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CMHA honours Marja
Marja Bergen has been honoured by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. Division with its Outstanding Community Volunteer Award for her
dedication to creating better understanding and support for people with a
mental illness.
The CMHA stated that her establishment of the Living Room, a church-based peer
support group for people with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders is “an example of creativity, innovation and support.”
It further stated that she has “made a difference . . . in the lives of many and [has] made the discussion not
only okay, but safe and supportive in the faith community.”
Covered by the church
Sarah Wilson, mother of brutally murdered five year old girl Clare Shelswell,
has been receiving support from Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford.
A trust fund has been set up by the church for Wilson and her other daughter
Suzy.
Abbotsford’s Peter James Wilson recently pled guilty to the murder of his stepdaughter with
a kitchen knife during a heated argument with his wife while they were on
vacation in Washington state.
“With the end of the court process in sight, my prayer is that they will feel
some peace at not having to go through a trial,” said Terry Kaethler, senior pastor at Mountain Park.
5K for Congo
Runners from all over the Fraser Valley will take part in MBMS International’s five kilometre Run for Justice October 16.
The event raises money to support victims in the Congo city of Bukavu, where
millions of women and children are suffering from the effects of violence and
brutality.
The run will start 10 am at MEI Secondary in Abbotsford, followed by a short
presentation, an awards ceremony and a lunch.
The $35 fee includes registration, a T-shirt and lunch. Info: 1.866.964.7627.
The year of the fish?
The Vancouver-based band A Fish Called Piranha began as a live mardi gras
performance in 2007 but has evolved into a modern martial arts rock opera
concert.
The group is hosting a CD release party October 12 for an album called The Year of the Fish at The Backstage Lounge on Granville Island. The disc was produced by Kwong and
Sam Ryan and includes guest performances by celebrity sushi chef Tojo Hidekazu,
Shawn Meehan (Krome) and Eric Davis (The Left).
A concert and autograph session will also be held at 3 pm October 16 at the
House of James in Abbotsford.
Big Buddha
The Ling Yen Mountain Buddhist temple in Richmond is proposing a 15-storey
expansion. The original plan was proposed five years ago, but a rezoning
application was withdrawn before it went to a public hearing. The original
proposal had a main temple 160 feet high.
The revised proposal reduces the main temple to 140 feet and moves it closer to
Highway 99 to reduce obstruction, but still features a 45-foot Buddha.
Current height restrictions cap temples, churches and other religious
institutions on No. 5 Road at 40 feet.
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Enlarging ministries
• Wagner Hills Ministries has received permission from Langley Township to expand
its treatment facility on 264 Street from 50 to 119 beds. The facility helps men overcome drug and alcohol addictions.
Contact: wagnerhills.com, 604.856.9432.
• Ruth and Naomi’s Mission in Chilliwack has demolished the building on Fletcher Street and is
building a new 8,000 square foot ministry centre with 24 permanent beds, 15
transitional beds and a dining hall.
During construction, the street ministry is serving 130 – 150 meals every night and offering 15 transitional beds in trailers on a vacant
lot next door.
Contact: ruthandnaomi.com, 604.795.2322.
• Psalm 23 Transition Society, which has operated men’s recovery houses in Abbotsford for some years, has now opened House of Angels
for women who are recovering from addictions. The building can accommodate up
to nine women; it is in a renovated house formerly used for a marijuana
grow-op.
Info: psalm23society.com, 604.870.5616.
Anglicans go south
Archbishop John Chew Hiang Chea, primate of the Anglican Province of Southeast
Asia, spoke September 18 – 19 at Church of the Good Shepherd in Vancouver.
Chew is the new chair of the Global South Primates Steering Committee, a
conservative group which represents the majority of Anglicans in the world.
Good Shepherd is one of dozens of conservative Anglican churches in Canada that
have broken away from the Anglican Church of Canada to align with Anglican
churches in the Global South.
Chew’s visit is primarily to encourage development of The Anglican Relief and
Development Fund Canada, a new agency created by conservative Anglican churches.
For more info visit: www.ardfc.ca.
In memory of Jeremy
Jeremy Tow, artistic director of Chemainus Theatre, passed away September 14
after a two year battle with brain cancer.
Tow was also known to audiences at Pacific Theatre in Vancouver for his
performance in Master Harold & the Boys, and his direction of A Man For All Seasons.
He leaves behind his wife Anita Wittenberg and children Emma and Sebastian. A
memorial service was held September 20 at Tenth Avenue Church in Vancouver.
No Small Feet
Vancouver’s Working Gear Clothing Society fits out men with dress pants, shirts,
construction gear, steel-toe boots and three-piece suits, in order to help them
get jobs.
While the organization gets a lot of donations of high quality suits, work boots
– which can cost over $100 – are harder to get.
The group’s No Small Feet campaign has generated donations from workers at agencies such
as Coast Mountain, the Vancouver Police Department, the Canadian Border
Services Agency and Telus.
Since 2007, the ministry has outfitted more than 730 men. For more info:
workinggear.ca.
– Jim Coggins
October 2010
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