Chestermere’s Knights of Columbus are busily preparing for their annual charity Surf-N-Turf dinner and dance May 13 at the Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre.
“It’s so well received, so well attended… everyone has so much fun,” said Patrick Watson, Past Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus.
This year’s dinner and dance will include live entertainment by the band Fraid Knot.
There will also be a silent auction, 50-50 draw, door prizes, heads or tails, a raffle for an instant wine cellar and a barbecue and barbecuing gift basket.
“We do a heads or tails between sets,” said Watson, “it’s pretty darn fun.”
After expenses are covered, the Knights then donate the proceeds to a charity in the Calgary region.
“We typically set a larger portion of what we raise…aside for a major charity,” he said.
This year, the Knights of Columbus have chosen to support Elizabeth House in Calgary.
They made this decision after evaluating several charities. The Knights decided that the Elizabeth house was in a greater need of support and as a non-denominational program funded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary Elizabeth House and the Knights’ values are in alignment.
The Knights of Columbus were founded in 1882 on the principle of charity as a Roman Catholic men’s fraternity.
“The Elizabeth House is probably one of those [charities] that might be really in need because…it’s a little tougher times right now,” said Watson.
Located in northwest Calgary, Elizabeth House describes itself as a “safe and supportive home to pregnant and parenting young women between the ages of 13 – 24 years who need a safe place to live.”
Women and girls in need are often referred to Elizabeth House by other agencies and accepts women from across Canada.
“They find us through The Alex, the Boys and Girls club, the church or somebody who knows about us,” said Elizabeth House Manager Tracy Wrubleski.
Wrubleski has been with the organization for a year.
The house is indistinguishable from its neighbours when viewed from the street.
Watson took a tour of the house, which is a converted duplex and has private rooms for six women and their babies, administration offices, common areas, a kitchen, and a learning centre.
Elizabeth house has an application process and isn’t equipped to accept anyone with current addictions or fleeing domestic violence.
“There’s other agencies that do that,” said Wrubleski.
They will save a room for three-months for someone who is in treatment for their addiction.
Women pay rent to the best of their ability and can stay at the house for up to two years which creates a real sense of family said Wrubleski.
“They do become part of your family and you’re able to help guide them along the way,” she said.
In addition to providing a safe place to live, Elizabeth House also runs programs to help teach the women and girls staying there life skills.
“We teach them how to cook, teach them how to bathe their baby teach them all of these parenting skills that they may not come to us with,” said Wrubleski.
One of Elizabeth House’s success stories stopped by the house with her toddler to visit the staff during Watson’s tour. She shared her story but asked to be anonymous.
She said her experience with Elizabeth House was life changing for her.
“I’m way more successful than I ever thought I’d be,” she said.
She came to the house from B.C. when she was about 27 weeks pregnant to be closer to family in Alberta.
Her son was born in 2015 and was a difficult baby.
“He was very colicky,” she said.
She said that as a single mom she doesn’t know what she would have done without Elizabeth House’s help and support after she had her son.
Along with the support in the early days of her son’s life, the support and experience at Elizabeth House allowed her to finish school as a Health Care Aid.
She is hoping to go back to school and get her nursing degree.
“It was all because of Elizabeth House that I went to school and I actually completed something,” she said.
Stories like this are why Watson and the Knights support Elizabeth House.
“That’s why it means so much to me… to see the support for those young girls who are willing to go the extra, it’s not a mile it’s a million miles, to bring their baby to term” he said, “it’s a lot of hard work.”
Anyone interested in more information or to make a donation can contact Wrubleski at (403) 228-9724 or go to www.elizabethhousecalgary.ca.
“It makes a huge impact on the type of programming that we can give to them,” said Wrubleski.
Since the Chestermere council of the Knights of Columbus came into existence in March 2008 this is the second time they have supported Elizabeth House.
The council currently has over 60 members who are active volunteers in the community said Watson.
“We’re always there to help,” he said.
In addition to Elizabeth House, the Chestermere Council of the Knights have used past fundraisers to support the Canadian Wheel Chair Foundation, the Chestermere Family Bike Park, the Chestermere Cenotaph, the Chestermere Food Bank and the Fort MacMurray Food Bank.
Tickets to the dinner and dance are $80. To purchase, contact Watson at (403) 923-0099 or Pat at (403) 272-2456 or by text at (403) 519-8462.
There is capacity for about 250 guests. Watson expects they will sell out and encourages anyone who wishes to attend to get their tickets early.
