HMCS Regina sailors play Santa to Victoria General Hospital children’s ward

Master Sailor Dylan McGinn, Sailor First Class Nahom Beyene and Chief Petty Officer Second Class Trevor Moore of HMCS Regina deliver toys and gifts to Victoria General Hospital staff on Nov. 24. The gifts for patients in the Children’s Life Services Department were paid for through funds raised in the Dave Barber Charity Golf Tournament. Photo: HMCS Regina.

Peter Mallett, 
Staff Writer

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HMCS Regina’s crew made this Christmas extra special for young patients at Victoria General Hospital.

Sailors of the Halifax-class frigate stopped by the Children’s Life Department at the hospital ahead of the Christmas break to donate $3,600 in presents and gift cards. Volunteers delivered over 100 gifts for children, including toys, crafts, and colouring books.

“Traditions like this matter, and knowing we support the community and help others in need allows us to reflect on our situations and realize how fortunate we are,” said Sailor First Class (S1) Nahom Beyene, a Weapons Engineering Technician and Fire Control Technician on Regina. He was the organizer of this year’s charity drive.

The gifts were paid for with money raised through the ship’s annual charity event, the Dave Barber Golf Tournament. The tournament is named in memory of Master Sailor Dave Barber, a Fire Control and Radar Technician who worked onboard Regina before passing away from leukemia in 1997. This year’s nine-hole golf tournament was held on Aug. 30 at the Metchosin Golf & Country Club.

S1 Beyene also delivered a cash donation to help the hospital staff when supplies of crafts, pencil crayons, markers and colouring books run out.

Making the delivery to the hospital was the sweetest part of the journey, he said, especially hearing from hospital staff how happy the gifts would make the children.

“Knowing what these children are experiencing and being able to bring them joy just in time for the Christmas holidays brings me so much happiness,” he said.