Community faces fear to support children and adults with disabilities
On a clear Monday evening in Burnaby, a group of 36 community members in capes, costumes and climbing harnesses leaned over the edge of Metrotower 1 at Metropolis and descended the 28-storey façade to raise money for Easter Seals BC/Yukon.
The annual Drop Zone event on Sept. 14 asked participants to meet a fundraising target of $875 each to qualify to rappel. The fundraiser supports programs run by Easter Seals, a service of The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, which has served British Columbians for almost 80 years.
Why the dramatic fundraiser?
Organizers say the visceral act of stepping off a high-rise is a deliberate choice to help participants understand — even briefly — the daily challenges faced by people living with disabilities.
“Doing something totally out of your comfort zone and something scary is to recognize that people living with disabilities, that’s what they do every single day of their lives and so this is asking people to do the same for one day.”
The quote was provided by Katherine Campbell, director of philanthropy and engagement for Easter Seals BC/Yukon.
Event atmosphere and personal motivations
Photographs from the event show participants wearing superhero costumes and taking careful steps toward the edge before lowering themselves down the tower. The mood mixed levity and concentration — a community spectacle that also served as a serious fundraiser.
One participant, identified as Angie Whitefield, said she thought of members of her community while stepping over the edge, noting the collective support that helped push her through the descent.
“I was thinking of them (Angie’s community) when I was stepping over the edge, I have to do this because I’ve got a lot of people rallying behind me.”
Quick facts about the Drop Zone
- Participants: 36 community members
- Building: Metrotower 1 at Metropolis, Burnaby
- Height: 28 storeys
- Fundraising threshold per participant: $875
- Supported charity: Easter Seals BC/Yukon (part of The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of rappellers | 36 |
| Storeys descended | 28 |
| Individual fundraising goal | $875 |
| Organization history | ~80 years |
Local impact and context
Burnaby has seen a steady rise in high-rise developments and public fundraising events in recent years. Staging a rappel from a visible downtown tower does more than raise dollars — it creates a public conversation about accessibility and the lived experience of people with disabilities.
Easter Seals BC/Yukon operates a range of services, including summer camps and the Easter Seals House. The society’s work in supporting children and adults with disabilities is well-established in the province; events such as the Drop Zone are a high-profile way to mobilize donors and volunteers in Burnaby and the surrounding region.
What comes next
Organizers typically tally funds after events and redirect them into programs and services that directly benefit participants. While final donation totals were not released at the event, the combination of individual targets and visible participation suggests the Drop Zone will contribute materially to Easter Seals’ offerings.
For Burnaby residents, the event was both a spectacle and a reminder: visible urban spaces can be repurposed to raise awareness about social needs, and community members can take literal leaps to bolster services for neighbours who face far greater daily challenges.
Photographs captured volunteers, family members and onlookers who gathered at the base of the tower to cheer the rappellers on — a small but telling sign of civic engagement in a city balancing growth, density and community services.
