A Long History of Building a Better Tomorrow

The Women’s Institute has had a long and important relationship with the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island and the children and families of Vancouver Island. In fact, the Women’s Institute played a key role in creating the Foundation. In the 1920’s the Women’s Institute responded to a plea from a Vancouver Island mother for health care closer to home for her child, who had polio. Through unflagging determination enough funds were raised to build the original Queen Alexandra Solarium for Crippled Children, which opened in Mill Bay in 1926. Numerous patients have shared fond memories and expressed immense gratitude for the transformative care they received at the Solarium.  Over the years the Women’s Institute has continued to support the Foundation and Island families in a variety of ways. Whether through donations, raffles, garden parties, teas, beautiful handmade quilts or the establishment of the Women’s Institute Bursary, the legacy of heart continues to affect lives across Vancouver Island.

The Bursary celebrates 30 years!

In 1991, the Women’s Institute established a bursary to support staff members at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Heath (QAC) in advancing their knowledge in the care of children through continuing education. Over the past 30 years, 67 staff have continued their education because of the Women’s Institute and have used the new knowledge and skill to provide better care for children at QAC. The impact of over $53,000 in bursaries can be felt throughout the numerous facilities on the QAC grounds.

The main Queen Alexandra building is always busy with activity, as children and youth receive care from a wide variety of skilled professionals like bursary recipient Melissa Armstrong. Thanks to the generosity of the Women’s Institute, Melissa, a Speech Language Pathologist, was able to take a course that allowed her to better help children with cleft palates find their voices.

In the Fisher building, children and youth needing orthotics, prosthetic and seating assessments may run into bursary recipient Brianna Myring. With the help of the bursary, Brianna is studying to become a one of only 3 Certified Prosthetists that serve the South Island. This means children will not have to wait as long to receive life-changing prosthetics that allow them to live life to it’s fullest.

Across the QAC ground is the Pearkes building where you find the Early Intervention Program, that provides services for children, up to 5 years old, with or at risk for developmental delays. Physiotherapist and bursary recipient, Kim Andersen observes that “everyday in my profession I see the benefit in supporting children early to achieve their best possible potentials.” The training that she was able to take because of the Women’s Institute will “allow more children to achieve more optimal motor development and function in their daily lives.”

Danielle van Schaik, a 2020 Women’s Institute Bursary recipient and Child and Youth Counsellor at Ledger House beautifully describes how her education has impacted the families that come to Ledger House, located at the western edge of QAC.  

“The children and youth we encounter bravely come to Ledger House to address various traumatic experiences and/or mental health concerns. We provide intervention, assessment, and diagnostic clarification to help increase their regulation capabilities. As the child’s symptomatology decreases, they start to feel better. The caregivers receive guidance and learn how to best support their child. Like a pebble thrown into the water, the impact then ripples outwards into their school and community. This is why supporting Vancouver Island kids matters, because healthier kids benefit everyone.

By continuing my education in the Master of Arts Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University, I am motivated to move along the ripple of wellness. With my education, I am sharing my increasing knowledge base with my colleagues, as well as providing informed engagement for the children and youth I work with daily. Throughout this pandemic we have seen an increased awareness of the connectedness between mental and physical health. I now firmly believe that mental health is health.

As a proud recipient of a 2020 Women’s Institute Bursary, and in acknowledgement of their 30th anniversary, I am positive they have provided countless benefits to our community by supporting individuals in their educational pursuits. Financial support from the Women’s Institute Bursary, in conjunction with the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, ensures the ripples of wellness continue to spread throughout our communities and benefit us all.”

Thank you

As Danielle so eloquently reflects, these “ripples of wellness” would not have been possible without the Women’s Institute’s tremendous dedication to assisting Island children, youth, and families. The Bursary reflects the recognition by the Women’s Institute that excellence of care to children and youth with physical, intellectual, emotional, and behavioural difficulties can be enhanced through a combination of staff dedication and ongoing training…building a better tomorrow.