When 17-year-old high school student Ella Strachan from Chetwynd, BC set out to complete her grade 12 capstone project, no one could have anticipated the extent of its success. Intended to introduce students to real-world learning, the capstone applies classroom knowledge to practical problems. Ella pondered several options for her project, reached out to Parkinson Society BC’s Director of Development, and ultimately decided to host a Dinner and Dance Family Night for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in November 2025, in honour of her grandfather, Brian, who lives with the disease. “I’ve seen firsthand how Parkinson’s has changed him over time,” she says. “Watching someone so selfless face the challenges of this disease has been both difficult and eye-opening. He deserves more than anyone to have something special dedicated to him.”
In between a jam-packed schedule of classes and sports practices, Ella personally dropped off solicitation letters at local businesses over a two-week period, requesting any help, goods, or services they could provide for her project. The response was overwhelming – businesses offered an outpouring of support, from donations of desserts and steaks for the dinner, to high-ticket items for the raffle and silent auction. In fact, businesses and individuals who had not even been solicited started offering their support. The local paper, Chetwynd Coffee Talk, ran several articles to promote the fundraiser (see the November 12, November 26, and December 10 issues).
Donors were asked if they wanted recognition for their generosity, but many just wanted to help from the goodness of their hearts. Ella’s family kitchen became the informal storage area for the donated goods, quickly overflowing. Ella and her mother, Tara, reflect fondly on how the kitchen became “unusable.”
The support from community members was equally large. Despite the venue’s capacity of 200, the event sold out in a matter of days. “This made me realize how many people cared about the cause and believed in what I was doing,” Ella says. The family always knew how adored her grandfather was in the community, but this was tangible evidence of his lasting impact.
One of the moments that inspired Ella the most during this project was a video from a few years ago showing her grandparents dancing together at a family gathering. Though her grandfather was no longer the same as he had been, he poured his love and energy into that dance. “That’s why I knew including a dance at the fundraiser would be perfect, so others could create special memories like that, filled with joy and togetherness,” says Ella.
Even though her grandfather could not be there for the event, as he lives in an assisted living facility in Grand Forks, his presence was felt in every moment. When it came time for Ella to deliver her speech to the attendees about her project and the reason behind it, there was hardly a dry eye in the audience.
The event was a remarkable success, raising an astonishing $20,003.55, made possible by the unwavering support of loved ones and community members. In addition to her mother helping with the small but important details and connecting her with local donors, Ella’s friends and family, without being asked, stepped in to help with setup, cleanup, and every task in between. “This experience taught me a lot about the power of community. Even though I live in such a small place, I was surprised and inspired by how many people were willing to help and get involved,” she says. “I saw firsthand how small actions from many people can add up to make a big difference.”
Ella says she chose to support Parkinson Society BC because it was important to her that the funds raised stayed within British Columbia to help those affected by the disease in this province. Throughout her event planning, she says she was surprised to learn how many people have or know someone with Parkinson’s in her community.
Reflecting on her grandfather’s experience with PD, Ella says it has touched her in ways she never expected, including teaching her about the true meaning of resilience and courage. Watching him face the challenges of Parkinson’s has inspired a sense of gratitude within Ella to never take any moment or opportunity for granted. “It has made me realize how precious life is and pushed me to fight harder for the things I want,” she says. “It has also made me want to dedicate parts of my future to helping others who may be in the same position as him, so they don’t have to face those struggles alone.”