Janna Gisler deadpans that she has the breast of intentions on coming up with a Boob Print Night to raise funds for breast cancer on Saturday.
“We shall be creating mammaries that last a lifetime,” said Gisler, owner of Fired Up! Ceramics, a paint-your-own ceramics studio where anyone can drop in and create a pottery piece.
On the night of the fundraiser, the store will be closed to the public. Guests will chose a plate or platter — prices range from $10 to $95 — and be assisted in the art of the boob print. Twenty-five per cent of the proceeds from every plate sold will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
After printing, ladies can decorate their plate to their heart’s content. Once finished, the staff will apply a glaze and fire the plates in a ceramic kiln, producing a shiny memento on which a person could conceivably use to serve cookies to friends.
The idea for the quirky fundraiser came about when Gisler and staff member were having a discussion about baby hand- and footprints. The point was raised that there are may be other interesting body parts that could be painted and then printed. The boob print was born.
Gisler also has a personal reason to hold the event — her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
Throughout the evening, guests will be entertained by music and fed chocolate and other goodies. Staff will be on hand to help with the printing and decorating processes. Pre-registration is encouraged, as seating is limited.
The event starts at 7 p.m. at the store, 1801 Fort St. For more information, go to firedupceramics.ca.
Rotary helping out with Souper Bowls of Hope
Members of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay will be at Fired Up! Ceramics to paint and decorate bowls for the 2014 Souper Bowls of Hope on Thursday.
Every year, celebrities serve soup to guests in soup bowls decorated by local artists and schoolchildren. This year the event takes place Nov. 3 at the Inn at Laurel Point.
Due to the recent labour unrest, students from some of the schools that usually donate bowls for the event have been unable to do so. Members of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay have resolved to help out and create some of the colourful bowls for the fundraiser.
Proceeds from the Souper Bowls of Hope event benefit youth at-risk programs offered through the Youth Empowerment Society.
The public is welcome to come and watch the process. Organizers hope to create up to 200 bowls for the fundraising event.
The Rotarians will be at the store, located at the corner of Fort Street and Richmond Avenue, between 7 and 9 p.m. For more information, go to the Souper Bowls page on Facebook.
Event promotes action on homelessness
Homelessness Action Week starts today and runs until Saturday.
Hosted by the Greater Victoria Coalition to end Homelessness, the event features a number of guided tours, information sessions and housing opportunities. Organizations opening their doors to the public include Anawim House, Downtown Community Centre, Pacifica Housing, Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter, Sandy Merriman House Emergency Shelter, AIDS Vancouver Island, Burnside Gorge Community Centre, Mustard Seed, Our Place, St. Vincent de Paul Housing and Social Concern office, Together Against Poverty Society and Quadra Village Community Centre.
There will be an all-candidates debate and a Housing First forum, as well as a breakfast discussing the economics of homelessness.
The Greater Victoria Coalition to end Homelessness is funded by the CRD, City of Victoria, United Way and Vancouver Island Health Authority.
For a schedule of events or more information, go to victoriahomelessness.ca.
Empress hosting pooch-friendly book launch
The Empress hotel is going to the dogs on Wednesday as it hosts a Paw-Tea to launch Julie Rosendaal’s new book, In the Dog Kitchen. Proceeds from the book benefit the local Dog Bless Rescue Partners.
Guests — both two- and four-legged — at the event will receive an introduction to the host, a book signing, afternoon tea, a selection of dog treats including Elvis’s Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Cake, Grrrrranola Sticks and Turkey Dinner Biscotti.
VIPs (very important pets) can have their photograph taken in the hotel’s recently constructed dog house.
A $30 ticket includes a signed book, professional photo with your companion, treats and a donation to Dog Bless Rescue Partners. The event runs 1 to 3 p.m. 721 Government St. Tickets can be purchased by emailing emp.socialmedia@fairmont.com or 250-592-3838. For more information, go to dogbless.ca.
Run for the Cure raises $430,000 in Victoria
More than 3,000 people in Victoria walked and ran to raise more than $430,000 at last week’s Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. They were among 127,000 who participated in the event nationally, collecting $25 million toward reducing the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer and helping support the breast cancer community.
