Bricklayers with Rob Tournour Masonry laid down their tools at all their job sites Wednesday morning in support of Pink Shirt Day.
The bricklayers, joined by family, donned bright pink T-shirts with the slogan: “We’re bricklayers … not bullies,” for a group picture at the Empress, one of the company’s work sites.
They were joined by Premier Christy Clark.
“We all feel strongly about this cause, and it’s important to show support and friendship to our community and be together in making a statement against bullying,” said Sheri Eastman, co-owner of the business.
The company is performing a full masonry restoration of the original phase of the hotel, which was constructed in 1908.
For more information, go to robtournourmasonry.com.
Group funds programs for girls and women
A local foundation is looking for submissions for up to $40,000 in grant money available for organizations that help girls and women develop their life and personal skills, or professional and educational development.
The Lobstick Foundation was created by Margaret Nix and Marygold Nash, both former professors of psychology from Pace University, New York, who retired to Sidney.
Their vision was to leave their estate in a foundation that would support young girls and women who need a helping hand to reach their goals. The foundation, established in 2012, has donated $60,000 to local organizations.
The foundation was named after a lobstick, a tall, conspicuous pine tree that has been limbed in such a way that the top limbs provide directions to the nearest safe haven. In rural Manitoba, where Nix taught in remote villages as a young woman, the lobstick was used as a landmark and to give direction to the indigenous peoples in the deep snows of winter.
“The Lobstick Foundation is looking to support young girls and women, who were born here or who are new to Canada, and need a helping hand to reach their scholastic and self-supporting goals,” said Laurie Salvador, who chairs the foundation. “We hope like-minded support organizations will take the time to complete an application so we can learn more about their work and ensure our funds help make the positive difference they are intended to create.”
Organizations that meet its mandate are asked to submit a grant application by March 31. Grant-application guidelines and forms are available online at lobstickfoundation.org.
Learn more about diabetes self-care
Book now for the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Walk and Talk program, a free eight-week program to get people up to speed on diabetes care and prevention, funded by the Victoria Foundation.
The program offers presentations and informative talks by local health and wellness specialists about making healthier choices to support diabetes self-management. The meeting is meant to start conversations and create a sense of community among individuals with common goals.
Topics include: active living and tips to get motivated; healthy eating and glycemic index; foot care, footwear and neuropathy; emotional well-being; understanding blood sugar; medications; cardiovascular, eye, dental health and more.
Following the presentation, there will be a walk of 10 steps to 10,000 steps, rain or shine, inside or outside. Organizers promise there will be an option for everyone to get moving.
The sessions are free to register and suitable for those with diabetes, those with prediabetes, those who care for them or those who would like to know more. There is a choice of three times and locations: March 29 to May 17 at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre (West Shore), 1767 Island Hwy.; March 31 to May 19 at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd., and April 1 to May 20 at Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre (near Mattick’s Farm) 5325 Cordova Bay Rd. All sessions run 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, email penny.murray@diabetes.ca or call 250-382-5454 ext. 222.
Yacht club has a deal for new members
The Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club is hosting a membership promotion this spring as part of its 35th anniversary celebrations.
The club has an active cruising program that allows boaters to explore the coastline alongside a group of friendly boaters. It is also home to a vibrant racing community, with an opportunity for people to crew on others’ boats.
Younger members can join a juniors program that offers sail training. The club also works with the community, offering sail training through middle and secondary schools in Sidney.
New members receive a complimentary $250 food and beverage credit at the club, a reduction in moorage at North Saanich Marina and an invitation to social and educational programs throughout the year.
The club is located at 1949 Marina Way, North Saanich. For more information, go to snsyc.ca.
Naked bungee jumpers set fundraising record
The 10th annual Naked Bungy Jump, a fundraiser for the Victoria branch of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, set a fundraising record this year.
Over two days, more than 160 people doffed their clothes and jumped off the Bungy Jump bridge at WildPlay Element Parks in Nanaimo to the Nanaimo River 46 metres below.
This year, the event raised more than $37,000, which will be used to fund mental-health support services. Organizers report a significant increase in pledges collected by participants. A longstanding anonymous donor matched donations.
The B.C. Schizophrenia Society Victoria is a non-profit charitable organization that provides peer support and self-management courses for people with mental illness, counselling for families, education and public presentations.
For more information, go to bcss.org
Games event will aid Syrian refugee project
Play Monopoly, Dungeons and Dragons, Risk and more at Teen Board Games for Refugees, a fundraiser hosted by a group of James Bay teenagers for teens to help bring a family of Syrian refugees to Victoria.
The teens are part of the James Bay Refugee Initiative, which is helping to sponsor refugees to Canada.
