It was always about the kids for the late Jim Vanier. But for at least part of this weekend, it will be all about Vanier instead.
Family members, friends and others who knew Vanier will hold a celebration of his life on Saturday at Colburn Park in Lebanon. The longtime coordinator of the Carter Community Building’s youth drop-in center died in December at age 73.
As the CCB’s youth drop-in center coordinator, Vanier ensured Lebanon’s children had a safe community environment to go to while teaching them life lessons along the way.
In addition, Vanier carried on the legacy of his mentor, Pat Walsh, by continuing the latter’s sneaker fund to make sure local kids had what they needed — often extending beyond shoes.
“He affected many families’ lives, many kids’ lives, and as they’ve grown up and gone on to their things, they certainly remember the good experiences they had with Jim Vanier,” Pat Hayes, a friend, said.
“He’s a multi-generational acquaintance for everybody,” he said. “His watchword was that — practice random acts of kindness — and he affected a lot of people that way.”
Saturday’s celebration will feature numerous speakers, a bagpipe tribute and more to honor Vanier. Those close to Vanier expect a large turnout.
“He touched a lot of lives,” said Richard Tobin, whose first experience with the community stalwart was when he was around 10 or 11 years old and Vanier taught him how to shoot a basketball.
“We had a great relationship … (he is) sorely missed,” he said. “(Jim) was about the youth and the families and the needy families in Lebanon and wasn’t about the almighty dollar — he understood that and donated his life to it.”
While Saturday’s celebration does have an end time, plans are in place to ensure Vanier’s legacy will live into the future.
The Jim Vanier Youth Fund, a non-profit organization, has been created to carry on Vanier’s generosity to the community. Around $16,000 has been contributed to the fund as of this week.
According to its website, the fund’s mission is to “empower, uplift and support the children of Lebanon by delivering essential daily needs, expanding opportunities and fostering community by giving kids the tools they need to succeed, where money is not a barrier to learning and growing.”
Additionally, in the last few months a group went before the Lebanon City Council to request that Vanier be memorialized with a bench on the pedestrian mall.
That idea was supported, and a bench is being created. Hayes suggested potential plans for a QR code that viewers could scan to learn more about Vanier and how to contribute to the new fund. He added it would now likely be placed in Colburn Park rather than on the mall.
Despite everything planned and the large crowd expected to pay their respects this weekend, Vanier’s brother, Larry, said the festivities probably would not have pleased the Lebanon legend.
“Jim would not like what’s happening in his name this Saturday,” Vanier said, noting that his brother kept his good deeds to himself and that people may only know about 10% of the things he did.
“It’s his own fault we’re doing this because he just touched so many people in the community by doing what he did,” he added with a chuckle.
Vanier’s celebration of life is slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
