the newspaper because it is so much like a real newspaper. It has a “grown-up” feel.
When Dana isn’t organizing the paper or busy enjoying her garden on the peninsula, she can be found going to schools and reading to students 2-3 times a week. The Paper Maché has garnered many fans among both children who create the paper and teachers who see improved confidence in their students after having a story or drawing published. “..The experience I had as a journalist, and that wonderful feeling of seeing your work in print was such a self esteem boost for me personally, I thought well, kids would probably like that and be able to get some benefit from that as well…” she says.
Dana has a created a truly kid oriented product that can help in so many ways to boost confidence, encourage creativity, and bring a focus on literacy in a fun setting. She has had great feedback from grandparents, and former “writers” who have kept their papers for years. She would love to see the paper distributed in all schools in the Saanich district in addition to her current readers across the public schools in Victoria and Sooke. She also hopes to expand up Island one day and potentially broach the possibility with private schools where she currently distributes to Pacific Christian and a class at Glen Lyon. As the paper has non-profit status, it cannot survive without the help of sponsors and advertisers.
For more information about Dana or the Paper Maché, please check out the Facebook page or her website:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papermachevictoria
Website: http://papermpublishing.com/
You can also email her at: [email protected]
Ruth Zernial Celebrates her 100th Birthday!
by Ron Hlady
On Saturday, June 28, 2014, some seventy friends gathered at the Central Saanich Lawn Bowling to pay tribute to a wonderful lady. The afternoon tea, arranged by Ruth and provided by Jazzaniah Catering, was an amazing afternoon for all to witness Ruth’s remarkable achievement of 100 years.
Kindly emceed by Geoffrey Cochrane, the event began with tributes and anecdotes from Trevor DeCasseres, who bowled a lot with Ruth, and understood her prowess and competitiveness. CSLB president, Michael Johnson, presented Ruth with certificates from M.L.A. Gary Holman, M.P. Elizabeth May, Governor-General David Johnston and Queen Elizabeth II. He was particularly proud to be able to present Ruth with a Lifetime Membership in CSLB. Others were long-time friend, Peter Kirchner, Central Saanich Councillor, Zeb King, whose Grandparents were friends of Ruth, even Ruth’s Reflexology and Applied Kinesiology prof told how an 89 year old took the course, became a friend, and now promotes natural exercise.
Ruth knows that birthdays are very special: she has always called her friends on their birthdays and when Michael asked for a show of hands from those who have had a birthday phone call with Ruth singing Happy Birthday, seventy plus arms were raised.
Ruth is really appreciative of all the support and attention she has received from her well-wishers and those who helped out. The event on June 28 was a culmination of events honouring Ruth, from groups like exercise, singing, bridge. Ruth had just returned from Germany where she was feted by family and friends: including a family band and fireworks.
Central Saanich Lawn Bowling is proud to be able to honour Ruth and look forward to many more years of her positive influence on all of us.
Maber Flats Gets A Boost
As recent recipients of a new National Conservation Plan backed by $80,000,000, the Nature Conservancy of Canada will have additional support during the five year program to enhance its private land conservation efforts throughout Canada. For B.C. that may work out to $800,000 per year, but only if matching funds can be found. The government is not making it easy, though, for up to three dollars may have to be raised to receive one dollar in federal funds.
Since 2007, the Nature Conservancy has secured habitat in southern Canada for more than 160 species at risk in a total area represented by 1,000 Stanley Parks.
Closer to home, the Maber Flats joint project with the District of Central Saanich will receive special attention for local residents. Linda Hannah, Regional Vice-President, British Columbia Nature Conservancy of Canada, plans to “incorporate a wetland with the District of Central Saanich in the northern section first, and then buildout towards the south as funds allow. During this time we will be trying to find viable options for the conservation status of the lands. The northern section is the largest and least expensive piece and therefore the logical place to begin.”
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation’s leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 2.6 million acres (1 million hectares), coast to coast. More than one third of this area is in British Columbia.
“British Columbians have a deep appreciation of the staggering beauty of this province and its rich diversity of nature — from essential ecosystem services to incredible landscapes to a vast array of animals and plants. We recognize that we have a special duty to help shape a natural legacy that will endure,” adds Linda Hannah. “This support from the Government of Canada will enable the Nature Conservancy of Canada to work together with partners to shape a natural legacy for generations to come.”
n British Columbia, more than 2,100 square kilometres have been conserved to date by the Nature Conservancy of Canada under the program. Highlights include:
Darkwoods, a 550-square-kilometre forested conservation area near Nelson, which is home to an endangered herd of mountain caribou, a threatened population of grizzly bears and at least 17 other species at risk;
The Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area near Osoyoos, which includes some of the largest intact expanses of sagebrush in the province and shelters over 30 species at risk, including burrowing owl, sage thrasher and western rattlesnake;
Chase Woods in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, which harbours old-growth Coastal Douglas-fir forests and Garry oak woodlands; and
Enhanced conservation measures in the Flathead Valley, thanks to a $10-million contribution from the Nature Conservancy of Canada to the Province of British Columbia to offset costs of implementing the Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act.
