Active Page Article December, 2020
Galiano Club
By Jack Garton
Hello, and Happy New Year from the Galiano Club. As I write this, 2020 is coming to a close, and I am settling into my first few weeks as a new member of the Board of Directors of this great organization. It is an honour to help with this group that has been serving the Galiano community for almost 100 years. It is also an honour to work with such an accomplished Board! The experience, skill and attention brought to the table in service to Galiano is humbling.
Our community has been rocked this year by the many challenges of the global pandemic, but The Galiano Club has worked hard to help us be resilient in the face of it all. Food Security and Affordable Housing have been at the top of the list, but also Social Connection (the Food Program is about to test its first virtual Games Night) and Land Management (with a climate change perspective) are areas where great work is happening. Often these two areas overlap these days, as more of our socializing happens outdoors. 2 new bike racks are being installed at the Bluffs, to help those spending time in the beautiful lands there.
With many Galiano islanders passionate about community issues, membership in 2020 ballooned to 420 members, with historic attendance at November’s ZOOM AGM. I’d like to remind everyone that many of the Club’s regular fundraising avenues have been curtailed, and renewing your membership for 2021 is a great way to help with the programs many of us rely on. The Membership Form can be found on the Galiano Club website, and it only costs $10 for the whole year.
A huge thank you to the donations of lights for the Hall and food for hampers that we received in time for the holiday season, they brought some much-needed midwinter cheer. Here’s to the new year, may it bring us even closer together.
A Note Of Reflection On The Past Year
By Judy Hayes
The turn of the year is always a time for reflection on the past year. And what a year it has been for everyone! It seems both an interminably long time since mid March 2020 and also amazing that 9 months have passed. There are many reasons to be grateful that we live on Galiano. Everyone has done their part, and, to date there has not been a case of Covid on the island.
Within a week of the first shut-down, the Galiano Club Food Program staff had developed a plan whereby, with the support of our dedicated volunteers, we were able to continue making frozen meals. These frozen meals, along with hampers filled with groceries, were delivered to those in isolation, quarantining or in need. The frozen meal deliveries continue to be available to seniors. By the end of April, staff and volunteers were able to open the Food Bank weekly and we have been able to expand to include fresh produce and other necessities not previously available. We are fortunate indeed to have such dedicated staff and volunteers associated with the Food Program.
These initiatives were supported by funding from the Victoria Foundation, United Way of Great Victoria, Food Banks BC and Mayne Island Food Bank. Support also came from the Mustard Seed in Victoria and from food and services donations from Galiano farmers, fishers and businesses. In addition, donations from individuals to the Food Program, the Food Bank and Food deliveries were substantial.
We were all able to enjoy the Bluffs, Mt. Galiano and the Community Forest. They were not affected by the order closing provincial parks and the Galiano Club made the decision to keep them open. Volunteers continued to patrol these lands and identify any issues. And for a bit of fun, the Galiano Players were able to put on an outdoor play on land made available for the event. Again, with the support of many volunteers.
We can now see some light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to a time when we can again get together in the Hall for lunches, events, plays, concerts and socializing with our friends and neighbours.