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“Horses change lives. They give out young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls, they give us hope.” Toni Robinson
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| Wasn't That a Party? The CTRA Parking Lot Party at Small Block Brewery was awesome! Attendance was great, the weather held off and the bands rocked all evening! Many enjoyed the "Hay-zelnut Bitter" cask beer or the "Blonde Ambition" cocktail (made with Stillhead Distillery Gin and Small Block Blonde, and the food trucks had delicious offerings to fill bellies. Missed the fun? Don't worry! CTRA definitely plans to repeat this event--but even bigger and better--next year. Many thanks to all who helped us put on this great event. Of course, Small Block Brewery tops the list for their incredible generosity and hard work in helping with planning, set up and the smooth running of the event, and of course, the beer! Thanks to Stillhead Distillery for their donation of their tasty gin for the cocktails. A large, loud round of applause to both of our guest bands The Cam Stiles Trio and Kevin's Bacon for giving us some toe tapping tunes. Thanks to the Mexican Food Mafia and Under Dawgz for cooking up a storm.. Kudos to Red Arrow Brewery for the loan of the stage, tables and chairs. Thanks to donors Hair at 60 Queens, Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, Shelley Adkins, Susan Lake and Stillhead Distillery. And a final thanks to the CTRA Board of Directors and Volunteers who helped with making this event a success!
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Message from CTRA Board Chair Janet Barclay
Ready for a change: CTRA's Executive Director to retire in January
Anne Muir, CTRA’s Executive Director, has announced that she is retiring in the New Year. I have been very fortunate, as a member of the Board of Directors of CTRA, to observe and appreciate her direction. I am very sorry to see her leave, as are those who have received this news. Anne has been at the helm for over five years and has successfully steered CTRA in the direction of stability and respect. She has been in charge of the maintenance and improvement of our century-old facility and in the direction of the management of its hundreds of occupants, which include staff, participants, volunteers and horses. With charm and cool confidence, along with a terrific sense of humour, she has ensured that our strategic planning goals have been achieved (consider the successful Jane James Used Tack Shop and its mobile Coastal Tack Shack as examples). As CTRA’s chief ambassador, Anne has kept our many community connections alive and active, recently giving a presentation to the local 100 Women Who Care organization that resulted in a wonderful financial gift to CTRA. We will miss Anne and her positive energy, however I am hoping not for long, as I believe she is considering a return to CTRA as a volunteer in the not too distant future--good news. Janet Barclay
Chair, CTRA Board of Directors
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IMPact Day
Our local MP Alistair MacGregor for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford visited CTRA for iMPact Day. A Pilot program through Imagine Canada, iMPact Day invites MP's from all over Canada to spend a day at a social purpose organization in their constituency for a deeper understanding of the sector and the challenges they face. Alistair had the chance to see CTRA's programs in action and chat with a few of our volunteers. Anne Muir Executive Director
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Born and raised an Island girl, Kyla Ilic writes and illustrates children’s books. Her love of horses is what first brought Kyla to CTRA, but it is the amazing community that keeps her involved. Kyla has been volunteering on a weekly basis since January of 2018, and the experience has been a positive one in helping kids succeed on their journey of becoming independent, confident riders. Her continuing contribution and interest in CTRA have led her to become the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Her creativity and willingness to jump in and help out have already been appreciated!
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Fjords on Stage
Opera fans who watched a recent HD Live Broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production of Aida might have noticed featured a pair of familiar-looking actors on stage! In a triumphal scene involving many voices and lots of action, two Norwegian Fjords, named Billy and Bobby, proudly took part in a parade of soldiers returning from war. Unfortunately, the photo of this scene was taken just after the Fjord moment, but it gives you a sense of the scale and of how disciplined they must be to take part in such a production. All-Tame Animals in New York (who supply many animal actors) say "they do a lot of other work, including several movies for the Hallmark Channel & the Viennese Opera Ball at the Waldorf, which makes them suitable for working on stage with all of the noise & distraction during that scene!" We hope our superstar Ember doesn't get any ideas and pack her bags for the New York scene! Credit to the Metropolitan Opera and All-Tame Animals
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The Tack Shack Team - Kalon & Vegas | |
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Volunteering: Team Mentality
As the Volunteer Coordinator, I have often mentioned that at times I feel like a High School sports coach. There is the action of putting volunteers in a specific lesson, in a specific role, and to meet specific needs. There is the action of having to switch people due to absences, availability, and compatibility. Watching results, pushing boundaries, seeing potential, and building opportunities all for the purpose of building the team, is really what encapsulates a good Volunteer Coordinator and is something I am striving for. Volunteers work best when they are working together as part of a therapeutic team. Self-interest is a low priority when helping to support and deliver therapy lessons. Of course our values, passions and interests are being lived out as we participate in the team but we give our focus to collaboration, communication, and commitment to make it work well. Teamwork doesn’t happen by accident.
