By Trevor Wiens – Director, Chilliwack Centre
“Today is a good, good day.” – Margaret Lee Ballam
June 6, 1930 – December 6, 2018
A number of years ago, Les and I sat across from a woman whose kindness and clarity left an impression we won’t soon forget. Her name was Margaret Ballam, and she had invited us into her home to share something deeply personal.
Margaret was nearing the end of her life, but she wasn’t focused on loss. She was thinking about how she could give. With peace, joy, and a spark in her eye, she told us she wanted to leave a gift to Cyrus Centre, one that would help feed and care for youth facing homelessness.
She pictured young people arriving at our door, hungry and hurting, and imagined them finding a warm meal and someone to sit with them. A moment of connection. A reason to stay.
With a smile, she said the words we’ll always remember:
“Today is a good, good day.”
A Kitchen Full of Life
Today, Margaret’s gift lives on in a tangible way. As we serve meals and build trust in our newly renovated kitchen at our Chilliwack location, we think of her. This kitchen — updated, welcoming, and full of life — is part of her legacy. It’s a space where walls come down over shared meals, and where youth begin to feel safe enough to dream again.
Her story reminds us of a deeper truth:
Communities are compassionate and caring.
And when people like Margaret choose to give — whether during their life or through a legacy gift — they help build spaces that make hope real.
The Ongoing Need
Of course, the work isn’t done. Feeding youth isn’t just about nutrition. It’s about offering stability, dignity, and connection — things that cost more than groceries. From daily meals to emergency care, the need continues.
If Margaret’s story inspires you, there are simple and meaningful ways you can help:
Provide a meal – Sign up to cook, sponsor, or deliver a meal to our Chilliwack or Abbotsford Centre.
Donate supplies – Pantry items, fresh produce, hygiene products.
Give financially – Support the Compassion Fund, which helps meet urgent needs as they arise.
Leave a legacy – Like Margaret, you can include Cyrus Centre in your will and be part of something lasting.
Volunteer – In Chilliwack, we’re launching a weekday morning hospitality shift (9:00–11:00am) — serving breakfast, tidying up, and helping create an environment where youth feel seen and valued.
Pray and share – Your prayers matter. So does sharing this story with others who care.
From One Gift, Many Good Days
Margaret believed in a better story — one where youth in crisis find nourishment, comfort, and care. And thanks to her, we get to keep telling that story, one meal and one moment at a time.
Want to be part of it? Give or get involved.
Because every good day starts with someone who chooses to care.