2025 Holiday Family Free Market 🎄

Posted on by Liv's Trust

This gratitude post is all about how a community of family, friends and volunteers came together to create a most magical holiday event on November 22.

It all started the Fall of 2024 when we had the idea of holding a Free Market for families who may be struggling with the added expense the holidays can bring.

With nothing more than a vague idea, no venue and no other community involvement, we set out to make it happen! We first reached out to our friends and family to start setting aside new or nearly new items that we could offer to potential guests.

We then asked Tim Halman, MLA for Dartmouth East and Brad McGowan, MLA for Cole Harbour for their support – and they were all in! Next we had to find a venue. After many options turned out to not work for one reason or another, we were put in contact with a most wonderful gentleman named Patrick Donahoe at St. Luke’s Anglican Church. We met Patrick and discovered our goals for supporting the community aligned perfectly, so he offered the church hall. (He also got Giant Tiger and Superstore to donate cookies!) This turned our idea into an event!

Next we contacted Woodlawn High principal, Craig Campbell. He enlisted their guidance department, social workers and SchoolsPlus workers to create a list of families they felt would be receptive to an invitation. And off we went!

So, on Saturday as families nervously walked in with their invitation in hand, maybe a little skeptical at first, possibly apprehensive, we set to work to make sure they felt welcomed, respected and above all else, happy they took a chance to attend.

It was pure joy to all the volunteers who watched those same families go from nervous and apprehensive, to relaxed (some even dancing along to the Christmas music 🎶 ) as they shopped their way through the wide selection of items to choose from. They grabbed refreshments and treats, enjoyed the kids corner and face painting and on their way out we wrapped their treasures with love before sending them on their way to enjoy the rest of their day.

As you can see from this long post, none of this was possible without the help and commitment from so many others. From Tim, Lucie (and family), Emily, and Brad to Craig, Lara, Danita and Jillian, to Patrick and all our volunteers this weekend, Lilly, Teyah, Will, Georgia, Courtnee, Melanie, Aly, Jennifer, Danielle and Kelly and so many more that donated items – we are so grateful to each and every one of you for making this event so very special.

We are already looking forward to next year 🎄

2025 Compassion and Kindness Celebrates Olivia Day!

Posted on by Liv's Trust

October 23rd will be Olivia’s 29th birthday 🎉

To honour and remember Olivia we invite you to participate in our annual Compassion and Kindness Celebrates Olivia Day!

Wherever you are in the world please join us by performing random acts of compassion and kindness in your community. Your act can be big or small – just remember Olivia while you do it and share her story when you can.

If you are looking for a way to participate but aren’t quite sure what to do, please consider donating to Olivia’s Trust to help us out with our Free Market initiative as your random act. You can reach out via our website, Facebook or email dale@livstrust.com.

Follow our Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust Facebook page for event updates 💜

Graduation Day 2025

Posted on by Liv's Trust

We are thrilled to announce our Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust Scholarship receipts for 2025 📜

Please join us in congratulating Eli Turner of Auburn Drive High School and Lana Cushing of Woodlawn High School as our award recipients.

Eli and Lana have demonstrated exceptional attributes that more than qualify them for the scholarships. They have made their schools and communities better for having them in it and making it a welcoming place for all others to be as well.

Congratulations Eli and Lana. Your future is so bright and we look forward to seeing you on the next leg of your journey 🎓

Compassion and Kindness Celebrates Olivia Day 2024

Posted on by Liv's Trust

October 23 is Olivia’s birthday 🥳. If you knew her, you know her birthday wasn’t just a day – it was an event 🎉

To honour her birthday we hold our annual Compassion and Kindness Celebrates Olivia Day. This year she would celebrate 28 years so let’s make it a great one!

Wherever you are in the world you can participate by performing random acts of kindness and compassion in your community.

Watch our Facebook page for the event. Feel free to share your ideas on what you will do – be it a small gesture or a big one – we would love to hear from you 😊 you never know, your idea may inspire someone else and someone else and someone else…

2023 Scholarship Recipients 🎓

Posted on by Liv's Trust

The Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust would like to formally announce the recipients of Olivia’s Scholarship!

