The Saanich Peninsula club of the Canadian Federation of University Women has decided to forgo its annual book sale in favour of a speaker series entitled Totally Inspiring Careers Talks, set to begin April 6 at Oak Bay High School.
The Saanich Peninsula and Victoria clubs raise money for post-secondary scholarships for graduating secondary students in local school districts.
The club expects the series to sell out, so is giving plenty of notice so people can purchase their tickets to avoid disappointment.
The first speaker is Maestra Tania Miller of the Victoria Symphony, describing how she became a conductor of a major symphony orchestra — despite major challenges on her path.
The Oak Bay High School student orchestra will perform at the beginning of the evening.
Tickets are $20 adults and $10 students, available at ticketrocket.co. The talk starts at 7 p.m. in the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High School, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd.
For more information, go to cfuwsaanichpeninsula.org.
Food joins art in tasty fundraiser
Appetite for Art, Vancouver Island’s only food and art pairing fundraiser, is back for the fourth year with more artists and vendors, March 9 at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke.
The event sees the grand ballroom at the resort transformed into an art gallery, with local food and beverage retailers pairing their creations with the artwork on display. Each vendor will be given a selection of artwork to use as inspiration to create individual canapé-style dishes or drinks that complement the images.
“We already have lots of excited people calling up and asking about this year’s event,” said Tracy Snow, general manager of West Coast Grill and event organizer. “We are blessed with some really talented visual and culinary artists in the area.”
Proceeds from ticket sales, art sales and a raffle benefit the Sooke Fine Arts Society Youth Scholarship fund and the Sooke Food Bank. So far, the annual event has raised more than $6,000 for the two causes.
The event is run by the combined efforts of the Sooke Community Arts Council and its members, West Coast Grill restaurant and the Sooke Fine Arts Society.
Last year saw more than 200 people admiring 65 pieces of original art. This year, there will be 80 pieces with pairings by West Coast Grill, Stick in the Mud, Nature’s Chef, Kelz Bakery, Sooke 241 Pizza, Sheringham Distillery, Glenrosa Farm Restaurant, Stickleback and Vault.
Adam Dobres, performer, producer and composer, will grace the evening playing acoustic guitar in a wide range of styles from Latin to contemporary.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at West Coast Grill, Stick in the Mud, Little Vienna Bakery and Shoppers Drug Mart, Sooke. Tickets will also be available on the door. The event runs 7 to 9 p.m. March 9 at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort, 6929 West Coast Rd., Sooke. For more information, go to sookecommunityarts.com.
Savoury competition pays off for Our Place
Hungry Hearts, a unique fundraiser where four top local chefs engaged in a fierce competition to see who could create the most popular savoury bite, raised more than $105,000 to enable Our Place to continue serving some of the vulnerable citizens of Greater Victoria.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the community,” said Don Evans, executive director of Our Place. “This strong support will enable us to continue with many of our life-transforming programs and services to assist people in crisis.”
The trophy was won by Chef Castro Boateng of Castro Boateng Fine Catering, who created a gourmet treat of Dungeness crab and mango cannelloni with papaya salsa on a purple yam crisp.
Other competing chefs included: Nicholas Waters of Toque catering, Takashi Ito of Inn at Laurel Point and Tyler Paquette of Fish Hook. Two Our Place chefs, Emilie and Erica, also created a special vegetarian risotto dish.
Our Place is a inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s vulnerable.
For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Nurse manager honoured for care work
Mari Green, a nurse manager in the home-support care program at Beacon Community Services, received her Care Provider of the Year award at the B.C. Care Providers Association’s fourth annual B.C. Care Awards last week.
The longtime Saanich resident was recognized for her work in palliative care, infection prevention and control, and for promoting a healthy workplace She was presented the award at a ceremony Feb. 20 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
The B.C. Care Providers Association advocates for the continuing-care sector in B.C. For more information, go to bccare.ca.
Women’s Day gathering is a voice for peace
Join in an afternoon of history, conversation and friendship at Unity and Diversity: A Voice for Peace, a community event in honour of International Women’s Day, March 11 at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre.
The event features speakers, a panel discussion, live music and refreshments. Hear about past and present women of Victoria and how the strength of diversity can create a harmony that leads to peace.
Admission is by donation, and registration is recommended. For more information, go to cookstreetvillageactivitycentre.com or 250-384-6542.
Sing along at St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Enjoy an afternoon of sacred anthems and singalong hymns as the Arion Male Voice Choir and St. Andrew’s Music Ministry celebrate their 125th anniversary, today at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The event is suitable for all ages and admission is by donation. The event runs 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Roman Catholic cathedral, 740 View St. (at Blanshard). For more information, go to standrewscathedral.com.
Scholarships announced for trans students
The University of Victoria has just announced Chair in Transgender Studies Scholarships and Fellowships. There are awards for:
1. Academically outstanding UVic undergraduate ($500), master’s ($1,000) or doctoral ($5,000) degree students who are pursuing trans-related research in any field.
