Originally published in the Cowichan Valley Citizen on September 11 2023. Written by Chadd Cawson.
Reel Alternatives continues to make a real difference in the community.
When it comes to lights, camera, and action, Reel Alternatives has been taking the latter to raise money for Cowichan Hospice since the program’s inception in 2004. The series is back with a stellar slate of films that kicks off on Sept. 25 with Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, an adaptation of the beloved Judy Blume classic that stars Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates.
“This year we got our list of movies much earlier and were able to view them, and know they were all great,” said co-chair Leslie Liston. “I’m really looking forward to Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, because I read the book with my children.”
Following this classic coming of age story on Oct. 30 will be the 2021 documentary Blind Ambition which tells the incredible true story of four Zimbabwean refugees who become champion sommeliers. Past Lives, a heartwarming romantic drama about two childhood friends from South Korea who reunite in New York City years later plays on Nov. 27. Driving Madeleine follows the journey of a cab driver and his 92-year-old passenger in Paris on Dec. 18. The series concludes on Jan. 15 with Blackberry, a Canadian biographical comedy-drama based on the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone, which the Globe and Mail dubs as one of the top three Canadian comedy films ever made.
All films start at 7 p.m., individual tickets for non-subscribers are $17 per person or a pass to watch all five can be purchased for $70. To get more information on all the films that will be shown during this series, or to purchase tickets visit cowichanpac.ca.
After taking a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Liston said that it was heartwarming to see season ticket holders returned in droves to enjoy the monthly Monday movie magic that raised just over $40,000 for Cowichan Hospice.
“It’s an amazing feeling that the local community is so involved,” said Cowichan Hospice executive director Monika Kawka. “Hospice delivers a lot of care around end of life, as well as grief and bereavement, and the money goes towards all our programming. It’s a crucial and vital support that provides us with stable funding. Our organization is 66 per cent funded by the community, and the revenue from Reel Alternatives is part of that; it is wonderful that we can count on it every year.”
“A lot of our subscribers have either been involved in Hospice or have benefited from it,” said Litson. “It’s a real heart-wrencher, and it’s great to see that support from the community.”
Cowichan Hospice supports the community in a myriad of way which includes their Hospice House, a residential facility where both people that are dying and their families can stay as needed. This newer building was made possible through contributions from Island Health, Cowichan Valley Regional District, and the $8 million that was raised by the community for it. Cowichan Hospice provides palliative support, as well as a program directed at caregivers. Kawka said that COVID, and also the parallel epidemic of toxic drugs, was an eye opener on how best to expand their services which include both group and phone supports. For more information on the impact Hospice has visit cowichanhospice.org
“We currently have 60 active volunteers who are all trained, and committed to stay with us for a longer period of time,” said Kawka. “It’s very important work, and takes a lot of training, and very special people to do it.”
Litson who has been co-chairing Reel Alternatives with her husband Rob for the past two years describes the committee of 13 members she works alongside as a group of special and eclectic people. Collaborating with them, and being able to give back to the community has been a very rewarding experience for her. The have both been subscribers since first moving to the area in 2018. Having the means to view all the films in their entirety this year compared to last in which a few films had strong accents or poor sound quality, Litson is feels confident about every film being one people will enjoy.
“I’m really excited about this year,” said Litson. “I hope people enjoy it, and realize that they are making a huge difference in the hospice community. Subscribers have already bought their tickets and that means we have the funds to give to Hospice, and that’s what ‘s important.”
