Co-Founder Gregory Ould sends personal letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
January 5th 2019
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada, Ottawa Re: Blanket BC Society – Official Invitation
Dear Prime Minister,
“I could use a blanket to survive the night”. This sentence from a stranger, a man without a home, cold and alone, changed the course of my life and with it, the lives of my family and so many Canadians and other citizens around the world.
My name is Gregory Ould; I’m a forty-five-year-old father of two incredible kids; Ben (15) and Emma (11). We live in the Mission/Abbotsford area of British Columbia and I would like to share with you our story; a story of love, compassion, a story of warmth. This is a story that I have been meaning to share with you and your lovely family for some time, even before you became our Nation’s leader.
October 15th, 2005, I came across a man who was shivering outside of the Tinseltown Theatre in downtown Vancouver. He was a man no older than 55 but looked so weathered he appeared much older. Wearing nothing but an autumn coat, jeans and holy shoes, he was sitting in an alcove shivering. As I was walking by him, our eyes met. I felt compelled to speak to him to ask him if he needed anything. Expecting to hear him say he needed money, cigarettes, or food, that’s when he said he “could use a blanket to survive the night.” It was the fact that said “survive the night” that shook the fabric of my being. My heart sank. So, I took off looking for an open store to purchase a warm blanket. The Army & Navy store was open, and I purchased the warmest blanket I could afford. When I came back to the area the gentleman was still sitting, shivering, and alone. When I offered him the blanket, no words were spoken. The look he gave me cemented itself in my mind, heart and soul forever. The look in his eyes conveyed to me that this was the first time that anyone had acted to fulfill his requests, and that he no longer felt alone. Although no words were spoken, what he gave back to me was something far greater than the words ‘thank you’ could ever give.
When I got home late that night, I found my 22-month-old son Benjamin, wide awake and wanting to play with his daddy. Prime Minister, I know how you love playing with your own children as much as I do, and even at 11:30pm, when its time to play, it’s a time for great father/son bonding. As I played with Ben, my mind was still thinking of that man I encountered earlier in the evening. I felt compelled to share my story with my son and as I did, he stopped what he was doing, and seemed to pay close attention to my every word. Although not yet 2 years old, I felt as if he completely knew what I was saying and so I asked “Ben, how would you like to go out with daddy and help people stay warm? We would be like Batman and Robin, only instead of fighting crime, we would fight the cold and homelessness. Together, would give the warmth from our hearts.” Ben looked at me with his sky-blue eyes, smiled with his cute plump cheeks and enthusiastically said “yeah!” It was the beginning of something which has today grown into something I could have never imagined.
So, Ben and I started collecting blankets and warm clothing from family, friends and colleagues at work. That winter we collected 67 blankets. The following winter however, I asked Ben if he wanted to continue and again, he enthusiastically said yes! We set a goal of 2007 blankets of which we were proud to have accomplished. After meeting more people on the street, we found that many organizations and shelter programs usually stop receiving items of warmth after the winter holidays. Ben and I decided to continue this journey as a year-round project we called Blanket BC. The ‘BC’ stands for Beautiful Communities; by giving of yourself, volunteering your time and providing the warmth from your heart, we can all create a beautiful community.
As the years past, my beautiful daughter Emma came into our lives and let me tell you, she was born to lead. Emma came with Ben and I everywhere from Hope to Squamish, all throughout Vancouver Island and all parts in between. She even created her own PSA video at 7 years of age, to encourage others to #SpreadTheWarmth! Blanket BC has organically grown from a family project to a small but meaningful non-profit organization that has delivered over 400,000 blankets to date. Much of these donations go to shelter programs, families in need, and First Nations communities. We have also helped communities overseas; in the Philippines, after Typhoon Haiyan devastated regions of that country, and to orphanages in Zimbabwe, Africa. A blanket isn’t just for warmth, it’s a symbol of security and love.
Our continual goal is to raise awareness to homelessness, poverty and social economic issues alongside promoting volunteerism at a young age set by examples by my own children. We encourage families to come together, work side by side with each other, and help others in our community.
