The Inspiration for Treasures

The story of the Birdcage
A tribute to Gill

Gill Perry had been in a serious road accident many years before I met her in 1975. She had been a highly successful occupational therapist, coming from an exceptionally creative family. Her mother, Bea, was one of the first Montessori teachers, trained by Montessori herself, who went to England during the summers and taught, through an interpreter, out of a private school whilst the boys were on vacation. Gill’s father, Ron, was a retired engineer, who could turn his hands and his brain to anything from writing sonnets to planning Seniors’ Homes in Oak Ridges. The whole family loved life in all its forms. The garden was as full of wild life as it was of trees and flowers. Not surprisingly people of all sorts were attracted by the diversity of talents, interests and environment to be found at Maple Garth, the home of Ron, Bea, Gill and animals at 44 Sunset Beach Road.
Sharing an English heritage, my family became great friends of the Perrys and I became particularly close to Gill. On casual acquaintance, Gill was a “normal”, warm, interested, empathetic and very astute person. After years of treatment her physical disabilities were minimal and her mental disabilities were not immediately apparent. However the brain damage Gill sustained in the accident, permanently affected her memory and her manipulative skills, so that she was unable to function at her job and felt herself against others, thoroughly frustrated when she remembered how capable she had been measured.
Suddenly in 1985, Gill was taken to the hospital and cancer was diagnosed. She was given various treatments, but, after only five months she died a painful death. Miraculously, from this loss, Treasures was born.
After her death, Ron and Bea gave Gill’s belongings to the fledgling Treasures, an 8’ x 10’ booth in the Fantastic Flea Market. One of these was a flimsy birdcage. At the time it was badly damaged, but, Robin Collinson’s patient expertise took care of that and the cage was hung high as a landmark at the Market when we opened on February 1st, 1986.
To me, the birdcage is many things. Firstly it’s a memorial to Gill. Secondly, it symbolizes the latter years of her life, when the precious Gill was trapped inside a frame that frustrated her to the point of distraction-a hell shared by countless others.
And most important of all, it stand for the creatures great and small that were helped by Gill during her life and that continued to be helped as a result of it. My prayer and hope is that you are one of them.

Elizabeth Davis, September 10th, 1992
(Written for the 6th Anniversary of the Opening of Treasures Store on 4 Levendale Rd., Richmond Hill)

Autographed 'Pete Rose' Baseball

Treasures has recently received a donation of an autographed 'Pete Rose' baseball. This donation is now housed in the auction display case.

Pete Rose was a very colourful and infamous baseball player. Well known for his statistics off and on the baseball diamond. He has won numerous awards for playing and coaching baseball.

Auction items are a great source of sales dollars for Treasures. The funds help the store provide programs to the community and the volunteers.

One week countdown to Bell Let’s Talk Day

One week countdown to Bell Let’s Talk Day: "MONTRÉAL - It's just one week until Bell Let’s Talk Day on February 9, when Canadians can help fight the stigma around mental illness and support new mental health initiatives by sending a text message or making a long distance call with Bell and Bell Aliant that day."

Every call and text made on February 9th, Bell will donate $.05 to Mental Health Programs.

Celebration Success!!!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011, Treasures celebrated 25 years in operation. Many volunteers old and new were in attendance to celebrate. Attendees enjoyed cake and coffee.

One of the original founders, Robin helped with the festivities. The deputy mayor, Vito Spatafora and the local councillor, Lynn Foster were also special guests at Treasures. Treasures was presented with a certificate commemorating the event.

Passing of Volunteers

Jessie K. recently passed away. The Liberal obituary stated that;

She managed the office of Slazenger's Sporting Boods until the outbreak of WWII. Promoted to Lieutenant at the Driver Training School in Kitchener, she met and married a young B.C. recruit, Leonard. After she settled in Richmond Hill. After Len's retirement in 1972, they summered in Haliburton and wintered in Guadalajara until his death in 1982. Back in Richmond Hill,Jessie took up the volunteer life, eventually spending 16 years with Treasure, the non-profit thrift store. In 1996 at age 77, she was Richmond Hill's Volunteer of the Year.

Enid F., another volunteer, also had passed away recently at the age of 96. Volunteers remembered her fondly as the 'ballerina' volunteer.

The twenty-five years of Treasures' operation has seen many volunteers. It is always sad when one has passed away. We cherish the many memories these two volunteers have left us.

Volunteer Contributions

We will be having a series of blog postings that will be contributions from Treasures volunteers. The first in the series will be a poem from one of our volunteers about the range of emotions that new life experience create. I hope you enjoy this.

Change

Change is very frightening,
I don't know what to do,
It can also be exciting,
To try something new.

