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  • About Us
    • Mission and Values >
      • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Volunteering
  • Services
    • Overnight Care
    • Caregiver Support Group
    • Services
    • Circle of Care
    • Grief and Loss Support Group
  • Becoming a Member
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  • Events Calendar
    • Honour a Life -
    • AGM 2019April
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
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  • FALL FAIR
  MIALS

Mayne Islanders reach out to their friends and neighbours who need a hand

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Board members for 2021
​Deb Austin - chair
​Jody waldie
Bonnie Horsfall
Lynn weaver
 Rosanne Walden
 KATHIE WARNING -secretary
deb cleland
​Jean-Daniel Cusin-treasurer


We're here to help
The Mayne Island Assisted Living Volunteer Program  was developed by  Mayne Islanders as a way of connecting people who need some assistance to remain independent with people who are willing to offer that assistance.  Our services are not just for seniors, but are available to all Mayne Islanders.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MIALS AGM will be held Friday, April 3 th 9:30 am via Zoom. We
look forward to seeing the virtual faces our members and more information will follow in
the April Mayneliner edition

EXCITING LUNCH BUNCH NEWS

Click on the Lunch Bunch tab to see what is happening!

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

MIALS would like to inform the community that membership will now be a January to December periodicity and anyone who holds a current MIALS membership ending in March 2021 will be considered a member in good standing until Dec 31, 2021.
New memberships will be valid January 1st, 2021 until December 31, 2021.
MIALS has now implemented a donation-based membership and tax receipts will be issued for any difference between the donated amount and $10 to serve the community in spite of the many challenges we are facing. 
​
For ease of payment please etransfer at membership@mials.org  

COVID 19 uPDATE

As the months roll by we are anxiously waiting for things to settle back to normal (or somewhat normal at least!).  Though we are not in a  position to provide transportation or continue our Lunch Bunch program at this time, we have been able to reach out in many other ways.  
May McKenzie, coordinator of volunteers 250-539-2530 and Sue Duncan, Lunch Bunch coordinator 250-539-3640, continue to provide services 


PLEASE SEE THE MAYNELINER MIALS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JODY WALDIE BELOW WHICH WILL PROVIDE FAR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON OUR PRESENT SERVICES. ​

NEWSLETTERS

MARCH 2021 by Jody Waldie
​At time of writing we enjoy the bits of green poking through the white of our Valentine’s
snowfall and anticipate spring being just around the corner.
Mark your calendars…MIALS AGM will be held Friday, April 30 th 9:30 am via Zoom. We
look forward to seeing the virtual faces our members and more information will follow in
the April MayneLiner edition.
In the meantime membership can be renewed by e-transfer to membership@mials.org.
We have changed to a January – December calendar year membership period. For this
transition year, those who holds a MIALS membership ending in March 2021 will be
considered a member in good standing until Dec 31, 2021.
Membership is donation-based and tax receipts will be issued for any difference
between the donated amount and $10. Please contact membership@mials.org for
further information.
Due to pandemic social gathering restrictions it has been a year now since our
lunch/social group has been able to meet. Coordinator Sue Duncan has maintained
contacts and connections ever looking for creative ways to keep participants engaged.
Last month marked a trial of bringing a little Lunch Bunch happiness to the doorsteps of
our friends. A big thank you to; Linda, Bruce and the team at Sunny Mayne Bakery for
the delicious meals, Mike at True Value for donating bags and boxes to make it safer
and easier for our volunteers to deliver, Mayne Island Community Services for donating
puzzles, sketch books, chocolates and all kinds of entertaining goodies, our very dear
Mayne Island School students for making Valentine’s cards, and our amazing MIALS
volunteers for delivering with a smile (under their masks of course). For information
about our Lunch Bunch program please contact Sue Duncan at 250-539-3640.
Volunteers are always needed and appreciated and for more information on
volunteering or the Volunteer Program please contact May McKenzie at 250-539-2530.
We would like to thank those who have most recently and generously support MIALS:
Garth Owen and Deb Foote, Alex, Janet and Alan Guy, James Marlon-Lambert, Kathie
Warning, Jim and Ingrid Marsh, John and Eilene Verheul, Bob and Mary McKinnon, Pat
Huhn and Andrew McKay, Diana King, Beverly McKenzie, Beth and Norman Cooper,
Patricia Fitzgerald, David Larry Dorward, Kim Harris and those who have asked to
remain anonymous. Thank you all so much.