Every November we host North America’s largest blanket drive called Blanket BC’s “Drive on the Line”. It’s our annual winter campaign (10 years strong) that takes place over two-days at my regular place of work, the Canada Line (a transit system that takes passengers from Richmond to Vancouver). We utilize 8 of the busiest stations by setting up large bins where the travelling public drops off their monetary donations and items of warmth and are met and greeted by over 175 of our amazing Warmth Warriors (name given by the late Stan Lee) and Blanketeers; our version of volunteers.
Throughout our years of service to our community, we have encountered some amazing people. Individuals locally and from around the world who have graciously shared their personal stories of which have given us the encouragement to continue working everyday. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together and prouder still, to know that we have encouraged others to help spread life saving warmth, and love.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally invite you and your lovely family to meet with me and my kids, and perhaps even become Blanketeers during our next Drive on the Line later this year, which will take place on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday 23rd. I know you’re an extremely busy leader, however, if you are every out this way, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about our continuing journey. I know Ben and Emma would be thrilled and I would be extremely humbled.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my letter.
Warmest Regards,
Gregory Ould
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Blanket BC Society Email: Gregory.Ould@blanketbc.org
Tel. 778-242-9940 Web: www.blanketbc.org
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada, Ottawa Re: Blanket BC Society – Official Invitation
Dear Prime Minister,
“I could use a blanket to survive the night”. This sentence from a stranger, a man without a home, cold and alone, changed the course of my life and with it, the lives of my family and so many Canadians and other citizens around the world.
My name is Gregory Ould; I’m a forty-five-year-old father of two incredible kids; Ben (15) and Emma (11). We live in the Mission/Abbotsford area of British Columbia and I would like to share with you our story; a story of love, compassion, a story of warmth. This is a story that I have been meaning to share with you and your lovely family for some time, even before you became our Nation’s leader.
October 15th, 2005, I came across a man who was shivering outside of the Tinseltown Theatre in downtown Vancouver. He was a man no older than 55 but looked so weathered he appeared much older. Wearing nothing but an autumn coat, jeans and holy shoes, he was sitting in an alcove shivering. As I was walking by him, our eyes met. I felt compelled to speak to him to ask him if he needed anything. Expecting to hear him say he needed money, cigarettes, or food, that’s when he said he “could use a blanket to survive the night.” It was the fact that said “survive the night” that shook the fabric of my being. My heart sank. So, I took off looking for an open store to purchase a warm blanket. The Army & Navy store was open, and I purchased the warmest blanket I could afford. When I came back to the area the gentleman was still sitting, shivering, and alone. When I offered him the blanket, no words were spoken. The look he gave me cemented itself in my mind, heart and soul forever. The look in his eyes conveyed to me that this was the first time that anyone had acted to fulfill his requests, and that he no longer felt alone. Although no words were spoken, what he gave back to me was something far greater than the words ‘thank you’ could ever give.
When I got home late that night, I found my 22-month-old son Benjamin, wide awake and wanting to play with his daddy. Prime Minister, I know how you love playing with your own children as much as I do, and even at 11:30pm, when its time to play, it’s a time for great father/son bonding. As I played with Ben, my mind was still thinking of that man I encountered earlier in the evening. I felt compelled to share my story with my son and as I did, he stopped what he was doing, and seemed to pay close attention to my every word. Although not yet 2 years old, I felt as if he completely knew what I was saying and so I asked “Ben, how would you like to go out with daddy and help people stay warm? We would be like Batman and Robin, only instead of fighting crime, we would fight the cold and homelessness. Together, would give the warmth from our hearts.” Ben looked at me with his sky-blue eyes, smiled with his cute plump cheeks and enthusiastically said “yeah!” It was the beginning of something which has today grown into something I could have never imagined.
