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WHAT'S IN STORE LANGLEY: TD advances nurse training at Langley Memorial Hospital

In this week's business column, editor Roxanne Hooper offers up some free tickets to the West Coast Women's Show.
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Langley Advance has a pair of tickets is up for grabs to the West Coast Women's Show. Like

CAPTION: A donation of $3,000 went through the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation to buy some training equipment for nurses at the local institution.

Local bank’s donation helpsteach and retrain medical staff

Clinical nurse educators at Langley Memorial Hospital received an infusion of funds that will help buy training equipment for Langley Memorial Hospital.

The TD Bank provided a $3,000 donation recently, which is being used to purchase a number of training items for continuing education and new hire orientation purposes at the local hospital, said Helen Chow, a clinical nurse specialist.

“The impact of this donation is tremendous,” Chow said.

The intravenous (IV) training arm, central venous catheter chest and technology device to enhance training scenarios will provide nursing staff with an opportunity to practise common procedures and skills required for both inpatients and outpatients, explained clinical nurse educator Danielle Chatterton.

“It is critical that nurses maintain best practice procedures and skills such as IV insertions, cleaning and application of central line dressings and CPR. With the new equipment purchase with the funds donated by TD Bank, we are able to train both new and existing nursing staff members,” Chatterton added.

The hospital serves both inpatients and outpatients, performing scheduled and emergency procedures on patients of all ages that can only be performed in a hospital setting.

LMH clinical nurse educators provide existing and newly-hired nurses at the hospital with on-going training on best practices on procedures regarding patient care and safety.

These sessions occur throughout the year and affect most departments in the hospital.

Every nurse working at Langley Memorial must know best practices for IV insertion (IVs allow health care professional to administer fluids, blood products, and medications directly into a patient’s bloodstream via a small tube) and this equipment provides the opportunity for ongoing training.

I’ve seen it first-hand, can appreciate that it’s not always easy to get an IV into some people. Sure hope the extra training, and this equipment, can help.

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New chef joins JRG team

For all you foodies out there, I wanted to share some cool news with you about another celebrity TV chef who’s joined the Joseph Richard Group.

The company, which runs S+L Kitchen and Bar, Townhall Public House, and Oak & Thorne in Langley, have recently brought chef Matthew Stowe into the mix.

Stowe was the 2013 winner of TV’s Top Chef Canada, and the Cloverdale resident is going to be JRG’s director of culinary operations.

Stowe is classified as one of Canada’s most talented chefs and comes to the company with 18 years of experience in some of the best known kitchens in North America, said JRG founder and CEO Ryan Moreno.

“I’m excited to join the Joseph Richard Group with its growing range of pub and restaurant concepts,” said Stowe.

“The variety of operations means there’s plenty of room for creativity, something I want us to excel at going forward.

“Whether it’s a diverse Asian menu at Sudo Asian Kitchen (opening Spring 2017), steaks and seafood at S+L Kitchen and Bar, or pub fare, these are very exciting times at JRG and I look forward to being part of it all as we continue to build and grow our brands.”

Prior to joining JRG, Stowe was the product development chef with Cactus Club Cafe.

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“Matthew’s experience, creativity and skill in the kitchen add depth and another dimension to our growing JRG team,” Moreno explained.

“When you see him cook, create a menu, or run a kitchen, it’s easy to see why he won Top Chef Canada, and why we want him leading our culinary team across the company.”

Stowe will develop and maintain the food and beverage vision for all Joseph Richard Group establishments, including the Sudo Asian Kitchen restaurant set to open next year at the corner of 64th Avenue and Fraser Highway, near the Langley border.

After graduating from New York’s famed Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Stowe developed his craft at New York’s legendary French restaurant, Lutece.

He returned to B.C. in 2004 to become executive chef of Sonora Resort, where he played an integral role in the resort achieving the coveted Relais & Chateaux designation.

While there, he also wrote his award-winning The Tastes of Sonora Resort cookbook, which highlighted his signature dishes at the world famous coastal resort.

