We are sorry to announce that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Canadian Friends of CRS recently dissolved as a group dedicated to supporting CRS.
We are very grateful for a decade of support by Sheila Johnston from Vancouver. After visiting Kolkata in 2010, she was inspired CRS’s work in education, the empowerment of women, and social justice issues.
She established the Canadian Friends of CRS to spread awareness about the needs of poor and marginalised people in India, and to raise funds for CRS.
The Canadian Friends channeled donations large and small from people across the country. The annual Penny Pot Tea, where supporters counted the small change they had collected through the year, was always a highlight.
Over the years they sent many thousands of Canadian dollars to CRS where 100 per cent of it was spent directly on projects.
The Canadian Friends also facilitated visits of the CRS Director and the Bishop from Kolkata to speak to local supporters; likewise individuals from Canada were privileged to visit CRS projects and see the impact of fundraising for themselves.
CRS would like to express thanks and gratitude to Sheila for her dedicated leadership; the other Directors – Sara, Keith, Roma and David – for their commitment over many years; and people across Canada who have given so generously.
Rig David, Director of CRS, together with Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas, the Bishop of Kolkata, who serves as the Chair of CRS, and Rev. Abir Adhikari, Presbyter of St Paul’s Cathedral and Vice Chair of CRS, were invite to visit Canada by Archbishop Melissa Skelton of the Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia.
The Canadian Friends of CRS held their 6th Annual Penny Pot Tea on 2nd April. 72 people gathered at the Church of the Holy Trinity in White Rock, British Columbia, to see the 2015-2016 Penny Pots opened. Over the last year supporters had been putting nickels, dimes, quarters, Loonies and Twoonies in their pots. An incredible C$2,000 was raised. To this was added a further C$3,000 from cheques received from other donors. These funds will be transferred to CRS in Kolkata shortly. During the tea party everyone enjoyed sharing refreshments together including Indian “chai”, Keith’s popular cucumber sandwiches and cakes that guests had brought. Many also took part in a “spin to win” wheel to win Vancouver’s famous Purdy’s chocolates. Items made by women from CRS’s empowerment programme were also for sale.