“Today thousands of Canadians joined together to inspire hope by participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure,” said Wendy Slavin, CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region. “Whether walking or running, volunteering or donating, these individuals united to form a community of support. And this support is bringing us one step closer to our vision of creating a future without breast cancer.”
This year the event took place in 65 communities across Canada, including nine in British Columbia. For more information, go to cbcf.org.
Firm offers a lift to breast-cancer patient
A local business is showing their support for breast cancer research by painting one of their vehicles pink.
B&D Lift Trucks, which sells, services and trains people on the use of forklifts, has painted one of their vehicles pink to create awareness that October is breast cancer awareness month. The little forklift greets passersby with a 2.4-metre wide, 1.2-metre tall sign adorned with brassieres hoisted almost eight metres in the air.
“Deana Hill, my fiancé’s sister, is 39 with Stage 3 breast cancer and currently undergoing treatment,” said Angel Syrette, webmaster for the company, in an email. “In her honour, we put this promotion together to let her know she is loved and supported through these unsettled times.”
The truck can be seen at 2678 Sooke Rd. The business is accepting donations for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, go to cbcf.org.
Paul Harris awards honour Rotarians
The Rotary Club of Oak Bay held its first Paul Harris Awards dinner recently to honour the local club’s first three recipients.
Harris was the founder of Rotary and the award in his name is highest honour a club can bestow on a person inside or outside of the club. Recipients of the award exemplify Rotary’s “service above self” ideals, which include services the individual has performed in their community.
Maria Consalvo, Paul Destrooper and Helen Hughes reach received the award, which took place at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. For more information, go to oakbayrotary.com.
Project FeederWatch goes to the birds
People who feed birds in their back yards in the winter can support bird research and conservation by joining Project FeederWatch.
Information on which birds visit feeders between November and April help scientists at Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology track changes in bird numbers and movements. Last season, more than 3,100 Canadians took part in the program.
Sightings are entered online or reported on paper data forms. The results help scientists learn about changes in bird distribution and abundance over time, expansions and contractions of winter ranges, the spread of disease through bird populations and the kinds of habitats and foods that attract birds.
A $35 fee applies. For more information, go to birdscanada.org.
Dance raising funds for Myanmar children
A local not-for-protit is holding a fundraising dance to support children in need in Myanmar on Saturday.
The dance, organized by the OrphanAsia Society, features music provided by the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s dance band Rukus. There will be both a live and silent auction with items including tickets to the Victoria Symphony, Belfry, Ballet Victoria and Pacific Opera.
There are also yoga classes, a massage therapy session, feather cushions covered in fabric from Myanmar, jewellery and other items up for bid.
Recent projects the society has funded include the St. Anne’s Girls Orphanage in Taunggyi Shan State in Burma/Myanmar.
Tickets are $20 at the door or by calling 250-595-2335. Doors open at 7:30, the band plays 8 to 11:30 p.m. The event takes place at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 3277 Douglas St. For more information, go to orphanasiasociety.com.
Jerry the Moose returns to Salmon Run
People who like to watch the annual salmon run at Goldstream have a new attraction to keep their eyes on this year — Jerry the Moose, the B.C. Parks mascot — as he runs the 12th annual Goldstream Salmon Run 5K on Saturday.
This is the third time Jerry has participated in the event. He hopes to once again be the top (and only) ungulate finisher of the run, which winds through the park’s campground. Truth be told, it will be pretty easy for any runner to beat Jerry, but there is always a healthy contingent of elite runners who show up for the scenic five kilometre run.
Walkers, baby joggers, dogs on a leash and all other participants are also encouraged to come out to walk off a bit of Thanksgiving turkey from the week. Proceeds from registration support efforts to keep environmental education programs alive and splashing in the park.
Registration is $20. The event starts at 10 a.m. at the park campground in Langford. Register at raceonline.ca/events/details/?id= 741. For more information, go to goldstreampark.com or rlcparks.ca/news/165.