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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

How Bear Essentials supports the comfort, inclusion, and independence of Island kid Owen

In many ways, 11-year-old Owen is like a lot of kids his age: he loves going to school, playing with his brother Max, and going...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Meet Foundry Victoria peer support worker Maude

Please note: This story contains content that may not be suitable for all audiences, including people who have experienced trau...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Meet Holly and Emily: How Bear Essentials helps one Nanaimo family in their day-to-day life

Ask Holly to describe Emily, her teenage daughter, and Holly is quick to reply. Emily likes dancing and loves singing, especial...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Meet Aubrey: How Sundrops Centre’s early intervention helped this Island kid from Duncan

Candice first noticed that her daughter, Aubrey, might have some unique challenges when she was about two years old. Aubrey’s y...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

‘I love Lucy’: A Victoria family’s journey through cleft lip and palate diagnosis and treatment

Danielle Green learned her family’s life was going to change during her ultrasound at 18 weeks pregnant. Physicians detected he...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Home away from home Jeneece Place provides sanctuary for Pender Island family

In August of 2017, Leah and Austin Davies were living a happy life on Pender Island with their seven, and soon to be eight, chi...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Cecily’s story of resilience and the importance of a place like Foundry

[Please note: This story contains content that may not be suitable for all audiences, including people who have experienced tra...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Preemie twins and Cerebral Palsy: How the Children’s Health Foundation helped support this West Shore family

They were born 14 weeks too early – identical twin boys, facing a lifetime of challenges. At first, Tracey and her husband, ...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Supporting a Campbell River family far from home

A 60-minute ultrasound appointment is still the single-worst hour of Brian’s life. Brian and his wife, Ricci, looked at each...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Funding possibilities: An interview with Luka Garvin

Starting post-secondary education is no doubt a challenging time for many young people. There are the pressures of cramming in ...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island has been investing in the health and wellness of Island kids like Cohen, Graci...
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  |   Island kids and families / Stories

Meet Noah! Check out Nanaimo Family Magazine’s article about one of our very special Bear Essentials recipients

Check out the latest issue of Nanaimo Family Magazine! We are so pleased to have Noah Thompson, one of our Bear Essential recip...