age Ald a THE REVIEW 9781-2nd St, SidneyB.C. _ Wednesday, April 12, 1989

VALORIE ‘LENNOX photos and stories

The Saanich Peninsula depends on volunteers. -Al LaRose and Max Seward are a team. Together they teach

In the three communities, everything from fighting fires to scniors at the Silver Threads Centre in Sidney to transform a picce
setting off Halloween fireworks is done by volunteers. Thousands. of rough rock into polished stones in a silver setting.
of people of all ages contribute time that ranges from an occasional Both are voluntcer instructors, LaRose has taught for six years
hour to the equivalent of a full-time job. and Seward for 10 years, Each donates five to six hours weekly,

In recognition of Voluntecr Week, April 9 to’ 15, The Review First students learn lapidary skills from LaRose — how to cut,
presents this sampling of some of the many volunteers who make: grind and polish the semi-precious stones. He has been doing the
the community a better place to live. | ae craft for 10 years.

In addition to teaching, he also maintains the workshop,
cyuipped through a government New Horizon’s grant. Students
only pay a nominal fee, to cover maintenance on the rock saws,
grinders and polishers.

“T love it,” says LaRose, a resident of Sidney for 22 years “‘I just
like to help people.”
Once the students have created their polished stones, they turn to
Seward to learn how to do silver smithing and casting. In addition
to working as a teacher in Toronto, Seward was also a jeweler. After
retiring he brought his 40 years’ experience in the craft to the

Silver * Threads.

Students range in age from 60 years up and frequently call
LaRose and Seward at home for extra advice.

“ZT wouldn't be without it,” Seward said. “To pass on knowledge
to someone is very satisfying.”

SEN on,

ROUGH ROCK becomes

jewelry with help from
Silver Threads’ volun-
teers (left to right) Al LaR-
ose and Max Seward.

FREE- WHEELING volunteer Phil Perry pilots a bus for
Resthaven Lodge.

Phil Perry pilots a bus for Resthaven Lodge three to four times a~
weck, taking senior residents of the facility on special trips.

. He started three. years ago as a volunteer’ driver using his own
car. When the Lodge obtained a bus, he got Class 4 licence. and
continued. driving.

A resident of Sidney for 15 years, he is retired from his position
as director of the Air Services Branch for the B.C. government, He.
started asa voluntecr shortly after Ieliring,

“T enjoy driving. The residents get.so much en joyment on their
outings and they appreciate itso much that I Bet a lot of oe
satisfaction through their appreciation.’ :

AN ARMFUL OF CUDDLES, PATS volunteers (left to
~ tight) Buffy and Suzie with Diana and Rose Gallacher.
Meet the Canine volunteers... Create
: Seven-year-old Buffy is-a weckly visitor to senior residents i in,
extended care facilities. An outgoing:cockapoo cross, with‘a curly zit
black. and: white: coat, she makes regular, tail-wagging rounds to —
People. ‘who: seldom ‘sce pets,” : eee
: ae dog is ‘accompanied on visits by, owner. Rosé Gallacher. af” :
al Se favre and by. Gallache TS" ‘second : dog, Suzie, a

“fa SEUUEUGL OF 4 .

gr

». Both: dogs and’ owner are members ‘of the Pacific ‘Animal
~ Therapy Society (PATS), which Eanes: Visits by dogs and owners...
“to'extended care: residents. - :
-- Gallacher’ and Buffy: fave: been’ involved in- the program for ve
Z ~ almost a year, Suzie and Diana joined in six months ago...

Both dogs had to pass health exams and temperament tests —

before . _being. admitted to the program, Gallacher said. Both also 2

~ react differently to the visiting program. | _

Buffy is a show-off, who happily greets her regular clients, Once

“Because I have the time and there’s a need.”

‘ the cockapoo took Suzie’s Icash in her mouth and paraded the - That's Lucy Ditlevson’s reason for a volunteer seneauic that
other dog down a hospital corridor, © - o More than cquals a full-time Job.
Gentle. and quict Suzie is small cnough to. be held, even by ; - Ditlevson has lived in the area since 1949, Before retiring four

patients. Gallacher recalls one 101-year-old man, an animal lover: YS Ago, she worked at a local financial institution. .

who can no longer have a pet, breaking into tears when he’ held » “When T retired, I didn’t miss working but I missed people.

- Suzie. : - Now she sees lots of people asa volunteer, For three years she
. “I is things like that which make the program Gorilwenile: Then: has worked every Saturday at the Peninsula community Associa-

‘you: realize that you are reaching People and helping them.” tion gift shop,

She also works at the hospital auxiliary wift shop in Saanich
Peninsula: Hospital and is vice-president a the auxiliary. ‘In
addition, she-is a. volunteer driver.

“T have a day off.a week,” she says

ALMOST ANYTHING can end up in the hands of PCA.
Thrift S Shop volunteer Lucy Ditlevson.

earn

“Yeats ate, Don Couthy was.a sea € radlit,

When his: teamage danghter joined the movement, he: roman
bered its value, So he volunteered,

Now he is presidentof the Saanich, Penitisuly Navy L eague of
Canada branch, aversceing. an organization involving 40. sea

‘adets, 20 navy: league members, adozen officers and-eivilian
Instractors and ac-eitht-member executive committee. © =

“TE believe in the c ale movement, I've seen the food that comes ie
Irom. it.” _

One poo result is more volun ering: Se a Cadet Roy Jensen, V7,
has volunteered to instruct the YOUNKEE navy league ci anders for the
past three years,

Jensen is shown with Coutts and navy league cadet Janies
Charles Rober rts, 12, of North Saanich.

A prade 12 stade it at Stelly’s Secondary, Jensen has now been
acce pled Royal Rhoades Maitary College where he plans to study
nav ian,

He donatyes three hours every. Tuesaday night to. teach at. Navy
League mectings and also helps with special events,

“Tet the satishiction of secing the navy league endets learmand @
PINS, OU. SOHC owled je, I hops to get the junior cadets toe >
come Ho sea aidets.”

For Counts, his volunteer hours are repaid by KCC INE the ¢ ales,
learn nace et qt: anyey netivithy,, anid bie ibys of ep por ii:

Wes for trips and COHESES,

“Tokikes a youn: person when they’ rea crossroads und molds
thom ito a better all OAL CHizens .
a Hine witht the cadets bunges Gon 00 Lo: three hours weekly

“almostup to another fulltime Job."

primeira 14 arfenmen omavitoret ented ie me

~ SHARING A “STORY aro air i to Otight) volunteer, Tracoy.
_Aninstiong and Resthayen Lodge resident Tudie Hoole,

Tracey: Armstrong, now 16, started her volunteer UGE. when
she was 13 with a visit to Resthaven Lodje, an interme diate care
~ facitity tor Scnigrs in Sidney,

Now she comes two or three limes a ‘week,
**“T enjoy visiting, They (seniors) look so happy when Teame,
She visits several of the seniors mpalarly, faking tine te read te
“them, play ¢ Aes OF lk. She is. shown with senior Tradie Hoole,

ee eae Se a Nena ty beta

CADET TO CADET, passing on skills from Don Coutts to
Roy Jonsen, 17, to dames Charlos- "Roberts, 12,

he ian oem

op ve met many people anu les ned what their lives were like,"
She also. serves tea and helps with activily programs, Eventually
she hopes for a career worki ing, with peaple,

endileneeheareremanenmcoren teen nee