Our Association is made up of many small teams. I am in awe of the amazing teamwork I see every day, in so many ways, that ultimately brings our shared vision of using ‘Horsepower to Empower’ continue to create miracles in children and adults with various abilities. It would be a lengthy list to start naming the qualities I see in our teams at CTRA but allow me to highlight a few.
We embrace diversity.
Our differences are our strength. We all bring various experiences, skills, attitudes, perspectives, and ways of communicating. The key is to embrace and seek understanding and appreciation of our differences.
We share common goals to produce positive results.
Think of that rider who walked their horse back to its stall for the first time. The parent who was in tears after seeing their child accomplish a task that seemed unreachable. The welcoming feel of a swept barn and happily munching on hay horses as families visit CTRA. From the most meager of tasks to the monumental, it all plays a part in the end results.
We offer support to each other.
We all need help sometime. Mistakes, rough days, life interruptions, and various additional responsibilities happen to each one of us. Knowing another team member is there to cover or pitch in strengthens the team and allows us to keep moving forward.
We have FUN!
Celebrating successes is a must! Enjoying the moments. Sharing with each other. Smiling is contagious and there are so many reasons to smile here at CTRA. Take advantage of our community building events such as Ride-a-thon or the Parking Lot Party to forge friendships and invite others to become part of this extraordinary team!
So from the Coach…keep doing what you’re doing, we are on a winning streak, and we’re going for Gold.
Bren Pickel
Volunteer Coordinator
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“Grady the Giant” and CTRA’s Warmland Vaulting Club member Ava Morgan perform at the 2018 RCMP Musical Ride. CTRA's inclusive equestrian vaulting team offers some of the activities supported by Jumpstart and CPC contributions. | |
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| Funder Feature: Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
& Canadian Paralympic Committee
This fall, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and the Canadian Paralympic Committee partnered to award 28 organizations from across Canada with funding through the 2018 Parasport Jumpstart Fund – a granting program focused on enhancing opportunities for sport and play among children with disabilities. CTRA was one of the organizations selected for support.
The Parasport Jumpstart Fund is part of Jumpstart’s Play Finds A Way movement – which is itself a component of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities’ broader mission to help kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in order to provide inclusive play.
“At Jumpstart, we are committed to removing financial and accessibility barriers to sport and play so that all kids have the opportunity to get in the game,” says Scott Fraser, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “Through our partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Parasport Jumpstart Fund allows us to expand our reach, help more kids, and work together to create a more accessible and inclusive Canada.”
The Parasport Jumpstart Fund is delivered in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) – a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement so that all Canadians with a disability can have the opportunity to get involved in sport. Speaking of their collaboration with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, CPC CEO Karen O’Neill says, “it is so important to create access to sport and physical activity at all levels so that children across the country can be active and enjoy sport. Becoming a world-leading Paralympic nation begins with robust local programs and the creation of a strong, sustainable sport system.” CTRA will use the $20,000 grant to offset registration costs, thereby maintaining non-prohibitive user fees.
Jennifer Barnes van Elk
Development Officer
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For the last few years, our amazing volunteers have been bringing items to their annual holiday party to contribute to this wonderful cause. This year, CTRA is proud to be an official Drop Off Location for Toys, Toiletries & Toques! We encourage our participants, parents, volunteers, staff and supporters to help fill our collection boxex and make it a happy holiday for everyone this year. Items should be unwrapped non-food gifts such as toys, beauty products, gift cards, movie passes, slippers, gloves, and more. Basics such as toilet tissue and hair conditioner are also much needed. For more information and a list of suggested items, visit www.toystoilletriestoques.ca
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Pony Birthdays!
We love to mark our horse birthdays! Rider artwork and decorations often adorn the stalls in our stable! Jake turns 21 on October 22nd.
Loki turns 16 on Nov 29th.
Grady turns 11 on Dec 2nd.
Leo turns 18 on Jan 15th.
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These sculpture photos grabbed our attention!
Sculptor John Lopez welds these incredible pieces out of scrap metal and found objects.
