Honouring Local Heroes
Ask not what your [community] can do for you. Ask what you can do for your [community]! (John F. Kennedy)
Please Don't Call Me 'Ma' - The Stories of Margaret Lally Murray Click Here
Anmore Kids Have Heroes - For Stories from Mrs. Whiffen's Grade 4-5 Class Click Here
A special article from Jay Peachy, member of the Anmore Alternative Green Team (05-06-10):
Mossom Creek Healing
I have been a volunteer at Mossom Creek Hatchery for over a year now and it has been somewhat of a life saving experience for me. I don't take that statement lightly nor do I attribute that to one or two specific events. I believe life saving experiences can be an accumulation of events that were catalyzed by a certain decision.
Most of my close social circle are aware that I have a serious brain health issue. Are you wondering what the difference between a brain vs mental health issue is? There is none! Brain Health is a term now being used by those in the medical community to avert the stigma of the term 'Mental Health', so that real work can get done! Society and Mass Media has demonized the term 'Mental Illness' such that people can't even say the word without feeling awkward or anxious about it. How many times do you read the paper and find that anything sensationally tragic has some association to a mental illness. Even if its not true, the media throws the term in there just to add more drama. Remember, they need to sell advertising. The truth is, only 5% of violent crimes committed are due to someone with a serious mental health concern. Could it be possible that number could be lowered if people who were undiagnosed were treated properly and had a social circle the understood the individual and supported them compassionately? Did the stigma prevent them from getting the help that is available? Are we contributing to this stigma by ignorance? Seems like we are all culpable, we can look away but there will still be blood on our own hands no matter how hard we want to close our eyes.
Are you now frightened of who I am? I've admitted I have a mental health issue and I live in your community! Most of my friends would actually laugh at that thought; I feel guilty for stepping on a slug in the dark. My close circle are not aware of what my condition looks like, but they are conscious that I do have something and that I have limits. Brain and Mental health issues are not visible like other physical disabilities, however they should be treated with the same respect by ourselves and society. Similarly to one who is paraplegic, they are conscious of limits, those with Brain, Mental Health issues have to be aware of those as well. Sometimes their mind is so compromised that unfortunately they are not able, so those around them need to support them and do what is best.
So what does Mossom Creek have to do with this anyway? Well for those with the challenges of the brain, its not just about going to the doc and popping a pill and then hang out at home until your next appointment in 3 months or so. It takes a holistic approach. Analogize this to someone who has had a car accident, just released from the hospital, can they now go out and run a marathon.,which they had planned on doing just before their accident. Well, the same holds true for someone who has a brain or mental health concern. You mind needs rehab, it needs a social environment that is supportive and one that doesn't really care about what you have or your past. The Mossom Creek Hatchery which was founded by Ruth Foster and Rod McVicar over 30 years ago. It seems with Ruth and Rod, their main concern is how you can learn about salmon and that you are there contributing back to the ecology, the community and society. Everything else doesn't really matter and even if it did, that doesn't become an obstacle, its merely an awareness of how one can best contribute to the whole. Is it more than a coincidence that a 'vicar' is a term associated with a parish (a community) and 'foster' is a term of nurturing. Mossom Creek Hatchery has been a sanctuary for me and for certain many others that I have come to know there. So remember the next time you eat a salmon, think about where it came from; I know I do and that I will fight like 'Mad' to ensure it stays that way.
J Peachy
Certified Creative Mind
jpeachygallery.com
Producer Sound Therapy Radio
CJSF 90.1 FM
soundtherapyradio.com
Join Anmore resident Tom Williams and his family on Thursday, June 17, in support of the 24th annual ALS Memorial Golf Tournament. 30% of the proceeds go to the George "Sonny" Williams Endowment Fund . For more information click here.
Pictured above is Tom Williams, Wendy Toyer
of the ALS Society of BC, Zach Williams, and
Jim Williams. The portrait in the background is
Tom and Jim's father, Sonny.
