Derek Kilbourn, derek@soundernews.com, Gabriola Sounder, August 24, 2010

The Gabriola Health Care Foundation Board has chosen to pursue 4.5 acres adjacent to the Ambulance Station on Church Rd. as the site for the proposed health care and emergency clinic.

This follows a special meeting of Foundation and Society members Tuesday night last week.

Brenda Fowler, Society president, explained going into the meeting that unlike this time last year, there were now three sites on the table for the Society to choose from.

In fall 2009, the Women’s Institute had offered the use of its land behind the Post Office.

But, as Brenda said, “We were Cinderella’s sister. A beautiful shoe that we couldn’t fit in to.”

In early 2010, the Coats family put an offer on the table for 2.5 acres on the ferry hill.

“After searching for three years,” said Brenda, “I can tell you, even with a price tag of $100,000 it was the best option.”

At the annual general meeting, Foundation and Society members gave the board the go ahead to purse the Coats property as the site.

Almost right after the AGM, the Foundation was approached by Dr. Bob Rooks, owner of the property beyond the end of Church Rd.

4.5 acres were put on the table, to be donated to the Foundation.

Brenda said there had been an offer earlier in 2010 from Dr. Rooks, but that he had included conditions the Society was not able to meet – the land would be donated and the road built connecting Church and Spruce Roads. In return his remaining land would be split in to four parcels.

This new offer has no strings attached, beyond the Foundation having to have the building up within five years.

Brenda said, “This is what I would call an unencumbered offer, it stands on its own merit and has to do with us and our need.

“It includes the 4.5 acres, the land survey, the site preparation and the road access that includes the length of our property.”

Asked to clarify the road, Brenda said the offer was only to have Church Rd. extended the length of the property. It did not include extending Church Rd. to connect to Spruce Rd.

In order to allow the board to choose from the three sites, the Foundation had to convene a special meeting of the members to rescind the motion from Feb. which asked the board to pursue the Coats property.

The members voted in favour of rescinding the motion, and a new motion was made and passed, giving the board the authority to choose between the three options and then pursue the chosen site to completion.

After the special meeting, the Board met and voted in favour of pursuing the Rooks donation.

Brenda said with all the other options aside, “It was the proximity to the Ambulance, Fire Hall and Helicopter pad that was the kicker.

“The more pragmatic amongst our board members also looked at the offer of site preparation, road, land survey. These are not cheap, not something to sneeze at.”

Of the three properties, only the Women’s Institute property is properly zoned for the clinic.

Both the Coats and Rooks properties faced the prospect of needing to be re-zoned.

Brenda said in speaking with Islands Trust staff and trustees, she anticipates the re-zoning process will take six months, that she has been told it will be given top priority on the planning agenda.

Should it be re-zoned by early 2011, she is hoping ground could be broken and construction started in April 2011. The building could be ready for occupancy by the time the doctor’s appreciation dinner rolls around in Nov. 2011.

“That’s the timeline. We need to get this done quickly, we need to raise $1 million. We have two doctors working 24/7, 365 days a year.”

Brenda moved that the Gabriola Health Care Foundation, on behalf of the community, formally and publicly thank the Women’s Institute, the Coats family and Dr. Rooks for their generous offers of property for a permanent community-owned medical clinic for Gabriola Island.

“We’re raising a million dollars this year, and we’re kissing the $500,000 mark. We’re close. We’ve gotten some larger donations. The in-kind workers donations are coming in so fast. The thermometer is doing so well.

“Those that have been waiting on the fence, this is the time to donate, this is the time many people have been waiting for.

“We have a plan. Part of the plan to get to the top is that some 20 odd people need to write larger checks. By larger we mean more than $5,000, maybe more than $10,000. So we’re going to invite them to a glass of wine with us over Thanksgiving, they can meet our board, they can meet the contractors who are going to be building the clinic, and hopefully they can write their cheques.”

At the meeting, Don Butt reminded the members and potential donors, “If they have securities, you can donate that to the Foundation, to the trading account of the Foundation and you will get a receipt for the whole amount without paying capital gains, the Foundation is a non-profit so it doesn’t pay either. It’s a win-win, except for the government.”

