Soldier portraits displayed at Northlands in Edmonton

Susan Abma, Shairl Honey and Cindy Revell

We had an amazing week recently sharing Project Heroes™ at Northlands during rodeo week (CFR). We had about 16 of the fallen soldiers’ portraits there and we were painting on site. We met a lot of people, including friends and family of the soldiers. We thank everyone who stopped by our booth at Northlands to share your sentiments, sign our sheets in support of the troops, and/or donate to assist the project.

We feel so invigorated by the overwhelming support and we feel so proud to be able to commemorate the heroes who fought in Afghanistan to make a difference for our tomorrows. It was humbling for us to meet so many members of the military who served alongside the soldiers whose paintings we had on display. Although we've effectively volunteered the next 'who knows how many years' to this project, we've already been so richly rewarded by the response from the families, other soldiers, and the public. There is an indescribable sense of satisfaction in knowing that what we're doing is important, impactful and will ensure our present day heroes are remembered for generations to come.

Shairl Honey's portrait of Andrew "Boomer" Eykelenboom is gracing the labels of Boomer's Canadian Red Ale which just made it's debut this past weekend. Of each beer that is sold $1.00 goes to Boomer's Legacy which directly supports the people of Afghanistan affected by poverty and war with emphasis on programs and services for women and children. Boomer's Canadian Red Ale is brewed by Howe Sound Brewing Company.


Walter Zicha, Shairl Honey, John Ohler, Vice President and Manager of Sales and Business Development

Shairl with General Rick Hillier (retired) co-founder (Colonel Kevin Reed) of Project Hero, a program that provides undergraduate scholarships to children of fallen soldiers. www.projecthero.ca

Maureen Eykelenboom, mother of Corporal Andrew Eykelenboom (Boomer) with Shairl. www.boomerslegacy.ca
We're incredibly proud to be one of the organizations that are working hard to help soldiers and their families. We can't wait to taste the beer, and toast Boomer.

Project Heroes At The Canadian Finals Rodeo

Project Heroes™ will be hanging out with the cowboys and cowgirls this week. If you're attending Farm Fair and Canadian Finals Rodeo you'll find us in the Dodge City Western Art Gallery at Northlands from Nov. 10-14th. We'll have our easels set up and will be working our most recent soldier paintings, in addition there will be several completed portraits on display. Look for the great big horse mural, we're right in front of it. We're excited about this week long opportunity to share Project Heroes with the public and if you're coming out to the rodeo we hope to see you. Giddyup!

Society Status Underway

Although we may not have been in contact much over the last several months, we have been very busy and a lot has happened with Project Heroes™.

At long last, after many meetings, after creating bylaws and objectives, etc., we have applied to become a Society.

This will mean many things for Project Heroes™. First, we'll be able to apply for federal charitable status and will hopefully be able to issue tax receipts in the near future. It means we're working together with expert assistance of volunteer board members, and it means we'll be able to accept other members to the society. How exciting it will be if you all become members of the Project Heroes Society.

It also means we'll be scouting out volunteers to assist with things like fundraising, membership, looking for venues, bookkeeping, data entry, etc. If you would like to assist with the project, please let us know - we can certainly use you now or in the near future.

And we will be in contact much more often now that we're finished much of the organizational 'stuff' and things are back in full swing . Please feel free to contact us at any time - info@projectheroes.ca or 780-986-0789. And, please follow our blog by clicking on the 'Follow' button in the right hand column. We sure appreciate your support.

Our Blog is Back

You may have noticed in the last several posts that there are two dates, one for the date that the event occurred and another for the date that it was re-posted on this blog. For a while the blog was on our website but our readers seemed to prefer this format so we're back and have posted those months here.

