It’s a new year and with it comes a plethora of personal and professional goals and opportunities. This is the year to challenge. Don’t be afraid to try. Perhaps, this is even the year that you volunteer as a leader with the STC Canada West Coast!

I started off my new year by taking part in the first ever polar bear plunge at the Esquimalt Lagoon on Vancouver Island. My four-year-old son and I raced into the refreshing ocean to feel invigorated and motivated for 2018. It is believed that your past mistakes are washed away as you renew yourself for the year ahead.

This wasn’t my first polar bear plunge and definitely won’t be my last. Due to extreme temperatures in Canada, some polar bear plunges were cancelled. However, this didn’t stop everyone. In Nova Scotia, they had to chip away ice before they took the plunge.

Speaking of renewing yourself, now is the time to renew your membership for 2018. If you would like to vote in the STC election, ensure that you renew your membership by Feb 01, 2018.

Our chapter is recruiting for the following volunteer positions this year (more details and job descriptions will be available later this month):

  • Vice President (who will also become the President on June 01, 2018)
  • Vancouver Island Coordinator
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Event Coordinator

If you are interested in any of these positions or would like more details about these positions please email volunteer@stcwestcoast.ca

We have an exciting line up of events planned for 2018. Here is a preview:

  • Our second online TCC on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Please RSVP if you’d like to join us.
  • Our first monthly chapter meeting of the year on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
  • Our AGM meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. followed by our volunteer appreciation lunch.
  • Our team has been working on a new stcwestcoast.ca website, which will be launched this month.
  • Education: webinars. In February, we’ll have another online webinar (the topic will be announced soon and so will more events). If there is an event you would like to see, please contact us.

Whether you’re jumping into the ocean in the winter, learning to ride a motorcycle, or attending the STC’s 65th summit, I hope you do challenge yourself this year and have a great 2018.