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Explore: Remembering Vimy Ridge, craft fairs, fashion exhibition

This weekend marks the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, with events planned at venues in Victoria and Qualicum Beach to honour the valour and sacrifice of more than 10,500 Canadians killed, wounded or missing during the three-day battle.
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The Canadian and French flags fly at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France.

This weekend marks the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, with events planned at venues in Victoria and Qualicum Beach to honour the valour and sacrifice of more than 10,500 Canadians killed, wounded or missing during the three-day battle.

• Watch members of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) at a Freedom of the City march on Saturday.

The regiment will march from the Bay Street Armoury to Victoria City Hall, then to the cenotaph on the grounds of the Legislative Assembly.

The march begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bay Street Armoury, 713 Bay St.

• Join Parks Canada at Fort Rodd Hill for a commemorative ceremony to mark the precise minute 100 years ago when the first shots of this Canadian battle were fired in France.

Listen to music by the 5th (B.C.) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Army Band and stories by historians and local military re-enactors, do commemorative crafts and enjoy hot chocolate around a campfire.

There will be official speeches, a colour party from Royal Canadian Legion 91 and a tribute to Victoria’s own General Sir Arthur Currie.

The highlight of the evening will be a 100-round rapid-fire-barrage by the guns of the 5th Field Regiment at 8:30 p.m.

Visitors are invited to bring a blanket or chair.

The event is free to attend. It runs 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site, 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd., Colwood. For details, go to veterans.gc.ca/eng/events/details/8445.

• The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) and the 5th (B.C.) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Army will host Vimy100 at the Bay Street Armoury on Sunday.

The open house and commemorative event will feature military displays by more than 30 community history, heritage and archives groups, including militia units of the Bay Street and Lt. General Ashton armouries.

Archival material and information on display will be related to the Vimy Ridge battle and First World War

The guest-of-honour, Brigadier General (Ret’d) J. E. L. Gollner, will arrive at 12:30 p.m.

The Canadian Scottish Regiment Women’s Auxiliary will be holding two sittings of a traditional tea party, with period costumes, music and skits.

Commemorative music will play throughout the day.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bay Street Armoury, 713 Bay St. (doors open on both Bay or Field Street entrances).

• The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 76, Qualicum Beach is hosting a parade and cenotaph service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge on Sunday.

The parade will begin on Veterans Way from Memorial Avenue to the Legion.

The assembled will lay a wreath and hold a memorial service at the Legion cenotaph.

The parade and cenotaph service will be followed by a Veterans’ Appreciation Luncheon at noon. The luncheon is free for veterans and their spouses (or caregivers) and $20 for non-veteran Legion members.

The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. from Veterans Way at Memorial Avenue in Qualicum Beach. The Qualicum Beach Legion is at 180 Veterans Way, Qualicum.

For more information, go to legion76.ca/events.html.

 

Artisans show off winter’s work at craft fairs

See what local arts and crafts entrepreneurs have been up to over the winter as they show off their wares at one of three craft sales this weekend, at various venues in Greater Victoria.

Metchosin hosts its Spring Fling Arts and Crafts sale Saturday and Sunday at the Metchosin Community Hall.

The sale traditionally is an opportunity to explore the wares produced by local crafters, who pride themselves on creating quality, affordable products.

Items for sale include fudge, jewelry, original art etchings, wooden garden boxes, natural beauty products, as well as children’s toys and clothing.

The food kiosk will serve up Galloping Goose sausages and local MyChosen pizzas.

The Consider the Lilies Fibre Arts show takes place at the same time at the old St. Mary’s Anglican Church.

The wild fawn lilies and shooting stars should be in full bloom in the old cemetery, too.

Admission to the sale is free. It runs 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Rd., Metchosin.

Details on Facebook.

The Juan de Fuca Arts and Crafts Guild is hosting its second annual Spring into Summer Craft Sale and Market, Saturday at the Esquimalt United Church.

Choose from handmade items from a variety of artisans, including jewelry, pottery, sewing, quilting and baking, along with aromatherapy, plants.

The Rainbow Kitchen will provide a concession.

Admission is free for the sale, which is also stroller- and wheelchair-friendly.

It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Wheeley Hall and Lounge of the Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd.

For more information, go to Facebook.

