Discover the Pacific Northwest’s maritime contribution during the two world wars at the Victoria Classic Boat Festival, Friday to Sunday in the Inner Harbour.
This year, 100 vintage sail and power boats from the Pacific Northwest and beyond will gather for one of the region’s most anticipated maritime events of the year.
The theme of the show this year is the role of vessels during both world wars. The theme ties in with the Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s upcoming exhibition: Home Port Heroes of World War One and World War Two, opening Sept. 6.
“The Maritime Museum of B.C. is pleased to be commemorating the Pacific Northwest during World War Two at this year’s Classic Boat Festival. Since the museum first opened in 1955, our mission has always revolved around promoting and preserving our province’s rich maritime heritage and engaging people with this ongoing story,” said David Leverton, executive director of the museum.
“We’re pleased to be welcoming visitors to this special event that harkens back to a bygone era, when wooden boats used to fill our coastal harbours. I encourage visitors to take the time to stop by and learn more about this important part of our unique West Coast history.”
The festival typically attracts classic boats of all sizes and shapes, from gaffrigged schooners to rowboats and workboats.
This year’s feature boat is the Midnight Sun, a fishing vessel that was pressed into duty during he Second World War as a merchant navy patrol vessel.
Other vessels include the Merry Chase, a fishing boat seized from its captain because he was of Japanese descent when Canada was at war with Japan.
The museum, in collaboration with Parks Canada, will have a floating exhibit on a barge towed in for the occasion. The exhibit will tell stories of the men and women who toiled in shipyards or sailed in dangerous waters delivering vital war supplies during both wars.
Up to 10,000 visitors expected over the weekend can walk along the docks to admire the boats and meet their owners. Most of the boats will be open to the public.
On Sunday morning, there will be a sailpast and salute to the honorary commodore off the Ogden Point breakwater, followed by a classic sail race (weather permitting) in the afternoon. Boats start arriving today, with sailors finding a welcome kiosk in the lower causeway docks, in front of the Empress hotel.
The festival officially kicks off at noon on Friday with the arrival of the honorary commodore on board the Midnight Sun.
Sunday’s sailpast, which starts at 11 a.m., is best viewed from the Ogden Point breakwater.
The races, which begin after the sailpast, can be seen along Dallas Road between Ogden and Clover points.
Admission is free. The boats are open to view from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For details go to classicboatfestival.ca.
Chinese benevolent association marks 100 years
Join the Victoria branch of the Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada in a celebration of their 100th anniversary on Sunday on Fisgard Street.
The association got its start more than 100 years ago representing Chinese labourers invited to Canada to help build the railroad across the country. The non-profit organization has its headquarters in Vancouver with offices in Victoria and Calgary.
To celebrate its centenary, the organization will awaken three new lions. The ceremony involves dotting paint onto the lions as a symbol of life giving.
Dot the eyes, so that it can see, dot the nose so it can smell, dot the mouth so that it can eat and dot the ears so that it can hear the beat of the drum.
The ceremony will be followed by a lion dance parade, as lions in Chinese mythology bring prosperity, good fortune and chase away evil spirits.
Traditionally, businesses will offer donations to the lion. Money collected will go to the Chinese Public School, Chinese Senior Activity Centre and the Chinatown Care Home.
The celebration is free to join. The parade will start at noon on Sunday from 612 Fisgard St. (next to QV Cafe). For more information, go to hungfut.ca or shonyee-victoria.yolasite.com/about-us.php.
Labour council welcomes picnickers
The Victoria Labour Council is inviting Victorians to come in solidarity to its annual Labour Day Celebration on Monday on the front lawn of the legislature.
The event is always held on the annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers and the labour union movement.
The annual event promises to be family-friendly, with children’s games and clowns.
Bring along a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic lunch to enjoy the live music.
Admission is free.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the legislature at 501 Belleville St. (at Government Street).
For more information, go to victorialabour.ca.
Church hosts Willows family day
Give the children one last event to enjoy the summer at the Back-To-School Family Fest, Saturday at Willows Park in Oak Bay.
The event, hosted by Canvas Church Oak Bay, is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the last long weekend before the children head back to classes.
There will be live music, free food, inflatable amusements, face painting, game booths and a photo booth.
The event is free. It runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Willows Park (Dalhousie Street and Beach Drive).
For more information, go to canvaschurch.ca.
Salt Spring event celebrates diversity
Join a celebration of diversity and inclusion at the Salt Spring Island Pride Festival, today to Sunday at various venues on Salt Spring Island.
Organizers say their event is the most unique people-powered, non-commercial Pride festival in British Columbia.
The event is hosted by the island’s local LGBTQ+ community.
Events taking place today include Gender Revolution — an open-mic queer poetry reading hosted by Julian Paquette and Ali Blythe at 7 p.m. at the public library, and Drag and Alter Ego Karaoke Night, 8 p.m. to midnight at the Salt Spring Legion.
Friday hosts Coming In: A Queer Community Gathering for Feasting and Weaving Connection from 5:30 p.m. at Fulford Hall.
The whole family is welcome to the Salt Spring Island pride parade and party in the park, which starts at 1 p.m. in front of the public library on McPhillips Avenue.
A pride dance takes place at Fulford Hall from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, attend the Unitarian Pride Service at the Seniors’ Centre, 379 Lower Ganges Rd.
For more information, go to daissi.org/salt-spring-pride.
Help to improve vultures’ bad rap
Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day with a weekend of events at Duncan wildlife attraction The Raptors, Saturday and Sunday.
Vulture Awareness Weekend is an opportunity for people to get closer to these intelligent and irreplaceable scavengers of the air.
No bird suffers from as bad a rap as vultures. That leads to persecution, making vultures the most endangered group of birds in the world.
Three species of vultures in Asia have declined in numbers by almost 99 per cent in the past 15 years.
At the event you will learn fascinating details about the bald-headed scavengers through talks from experts and flying demonstrations.
Proceeds from the event will go to vulture conservation programs.
Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and youth (13 to 17), $8 for children age three to 12.
The facility is open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1877 Herd Rd., Duncan.
Flying demonstrations are at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
For more information, go to pnwraptors.com.
Who’s hooting in the park
With summer winding down, it’s a good time to take the family for a guided walk — and learn about owls at the same time at Who’s Hooting?, Saturday at Mill Hill Regional Park.
Join a CRD regional parks naturalist for a 1 1/2-hour guided walk to learn about B.C. owls and their nocturnal hunting habits. You also get to learn how to make your own owl call.
The program is free to join and is suitable for children five and older. The walk runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Mill Hill Regional Park in Langford. Meet at the information kiosk in the parking lot off Atkins Avenue.
For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
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