So, Ben and I started collecting blankets and warm clothing from family, friends and colleagues at work. That winter we collected 67 blankets. The following winter however, I asked Ben if he wanted to continue and again, he enthusiastically said yes! We set a goal of 2007 blankets of which we were proud to have accomplished. After meeting more people on the street, we found that many organizations and shelter programs usually stop receiving items of warmth after the winter holidays. Ben and I decided to continue this journey as a year-round project we called Blanket BC. The ‘BC’ stands for Beautiful Communities; by giving of yourself, volunteering your time and providing the warmth from your heart, we can all create a beautiful community.
As the years past, my beautiful daughter Emma came into our lives and let me tell you, she was born to lead. Emma came with Ben and I everywhere from Hope to Squamish, all throughout Vancouver Island and all parts in between. She even created her own PSA video at 7 years of age, to encourage others to #SpreadTheWarmth! Blanket BC has organically grown from a family project to a small but meaningful non-profit organization that has delivered over 400,000 blankets to date. Much of these donations go to shelter programs, families in need, and First Nations communities. We have also helped communities overseas; in the Philippines, after Typhoon Haiyan devastated regions of that country, and to orphanages in Zimbabwe, Africa. A blanket isn’t just for warmth, it’s a symbol of security and love.
Our continual goal is to raise awareness to homelessness, poverty and social economic issues alongside promoting volunteerism at a young age set by examples by my own children. We encourage families to come together, work side by side with each other, and help others in our community.
Every November we host North America’s largest blanket drive called Blanket BC’s “Drive on the Line”. It’s our annual winter campaign (10 years strong) that takes place over two-days at my regular place of work, the Canada Line (a transit system that takes passengers from Richmond to Vancouver). We utilize 8 of the busiest stations by setting up large bins where the travelling public drops off their monetary donations and items of warmth and are met and greeted by over 175 of our amazing Warmth Warriors (name given by the late Stan Lee) and Blanketeers; our version of volunteers.
Throughout our years of service to our community, we have encountered some amazing people. Individuals locally and from around the world who have graciously shared their personal stories of which have given us the encouragement to continue working everyday. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together and prouder still, to know that we have encouraged others to help spread life saving warmth, and love.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally invite you and your lovely family to meet with me and my kids, and perhaps even become Blanketeers during our next Drive on the Line later this year, which will take place on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday 23rd. I know you’re an extremely busy leader, however, if you are every out this way, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about our continuing journey. I know Ben and Emma would be thrilled and I would be extremely humbled.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my letter.
Warmest Regards,
Gregory Ould
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Blanket BC Society Email: Gregory.Ould@blanketbc.org
Tel. 778-242-9940 Web: www.blanketbc.org
Saying goodbye to Blanketeer and good friend Courage Eigbike Oyeke
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It’s with great sadness we announce the loss of our friend and fellow Blanketeer Courage Eigbike Oyeke who passed away in the early morning of July 3rd. A consummate professional, a marvelous musician, a fantastic friend and wonderful family man, Courage always brought out the best in people and always made people smile. His incredible energy could be felt around the world. He was the percussionist, co-writer and singer along side John Welsh with The John Welsh Band and was a huge component of their success.
Moreover, he became a father last year to a boy named Ayro. Courage’s greatest success to date. We are all going to miss Courage and his beautiful being. We are all thankful we got to spend time with him and are all better for it. We extend our sincerest condolences to Courage’s family and friends. |
BLANKET AMBASSADOR MELODY KERR-LAVIOLETTE BESTOWED COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FROM CORUS ENTERTAINMENT.
Blanket BC is so very proud of our very own Board Member, Blanket Ambassador Melody Kerr-Laviolette who last week was flown out to Toronto, Ontario to receive a very special "Show We Care" Community Service Award from within the company she works for Global BC News, a Corus Entertainment Inc. company. Her work with Blanket BC for the past three years has been absolutely incredible, to say the least. First helping to raise (on her own) a mountain of blankets and a large sum of money, she asked what more she can do? Well, joining the Board and being a true leader among us is what she has been doing ever since. Melody is invaluable and we couldn't be more proud of the work she has accomplished and the award she much richly deserves. CONGRATULATIONS MELODY!!!
