April 16 to April 22 is National Volunteer Week, a time to recognize the work of volunteers across Canada—many local volunteers have put their time, effort and energy towards community causes for decades.
Wells Gray Search and Rescue
Rowena Muglich has been a member of Wells Gray Search and Rescue for 20 years, playing various roles from team leader to training officer and data manager. She was a forestry technician prior to retiring, and feels comfortable in the outdoors.
“We are prepared for all situations, and some are more common than others,” Muglich said.
The search and rescue team is made up entirely of volunteers and is a society which helps authorities find or retrieve someone who finds themselves lost, stuck or injured in the backcountry.
“The team is committed to helping when people are missing or injured. Without the proper skillset, who is going to look for these people? Family and friends are pretty relieved to know there are people who can look for their loved ones and bring them home.”
To understand what search and rescue volunteers do, L-A-S-T is a helpful acronym. It stands for locate, access or assess, stabilize and transport.
“Once they are stabilized we look at how to get them out of there. Sometimes it is easier. They may be able to walk out on their own and just need to find their way. Sometimes they need assistance; stretchers, helicopters, boats.”
The society need authorities such as the RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services or the coroners office to tell the group to act in a situation.
Throughout the past five years, the group has made a bigger effort to recruit new members. Each year, roughly four-to-five members are added to the roster, Muglich said. Wells Gray Search and Rescue provides training for their members.
The basic course for any on-the-ground volunteer is the 97-hour ground search and rescue course, which usually takes up to six months to complete. However, there are administrative roles that require different skills as well. Muglich took many advanced courses, such as swift water rescue, the team leader course, tracking courses and training courses.
Local businesses help search and rescue by providing maintenance for their vehicles and storage. Right now, search and rescue headquarters are leased on Clearwater Trout Hatchery land. One of Muglich’s priorities is to find a permanent facility where her team could build a permanent structure to host search and rescue’s vehicles.
More information about Wells Gray Search and Rescue is on its Facebook page: facebook.com/wellsgraysar.
Clearwater and District Hospice Society
The Clearwater and District Hospice Society is a volunteer-run organization that supports people who are near the end of their lives. The 18 members support families before, during and after a loved one dies.
“We’re not all about the death and dying, we are there for the compassion, comfort, care and support. Just being there for people who will need us, because our premise is that nobody has to walk this journey alone,” Shirley Frost told The Clearwater Times.
She used to work for the coroners office, so she was surprised by how humbling her experience supporting people at the end of their lives has been. It is an honour to be part of such a personal time in one’s life.
A volunteer might hold the person’s hand, read to them, or just sit in the room so they do not need to be alone. This is the key support system for the person who is nearing their end of life—their loved ones and care team. Often, families who know a loved one is nearing the end of their life are experiencing burnout but struggle to leave their loved one alone for even a short period of time. Knowing that a compassionate volunteer is in the room can help.
Volunteers can also help with tasks such as creating an advanced care directive, which communicates a person’s wishes for their end of life to healthcare workers and loved ones.
It is not everyone’s cup of tea, so volunteers are screened to make sure they are prepared to provide the support, Frost said. Volunteers’ interactions with the people they provide support for are confidential.
Tammy Whelen is a volunteer who is trained as a health-care aid, birth doula and death doula. A doula is a companion who supports someone through a transition in life, such as giving birth or dying.
“We want people to get prepared, and see death as part of life. We want to open these conversations and make it more real and comfortable with people.”
The society accepts donations from the community through a variety of ways, and encourages commnity members who would like to support to reach out via email: Clearwaterhospice91@gmail.com.
Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
Gail Capostinsky is one of two remaining charter members at the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
The auxiliary is a society established 53 years ago, to raise funds to buy equipment for the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital, but has also raised funds to purchase equipment for BC Emergency Health Services ambulances and the local home support program.
Capostinsky was an Registered Nurse at the hospital for two years when the first Dr. Helmcken hospital building opened in 1972, and also took up other occupations throughout her volunteering years. She originally joined the auxiliary because a friend recruited her, and has stuck with it ever since because the work is important, sustainable and fun.
As of last year’s count, the auxiliary has purchased $750,000 of equipment. The auxiliary also provides TV and cable to acute care rooms and extended care common rooms, and provides a hand-made quilt and baby sweater to the first baby boy and girl born to the community each year.
The main fundraiser for the auxiliary is the Vavenby thrift shop, which is run by volunteers. However, the auxiliary also puts on other fundraiser events such as the upcoming Garden Party on May 7 and 50/50 raffle. Last year, the winner of the Fall 50/50 raffle received $10,000, Capostinsky added. The Garden party has been running for 12 years and hosts a live and silent auction, which is largely supported by local businesses.
Both businesses and individuals have been extremely generous in supporting the auxiliary, never making members feel unwelcome, Capostinsky said.
This year, the auxiliary has a total of 50 members, and is eager to recruit. Last year, five members were added.
Penny Christenson is currently the public relations and membership chair at the auxiliary. She joined the auxiliary the same year the new hospital building opened up, 2001. She was a teacher at Raft River Elementary before she retired.
“I figure one day I am going to have to be in that hospital, and I want it to be as up-to-date and well equipped as possible.”
She encourages community members to jump in and give the auxiliary a try, because there are many ways to support and she welcomes new ideas.
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