Saturday, March 24th  from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

Lucky participants from the burn community from as far as Victoria came to the Maureen Sullivan Floral Design School to attend this well recognized floral design school. They attended an exclusive workshop where they were able to learn all the latest floral design secrets as well as create their own takeaway arrangement!

From orchids to roses, everyone had a fantastic time with requests to do this again!! Thank you Gilligan Girls!

A special sunny afternoon at Neverland Tea Salon brought together the women of The Future Is Mine for an elegant experience to share and greet new members to the FIM community from as far as Victoria. Each member was given a gift package of tea from our gracious hosts.

We stayed long after our planned departure to keep up with the conversations.

A memorable first!

Click on the video below for a quick snapshot of the afternoon:

Event details.

What a generous and perfect night it was for the members of The Future Is Mine/Adult Burn Community to be the guests of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on December 4th.

50 lucky participants had a glorious time and enjoyed the evening to the fullest.

Thank you to Emily and the amazing group at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park!

Here are the winners of the photography contest and the  BC Residents Annual Passes as again generously donated by Capilano Suspension Bridge.

1st Place – Julia McArthur

2nd Place – Keith Sidebotham

3rd Place – Sandi Whyte

Members of The Future Is Mine community came together to enjoy treats from everyone’s culture and baking talents.  The party was a great success with many additional arrivals to make for a super end to a busy year!  Happy Holidays everyone, see you in 2018!

Chef David Robertson once again created an extraordinary Hawaiian themed cooking class, for members of the Future Is Mine!
Smiles and divine tastes were found everywhere and we even had members come dressed for the theme.  Our sincerest thanks to David Robertson who opened his doors, and his kitchen to the Future Is Mine community.  David, your great contribution is deeply appreciated by all of us in the Future is Mine community.

To join in a class with David, visit: DirtyApron.com

The Future Is Mine community gathered at the Burn Fund Centre last night, (with some out-of-town attendees joining via video call) to hear the amazing story of Don Schwartz, a burn survivor, who survived a helicopter crash and who dealt with and overcame his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  While everyone’s journey to recovery is their own,  having Don share his experiences provided attendees with the opportunity to learn, share and reflect on some of their own experiences with PTSD.

In addition, the surprise of the evening was the discovery that a fire fighter, Derek Lanser, who was attending the event last night was also the man who took risks to rescue Eric Phillips, a member of The Future Is Mine, also in attendance!  Eric remembered nothing of his accident so they were able to connect at this event. Very special!!

The evening of November 1st marked some exciting times for the adult burn community, as The Future Is Mine program launched in Prince George!

Our very special thanks to the efforts made by many local supporters, including the Prince George Hospital and Local Fire Fighters!  A very special thank-you goes out to Debbie Wood, Trent Blair and Janet Horning for their hard work in putting this memorable event together.  Through the generous donations made by community members in attendance, over $1000 was raised in support of The Future Is Mine, adult burn survivor program!

It was a fabulous evening, and we look forward to many more opportunities to come together in support of the adult burn survivor community in Prince George, B.C.!

Halloween cookies and cupcakes were the highlight of this fantastic evening spent under the guidance of a volunteer team from the top Baking School at Vancouver Community College (VCC)! Inspiration and creativity were everywhere; especially when it came time to transport all of the Halloween goodies home, as many attendees used public transportation!

A big thank-you to Chef Fionna Chong and her talented team of volunteers for a memorable (and delicious) evening!  www.vcc.ca

Pumpkins, pizza, pirates and goblins made this day at Art Knapp Surrey a memorable one!  Thanks to The Future Is Mine member, and owner of Art Knapp Surrey, Ken Grant and his great team who graciously welcomed nearly 100 guests from the adult burn community and their families.  Thanks as well to the Surrey Fire Fighters, who were on-site with Harry Hydrant and two antique fire trucks.  The day really was a special one!

Members of the Future Is Mine program recently enjoyed an evening of pampering and treats hosted by the beauty team at L’Occitane.