Discover the creations and businesses of talented local women at Mompreneur at the Market, a craft-fair-style event at the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson on Sunday.

Vendors set up in the centre of the market will sell everything from handmade artwork to accessories, jewelry, children’s clothing, toys, sweet treats and more.

The market’s permanent vendors will be open to serve eat-in or take-out food.

The free event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Hudson, 1701 Douglas St.

For more information, go to victoriapublicmarket.com.

 

Learn about local pioneer and Wentworth Villa owner

Learn more about Victoria’s pioneers at a talk on Sunday that is part of a lecture series at Wentworth Villa, one of the oldest wooden residential buildings in B.C.

This week’s talk will focus on Martha B. Ella, who lived in the historic house from 1863 to 1911.

The house was built in 1863 for Captain Henry Bailey Ella, his wife, Martha Beeton Ella (née Cheney), and Ann Blinkhorn (Martha’s aunt),

They were among the earliest arrivals at Fort Victoria.

Henry Ella arrived in 1847 as second mate on the Hudson’s Bay Company vessel Mary Dare, while Martha Cheney and the Blinkhorns came in 1851 aboard the Tory.

The presentation will be delivered by Mark and Michael Hawkes, great, great grandsons of Ella.

They will offer personal insight into their pioneer family, with historical information, old and recent images and family stories.

Tickets to the lecture are $15.

The talk starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the restored heritage house, at 1156 Fort St.

For more information, go to wentworthvilla.com.

 

See it, buy it at fashion show with pop-up shops

Attend a fashion show — and purchase the garment you saw on the runway immediately after at The Fashion Exhibition, Saturday at the Crystal Garden.

Developed and produced by Concept-Couture, the event is Western Canada’s first see-it-buy-it fashion show. The concept may be new to Canada, but is increasingly seen throughout Western Europe.

Enjoy a runway experience, sipping on bubbles and exploring pop-up shops created by local retailers, designers and beauty experts such as Carreiro the Studio hair salon and Beautycounter skin care.

Boutiques and designers expected at the exhibition include: Tulipe Noire Clothing, Bernstein and Gold, Outlooks for Men, Breathe Athletic, The Dancing Lily, Bagheera Boutique, Frances Grey, Aurea Fashion Boutique and Essential Luxuries, Teresa Lindsay Couture, Oxford Boutique, Citizen Clothing, Lynda Marie Couture Millinery, Bergs and Betts, Pharmasave Broadmead, Verve Fashion, Nikki Babie and A La Mode Consignment.

Tickets are $30, with a portion of proceeds donated to the REES Program at The Cool Aid Society of Victoria, for people living with mental-health problems and addiction. The event runs 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas St. For details, go to concept-couture.ca.

 

Watch eagles go free at wildlife centre

Watch the annual eagle release at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington on Saturday.

The centre provides wildlife rehabilitation, a veterinary clinic, a treatment centre, nature trail, museum, public viewing area, learning centre and wildlife garden.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour and observe eagles, several species of owls, falcons, hawks, ravens and black bears. They can also watch a short documentary film about work at the centre, which promotes learning, interaction with wildlife and nature.

The eagle release is at 2 p.m.

Suggested donation for admission is $5 for adults, free for children 12 and under. The centre is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, 1240 Leffler Rd. in Errington. For details, go to niwra.org.

 

Procession, coat drive mark Palm Sunday

Join in a community Palm Procession and attend a Palm/Passion Sunday Service to welcome Holy Week, at two churches in Saanich.

This is the third year of the event, a collaboration between the Lutheran Church of the Cross and St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church.

“We are inviting the community to take part in this procession. Everyone welcome,” said Barb Prescott, a warden at St. Luke’s.

There are two services of the blessing of palms, coats and blankets — at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

(The collected blankets and coats will be donated to Our Place Society).

The principal service of the day starts at the Lutheran Church of the Cross at 10 a.m.

The congregation then embarks in a procession to St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church, (crossing the corner of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Cedar Hill Road), where the service will continue.

Light refreshments will be served at St. Luke’s after the service.

People are encouraged to bring new and gently used blankets and coats to the service.

The service begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Church of the Cross, 3787 Cedar Hill Rd.

For more information, call 250-477-6741 or visit stlukesvictoria.ca..