Volunteers – the Key to Our Success

By Kim Dixon
James Bay New Horizons

Looks like spring has finally arrived, and as we complain about the cherry blossom snow, others across the country are still digging out from real snow storms! It will be a while before they see green grass and daffodils.

We had a couple visiting from Winnipeg the past several weeks, and when they called home the morning they were to leave, they found out it was -12˚C and 20-30 centimeters of snow were expected. They called Air Canada and changed their tickets to stay another two weeks. I was talking to them today, and they have decided to move to Victoria; they say they are too old to put up with bad weather!

Having been born and brought up in Victoria (yes, one of those), I guess I take for granted how beautiful Victoria really is. The ocean, the mountains, and where else can you play a round of golf and go skiing all in one day?

April is national volunteer month, and on April 9 we had the opportunity to say "thank you" to all the wonderful, dedicated people who help at the centre. People ask what makes James Bay New Horizons one of the most popular and certainly one of the busiest senior centres in Victoria. Our answer is, because our members are involved in the operation of the centre and they have a vested interest. We could not do a fashion show without models, we could not have a handicraft sale without handicrafts; and, we could never offer the variety of programs and activities without the volunteers to lead them.

From the time you walk through the front door you are met by volunteers manning the front desk; the program facilitators are mostly volunteers as are the people that set up the tea carts and work in the kitchen - yes, our cookies are freshly baked!  We cannot take their hard work for granted. And we must also recognize the hard work and effort that our seniors did in starting this organization and sustaining it through the past 40 years.

Funding is not guaranteed, and yet we have been able to keep our programs and activities at a reasonable cost because volunteers are valuable and keep staff expenses at a minimum. Few people realize how much work and effort goes into making this centre successful and how hard the volunteers and members work to keep this organization sustainable. 

We are fortunate that three or four times a year we get students from UVic or Camosun College who want to practise their English and get some practical experience working with seniors. I am not sure who learns more, we or they. Their hard work and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated. We have made some good friends, and many of them have stayed in contact over the years.

The one thing that we talk about most at the centre is not taking life for granted. Enjoy! Life is short, even our 90-year-olds say that! Travel when you can. There are no pockets in heaven; you can't take it with you. Have fun, live each day to the fullest and count your blessings.

Take care, enjoy the beautiful weather, the green grass and particularly this beautiful city we call home.