Facials, hand massages, fragrance layering plus a beautiful gift bag, all made for an evening of fun, relaxation and wonderful connections for the women of The Future Is Mine.

Our thanks to our sponsor and hosts at L’Occitane! ((3051 Granville St. Vancouver, BC) http://ca.loccitane.com/

A very special evening was held at the Burn Centre to celebrate the launch
of the ABOUT FACE book project.  The creators, the adult burn survivors who participated in the project, as well as Future Is Mine members and the BCPFF Burn Fund team were all in support.

Thank you to Cindy, Danni and Nico for creating a very special tribute to our adult burn community.

Copies of the book are available for a donation of $10.00 through the BCPFF Burn Fund.  To order, please contact Shelley Barrett at: 604.436.5617, or by email at: shelley@burnfund.org

Owner and Future Is Mine member, James Lester hosted an amazing evening of fun, facts and creative cocktails.  First time attendees to the event enjoyed a tour of the distillery and samples of some of Lester’s own craft vodka, amaretto and chili vodkas.  The evening provided an opportunity for friends to connect and celebrate a glorious summer, with toasts to a healthy Fall season!

If you’re interested in checking out this amazing, small batch distillery in North Vancouver, their tasting room is open Fridays (5-9 pm), Saturdays (1-9 pm) and Sundays (1-5 pm).

Our thanks to Sons of Vancouver Distillery!  www.sonsofvancouver.ca

The Future Is Mine members had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy “Much Ado About Nothing”, one of the several amazing productions included in the 2017 season of the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.  It was a terrific presentation with superior acting, played out on a modern film set.  The show was enjoyed by everyone in attendance!

Our thanks to The Georgia Straight.

Members of the “Future is Mine” community wrapped up the summer with a fun-filled day at Nat Bailey Stadium! With the sun shining, the Vancouver Canadians took on the Boise Hawks for an exciting game of baseball!  Some members enjoyed A&W root beer floats and Nat Bailey Stadium’s famous “Yard Dogs” while everyone enjoyed plenty of action-packed fun!  A big THANK-YOU to our hosts, the Vancouver Canadians!

What a great experience for sport lovers!  Private tour, activities and exceptional presentations  of history and the Olympics.  Terry Fox and Rick Hansen were highlights not to mention the interactive displays. Another Future Is Mine first!

A year in the making, creators Danni Peng and Cindy Wu (Emily Carr students) brought vision, understanding and questions to the media about how survivors and people with visible differences are seen.
The participants from The Future Is Mine adult burn community shared their stories and made this a very moving experience.  Thank you to everyone for making a difference!

If you would like to know more or access the exhibition please contact:  Ann Coombs, The Future Is Mine –  survivors@burnfund.com

Try out the quiz at: a abtface.net

Thank you Everyone!

For honouring Brenna and keeping her in our hearts and in our minds!

Over $22,000 raised in Brenna’s Memory

May 13th, 2017 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium

Soccer was something Brenna loved and excelled at. This non-competitive, recreational tournament is a way for Brenna’s family and friends to come together and always keep the memory of Brenna Innes alive.

The Future Is Mine community were treated to an informative and very tasty evening of the purest olive oils and infused flavoured balsamic vinegars that made everyone want to come again!  Everyone left with a very special gift pairing of Lemon Olive Oil and Maple Balsamic products from  Vancouver Olive Oil Company who also made a donation to The Future Is Mine……our thanks to our hosts!

Visit their website to see their great selection of olive oils or head over for a tasting yourself!

Glittering lights, towering heights and festive nights – Canyon Lights returns on November 24, 2016!

Celebrate Canyon Lights November 24, 2016 to January 8, 2017. Re-capture the feeling of wonder and excitement of the holiday season and be amazed by the hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the park. The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment. See the world’s tallest living Christmas tree (153 feet tall!), go on a Snowy Owl Prowl, decorate gingerbread cookies and make your own Christmas card (by donation) in the Winter Pavilion, and sing-along with the holiday band.

New this year is ‘Fireflies’, an interactive lighting display in the rainforest. Using giant flashlights, guests can magically awaken waves of tiny lights that glimmer and twinkle like fireflies.

