Five local women with a desire to do something to benefit Victoria Hospice’s programs are behind Wednesday’s heART for Hospice, a fundraiser featuring art donated from community collections and from local artists.
The women, Shelley Tysick, Virginie Martin, Lara Tomaszewska, Carla Tadla and Sylvia Wearne, have put together a collection of works donated by artists such as Brigit Piskor, Phyllis Serota, Shushan Egoyan and Saltspring Island’s Jill Louise Campbell.
The art will be available in silent and live auction throughout the evening, while guests enjoy wine, food and entertainment.
Tickets are $45. The event runs 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Union Club, 805 Gordon St.
Tickets are available online at heartforhospice.bpt.me. For information, go to victoriahospice.org.
Concerts celebrate Canada Music Week
The Victoria Conservatory of Music is celebrating Canada Music Week with free concerts and workshops all week.
The cultural event is meant to draw attention to the relevance of Canadian music — and support our Canadian composers and performers. At the conservatory the week-long celebration is an opportunity to expose local audiences to world-renowned Victoria composers and performers.
Events include:
• Nicholas Fairbank organ concert, featuring music by Canadian composers including Healey Willan, Ruth Watson Henderson, Gerald Bales and Nicholas Fairbank. The event runs 12:15 to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Alix Goolden Hall.
• Workshop: Musical Improv Tips and Techniques for Sketch Comedy with Jan Randall, music director. Participants will be invited to try out improvising with the actors. 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Wood Hall.
• Winds and Brass Concert — A Tribute to Hans Boellard, composer. Host: Marsha Elliott. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 303.
• Thursday Lunch Concert Series — conservatory postsecondary students performing Canadian music. Hosted by the Post-Secondary Department. 12:05 to 1 p.m. Thursday in Wood Hall.
• Workshop: Score Your Own Movie with Jan Randall, film composer. He will demonstrate using film clips and a keyboard, after which he will invite selected participants to try creating their own soundtracks. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 302.
• A concert of music written by composers from across Canada, played by conservatory students and faculty. 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday in Wood Hall.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. All performances take place at the conservatory, 900 Johnson St. For information, go to vcm.bc.ca.
Country Grocer stores look to Help Fill a Dream
Staff at all Vancouver Island Country Grocer locations are hoping to raise $11,000 this holiday season for the Help Fill a Dream Foundation.
The most popular item is a $2 paper T-shirt. Customers who purchase the shirts get to put them up on a wall near the check-outs. Every year the full walls at the end of the campaign are a testament of the generosity of Island families.
“All the funds raised from this promotion help Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands’ children achieve their dreams,” said Craig Smith, the foundation’s executive director “Help Fill A Dream cannot make a child well but we can offer families a respite for the stress and frustration they are experiencing.”
The grocery chain will also donate a portion of the sale of Island-grown Christmas trees (sold between Nov. 14 and Dec. 14) and flower bouquets to brighten up the home.
“As the number of requests for dreams continues to grow, we are extremely proud that, with the support of our generous community partners like Country Grocer, their employees, their suppliers and their customers, we can continue to say ‘yes’ to the increasing number of children who need the gift of a Dream,” said Smith.
Established in 1984, Country Grocer has seven stores and more than 600 employees. Help Fill A Dream fulfils dreams, improves quality of life and assists families with care and financial support. For information, go to helpfilladream.com.
Fundraiser aims to help stop Northern Gateway
Enjoy a night of music, poetry, story-telling, live auction and dance while supporting efforts to stop the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline at the Pull Together for B.C. event on Saturday.
The fundraiser is a joint initiative of Sierra Club B.C. and Victoria-based legal defence fund Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs (RAVEN) and hosted by St. Barnabas Church.
Performers include spoken word artist Janet Rogers, singer/songwriter Chris Ho, jazz vocalist Anne Schaefer, worldbeat concocters Compassion Gorilla, author Monique Gray-Smith, humorist-musician Art Napoleon and the Bald Eagles band.
Attendees will be welcomed by special guest, Songhees elder Clarence Butch Dick. Community leader Dr. Jacquie Green of the Heiltsuk Nation will talk about her Northern community and why the Enbridge pipeline must never be built.
All proceeds will go into a trust to support the Gitxaala, Kitasoo/Xai'Xais, Heiltsuk, Nadleh Whut'en and Nak'azdli Nations in their legal battle against the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
Donations can be made at any time — a matching donor doubles every dollar raised until Dec. 31.