2. Academically outstanding UVic master’s ($1,000) or doctoral ($5,000) degree students who self-identify as trans or non-binary and who are pursuing research in any field.
3. Community-based scholars ($1,000) who are pursuing research at UVic in any field that will benefit trans and gender nonconforming people.
4. Visiting university-based scholars and professionals ($1,000) who are pursuing trans-related research at UVic.
Priority will be given to those who self-identify as trans or non-binary. Further preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
People are encouraged to make a donation to help make these scholarships available to more students. All donations will be matched by the Tawani Foundation. Each $500 will allow the university to provide two undergraduate-degree scholarships or one community-based fellowship.
For more information, go to uvic.ca/research/transchair/ index.php.
Palliative helps budgets, as well as patients
Providing palliative care makes economic sense, concludes a new analysis just released by the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians.
The study finds providing palliative-care services across Canada would result in better care for less money.
“Investing in palliative care and hospice services would not only provide the type of care many people require and currently lack, it also makes sound economic sense,” said Dr. David Henderson, president of the society. “Providing palliative care would enable the more efficient and appropriate use of Canadian heath-care resources, today and in the future, by reducing the costs of caring for people with life-threatening chronic illnesses and freeing up much-needed hospital beds.”
The report, Palliative Care: A vital service with clear economic, health and social benefits, makes a case for the effectiveness of palliative care and hospice programs, from both a cost and patient-care perspective. Compared with usual acute care, hospital-based palliative care saves about $7,000 to $8,000 per patient.
The group has developed recommendations for the federal, provincial and territorial governments on how to improve, monitor and evaluate quality and access to palliative care services across Canada.
“It’s time,” said Henderson, “to apply what we have already learned and evaluate the benefits for Canadians.”
For more information, go to cspcp.ca/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/02/Economics-of-Palliative-Care-Final-EN.pdf.
New sponsors back ALS walk
The ALS Society of B.C. recently announced that HME Mobility and Accessibility and Pride Mobility Products will be the presenting sponsors of the Walk for ALS in B.C. and Yukon in 2017.
The walks take place across Canada throughout the summer, promoting awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and raising crucial funds for patient care and research.
“We are very proud to be active supporters of ALS B.C., and especially pleased this year to sponsor Walk for ALS,” said Robert Boscacci, a partner with HME Mobility and Accessibility.
“Walk for ALS is a great series of events designed to encourage support for the great work done by ALS B.C.,” said Margaret Arnold of Pride Mobility Products. “We are extremely pleased to be involved this year with HME in promoting this year’s events.”
Victoria is one of 15 locations in B.C. and the Yukon that will host the event. It takes place Sept. 17 in Victoria. For more information, go to walkforals.ca.
Celebrate Canada through eyes of seniors
Victorians of all ages are invited to the Embrace Aging Arts Festival, a project that showcases life experiences and reflections, in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, March 7 to 17 in the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre.
This festival is part of events and activities surrounding the Eldercare Foundation’s Embrace Aging Month, which runs throughout March.
More than 60 local artists and more than 150 musicians partnered with 125 older adults from Oak Bay Lodge to share life experiences — and reflect on what Canada means to them, as part of the foundation’s Memory Café program. Intergenerational sessions took place with Oak Bay Lodge residents, community members, teens from Oak Bay High and youth from the University of Victoria.
Their collected reflections and experiences have been turned into musicals, theatre performances and art exhibits.
The opening concert features Daniel Lapp and a musical journey across Canada.
The festival is funded in part by the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
All events are free. The opening celebration runs 6 to 8 p.m., March 7 in the Dave Dunnett Theatre at the Oak Bay High School, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. Free workshops, events and activities will take place at the school until March 17. For more information, go to gvef.org and click on Embrace Aging or call 250-370-5664.
Tips for making that bucket list
Discover useful tips and guidance on how to attain goals before you die at the Victoria Hospice Bucket List Festival, Saturday and March 11 at the Wellesley.
What’s on your bucket list? As people age, ticking things off the list becomes a priority. At this public-education event, people can learn how to get the most out of the time that’s left.
“The festival is informative, interactive — even fun,” said Dr. Douglas McGregor, medical director at Victoria Hospice. “It brings death out of the shadows, reminding us that it’s OK to speak openly about end-of-life issues. It does not always have to be sad and difficult; in fact, these info sessions can help to empower people and calm fears they may have.”
While the festival deals with challenges at the end of life, it’s by no means a sombre affair.
Saturday’s presentation includes: advance-care planning; travelling while ill; the gift of caregiving; and how to really talk to your doctor.
Free admission. The festival runs over two half-days, 9 a.m. to noon March 4 and March 11, at the Wellesley, 2800 Blanshard St.
For more information, go to victoriahospice.org.