Contacted after the meeting, Dr. Bob Rooks said, “First of all, I’ve now retired here. I have dealt with the doctors that are here. Dr. Bosman is one of the best in BC.

“My experience with him and with what they are doing here has been good. I’m concerned with as I retire with having good health care. It’s nice to have Nanaimo close by, but we’re big enough now we need to have our own place for ER and to do things that are critical.

“I think if we look at the age of the population that lives here, I think we’re going to find it is growing older and health care is important to us.

Bob added, “When [the Foundation] first talked about it, they looked at 2.5 acres. I said no. Let’s get you 4, then you’ll have the chance to put in more physiotherapy people, you could get a CT in there, and an MRI in there someday. These are things I had in my [veterinary] hospital. If you need to upgrade it, you’ll need the space.”

“It was the right thing to do, if you follow me long term, you’ll see I always try to do the right thing. You can’t take it with you when you go.”

Flying Shingle, Monday, August 23, 2010

The Gabriola Health Care Society (GHCS) has accepted an offer of free land on which to build a community-owned medical clinic from Dr. Bob Rooks of Potlatch Holdings.

GHC Foundation President Brenda Fowler said at a general meeting Tuesday at the Roxy, that the property is ideal as it is at the top of Church Street, close to the ambulance garage, the fire hall and the helicopter pad.

As previously reported, the society wants to build a permanent community-owned medical clinic and emergency room for doctors currently operating out of Twin Beaches. In the process they would like to expand the emergency room to three beds and increase the size of the clinic, in the hopes of attracting a third doctor who is willing to work on call to the island. Although Gabriola already has four doctors on the island, only two are covering after-hour emergencies. The society believes a third emergency doctor is needed to prevent them from burning out.

Also as previously reported, the Gabriola Women’s Institute (WI) first offered their land beside the Post Office on South Road for free. When the society decided the space was not large enough for possible future expansion, Gabriolans Clyde and Andrew Coats offered to subdivide off a parcel of land for the clinic on the ferry hill on North Road for $100,000 and tax concessions.

At Tuesday’s general meeting, Gabriolan Jamie Lawrence asked what the terms or conditions of the Rooks offer were. Fowler said: “When we first went to see Dr. Rooks in March, the offer was more complicated than this because he was trying to accommodate several things in his offer to us. He said: ‘I will give the community the road’ (that would be the fire access from Spruce to Church road), ‘I will give the foundation land for the clinic, and in return I would like the foundation to go the community and get my land divided into four severances’ ”.

The board “decided that we didn’t want to become part of that discussion”, Fowler said, “… so that’s why we met with Coats and took him up on his offer”. She said Rooks was off the island when they made that decision. She said when he returned Rooks “learned what had occurred” and called with a less “complex” offer. She said the offer as it now stands was a better one “because this one affects only us”. She said Rooks has also offered to pay for the survey, site preparation, and road installation.

Fowler said under the current deal the road access would only cover the extent of the clinic property, and that the clinic had to be built within five years. She was not sure five years from when.

The 4.1 acres Rooks is offering the society will have to be rezoned from Forestry to Institutional, Fowler said. She said there is similar zoning in the immediate vicinity and noted that planners usually prefer that to be the case in rezoning applications. She added that they had met with Planner Chris Jackson and Trustees Sheila and Malcolmson and Deborah Ferens, and were told that the rezoning process could take six months to two years to complete. Fowler added that the trustees and planner had said if asked they would make the application a top priority, and would waive half the application costs.

Reached for comment Malcolmson clarified that: “Trustee Ferens and I met separately with the Health Care Society reps, when they were discussing the Coats property, but did not and cannot make promises on behalf of the (Local Trust Committee (LTC)). The LTC could receive a request to sponsor the application cost, from the LTC’s own budget. This was done with the Commons, Borsuk density transfer, and the Coats density transfer the Gabriola Conservancy sponsored. The LTC would discuss and vote on that in a public meeting”.

Malcolmson added that rezoning takes a minimum of nine months, “and the LTC would have to consider how to prioritise such an application against its current top priority which is the OCP review”. She said the LTC has not received a rezoning application or a request for fee sponsorship.

