In the Community

This year's recipient of the Frances Fleming Award for Inspirational Achieve-ment, Donna Joe is most worthy of this educational accolade. She is the first of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation to receive a teaching degree and master of education.

It's the time people have been waiting for - spring. New shoots are coming up and activities such as turning over the soil, spreading compost, lime, steer manure (or whatever takes our fancy) and sowing seeds takes up a good part of our time.

Next Sunday, May 5, walkers of all ages on the Sunshine Coast will be joining thousands of Canadians across the country in the national annual Hike for Hospice.

On Wednesday, April 3, I attended the opening of an art show presented by the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre called Looking Inward Looking Outward.

Growing up, Marie Telder saw first-hand the positive impact Special Olympics had on four of her 12 siblings and today she is proud to continue to be part of that experience with Special Olympics BC - Sunshine Coast.

Last Saturday while hundreds of kids and parents visited Shirley Macey Park for soccer activities there was a quieter grass roots movement happening.

On May 8, Mujtabaa Saloojee, a most amazing young man, will receive a 2013 BC Rehab Gert Vorsteher Memorial award for his determination to overcome a catastrophic injury that left him a quadriplegic.

The Sunshine Coast Volunteer Centre has a new way of celebrating National Volunteer Week this year. National Volunteer Week is April 21 to 27 across Canada and gives organizations and communities a chance to recognize and thank their volunteers.

For most of us, dying is not something we want to spend a lot of time thinking about. Most of us, given our druthers, would prefer to exit the Earth in our sleep in the middle of a dream.

While celebrating Earth Day in Roberts Creek this Sunday, take some time to visit the grounds and hear presentations at the Roberts Creek cohousing village. An open house will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.