 Partial proceeds from admission will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, with a goal of raising $20,000 for the organization to support Burn Awareness Week in BC elementary schools. Over the past seven years, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has donated over $222,000 to support the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

On December 7th, Canyon Lights hosted over 50 members from the Future is Mine, Adult Burn Survivor group.  Thank you for your hospitality Capilano!

Canyon Lights 

New directions for the burn community on Vancouver Island as Members were connected with Kirk Corby, Local Representative for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund in Victoria.  Plans were discussed and members shared stories, refreshments and the holiday decorations enjoyed in private surroundings.

The sun came out, everyone wore a smile as well over 100 attended the 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch.  ENVISION FINANCIAL again generously sponsored this community event for The Future Is Mine and you can see that it was a tremendous success! Thank you also to the Township of Langley Fire Fighters and Sparky!

An enthusiastic group arrived at Movement 108 studio and under the able direction of owner and survivor Aaron de Jong were led through a daily exercise routine and nutritional advice.

From planks and stretches lots was covered and enjoyed sharing, laughter and healthy snacks.

Looking forward to next year!  www.movement108.com

Our own James Lester of SONS OF VANCOUVER hosted a sold out enthusiastic group at his North Vancouver distillery.  A tour and informative session was given followed by some amazing cocktails and apps.  Thank you to James and Richard and look forward to doing this again! www.sonsofvancouver.ca

A & W Family Day was enjoyed at another sold out Vancouver Canadians game.

Many first timers from The Future Is Mine community also joined by a number of fire fighters and friends made this a super day that included root beer floats and a personal welcome from sponsors Jeff Mooney and Suzanne Bolton.

Our thanks for the best seats in the stadium behind home plate!!

GAMBIER ISLAND ANNUAL MEET UP – Future is Mine August 2016

Survivor Rick and Pat Chang were again the generous hosts of this special weekend full of great food, hikes and ocean breezes. First timers who enjoyed this weekend came from as far as Vancouver Island.  Weather was perfect and the word was it could be the best yet!

A great group of Future Is Mine members met for sharing and welcoming first time attendees.  Plans about getting together locally were discussed along with the Fall Schedule and connecting through technology…thank you everyone for your enthusiasm!

GOODYEAR gave the thrill of a lifetime to members of the adult burn community with a ride in the GOODYEAR Blimp!

It had been 13 years since the last flight and the weather made for a perfect flight.  The generous donation of sets of tires were also presented to the community and our thanks to everyone at GOODYEAR for their support!

Special experiences were found in this amazing surrounding – from the Cliffwalk to Suspension Bridge and the FIM community enjoyed it all! Our thanks to our sponsor Capilano Suspension Bridge for their amazing support as everyone agreed this is a must visit.

Annual Brenna Innes Soccer Tournament and fundraiser took place on May 7th and The Future Is Mine team was led by Jesse Dill.  Over $15,000.00 was raised for the BCPFF Burn Fund given the tremendous generosity of everyone who participated!

Our thanks to all who made this such a special event honouring much loved Brenna Innes who perished in a house fire in Victoria in 2007.

Another sold out and fantastic event at the rarely discovered Vancouver Police Museum!  An organized game of sleuthing was created and the teams took care to find the guilty party!  Very educational, historical and fun to visit this point of interest in Vancouver.

Thank you to everyone at the Museum for making this a terrific day!  www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca

The adult burn community from as far as Comox, Kelowna, Victoria and Armstrong gathered in Vancouver to celebrate the opening of the new Burn Fund Centre.  Tours of the facility, presentations from our generous sponsors were made and connections and friendships were shared.  

Memorable day!!

Envision Financial again generously hosts the burn community at Aldor Acres for the 6th Year!  Over 200 members will be attending and enjoy hayrides, pumpkins and petting zoo.  Always one of the top events!

Pumpkin Patch Event

The Future Is Mine community were hosted by Jeff Mooney and Suzanne Bolton to a fantastic game as won by the Vancouver Canadians!  Strong turnout as friendships and enthusiasm were gladly shared with seats behind home plate to end an amazing season!

