Watch an intimate performance by tenor Ken Lavigne and spend an evening of socializing at the Promise Ball Gala, A Night in Versailles, at the Fairmont Empress, Oct. 14.
This is the 13th year of the annual event, a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and its fight against Type 1 diabetes.
The evening will feature Lavigne as well as highlight all things French, including a vignette performance from Les Misérables, a bubbly reception, live/silent auctions and a multi-course meal.
Proceeds from the event will help accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of cutting-edge advances to cure, better treat, and prevent Type 1 diabetes.
More than 300,000 Canadians struggle with Type 1 diabetes every day.
It is an autoimmune disease that strikes indiscriminately, often in young children. Those with the disease face a never-ending daily routine of finger pokes to test blood sugar levels and insulin injections to stay alive.
Since its inception, the Promise Ball gala has raised $2.4 million for the cause.
The foundation is a global leader in the search for an end to the disease through research funding and advocacy.
Fundraising events include an annual golf tournament and the Victoria and mid-Island Walk for the Cure.
For information or to buy tickets, call 250-370-7790 or go to promiseball.ca. Some sponsorships still available.
It’s the 10th anniversary Kidney Walk today
The Kidney Walk, the flagship event of the Kidney Foundation, celebrates its 10th anniversary today.
In the last decade, British Columbians have logged 26 million kilometres and raised more than $ 2 million to support kidney patients and their families.
“Ten years ago, a special group of people, known as the Sons of Scotland, initiated a ‘Tartan Stroll’ around Trout Lake in Vancouver, which became the impetus behind The Kidney Walk campaign as we know it today,” said Pia Schindler, executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s B.C. and Yukon branch.
“Thanks to the Sons of Scotland, and the tremendous support of thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors, The Kidney Walk has grown to become one of our biggest success stories, with upwards of 4,000 participants and volunteers in 16 communities across B.C. and the Yukon.”
One in 10 British Columbians has kidney disease, a disease that has no cure and is undetectable in early stages.
Registration for The Kidney Walk takes place at 9 a.m., with start of the 2.5-kilometre walk taking place at 10 a.m. today at Clover Point, off Dallas Road.
For more information, go to kidney.akaraisin.com.
Orchestra brings classics to Sooke Harbour House
Residents and visitors to Sooke are invited to join the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra as it celebrates a new relationship with the Sooke Harbour House through a concert by the McKenna Quintet on Thursday.
The 2017-18 season marks the 20th anniversary of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra.
Norman Nelson, founder of the orchestra, described the arrangement as further fulfilment of his original vision to bring cultural richness and music to the community.
“I am delighted to join with the internationally recognized Sooke Harbour House to create yet another venue for area residents and visitors to enjoy classic music in all its forms,” he said.
Tickets are $30. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Potlach Room of Sooke Harbour House, 1528 Whiffin Spit Rd., in Sooke. Shoppers, firms team upin Make a Dent food drive
Two firms team up in Make a Dent food drive
Craftsman Collision and Save-on-Foods are teaming up with the Salvation Army to host Make a Dent, a day-long food drive, Sept. 30.
On that day the auto-body repair company is pledging to match every item donated by a participating customer, to ensure that no families go hungry this fall.
Donations of nutritious food items help the Salvation Army provide practical assistance and support to individuals and families. This enables them to divert much needed funds to housing, heat, utilities and other life essentials.
Recent reports suggest that one in 10 people in the province lives in poverty and food insecurity impacts more than half a million British Columbians.
In 2016, Craftsman Collision’s Make a Dent campaign raised more than $30,000.
Upon entering participating locations, customers will receive a shopping list of ideal non-perishable food items to shop for and donate.
The hope is that when the drive is complete, each location will have donated enough food to fill a Craftsman Collision courtesy car.
The food drive runs 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at all three Victoria-area shops.
For more information, and locations of the three shops, go to craftsmancollision.com/ locations/victoria.
First Nation team relay run winds up today
Today marks the conclusion of Heliset Hale, a team relay run by First Nation athletes to increase awareness for suicide prevention, mental health and wellness.
Heliset Hale is a 900-kilometre run from Port Hardy to Victoria, first held in 2013.
Held over a two-week period, the event serves to unify communities from Port Hardy to Victoria as for a common concern.
The team stops in various schools and First Nation communities to share words of encouragement and to bring healing to those that have lost.
The relay arrived at Mile 0 in Victoria on Saturday. At 2:30 p.m. today, they will embark on the last leg of the relay, from Mile 0 to the Tsawout Gymnasium, 7728 Tetayut Rd. The relay concludes at 4:30 p.m. at the gymnasium. For information, go to helisethale.com.
