New Westminster firefighters made their annual holiday visit to Royal Columbian Hospital to spread some festive joy.
Armed with oodles of toys, nearly a dozen New West firefighters and Chief Tim Armstrong visited the hospital on Dec. 19.
“It was good – unfortunately, there were a bunch of kids there, which is never a good thing,” said Glen Bailey of the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society. “We were able to drop off $1,000 worth of toys. Our friends at London Drugs helped us out an awful lot. They were very generous with us.”
During their visit to the hospital’s pediatric ward, firefighters handed out a variety of items including toys, stuffed animals and electronic items.
“When you think of kids at the hospital, everyone always thinks of young kids. When you go the pediatrics ward, they deal with up to 17- or 18-year-old kids, so we really tried to focus on getting a little bit of everything,” Bailey said. “We really tried to focus on spreading out the love.”
Bailey said staff on the pediatrics unit were appreciative of the donations for their patients and took firefighters to the emergency unit, where they visited with some kids in the emergency ward and gave them (and their siblings) toys. They also provided toys to kids who were visiting the newest members of their families in the maternity ward.
“Whatever we are not giving to the kids immediately we are leaving with the paediatrics ward to give out as well,” Bailey said. “It’s not just a Christmas thing – it’s toys for as long as they last.”
Save the date
The City of New Westminster is set to host its second annual Innovation Week from Feb. 23 to March 3 with a goal of celebrating all things innovative in the city and the region. Innovation Week kicks off with an opening reception at city hall on Feb. 23. The week features Hack the City, a transportation-themed hack-athon (Feb. 24 and 25), child and youth workshops (Feb. 24), a New West business and tech meetup and a non-profit townhall (both on Feb. 26), an Innovation Forum (Feb. 27), a business expo (Feb. 28), a Livable Cities symposium (March 1) and much more. Details can be found at [email protected].
Senior gets a new scooter for Christmas
“I believe in Santa Claus.”
Those were the word of Harold, a 72-year-old New Westminster resident when he dropped by the Seniors Services Society’s office in December to pick up a new scooter, after his name was selected in a draw. He’s now the lucky owner of a new Pegasus Metro 3-Wheel scooter.
“This will give me so much more freedom,” said an emotional Harold, who plans to donate the scooter back to the society in the future when he can no longer use it – so another senior can benefit.
After Scooter City donated the scooter to the society for its Evening in Tuscany fundraiser in October, a number of the society’s supporters chipped in to purchase the scooter and donated it back to the society so it could be given to a deserving New West resident.
Dozens of residents who entered the free draw described how the scooter would benefit their lives. Harold has back and leg problems, which have limited his mobility.
Greg Trippel from Scooter City joined Seniors Services Society executive director Kara-Leigh Bloch for the scooter presentation.
“It was so special to be part of this moment, especially at this time of year,” he said in a press release.
Following the presentation, Trippel drove Harold home – and gave him the low-down on how to operate his new ride.
The New Westminster-based Seniors Services Society assist seniors with housing, social and support programs to help them remain active and independent.
