For the third annual Mayor's Charity Ball, Burnsview Secondary Child and Youth Care Worker Curtis Miller once again donated one of his own First Nations carvings to help raise funds for the Delta Firefighters Healthy Snacks Program . He carved the piece alongside select Burnsview Secondary students who have been working on it for several months.
Curtis with his beautiful carving that raised $5,000 for the Delta Firefighters Healthy Snacks Program
The piece was auctioned on Saturday, May 2 at the Mayor's Ball, which took place at the North Delta Recreation Centre. The carving raised $5,000 for the Healthy Snacks Program. The program, initiated by firefighters in 2021, ensures that no student goes through their school day hungry by supplying snacks to over 20 schools across the Delta School District.
Curtis has played an especially prominent role in the program, even preceding the auctions. As a Child and Youth Care Worker, he always had snacks in his room for any kids who wanted or needed them, partially funding this himself. In Curtis' words, "To me it is more important to have a kid worry about a test than worry about their empty stomach." As Curtis observes the impacts of the program firsthand, he doesn't just see the money he helps raise, but the individual students the program supports.
Curtis has built meaningful relationships with the students who stop by his room for a snack. Because of these connections, creating a carving that reflects his culture and heritage was especially important to him. Curtis has been carving for 40 years as a way to connect with his First Nations identity. According to his beliefs, the love and work invested in a carving remain within the finished piece, and that spirit was passed on to the successful bidder along with the physical carving itself.
Curtis shared one final message: "I hope that the new owner of this piece not only admires the work for its craftsmanship and beauty but also understands that the effort that went into the carving is specifically to thank them for their contribution to something much bigger. Their generous bid supports nutrition in schools, which plays a crucial role in the development and learning of children and youth."
