Easter came early for almost 1,000 of Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens as they pulled up a chair at Our Place’s family table for a special Easter meal last Tuesday.
Easter is traditionally a time of renewed hope, and that was evident at the dinner. Local politicians and dignitaries joined volunteers and staff to make everyone feel like family. Not only did they help serve a special meal, they also took the time to listen to those whose voices are often the last to be heard.
The assembled dined on 450 kilograms of turkey, 225 kg of potatoes, 115 kg of stuffing, 90 kg of vegetables, 95 litres of gravy, 25 kg of cranberry sauce and 1,500 cups of coffee.
“The need is greater than ever,” said Don Evans, executive director of Our Place. “People from all walks of life are struggling to make ends meet. Serving an Easter meal to those who might otherwise go without is just one small way of showing that we are here to listen, share and support.”
Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable. Individuals and businesses provide the majority of financial support for its programs and services. For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Lecturer to explore spiritual learning
On Tuesday, the St. Aidan’s Centre for Spiritual Learning is hosting Diarmuid O’Murchu, Sacred Heart Brother and international lecturer, on his stop in Victoria as part of a North American speaking tour.
People can hear O’Murchu, a teacher and author, at two events planned.
The daytime event is a smaller group event that explores wisdom in times of major cultural shifts.
At the public lecture that evening, O’Murchu will look at the groundbreaking shifts in our contemporary understanding of spirituality.
Admission for the daytime event is $50, which includes a light lunch. It runs 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged at 250-220-4601 or earthliteracies.org.
Tickets for the public lecture are $20, pre-purchased online, at the church or at the door. The lecture starts at 7 p.m. Both events take place at the centre, 3703 St. Aidan’s St. For more information, go to staidansunited.ca.
Old clothes can be new again
Learn how to transform old clothes into fabulous fashions at the fourth annual Swap-O-Rama-Rama at St. Andrews United Church, Nanaimo, on Saturday.
The event, presented by the Nanaimo Arts Council, is a clothing swap with a creative twist.
People at the event can stop at creation stations, staffed by local makers, where they can learn how to modify, embellish and upcycle their finds.
Everything is provided — expertise, sewing machines, fabric, notions and inspiration.
The idea is to reduce textile waste by encouraging the repurposing of used clothing, an idea firmly rooted in the slow fashion movement.
People see themselves as creators, instead of just consumers, and the results of their efforts are more likely to be cherished for years rather than being cast off next season.
Admission is $5 and participants are encouraged to bring a bag of clean used clothing to swap. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Andrews United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam St. Nanaimo. For more information, go to nanaimoartscouncil.ca.
Break out the tartans next weekend
The Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association invites Victorians to wear their tartans and attend the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan, at the 11 a.m. service at Christ Church Cathedral next Sunday, April 3.
The representative tartan and people wearing tartan will be piped into the service by Pipe Major Colin Murray and members of Castle Cary Pipe Band.
The Sons of Scotland is one of the largest Scottish organizations in Canada. It is represented by the Balgownie Camp # 204 in Victoria. It meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Friday of each month, September through June, at the Eastern Star Hall, 3281 Harriet Rd. For more information, contact Irene at [email protected] or go to members.shaw.ca/sosvictoria.
Painting company helps out Pacifica Housing
Waterview, one of Pacifica Housing’s five supported housing complexes, will get $3,500 worth of painting services, thanks to a donation by White Knight Painting.
Every year, the painting company chooses a winner for their annual charity giveaway.
The painting will be done on the complex’s community room, where tenants get together and partake in therapeutic programs. It hosts art groups, community meals, movie nights, yoga classes, knitting groups and Saturday coffee groups.
“It’s a great feeling to see the businesses in our community care about the people we house, and feel inspired to help us do it better,” said Dean Fortin, executive director of Pacifica Housing.
For more information, go to pacificahousing.ca or whiteknightpainting.com.
Ex-Canuck goalie scores in art career
Join a hockey legend and an up-and-coming fine artist at a gallery tour in support of the Pacific Autism Family Centre Foundation on Friday.
Richard Brodeur, popular former NHL goalie with the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders, has found a new career as an accomplished fine artist. He is teaming up with Pattiann Withapea for a gallery tour presented by Sotheby’s International.
The two artists will be signing their works onsite.
Wine and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Tickets are $20 at the door only. The tour starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, at the Sotheby’s Gallery, 752 Douglas St. Those who wish to attend should RSVP on the Facebook event page.
