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Ever fancied spending a night wheeling and dealing? The Canadian Cancer Society has just launched ticket sales for a seat at the table at its annual Monopoly Affair fundraiser.
The Vaudeville-themed, black-tie affair is a twist on an old classic — tables of six players are led by a banker in a wild, 90-minute tournament-style game of Monopoly.
Proceeds from the event support the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Cancer affects us all, but every one of us can make an impact in the fight against it,” said Andrew Duffy, Monopoly Affair chairman. “This evening is about cutting loose for a good cause, as the money raised funds cutting-edge research in the war against the disease and to improve the lives of those battling on the front lines.”
The evening promises to be a night of fast-moving property deals, ever-increasing rent and friendly competition.
There will also be a live auction, exclusive gift wall and cash bar.
Individual player tickets are $100, a table of six $600 or a VIP table $2,500. The VIP experience includes tickets for six players, a pre-tournament reception with complimentary food, cocktails and a performance by jazz vocalist Maureen Washington. VIP ticket holders also get $1,000 in extra Monopoly cash and complimentary concierge service at their tables during the tournament.
Don’t leave it up to chance, get your tickets at TicketRocket.com, or call Jan or Diana at 250-592-2244.
The games begin at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 24 at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa, 100 Harbour Rd.
For more information, go to themonopolyaffair.com.
Students collecting food donations
Students and volunteers will be going door-to-door in the West Shore with a goal to collect 10,000 or more non-perishable food items on Wednesday evening.
During the 10,000 Tonight Food Drive, students from three School District 62 secondary schools — Belmont, Royal Bay and Edward Milne — will join forces to collect grocery items for local food banks.
Royal Bay students will cover the Colwood area; Belmont students will blanket the Langford area; Edward Milne Community School students will canvass the Sooke region. Each school is responsible for collecting, sorting, tallying and dropping off donations to local food banks.
Watch for the students between 5 and 10 p.m. Wednesday, if you live in those three areas. If you wish to donate, contact Mike Huck, vice-principal of Royal Bay Secondary School, at 250-474-2377, Mandart Chan, leadership teacher at Belmont Secondary School, at 250-478-5501 or Todd Powell, vice-principal at Edward Milne Community School, at 250-642-5211.
Student’s toy drive back for fourth year
A Grade 11 student at Oak Bay Secondary School is holding a community toy drive for the Stan Hagen Centre for Families holiday pop-up toy shop on Saturday and Sunday.
This is the fourth year Leah Smith has organized the event. Last year, she collected about 700 toys, and her goal this year is to collect 1,000.
She will accept new and gently used toys outside the Oak Bay Avenue Pharmasave, Dec. 16 and 17. She will be on hand from 1 to 4 p.m. on both days at the store, 2200 Oak Bay Ave.
For more information, email her at leahstoydrive@gmail.com. For more information on the Stan Hagen Centre for Families, go to sashcf.com.
Food trees planted in James Bay
On Wednesday, the James Bay Neighbourhood Association planted seven community food trees at Charles Redfern Green and Tod Parkette.
The apple and hazelnut trees were donated by Le Coteau Nursery in partnership with the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Roundtable and the Capital Regional District, as part of their donation of 150 trees to the community for Canada 150. For more information, go to jbna.org.
Union Club donates to art gallery
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria recently received a cheque for more than $32,000 from the Union Club of British Columbia following its successful Art+Fare 3 Gala.
“We are most grateful to the Union Club of British Columbia, for their support of programs, which assist us in bringing art to children and families throughout the capital region,” said Jon Tupper, director of the art gallery. “It was a fantastic event, bringing art and art lovers together.”
The money will support programs for children and families, as well as the conservation and preservation of the collection.
Art has played an important role for the Union Club of British Columbia. Two of its earliest members were architects Francis Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure, both founding members of Victoria’s arts community.
Art+Fare has raised more than $65,000 for the art gallery since 2015. Art+Fare 4 is scheduled for Sept. 22, 2018. For more information, go to aggv.ca.
Longest Night Service at St. Luke’s
Whether you have experienced loss recently or simply are finding it difficult to enter the Christmas spirit, consider attending the Longest Night Service, a service of Light in the Midst of Darkness, Dec. 17 at St. Luke’s Church.