United Way sets three-year $15M goal for Victoria area
The United Way Greater Victoria has set a three-year goal of $15 million to fund a network of social services and joining an online service directory, which includes a 24-hour help line.
“As the largest annual funder of local social service programs in the region outside of government, we are committed to multi-year funding which offers stability to our community partners and allows them to focus on program delivery,” said Bruce Williams, campaign chairman. “United Way invites the community to help address long-term social issues, and improve the lives of so many by 2020.”
The local agency also announced that it will be joining nine other United Ways throughout B.C. to expand bc211.ca, the online service directory of more than 13,000 agency and program records related to community, social and government services.
The website is also optimized for mobile devices and online chat is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A free information and referral service is available 24 hours a day in more than 160 languages (17 of which are Aboriginal).
Trained and certified information and referral specialists can link callers to services such as mental-health supports, shelter and housing, legal aid, employment programs, addictions treatment, newcomer services, children’s and youth programs, senior services or food banks to people seeking assistance.
It can also help service providers instantly find resources for their clients and provides information for caregivers seeking help for their loved ones.
In 2016, thanks to more than 10,000 donors, the United Way invested $4.2 million to support 109 social service programs throughout the Capital Regional District.
For more information, go to uwgv.ca.
Orange shirts honour residential school students
Join the community in recognizing the survivors of residential schools — and acknowledge those who did not at Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, Saturday in Centennial Square.
The grassroots event grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s account of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of St. Joseph Mission residential school.
She had first shared her story with others at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Vancouver in 2013.
Since then, Orange Shirt Day has become an annual opportunity to keep the discussion happening on all aspects of residential schools.
Saturday’s event is being organized by residential school survivor Eddy Charlie and friend Kristin Spray. This year, they are partnering with the City of Victoria and Bridges for Women Society to mark the city’s commitment to reconciliation.
The event is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. The date Sept. 30 was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools.
The event is free to attend. It runs noon to 4 p.m., with a First Nations blessing and welcoming ceremony that takes place at 1 p.m., followed by a flag-raising in Centennial Square and speeches by Songhees Nation Coun. Gary Sam and Esquimalt Nation Chief Andy Thomas.
Mayor Lisa Helps will be joined by Education Minister Rob Fleming. Phyllis Webstad and Kwantlen Nation musician and public speaker Luke Dandurand will share their journeys through reconciliation. Go to orangeshirtday.org or Facebook.
You can still register for the Run for the Cure
There is still time to register to walk or run at the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday, Oct. 1, starting at the University of Victoria.
You will have the opportunity to join Chanel Gallant, breast cancer survivor who is lacing up and leading the charge to inspire others to support.
She is also one of the top fundraisers at the Victoria run. Last year, she raised more than $6,000 and this year she is matching all donations she receives.
Every day in Canada, an average of 72 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. One in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
The CIBC Run for the Cure as a major fundraising initiative for the Canadian Cancer Society. It funds research and the fight against brest cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
More than $360 million has been invested in breast cancer research by the society and the former Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The money has funded more than 1,000 research projects, leading to improved treatment, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for breast cancer patients.
The 2017 CIBC Run for the Cure takes place on Oct. 1 in 56 communities across Canada, including at the University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
For information, or to register, go to cibcrunforthecure.supportcbcf.com
20th Tour de Rock ridebegins today in Port Alice
The 20th Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock gets underway today from Port Alice.
Over the next two weeks, riders will stop at communities on Vancouver Island as they raise awareness and fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Stops include Port Alice, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Woss, Sayward, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Qualicum/Parksville, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Lake Cowichan, Duncan, Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Sooke, Westshore, Oak Bay/Victoria, Sidney, Esquimalt, Saanich, Victoria and the Spirit Square Finale.
For more information, go to tourderock.ca.
Ride for Refuge Victoria takes place on Sept. 30
Ride or walk to help fundraise for 17 local charities serving vulnerable populations at Ride for Refuge Victoria, Sept. 30.
In Victoria, the family-friendly ride is hosted by the Cridge Centre for the Family. Bikers can choose between 10-, 25- and50-kilometre rides.
Walkers can take part in a five-kilometre walk.
The event has raised more than $300,000 in the past three years.
Registration opens at 8, with the ride starting at 9 a.m. Walkers start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from the Saanich Community Church, 4566 West Saanich Rd.
For information, go to rideforrefuge.org/location/victoria