Fowler estimated they could begin building in April 2011, and that it would take 26 weeks to lockup. She thought it was possible the clinic could open late fall 2011. She said raising the million dollars necessary to build the clinic needed to be done quickly in order to attract another emergency doctor as soon as possible.

Fowler said local contractors have already volunteered to do much of the building, that Architrave has been helping with the design, and that a retired architect who specialised in medical clinics will consult with Architrave.

Flying Shingle, Monday, August 16, 2010

The number of Gabriola Island residents who are receiving at least one service from a Gabriola-based general practitioner appears to be increasing, according to Bernadette Murphy, media relations manager of the Ministry of Health.

As previously reported, in the past the Vancouver Island Health Association had noted that over the period of 2005 to 2008 only about 50 per cent of Gabriolans received their primary health care on-island. However Murphy said in a July email: “In 2008/09, the most recent year of complete data, a total of 3,185 Gabriola Island residents received physician services from general practitioners in British Columbia. Of these, 2,336 residents (73 per cent) received at least one service from Gabriola Island based general practitioners. The proportion of total paid services attributable to Gabriola Island residents receiving physician services from general practitioners from Gabriola Island was 46 per cent”.

Murphy said that in 2005/06, only 36 per cent of Gabriola Island residents saw a Gabriola Island based general practitioner.

Murphy said that the 2008/09 data shows that 70 per cent of Gabriolans also received at least one service from a general practitioner based somewhere other than Gabriola Island, while the proportion of paid services Gabriola Island residents received from general practitioners with billing addresses off of Gabriola Island was 54 per cent. She added that 89 per cent of Gabriolans “… received at least one service from a Gabriola Island general practitioner AND a general practitioner not based on Gabriola Island”. From that we “can infer a pattern of service utilization both on and off of Gabriola”, she said.

Derek Kilbourn, derek@soundernews.com, Gabriola Sounder, June 28, 2010

With the coming long weekend, Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary Chair Nancy Nevison wanted to remind the public that there are many ways to donate to the proposed emergency and medical clinic.

Along with all the specific events being planned by the Auxiliary, there are ways to donate on a daily basis.

The Co-op Gas Card - when one shops at the Gabriola Co-op gas station, if one uses the Health Care Co-op number, the membership benefits will then go to the Auxiliary. That number being 611459.

The Health Care Auxiliary has also now been approved to receive proceeds through the Village Food Market Community Card program - when one charges $100 to a Village Food Market Community Card for shopping at the store, if the Health Care Society is the charity of choice, 5% of the $100 will go to the clinic.

At the Slice of Life Gallery in Madrona Marketplace, Maarten Pererra has designated pieces of artwork with percentages of the proceeds to go to the Heath Care Society.

And then there are the social enterprises that are being run out of the Health Care Village office.

Nancy will be preparing floral arrangements for sale. Those who pre-order floral arrangements though the Health Care Auxiliary will be provided tax receipts in the amount of the net proceeds of the purchase.

Don Butt has brought in various prints of west coast photography for sale in the office, with proceeds going to the Health Care Foundation.

And starting on Canada Day, ice cream will be available for purchase at the Health Care office.

A fig tree has taken over as the tree in the ‘Branching out’ campaign in the Health Care Village Office. Added to the office is a multimedia wall sculpture - donated to the Auxiliary by a generous Gabriolan.

Originally in 1993 the unnamed donor paid $1,200, so anything over $600 will hang it in your home.

There is going to be an eclectic collection of items going up on eBay consisting of items donated to the Auxiliary.

All proceeds will go to the Auxiliary. If anyone out there has an item they would like to donate to the Auxiliary for sale, please contact the Auxiliary office.

Nancy added, “All this excitement means we need to extend our hours and that means we need more of you to volunteer a couple of hours each week.

“I will be training every day from 2-4pm – please let me know when you are available, and consider asking a friend or family member to buddy up with you. Student letters available.