Community Service Award
On Friday, April 1st, 2016 at 2:30 pm, Blanket BC Society co-founders Gregory & Benjamin Ould, will be presenting a special Community Service Award to 5-year old Victoria native, Tate Parker. Known locally as “Sleeping Bag Tate”, young Master Tate took it upon himself to collect sleeping bags over the Christmas holidays and ended up distributing over 100 to the courthouse campers! Tate simply asked to buy your new or used sleeping bag for $1 (out of his $51 piggy bank) and give it to a homeless person. If you don't want the $1, he gave it to the sleeping bag recipient.
The special Community Service Award was presented at the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Mount Edwards Court, located at 1002 Vancouver Street. We would like to thank all who came out to support Tate and his family including the local media outlets and dignitaries of the City of Victoria. Local homeless advocates and coordinators along with dignitaries will be on hand.
Tate was pleasantly surprised with his award and continues to be a leader of warmth in his new home of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A true Warmth Warrior!
The special Community Service Award was presented at the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Mount Edwards Court, located at 1002 Vancouver Street. We would like to thank all who came out to support Tate and his family including the local media outlets and dignitaries of the City of Victoria. Local homeless advocates and coordinators along with dignitaries will be on hand.
Tate was pleasantly surprised with his award and continues to be a leader of warmth in his new home of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A true Warmth Warrior!
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One blanket can make a huge difference!
by Kevin Mills - Mission City Record Posted Dec 18, 2015 at 9:00 AMGregory Ould and his son Ben, both from Mission, are co-founders of the Blanket BC Society. When Gregory Ould offered a blanket to a homeless man back in 2005, he didn’t realize he was about to change his life’s focus. Ould is the co-founder, along with his son Ben, of Blanket BC Society, an organization based in Mission that collects and distributes blankets to those in need. Ould recalled that in October of 2005, he came out of a movie theatre in Vancouver and noticed a man sitting in an alcove. He approached the stranger and asked if there was anything he could do to help him. “He said, ‘I could use a blanket to survive the night.’ ” It was the “survive the night” comment that “floored” Ould. “I never thought about it like that before,” he said. Ould went to a local store and purchased the warmest blanket he could find. “It made me feel good,” he explained. When Ould got home, his 22-month-old son Ben was still awake. While he knows he was really just talking out loud to himself, Ould reiterated the story to Ben. “But he acknowledged me,” said Ould, who then realized he and his son could do something more to help. He began to collect blankets to give away to shelters. In the first year he managed to acquire a modest amount, 67 blankets in all. But word spread and support grew. By the third year, in a three-month period, they collected 15,000 blankets. Now the society has blossomed into a year-round initiative composed of between 100 and 200 volunteers (blanketeers, he calls them) working throughout the year. When he was five, Ould’s son Ben began to lend a hand. “That’s when I really started to help,” he said. “I’d go out and help deliver blankets.” The father/son team helped take the society to the next level. To date, the Blanket BC Society has collected more than 200,000 blankets, which they donate to more than 75 shelters across the province. “A lot of people in Mission don’t realize that we are headquartered here,” said Ould. Now he needs to find a storage space in Mission or Abbotsford to house the blankets before they get distributed. Recently, Ben and Gregory were honoured by the BC Country Music Association. On Oct. 25, the father/son duo received the group’s Humanitarian of the Year award for their work with Blanket BC. While both Gregory and Ben enjoyed the recognition, they say awards are not why they volunteer their time. “I just want to help them survive the night because that one day could change their lives,” said Gregory. For more on the Blanket BC Society, visit the website at blanketbc.org. Bring your blanket on Canada Line
