Summer on the water unofficially starts at the Victoria Inner Harbour Boat Show, Vancouver Island’s premier in-the-water boat show, which runs from today to Sunday.
This is the 26th year of the event, hosted by the British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association. The four-day exhibition is the largest in-the-water boat show on the West Coast, with about 200 boats of all sizes afloat. The show has something for everyone, ranging from those still dreaming about owning a boat to experienced sailors, with modest or dream-boat budgets.
“Last year was our best show yet, with just under 5,000 paid attendees,” said Steven Threadkeel, boat show manager. “The recreational boating industry is booming, with Canadians owning 4.3 million boats.”
Buyers expected at the show include boat enthusiasts from Alberta and the United States, taking advantage of the Canadian dollar’s weakness.
The show includes an opportunity to board all of the boats — power, sail or luxury — to discuss the features with 27 professionally certified brokers.
Those who already own a boat can check out marine-related products offered by 30 vendors under a large tent on dry land at Ships Point. Products and services include boatyard services, hardware, equipment, navigation electronics, marinas, insurance and clothing.
Children can tour the Sail and Life Training Society’s iconic tall ships the Pacific Swift and Pacific Grace. They can also watch Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue demonstrations and meet members of the Canadian Coast Guard.
One-day tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students online, or $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students at the gate. Admission is free for children 16 and under. A four-day pass is $20 online only.
The show runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the docks in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel in the Inner Harbour.
For information, go to bcyba.com or Facebook.
Get fit, get smart with trio of trips
Spring has sprung at CRD Parks, with three diverse programs that appeal to families with children and fit adults, Saturday to Wednesday.
Saturday’s Forest to Seashore is a guided walk suitable for participants five and older at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. The event is presented as part of Metchosin Biodiversity Day, with a CRD Regional Parks naturalist explaining the rich biodiversity of Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. People will hike along the water course of Bilston Creek, from the forest to the beach.
There is no charge to join. The event runs twice, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Please meet at the Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park nature centre off Metchosin Road. The trail is not stroller-friendly. B.C. Transit routes #54 or #55.
Families can sign up for a Geocaching Adventure, a guided walk suitable for all ages on Sunday at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.
Geocaching is a treasure hunt using a smart phone or GPS device. Guest presenters Helen and Chris Edley will join a CRD Parks naturalist to introduce people to this family adventure activity, while enjoying the beauty of the park.
The event is $10 per family and runs 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Further information supplied when you pre-register, with the deadline by end of day today. Call 250-478-3344. The park is served by B.C. Transit #70 or #72.
Get ready for a vigorous hike at Mount Work Out! at Mount Work Regional Park on Wednesday.
This is a four-hour guided adult hike, with a CRD Regional Parks naturalist, for people 18 and older. The hike takes participants from marshy lowlands to rugged rocky outcrops in this Saanich park.
There is no fee to join in the walk, which runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but pre-registration is required as space is limited. Meeting information given at time of registration. Call 250-478-3344 by Monday.
Please wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather as programs take place rain or shine. Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Please leave pets at home.
For information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
Book lovers on your marks, get set, hunt
Hundreds of thousands of books jam the Victoria Curling Club, and in two days, you will have the fun of hunting through them for the gems.
The Times Colonist Book Sale is on Saturday and Sunday at the curling club, 1952 Quadra St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Good reads will be for sale for good prices: hardcovers are $3, softcovers $2, pocket books and children’s books $1.
You can pay with cash, debit, Mastercard, Visa or American Express, but no cheques.
Pay parking is available in the lot that serves the curling club and Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. There is also free parking along Quadra, but parking on some of the nearby side streets is for residents only. The No. 6 bus goes along Quadra.
When it’s all over, representatives of schools and non-profit groups can help themselves to the remaining books, for free, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, May 2.
The money raised at the sale goes to the Times Colonist Raise A Reader fund, which distributes it to literacy-related projects on the Island.
Tour raises cash for youth programs
Take a self-guided tour of a dozen inspiring homes, with a variety of projects to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets on this year’s Young Life Home Design and Renovation Tour this weekend.
This is the 26th year for the fundraising event, which opens the doors to a mix of eclectic homes from five different eras — from new construction to complete home renovations, and from redesigned kitchens to family rooms. Some are waterfront properties, others have spectacular views of the city and one is a car-lover’s dream.
Set your own pace — take in all the projects in one day, or savour them over two days.
Up to 1,000 people are expected to view the properties, located around Oak Bay, Victoria and the West Shore.
The tour is an opportunity to admire fine workmanship and meet some of the contractors, designers and builders.
Proceeds from the event support youth programs provided by the Victoria chapter of Young Life International, a Christian-based organization that has cared for young people since 1961.
A weekend pass is $25. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at various locations in Greater Victoria.
For tickets or information, go to younglife.ca/victoriahometour or call 778-977-3551.
You can enter to win tickets through the Go Giveaway on page C9 of Thursday's Times Colonist.
Native plants do it better
Get inspiration to create your own backyard oasis with native plants at the Habitat Acquisition Trust’s Native Plant Garden Tour on Sunday.
The tour features a mix of private and public gardens, each showcasing a variety of native plant treatments created by enthusiastic homeowners and volunteers with green thumbs.
Native plant starts, donated by the Native Plant Study Group and some host gardeners, will also be sold by volunteers at select private gardens.
The headquarters of the event is the Haliburton Community Organic Farm and Biodiversity Project, 741 Haliburton Rd., where 15 per cent of native plant sales go to the Habitat Acquisition Trust. The farm will offer tours of the biodiversity site as well as a native-plant tea workshop and tasting.
The garden tour is by donation, with a $10 suggestion. The tour runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at various locations in town. Donations will be accepted by volunteers at the private gardens — where a stamp or ticket will be given. For information, guide and map, go to hat.bc.ca/garden-tour, or call 250-995-2428.
Walk and art show to benefit hospice
Walk for someone you love or purchase a small piece of art to support end-of-life care at Victoria Hospice, Sunday and Thursday.
Gather a team of friends and family, challenge your co-workers or join as an individual to honour the memory of a loved one at the fifth annual Hike for Hospice on Sunday.
Participants take part in a scenic 3.5-kilometre walk starting at Fisherman’s Wharf Park. The route is accessible for all ages and abilities.
The event also features entertainment, including live music by local Celtic band Cookeilidh.
Registration is $10 for adults and free for children 16 and under. Entertainment starts at 9 with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday from Fisherman’s Wharf Park, 1 Dallas Rd.
Meanwhile, small things can make a big difference at the 2nd annual A Little Something, a fundraiser at The Avenue Gallery, which starts on Thursday.
The annual show features 20 painters who have come together to produce more than 100 miniature artworks.
A percentage from the sale of each painting will be donated to Victoria Hospice. Hospice representatives will on hand to accept donations.
The exhibition runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday to until May 8 at the gallery, 2184 Oak Bay Ave.
Proceeds from both events benefit the Victoria Hospice, which provides a unique service for families dealing with a loved one’s journey to death.
For information, go to victoriahospice.org.
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