“Volunteering is the best way to show your support, be informed, and have fun! CAll Nancy Nevison – Auxiliary Chair, Volunteer’s Office (250) 325-7215”

Derek Kilbourn, derek@soundernews.com, Gabriola Sounder, June 22, 2010

After finding that the WI Hall site will not meet the requirements of the proposed building, the Gabriola Health Care Society and Foundation has now been offered a partnership with the Coats family to construct the proposed Medical and Emergency clinic on South Road adjacent to the Madrona/old TnT property.

That was the news announced to members at the GHCS and GHCF Annual General Meeting held this past Thursday night at the Roxy.

Building Committee Chair, Ian Brownlie, explained that there were at least nine sites examined in the process of trying to find a site for the new clinic - but almost all of the sites were either too small, zoned incorrectly or unavailable for the time being.

Ian said, “One would think finding a site on an island with as much land as Gabriola would be simple - I thought so - look around you, there’s plenty of space.

“But there’s little things called zoning and when you ask the Trust what a clinic would be zoned under it is IN3.”

IN3 being ‘Institutional 3’ - required for the clinic because it includes ‘urgent care medical clinic.’

Ian explained the goal has always been to look for land close to the village centre.

But when the building committee started looked at the zoning around the village there are only a few properties with the right IN3 zoning, or large enough, to make re-zoning to IN3 potentially possible.

The Coats lot, sized at around 25 acres, is currently zoned large rural residential.

In order to have a lot subdivided off the LRR, the lot minimum size will need to be 1 ha (2.47 acres)

According to Islands Trust staff only the Trust office, the Fire Hall and the Emcon properties are zoned IN3.

The WI Hall site, offered by the Gabriola Women’s Institute last November as a site for the proposed clinic, is currently zoned IN1.

Ian explained the lot is too small to put the proposed 4,000 square foot clinic on. By the time the building and required parking were put in, no matter how the designers worked their magic, all the trees as well as the current WI Hall would need to be moved to meet the various codes.

He added that they had considered the old clinic area and house adjacent to Arbutus - but that, “was going to cost, land alone, about $400K.”

Ian said, “Thanks to the Coats family, we’ve had a really excellent offer.

“They have made a very generous offer to the society. It will still need subdividing and it will still need zoning changes.

“But it is certainly in the right place. with good access and is adjacent to the Village area.

“I think it is the best offer we’ve had to date - I thank the Coats family, particularly Clyde who is here tonight, for his generosity and his family’s generosity.”

Gabriola Health Care Society’s Brenda Fowler said in meeting with planning staff and from what she has heard from the Ministry of Transport, the site is looking good. In an ideal world, she said, re-zoning can take as little as six months, but can also take up to two years. She hopes to have the process done within about eight months.

“Currently the GHCS has a letter from the Fire Chief - he is in support of this site. BC Ambulance have been asked for a letter of support fro this site as well as GESS.

“The letters will go in with the re-zoning application package.

“I would ask if we could make a motion for this site and vote on it so that we can say this group of people have considered this site and that our two organizations are in favour of this site.”

The motion carried.

Clyde said he was happy to be working with the health care society but that, “you need to make things work for me - we need to keep the access road between telus and your lot.

“I would suggest you make the lot a little bigger than you need right now so you have the room to add on in the future.”

Clyde also offered to help with the lot getting water and he already has the site checked and knows where the sewage may be best collected.

Brenda said she wanted to make sure the Society said, “a special thank you to the Women’s Institute. Without their offer, we wouldn’t be where we are. Without their offer of the property we couldn’t answer the question of where it was going to be, or when we would finally get started.

“With that offer, we were able to turn that corner, we moved our slow moving train out of the station onto the fast track.”

By Darrell Bellaart, Daily News, June 19, 2010

Gabriola Islanders have found the land they need for a $1-million emergency health clinic the community has been working to build for three years.

The Coats family donated a two-acre lot on North Road to the cause, Gabriola Health Care Foundation members learned at the organization's annual general meeting Thursday.

The property brings islanders a "huge step forward" to replace a temporary clinic on Berry Point Road, said Brenda Fowler, foundation president.

It won't provide the same care as a hospital, but it could save lives in an emergency.

"We must get this clinic built, because it will accommodate a third doctor," Fowler said.