Prior to joining JRG, Stowe was the product development chef and a gold medal plates competition winner with Cactus Club Cafe.

Moreno added that while Stowe will work across all of JRG’s operations, his immediate focus will be on refining the menu and leading the team at all S+L Kitchen & Bar locations, including the Langley location, which includes MasterChef Canada winner David Jorge, and the soon-to-be open locations in Abbotsford and South Surrey.

In addition to working with JRG’s current brands and culinary team, Stowe also plans to partner with the company to open his own chef-driven concept in the Fraser Valley sometime in 2017.

JRG was created by Surrey natives Andre “Joseph” Bourque and Ryan “Richard” Moreno. Friends since elementary school, they started as bartenders before opening their first club venue in 2002.

Since starting JRG in 2011, the pair has used its real estate acumen and commitment to hospitality excellence to grow JRG into a collection of 18 public houses, restaurants, night clubs and liquor retail outlets. By December this year, Bourque and Moreno will have opened six new establishments during the past 12 months.

The pair has also expanded into Alberta and have four more establishments in the planning stages.

And stay tuned to the Langley Advance for information about an upcoming fundraiser for the ThinkGenerously Society being held in late November. It will be held at S+ L Langley on Nov. 22, and in addition to a pre-set meal, the evening event will feature a chance to meet and learn some tips from Jorge.

Showing a little team spirit

Speaking of chefs and local restaurants, I always let you know when Pirate Pak Day at White Spot is approaching.

But, I seldom tell you much about their step-sister, Triple O’s.

Well, with three locations that I can think of in Langley (two of them at 200th Street Chevrons, one south of the Trans-Canada Highway and the other at 94th Avenue, as well as the one in the Langley Power Center), I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about an upcoming fundraiser.

On Friday, Oct. 21, Triple O’s is hosting its seventh annual KidSport Day, with a loonie from the sale of every combo sold going the cause.

KidSport BC is a community‐based sports funding program that takes financially disadvantaged children off the sidelines and puts them onto the field in sports like hockey, soccer, gymnastics, and more.

The fundraiser helps these kids gain life skills like teamwork and self-confidence from participating in organized sports. Donations cover annual sports registration fees for kids 18 and under, and all dollars raised go back to kids in the local community.

Since its inception in 2010, the Triple O’s fundraiser has raised $191,650 and helped nearly 500 kids. This year, Triple O’s is aiming to beat last year’s tally of $52,650 and help 150 local kids in need. Every $400 raised provides one B.C. child the opportunity to play team sports for a full year.

“Triple O’s guests continue to show their team spirit by generously supporting young B.C. athletes who might otherwise be left on the sidelines,” said company president Warren Erhart.

“Every year we shoot a little higher, and this year is no exception. Come join us for a combo on Oct. 21 to help kids in your community!”

If you can’t make it into one of the locations, or you want to help out further, there’s also another way for people to show their support by sharing the @TripleOs #SoAllKidsCanPlay hashtag on Twitter. Triple O’s will donate $1 for each retweet.

Langley faces in the mix

A number of familiar Langley faces will be popping up at the West Coast Women’s Show returning to the Tradex in Abbotsford this weekend – Oct. 21 to 23.

Glenn Pineau, of All of Oils in Langley, is one of the most sought after exhibitors in the show, which features more than 400 booths this year.

In addition, however, there are a number of other Langley faces that will be part of the mix, including Beaver Dam Creative Carpentry, Checkers Premium Fudge, Marie’s Guilt Free Bakery, Naked Teas Galore, and Nats Nifty Nest.

Dubbed as the ultimate girls weekend, this trade show – celebrating its 16th year – features celebrity speakers, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, wellness and beauty demonstrations, nutritional experts, and even food tasting.

Spectators can save $2 by getting tickets online at www.westcoastwomen.net or at London Drugs. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and youth (13-17 years), and $4 for children (6-12), and free for kids five and younger.



Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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