Thank you for those who joined us to celebrate 50 years of SOS on Sunday, July 8 in Parksville. If you missed it, please join us at SOS at Qualicum Commons on Saturday, July 14 from noon to 2 p.m. This will be a ’60s themed event with hula hoops, a vintage clothing race, live music, balloon animals, food and more. Come join us for a cupcake! Aerial photo by Tim Allix of Sky-Camera.ca
We won Best Community Entry and had a wonderful time at the Canada Day Parade in Parksville! We amped up our parade entry this year in honour of our 50th Anniversary. Thank you to our Amazing volunteers and staff who outdid themselves with preparations and decorations. A big shout out to Ray and Lyle at Kingsley Trucking in Coombs for an awesome flatdeck and driver, and Kim at Arrowsmith Golf & Micky J’s Bar & Grill and Kevin at Paradise Seashell Motel for getting us a sweet golf cart! What a fantastic community we have!
Click here to view the Annual Report
To mark the 50th Annual General Meeting at SOS, past and current Directors enjoyed a reunion on June 20, where they reminisced about their time with SOS and all that has been accomplished. Kay Burgoyne was the second Executive Director at SOS, and she shared information at the event about the happenings during the first 10 years of the organization. Founding member Edith Chamberlayne also gave a speech and thanked Directors, past and present, for their committment to SOS. After the event, guests headed upstairs for the AGM Business Meeting.
Don Dempson said farewell as he completed an 8-year term with the Board of Directors. All other faces on the Board will remain the same, as will the Executive roles. At the meeting, staff was recognized for Years of Service milestones. This included Executive Director Susanna Newton who has been with the organization 25 years, and Kevin Newton, Manager of the Thrift Shop, who has also been with the organization for 25 years. Jackie Brice, Thrift Shop Operations Supervisor, has been with SOS for 15 years, and Sherry Thorpe, Financial Controller, has been with SOS for 10 years. Darren Paquette, SOS Custodian, has been with SOS for 5 years, as has Thrift Shop Shipper Receiver, Rob Taylor.
SOS Board of Directors photo: from back left Pamela May-Straka, Gordon Ball, First Vice Chair Martin Fereday, Joshua Dennis, Don Luke and Paul Ruffell. Front row from left, Dr. Jennifer Mullet, Secretary Treasurer Bonnie Wallis, Executive Director Susanna Newton, Board Chair Garry Cox, and Second Vice Chair Elaine McKinlay.
SOS Child, Youth & Family summer programs start up July 3 and run until August 24. Click here to check out the SOS 2018 Summer Brochure. Please note, there is no Child, Youth & Family Programming from June 18-June 29.
Check out the beautiful new garden bed display on Pym Street! Our sincere thanks to City of Parksville for making this a reality, and for helping us celebrate this milestone with the community. We could not have had such a positive impact on so many local resident’s lives these past 5 decades without community support. Click here to learn more about our free community celebrations this July!