Two doctors staff the temporary clinic, a situation she called "not sustainable" due to risk of burnout. The new, 4,300-square-foot clinic will have a large emergency room with room for up to three patients. The property needs to be rezoned and subdivided, a process that should be complete by early next year. Construction should be finished in 2012.

The community has already raised $200,000 and that campaign will continue. Provincial funding will also be needed.

DBellaart@nanaimodailynews.com

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service Return to the top of the page

Al and Lou Strano, Tour de Gabriola Committe, Gabriola Sounder, Tuesday, May 18 2010

In the summer of 2005, Dr. Bob Henderson was quoted in a Sounder article that if Gabriola had an ECG machine (Life Pak Unit) it would save lives. If we waited for the provincial government, it would take years to get it.

In usual island style, Gabriolans started fundraising: hot dogs, buffalo burgers, parties and concerts were all part of the campaign. Not to be outdone, island bike riders organized a bike ride, which came to be called the Tour de Gabriola. The $3,000 raised help put the Critical Care Equipment Fund over the top; in November, the machine was delivered. And it did save lives.

In the spring of 2006, Dr. Henderson reported that the province was not providing drugs, like the clot-buster needed to prevent strokes analyzed by the defibrillator, because Gabriola did not have a proper facility to receive and administer the drugs.

One of the bike ride organizers formed a new fund and called it Primary Care Gabriola, with the purpose of creating an emergency treatment facility and clinic. Met with initial skepticism, the ride originally raised only $2200. But, Bruce Mason, a feature writer at the Sounder, picked up the idea and promoted it. Fortunately, so did VIHA, and the GHCS was born (see www.ghcs.ca for more).

And the tour continues, having raised nearly $20,000. So, in “The Year of the Clinic,” what better way to support primary health care than riding in the Tour or supporting a rider.

Details of the Tour can be found online at http://members.shaw.ca/PrimaryCareGabriola/ or email PrimaryCareGabriola@yahoo.CA.

Registration/pledge forms available at The Sounder office, WI Hall (M-F 10-2), Sandstone Studio (the Clinic at Twin Beaches) and Visitor Centre (Fri-Sun 11-3)

For more information, email PrimaryCareGabriola@yahoo.ca.

Jean Llewellyn, Health Care Foundation, Gabriola Sounder, Tuesday, May 18 2010

The ball is rolling and picking up speed for the “Founders’ Day” tournament of the Rodrigo Pessoa Golf Classic, hosted by the Gabriola Health Care Foundation, that will take place at Gabriola Golf and Country Club, on Monday, June 14.

Complete information – together with all the necessary entry and registration forms for golfers, non-golfers, sponsors and advertisers – is now available on-line www.ghcs.ca (click on the Rodrigo Pessoa Golf Classic button on the opening page). Tickets are also now available for the special Rodrigo Pessoa presentation, including a slide show of his career with a personal running commentary, and an audience-generated Q&A session.

As space is limited, everyone is encouraged to purchase tickets for this presentation prior to the May 31 deadline.

The tickets – also available from Artworks – include either a BBQ or formal dinner.

Limited time will be available following the presentation for autographs and photos, but everyone attending the BBQ will have further opportunities to meet Rodrigo following the formal dinner at the Golf Club. Once again, tickets are selling fast, with showjumping fans coming from as far afield as Sointula!

We are thankful to a number of local sponsors who have already pledged their support: the Gabriola Co-Op, Tofino Air, Three Heron’s Studio, Wur Here B&B and Hummingbird Lodge B&B, alongside Gabriola Chamber of Commerce and Board members of Gabriola Golf and Country Club who have provided invaluable knowledge, expertise and commitment to making this “Founders’ Day” a success.

Dave Innell, Gabriola Health Care Society, Tuesday, April 27 2010

A Health and Wellbeing Survey will be conducted on Gabriola Island in June, 2010. The survey, which is being organized by the Gabriola Health Care Society, was announced at the Sustainability Gabriola Fair on Saturday, April 24.

“The purpose of the survey is to get a better understanding of Gabriolans’ views on their overall health and wellbeing.” said Dave Innell, Chair of the GHCS Data and Services Committee. “Our objective is to have as many Gabriolans as possible complete the survey and provide their views on a range of health and well-being issues.

