Over its history, the volunteers have raised $11.8 million, plus committing countless hours of their time
The amount of good that the Children’s Hospital Aid Society has been able to provide in the lives of children and young adults over the past 115 years proves that you don’t have to be big to make a difference.
In 1908, when the city had a population of around 20,000, the Women’s Hospital Society called a meeting of girls over age 16 as an auxiliary of the society to see to the needs of the children’s ward. In 1910, the girls’ group was incorporated as the Girl’s Hospital Aid Society and raised money by holding bazaars, teas and selling violets. The membership grew to 60, and in 1926 they decided to change the name to Children’s Hospital Aid Society (CHAS) as the volunteers were now older and married.
Today, the registered charity is a remarkable group of some 75 volunteer women who continue to work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of many. They have developed a number of successful fundraising projects for children, with all proceeds going to supporting charities that benefit underprivileged kids and young adults
The group’s long-standing association with Easter Seals helped create a camp in Bragg Creek that is now known as Camp Horizon.
For more than 40 years, CHAS has been organizing an annual golf tournament that since its inception has raised more than $5.8 million for projects at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and other community charities. One of its legacy projects was the purchase of a pediatric human patient simulator (KidSIM), and CHAS has supported the hospital’s Brain Health Initiative through research and equipment purchases.
This year, the golf tournament is being held at Silver Springs Golf and Country Club on Aug. 15. CHAS president Anna Maier says organizing the event takes a huge amount of effort by dedicated volunteers throughout almost a whole year.
Over its history, the volunteers have raised $11.8 million, plus committing countless hours of their time. It is a remarkable achievement for an organization that has no paid staff or office — meetings take place in spaces in churches or in members’ homes — with administration cost kept to a low average of three per cent; its operating budget supported by membership fees.
Notes:
• Vaco, a leading global talent solutions firm, has opened its fifth Canadian office in the west end of downtown, with others in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. The Calgary office will be led by managing partner Kevin Jeewan, who also oversees Vaco’s Toronto office, alongside Jim Dimovski, senior vice-president and executive partner of Vaco. “Vaco is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve clients, consultants and candidates in the vibrant city of Calgary,” company president Kevin Witt said from his home in Nashville. “Renowned for its energy industry and diverse cultural scene, Calgary is the natural next step in Vaco’s Canadian expansion.”
• Barclay Street Real Estate has announced the sale of two major retail assets in northwest Calgary. George Larson and Manish Adiani of Barclay Street represented Salthill Capital, the purchaser of the $79-million properties: Royal Oak Park centre, anchored by a 105,929-square-foot grocery store in the thriving Royal Oak community, and Royal Oak Place, a 40,530-square-foot strip centre anchored by Shoppers Drug Mart and home to several established businesses. Vendor Certus Developments was represented by RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group.
• It’s too bad that diplomatic postings come with such a short stay. This month we say goodbye to Consul General Holly Waeger Monster, as she and her family are headed to Washington, D.C., awaiting her next posting. Waeger Monster came to Calgary in July 2021 after other out-of-country postings in Poland, Bolivia, Kenya, South Africa and Malawi, but with little knowledge of Alberta. That soon changed as — along with her husband, Edward, who is also a career diplomat, and three children — they quickly appreciated a warm welcome and immersed themselves into our Canadian way of life, which included ski lessons for all. Her consular duties here included Alberta, Saskatchewan and the NWT. During her time here, Waeger Monster worked hard to help her countrymen understand the importance of this region and to appreciate what our natural resources have to offer the world.
David Parker appears regularly in the Herald. Read his columns online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622.