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	Charitable Works of the Order of the Eastern Star

	Our Projects in this jurisdiction are as follows:

	CANCER PROJECT - The specified objective in British Columbia and Yukon

	GRACE SHANE BURSARY

	E.S.T.A.R.L. AWARD

	ELIZABETH BENTLEY ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR BURSARY

	WORTHY GRAND MATRON'S SPECIAL PROJECT - Chosen each annual term.

	FOSTER SECRETARY ASSOCIATION'S CANCELLED STAMP PROJECT

	B.C. GUIDE DOG SERVICES. SEE VIDEO.



	The CANCER PROJECT of the Grand Chapter of British Columbia & Yukon, Order of the Eastern Star is for:
	Cancer Dressings, is to make and provide Cancer Dressings, FREE OF CHARGE, for cancer patients throughout the province.
	Shane Bursary, is given to doctors who go abroad to learn new treatments, procedures, techniques, and prostheses, and return to share their new knowledge to the cancer clinics here.
	Cancer Research (which is actually the purchase of equipment for all cancer hospitals) and
	Erma Boyce Library Fund is meant for education - books, TV's, VCR's, and tapes in the patients' rooms to show what procedures are necessary for treatment.


	GRACE SHANE BURSARY - Bursary for Cancer Education


	E.S.T.A.R.L. (EASTERN STAR TRAINING AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP)
	These awards are made to assist students who are permanent residents of British Columbia or Yukon and attending or plan to attend an Accredited School of Theology in Canada on a full time or part time basis.

	ELIZABETH BENTLEY BURSARY
	Bursaries are available for students who are relatives of our members and have completed at least two years towards an undergraduate degree.

	WORTHY GRAND MATRON'S SPECIAL PROJECT
	Each year, the W.G.M. chooses an item or items as her Special Project.

	This year the W.G.M.'s Special Project remains the "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research Project.

	In 2022-2023 the W.G.M.'s Special Project was the "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research Project".

	For 2021-2022 the W.G.M.'s Special Project was the "Provincial Patient Comfort Fund"

	In 2019-2021 W.G.M.'s Special Projects were Prostate Cancer, and the Prince George Cancer Clinic Comfort Fund.

	In 2019-2021 W.G.M.'s Special Projects were Prostate Cancer, and the Prince George Cancer Clinic Comfort Fund.

	For 2018-2019 the W.G.M.'s projects were The Pacific Autism Family Network; the Alzheimer Society Family Support & Education; and the Erma Boyce Memorial Library.

	In the 2017-2018 term, the special project was The Honour House Society - a temporary home away from home for Canadian Forces personnel, emergency services personnel and their families to stay, completely free of charge, while they are receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area and Kamloops area.

	For 2016-2017 the W.G.M.'s project was Membership, Publicity, and Promotion

	In the 2015-2016 term, it was the Children's Wish Foundation.

	In 2014-2015 local Transition Houses, Safe Homes and Second Stage Housing facilities were selected as recipients of the W.G.M.’s Special Project.

	In 2013-2014 it was The B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation.

	For the 2012-2013 term, it was for the Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund

	In the 2011-2012 term, the project is to provide equipment for the BC Childrens' Hospital.

	In the 2010-2011 term, the Worthy Grand Matron has chosen a web site called "Cancer in my Family". The site is designed for children between the ages of 6 and 12 years of age whose parents or grandparents have been diagnosed with cancer. It Gives these children somewhere to go for the answers that they would otherwise feel uncomfortable about asking those who were diagnosed with that terrible disease.

	In the 2009-2010 term, the project was to relieve women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The BC Cancer Agency – Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna has identified that delays between diagnosis and surgery can be more than 11 weeks; and wait times to receive therapeutic treatment can be a further six weeks. The existing system is seen by patients as fragmented and therefore difficult to navigate. Hence, the Rapid Breast Diagnosis Centre came into being. Funds were needed to support the space allocation, the acquisition of computers and phones with the establishment of a charting and reporting system back to family physicians and surgeons.

	For the 2008-2009 term, it was a Quality Dosimetry Plus System for the Cancer Centre in Kelowna. A dosimeter monitors the amount and intensity of the radiation beam so that the patient receives the correct amount of radiation at the tumour while decreasing the dose to the surrounding organs, thus improving the likelihood of a cure while reducing side effects.

	In 2007-2008 term, it was an "Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance Phantom" located at the newly opened Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. This Quality Assurance Phantom is a model simulating human body, which contributes greatly to the planning and delivery of radiation therapy.


	FOSTER SECRETARY ASSOCIATION'S PROJECT - Collection of Cancelled Postage Stamps
	The Foster Secretary Association (consisting primarily of Chapter secretaries) of British Columbia & Yukon, Order of the Eastern Star, has a Postage Stamp Project.
	Years ago, chapter secretaries began saving cancelled stamps, and now many members of the Order of the Eastern Star in this jurisdiction collect used POSTAGE STAMPS for the Foster Secretary Association to raise funds. This year's total was $_________.


	Each year, the Order of the Eastern Star donates thousands of dollars to these established projects.

	In addition to the above, our chapters are active in their respective communities as well, by supporting local community programs and activities.

	Also, in British Columbia and Yukon, we have the O.E.S. Auxiliary - a group which maintains and loans Medical Equipment to Members of the Order of the Eastern Star and their relatives.

	Equipment such as wheel chairs and other physical aid equipment is stored in depots located in Victoria, Duncan, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Kelowna, and Prince George.