When: September 6

Where: Union Bay Community Hall

After 5 long months of training, 30 riders along with 6 support team riders participated in the 18th annual 3-day Cycle Tour September 6th – 8th from Campbell River to Mile Zero in Victoria. We are very proud of Glacier Grannies members Joanne W., Lisa M. and new member Janet S. who participated in this year’s event!

The Glacier Grannies cheered the riders and their support team as they rode into the Union Bay Community Hall parking lot and grounds. A team of Grannies led by Lisa M. and Marilyn B. prepared a fantastic buffet lunch which was enjoyed while chatting & resting up before the group returned to their bicycles on the road once again. Many of the Island Grandmother groups along the route provided the riders with meals, snacks and cheers! We heard that all the riders were “very well fed”!

Many thanks to those who helped set up, prepared and served the lunch, cleaned up and loaded up after the event.

The riders and local Grannies purchased their lunches with a profit of $404.00 for the Campaign.

When: September 6 to 8

Where: Campbell River to Victoria

Three of our Glacier Grannies were fortunate enough to be included in the VG4A 2024 cycle tour and do their grand finale ride from Campbell River to Mile Zero on Victoria waterfront. It was a challenging and inspiring journey with many laughs and special moments. The cycle tour is a four week-long event with 72 riders participating but for safety and logistic reasons only 30 do the finale ride. The ride is a three day event and is 275 km, quite a distance for our age group: 3 of the riders were actually in their 80th year! On the final kilometer of the journey we were joined by some of the riders’ children and grandkids on their bikes to ride in with us, which was quite a sight.

The total funds raised to date is a whopping $179,593.29. This year the ride raised $180,139, with our GG’s bringing in $10,613.63 of that. All to be sent to our sisters in Africa!

When: Saturday, September 7

Where: Comox Valley Art Gallery Plaza, Courtenay

The Glacier Grannies joined with any other Granny groups in the national Clothesline Campaign. It was a Stephen Lewis Foundation event promoting awareness of the continuing challenges faced by sub-Saharan grandmothers battling HIV & AIDS. The Comox Valley Art Gallery graciously allowed us the use of their plaza, and trees on which to hang a clothesline. It was colourfully decorated with pictures of African and Canadian Grandmothers, plus African clothing, baskets and our own scarves and black, red and white t-shirts. Pairs of Grannies interacted with passersby from 11 till 4, handing out our SLF bookmarks and advertising for the Merville Grand Mothers' upcoming fabric sale. An amazing number of local folks of African origin or with African family ties stopped by in the afternoon and sparked some great conversations.

When: Sunday, August 25

Where: Marina Park Gazebo, Comox

In perfect weather, an enthusiastic audience attended a concert by the Watershed Band and Lyall and Isabelle.

The concert was hosted by John Brown, who, with Jane Dunnett and Keith Goddard form the Watershed Band. They played on guitar, harmonica, mandolin, base and lap steel, and shared vocals in 3-part harmony. They entertained us with a wonderful variety of songs, featuring their hallmark mix of folk, rock, roots and blues music. Husband and wife, Lyall and Isabelle delighted us with songs in English, French and Spanish, inspired by Isabelle’s French background, Lyall’s prairie roots, and their years spent in Argentina, Costa Rice, Mexico and France.

The audience was asked for donations, and $501 was raised for the Foundation.

The Glacier Grannies extend a big thank you to the Watershed Band and Lyall Steel and Isabelle Durand for their performances, to Jane S. for all her work in making the afternoon a success, and Iris S. for passing the hat for donations.

To celebrate 20 years of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign created a stunning commemorative quilt. The collaborative work of over 300 grandmothers in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa, it honours the continuing achievements of the grandmothers of Africa during the AIDS epidemic. The quilt has gone on tour across Canada and the Glacier Grannies were proud to host a showing in Courtenay.   more

It began with receiving our dates (May 15-18) and the graphics for the quilt card. Kelly Q. patiently worked with us as we wrote and rewrote the text on the back better to reflect the current situation vis a vis HIV/AIDS. Thanks to Virginia, Sandy, and Joanne C. for thoughts and edits.

In the meantime, the Courtenay Museum was secured for the show. The director and staff were more than happy to host it. They gave us the Courtenay room at the top of the stairs which was ample for everything, including the secondary quilt, “Nothing Left Behind”, made from the left-over pieces. Eric said yes to every request Kate R. made.

