St. Andrews Lodge

We saved the lodge from destruction, now its time to restore it for the benefit of our community!

We are very grateful for the outpouring of support that secured the fate of one of the most cherished heritage buildings in Qualicum Beach; citizens of all ages stood in solidarity to ensure this historic lodge will serve us as a long-term community asset at our new beachfront park. Thank you everyone for making this possible!

Now we are entering our first phase of establishing a board and fundraising to be able to apply for a matching grant and start the work.

If you are interest in learning more, or volunteering your time and talents to this worthwhile project go to www.savethelodge.ca

BrainBodyFitness

Universal Access Qualicum Beach, a QCEWS Roundtable, has spent several years working with local partners to get an accessible gym in Oceanside. This special gym is intended for people who may need adaptive exercise equipment to improve their physical and mental fitness. This year, 2023, Qualicum Community Education and Wellness began a collaboration with another non profit, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society to operate a pilot project called BrainBodyFitness. Here is the article in PQB News which provides more details. BrainBodyFitness pilot project established at Qualicum Commons

Connections

Intergenerational Connections. In 2019, QCEWS Intergenerational roundtable action team joined up with Qualicum Beach Seniors’ Activity Centre to offer Learn to Knit, Learn to Play Ukulele and Kids in the Kitchen after school activities on Mondays at the Seniors’ Centre. The popular Kids in the Kitchen program allowed children to prepare a three course meal and invite their families to sit down all together and enjoy the meal. Setting the tables, serving and cleaning up afterward were also shared among the group! Special thanks goes to Pat Weber, Past President of the Seniors’ Centre for his leadership! We also appreciate funding from Parksville Qualicum Kiwanis Club and the Parksville Qualicum Foundation for grants awarded in support of these programs. QCEWS Family Soccer ran in both the Spring and Fall of 2019 at the Community Park and had many families participate with their children on Friday evenings. We also did our annual Eaglepark with new and existing QCEWS families in fancy dress for a scary story and treats.

Huka Bikes

The Domes family initiated a fundraiser with Universal Access Qualicum Beach (UAQB) for the purchase of two specially adapted bicycles for use within the Oceanside community. Mike & Naomi Domes and their family of 4 children cycled through 6 countries in Europe to raise awareness of people who have different abilities and the same need to be active and out in the community. With contributions from Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, QCEWS and a few local charities, they raised $10,000. The Huka Duet tandem bike was purchased and arrived. The debut outing was at Qualicum Beach Elementary School with the Principal and a Grade 7 student in May 2018. Fundraising continued and a second bike, Huka Orion arrived in 2019. Mike & Naomi work as physiotherapists serving seniors and children in local long term care homes and schools in SD69. Their passion is to keep people active regardless of their ability and regularly take residents and students out into the community.

Musical Mentors

QCEWS was pleased to support the Musical Mentors program. Musical Mentors was a not-for-profit community program that partnered children ages 5 to 12 with volunteer student musicians from Kwalikum and Ballenas Secondary Schools for free one-to-one music lessons in voice and musical instruments. With QCEWS assistance, the Musical Mentors secured funding from the RDN District 69 Recreation Grant program in the amount of $1,250 for the purchase of instruments that can be loaned to students, as well as sheet music and instruction books. The Arrowsmith Community Recreation Association (ACRA) continues to be a willing and much-appreciated source of additional instruments.

Early Learning

Early Learning & Childcare Council in Oceanside Needs Assessment Survey. One of our QCEWS families, active in youth soccer, were keen to adopt a European idea of children and families kicking the ball around together in the local park. Family Soccer was created to encourage children and their parents or guardians to get out, have fun and play together. Lots of local families and kids from surrounding area joined in on Friday nights, including mums, dads, sisters and brothers who had never kicked a soccer ball before! ELCCO shared and supported the application process for BC Provincial funding-“Child Care Needs Assessment.” Currently the group supports the ongoing data collection informing immediate and long-term decision making of childcare services and infrastructure development. This is a collaborative project with the communities of Lantzville, Nanaimo, and surrounding Regional Districts.

Survey

Qualicum Beach Discovering Community Survey. The survey was an initiative of the newly formed Qualicum Community Education and Wellness (QCEWS) Society, a grassroots organization of citizens that supports lifelong learning and wellness to complement other services in Qualicum Beach. The topics were suggested through consultations with seniors, high school students and members of QCEWS. The purpose of the survey was to gather information to guide the future activities of QCEWS and to provide the foundation for community action. The participation of the community helped to identify ways in which the community could be enhanced. The responses to the survey were analyzed and compiled in a report that were shared with the community.

Cinema

Multi Use Cinema Project. It all starts with an idea! QCEWS welcomed the idea of a multi use cinema when approached by one of the group in the early stages. Bill Preston worked closely with group members, sharing ideas, arranging meetings and making connections with key decision makers and stakeholders who could get this proposal to the next level. Once established, with clear direction and vision the cinema(https://qbcinema.org) Multi-Use Cinema Project group took off and are on their way to achieving their goal.

Rootbags

Family Soccer