 February is a month in which we celebrate love, family and friendship.  Despite the many challenges we are facing with Covid-19, love as well as our community family and friendship all remain strong for us at MIALS.  We would like to acknowledge the neighbour to neighbour kindness and caring that is carrying so many members of our community through this time.  May, Sue and our Board members have heard so many heartwarming stories from picking up groceries, to calling May to discuss concerns for others, to offers to help in whatever ways possible.  Also, to our Mayne Island School staff and students, Mayne Island Lions,  the many members of our Mayne Island Business Community who stepped forward to make Christmas and the Holiday Season a happy and less lonely one for so many and to our generous donors….THANK YOU!!!  Please know you are all so very much appreciated.  

We would like to remind our community that MIALS is here for all Mayne Islanders.  Regardless of age, if you are in need of support in any way please contact May McKenzie at 250 539-2530.  May is available to listen to your need and to direct you to one of our Co-ordinators, program facilitators or many volunteers as appropriate.  You can also contact our Board Chair, Deb Austin, at chair@mials.org where comments, suggestion and feedback from our community are welcome and appreciated.
​
This month we say a bittersweet goodbye to Jessica Easton who has been such a pillar of support for MIALS and our community for many years.  As both a MIALS Board Member and community volunteer, Jessica has spearheaded our Grief and Loss groups, Caregiver Support groups, initiated a Palliative Care Support Training Program, facilitated our annual Honour a Life Celebration at the Japanese Gardens and, most recently, through a generous grant from the Canadian Government, provided community members with one-on-one counselling support.  We wish Jessica and Toby the very best in their new life adventures in Victoria.   Namaste

Following the bittersweet with exciting news….We are happy that Marg Fletcher, RCC; a long time Mayne Island Community member who has been working together with Jessica for the past several months, is available by phone or on line to continue supporting Mayne Islanders.  Please connect with Marg at mfletcher508@gmail.com.

We are pleased to announce a second Zoom gathering led by Marg "How are You Holding Up?”.  Marg will guide a conversation around this question and all are welcome to attend.   The date is February 11th @ 1:30-3:30 pm via ZOOM.  To attend virtually please register with Deb Austin at (250) 539-8024 or chair@mials.org

Looking ahead to tax season we are very grateful to Mary Sheldrake for continuing her fabulous volunteer service to MIALS for those requiring support filing income tax returns.  Please contact May for more information and to be connected to Mary.  May is also available to support with the application for BC Covid-19 Relief Funds.

