Tag Archive for: Easter Seals BC

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Look Up, Way Up! Vancouver Skies Filled with Superheroes for a Great Cause

Media Release

Look Up, Way Up! Vancouver Skies Filled with Superheroes for a Great Cause

Vancouver, B.C., (Sept 7) — The skies were filled with superheroes today as men and women suited up and rappelled 25 storeys down a Vancouver high rise all to raise money for Easter Seals BC/Yukon. Nearly 50 participants stepped outside their comfort zone and rappelled on this day, raising over $45,000 with donations still coming in. This year’s total campaign goal is $300,000.

The Guinness Tower on West Hastings Street in Vancouver was once again the host to this year’s Vancouver Drop Zone Campaign Kick-off. The event is the first in a series of five stops that will be held across the province over the next month. Locations include: Surrey (Sept 12), Burnaby (Sept 14), Victoria (Sept 19), and Kelowna (Sept 26).

“This event is so unique, and it challenges people to step outside of their comfort zone, which many people living with diverse abilities must do every day,” says Easter Seals spokesperson Mike Leland. “The event also provides vital funding for our programs and services, which help break down barriers and provide individuals with diverse abilities the same opportunities as everyone else. This is critical if we are to create a truly inclusive, accessible and equitable society.”

Funds raised stay locally to help fund important programming and services for children and adults with diverse abilities. This includes operating three camps across the province; vital educational programs that help transition young adults into adulthood and teach those with diverse abilities the skills to find work in the hospitality industry. Near Vancouver Children’s Hospital, we also run Easter Seals House, a home away from home for anyone travelling to Vancouver for medical reasons.

“We are proud to continue our support of Easter Seals BC/Yukon as the Presenting Sponsor of their Vancouver Drop Zone event and a Sponsor of the Surrey and Victoria Drop Zones,” says Debra Doucette, President and CEO of Odlum Brown. “Taking part in the Drop Zone event each year not only enables us to support Easter Seals wonderful initiatives but encourages us to get out of our comfort zones and challenge ourselves – just like the amazing Easter Seals participants do every day.”

Held across Canada each year, the event has raised more than $16 million for Seals programs and services, supporting children and adults living with disabilities. The event in its 18th year helps fund vital programs and services for kids and adults with disabilities.

Easter Seals Drop Zone is made possible with support of our sponsors Odlum Brown, Downtown Van, McCarthy Tetrault and Oxford Properties.

People wishing to support the cause can go to dropzonebc.ca to donate.

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About Easter Seals BC/Yukon and BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities Since 1952, Easter Seals BC & Yukon has provided programs and services to persons with diverse abilities that help improve their quality of life. For over six decades, the Society has helped over 1,000,000 families in need through transportation services, child health research, Easter Seals summer camps, Easter Seals House, post-secondary bursaries at seven regional colleges or universities, community access services, and patient care programs. www.eastersealsbcy.ca

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Vancouver Island camp getting complete makeover

More children and youth with disabilities will be able to go to camp thanks in part to a $7-million grant from the Province of B.C.

“Going to camp is a fun-filled and life-changing experience that all children should have the opportunity to enjoy,” said Premier David Eby. “Yet many camps aren’t accessible for children with disabilities, and those that are fill up fast. That’s why we’re helping Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan update and expand its facilities. This will allow more children to experience the many benefits of camp while giving their families and caregivers the time they need to recharge their batteries.”

Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan, located along Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, has been operating for close to 50 years, welcoming its first campers in 1976. Every year, more than 200 children and adults spend time at the camp, with equipment, programs and services designed specifically for their needs. By ensuring everyone’s social background and learning style are considered, the camp cultivates individual growth and provides campers with a fun experience that encourages development in life skills, self-confidence and independence.

“A stay at Camp Shawnigan has been described by many campers as the best time of their lives. They experience fun and friendship, guided by an amazing staff that provides compassion and high quality of care, making this a magical place,” said Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development. “Through this grant, and with the support of community donors, Easter Seals can continue to provide these special experiences to campers during the summer and provide a modern, universally accessible venue for people with disabilities year round.”

The $7-million grant will allow Camp Shawnigan to upgrade its facilities, which are aging and in need of modernization, and become North America’s first purpose-built, year-round retreat for children, youth and adults with disabilities. The budget for the project is $25 million and funding sources will include private donations. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2025 with completion in 2026.

