Vi Cox has been suitably warned.
The 67-year-old Lumby resident – confined to a wheelchair with cerebral palsy, and battling Stage 4 bone cancer – has been told by her care aide, Tina Rowe, that the first shower Cox will have in her own home in more than five years will take awhile and a lot of water.
“I told her ‘I’m going to put you in the shower, leave for two hours, and come back,’” joked Rowe in Cox’s trailer where a bunch of strangers are making her home more comfy cozy, and shower accessible.
In a month where a black cloud has hung over Lumby following the discovery of the body of a mother of two with foul play suspected, Cox’s good news story started when Rowe filled out a form on Vernon company KT Fairglass Windows and Doors’ website.
Rowe was on the page about the company’s Community Give Back Project. Owners Kate and Todd Embley began the project to pay it forward to North Okanagan residents who may be less fortunate, but no less deserving of the health and comfort new windows can provide.
Todd said his company came up with the Give Back Project at the beginning of 2024, and hope to make it a monthly occurrence with the help of community partners.
“We were quoting a lot of window replacements,” said Todd. “Windows can be expensive, and people can’t afford them but need them to save energy, to save their structure from rot or mould, and to save their health.”
Embley was put in touch with Rowe through her submission on the application form. Embley and his wife, Kate, came out to meet Cox and Rowe.
When the Embleys came to look at the windows in Cox’s trailer, they realized she needed much more. Her floors are plywood, and she sleeps in the main room because it’s the only room her lift will fit in (which is how they get Cox in and out of bed, and in and out of her wheelchair).
Due to the configuration of her bathroom, she has never been able to bathe or shower; she has always just been wiped down.
“So, we got to work bringing in more people to help which has always been our vision for this and we have now not only replaced windows, but we’ve completely demoed her bathroom and rebuilt it with all new plumbing, hardware, and a new zero-entry shower with a new shower-friendly wheelchair being provided by the government,” said Todd. “The demolition, plumbing, materials, and even the shower insert, were all donated by various contractors and companies who have been an invaluable addition to this project.”
Cox laughed when asked if she was the one overseeing the project, along with her two rescue cats, Bella and Tigger.
“I knew when to stay out of the way and not say anything,” she said, but she got emotional when asked about being the recipient of such community kindness.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Cox, pausing to fight back tears. “Tina has done so much for me. Everybody in my family just loves her.”
“Somebody has to,” deadpanned Rowe, who is also supposed to bring a rubber ducky for that first shower in the new bathroom.
Cox and her late husband David moved to their trailer in the village from Vernon 31 years ago, in 1993. When she was diagnosed with cancer, doctors wanted her to move into a home. Cox wanted to stay put.
“I want to stay here as long as I can,” said Cox.
Todd said his wife’s keen attention to detail helped move the project along and got more community involvement.
“Everybody was eager to help, we just needed a spark,” he said. “When Kate laid out the needs and timeline, it became very easy for everyone who wanted to get involved to be able to get involved.
“The structuring of the asks, the timeline, and requirements clearly reduces friction to people being able to get involved. People just jumped in and they were coming out of the woodwork. It’s been amazing.”
Besides KT Fairglass Windows and Doors, the other businesses helping out in the Community Give Back Project include:
• Milgard Windows and Doors, who provided the windows;
• Brandy De Bartolo from ReMax, the Embleys’ business partner who made most of the introductions to the other main players;
• Deven Routley, Luxman Developments, who led the bathroom renovation in all facets;
• Shepherd’s Home Hardware Building Centre, Armstrong;
• Ace Hardware, Lumby;
• Emco Plumbing, Vernon;
• CL Mechanical, Chris LaRocque, Vernon;
• Homestead Drywall, Vernon;
• Kohler, Armstrong.
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