M​ayne Island Assisted Living Society
Welcome to September everyone! We hope that you have had an enjoyable summer. Last
month, we announced funding support for our program Caring for your Emotional Health
during the COVID-19 Pandemic; and invited your feedback via a brief questionnaire. Big
THANKS to Carol Munro who volunteered her time creating our community survey, designing
advertising posters; summarizing results and reporting back to us. We had great community
response and intend to work quickly to formulate a plan in response to the feedback we
received. However, should anyone need more immediate support, please contact Jessica
Easton at jessica.easton@me.com.
Finding the best time and method for holding our annual general meeting has proven to be a
challenge but we have decided to take the leap into the virtual world! This year our Annual
General Meeting will be held, via ZOOM, on October 1, 2020 at 9:30am. Please look for details
in our Ad in this Mayneliner issue. In order to participate please register your attendance in
advance with Bonnie Horsfall at 250-539-0626 or bonniehorsfall@gmail.com. All registered
attendees will receive instructions on how to access the meeting and information on how to
renew MIALS membership in order to vote. Should you need assistance in attending the virtual
AGM please let us know so that we can try to help. We don’t want technology to stand in the
way of participation, so will do our best to find workarounds!
While our volunteer work has been quietened by COVID, we continue to receive recognition
and donations from our community. We offer our sincere appreciation to those families, on
and off island, who have extended thanks to MIALS for supporting their loved ones here. To
our wonderful donors who never forget - Paul Church, Alan Guy, Harold Kasinsky, Patti
Marshall, Vicki Turay,– many many thanks.
Remember, we are here to lend a supporting hand should you be in need. May McKenzie can
be reached at (250) 539-5400.
Submitted by Deb Austin
Mayne Island Assisted Living Society – article for August issue
 A lot has happened in relation to COVID over the past few months.  With the help of our community business and services, and each other, we’ve survived the isolation and kept each other safe.  Way to go Mayne Island!!!  At the same time, it could be expected that many or perhaps even most of us, are trying to manage feelings of stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation in this difficult time. 
With this in mind, Mayne Island Assisted Living has accessed funding from the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund to support our local project: 
Caring for your Emotional Health during COVID-19 Pandemic
This program will allow us to offer free service to Mayne Island residents of all ages – group counseling, individual counseling, information and support – over a 6-month period.
Our highly qualified counselors are ready to go!  But first, we would like to hear from the community about how we can be most helpful.  A brief questionnaire is posted online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MIALS
Please complete a questionnaire before August 16th.  We hope to begin providing services in September. If you need more immediate support, please contact Jessica Easton at jessica.easton@me.com.
Also, the Care Givers Support Group continues to meet; next session is August 13.  For further information, please be in touch with Carol Munro at carolonmayne@shaw.ca  or Jessica Easton at Jessica.easton@me.com.
In light of our province moving to Phase 3 of their re-opening plan, our Board sought guidance from Dr. Losier regarding ways in which we might restart our regular programs.  We consulted with the Centre for Disease Control and WorkSafe as well.   We discussed risk and responsibility for clients, volunteers and MIALS.   We reflected on Dr. Henry’s warnings about continuing to protect those who are vulnerable.  Our decision to hold off on both the driving program and the lunch/social program was reinforced.  There is no other option than family or friends at this time.  Any meeting or visits with clients must continue to be conducted outside, socially distanced, sanitizing/hand washing in place and no shared food or drink involved. 
MIALS is extremely grateful to a very special group of volunteers for their extraordinary support this month:  The Mayne Island Lions, The Mayne Island Firefighters, Mayne Island Building Centre, Lynn and Russ Weaver, Donna Williams, Maggie McKenzie and Carol Munroe. 
Remember, we are here to lend a supporting hand to the community.  If you are in need of assistance please contact May McKenzie at 250-539-2530.
Submitted by Deb Austin
​
Mayne Island Assisted Living is looking for members and volunteers.  Please research the good work we do and consider joining us. We are a non profit organization that tries to meet the needs of full or part-time residents on Mayne Island. Without our volunteers and our community support we could not exist.
Our volunteers support Mayne Island residents by; driving to appointments (on or off island), delivering Meals on Wheels, helping with our Lunch Bunch Program, shopping trips or outings, home visits, walks and so much more.
Please watch this site for upcoming information and events.  MIALS strives to keep a presence in the community readily available.  We are always open to any suggestions or ideas to improve this.  Once again thank you Mayne Island for all the support!!!!


cancelleD until further notice DUE TO COVID

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MARCH 2020 Mayneliner Issue
​Happy March Mayne Islanders!!! Spring is just around the corner and we would like to remind everyone that April bring showers!  Oh wait…..wasn't that January and February… I digress.  April brings Mayne Island Assisted Living our AGM on April 16th at 9:30 at the Firefighters Association recreational hall (aka the old schoolhouse).  In the meantime, we are in a search for candidates for our board.  If you are new to the island and looking for somewhere to volunteer please consider MIALS.  You can contact any member of our board listed above for further information. 
 
MIALS would like to welcome 3 new volunteers:  Deb Cleland, Rose Marie McSherry and Vicki Turay.  Volunteers are always needed and appreciated and for more information on volunteering please contact May McKenzie at 250-539-2530. 
 
Lunch Bunch news:  February 6th was our first luncheon at the Firefighters Association Hall and it was a huge hit.  We had approximately 40 in attendance and everyone was amazed at the gorgeous restoration, huge congratulations to all the volunteers who contributed to this fabulous facility. It was a labour of love. Special guest in attendance was Ed Hunter who taught at the school in the 60s!! Also a heartfelt thank you to those who donated items to get us started.  We had 12 card tables, 40 folding chairs, dishes, materials for tablecloths and sewing of same, in short everything we need  for the time being, all donated by the generosity of members of the community, family and friends.  If you would like to attend the Luncheons on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, please reserve a spot by contacting Sue Duncan at 250-539-3640.
 