Virginia wrote a great article for the Comox Valley Record which they published, along with the quilt picture, a couple of weeks ahead of time. We felt that got the buzz going. Sandy created the fliers that Joanne C took to targeted places. The Mayors, Councils and Regional District Directors and MP’s all received invitations on the quilt card. We are not aware of any of them visiting; however, they were made aware, and that was the main point. Both the Museum and Comox Valley Arts advertised for us on their websites and/or newsletters. Terry P. of Courtenay Little Theatre did all our printing: cards, posters, and sandwich board. As usual he went the extra mile, this time in hand folding all three hundred cards.

Kate R. created an email group of grannies named “The Quilt Interpreters” who had all volunteered to sit with it in pairs for two-hour shifts. Seven Grannies from Merville joined us as well. The scavenger hunt was quite popular with kids as well as adults. There were 20 items on the list created by Linda McLaren of the Dartmouth Nova Scotia Grannies. It really helped to draw you in and appreciate even more all the work that went into creating the quilt. Everyone who completed the hunt was entered into a daily draw for “It’s Time for Tricks! Seven African Tales” written and donated by Deborah Duncan. The fabric picture “A Single Bracelet Does Not Jingle” was won in our “draw by donation” by Christine G. She was thrilled to have it.

In all we had 155 visitors. We sold quite a few quilt cards, seven “It’s time for Tricks” children’s books and received $135. in donations for a total of $595. Given that this was envisioned as an awareness event, not a fundraiser, we were surprised and pleased by the funds that were raised.

With many thanks to the Grannies who helped with advertising, set up and take down, and acting as interpreters: Joanne C., Gillian L., Sandy, Linda F., Linda M., Judy, Dianne, Iris, Pat W., Jane, Barb, Pat A., Virginia, Kelly, Claire, and Carol C.. From Merville: Sue, Ann, Marie, Monica, Frankie, Janet, Cheri and Valerie.

A special thank you to Kate R. who organized all the details of event from the pickup from Port Alberni to the hand over to Campbell River

A big thank you to the Courtenay Museum, particularly Eric, who said “yes” to every request. Also to Terry P. from Courtenay Close
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Where: Sandy Island

When: A May Saturday in 2023 and 2024

Each year, members of the Comox Valley Yacht Club sail to Sandy Island to clean up the beaches. For two consecutive years, the Grannies have been asked to provide box lunches for the day. In 2023, Lisa M., Carol K. and Jane S. prepared 36 lunches, including sandwiches, vegetables, fruit, baked goods and juice, all packed into coolers. This year, Lisa M. prepared a similar meal for 34 sailors.

After expenses, a total of $576.96 was raised for the Foundation

Where: Parking Lot of Comox United Church

When: Saturday, May 11 from 8 – 12

We could not have asked for better weather conditions to sell items outdoors from our cars and tables. As expected, customers were eager to purchase before we were even set up for an 8:00 start. Sales were fast and furious and we were comfortably able to pack things up at noon.   more

Where: The home of Barb and James T

When: Monday, February 12

At a general meeting Barb T. shared an idea with the rest of the Grannies: a low-key clothing swap for members, which would give them a fun afternoon of laughter and a refreshed wardrobe, and also make a few dollars for the Foundation.

The rest of the group responded with enthusiasm, and donations began to pour in from Grannies and their friends. Barb and James’ house quickly resembled an oversized boutique. As the date of the swap approached, a team sorted, priced, and designated areas in the house for different types of clothing, as well as changing rooms. Grannies were asked to spread the word amongst their friends, as the house was filled with beautiful garments of all descriptions.  more

The sale exceeded everyone’s expectations. Grannies and their friends came to the house, which was soon filled with happy customers rifling through the racks of clothing and trying on their finds. In the evening, women and girls from the Ukrainian community were invited to come and chose items at no cost, and once again the house was filled with enthusiastic fashion-seekers.

One thing did not change from Barb’s original idea: despite the hard work, Grannies shared wonderful camaraderie and plenty of laughter. However, the “few dollars” turned into $1,432 for the Foundation.

After the last Ukrainians had left, the Grannies were still left with many pieces. Some were suitable for consignment stores, but others benefitted Care-a-Van and Too Good to be Threw.

A huge thank you to Barb and James, whose lives were turned upside-down for the duration, and the team of helpers: Carol K. Sandy H. Virginia P. and Linda M. Also an enormous thank you to all those who donated such excellent clothing. Close

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