Tickets $25 at the door. A cash bar will be available. The event runs 7 to 10 p.m. at the St. Barnabas Anglican Church hall (corner of Begbie and Belmont). For information, go to pull-together.ca.
Celebrate music’s patron saint at open house
Christ Church Cathedral celebrates music’s patron saint, St. Cecilia, with an all-day musical open house on Saturday.
The sound of the cathedral bells will herald the start of the event. People will have a rare opportunity to experience a backstage view of preparations for the Cathedral’s much anticipated Advent Carol service, with music director Michael Gormley leading the Cathedral Choir in an open rehearsal.
Visitors will be entertained throughout the day by organ and piano solos, ensembles ranging from medieval/renaissance wind band, barbershop quartet, accordions, acoustic guitar and voice and even an English country dance band.
The St. Christopher Singers choral evensong brings St. Cecilia’s Day to an inspirational conclusion.
As a bonus, Christ Church Cathedral’s annual Christmas Bazaar runs noon to 3 p.m.
Admission by donation. The event runs 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave. For information, go to christchurchcathedral.bc.ca.
Bursary aids child afflicted with cerebral palsy
The deadline for applications for a $5,000 bursary for a child living with cerebral palsy is fast approaching.
Pacific Medical Law, which specializes in medical malpractice, has a bursary fund in honor of Janna Epp, a girl with cerebral palsy who died in October 2012.
In her memory the practice donates $5,000 every year to assist with the care, therapy or recreation of a child suffering from the condition. The recipient of the award will be selected by Epp’s mother.
This year the bursary recipient will be selected Dec. 12. For application details call toll free 1-888-333-2361, or email info@pacificmedicallaw.ca.
Ride for Refuge raises more than $100,000
This year’s inaugural Victoria Ride for Refuge, hosted by the Cridge Centre for the Family, was a resounding success, with over 1,400 individuals and businesses raising more than $100,000.
The family ride was organized to raise money for charities who serve the displaced, vulnerable and exploited. The event took place in 24 communities across Canada in October. In Victoria the event attracted 45 teams, with almost 300 riders representing 17 charities.
Local charities who received funds include the Intercultural Association, Sanctuary Youth, the Mustard Seed and The Cridge Centre for the Family. For more information, go to cridge.org.
Concert raises funds for Community Living Victoria
Community Living Victoria is hosting its 8th annual Concert for Hope on Thursday.
The concert, which usually attracts 600 guests every year, features an evening of great music, including a live performance by Cody Karey, a Canadian up and coming singer/songwriter.
The event is a significant fundraiser for Community Living Victoria, which supports individuals with developmental challenges in the community.
Tickets are $54.75. The event starts at 8 p.m. at the McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Sq. For information, go to theconcertforhopehelphome.com.
Concert raising funds for Cowichan food bank
A quintet made up of caring Duncan musicians is holding a fundraising concert for the Cowichan Valley Basket Society next Sunday.
Pianist/vocalist Jo Wright, well-known valley musicians saxophonist Devin Bailey, guitarist Geoff Johnson, bassist John Robertson and drummer Ron Joiner will play selections from the Great American songbook along with hits from the Beatles and Glen Campbell.
The concert is music to the ears of organizers at the food bank.
“It's the first time anyone has held a concert on our behalf,” said Colleen Fuller, food bank manager. “I was thrilled when she suggested it. To receive the gift of music is very special indeed. It’s this kind of support that allows the society to distribute 1,200 hampers each month to needy individuals and families — a third of whom are children.”
The event will be hosted by the Duncan United Church.
Tickets are $15. Doors open at 7 p.m., at the church, 246 Ingram St. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the church, 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, or at the Cowichan Food Basket Society, 5810 Garden St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information or to donate, go to cvbs.ca.
Concert to benefit counselling centre
Louise Rose is the featured entertainer at the South Island Centre for Counselling and Training’s fundraising concert on Saturday.
The centre offers affordable income-based counselling for individuals, couples, families and organizations.
The event includes a concert, silent auction and dessert reception.
Proceeds from the event will be given to the centre’s Samaritan Fund, which allows them to never turn away a client because of lack of income.
Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at door. The event runs 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2121 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. Free parking and wheelchair accessible. For information, go to southislandcentre.ca or call 250-472-2851 ext. 101.