“The survey will be available electronically for those with access to a computer and also in paper form. Ideally we will get input from permanent residents, seasonal residents and visitors.”

Innell said that the survey is being conducted with technical assistance from the Public and Population Health Observatory in the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the University of Victoria, which have assisted with a number of similar surveys around the province and internationally.

However the Gabriola survey questions were developed by a group of Gabriolans and have been reviewed by a number of island groups and individuals.

The survey seeks views on a range of issues that can affect a community’s feelings of wellbeing including safety, financial security, cultural and social wellbeing, as well as overall health.

It is estimated that the survey will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Some of the sample questions highlighted at the announcement include : “What do you like most about living on Gabriola?”;

“Overall, how would you rate the quality of all health care services in your community?”;

“ Do you feel your needs for cultural and educational activities are able to be met while living on Gabriola?”; and “Do you participate regularly in physical exercise?”.

It is hoped the results of the survey will be available on the Gabriola Health Care Society website by early fall. It is expected that the results will show the overall health and well-being needs and desires of Gabriolans.

It should help to identify where new health and well-being services may be needed and to confirm support for existing services. It will also establish a baseline to help measure changes in views on our overall wellbeing over time.

“We encourage all Gabriolans to complete and submit the well-being survey to help those planning both health care and other services to make decisions that align with the priorities of the residents.” said Innell.

Jean Llewellyn, Health Care Auxiliary, Gabriola Sounder, Tuesday, March 30 2010

No one can argue that the Health Care Auxilliary does not recognize a unique fundraising opportunity for Gabriola’s Health Care Foundation when one presents itself! Quite the contrary! On Monday, June 14, two sporting worlds will collide when showjumping’s World and Olympic Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa, comes to Gabriola – accepting an invitation to bring his name to a future signature golf tournament: the “Rodrigo Pessoa Golf Classic”.

In 2010, this remarkable initiative will be launched with a “Founders’ Day” golf tournament on Monday, June 14, followed by a brief presentation and a BBQ “meet and greet”. It is planned that the “Rodrigo Pessoa Golf Classic” will formally launch in 2011 and become an annual event in which he will personally participate alongside friends, sporting colleagues and corporate sponsors – many influential individuals coming together for the benefit of Gabriola’s future health clinic.

Pessoa, a keen golfer for many years, has already said that he will be asking a long-time friend to accompany him in June: None other than reigning gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – Canada’s own superstar, Eric Lamaze. Both men have faced-off on the international showjumping circuit for many years and regularly attend the summer tournament series and September’s Masters at Spruce Meadows in Calgary – a facility that has several times been voted the #1 showjumping venue in the world by the FEI (International Equestrian Federation).

Of course, as a career equestrian, we won’t let the occasion slip by for Pessoa to share his knowledge and skill with the local horse community through a riding clinic or personal presentation and, who knows, perhaps to a future showjumping event here on Gabriola is also in the stars.

On Monday, April 5, Brenda Fowler and Nancy Nevison, respective Chairs of Gabriola Health Care Foundation and Health Care Auxilliary, will be presenting a joint proposal to the Chamber of Commerce, and would appreciate input from Gabriola Golf Club, 4-H, and any other island businesses or individuals who could provide skills, experience, or enthusiasm to ensure the success of this stellar opportunity.

Anyone interested in attending a preliminary meeting at the Auxilliary Village Office (next to the library) at 7:00 p.m. either next Tuesday or Wednesday (March 30 or 31), should e-mail Nancy at nevamore@shaw.ca or call her home number: 247-0041 to indicate which evening you will be attending. Written suggestions will also be welcomed if you are unable to attend.

Balance, timing, commitment to excellence and lofty ambitions are necessary qualities for today’s world-class athletes – but it’s the undisputed respect of their peers, modesty and humanity that turns someone into a superstar. Rodrigo Pessoa fits the bill, so please come and share our “windfall” and return the favour by supporting this fantastic initiative in any way you can.

Rachel Stern, reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com, Nanaimo News Bulletin, January 29, 2010

The Gabriola Health Care Society is on an ambitious journey to raise $1 million by the end of the year.