Congratulations to Caelan DeViller, a student at Drumlin Heights Consolidated School. Caelan is planning to attend university to study sciences in pursuit of a career as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Steele, a student at Hants East Rural High , Jacqueline plans to attend university to study a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Climate and Environment.

Thank you both for the exceptional volunteer work in your communities to make them a more inclusive and safe place for all. We appreciate you taking the time to learn about Olivia and understanding why this scholarship exists.

We truly hope these scholarships help you achieve your goals! Best of luck in the future – you’ve earned it 🙂

Christmas Cards for Northwood 2022 🎄

Posted on by Liv's Trust

Today, December 10, Olivia’s Trust is dropping off 120 beautiful Hallmark greeting cards with a hand-written sentiment for the Christmas Cards for Northwood initiative.

Olivia’s Nanny Pye was a nurse at Northwood and remembered many residents did not have family to send them cards or gifts so this initiative is very dear to our hearts on many levels.

If you would like to participate, there will be a Jack 92.9 booth today outside the Rogers store at Mic Mac Mall from 10-1 or you can drop off at at Rogers stores, Jack 92.9 or Northwood offices (check out the Jack 92.9 page for more detailed information) 🎄

10 Years

Posted on by Liv's Trust

How do you even begin to explain the loss of a child? You can’t. It’s as simple as that. There are no words…

Even after 10 years I still can’t articulate how Olivia’s death has affected me, her family, her friends or those close to her. It’s just not possible.

What I can tell you is how much she changed the lives of those who knew her during the 15 years we got with her…. Simply put, she changed our lives for the better.

All those who know her through reading or hearing “Olivia‘a Story” have also been changed. I’m told time and again that they share her story with others. She lives on in the hearts and minds of every single person she touched in whatever form. We hope Olivia’s kindness, compassion and lack of judgement is an example to everyone.

We can only hope that we have that much of an impact with the lives we live and the way we make others feel. Try to help in your community when and where you can. Reach out to others in need even when they don’t ask for help. Share what you have. It’s amazing what small gestures can have the largest impact.

In short, be like an Olivia ♥️

2022 Scholarship

Posted on by Liv's Trust

Are you, or do you know of a student graduating in 2022 who plans to pursue a post-secondary education? If so, they may qualify for the Olivia Jollota Memorial Trust Scholarship.

Olivia’s scholarship is not based on your academic achievements, it is based on the quality of your character. How have you helped your school and your community become better places to be? Show us in an essay what you do to be inclusive, accepting, non-judgemental, kind and compassionate – like Olivia did 💜

In addition to your amazing essay, please have two teachers/community members provide a letter of reference then email your application to dale@livstrust.com or ask your school to send it in. Best of luck to all who apply!

NOTE: Deadline for applications is May 15, 2022 for consideration.

2021 Scholarship Winners!

Posted on by Liv's Trust

We are so pleased to announce we have awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1000.00 to Victoria O’Brien and Jacintha (Jai) Shankle ♥️

These amazing people embody what Olivia’s scholarship is all about. Their dedication to helping others feel welcome and accepted is obvious in their every day actions. They have made their schools and communities better places through their existence and we could not be more proud to play a small role on their journey.

Good luck at St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University in the fall. These schools will benefit from your amazing ability to be kind, compassionate, forgiving and accepting ♥️

Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre Emergency Shelter Donation

Posted on by Liv's Trust

The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre Emergency Shelter opened its doors January 2021 as a 25 bed emergency shelter. Now with the addition of 15 new beds, they have become the largest emergency shelter in Halifax!

Through the power of social media we heard they were in need of several items to be able to handle the increased occupancy and of course we responded immediately! We have donated over $500 worth of much needed wish-list items and hope others in our amazing community can donate as well.

Below is a list of some needed items:

  • Spring/Summer clothes for all genders
  • Footwear for all genders
  • Backpacks
  • Socks/underwear
  • Juice boxes
  • Individual snack items
  • Coffee grounds/tea
  • Reusable cups
  • Plastic utensils
  • Toothpaste/razors/feminine products

We realize we are in difficult times (this is the second year we have not been able to hold our major fundraiser), but if you can, please consider helping those less fortunate – just like Olivia always did ♥️