CFAX Santas Podcast

Episode #6: Chat and tea with Mel and Carmela Cooper

Enjoy this special episode, a chat with Carmela and Mel Cooper.  Mark and I visited Mel and Carmela December 3, 2021 in their home to talk about CFAX Santas, Christmas and the importance of giving.

Episode #5: A Conversation with Marilyn Cann ... Santas Anonymous, How It All Began.

On this episode we talk to Marilyn Cann, founder of Santas Anonymous.  With  help from her husband Vern and their children, Marilyn started Santas Anonymous in Victoria, BC 50 years ago! What's amazing about this story is that the first five years took place within the confines of their home with help from friends, neighbours, volunteers and businesses. When Marilyn left CFAX Santas Anonymous in the hands of Mel Cooper 45 years ago to start her career in real estate- she continued her involvement as a Board Member, and remains a Honorary Board Member.  Marilyn shares some stories of how it all began and how CFAX Santas Anonymous has grown into an important local children's charity -- not just at Christmas time but all year round! Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Be sure to check out the CFAX Santas Anonymous [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] website for more details. Please be sure to visit and follow us on the CFAX Santas Anonymous Facebook Page [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] and the CFAX Santas Instagram Page [https://www.instagram.com/cfaxsantas/?hl=en] If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to Christine Hewitt at cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca [http://cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca]

Episode #4: Andrea Paquette: Mental Health Visionary

A kinder, more accepting world!  Stigma Free Society hopes to deliver this message by including conversations around all stigmas, with a focus on mental health.   In this episode Christine Hewitt and Louise Hartland chat with Andrea Paquette, mental health visionary.  Andrea created a Bipolar Babe t-shirt and website to share her personal experience with bipolar disorder, so others didn't have to suffer in silence like she once did.  Her efforts led to meeting supportive and dedicated individuals in the local Victoria, B.C. community who formed the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia in 2010, now the Stigma-Free Society. [https://stigmafreesociety.com/] You can also follow Andrea A.K.A. Bipolar Babe [https://www.facebook.com/AKABipolarBabe] on Facebook too! Al Ferraby's AL'S $21 FOR 21KM [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/blogs/fundraisers/als-21-for-21km-1] fundraising event is ready to accept your donation as Al is training for his 21km run on May 29th!! Any amount is greatly appreciated and all proceeds go to CFAX Santas Anonymous. Go Al Go!!!!! CFAX Santas Charity Chat now has its own Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CFAXSantasCharityChat], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cfax_santas_charity_chat/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/CFAXCharityChat] pages!!! Be sure to visit and follow us on each of those social media links. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Be sure to check out the CFAX Santas Anonymous [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] website for more details and be sure to visit and follow us on the CFAX Santas Anonymous Facebook Page [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] and the CFAX Santas Anonymous Instagram Page [https://www.instagram.com/cfaxsantas/?hl=en] If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to Christine Hewitt at cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca [http://cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca/] . We would love to hear from you!

Episode #3: Volunteers - The Heartbeat of Charities with Louise Hartland

Volunteers are the heartbeat of thousands of charities across Canada. On this episode we chat about National Volunteer Week April 24 to April 30th, 2022, and we talk with Santas Anonymous volunteer and Board Member Louise Hartland.  Louise shares her passion for volunteering and how it helped her family through a difficult time.  Louise is a Communications Professional currently working in Diversity and Inclusion with the Province of British Columbia. She also is a former journalist and news anchor with CTV Vancouver Island which many of our listeners may fondly remember. Louise Hartland can be found on Twitter @Louise_Hartland [https://twitter.com/Louise_Hartland] For more information or resources about volunteering check out the Volunteer Canada [https://volunteer.ca/] website or visit Volunteer Victoria [https://volunteervictoria.bc.ca/] for more opportunities in the Greater Victoria community. Link to the Stats Canada 2018 Volunteer Report [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00037-eng.htm] On our next episode Andrea Paquette A.K.A. The Bipolar Babe [https://www.facebook.com/bipolarbabeandrea] and Co-Founder of the Stigma Free Society [https://stigmafreesociety.com/] joins us to share her incredible story. You don't want to miss it!! CFAX Santas Charity Chat now has its own Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CFAXSantasCharityChat], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cfax_santas_charity_chat/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/CFAXCharityChat] pages!!! Be sure to visit and follow us on each of those social media links. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Be sure to check out the CFAX Santas Anonymous [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] website for more details and be sure to visit and follow us on the CFAX Santas Anonymous Facebook Page [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] and the CFAX Santas Anonymous Instagram Page [https://www.instagram.com/cfaxsantas/?hl=en] If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to Christine Hewitt at cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca [http://cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca/] . We would love to hear from you!

Episode #2: A Chat with Kevin Sing - DFH Real Estate President

Al Ferraby joins us as co-host of CFAX Santas Charity Chat on location at DFH Real Estate [https://www.dfh.ca/] head office.  Our guest is Kevin Sing, President of DFH Real Estate and long time CFAX Santas Anonymous supporter.   On this episode Kevin and Al reminisce of the years they've been involved with CFAX Santas Anonymous, other charities, and their early years at CFAX 1070 together. Thank you for listening! Christine Hewitt, Host Mark Byrne, Producer Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Be sure to check out the CFAX Santas Anonymous [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] website for more details. CFAX Santas Charity Chat now has its own Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CFAXSantasCharityChat], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cfax_santas_charity_chat/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/CFAXCharityChat] pages!!! Be sure to visit and follow us on each of those social media links. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Be sure to check out the CFAX Santas Anonymous [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] website for more details and be sure to visit and follow us on the CFAX Santas Anonymous Facebook Page [https://www.cfaxsantas.com/] and the CFAX Santas Anonymous Instagram Page [https://www.instagram.com/cfaxsantas/?hl=en] If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to Christine Hewitt at cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca [http://cfax.santas@bellmedia.ca/] . We would love to hear from you!