Interview With Darcia Arndt

July 7, 2010 – 8:53 pm

Recently I met with Darcia Arndt, widow of Master Corporal Raymond Arndt. What she said when I left her home was so true; “we had a lovely visit!” We got together so that we could choose a photo of her husband for me to paint and to talk about him so that I could know more about the man whose portrait I would be working on. I found there was not enough time for us to talk and share all the wonderful stories and events, and look at all the beautiful photos of her and her husband’s lives during the few years they shared together. There never is enough time!
I must thank Darcia for making me feel so comfortable in her home, for all her time, and for her being so open and sharing during our four hour visit! I got to know more about Raymond, and I am looking forward to painting the man behind the uniform.
For Susan, Cindy and me, all of these family interviews so far have been ones of great positive support of our project, and are both a true honour and a sad delight to experience.
Shairl

What Our Soldiers Do

May 19, 2010

Recently we went to hear Maureen Eykelenboon talk in Spruce Grove where she spoke to the audience about her son Andrew for whom she created Boomer’s Legacy. Maureen talked about his experiences in Afghanistan and his conviction that what he was doing there was important work, something we hear from every single family that we talk to. She told us about his heroic moments in which he saved Afghanistan lives, treated some of the Afghan people who have no access to medical care, what life as a medic or soldier is like, and some of his thoughts. “Mom, people in Canada have no idea of what having nothing means, even our street people have more than those in Afghanistan”. And this “About two weeks ago a little girl brought her infant sister to the UMS while I was on duty. She had 2nd degree burns on her hand from touching a kettle. I bandaged her hand and after gave a doll that your friend made to her. She instantly stopped crying and started sucking on the nose of the doll. A special thanks goes from her elder sister to your friend for such a wonderful gift; and a thanks from me for being the one to accept her gratitude. Making the children happy is the most rewarding thing about this tour. Love Andrew”.

In May 2006 Andrew saved the life of Niaz Hussaini, an Afgan interpreter with the Provincial Reconstruction team. Maureen was lucky enough to meet Niaz on a visit to Afgahanistan and see for herself the impact our Canadian soldiers are having on the people of this country.

Maureen played a slide show of the photos that remained on Boomer’s camera when he died. It was an excellent look at the life of a soldier in Afghanistan and the good work that they are doing to restore order and give the people a sense that they are being cared for. Thanks Maureen. Thanks Boomer.

We hope that the portraits and exhibitions will be able to show some of the magnitude of what our soldiers have done and have given up to do so. Their families too.

Interview on the Primeau Show

April 14, 2010 – 7:25 pm

Lesley Primeau, Shairl Honey, Susan Abma and Cindy Revell

We were on 630 CHED radio March 13 and Lesley Primeau asked us back on her show again April 6. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk about the project in a very public way and we had great response, with parents of the fallen soldiers phoning in, and several donations to help pay for the costs.

Our very sincere thanks to Lesley and 630 CHED for helping us share Project Heroes™ on the radio and for putting a link to our website on their site and on Lesley’s blog. Our heartfelt thanks also to those who donated to Project Heroes™ – we could not possibly do this without your help.

To listen to the show, go to: http://www.630ched.com/other/audiovault.html and put in the date ‘April 6’ and the time ‘6 PM.’ We were on at 6:30, so if you move the bottom bar along until it gets to 34:00, you will be able to listen just to the Project Heroes™ interview without listening to the first half hour of the show.
To view Lesley’s blog, go to http://www.630ched.com/Blogs/PrimeausBlog/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10106345.

Radio Interview on 630 CHED

March 31, 2010 – 9:57 pm

Our interview with Lesley Primeau on 630 Ched was fantastic. Lesley is a lively and engaging host who asked perfect questions and helped get across what this project is really about. Many thanks to our callers for phoning in to support us and sponsor us. Your help is greatly appreciated. We’ve been invited to talk with Lesley again on April 6. We’ll give the exact time when we have more details. Till then we paint and talk to families of the soldiers.

Radio Interview

March 10, 2010 – 9:39 pm

On Saturday, March 13 at 12:00 we’ll be interviewed by radio talk show host Leslie Primeau on 630 CHED. Join us as we talk about how the portrait project got started, what we are doing, why we are doing it, what’s next, and how you can help.