“We thought it would be a really great idea to support this refugee initiative in our own way,” said Tom Kerr, 14, one of the organizers. “If you’re a kid in middle school or high school, you can help by coming and having fun. We’ll have lots of games. Bring an appetite [as well] because we’ll have lots of pizza and pop for sale.”
Admission is $2 and the event is open to young people, ages 11 to 16.
The event runs 5 to 9 p.m., March 5 at James Bay United Church (entrance at rear of church, lower level), 511 Michigan St. For more information, contact Tom or Grant Kerr, 250-382-3875, 250-216-2496 or kateandgrant@hotmail.com.
For more on the James Bay Refugee Initiative, go to jamesbayrefugeeinitiative.org.
Cooking up soup and skills at Vic High
The Victoria High Soup Lunch program was made possible when several community organizations got together to ensure that students at Victoria High School have an opportunity to build new skills — and eat a healthy, hot lunch.
The initiative started when the school approached the Rotary Club of Victoria Harbourside, which offers a breakfast program of toast and peanut butter at the school and Central Middle School, for funding.
The Special Education Team of teachers at the school created a life-skills class, with the goal of building learning opportunities out of making nutritious, healthy and delicious food with local ingredients.
The response has been astounding.
The local business community has stepped forward to provide skills, experience, industry and community contacts, as well as soup.
Contributors include Sysco Victoria, Fairway Markets and Fol Epi Bakery.
Cosmo Means from the Hot & Cold Café will teach cooking skills to the students.
The school will kick off the soup-lunch program with soup made in the school’s kitchen for more than 250 students on Monday. The chef will teach the basics of making a nourishing, affordable soup from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the school, 1260 Grant St.
For more information, go to vichigh.sd61.bc.ca or harboursiderotary.org.
Discussion series focuses on science and faith
What does quantum physics have to do with our lives, our relationships and our spirituality?
These are the questions addressed in a new Evolutionary Christianity discussion series, which runs March 6 to 9.
The four sessions are offered collaboratively by four United Churches in Victoria: Cadboro Bay, Cordova Bay, First Metropolitan and St. Aidan’s.
The session topics include: Entanglement: Nothing is separate and everything is connected; Chaos: Why chaos is a good thing; Probability vs. Certainty: There is no certainty, only probability; and Emergence vs Prediction: There is no prediction, only emergence.
Organizers say understanding the implication of these four basic principles about how the universe in unfolding is critical to our ability to engage in dynamic ways.
The speaker and discussion leader is Garth Mundle, former principal of St. Stephen’s Theological College in Edmonton.
Sessions are $10 per night or $30 for the entire series. The sessions will be offered over four evenings, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Rd. For more information or to register, go to evolutionarychristianityvictoria.com.
UVic radio station drives for new equipment
Tune in and take part as CFUV 101.9 FM, the University of Victoria campus and community radio station, hosts a Fundrive to help support another year of independent radio in the community, March 11 to 18.
For eight days, on-air volunteers will ask for pledges from listeners and the community to help support CFUV’s work.
Funds received on the first day of the drive will support the Women’s Radio Collective, which supports volunteers that are marginalized by gender. The collective is open to self-identified women or gender-fluid and gender non-binary members of the community.
All other donations go toward repairs and new equipment. The goal this year is to raise $25,000 toward the purchase of a new sound board.
This vital piece of equipment will improve the station’s ability to record and edit live performances of local bands in the community — part of its Basement Closet Sessions — as well as improving accessibility to its music library.
People can donate on-air, online (using UVic’s secure server) or by phone at 250-721-8700. For more information, go to cfuv.uvic.ca.
Wigs for Kids fundraiser kicks off Monday
Just a reminder: Lizzy Lee and Me, a hair salon for children, is holding its third annual Cut-A-Thon in support of Wigs for Kids on Monday. Trims are $20, hair donation, restyle and photo $30 for kids, $40 adults. Pledge sheets are available. The event runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the salon, Shelbourne Plaza, 3655 Shelbourne St.
For more information, go to lizzyleeandme.com or wigsforkidsbc.com.
West Shore finds magical way to support school
Local magicians, including one who is a West Shore student, will perform in the International Stars of Magic show on Friday.
The event is a fundraiser for the Ruth King Elementary School parent advisory council, with performers donating their time for the show.
Expect to see award-winning magicians such as Eric Bedard, Shayne, Dave Attwood and Jason Verners, one of Canada’s best young magicians and a student in the district.
Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6:25 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. March 4 at Royal Bay Secondary School, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way, Colwood. Tickets are available at Ruth King Elementary School, 2764 Jacklin Rd., Langford, by phone at 250-516-8735 or at ruthkingmagicshow@gmail.com.
For more information, go to ruthking.sd62.bc.ca.