Anmore's Danny Merth a free agent. For Coquitlam Now News article May 21 Click Here
Paralympian, with Anmore connections, Matt Hallat's Twenty Year Journey. For Tricity News Link (22-05-10) Click Here
National Volunteer Week 2010
Sun, Apr 18, 2010 - Sat, Apr 24, 2010
"Volunteerism: Connecting with Community"
Sasamat Volunteer Firefighters at Eagle Ridge Hospital
April 14, 2010
( left to right ) Sasamat Firefighter Lisa Roberts, Sasamat Firefighter Lisa Richardson, Sasamat Training Officer Jamie Roberts, Eagle Ridge Hospital MCU Manager Terri Buckle
Sasamat Volunteer Firefighters Association, on behalf of its membership, donated a 27” LCD TV to Eagle Ridge Hospital’s 2nd Floor MCU ( Monitored Care Unit ) Quiet Room .
The TV replaces a broken set. Patients and their families will once again have access to the only TV available on the ward. A special thanks to Firefighter Neil Belenkie and Open Box ( for their generous discount ) which made this donation possible.
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SVFD
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SVFD donates television to Eagle Ridge Hospital
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Tri-Cities Firefighters donate Quiet Room to Eagle Ridge Hospital
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Quiet Room
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Thank you to all of the Anmore Alternative News readers who cast their votes for Miss Miranda Andersen of Belcarra. Miranda, who attends Anmore Elementary School won the "Best in Competition' in the 2010 Everyday Heroes Film Competition sponsored by Earth Day Canada. For more information on the award Click Here. In addition, Miranda won 'best screenplay' for her first version at the Reel to Reel competition in Vancouver on the weekend. Her hero Ruth Foster was just recently chosen as Port Moody's Evironmentalist of the Year. Congratulations to two very special people. 16-04-10.
Ruth Foster and Elaine Willis at the Mossom Creek Fish Hatchery. Ruth's t-shirt says 'Fish Existentialism - Ennui and Angst."
Sasamat Vounteer Fire Department (SVFD) Members are Honoured for their Exemplary Service on Thursday, March 25, 2010. To join the SVFD Click Here
(left to right) SVFD Trustee Belcarra Councillor Bruce Drake, Trustee Belcarra Mayor Ralph Drew, Fire Chief Larry Scott, and Fire Fighter Bill Cooke
The members of the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department honour us on a daily basis with their largely unsung voluntary service to the Villages of Anmore and Belcarra. Whether a medical call out in the middle of the night; a forest fire on the weekend; a traffic accident on a cold and rainy night; a water rescue at one of our lakes; teaching our children People Safe skills; or simply serving up hotdogs at community events and lifting the little ones onto the fire truck, these highly trained men and women of Anmore and Belcarra work tirelessly on our behalf.
On Thursday, March 25, 2010, at the Board of Trustees Meeting at the Anmore Fire Hall, three of these local heroes were recognized for their exemplary service to our little communities. Anmore resident, Bill Cooke, was presented with his Federal Government Exemplary Medal for 20 years of Fire Service. Chief Larry Scott was awarded a 30 Year Long Service Bar. And, Belcarra Mayor, Ralph Drew, was recognized for 20 years of dedicated service to the SVFD Board of Trustees. Thank you very much to these award winners and to all of the highly trained and committed members of Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department. We appreciate your voluntary efforts for Anmore and Belcarra.
Quote of the Day: " I have no credit coming because I was blessed with parents who aroused a conscience in me. I could not live with myself if I did not follow it." (Anmore's own hero : Margaret Lally Murray) For more Click Here
Thinking about our local heroes 03-03-10 Click Here
Ruth Foster, Secretary of the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society/Mossom Creek is named 'Port Moody Environmentalist of the Year 15-02-10 Click Here
Foster earns city award for enviro efforts. For link to Tricity News article 17-02-10 Click Here
Thank you for caring, Ruth!
Ten Year Old Miranda Andersen Wins Film Competition - Click Here
The Stories of Local Anmore Hero, Margaret Lally Murray as seen through the eyes of her grandson Dan Murray Click Here
Congratulations to Michael Cadman of Anmore on Being Named to the BC Ski Team - Click Here
Congratulations to Ramsay Malange of Anmore who has just won the Premier's One World Scholarship - Click Here
Cherri Woode - Leads in Efforts to Make the Village of Anmore a 100% Block Watch Community 22-09-09
Cherri Woode, Anmore Block Watch Coordinator
In mid December 2008, residents of the Village of Anmore met with RCMP representatives and Belcarra Block Watch leaders. The purpose of this meeting was to explore prospects for increasing Anmore involvement in the Block Watch Program. Leading in this effort was long-time Anmore resident and Sugar Mountain Way Block Watch Captain, Cherri Woode.
