Our Stories

Food Bank Reflects a Caring Community Every Friday, Bill takes part in a cooking class at the Peace Arch Community Services Food Banks. He's one of about 1,500 people served by the Food Bank annually... More >>

Making a difference for people with disabilities Kidz Klub is a program offered by Semiahmoo House Society, a non-profit organization that receives support from the Peninsula Community Foundation. More >>

Building a Healthier Community Cathy Sharp is pleased with plans to expand cardiac rehab services in our community. "The Centre for Health Improvement is an exciting development, because we'll be able to help more people with a broader range of health problems." More >>

Saving Lives at Sea Dan Savage and his fellow volunteers at the Semiahmoo Peninsula Marine Rescue Society respond to 30 search and rescue calls each year. "If a sailboat goes aground, a kayak flips or a boat goes missing, we get the call." More >>

A Comfortable Seat for Theatre Fans Fred Partridge wants his audiences to be comfortable when they watch a production by the White Rock Players. "When we were planning the renovation of our theatre, we just dreaded the thought of having to re-use our existing seating." More >>

Close Food bank reflects a caring community.

Funded in part by the Peninsula Community Foundation, the Peace Arch Community Services (PACS) Food Bank serves about 1,500 people annually, one-third of whom are children.

Every Friday, Bill joins a group of people for a cooking class. Hosted by the Food Bank, the classes promote healthy eating for people with health conditions or who face the challenge of eating well on a low income.

The cooking classes are one way that the PACS Food Bank stands out.
Having been a client at other food banks, Bill says this service is different.

"The most important difference is that you can choose your food here," he explains. "So if you have allergies or you need certain foods for health reasons, you can request them, rather than just being handed a box of food. It's more respectful of the individual."

The PACS Food Bank aims to provide two to three days of food per week for each person. It is open two days a week and is supported by more than 75 volunteers. The Food Bank makes a special effort to promote healthy eating. They grow produce in their own garden, identify healthy food choices and link clients to the Harvest Box program, which provides a box of fresh local produce for just $6.

For people like Bill, the food bank provides more than food. "I can't tell you how good it is," he says. "They make a real effort by providing recipes at the front counter and inviting anyone to the cooking classes. We learn a bit, eat lunch together and enjoy each other's company."

Through its efforts, the PACS Food Bank truly supports community members in need.

Close Making a difference for people with disabilities Kidz Klub is a program offered by Semiahmoo House Society, a non-profit organization that receives support from the Peninsula Community Foundation. The Society provides a wide range of programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families including residential group homes, education and training, respite services and daycare. The Society's impact in our community is immense. Tyler's disability is not immediately apparent. He's a cheerful 11-year-old with great social skills who looks perfectly normal. But his intellectual disability means that he's delayed academically by three to four years. This hasn't been a problem for him socially until recently. But as children move through the primary grades, they become more aware of differences among them. "When Tyler finally realized that he's different, he had a real problem with it," says his mum Michelle. "He's a very social kid, and he started having difficulty fitting in. It was very tough." When Michelle heard about the Kidz Klub at Semiahmoo House Society in South Surrey, a program just for kids aged 9 to 12 with developmental disabilities, she was delighted. And after he started attending the sessions every Wednesday, so was Tyler. "It's unreal what this place has done for him," Michelle says. "The people are phenomenal - they're so passionate about being with the kids and providing a positive environment where they can interact. It has given Tyler the comfort of knowing he's not alone." "Kids like Tyler can often fall through the cracks because the disability isn't severe," says his mum. "But Kidz Klub makes an unbelievable difference for him. The other day he said, ‘I feel like I'm home when I'm there.' I just hope people know that their support touches the lives of people locally who desperately need help."
Close Building a Healthier Community
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The Peninsula Community Foundation has committed $500,000 to the Partners in Caring campaign for the Centre for Health Improvement, its largest single contribution ever. The Centre for Health Improvement will provide relief for the Mel Edwards Centre, which has been full to overflowing for the past four years. The Mel Edwards Centre provides programs for 180 people with heart health problems; the new Centre for Health Improvement will be able to treat 600 people.

Cathy Sharp is certain this support will make an enormous impact on our community. Cathy oversees cardiac rehab services provided by Peace Arch Hospital, which includes the community-based Mel Edwards Centre. Cathy has seen the need for cardiac rehab skyrocket in recent years, with local programs bursting at the seams. That's why she's so pleased about the progress of the Centre for Health Improvement.

Still in the planning stages, the new Centre for Health Improvement will be built on land at Centennial Arena. In addition to providing cardiac rehab programs, the Centre will provide treatment for people with other chronic diseases such as diabetes. The facility will be shared with the Peace Arch Curling Club and White Rock Leisure Services, and will be open to the community during evenings and weekends.

"The Centre for Health Improvement is an exciting development, because we'll be able to help more people with a broader range of health problems," Cathy explains. "By providing care at an earlier stage and by focusing on prevention, we can help people improve their lives before they get very sick, and we can help them recover and regain their health."

"When someone is recovering from a heart attack or dealing with a chronic condition, they need help and support," she says. "We help people get their lives back - it can be quite a dramatic turnaround."

Close Saving Lives at Sea
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As a seaside community, White Rock/South Surrey enjoys the benefits of our beautiful beaches and easy access to boating. With those benefits comes the responsibility of keeping the waters safe. The Peninsula Community Foundation helps through its support of the Semiahmoo Peninsula Marine Rescue Society.

Funding from the Foundation has helped the Marine Rescue Society purchase and maintain "Vigilant", a rigid hull inflatable rescue boat. This fast response vessel is used in many ways according to Society director Dan Savage.

"If a sailboat goes aground, a kayak flips or a boat goes missing, we get the call," he explains. "Its absolutely essential to have a boat that is up to the job for search and rescue."

The Marine Rescue Society's 27 volunteers respond to about 30 search and rescue calls each year. They also help patrol events such as the Festival of Wind, Waves & Water - Semiahmoo Regatta, the Polar Bear Swim, the Crescent Beach Triathlon and Crescent Beach Days. In addition to helping manage the Society, Dan is a search and rescue volunteer who leads a four-person crew.

"As a community-based resource we help people in any way that we can," he says. "We're proud that when there's an emergency on the water, our community knows they can count on us for search and rescue. That's due to supporters like the Peninsula Community Foundation."

Close A Comfortable Seat for Theatre Fans
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Thanks to funding from the Peninsula Community Foundation, the White Rock Players were able to buy beautiful new seats for their refurbished theatre when it was unveiled in July 2006.

White Rock Players Club President Fred Partridge explains that the old seats had been a sore spot for everyone involved with the theatre.

"When you're asking people to sit and watch a performance for two hours or more, you should at least give them a decent seat," he explains. "When we were planning the renovation of our theatre, we just dreaded the thought of having to re-use our existing seating."

As a long-time member of the White Rock Players (both Board member and actor), Fred Partridge says it's tremendously satisfying to know audiences are comfortable.

"We've got people who've been coming to this theatre for generations," he says. "It's nice to be able to give them something back to them. The change was dramatic when we put in the new seating; it was the perfect finishing touch for our new theatre."