We are still waiting to hear a response regarding the gaming grant we have applied for and hope it will help us to continue to do the work needed for the community.  MIALS does not receive any government funding and we depend almost solely on the generosity of the community, without this support we could not continue to function. 
 
We would like to thank those who continue to generously support MIALS:  In the last couple of months, Peter Askin, Pat Huhn and Andrew McKay, Garth Owen and Deb Foote, Helen and John O'Brian, W. Davies and M. Winterbottom, Terry Lynn Paterson, Donald Eadie, Kim Harris, David Larry Dorward and Maureen Pearl. There are many more who donate anonymously.  Thank you all so much.
A HUGE THANK YOU FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE VICTORIA FOUNDATION
Media Release for the Victoria Foundation announcement of MIALS Lunch Program receiving a $15,000 Victoria Foundation grant.  MIALS is extremely grateful for the support of the Victoria Foundation.  
 "Our community is very appreciative of this grant and the support of Mayne Island seniors from the Victoria Foundation,” said Jody Waldie, President of the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society which received a $15,000 grant. “MIALS, in partnership with the Mayne Island Health Centre Association, provides a twice monthly lunch and education/activities program which engages community volunteers and targets seniors who are at risk of social isolation. The feedback for this very popular new program has been phenomenal. Receiving this grant allows us to secure the continuation of "Lunch Bunch" for a minimum of three years with potential for growth in both number of attendees and program expansion. We are thrilled. Thank you, Victoria Foundation!"   
​we are in the latest issue of Pulse Magazine on page 13.
https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pulse-2019_lr.pdf  
Mayne Island Assisted Living would like to thank everyone who made our summer fundraising such a HUGE success.  If it were not for the generosity of all the people involved volunteers, community, especially the LIONS, the Community Bus,  Home Hardware, home owners and so many others to numerous to mention but you know who you are we could not have done so well.  Please know we are so so thankful and if ever MIALS can do anything to help please do not hesitate to reach out
May Mayneliner Issue
 
 Mayne Island Assisted Living Society
Finally, daytime temperatures are rising, veggie gardens can be planted, and blossoms are out.  Our island community is getting busy with AGM’s, concerts, and neighbourhood get-togethers.
May is a great month to air out the house, clean up the workshop, freshen up the space and get rid of the excess!  Decluttering your space really helps to lighten your “mental” load. AND upcycling and recycling your gently used stuff is a responsible way of disposing of things no longer feeling the love in your home!!
So, keeping your good health in mind, MIALS invites you to join us at our really big
YARD SALE
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Dinner Bay Park, 10a.m. to 3p.m.
There are many ways you can participate in this fundraising event.
Purchase your own table for $20 from any one of the MIALS Board members; proceeds go directly to MIALS.  Then go ahead and sell your items.
To keep your energy up – hamburgers, hotdogs, and a vegetarian option will be available, as well as drinks.  We are hopeful that we can encourage some local musical talent to round out the day.
Please support us and book your table as soon as possible.   A surprise gift awaits one of the early birds!
Contact:  Bonnie Horsfall at
bonniehorsfall@gmail.com;  Jody Waldie at jody.waldie@gmail.com;  Deb Austin at deborah33@shaw.ca;  Kathie Warning at kwarning@shaw.ca;  Ruth Curran at r.curran@shaw.ca .
Come on out and support us by shopping and snacking and simply enjoying the day!
 

We are also very fortunate to be one of the community services chosen to receive funds from the Mayne Island Home & Garden Tour schedule for June 30, 2019.
 Huge thanks to Brenda Dean at Remax for sponsoring the show and organizing the VIP Tour, along with Jody Waldie, Bonnie Horsfall, Colleen Ming and Ingrid Marsh for planning and organizing the day.
 Please see the large ad in this Mayneliner issue and purchase your tickets asap.  This event is wonderful and sells out quickly each year!

We are looking for volunteers to help with ticket taking and parking at the homes so if you have time to give to this event,  please be in touch with Jody Waldie, Bonnie Horsfall or Colleen Ming.
Please remember that Mayne Island Assisted Living is “here to help”.  The program was developed by islanders as a way of connecting people who need some assistance to remain independent with people who are willing to offer that assistance.  If you have a need or with to offer support please be in contact with May McKenzie 250-539-2530.






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Mayne Island Assisted Living Society   l   #105 - 526 Felix Jack Road   l   Mayne Island, BC, V0N 2J2