A record turnout at the OakBay Heritage Fire Hall for the members of the adult burn community from as far as Comox, Courteney and Powell River to make this a special day for The Future Is Mine on Vancouver Island.

The 2015 Activity Schedule for the community was presented with an impressive lineup of sponsorship.

Guest speakers included:  Gwen Linski-Dulmage, Betty Henrickson, Marvin Boyd, Jane Calder and Brandon Hayter.

Connection, trust and new friendships were shared with enthusiasm as everyone was welcomed by Regional Director Umesh Lal to the Burn Fund Family.

Thanks to our valuable sponsors that include:  Victoria Symphony and the Art Gallery of Greater Vancouver.

Press links:

http://www.cheknews.ca/island-burn-survivors-share-their-stories-to-help-rebuild-their-lives-82336

http://www.oakbaynews.com/news/299952031.html

 BC PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ BURN FUND

Expand the Adult Burn Survivors Program on Vancouver Island 

VICTORIA – The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, www.burnfund.org are pleased to announce the expansion of the longstanding FUTURE IS MINE program that serves members of the adult burn community.

THE FUTURE IS MINE is a world first program that began in 2004 to provide support to the burn community throughout British Columbia.  On April 18^th, 2015 the program will be further expanded for Vancouver Island by Program Director Ann Coombs, with newly appointed Island survivor representatives:  Stasi Manser (Victoria) and Christie Kiers (Courtenay).

Members of the adult burn community will be coming together to share their survival stories, resources and learn of the generous support from the community and the opportunities to connect as well as experience activities that bring both inspiration and learning.

The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund supports the adult burn community in many ways including the Annual Bursary Program; Future Is Mine support tools; social activities; Peer Support Groups; and technology that will connect the burn community to learning labs allowing further access to the program for residents on the Vancouver Island.

Guest speakers at the meeting which will be held at the Oak Bay Heritage Fire Hall will feature:  Gwen Linski-Dulmage (Nanaimo) a survivor who lost two children in a house fire; Brandon Hayter (Victoria) who was burned in a campfire explosion; and Jane Calder (Victoria) who was burned as a child and is now a new mother.  Other stories from our burn community can be found here:

http://burnfund.org/the-future-is-mine-adult-burn-survivorsfuture-is-mine-past-events-gallery/survivor-stories/#337

“I am both grateful and honored to be representing The Future Is Mine Adult Burn Community on behalf of the BCPFF Burn Fund. This community brings to light a critical aspect in recovery after a burn trauma which helps to address the questions related to ‘How does one re-integrate into living life to its fullest?’

“Expanding this community on Vancouver Island brings forward a much needed opportunity for burn survivors to share their experience, strength and hope as it relates to their recovery with access to the unconditional love, support and understanding from a peer support group who have experienced similar trauma.

My own healing experience and inspiration has come from witnessing the challenges and experience shared by others and I look forward to the opportunities for expansion and continued growth through the generous support of the communities we live in and the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.”

Stasi Manser, Survivor & Victoria Representative

For more information on The Future Is Mine Adult Burn Survivors program or the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, please visit www.burnfund.org

 SEE BURN FUND PSA – What is the Burn Fund?

Burn Fund Office Media Contact:        Ann Coombs ann@coombs.ca

Adult Burn Survivor Contact:               Stasi Manser stasi.manser@gmail.com

Over 20 participants attended the March 9th Spring Support Group at the Patient’s Lounge in the Burn, Plastic and Trauma Unit as hosted by the VGH team.

As always this was a generous and very supportive group sharing experiences for a number of first time attendees.

Our  two key speakers for the evening:

* Murray Greissel, fire fighter, survivor, spoke about Critical Incident Stress Management

* Mady Mooney, Art Therapist who will be delivering the art therapy program for the adult burn community.

The evening ended with the presentation of a gift basket donated to the BCPFF Burn Fund by FINLANDIA PHARMACY to James Harder.