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Our Community: Grannies hit the road to aid Africa

There is still room for riders of all abilities to join this year’s Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour in September. Riders will cycle 275 kilometres over three days from Campbell River to the legislature in Victoria.

There is still room for riders of all abilities to join this year’s Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour in September.

Riders will cycle 275 kilometres over three days from Campbell River to the legislature in Victoria.

The Victoria members join 249 other groups in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom in raising funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. The groups have just passed the $1-million milestone in raising funds to care for 15 million AIDS orphans in Africa.

The Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign supports community projects and caregivers, as well as working on long-term solutions so this generation doesn’t repeat the pattern of their parents.

The tour is open to women over 54 years old. Last year, 48 women took part in the fundraiser.

“If cycling with a happy group that makes frequent pit stops for coffee, delicious food and washroom breaks while exploring this wonderful island is not your thing, please consider donating to our cause,” said Laurie Wilson, the group spokeswoman.

For more information, go to victoriagrandmothersforafrica.ca, grandmotherscampaign.org or stephenlewisfoundation.org. They are also on Facebook.

Contact Heather Wilson at [email protected].

 

UVic rocketeers win award

The University of Victoria Rocketry team has just returned from the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition with a highly sought-after technical award.

The local team is made up of engineering, science and business students coming together to design and develop rockets — and pursue their dreams of working in aerospace.

The competition saw 91 teams from 12 countries launch 115 rockets at Spaceport America, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Teams launch their rockets in either 3,050- or 9,150-metre (10,000- or 30,000-ft.) contests.

The UVic Rocketry team entered rockets in both divisions.

In the 9,150-metre category, the rocket’s on-board ultraviolet sterilization experiment impressed judges, winning them first place in the Space Dynamics Laboratory Payload Challenge, one of the technical awards at the competition.

For more information, go to space.com/37318-michigan-team-wins-spaceport-america-cup.html.

 

Visit a farm for rescued animals

Broken Promises Rescue is holding an open house at its farm on Saturday, July 15.

The event is an opportunity to meet the volunteers, see the animals under their care and obtain information from other rescue organizations at the same time.

Enjoy a barbecue sponsored by Very Good Butchers, a plant-based business.

The event runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the organization’s farm, 5756 West Saanich Rd.

Please leave dogs at home. For more information, go to brokenpromisesrescue.com.

 

Mustard Seed launches FairStart for Kids

Summer is just starting, but the Mustard Seed Street Church is already preparing for the classes in the fall with the launch of its FairStart for Kids initiative.

This is the 19th year of the initiative, which distributes school-supplies kits to 750 children in need in Greater Victoria.

Mustard Seed distributes essential school supplies valued at $50 — but with the generous support of Monk Office, a donation of $25 will help in the purchase of a pre-made kit.

They are also accepting new supplies, clothing and shoes for children at 625 Queens Ave.

For more information, go to mustardseed.ca.

 

Poetry slam comes to seaside park

Slam by the Sea is Victoria’s seaside poetry festival.

A variety of local spoken-word poets will be taking the stage for three nights at Fisherman’s Wharf park.

The event is being hosted by local poet Pam Stewart.

Entry is by donation. Doors open at 7:30, show at 8 p.m. July 17 to 19. For more information, contact Stewart at [email protected].

 

Improve your cycling skills with courses

People of all ages are encouraged to start pedalling this summer with a pair of bicycle courses that strive to increase cycling skills and confidence to get rolling in 2017.

• The Bike Freedom 55+ Older Adults Bike Skills Program is targeted at adults 55 and older who are not regular, confident cyclists and want to ride more often.

There are three levels of courses, with participants choosing the level appropriate for their ability and experience:

Level 1 — Best Practices of Safe Cycling (July 16)

Level 2 — Bike Handling Skills (July 23)

Level 3 — On the Road (July 30)

The program is a People Power initiative run in collaboration with the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society, the Capital Regional District, Joyriding and BikeCyclers.

The sessions are $25 each. The courses take place at the Shoal Centre, 10030 Resthaven Dr., Sidney. Register at biketoworkvictoria.ca/bike-skills. The event is on Facebook.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 250-920-5775.

• The Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society’s series of Summer Bike Skills courses help improve knowledge, skills and confidence on two wheels.

The courses are suitable for children, youth and adults, with a combination of classroom and on-road training.

The courses help develop safe cycling habits and behaviours through knowledge and skills training surrounding traffic safety.

By reinforcing skills and using best practices, participants will be able to cycle with confidence and a newfound appreciation of the joy of safe cycling.

The Summer Bike Skills courses run: Aug. 15 and Sept. 9 for children 7 to 9; July 15, Aug. 19 and Sept. 16 for youth 10 to 14; and July 22 (full day), Aug. 26 (quick course) and Sept. 23 (quick course) for adults.

