Every year affiliates of the BCYT-BCTC take on a number of community fundraising and social service activities. While fundraising is one of the primary activities, we also get involved directly with volunteer donations of our skilled labour for specific projects. Here is a listing of some of the on-going and current donations and activities that the BCYT-BCTC is involved in our community:
Dollars
Against Diabetes
Each
year, on the second Saturday in June, Building and Construction Trades Councils
across Canada organize a collection of funds to help 
fund
research for a cure for Diabetes. Members from affiliates of the BCYT-BCTC
volunteer to collect D.A.D.'s donations from liquor store patrons across the
province. On June 14, 2003, over 50 construction workers volunteered at 18 liquor
stores across the province. Just over $9,000 was collected from D.A.D.'s Day
collections in 2003.
The ninth annual BC Building Trades Charity Golf Tournament was held on July 13, 2007.
Combined with collections from this year's D.A.D.s day campaign over $25,000 was raised from the Golf Tournament.
Cheque presentations of $12,500 each were donated to two charities.
Cheque being presented to Robert Stewart for The Children's Charity: This year's event also highlighted a successful auction at the dinner following the event. In the photo, auctioneer Tom Sigurdson is squeezing out some extra cash for the charities: As the project developed
members from a number of Building became involved with the project. Painters,
Cement Masons and Operating Engineers also collaborated on the project. In 2002 the tin soldier
received the official designation from the Guinness Book of Records confirming
it as the world’s largest. The tin soldier now stands permanent guard
at the entrance to the New Westminster Quay Public Market.
Annual Golf Tournament
Wayne Peppard and Gary Kroeker presenting a cheque to
Dr. Bruce Verchero for UBC's Centre for Research in Childhood Diabetes: 
BCYT-BCTC
and Vancouver – New Westminster and District BCTC Annual Food Bank Drive
In
December, 1991 Lower Mainland Building Trades Unions began a tradition of
collective action to collect food and raise money for the Christmas Season
Food Bank. The food bank drive has 
improved
or matched each year’s previous effort. The Christmas food bank drive
in 2002 collected some $27,000 in food and donations. This was an increase
of $9,000 over the previous year.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat
for Humanity has been championed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
in the United States and former Canadian Governor General Ed Schreyer as an
alternative to government housing programs to assist low income and working
poor families to solve their housing problems. Since its inception, in 1976,
over 60,000 housing units have been constructed, in 57 countries worldwide,
to assist low income working families solve their housing problems. 
The
first Habitat for Humanity project in
BC got its start in 1999 with a significant commitment of volunteer effort
by skilled construction trades workers from affiliates of the BCYT-BCTC. The
first four units of this townhouse complex, in Burnaby, BC, are now occupied.
This project will continue over the next four years until a total of 28 units
are finished and available for working families that are ready to commit at
least 500 hours of their own time toward the construction of their new home.
World’s
Tallest Tin Soldier
In
the autumn of 2000, the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, a support
organization for disabled children, approached the Sheet Metal Workers International
Association – Local Union 280 with a novel idea to raise awareness of
child disabilities and build community spirit. Sheet Metal Workers and their
employers were asked to help build the world’s tallest tin soldier as
part of a Christmas celebration hosted by the SFSCL. The tin soldier stands
3 stories high.
Lights
of Hope
Since
1997, volunteers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
have helped power up the Lights of Hope – a Christmas light display and
campaign that raises money for St. Paul’s Hospital. Lights of Hope is
a presentation of more than 60,000 lights, including 150 stars and a giant
four-story tall candy cane. From late November until early January the colourful
lights help boost corporate and private donations to Vancouver’s downtown
hospital. Close to $2 million is received in donations during the six-week
period the Lights of Hope are shining.
