Gift Suggestions

“Gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." 

~ Oren Arnold

We have already raised $2525!  

Help us reach $3,000!

Jared Keenleyside

It was my mom's idea to approach Jared to find out what his story was. She remembered that he did some pretty impressive fundraising for the Relay for Life a couple of years ago and wanted to share his story.

The majority of this story comes from Aunty Lynette with a few details filled in by Jared.

Jared was involved in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life which gives individuals and communities the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember and honour loved ones lost to cancer and fight back against all cancers. He was already involved in the fundraising when he found out that our Auntie Elaine was diagnosed with Cancer, that combined with his friend Matt's diagnoses - had him working like none other to garner donations.


He would go to every house in reach and if they didn't have money right then or if they weren't home, he wrote down their name and address and would return until they gave him something. Even more extreme, he put his hair in dozens of ponytails and auctioned them off the night of the relay – shaving his head in the process.

In two years he raised a total of $1,800 ($600 the first and $1,200 the second year).  The second year, he was the second highest earner.

Lynette shared…

It was funny because all of a sudden all these teachers who had thought Jared was such a pain to teach in Elementary saw a side of Jared that we always knew was there and if they had cared enough to look they would have seen too. They were all commenting to Kara about how great he was as if it was something new. I had people in the community stop me at the grocery store to tell me how awesome my son was. I would just smile as this was something I had known for years.

This year for Christmas, Jared has asked that anyone who wants to give him a gift please make a donation to charity. He is really interested in helping those people who live in third world countries as he believes that they are truly in need as they have no social benefits in place in their countries as we do here in Canada. Lynette and Scott and their family are sponsoring a child this year as a family gift that will continue for years to come - all of their kids are so excited to be making a difference.

Lynette said..

It's going to be the best gift I get this year as I've wanted to do it for years. I guess Jared's request just helped inspire us to make the move this year. 

When I asked Jared what he got out of the experience he said "it just kinda felt nice to help out....I  never really thought about it, I just went for it - and did it!"


Jared, thank you for going for it - thank you for helping just for the sake of helping.  It's exactly what we're hoping to do for Golden - in a long term, sustainable way through the Family Legacy Fund that we have established.

Thank you to Auntie Lynette and Jared who shared this story with me.  I'm personally touched that Jared went above and beyond when he realized that cancer had stricken those closest to him, and further to that - that it has permanently impacted his family in that they are now sponsoring a child.

Grandma Mary

We were all pretty young when we lost Grandma to cancer, so this story is hardest for me to write. Grandma sang with Grandpa in the church choir in Golden, but I am told she was extremely shy. That is why it's so impressive that Grandpa gave her credit for his "overwhelming compulsion" to become a minister. He wrote that when he told Grandma about his desire to minister, she said "That is what I have been praying for". Grandma wanted what was best for Grandpa, and her Church, and God, above what was most comfortable for her. Minister's wives traditionally led the choir and played the organ, but Grandma felt those things were not for her to do.

Something I noticed while writing about Grandpa, was, when would Grandma have had time to volunteer? Grandpa George was so involved with the community, often with Dad and Uncle Bill in tow, someone had to be home with Auntie Shirley! There were not as many opportunities for women, either. There were no Girl Guides or Brownies, and women weren't allowed to be fire fighters. They seldom ran for office, or served on public boards. They served behind the scenes.

Still, I remember the sock monkeys and hobby horses that she made for us (and the Church bazaars). I remember the sound of her voice, calling my brother 'wee Geordie". I remember her at the cabin in Windermere, happy to be surrounded by family. And I remember her soprano singing voice - I thought she made the most beautiful music in the world.

Katie Kotulak

A few years ago, we got word that cousin Katie would not be participating in the Cousin's draw for that year.  She had decided to sponsor a child instead of giving/receiving gifts.  I remembered wondering if she was inspired by the story that Grandpa Bob had once sponsored a family over Christmas.

I asked Katie to share with us why she chose to sponsor a child and what she got out of the experience:

She was 18 years old  and going from store to store in the mall, trying to find the perfect gift for our grandparents.  It came to her, that maybe a perfect gift didn't exist - so she decided that instead of getting our grandparents gifts, she would sponsor a child.

Her name was Laura James and she was from Columbia. She was seven years old.

Katie had originally wanted to to help someone from Brazil because she had lived there, but Columbia was the closest. Katie sponsored her for two years and as school expenses rose, she elected to start giving other types of donations for Christmas for grandpa's birthday/Christmas gifts.

