Cache Creek’s Marvene Layte simply can’t stop volunteering.
Even before she retired in 2015 from her position at the Prince George Native Friendship Teacher, where she developed projects based on employment and trades and then taught the courses, Layte had worked with disability organizations in Prince George. “I was on a lot of boards, mostly working with people with disabilities, helping them fill out paperwork and get grants and funding.
“It was because of what I did as a job, but there wasn’t necessarily enough time at the job site, so I did that after hours.”
Her retirement in 2015 lasted for all of three months. “I decided that retirement wasn’t this lady’s bag. I joined the Red Hats, but they didn’t do anything in the community. If I’m going to give up my time for volunteering I want to do something productive for families and the community.”
She ended up joining the Royal Purple lodge in Prince George, after finding out about the organization due to her work with the Arthritis Society Canada.
“I picked up a donation that [Royal Purple] had made to the society. I talked to them and decided to join, because they do so much work in the community and have so much respect. I felt it was something I wanted to give my hours to.”
She worked at the Prince George lodge for two years, then was elected to the Canadian Royal Purple national board as a director in 2016. She did that for a year, then was asked to go on the board of BC Royal Purple Association. She came in as the fourth vice president in 2017, and continued on as third, second, and first vice presidents. Normally each term is one year, but Layte says positions didn’t change for two years during the pandemic.
Layte was recently installed as president of the BC Royal Purple Association, and will be off to the Canadian Royal Purple national convention in Saskatoon in July.
”I’ll learn different things they have planned for next year to fundraise and move forward. We’re in the process of a huge membership drive in Canada. We have new members in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick through a virtual lodge, and we’re looking to move forward on Vancouver Island with a virtual lodge as well.”
Since moving to Cache Creek in 2020, Layte has been involved with Ashcroft-Cache Creek Royal Purple Lodge #263, which has been active in the area for more than 60 years. The lodge was on the verge of folding — a decision to close it had been made in late 2019 — but Layte met with members and the decision was made to continue, even though activities came to as halt during the pandemic.
In April 2022, however, the lodge was able to resume its work in the community. The main focus of Royal Purple is to get resources and information into communities around brain injury and its intersection with personal violence, and fundraising for children and for community organizations.
“Canadian Royal Purple is partnered with the BC Brain Injury Association to get the word out about brain injury of all types, and become the resource and go-to for people by offering information and resources. Purple Thursday is always on the third Thursday of October; this year it’s on Oct. 20, and we hope to paint Ashcroft and Cache Creek purple on that day, and have tables with information and resources and community connections.
“Last year we went to Lillooet and delivered 40 Purple Thursday care bags to the Lillooet Friendship Centre for their Safe Home program. The bags have all the needs for any woman and her children if they have to leave home with nothing. This year we hope to connect with the RCMP and the ambulance service via the E. Fry Society and find where the best fit for the bags is here.”
Layte says that the ability to give out resources and info about brain injuries, and what’s happening in terms of research and the development of knowledge is amazing.
“It’s important to get that information info the community. Let’s get the message to kids about the importance of bicycle helmets. We have a poster contest each year, and we were going to go into Cache Creek Elementary School this year, but then the flood hit.
“We like to have fun events at schools, to bring knowledge of brain injury to kids so they understand the seriousness of brain injury when they’re young and how it can be prevented. We’re also showing women and men how serious brain injuries can be when there is violence in the home. Many people don’t know to go and see a doctor.”
The lodge fundraises through its monthly bingo in Cache Creek, with the money going towards the care bags and community causes. Every year the Ashcroft-Cache Creek lodge gives two $500 bursaries to graduating students at Desert Sands Community School, and they regularly donate funds to the Ashcroft and Cache Creek fire departments. They have also given funds to minor hockey and the 4-H club.
In addition to her work with Royal Purple, Layte still works for the Northern Interior Community Association, helping organizations throughout the province apply for Community Gaming Grants.
“Any non-profit organization can come and get assistance for the Community Gaming Grant,” Layte says. “I help them understand the guide and the financial documents they require, which is the biggest challenge for most organizations.” Any groups that would like to know more can reach out to Layte at (250) 612-2031 or facilitator@northernica.org.
As for Royal Purple, Layte says there are nine people in the Ashcroft-Cache Creek lodge, and they would like to increase that by having Friends of Royal Purple.
“If those people don’t want to attend meetings — and many don’t — they can come and help with bingo, or other things. We help Rotary with their projects, and helped with Graffiti Days last year. We give assistance where other groups need it, and that’s the main expectation for volunteers.
“It’s the desire to assist your community to the best of your ability. The word for my presidency is resilience, the willingness to move forward with an open mind.”
editorial@accjournal.ca
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