Thanks to Cherri and other neighbourhood leaders, since this time participation in Anmore has increased significantly. While we have not quite matched the Village of Belcarra with 100% Block Watch participation, we are well on the way. To date the Block Watch coverage is the area from Charlotte Crescent to Wyndham Crescent along East Road, and Sugar Mountain Way. In addition, organizing Hemlock Drive, Spence Way and McCullough Subdivision is currently underway.
The Belcarra Block Watch leaders report that with 100% coverage, not only does their community have a markedly low level of crime, but residents also have a good discount on their home insurance because of this coverage. Another advantage to having Block Watch coverage is that the RCMP will investigate an alarm if called in by Block Watch, when other wise they will not attend to alarms. With a smile, at the meeting in December, one of the participants complimented Belcarra by saying that their criminals had all moved over to Anmore. Not for long, I'd say, with the excellent results that Cherri and the other neighbourhood leaders are achieving.
A new documentary on Anmore devotee, Elaine Willis, by Glenn ter Borg for the BC Ataxia Society has just come out on July 31st, 2009. Part three of a ten part series, exploring the different types of Ataxia, and getting to know the people who live with them, focuses on Elaine and her life in Anmore. Each subject of the Ten Part Series demonstrates how people with Ataxia can lead productive and passionate lives. Please join us in honouring one of Anmore's very special local heroes - Elaine Willis. 03-08-09 Click Here
Anmore's Own Man-in-Motion - Congratulations to Daniel and Kimberley Yanko 01-07-09 Click Here Get on board to support your neighbours. Click Here
Wilderness Weekends at George and Margaret Murray's IOCO Homestead (01-07-09) Click Here
The Dauntless Roberts Family - Three Generations of Firefighters in the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department. For full story Click Here
Long-time Anmore volunteers Jim and Sheila Roberts
The Local Connection - Astronaut/Physician Bob Thirsk (left) is from New Westminster and Astronaut Julie Payette (right) has an honourary doctorate from Simon Fraser University
Did Canadian Astronaut Bob Thirsk go to School with you? (Submitted by the Parrish family 31-05-09) Click Here
Canadian Astronaut, Bob Thirsk, is welcomed aboard the International Space Station Click Here
A big thank you goes out to Candice Davidson and Jim Matthews for years of dedicated service with the Ist Anmore Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. You exemplify the quiet guidance that helps our valued young people learn 'Sharing' 'Doing their Best' and 'Being Prepared'.
Scouts Canada's Mission:
To contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.
19-05-09
Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau - Honour, Integrity, Reason, Passion Click Here
Editor's Note: As a Grade 12 student (and shhhhhh! a cheer leader at Nepean High School) your Editor organized a cheerleading squad for Robert Winters, a solid Nova Scotian establishment candidate for the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada held at the Skyline Hotel in Ottawa in 1968. Sweeping into the Skyline, a long-stemmed red rose brandished like a gift to every lady, Trudeau's smile and piroueting charm exuded poise and confidence, but when he spoke we were mezmerized. While Robert Winters was a close second, it was Pierre Elliott Trudeau who won the day.
Local Anmore Hero Heather Mancell Miler Magic Click Here
Hurrah for Wade Parrish and the Anmore Boy Scouts Random Acts of Kindness. Click Here
Miranda, a student at Anmore Elementary School and a volunteer at the Mossom Creek Fish Hatchery tags Ruth Foster as her hero Click Here
Plaudits to Mark Obedzinski of Sugar Mountain Way for helping a grieving father educate teens about road safety. For link to The NOW article Click Here
Editors' Note: 11-01-09. A big thank you goes out to all of our unsung heroes who plowed our streets, collected our garbage, shovelled our walks, and managed washouts, flooding, sediment control, and emergency services throughout the day and the night during the long stretch of snow that we had here in Anmore. Kudos also go out to the selfless neighbours who wanted nothing more than a smile or a thank you for helping those in need during this difficult time.
Community is not about me and what I can get. It is about us, and what we can give.
Honouring our selfless SVFD firefighters. Click Here
Bob Hunter, Green Peace, leader in the creation of the Anmore Concept Click Here and Here and Here
