The British Columbia Association of Health-Care Auxiliaries (BCAHA) has launched their new website.

They were established in 1945 to promote education, leadership, communication, standards of performance and the opportunity to exchange information and ideas amongst the membership.

Currently there are 87 member auxiliaries in BC representing 6900 adult volunteers and 900 youth volunteers. The strength of these groups is based upon community spirit and philanthropy and for decades we have been there “every step of the way” in providing care and comfort. Their work goes from operating hospital gift shops, delivering flowers and books to patients, providing directions to visitors, being a visitor to someone who is alone and hosting events for seniors in care. In addition to this, auxiliaries raise funds through events and thrift stores to purchase much needed health care equipment at the local level.Last year (2010) our members reported 1,394,000 volunteer hours worked and $8,313,000 donated.

Help support your local BC hospital and find an auxiliary near you. Donate your gently used items to their thrift store or become a member.

On International Women’s Day, take a moment to reflect that it was, and is, a small group of women who have raised money to build and maintain the Chilliwack hospital for over 100 years.

The story of the Auxiliary is a very human story. It is the story of women, many of them who’s names are no longer known, who came together and baked pies, sold tags, raffle tickets, sewed, knitted, and promoted the work of the hospital through wars, depression, and changing times.

These remarkable women have given 276,332 volunteer hours between 1998 – 2010 and supported the growth of the hospital from 13 beds to 138 beds plus 97 extended care beds; the growth of Chilliwack from a population of 1657 to approximately 80, 000. They have raised approximately the equivalent of 5 million dollars in today’s money contributed to the hospital in the last century.

The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary invites everyone to continue supporting them in their endeavours to provide a variety of volunteer support services and fundraising initiatives to assist in the continuation and growth of healthcare services for Chilliwack General Hospital; at one time or other some member of your family has needed the services of the hospital.

The Auxiliary’s  book, Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011, will be for sale at the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market at Heritage Park. Look for it at the Chilliwack Museum and Archives booth and pick up a copy of the book as a Christmas present for someone you know.

Fri,  November 18 – 10am to 9pm
Sat, November 19 – 10am to 6pm
Sun, November 20 – 10am to 4pm

The 37^th Annual Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market, presented by the Chilliwack Arts Council  is a traditional highlight of the Chilliwack Christmas shopping season.

Admission is $2 with children ten and under admitted FREE.

The Chilliwack Museum and Archives is celebrating its 4,000-square-foot, half-million-dollar expansion with an open house. The museum will celebrate its new addition with an open house on Oct. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. Staff will give behind-the-scenes tours of items and records rarely seen by the public.

The Chilliwack Museum and Archives has kindly given the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary some space to sell their book Commitment to Caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 Years, 1911-2011, ($20.00, ISBN: 978-0-9868333-0-4) by Andrea Lister.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Chilliwack Museum celebrates archives expansion.

The fall issue of BC BookWorld has given Commitment to Caring a bit of space. Look for it on page 3, in the Who’s Who British Columbia. Pick up a copy at your local library or read it online at ABC Book World.  Our thanks to Alan Twigg, publisher.