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Daily Donations Add Up for BC Cancer Founation
Gia Tran collects bottles and cans in Vancouver's East Side and turns the return money into a daily donation for the BC Cancer Foundation. For more than 20 years she has done this, giving an estimated $15,000 total! This amazing 62 year old woman demonstrates just how much of a difference one can make with even a small regular donation. Her daily visit brings more than cash too. Chief Exec Sara Roth told the CBC "She's just here because of the kindness of her heart, and that then spills into our whole office and it makes everybody smile and it makes everyone feel good". CTRA has some regular monthly financial donors and quite a few dedicated supporters who give in lots of little ways, but we are always looking for more! Whether that is donating your return money to CTRA at the Bottle Depot or signing up for monthly donations through Canada Helps, it all adds up to success for CTRA programming! Check the sidebar for other ways to help.
Credit to Rafferty Baker, CBC News, with files from Caroline Chan
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| And on that note...Coming Soon!
CTRA is partenering with Island Return It to install a returnables bin at our facility! Their fantastic program makes it easy to do ongoing fundraising while keeping returnables out of the landfill. Visitors simply deposit their clean returnable bottles and cans into the bin and they magically turn into supportive funds for CTRA! Please watch for the bin and start saving your empties! Alternatively, we do have accounts at both the Duncan and South Cowichan locations if you prefer to drop them off there.
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| Don't forget to follow us on social media for the latest from CTRA! Posting your CTRA pics? Use the #CowichanTRA hashtag!
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This newsletter may have been "clipped" due to its size. In order to see the entire newsletter, scroll to the bottom of your email and click on "view entire message" and be sure to enable the images!
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Get Involved!
There are always many ways to support any non-profit. Here are some of ours.
Thirfty Foods Smile Cards By using a CTRA-linked Thrifty Foods Smile Card, your grocery purchases put money in our pocket! Thrifty Foods generously donates 5% of the amounts you load onto your card. It's so easy! Please contact us to get a CTRA Smile Card and start shopping!
Returnables Take your returnables to either the Duncan or South Cowichan Island Return-It Depot and ask for them to be put on the CTRA account!
Monthly Giving Committing to even a small monthly donation makes a difference to our bottom line. Having steady, reliable and unrestricted funding allows better budgeting for the basics such as utilities, wages and other overhead costs. Monthly donations are easily set up on Canada Helps.
Events Keep in touch to find out about our events. We hold several fundraisers each year, from Burger & Beer nights to our big Ride-a-Thon pledge week. Getting involved in events supports us in a fun way! Follow us on social media for what is coming up next (see bottom of newsletter for links)
Tack Donations We can always use tack! Donations of used horse tack are a great way to help. Items we can use in our own programs are sidelined--reducing our equipment costs. Items we can sell in the Jane James Used Tack Shop generate funds for our programming. Items that are not suitable for either of these purposes get recycled in our Free Store to keep them in use. Higher value donations are eligible for tax receipts if desired.
Planned Giving Consider a legacy gift in your will or as part of your long term financial planning. Talk to your financial advisor about how to set this up.
Volunteering Our volunteers make CTRA happen. Without them, we simply could not function. And most of them say that their time here is their therapy! There are many roles that CTRA volunteers can have, but the most common are side walkers and horse handlers to facilitate our lessons. To find out more about how you can take part in what we do, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Bren Pickel. 250-746-1028 or info@ctra.ca
Sponsorships/Donations philanthropy: the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes Financial support is still one of the best ways to support your favourite cause. Although we seek support from a variety of sources, funds are often restricted to certain purposes or uses. Unrestricted funds are harder to find yet are often the most important. Sponsoring an event or project, getting coworkers together to sponsor a horse, or simply making a donation, are all great ways to practice philanthropy in your community. You will receive recognition for your contribution and know that you have made a difference. Find out more here.
Being a CTRA Ambassador You keep in touch with us regularly, and you already support us financially. What more can you do? Be a CTRA Ambassador! Tell people about us! Make sure your sphere of influence knows about your interest in what we do. Promote our website and social media pages. Wear CTRA branded clothing (available at our office). Put up a CTRA poster at your gym or workplace (contact us for this). Nominate us for a philanthropy group such as 100 Women or 100 Men Who Care. Spreading the word about CTRA keeps us engaged with our community and garners support from our funders. Plus, it can help to direct new participants and volunteers to us.
Support Our Supporters Since many of our supporters are local businesses, it helps to let them know you appreciate their contribution to CTRA. Knowing that their involvement has been noticed is wonderful feedback to receive!
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