Why can't everything stay the same?
It would be more relaxing,
Maintaining the status quo,
Wouldn't be so taxing!

It is hard to embrace it,
When it scares me that much,
I guess I just have to face it,
And learn to buck up.

Maybe if I act really quiet,
It will forget me and pass me by,
I will lay low awhile,
Until all the change subsides.

Is all this really good for you?
Does it really make you grow?
How can you tell if it's helping you?
When the progress is so slow.

Change sure is a lot of work,
It's not a lot of laughs,
It's not easy to get used to,
And it's hard to stay on track.

Change is so unpredictable,
You can never tell what's what,
It can seem a bit elliptical,
Moving back and forth so much.

Others have survived it,
So it can't be all that bad,
I think I might try it,
Instead of wishing that I had.

Carolyn U.

Christmas Party Recipe

This year's Christmas Party included party favours of small jars of 'Citrus Pumpkin Butter'. Since, the recipe has been requested, I will post it for everyone to reproduce.

Citrus Pumpkin Butter
makes 24-125 ml jars

1 pumpkin
4-5 oranges
4 cups of sugar
1 cup of honey
5 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice
2 pkg. of Fruit pectin (49g)
4 tbsp. of lemon juice

The pumpkin should be washed, seeded and cut into large pieces. Place the pieces into a large pot and boil until soft and the rind can be easily removed, about 20 minutes. Remove the rind and add grated rind from the oranges, add orange pulp(about 5 cups) to the pumpkin. Add the sugar, honey and spice and puree the mixture until smooth. Place the mixture in a stainless steel pot, and add the pectin. Boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and add lemon juice.


Prepare the jars and lids, in boiling water.

Ladle into prepared jars and process in a canner for 10 minutes, cool and check jar seals.

Excellent on toast. Enjoy!

25th Anniversary of Treasures

"New Beginnings for People and Things" was just an idea before June 1986 when Treasures started as a 8' x 10' booth in the Fantastic Flea Market. Founders, Elizabeth and Robin conceived it as a supportive place for people with mental and emotional problems as well as a well-spring of hope for them to feel useful. On September 1986, the operations were moved to 4 Levendale Road and now resides at 12 Levendale Road.

Treasures will be celebrating its 25th year of operation and there are great plans in the works to mark this milestone. Many volunteers, board members and managers have been involved with the success of Treasures and their contribution is greatly appreciated.

A contribution to our success is the customers who donate many wonderful items. Many hands help make Richmond Hill a better place, by diverting items from landfills and providing a place for people in need.

Volunteer Retires

One of our book ladies has retired. Mary has been with Treasures since the beginning, 25 years ago, performing many duties for the store. Along with maintaining 'The Book Nook', she also wrote the Treasures' newsletter, which was distributed to the volunteers of Treasures.

Mary will be dedicating more of her time to her family, friends, charities and her many other interests that she is involved in.

Thank you, Mary for all your contribution and dedication to Treasures over the years! All of your work is greatly appreciated. Treasures wishes you all the best in your future endeavours.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Last week's events to bring awareness to the existence of individuals with mental health issues went very well. We started off the week giving away mugs with every purchase, Tuesdays consisted of reusable bag give aways and ending the week with a 50% off sale and cookies for customers.

The week was very successful. Our customers always enjoy sales days and ask when the next sale will be. Information was provided about the importance of this week for the store.

Customers

The other day, I was fortunate to meet up with a former high school teacher, who was donating items to the store. It had been a few years since I had been in high school and found that this customer had a familiar face.

After some inquiries, I had established that this customer had indeed been my high school English teacher. She had imparted on me the love of live plays and listening to the CBC for their programming. I now have passed along this love of seeing plays to my children.

She told me that she loves 'Treasures' and had purchased books when her children were younger.

Thank to Treasures for the wonderful memories that have been stirred up.

Dedication to one of our Customers

I would like to dedicate this posting to one of our regular customers, who has recently passed away. Carl, was a patron of Treasures for many years and was well liked by many of the volunteers and local residents.

He would often pick some up some baked goods and bring some goodies to the volunteers. Carl was a cheerful and friendly man with always a good word for our volunteers.

Thank you, Carl for the years of loyalty to Treasures and the friendships you developed with the numerous volunteers. You will be greatly missed!

Annual Picnic

Treasures annual picnic was celebrated August 10 and a great time was had by all. The backlot was used by the volunteers. Umbrellas, tables and chairs were set up. The weather co-operated, holding off the rain until after the picnic was done.

The barbeque was wonderfully (wo)manned by Carol, our president. There was plenty of food and engaging conversation. There was a donation received during the picnic.

