Working side by side five days a week, the staff at tekmar Control Systems are like family to each other.
They celebrate each other’s achievements, encourage each other and are there during times of distress.
Like this past year, when receptionist Marisa Wiebe’s grandmother ended up at Hospice House.
Gigi, as Wiebe and most of the employees affectionately refer to her, was known throughout the office mainly for her delicious cookies. But she was also like family.
As a result, when it came time to pick an annual charity to support, the staff chose the North Okanagan Hospice Society in honour of Gigi (Mary Gregory).
The spirit committee, a core group of volunteers at tekmar, hosts fun activities and pizza days throughout the year to raise funds for its charity of choice every year.
Wiebe and her parents (Bill and Christine Reid) were so thankful for the support that they also wanted to do something to help the cause. So when the Reids won season passes to the Vernon Vipers they donated them and the spirit committee had the grand idea to raffle each pass off, which boosted the fundraising efforts.
To cap off the year, tekmar presented Hospice with a cheque for $1,200, $700 of which was raised by the staff and $500 which was donated by parent company Watts Water Technologies.
“Gigi passed away at Hospice House but it was good that she was there. It’s a great place,” said Wiebe, whose father-in-law was at Hospice just eight months earlier.