HeroWork Society has created the Mustard Seed Market — a redefined food bank that looks and feels like a grocery store. Construction ends today with a grand opening on Nov. 10.
HeroWork is a charity that renovates other charities. It calls its projects Radical Renovations. In a typical year, it will engage more than 100 companies, 50 co-ordinators and more than 500 volunteers to provide goods and/or labour.
Paul Latour, the society’s executive director, said the Mustard Seed project would convert the current food-hamper program and warehouse into a grocery-store-style experience. At the same time, they will extend the upper floor of the building to expand the Mustard Seed’s operational space by 25 per cent.
“The fair market estimated value of the renovation is around $600,000,” said Latour.
The goal of the re-envisioned facility is to reduce food waste and increase the dignity of food-insecure people.
The public is invited to view the finished project. There will be two waves, at noon and 2 p.m., Nov. 10, at the new Mustard Seed Market, 625 Queens Ave.
For more information or to sign up for Saturday’s tour, go to herowork.com or paul@herowork.com.
School marks 110 years with tea
St. Margaret’s School is celebrating its 110th anniversary with an Anniversary Tea in the Crystal Ballroom of the Empress Hotel today.
The keynote speaker is Sally Armstrong, award-winning author, journalist and human-rights activist. She will be talking about how girl power is transforming the world these days, drawing on examples from her recent book Ascent of Women.
The school will also be giving out its Emerging Leadership Awards to four young women who attended the all-girls school and went on to great success. The event is an opportunity to raise funds for scholarships at the school.
Tickets are $150, with a $50 tax receipt. The event runs 1 to 4 p.m. today at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, 721 Government St.
For more information, go to stmarg.ca/110th-anniversary-tea.
Concert to assist injured woman
Legendary blues musician James Byrnes is the headliner at Jane’s Benefit Party, a four-hour bash Monday at Upstairs Cabaret.
Jane Finch was involved in a freak accident last spring that left her with a pulverized femur and broken hip in Antigua. The initial surgery performed after her accident has failed, due to a lack of special prosthetics and skilled orthopedic surgeons in the Caribbean nation.
Friends are raising funds to pay for a total hip replacement and a prosthetic attachment to lengthen her leg.
Tickets are $20. The event runs 6 to 10 p.m. Monday at Upstairs Cabaret, 15 Bastion Square. Tickets available at Best of Both Worlds, 19 Fan Tan Alley. Purchase two or more tickets and they will be delivered to you. Donations gratefully accepted, either cash or items for the silent auction. For more information, call Deb, 250-920-6933, or Lindy, 250-882-6208.
Memories of the Great Wars
The Log Cabin Museum is hosting a Talk and Tea event with a timely topic: One Canadian Remembers — Personal remembrances of family in both Great Wars, today.
The speaker at this event is Dale Murray, a former officer in Canadian Forces Reserve and now with 5th Field Artillery Museum in the Bay Street Armoury.
The event is hosted by the Saanich Pioneer Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the historical records of the Saanich Peninsula.
Admission is $5 members, $7.50 non-members. The event starts at 2 p.m. today, with tea following, at the Log Cabin Museum, 7910 Polo Park Cres., Saanichton (in the park behind Thrifty’s Foods). A ramp for easier access is in place.
The museum will also be open, noon to 2 p.m., on Remembrance Day with displays and tea service.
For more information, go to saanichpioneersociety.com.
Time again to grow a moustache
It’s time to let that growth on your upper lip to contribute to men’s health as November turns into Movember.
The leading charity changing the face of men’s health, Movember addresses some of the biggest health issues faced by men — prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
In the past 15 years the organization has funded more than 1,200 men’s health projects around the world. Their goal is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent by 2030.
Throughout the month, men will grow moustaches to bring awareness and raise money to stop men from dying too young. For more information, go to movember.com.
Celebrate Tree Appreciation Day
Join the City of Victoria for tree plantings and activities to celebrate Tree Appreciation Day, today at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park.
Bring your gloves and questions for fun, learning and tree-planting.
Activity stations will include an Ask an Arborist table for questions about tree care and tree identification, a children’s art station, a planting station and more.
City arborists will lead hourly tree tours at 11 a.m. and noon. Accessible tours are available, as well as a few tours that take participants off the beaten path into natural areas.
Tree Appreciation Day is an annual event that recognizes the importance of trees in the urban environment. The City of Victoria manages an urban forest of about 33,000 trees on 300 kilometres of boulevards and 137 parks and open spaces.
Join the event for free. It runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park.
Parking is available along Douglas Street just northwest of Circle Drive and in Beacon Hill Park near the petting zoo. The event will be held rain or shine, and warm refreshments will be served. For more information, go to victoria.ca/parks.
Wine documentary raises money
Attend a special screening of wine documentary SOMM 3 while raising funds for the Gary Hynes Foundation, Wednesday at the Vic Theatre.
Hynes, who died in July, was the founder and editor of EAT magazine. A key supporter, mentor and friend in the culinary scene, he leaves behind a legacy of encouraging new food writers and celebrating local bounty.
Proceeds from the event will provide grants to individuals in the culinary, journalism and music disciplines.
Tickets are $25. There will be a reception at 6, followed by a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday screening at the Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St. Admission includes a glass of wine, beer or cider. The online auction will be open until midnight, Nov. 7 at 32auctions.com/Somm3GaryHynes. For more information, go to visit vesselliquor.com.
Bring singing voice to Our Place
Our Place is welcoming the public to join family members in singing in a presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, along with the CBC.
People can join choral director Anne-Marie Brimacombe to practise and sing for the live presentation at 7 p.m., Dec. 13.
Rehearsals take place 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. every Wednesday in the second-floor chapel area of Our Place, 919 Pandora Ave.
For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
