InMotion
Greater VICTORIA Advertising Feature
Your community’s transportation station...
• April 27, 2012
Events & Activities... april 28 – Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame 2012 induction ceremony and dinner, 4 p.m. at Eagle Ridge rec centre. Admission $20 at the door. may 9 – The Vancouver Island Mustang Association May meets at Jasmines Restaurant on the Old Island Highway in Colwood, at 7:30 p.m. Come early for dinner – everyone is welcome. Discussion will incl. organizing a club cruise to the Spring Spectacular Show and Shine at Joe Cunningham Ford in Parksville, May 27. may 12 & 13 – Vintage Car Show, McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni, 250-723-1376, www.alberniheritage.com may 19 & 20 – Annual Wooden Boat Celebration at Maple Bay Marina, www.maplebaymarina.com may 26 to 28 – Swiftsure International Yacht Race, www.swiftsure.org may 26 & 27 – Ladysmith Maritime Festival, Ladysmith Marina, www.ladysmithmaritimesociety.ca may 27 – Spring Spectacular Show and Shine at Joe Cunningham Ford in Parksville. June 1 to 3 – Floating Boat & Marine Trade Show, Nanaimo. FMI: 250-754-5053, www.npa.ca June 15 to 17 – Father’s Day Seaside Cruizers Show & Shine, Qualicum Beach, 250-248-1015, www.seasidecruizers.com
Road ahead made smoother for local family The bright blue 1999 Dodge Caravan was the same colour as Joey WilsonSmithenson’s balloon, but it was the smile on the 12-year-old’s face that stole the show JENNIFER BLYTH Wednesday at Galaxy BLACK PRESS Motors. Thanks to a coalition of community support, Joey and his dad, Scott Smithenson, were picking up the van that will now make their lives a whole lot easier. Joey, who attends Glanford Middle School with his sister, Jillian, 13, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Scott, a single parent, is currently completing his Community Support Education program at Camosun College, training he plans to put to work in a new career following graduation. The new van will not only make daily family life simpler, but also be a huge boost in his plans to return to work. Without the unexpected support from the community, however, a vehicle wouldn’t have been possible for a few years down the road, he says, noting even something as basic as grocery shopping will now be so much easier for the family that previously walked or bused. “It will be a big boost for our family,” Scott says. “It’s going to be great to be able to get out in the community more, to have more freedom and be more mobile.” Of course, any car owner knows that purchasing the vehicle is just the start; issues such as insurance and
Joey Wilson-Smithenson and dad, Scott Smithenson prepare to head home in their new Dodge Caravan, donated by Galaxy Motors with additional support from Gorge Vale Automotive, Maxxam Insurance and Peninsula Co-op. Jen Blyth photo
maintenance can also be prohibitive, but for the Smithesons, they’ll have a year without having to worry about those costs too. The donation came together thanks to Reinert Peterson, whose son Evan is Joey’s good friend. A comment to Gorge Vale Automotive owner, David Christison, about how the family was making do without a vehicle led to the formulation of the idea. “In addition we’re going to supply any maintenance for a year and keep it running smoothly,” Christison says. A call to Maxxam Insurance netted full insurance coverage, while another call to Peninsula Co-op brought a full tank of gas.
“The fact that Reinert thought he could get the industry as a whole to be a part of it, it just seemed like something we could work at together,” says Galaxy Motors general manager David King, noting that it was the second request Galaxy had received in a short time for a local family in need. The generosity of Galaxy owner Phil Dagger meant they didn’t have to choose between two equally deserving families. “Galaxy has a mandate to be quite active locally, so to be able to help a single dad, going to school to work in a similar field to help others, it was an opportunity we were happy to take advantage of,” King says.