PAL CANADA

December, 2008: PAL Vancouver has now broken in the building over these past 2-1/2 years. We finished 2008 with a number of special announcements. In early November, PAL Vancouver was recognized by CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.) for Best Practices in Affordable Housing at a presentation in Ottawa. President Jane Heyman and our new President Elect (who will take over in the summer when Jane must step down) Keith Martin Gordey were present to accept. Just days later, PAL Vancouver was delighted to announce the hiring of our first Executive Director, Gary Glacken, who comes to us from a background with BC Schizophrenia Society and Canadian Mental Health. Then we kicked off December by Jane Heyman winning Arts Board Member of the Year at the annual Christmas Fete hosted by the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, and offshoot Society to Bridge Arts and Business.

The building has been all abuzz with fundraising as the year closes. On the weekend of Dec 5 - 7 residents put on Shop and A Show - an art market (by all those busy creative hands in the building) with a 2-set cabaret. The following weekend residents Camilla Ross and Sean Allan produced an adaptation of A Christmas Carol for radio, which was done as if in front of a live radio audience, involving a few dozen residents as performers. On the same weekend, Carousel Theatre (for Young Audiences) donated the proceeds from their December 12 performance of Seussical, plus a pass-the-hat (Cat in the Hat hats) after the show. PAL Vancouver is so thankful for the efforts of residents and friends to keep PAL going.

It's difficult to believe that, only eight months ago, the first residents moved into the building. These pioneer residents are now well settled into their suites either with the belongings they brought with them or furniture they were lucky to acquire at the PAL "gift shop".  When the call went out for furniture donations, the response was very generous and some new residents, who arrived with their suitcases, were able to furnish their suites, while others traded their own pieces for ones they preferred. The "shop" also served as a great meeting place and helped to establish friendships among the residents.