The society named 2010 the Year of the Clinic and hopes to raise the money necessary to build a permanent health clinic on the island.

To accomplish that goal, the society has created a number of fundraisers. It also entered the Aviva Community Fund for a chance to win up to $250,000, but recently learned it missed out on the money.

Brenda Fowler, president of the society, said it was disappointing to not win, but the contest still gave the effort momentum and cohesion.

While raising $1 million is no small feat, Fowler said the society and its auxiliary are ready for the task.

“We’ve got to get this done. We might as well get all of the million,” said Fowler. “If you’re going to raise the million, there is no point doing it over five years. [You] might as well write your cheque today.”

The effort has already raised nearly $100,000, a big accomplishment so early in the campaign, said Fowler.

“It shows the length, breadth and depth of support from the community,” she said.

The owners of Folk Village donated empty office space, which members of the Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary used during the Aviva contest and as a base of operation for other fundraisers.

The last fundraiser, called Branching Out, featured leaves people could purchase through donations to win a katsura tree donated by Wild Rose Garden. It raised $45,000.

The society and auxiliary are planning at least 11 more fundraisers this year. A full schedule of dates and times is available online at www.ghcs.ca.

The next event is Feb. 10-21 at the Roxy. The event, Go for the Gold, celebrates the Olympics and provides an opportunity to watch different Olympic events, for a suggested donation of $5 to $10.

It also features a representative from Gold Parties Canada, who will assess and purchase gold chains, cufflinks or other items they want to sell. The company is donating 10 per cent of the purchased total sales.

On Feb. 14, the society is hosting Cupid’s Clinic from 7-11 p.m. at Dragon’s Lodge. There will be refreshments, appetizers, door prizes and music. Tickets are $25 and available at Artworks in Folklife Village or the society office.

People can also donate at any Mid-Island Co-op gas station by using the society’s Co-op number 611459.

The society hopes to host a large fundraiser on the August long weekend in the Haven Resort’s gardens. The event would feature the Gabriola Players, work written by Antony Holland and the Gabriola Island Singers.

“We’ll put all three together and have a Shakesperean afternoon with a play out in the garden,” said Nancy Nevison, chairwoman of the Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary.

She said the event isn’t finalized and is contingent on availability and further planning.

Anyone interested in volunteering, receiving tickets for events or more information can contact Nevison at 250-247-0041 or e-mail nevamore@shaw.ca.

Brenda Fowler, Submitted Article, Gabriola Sounder, January 25, 2010

The Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary presents “Cupid’s Clinic”, a Valentine’s fundraiser, at Dragon’s Lodge on Sunday, February 14th from 7 to 11pm.

“We’ve got a really fun evening planned, and anticipate a sell out crowd to help us raise funds for our new medical clinic”, said Lisa Carter. “Daryl and Raylene Czuy, and Kerry and Susan Wiggins, owners of Dragon’s Lodge, have donated the use of the lodge, and we’re very thankful to them for their generous gesture”, she said. The Martini Foursome, (known as The Kerplunks to their youngest fans) will provide great music for the evening. Dinah D., member of the group added, “We are honored to be invited to play for the Cupid’s Clinic fundraiser and are hoping to see all Gabriolans out for such a worthy, and very necessary, cause.” Gourmet appetizers will be served and a cash bar for wine or beer will be available. Several door prizes will be given out throughout the evening, and a Valentine’s raffle is also underway featuring a Lindsay Stocking Godfrey necklace, a string of pearls and a Sylvie Milman bracelet. Raffle tickets are $5 and the winners will be announced at Dragon’s Lodge.

Cupid’s Clinic is one of several events planned throughout “2010 Year of the Clinic”. To find out more about donating, volunteering or other events visit the Village Office, Mon-Sat, from 10-2, beside the library. Tickets for Cupid’s Clinic are $25 and may be purchased at the Village Office or Artworks. All proceeds to the Gabriola Health Care Foundation (GHCF). The GHCF has raised over $150,000 to date, but will need to raise one million for a new clinic to be built and equipped to include three emergency care rooms. Please also visit www.ghcs.ca for updates and the complete history. Donate 100 percent of your Co-op redeemable benefits directly by using the Foundation member #611459.

