Change Starts Here
Accounting for change
Alison Murray has been helping others to ensure their tax returns are correct since she got her first job (at Wendy’s Restaurant) when she was 15. The...
Celebrating life
I am so impressed by my first visit to the (relatively) new Hospice House on Ethel Street. It really is one of the last places that I would expect to encounter...
Dispensing hope
Few things will change your life as much as having a baby. If the pregnancy is unplanned, adjusting to the news and making decisions can feel totally...
Losing labels, saving lives
The first thing I notice about Ozanam House is the quiet. You’d expect a recovery home for 19 men to be a much noisier place. Everyone is going about...
Matchmaking for volunteers
Giving time and talent to help someone else feels good. It also changes lives, and that is the main reason that many of us become volunteers. Each volunteer is...
One Cup at a Time
Admittedly, the food service industry was not the place for my talents. I stumbled through a few jobs to put myself through college, but I was relieved to hurry...
A sheltered Christmas
The holiday season can be both joyful and stressful. Under pressure around time, family and money, most of us have to remind ourselves to focus on the values...
Moving and mingling
When the temperature drops and it starts getting dark and slippery outside, seniors look for safe ways to stay active and ward off the winter blahs. The Central...
A sobering holiday plea
Many of us remember one special teacher who encouraged us to try something hard, or wore crazy socks to make the class laugh, or stayed late to coach a sports...
A world of adaptive adventures
There is no denying that the Okanagan is a spectacular place to go outside and play. People come here from all over the world to do just that. While most of us...
Filling the gap
There are many ways for young professionals to contribute their time, energy and talent to their communities. However, not all volunteer opportunities are...
Health equipment heroes
A kind face and a helpful service can make all the difference when you are recovering from an ordeal like major surgery. The Health Equipment Loans Program...
One stop services for seniors
I have moved six times in the past 11 years, and every time it was a difficult and stressful experience. However, those experiences pale in comparison to what...
Starting From Strengths
“I wish I’d had that when I was younger!” is my reaction to hearing about the It’s Great to Be Me program that was a pilot project of...
Pain is Not Gain
My joints hurt, and I’m nervous about what I’ll learn when I visit The Arthritis Society’s Kelowna Arthritis Centre in the Stewart Building on...
Just Add Sharing
Like most kids, I was fascinated by toys that did not belong to me. Apparently, some things never change. Every time I visit the Toy Lending Library (operated...
Pushing Casanova's Buttons
Blue means "go", red means "whoa" and yellow means "trot." The plastic buttons are part of a new custom saddle that allows...
Change Starts Here
For some, the word “disability” brings to mind an image of a wheelchair, or a person who cannot do everyday activities. Local organizations like the...