Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: History


by 1 Comment

Collingwood Legion Branch #48 membership drive is Valentine’s Day

Collingwood Legion Branch #48 membership drive is Valentine's Day

SHOW YOUR LOCAL LEGION A LITTLE LOVE

BY PAUL REID

The day has arrived when Collingwood’s oldest organization (since 1924) is asking us for our help. The goal is to sign up enough members so that they can return to their rightful home, Collingwood community, to continue on with the work that they have been doing here for the past nine decades.

If you have been following our monthly coverage, you will know how RCL Branch #48, with the full support of this community, is trying to locate back to Collingwood, potentially to inhabitat the former Jaguar’s Pub at Tyne and Kingsway. First though, they need to sign up new members.

The time and place for that is now set. It’s easy to remember: Valentine’s Day, day of the heart, from noon to 3 pm, at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Its quick and easy to become a member, and everyone is welcome to join. For many residents who used to be members, now is the time to renew. If enough people sign up, the Legion can go on. Let’s get them to 100 years at least.

Just think too, if the branch is able to take over the former Jaguar’s Pub, the community will finally have a place to relax and socialize and have some fun: karaoke, pool, shuffle board, bands, dancing, poker nights; with nicely priced ice-cold craft beers, and Bernie’s big hamburgers coming through the wall from next door.

Or nothing. Since a regular pub will apparently not be able to take that space, we need to strike while this iron is hot. Become a member February 14 and help the community to help the Legion Branch #48 to come home to Collingwood.

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


by 3 Comments

Sign up to sustain Collingwood Legion Branch #48

BY PAUL REID

Members from Collingwood Neighbourhood House, RC INTERactive, Renfrew Collingwood Multicultural Artists Network, Still Moon Arts Society and, of course, the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News met with members of Collingwood Legion Branch #48 to tour the former Jaguar’s Pub location at Kingsway and Tyne. Following the tour, those present brainstormed on ways that this location might be used by Branch #48 in conjunction with these community groups.

We toured the former pub location and learned that mold issues will have the City of Vancouver needing to tear the place apart. Therefore, it will not be ready for about another year. The good news is that this renovation could be customized to fit the needs of Branch #48 and other local organizations. For instance, the rather large main room might be sectioned off or turned into more of a flex space. As you can see from the pictures, the place is currently quite a mess but does contain the basics of what Branch #48 is looking for.

While the location undergoes its renovations, the Branch needs to get their act together by the end of December – so that they are not dissolved. To aid in this, the Branch is seeking more people to come forward to become Legion members. Increasing the Branch’s membership would help their move to this location more feasible.

And this is where you come in, my friends.

We need to help the Branch this year especially by signing up as many new members as it is going to take. Membership is currently $40/year. I’m in. Who is with me? In fact, I am going to go in for two memberships, and I want to see who will match me.

To start, fill in your name and say “Please add me to the Legion #48 Community Supporters List” in the comment box below.

This is the blank slate that local MP Don Davies was talking about. The Legion needs to really rethink what its plans are, not just with our Branch #48, but with branches right across the country. Here is a great chance to set a new precedent where the Legion works hand in hand with other community organizations to move forward. We all want it here in RC = the organizations have spoken loud and clear. They want to help Branch #48 so that Branch #48 can continue to be a force in this community as they have been since before 1926, the year they became part of the Legion.

Do you have stories of being part of Branch #48 or how they’ve helped the community? Let us know. Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

To help, please add your name to a Community Supporters List for Collingwood Legion Branch #48. Just fill out the contact form below and we will add you to the list. Thank you for supporting Collingwood Legion Branch #48!

Please add in the comment box: Yes, add me to the Legion #48 Community Supporters List.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Copyright (c) 2014 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


by Leave a comment

Newcomer finds family through Renfrew-Collingwood seniors program

BY AKBERET S. BEYENE

Last fall (2011), I took a free English as a Second Language (ESL) course at the BC Federation of Labour office up the street from Collingwood Neighbourhood House. We were about 30 students, all immigrants from different parts of the world, including myself from Eritrea (in Africa) and others from Iran, Mexico and South Korea.

Our lessons were twice a week and lots of fun. The most beautiful thing about our course was getting to know each other and helping one another. Most of us were newcomers. At that time I had only been in Canada for four months. I did not know the city well and hardly had any friends. I had a hard time.

I met many friends, like Susan from South Korea, who led me to Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH). Soon I began volunteering at CNH with the Community Action for Seniors Independence (CASI) program. I’m so grateful to be part of this organization and I thank my friend Susan for the wonderful introduction. If not for her I wouldn’t know the CASI program and I wouldn’t have been able to meet Cathy, Ann and Ken, Patricia, Dolores and many others. They mean a lot to me.

I’ve been working with the CASI program as a housekeeper for over a year now. I’ve participated in training on how to work with seniors and how to best help them with housekeeping and gardening chores.

I was happy to get started to do something useful in the place I emigrated to. I believed that it would be a positive experience to help the elderly. After all it is like helping my parents whom I left behind to save my life.

My very first job, assigned to me by CASI co-coordinator Melissa Chungfat, was with Ms. Catherine Folkard. She is a very sweet and loving mother, blessed to be alive at 94 years of age.

I have been visiting Cathy once a week for almost a year. I don’t have enough words to describe her generosity and her love. Each week I cannot wait to step through her door and see her. Every visit starts with a hot coffee and cookies are waiting for me on her small table near her sofa, accompanied by her big smile and her sweet words, “Good morning love!” She is an amazing woman and I love her very much.

Before I start my job we spend some time having a conversation, as she wants to make sure that I’m alright, how my week was. It feels as if she is my mom here in Canada.

Not only that, I feel part of her family. I have an excellent connection with her family, they care about me and help me as much as they can. One unforgettable moment of happiness was the day that her daughter Marnie took us to Horseshoe Bay to celebrate my good news from my immigration hearing, after 18 months of waiting for a decision on my refugee status.

Ms. Folkard is a special woman. She is love. I’m pleased to know her and her family. I can tell that they are all the result of a big-hearted and caring mother. I can say much more about this wonderful woman. Just thinking about her fills my heart with joy.

At the beginning of my journey for this service, who would have thought that I would meet so many nice people. Ann and Ken are also part of the Community Action for Seniors Independence (CASI). I visit this family once a week as well. They are very nice people, kind and always smiling. I have created a good relationship with them and always feel welcome.

Other members of CASI include Patricia and Dolores. They both supported me in the times when I was worried about my hearing and my settlement in my new country Canada. I feel overly blessed to be part of program.

I am also very grateful for the warm and affectionate welcome I received from our humble CASI co-coordinators, Kat Cureton and Melissa Chungfat.

Akberet S. Beyene is a housekeeper with the CASI program for seniors.

This article was first published in the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News, December 2012 issue.

Copyright (c) 2014 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News