The special service of remembrance and hope is for those who find Christmas difficult, or those looking for a simpler way to celebrate, without all the glitter and commercialism. This is a reflective prayer service where you are invited to light a candle for hope and remembrance of a person who is, or was, special in your life.
The service will be led by the priests and pastors from St. Luke’s Anglican Church and Lutheran Church of the Cross.
The service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at St. Luke’s Church, corner of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Cedar Hill Road. Enter the parking lot off Cedar Hill Cross Road.
For more information, please call the church office at 250-477-6741 or visit stlukesvictoria.ca.
Spend your lunch hour carolling at St. Andrews
Downtown workers, shoppers and residents are invited to join a traditional lunch-time carol sing-along at Your Pipes With Ours, a seasonal tradition at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.
At the event, people in the audience are invited to call out their choice to the carol leader. An organist accompanies the singing. A vocalist will sing O Holy Night followed by trumpet and flute presentations interspersed throughout the carol singing.
The event is free, although donation boxes are available for those who wish to support the church’s outreach programs.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for viewing the sanctuary, listening to the organist and enjoying a hot apple drink and cookies. The program runs from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the church, 925 Douglas St. (at Broughton Street). For information contact office@standrews.ca, 250-384-5734 or standrewsvictoria.ca.
Cash donations come out of stockings
The lives of citizens of several African nations suffering hunger brought on by a severe drought just got a little brighter, thanks to a creative Christmas stocking project by members of a local United Church women’s group.
“Though Christmas is far off we know, it wouldn’t be so shocking, to put a nickel in the toe, of your friendship stocking” is the message attached to a red, handmade stocking sent to members of Gordon United Church in Langford each year after Christmas.
They keep the stocking throughout the year, adding donations as the months go by.
“You see the little red sock in your lingerie drawer and remember to donate,” said Vera Blazenko, a longtime member of the group. “It’s a little gimmick that adds a bit of fun to it. It’s an entertaining thing to do.”
She said the Christmas stocking has been a tradition for the group, which ranges from six to 11 members each year, for the past 25 years.
In December, group members tally up the donations from everyone’s stockings and donate the money to a different non-profit every year. Last year, Blazenko suggested they donate to Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help people affected by severe drought across Africa.
Severe drought in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and other African countries over the past year has led to millions of people experiencing severe hunger.
Altogether, the women raised $106 for the bank’s African Drought Appeal.
“Each donation makes a difference for someone experiencing hunger,” said John Longhurst, director of resources and public engagement at the bank.
“We’re grateful for this creative contribution from the Gordon United Church women’s group.”
For more information, go to foodgrainsbank.ca or gordonunitedchurch.ca.
Steak house brings fun to sick kids
Bring a stuffed animal for a sick child in the community and receive a complimentary appetizer as a thank you at Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual in Langford today.
In November, Mr. Mike’s SteakhouseCasual launched its Deeds Well Done program across all of its 37 markets, with each location encouraged to select a local charity to support.
The Langford location chose to host a Christmas Stuffy Drive for the B.C. Children’s Hospital today. They hope to spread some holiday cheer to children and their families.
The Deeds Well Done program runs until Dec. 31 and aims to inspire people to reflect on what’s truly important during the holiday season.
Guests are also invited to nominate a registered charity in their community online. One registered charity from each of the restaurant chain’s markets will receive $500 from the franchise, resulting in more than $18,000 donated throughout Canada.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today. It is at 985 Whirlaway Cres., Langford.
For more information, go to deedswelldone.com or mrmikes.ca/locations/langford.
Goldstream Food Bank needs your help
Resources at the Goldstream Food Bank are at a low point, and donations are needed to help more than 400 people in the community who are going hungry — or looking to the food bank for help.
For more than 850,000 Canadians, one-third of whom are children, what they serve at Christmas is solely determined by what they can find at their local food bank.
Loblaw, which owns Wholesale Club, has set out to raise almost 590,000 kilograms of food and $1.8 million to support Canadians across the country.
In support of the Goldstream Food Bank, people can now drop off donations of canned goods, cleaning supplies, personal toiletries or money at the Victoria branch of the Wholesale Club, 846 Viewfield Rd.
For more information, go to goldstreamfoodbank.island webhosting.com or loblaw.ca/en/ responsibility/community-investment.html.
