This is the story of bright lights, a generous woman and her legacy. Betty Bonnington was born in rural Saskatchewan in 1927.  She moved to Toronto in 1952 to live near her future husband, Ken Bonnington.  Soon afterward, Betty and Ken married and in 1957 moved to West Vancouver, British Columbia. Ken’s job in international  […]

Meet Vijay! Vijay has volunteered with The Salvation Army for the past 6 years and continues to give back to his community every weekend. In an exclusive interview, we spoke with Vijay about the things he loved most about volunteering and what he gained from the experience. Opportunity to help others This is the main  […]

After a life filled with abuse, addiction and homelessness, 38-year-old Jay Kivell is celebrating his 15th year of sobriety by getting the biggest promotion of his life. Raised by a single, alcoholic mother, Kivell grew up in a home where he was either physically abused or neglected entirely. “When I was growing up she made  […]

It was my alcoholism that brought me to The Salvation Army Belkin House and its here that I’ve rediscovered myself and become healthy. For a long time, Miranda’s addiction impacted her life. Married for over 30 years, Miranda slowly began to see her marriage fall apart as a result of her drinking. Despite her repeated  […]

Wednesday, January 31st is Bell Let’s Talk Day – A campaign to raise awareness and fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. For every text message, wireless or long-distance call made by Bell customers, for every share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, Bell will donate money to programs dedicated to mental health. It is an  […]

Things had always seemed to go well for Sandy. Her loving husband, John, had a stable job that kept the family in a comfortable lifestyle and provided the necessary services for their disabled 14-year-old son. Because they felt blessed, they wanted to share with their neighbors in need. Then, John lost the job he had  […]

Christmas is typically a time of great joy and family celebration. Yet for Erica, a young mother of three small children, the holiday season was overcast by a sense of dread and the harsh reality of poverty settling in. Seasonal questions turned from, “When will I find time to go shopping?” to “How will I  […]

At 80 years young, Hanna has been volunteering at The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Williams Lake for 48 years. Hanna has been volunteering at The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Williams Lake for 48 years. This summer, she was forced to evacuate her home and was quickly redirected to Kamloops. Before even settling in,  […]

As a young woman, Ava made the decision to venture out on an adventure with her four-year-old daughter, moving away from her family to travel and study. Ava was determined to prove to herself and her family that she could make it on her own and worked two jobs to make ends meet. Many days  […]

Have you heard it said that life is what happens when we are planning for it? Job loss, sudden illness, or the unexpected death of a loved one can change the course of our lives in a moment and it can happen to anyone. Michelle knows this from firsthand experience. After a severe leg injury,  […]