A new crew is hard at work in the Royal City as part of the New Westminster Youth Ambassador Team.
For the past three year, the program provides young New West men and women aged 16 to 19 with life skills and opportunities. The ambassadors are often spotted around volunteering at various events, such as the Festival of Volunteers at Royal City Centre, MLA Judy Darcy and MP Peter Julian’s open houses, fundraisers for autism, Royal City Musical Theatre, Order of the Eastern Star and other organizations.
“What it provides for them is an opportunity that they might not otherwise have or think of ways to give back to their community and meet a whole lot of different people than they would normally meet,” she said.
The New Westminster Youth Ambassador Team’s “charity of choice” is B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs, which raises and trains puppies and dogs for people who are visually impaired or autistic children, and provide dogs that aren’t suitable for these roles to soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. The team is also sponsoring a puppy, Simba.
This year’s ambassador team includes Cole Thiessen, Ben Osborne, Jonah Wright, Meghan Connor, Giselle (Gigi) Whittaker and Julie Ruggenberg.
“After all the volunteering, they get a grant at the end of the year to help them with their post-secondary education,” Radbourne said. “We do fun things too. We take them into the parades, we take them into the Santa Claus Parade, the Hyack Festival parade.”
The youths ago on a couple of out-of-town trips, including a visit the Legislature in Victoria.
“It is a very, very busy year for these kids. We wouldn’t have won the awards if it hadn’t been f or the teens. We have been so fortunate. These teens are fabulous.”
In addition to winning Record Readers’ Choice awards in 2015 and 2016, the New Westminster Youth Ambassador Society took home the 2016 Platinum Award for Not for Profit Under $1 million,
While the program is open to teens ages 15 to 18, younger teens are invited to help volunteer with the group and see if it’s something they’d like to do in the future.
Anyone wishing to support the program and its efforts to raise funds for the B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs is invited to attend a burger and trivia fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Castle Neighbourhood Grill (and people under 19 will be admitted.) Tickets are $20 per person and available at [email protected] or 778-389-1125.
ZHOOSH seeks support for Parkinson’s programs
ZHOOSH Fitness Garage is seeking space for programs for folks with Parkinson’s.
Robyn Murrell has announced she’s closing the doors to ZHOOSH Fitness Garage on March 31, a business she’s operated at #110-131 11th St. for the past three years.
“At this time our main goal is to find a space for our clients who are fighting back against Parkinson’s,” said a press release from the local business. “Our two Parkinson specific exercise programs, Rock Steady Boxing New West and Parkinson Wellness Recovery, are vital to the health and well-being of those affected by the disease.”
Anyone who may know of a space that would willing to host or sponsor these programs is asked to email [email protected].
ZHOOSH is having a volunteer information and orientation session for Rock Steady Boxing on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Royal City Centre malll, in the empty unit across from Shoppers Drug Mart (not the gym location as previously advertised). The program relies on volunteers to support clients in “fighting back against Parkinson’s” and welcome volunteers to fill a variety of roles including administration duties, fundraising and newsletter.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering for the program that helps people affected by Parkinson’s is welcome to attend. Register at [email protected] or call 604-525-2631.
ZHOOSH Fitness Garage was nominated for the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce’s Platinum Awards in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Rock Steady Boxing New West for Parkinson’s was nominated for two Small Business B.C. Awards.