When I ask Katie to tell me about her reasons behind sponsoring a child, she told me it was no big deal - not a lot to share, but when I was writing out what she told me I got a little choked up.  I think it says something incredible about our family, and the legacy that our grandparents have inspired when instead of buying a gift certificate for a restaurant or fuzzy socks when we can't think of the perfect gift - she donated.  She helped a child for two of the formative years of her live.  Who knows?  Maybe that gave Laura James just the boost up in life that she needed.  Maybe it is a big deal.

Thank you Katie, for telling me about Laura.

The donations are starting to roll in! Thank you all!

As we get closer to our deadline, donations are starting to come. I had visits from Lynette and Kara on Saturday at the liquor store and Kara also brought in a donation from Sarah - kicking off giving from the youngest generation! (Jessie, you are the middle :) )

Please remember that all donations, of any amount, will help! From $5 and beyond, it will take us closer to our goal.

Don't forget, you can also use the online donation button as opposed to writing cheques, if that is your preference.

Grandma Vi

Grandma Vi came in to our lives in 1968, hand picked by Grandma Mary, or so the story goes.

Grandpa George and Vi Seaman, a kindergarten teacher, and choir director of the Terrace United church, were married and the family grew with two new sisters, Leah and Gayle.

Vi 's book, They Also Came, went to the publisher in 1987, at the same time that leukemia claimed her. It is a book of tribute to missionary women of the West Coast. She relates the experiences of the early missionary wives, teachers, nurses and other dedicated women who devoted their lives to the people living in isolation on lighthouses, in logging camps, and frontier and Native villages. She always was a storyteller.

This is an image of the Thomas Crosby before Great Grandpa George and Vi were on the boat. More information on the Thomas Crosby's history can be found here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Argonaut-II-1937-1966

Grandpa wrote the chapter about Grandma Vi, who also came. They started their ministry on the Thomas Crosby in July of 1970 and Grandma was a full partner right from the start. She worked, at times in the Kindergarten at Hartley Bay; at other times she substituted in Grades 6 and 7. In the church there, there was Sunday School, and youth choirs. But Grandma and Grandpa visited many communities along the B.C. coast, so Sunday School could fall on any day, in any community.

Grandma's great love was music - teaching new songs and rhythm band instruments. She could often be found on a kitchen floor, telling Bible stories and making crafts with children.

Even on their days off the Ship, grandma would be shopping for people back in the remote communities they served, or writing a newsletter for the many United Church congregations that wanted to know more about the mission.

After their retirement from the Thomas Crosby, Grandma and Grandpa moved to Duncan, where they remained active in the church, visiting and entertaining friends and family. The children still came, to do crafts and hear stories.

Grandma lived her life in service to others, and if she occasionally got lost in a Ferry bathroom, she had Kara to help her find her way.

Grandma Sarah

Grandma Sarah was a bride at 16, and a Mom by 17, and had 6 children before she was 30, losing one, Anita, to SIDS. Despite this very busy, and at times difficult life, Grandma Sarah still found (or made) time to volunteer with the Women's Institute while still in the Okanagan. Womens' Institutes were extremely involved in the War Effort: fundraising, nursing, collecting and manufacturing domestic supplies. Individual Institutes would hold various events such as dances, plays, and recitals as social events in their communities and the proceeds would go to support the war. Many Institutes spent time canning fruit, knitting socks, and making bandages for the troops overseas.

When Grandpa enlisted in WW2 and served overseas in the Forestry Corp, Grandma was on her own with five small children. She moved back to Didsbury, where she grew up, to have family support for the approximately four years that she was a single Mom. When Grandpa came home, (and can you imagine the challenge that was - going from single, head of house decision maker back to the expected "housewife" role?) - they returned to the Okanagan. Their move to Golden in 1952/1953 was made for work, but they moved into a two room cabin! Grandpa had to convince the Doctor's, for whom he was building a clinic, that they needed a caretakers suite. And then he needed to persuade Grandma to take the caretaker's job, so they could have a home that fit Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Auntie Denny.

Grandma became a member of the Golden Legion Auxilliary. The Ladies auxilliary did things like catering as a fundraiser to support the operation of the Legion and their charitable aims.

Mom tells me that during the planning of the Purcell apartments, Grandma would say she was glad she wasn't going to live there, because the units were too small. As we all know, Grandma lived there for 16 years. I appreciated their small size, as I often steam-cleaned the carpet for her. And every time I brought my kids to visit her, she asked me if they didn't need an undershirt.

Grandma had more than her share of painful events in her life, losing two daughters and Grandpa, but she was never bitter or complaining. She just dug deep, and kept going, making all our lives richer for knowing her.