86 Years of Service and Going Strong!
It was a sunny Saturday as the SCHA celebrated its 86th year of service. Approx 140 members gathered at the Sechelt Seniors Center on Sept 16 for a volunteer appreciation lunch.
The lively, social get-together was an opportunity for all the member groups to mingle. Emceed by Jacqui Jones-Cox the afternoon included speeches, games, lunch, cake, a 50/50 and prize draws, special presentations, and announced by Lorna, a fashion show extravaganza ending with a parade of past Thrift Shop “blues”. Jane MacDonald from the Sechelt Hospital Foundation spoke about the recent purchase of the Thrift Shop from the Hospital Foundation.
There was also a special presentation by Jacqui to Thrift Shop Co-chairs, Lorna and Mary, on behalf of the SCHA Board, of a framed commemorative set of keys that were ceremoniously handed over to Warren at the Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s AGM. These are to be displayed at the shop. Look for them on the end wall at the entrance to the sorting area when the store has been re-painted. (Hopefully soon). Guest Speaker Ian Burke, Vice President of the BCAHA and Co-Lower Mainland Area Director, spoke about his involvement and growth within the Powell River Healthcare Auxiliary and what that has meant to him. Yvonne Chard Co-Lower Mainland Area Director with the BCAHA spoke about how inspiring the Coast’s Healthcare Auxiliary is, and about her Auxiliary in Delta and the wonderful work Auxiliaries do.
There were many long term service awards presented. 5 year pins went to; Mona Anderson, Susan Budgell, Lori Dempster, Linette Hiebert, Reana Nestman, Sandra Timmins from the Gibsons branch. Judy Moolla, Jim Noon and Elise Rudland from the Halfmoon Bay branch. Jan Adaskin, Klaus Blume, Emma Boroditsky, Joanne Mitchell, Jon Nimmo, Sue Rhodes, Connie Van Swieten from the Hopkins branch and Violette Clark, Kelly Giroux, Marguerite Millar, Ian Munroe, Ann Small and Kitty York from the Sechelt branch.10 year pins went to; Jeanie Parker and Karen Watson from Sechelt. Lorraine Blakeman, Peggy Halliday, Connie Hildebrandt, Joyce Quart, Lynne Sturm from Halfmoon Bay. Cathy Jennings, Lisa Lockerby and Vicki Mackenzie from Hopkins. Rae Anderson, Elaine Gibb, Marlene Rees, Candice Sayre, Ursula Schmidhauser, Tom Schollen, Janet Thornton and Mary Young from Sechelt.
15 year pins went to; Pam Coxall, Marney Qually from Gibsons. Candace Pinkster, Margaret Walters from Halfmoon Bay. Vivienne Ayers-Berry, Kathy Conroy, Christine Gaskins, Gerry Nimmo from Hopkins and Judy Dube, Audrey Herz, Paul Toynbee from Sechelt.20 year pins went to Diane Albert, Marion Terrillon, Jane Tollestrup from Halfmoon Bay and Michelle Chapman from Sechelt.
25 year pins went to; Karen Archer, Marion Wilson from Halfmoon Bay. Ann Burdett and Reta Higgs from Sechelt.30 year pins went to; Myrna Mannis from Gibsons and Marian Cook from Sechelt.
35 year pins went to Jackie Johnston from Hopkins.50 year pins went to Erna Cole, Marilyn Jardine both from Sechelt and an amazing 65 year pin went to Helen Weinhandl from the Gibsons Branch. Congratulations to all of you celebrating one of these milestones in your service to the SCHA!
Congratulations also to Mary Jackson who took home $227 as the winner of our 50/50 draw. The Gift Shop and Thrift Store put on a fun fashion show with beautiful items new and previously owned, offered to purchase and a few Halloween Costumes thrown into the mix!
Of course nothing ever goes as planned and there are always hiccups, but the SCHA want all who attended and all of its wonderful volunteers to know that the SCHA couldn’t do the amazing job it does for healthcare in our communities without each and every one of you and you are all greatly appreciated. Thank you to the organizing team for the hard work put in to bring us this event.