Victoria hosts Annual Luncheon.

by British Columbia
Categories: Feature
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On Wednesday May 15th the Victoria Advisory Board held their Annual Luncheon. The year’s theme was, To Feed the Hungry, To find the lost, to Love the Unloved resonating the core values of The Salvation Army.

The event was emceed by the Honourable Roger Simmons, PC a dedicated board member. Event highlights included a client testimonial from Mrs. Judy Telfer. Board Chair Barbara Housser, Divisional Commander Major Larry Martin, Divisional Secretary for Public Relations Major Ken Ritson and The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia also addressed the crowd.

Mrs. Telfer is a graduate from the Computer Literacy and Employment Readiness program at The Stan Hagen Centre for Families started her speech by explaining how she found herself at The Salvation Army, “I was laid off as a legal assistant, and after a 40 year career this was a blow to my ego, my husband and I were struggling financially as he is unable to work and we have no money aside from his small pension.”  Mrs. Telfer learned that she would need to upgrade her computer skills to find employment, but had no money to do so. She came to The Salvation Army and about the Computer Literacy and Employment Readiness program, “At that point, I started to have a glimmer of hope that I would get the training I needed and my self-esteem back. The Salvation Army provided me with a kit of learning tools and job skills, The Salvation Army believes in you no matter what your life story is.”

The Honourable Judith Guichon, spoke about the importance of the Salvation Army’s work locally, across Canada and internationally. Her Honour relayed memories from her childhood of seeing the Army’s Red Kettles on the street corners in Montreal and how this imagery has always been important to her because it reminds her not to take The Salvation Army for granted.

Her Honour further emphasized her message with a second childhood memory, “I remember singing Onward Christian Soldiers as a child and wondering who this army of soldiers were, and what war they were fighting. I think I have finally solved that mystery: The Army is The Salvation Army, and they are here. The war is in our cities, fighting to restore hope and dignity to those less fortunate.”  Her Honour also reminded the crowd of the disastrous Empress of Ireland sinking and the immense loss that the Army had, she asked that everyone keep this tragedy in our thoughts as we approach the 100th anniversary.

The event was sold out, and The Salvation Army would like to thank everyone who attended. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our event sponsors Crease Harman LLP and Norgaard Neale Camden. This important event wouldn’t be possible without your support.