BY JENNIFER MOREAU, BURNABY NOW November 25th and 26th 2011 You may remember him from an article in the Burnaby NOW ages ago. In 2007, Mission resident Gregory Ould was featured in our paper for his annual blanket drive. Greg collects blankets, with the help of his seven-year-old young son Ben, to donate to groups helping the homeless. Since 2006, they've collected more than 35,000 blankets, and the newest addition to the family, three-year-old Emma, also helps out. This year, Greg is taking his blanket drive efforts onto the SkyTrain line and holding a collection on Friday, Nov. 25th and 26th Throughout the day, people can bring a blanket on the SkyTrain and donate it to his group Blanket B.C. Look for signs on where to drop off your donation or ask a SkyTrain attendant for the nearest drop off station. For more info, visit www.blanketbc.org The family is always looking for volunteers to help. http://www.burnabynow.com STIG NIELSEN METRO VANCOUVER FEATURES BLANKET BC SOCIETY Published: November 24, 2009 5:20 a.m. Last modified: November 24, 2009 1:22 a.m. A Vancouver man and his son are holding a blanket donation drive next month with the goal of collecting as many as 10,000 for Vancouver-area shelters. Since 2006, Greg Ould and his son Ben, 7, have been collecting surplus blankets and giving them to missions and shelters, all under the name Blanket BC. This year, they’ll be outside Canada Line stations on Dec. 4. Ould said he hopes to collect 5,000 blankets on the first day and another 5,000 later. The blanket drive started when Ould encountered a homeless man and asked if he could help. “Basically his comment was, ‘All I need is a blanket to survive the night,’ and it was just that statement, to survive, that prompted me to help, and I have been helping ever since,” Ould said. That year, 2006, he collected 5,000 blankets. In 2007, Blanket B.C. collected 16,000. Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce 2008 Award for Blanket BC Society“The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the deserving slate of Nominees for our 2008 Business Excellence Awards. The Nominees’ were recognized at a sold out luncheon at the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club on October 24th. There are six award categories this year.” – TriCities News
Blanket BC, Greg Ould - Newsmaker Nominee  Iain Black, MLA, Port Coquitlam supports Blanket BC Society
Blanket BC 22/04/2008 Iain was delighted to celebrate a $2,500 grant from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance to Greg Ould from Blanket BC. The funds will go towards purchasing blankets for the homeless and organizations that help in-need individuals and families. April 22, 2008. Making a difference
Blankets needed for homeless
By Christina Myers Staff Reporter, Burnaby Now Gregory Ould is working on a tight deadline - and he needs people in Burnaby to help him reach his goal. Ould is in the process of collecting more than 2,000 blankets - 2,007 blankets, to be precise - for homeless people. He's just topped 1,200, but he needs to get another 800 before the end of February. "That's the goal I set, was 2,007 blankets by the end of the month," he said. This is the second year he's collected the blankets. Last year, on his first effort, he managed to bring in 72. Now he's set his sights higher, and the task of getting more donations, collecting them and distributing them is a big one. But, as far as Ould is concerned, it's well worth the effort because he knows what kind of impact it can have. "I was coming out of a movie theatre, and I encountered this man," he recalls. Though Ould says he's not usually the type to chat up a stranger, this man "looked like he needed somebody to talk to." "So I asked him, 'How's it going, how can I help you?' and he said, 'I need a blanket to get through the night.'" Ould says the moment really affected him and sparked his desire to do what he could to help. "Imagine if you put the shoe on the other foot - what if you're the one who's out there, and you're trying to survive and you just need a blanket to get through the night or some food," he said. "Even just giving a smile to somebody is valuable, to acknowledge that you see them." Ould works for Bell Canada, and, this year, his employer offered to help out, allowing donations to be dropped at Bell store locations for Ould to collect. "That's a big help, to have that," he said. On his time off, Ould collects the blankets from the stores, then brings them to shelters and organizations in that particular community, unless a donor has indicated a specific location they'd like the blanket to go to. A Coquitlam resident, Ould says even his three-year-old son has gotten into the spirit of the drive and helps him with the project. He's hoping people in Burnaby will also back his project and help him reach his goal. To find out more or to contact Ould, see www.blanketbc.org published on 02/17/2007 |
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