Teachers’ band raises funds for refugees
Victoria’s Other Secret, a band made up exclusively of Mount Douglas Secondary School teachers, recently brought the house down at a fundraising gig.
With opening acts by Weak Coverup and The Cardboard Prophets, two other rock bands made up primarily of Victoria high school teachers, the trio raised $1,400 for two Syrian families at a concert and dance earlier in the month.
The event was attended by more than 150 people and included a very successful canned food drive.
Cancer society wins real-life Monopoly event
More than 160 people passed Go and the Canadian Cancer Society collected $78,000 (in real money) at a charity event last month.
The Monopoly Affair is an annual fundraising tournament featuring the popular board game. At the local event, people dressed up in a vaudeville theme, in honour of the game’s origins, with many players arriving all dolled up in theme attire.
Guests dined on wonderful food and were entertained by event chairman and Times Colonist reporter Andrew Duffy, and master of ceremonies Al Feraby from CFAX 1070. TC columnist Jack Knox served as the live auctioneer at the event, which took place at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort.
At the end of the tournament, Andrea Rathbone was declared the 2016 Victoria Monopoly Mogul.
Funds raised at the event will go to the Canadian Cancer Society to support people on Vancouver Island who are battling cancer. For more information, go to cancer.ca.
TD Bank grant funds View Royal park
A local municipality has won a $25,000 grant for an innovative urban forestry project.
The Town of View Royal was one of 13 communities across Canada awarded a TD Green Streets grant of up to support an urban greening project.
The town’s proposal involves Welland Legacy Park, a community orchard and public park with over 200 established fruit trees. Together with Lifecycles Project Society, the town is building a hands-on public education site where volunteers are trained in sustainable food production and community orchard management.
Funds from the grant will be used to compile resources such as publications, online resources, and informal interviews with model projects on innovative community orchard management practices, regionally and internationally.
Almost $300,000 in grants were given out in total. The project in View Royal was chosen after Tree Canada and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation reviewed more than 140 applications from across the country.
“Growing the tree canopy in urban centres is vital for the health of Canadian communities and all the people who live in them,” said Michael Rosen, president of Tree Canada. “The TD Green Streets program has helped build thriving urban forests in hundreds of Canadian communities, so I would again like to thank TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for its tremendous support and generosity over the years.”
For more information, go to treecanada.ca, fef.td.com and viewroyal.ca.
Mad Hatter’s Ball offers a trip to Wonderland
Experience your own adventure in Wonderland at the inaugural Mad Hatter’s Ball, a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club on Saturday.
Guests will travel through a magic rabbit hole to enjoy a wonderful dinner, followed by a performance by Shayne King — the King of Magic — and the Oak Bay High Jazz Band.
Guests are encouraged to get dressed up in costume — or at least to wear a hat — befitting the Alice in Wonderland theme. Denise Pearson, a Johnny Depp impersonator, will appear during the reception.
Funds raised will be support the preventative after-school programs the club offers at their locations in VicWest, Esquimalt, Langford, Central Saanich and Colwood.
Tickets are $150 and available by phone at 250-384-9133 or email at [email protected]. The event runs 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Westin Bear Mountain, 1999 Country Club Way.
For more information, go to bgcvic.org.
Michael Dunahee events aid Child Find B.C.
Keep the memory of Michael Dunahee alive at a dance and a family walk/run to raise funds for Child Find B.C.
On Friday, people can enjoy an evening out at the annual Michael Dunahee Keep the Hope Alive Drive dance. You can rock to the live tunes of That 70’s Band.
Lace up your shoes on Sunday for the 23rd Annual Michael Dunahee Keep the Hope Alive Drive 2016 five-kilometre family fun run/walk. Commemorative T-shirts for participants are available upon registration.
The two events are important fundraisers for Child Find B.C., which provides services to parents and communities. The organization works in conjunction with Community Policing, law enforcement and community-based organizations to reduce the instances of missing and exploited children in our communities.
Tickets for the dance are $20 in advance at Long & McQuade, Coast Capital Insurance Service desk (Tillicum and Admirals) and The Donair Shop. The dance runs 8 p.m. to midnight at the Esquimalt Arena, 1151 Esquimalt Rd.
Pre-race activities start at 9:30 a.m. with the event beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Rd. Register online at raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=1161.
For more information, go to childfindbc.com.
