Foundation-funded excursion plan gets islanders out and about on bus….
Island’s new transit bus used for valued outings
BY PAT BURKETTE
Driftwood Contributor
YOUNG @ HEART supplement March 18th, 2009
For people who call the Lady Minto Hospital Extended Care Unit (ECU) home, a new Excursion Day Program is a long-awaited ticket to ride.
The program, sponsored by the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, offers ECU residents monthly outings around Salt Spring on Salt Spring Island Transit.
ECU activities co-ordinator Jennifer Ritson and a volunteer aide travel on the bus with four to six residents at a time. The bus, which is equipped with a lift, can accommodate four wheelchairs per trip.
“I’m the tour director,” says Ritson. “We have people with a lot of visual and hearing impairments, so you’re helping explain what’s going on.”
Ritson, whose mother Sue Mouat is a well-known local historian, put her own knowledge of the island to good use during the program’s initial trip to Ruckle Park.
“As we went along, we talked about how all the roads were named, and the history of the island. Two of the residents I took on that outing weren’t from here. They came to the island because their families are here. It was their first chance to see the island.”
Article courtesy of Driftwood Publishing
Arthur Black has a difficult time giving up his Salt Spring "look" even while being X-rayed by Dr. Don Shea.
Three students from Salt Spring Island Middle School's leadership class held a community car wash on Saturday, April 12th and are seen here presenting a donation of $445.00 to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation. Their teacher, Richard Lee stated that, "the girls wanted their proceeds to benefit a local cause that would make a difference".
In the photo from left to right, Bill Relph, Hospital Administrator, Hailey Brown, Tatjana Horucki, Rebecca Johnstone and Gil Schultz, Foundation President.
From the "Driftwood".
From the "Driftwood".