“I’m so excited to embark on this bold plan for the revitalization of Camp Shawnigan and I am so grateful to the Ministry of Children and Family Development for the incredible support,” said Lisa Beck, president and CEO of Easter Seals British Columbia. “This grant will allow us to push the boundaries of universal and inclusive design and improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of individuals living with disabilities. It will also enable the growth and future sustainability of our programs year round, while allowing us to offer services to other organizations, the corporate community and the community at large.”

Improvements to the eight-hectare lakefront property will include 10 new two-bedroom cabins with kitchenettes, a hotel style dormitory, a large community hall and a gym with an in-ground pool. Designed for people with visible and invisible disabilities, Camp Shawnigan will accommodate all people no matter their abilities, mobility or sensory sensitivities. Accessible landscapes, stunning vistas and environments built to be inclusive will create a sense of fulfilment and community for everyone.

Learn More:

To find out more about the Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan expansion, visit: https://campshawnigan.ca/

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Over 1000 Christmas Trees Chipped for Charity

Easter Seals’ Chip In for the Kids Tree Recycle raised over $16,000.

Vancouver Island, B.C. – January 18, 2023: Easter Seals BC/Yukon’s 33rd annual Christmas tree recycling fundraiser, Chip In for the Kids, took place last weekend and raised over $16,000 for Camp Shawnigan, a local summer camp for children and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities.

“The rain didn’t stop people from showing up, we had a great turn out again this year with over 1000 trees being recycled,” says Shannon Bernays, Manager of Community Partnerships at Easter Seals. “It’s a fun community event and with the help of volunteers from Competition Tree Service, Davey Tree Services and local Lions Clubs, we were able to raise much needed funds to support our overnight summer program at Camp Shawnigan.”

Over 1000 trees were dropped off at seven Vancouver Island locations from Victoria to Duncan, including Shawnigan Lake and Mill Bay.

“This fundraiser is in its 33rd year, and we’re so thankful for the continued support and donations that come from our community, so that kids and adults with disabilities such as autism, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy, can take a week away from their medical appointments and treatments, and have just a week of fun, summer camp activities,” adds Bernays. “It’s such an amazing week for our campers and we couldn’t do it without the donations and support that come from our community.”

Easter Seals will be running five weeks of overnight camp this July and August for children and adults with disabilities between the ages of 6 to 49. Registration opens online February 13th and you can find more information or make a donation at www.eastersealsbcy.ca.

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100 Men Who Care Cowichan Valley Donate to Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan

(Photo: Jaap Zwaan, Lisa Beck, Matthuw Ronald-Jones)

Cowichan, B.C. (July 26, 2022): Local chapter of 100 Men Who Care, Cowichan Valley, have picked their latest local charity to support, and this week, Matthuw Ronald-Jones, who nominated Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan, presented them with a cheque in the amount of $10,210.

“Easter Seals is an organization that has been in our community since 1976 when the camp first opened to serve children, youth and adults with diverse abilities on Shawnigan Lake. Each summer they host over 200 campers in a space that is inclusive and accessible, giving individuals with diverse abilities the chance to have a unique camp experience,” Ronald-Jones explains. “We see the impact that organizations like Easter Seals have on the families in the Cowichan Valley, and I’m so thrilled we could acknowledge their great work with a donation from 100 Men Who Care.”

100 Men Who Care is a philanthropic group of local men who are interested in supporting their community by contributing to charities together as a group to increase the donation impact. It’s designed to make an immediate and positive difference.

At each of the quarterly meetings, members nominate charities, three are chosen at random, and after a brief presentation, the members vote on which charity to support. Once the winning charity is announced, everyone writes a $100 cheque to that charity.

“We would like to thank Matthuw Ronald-Jones for nominating Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan and sharing our charity’s work with his fellow club members. He has been such a wonderful supporter of our organization,” says Lisa Beck, President and CEO of Easter Seals BC/Yukon. “It was a wonderful surprise to find out that we were the chosen recipient of their latest generous contributions. These men, who come together just four times a year, make such a big difference in their community, and we are so grateful for the support and opportunities that this donation will give our campers.”

The next 100 Men Who Care’s meeting will be held on September 12 where they will pick another local charity to benefit.

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About Easter Seals BC/Yukon and BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities
Easter Seals BC/Yukon is one of British Columbia’s legacy charities and is operated by the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities (Society) to help individuals with diverse abilities. Since 1947, the Society has provided programs and services to families and persons with diverse abilities that help improve their quality of life. Over 75 years, the Society has helped over 1,000,000 families in need through transportation services, child health research, Easter Seals summer camps, Easter Seals House, post-secondary bursaries at seven regional colleges or universities, community access services, and patient care programs.