Courses are $30 children, $65 youth, $40 quick-course adult and $75 full-day adult. Course times and location given at time of registration.

To register or for more information, go to biketoworkvictoria.ca.

 

Medallions will mark 150th birthday

The Victoria Numismatic Society has produced a limited-edition medallion to commemorate Canada 150. The medal is one in a series issued by numismatic societies across Canada, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association, to mark this historic occasion.

Only 25 silver and 100 copper medals were produced. The front features the coat of arms of the original Vancouver Island Crown Colony, while the reverse bears the national symbol of the 150th anniversary.

“The Victoria Numismatic Society has issued very few commemorative medals since it was founded in 1955,” said Jon Taylor, president of the society. “Each of those medals now sells for significantly above the original issue price. They are true collectors’ items.”

The medals will be offered for sale to the public at the Victoria Coin Show on Aug. 26.

This is the first show dedicated to coins in many years in Victoria. There will be more than 20 tables of sellers, as well as coin and banknote displays.

The non-profit society will provide free expert identification and evaluation of coins. People are encouraged to bring in single coins, banknotes, medals or entire accumulations, to gain an appreciation of their value and historic interest.

Admission is $2, which includes a ticket for the door prize of one of the rare silver medals. Children attending will receive a free bag of coins to start their collection. The event runs 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the hall of St. Matthias Church, 600 Richmond Rd. Ample free parking on site.

For more information, go to victoriacoinclub.webs.com.

 

Theatre SKAM improves summer shows

Theatre SKAM will offer a live-theatre experience to an even more diverse audience this year with the addition of descriptive support. At selected times, audio descriptions of shows will be provided to enhance the theatre experience for those with visual impairment. At other times, American Sign Language translation will be provided for those with hearing impairment.

“Adding audio descriptions and sign-language translation are natural additions for making the theatre experience available to an increasingly diverse audience,” said Matthew Payne, the theatre’s artistic producer. “On our journey to knock down barriers to live theatre, this is a great next step.”

Theatre SKAM has been presenting envelope-pushing theatre on the Galloping Goose Trail since 2009. It shows audiences that an engaging live-theatre experience isn’t confined to a theatre building.

SKAMpede is a series of short performances offering drama, dance, comedy, improvisational theatre and more performed along the Galloping Goose Trail July 14 to 16.

Each original piece is crafted to fit a specific site along the trail. Audience groups travel together to a series of performances using any mode of transportation allowed on the trail — such as by bicycle, skateboard and foot.

Audio-described shows take place at 2 and 4:40 p.m. July 16. American Sign Language support provided at 1 p.m. performances on July 15 and 16. Attendance at the audio described and ASL shows is free.

For more information, go to skam.ca.

 

Art show looks at homophobia

See a childhood retrospective on 1980s homophobia at Hide & Peek, an art exhibition at the Trees Dispensary, which ends Monday.

The exhibition is by artist Samsa.

It is on display from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Monday at Trees Dispensary, 546 Yates St. For more information, contact the artist at [email protected].

 

Brentwood Bay kicks off construction of stage

An official ground-breaking ceremony took place last week for a new performance stage in Brentwood Bay’s Pioneer Park.

The stage is being funded and constructed by the Brentwood Bay Community Association and donated to the municipality upon completion.

Construction is expected to take between three and four months.

The stage is to be a focal point for the community, hosting music, theatre, weddings, movie nights, festivals and more.

For more information, go to brentwoodbay.info.

 

Habitat wants to build 150 homes

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn will be visiting Canada for Habitat for Humanity Canada’s biggest building project, the 34th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

The Nissan Canada Foundation will provide volunteer support and sponsorship for the project, marking 10 years of partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Canada.

The latter organization’s goal is to build 150 homes to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Carter and his wife are scheduled to attend builds in Edmonton and Winnipeg during their visit to Canada, which starts today and ends Friday.

“Nissan Canada is committed to impacting the lives of deserving families and we support Habitat’s important work because we believe that everyone in Canada has the right to a safe, affordable and decent place to live,” said Joni Paiva, president of Nissan Canada.

To donate or learn more about the 34th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, please visit habitat.ca/150ReasonsToBuild.

 

Central Saanich students get Masonic scholarships

The United Peninsula Masonic Lodge No. 24 in Central Saanich recently awarded four $1,500 scholarships to local high school students.

Scholarships have been awarded to two students attending Stelly’s Secondary and two attending Parkland’s Secondary in Sidney. All four students have been accepted at the University of Victoria.

These scholarships continue a long tradition back to the founding of the lodge, when scholarships were presented in the early days of Victoria College.

For more information, go to unitedpeninsula.ca or email [email protected].