This annual picnic is one of the events that the volunteers at Treasures enjoy. This is a nice way to celebrate the season with an outdoor event with friends. During the year, the volunteers are so busy handling the donations, we rarely find the time to enjoy their fellow volunteer's company.

Donations are grealy welcome and keep the volunteers busy. The volunteers enjoy seeing the variety of donations and varied tastes of our patrons. The customers also have commented on the variety of items that can be found at our store.

James Lansdowne Pictures

This auction item includes three signed pictures by artist James Lansdowne. He was known for his pictures of birds. The pictures have greatly appreciated since his death.

James Lansdowne was a self-taught naturalist artist, who has shown similar style to the works of John James Audubon. He was born in Hong Kong and raised in British Columbia. The first showing of his works were at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1956.

The Canadian government presented his works to the British Royal Family in 1976. He also became an officer of the Order of Canada in that same year.

Check out this and all our other great auction items at Richmond Hill's collectibles and "gently used" re-sale shoppe, Treasures.

Summer Clothing and Shoe Clearance

We are nearing the end of summer and we have an abundance of summer clothing and shoes we need to unload. Our answer is to have an amazing blowout of a sale!!!! Each item of clothing or pair of summer shoes for only one dollar. This amazing offer will last only this week.

Our feature auction item is our collection of Soapstone currently in our auction display case. This collection contains some unique carvings and some are signed.

Our back-to-school section is ready for those parents who are preparing for their children to go back to school! We have a large selection of binders, packages of paper, rulers and many items too numerous to name.

Come to Treasures for all your summer, back-to-school needs and if you just want to browse!! Hope to see you soon.

More Auction Items

In our Auction Display Case there is a set of commemorative coins with the images of the Prime Ministers. The coins come in a wooden display plaque. This is a beautiful set for the coin enthusiast.

Also, in time for the fishing season, a set of reels and a lure. One Driftor tackle lure and one Pro Staff reel with a box. Now with the warm weather here, it is a great time to head to cottage country for some rest and relaxation and maybe some fishing.

After being closed for a few days, it is nice to be back. We have received many new donations that will be in our Auction Display case; beautiful cups and saucer sets, pottery, figurines and pictures.

It pays to visit our store regularly due to the abundance of donations we receive daily. The displays change often, as well as the the merchandise available for sale. There are occasional surprise sales at Treasures on our already low, low prices. Check out Treasures for your everyday needs!

Sherman Necklace

We have recently received a donation of a beautiful signed Sherman Aurora Borealis necklace with matching earrings. The earrings are not signed, but are equally spectacular. The set is currently in the auction display case.

The other items in the auction are; a soapstone collection, a crystal bowl, 22kt. gold filled Cross Pen sets, 1970s Prime Minister of Canada coin set, a silver coffee and tea set, glass elephant figurines (possibly Murano) and fishing reels and a lure.

Remember to stop buy and place a bid on your favourite items. Merchandise at Treasures fly off the shelves very quickly. While you are in the store, please feel free to browse at our display of other merchandise.

Tired of Retail Prices?

Tired of retail prices? Treasures has gently used clothes, some with designer labels. Let's face it - retail is overpriced and overhyped. We are always getting in GAP, American Eagle, Lacoste, Perry Ellis, Old Navy, and many other designer labels. But nothing lasts long, so check back regularly for all the new stock.

...not mention the fact that if it doesn't sell, it goes on sale at Treasures, at even further reduced prices.

Treasures is a charity and patronizing the store helps the community and the volunteers that man the store. Treasures also performs the service of recycling donations, and support many other charities in turn.

Moving or Moving Out

Are you in the process of selling a home and staging the home to be sold? Treasures has a large selection of books to stage your home and make it a showplace.

We also have great items for presenting your homes for the eventual selling of your home. We have lamps, pictures, knick knacks to present your home in a wonderful light.

Setting off on your own? We have the essentials for establishing your own home at very reasonable priced. Moving away from home to pursue higher education? Buying a second home and need to have to basics for kitchen use? We have dishes, glasses, cutlery, pots, mugs and many other items to fulfill your needs.

Mother's Day

Looking for a great Mother's Day, but, short on cash?

Look no further than Treasures! We've got a plethora of ideas for that perfect Mother's Day gift, for those on a budget. We also have Mother's Day cards.

Treat Mom with some flowers, vases, all her favourite books, gently used clothing and a wide variety of knick knacks for every taste, all so reasonably priced...

Spring donations are coming in, and the new stuff looks great, but remember, Treasures always needs your support - patronage, and donations. It goes to a great cause right in your neighbourhood.

Drop by and see us one day soon, and remember to have a great Mother's Day!