PAST ACTIVITIES
RAQ Grab and Go Student Event
RAQ’s January 8 inaugural “Grab and Go with Queen’s Retirees” was a great success. In association with the Queen’s Faith and Spiritual Life office, we made 120 students very happy with a nutritious snack and gave them a little more energy for the rest of the day.
At a table set up in the University Centre, four RAQ members handed out 120 healthy muffins to students walking by. They were met with surprise that there was no charge for the snack and delight for the unexpected treat.
The event, organized by Catherine Purcell and supported by five other RAQ members, was the first of three planned for the spring term, 2020. Subsequent dates are Wednesday, February 26 and Wednesday, March 25. Volunteers agree to provide 2 dozen healthy but nut-free muffins for each event, and some also help with the distribution between 10:30 and 11:30 Participants bring a copy of the recipe for each batch provided so that students know exactly what’s in them and can even take a picture of the recipes in case they want to make the muffins again at home.
RAQ participants L-R Juliet Milsome, Eleanor Rogers, Cherrilyn Yalin, Catherine Purcell (organizer)
We hope this initial effort leads to an ongoing RAQ association with students. It’s a great way to be involved in campus life and to meet students in all years and different subject areas. Anyone interested in becoming part of the RAQ Student Interaction Committee should contact Catherine Purcell (cpurcell300@gmail.com). An email to the RAQ office (raq@queensu.ca) will also be forwarded to Catherine.
Eleanor Rogers
United Way Seeing is Believing Tour
Cherrilyn Yalin and Bruce Hutchinson participated in the United Way Tour of funded agencies this year. We were both impressed by the commitment and passion of workers in the agencies we visited this year. The tour started with a description of Food Sharing Project by Brenda Moore, a former school principal and Board Chair. They provide breakfast and snacks to 87 area schools representing 16,000 students they provide food for.
Our first stop was Outreach St. George’s Kingston where disadvantaged, alienated or marginalized people find respite, friendship, free clothing, personal items as well as food in a safe drop-in room that is open every weekday morning.
The Youth Diversion Program, housed at the former Robert Meek school, has a number of programs to help youth with early intervention programs to help them overcome challenges in their lives, make positive changes and make amends for their actions.
Our final visit was to the Kingston Youth Shelter which provides shelter for homeless youth, making a real difference in the lives of youth aged 16 to 24. They provide emergency shelter, transitional housing and family mediation, services which all aim at preventing homelessness among youth. We were moved by the counsellor’s commitment to the youth in the shelter.
Your donations to the United Way are essential for the success of these programs and many more.
Bruce Hutchinson
Hargreaves Way
The roadway that surrounds Richardson Stadium was renamed Hargreaves Way in honour of former football coach (and former RAQ member) Doug Hargreaves, in recognition of his contributions to Queen's.
Doug, who died in 2016, is recognized as one of the winningest coaches in Canadian university sports. In the 19 seasons (1976-1994) he led the football Gaels, his teams posted eight conference titles and three appearances in the Canadian University national championships, winning the Vanier Cup title twice (1978 and 1992). The 1992 Vanier Cup win still stands as the only shut-out in the 55-year history; Queen's defeated St. Mary's University 31-0 that year. A dedicated mentor to his players and a passionate builder of the sport, Doug has been recognized with inductions in Queen's Football Hall of Fame, the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame, and the Royal Military College Athletics Wall of Distinction where he coached both football and basketball (1965-70).