Brenda Fowler, Submitted Article, Gabriola Sounder, January 18, 2010

Gabriolans using the Gabriola Health Care Foundation Co-op member number have already made a difference. Since the beginning of January over 25 purchases have been made and 100 percent of the redeemable benefits are being accumulated by the Foundation.

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3! When you but anything (except phone cards and lotto tickets) at Mid Island C-op you can help our Health Care Foundation reach our goal of a million dollars.

Simply use the Foundation number when purchasing your products. Our number is easy to remember 611 459!

If you can't remember the number that is okay -- just look up from the pump -- our number is in the window. If you pay inside the staff all know the number and will be glad to help you.

Gabriola Health Care Foundation appreciates and thanks the mid Island Co-op for its long tradition of community support.

Derek Kilbourn, derek@soundernews.com, Gabriola Sounder, January 11, 2010

More than 200 people came out on Saturday afternoon to kick off 2010--Year of the Clinic, as the Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary hosted the opening event at the Community Hall on Saturday afternoon.

GEORGI GEORGIEVand Nancey Nevison with his custom-built power-assisted utility trike. Georgi will be donating the proceeds of the bik'e sale all $3,500 of it, to the Habriola Helath Care Foundation upon sale of the bike.
Derek Kilbourn photo

Booths, costumers, music and volunteers packed the upper floor of the hall showing off the various events which are planned as fundraisers for the Gabriola Health Care Foundation (GHCF) in 2010.

Nancy Nevison, chair of the auxiliary, said, “This has been terribly exciting. I think people have learned a lot about health care on the island and what we’re planning to do.

“We’ve also raised a lot of money today which helps, too.”

Nancy pointed out that while the Gabriola Health Care Society’s (GHCS) mission of building a new emergency and health care clinic on the island has been something well-known on the island before, the kickoff was able to show the variety of ways islanders can contribute, either financially or through volunteering, to the cause.

“These are ways you can contribute and volunteer for activities, so you don’t have to just write a cheque. We need volunteers for all sorts of activities. A lot of people signed up for events today and bought a leaf on the tree so it’s been pretty exciting.

CO-OP MAMAGER ALAN ANDRE with Brenda Flowler and Nancey Nevison, GHC Auxiliary Chair, showing off the CO-OP nummber, a partnership where purchasing goods at the CO-OP can use the GHCS CO-OP number to donate to the society.
Derek Kilbourn photo

“The thing that stands out for me is how many people have volunteered an hour or two and spent longer than they imagined looking at the booths saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you were doing this.’”

Nancy added, “It was exciting to see Cable Channel 4 was here. The piece is going to be on at 6pm on Tuesday night.”

With the target goal for clinic construction set at $1 million, a lot of small steps are going to be taken to reach it.

So far there are 11 events planned for 2010, with others waiting in the wings while organizers put the pieces together.

A key point, said Nancy is, “we have a real variety of functions coming up, something for every islander to participate in.

STARS LIKE JUNE SAVAGE will be out on the red carpet at the Roxy this March. Feel like you are mingling with the "stars" while watching the Oscars "live" from LA as one of the many fundraising events planned by the Health Care Auxiliary for the 2010 -- Year of the Clinic.
Derek Kilbourn photo

“I know we have some significant functions, and every day I get one or two emails or phone calls, asking, ‘Hey Nancy, can we do this?’

“Big or small, whatever the idea is, I’ll follow up on it.”

The most immediate date on the GHCS calendar is January 25th, when insurance company AVIVA will make it known how much funding has been set aside for the society as a finalist in the 2009 AVIVA competition.

On January 26th, there will be an open house at the GHCS office in the Village, including a draw for the katsura tree, which to date has $16,000 in donation leaves hanging from it.

Alan Andre, Manager at the Gabriola Co-op, explained why his business has decided to create a Co-op number for people to donate directly to GHCS, saying, “I see what they are doing as an organization is so professional, so effective, so exciting. It’s great for the Co-op, a community-oriented organization, to be associated. It’s helped us achieve our goals. We’re conscious of health care, and not always sure how we can participate, but here is a vehicle that will help us do that.”