Residents of Rosalie’s Village will have an opportunity to develop their technology and digital skills, thanks to a donation of computers by Saanich South MLA Lana Popham and a local non-profit organization.
The MLA teamed up with the Electronic Recycling Association to donate 27 refurbished computers to households in need of the technology.
“By reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste and supporting local organizations, the Electronic Recycling Association provides a valuable service to our community,” said Popham. “The donation of 27 computers will help Rosalie’s Village develop the technology and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive.”
Rosalie’s Village consists of 42 self-contained units of affordable housing. The development was built to house single mothers and children, along with older women who have not qualified for senior housing.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has also played an integral part in facilitating the development of the project.
“We are excited about the arrival of the computers and I know that families will put them to good use for school homework, employment searches and training programs,” said Margaret Forbes, director of support services for the charity.
For more information, go to leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/ members/41st-Parliament/ Popham-Lana.
Walk supports research into juvenile diabetes
Join 35,000 other Canadians at today’s Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF, at Westhills Stadium.
The organization, which has shortened its official name from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to JDRF, is holding the rally to raise awareness and money to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. Organizers hope to raise $5 million nationally to accelerate the pace of research.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., opening ceremonies are at 9:45 a.m. and the start of the walk is at 10 a.m. at Westhills Stadium, 1089 Langford Parkway. For more information, go to jdrfwalk.ca.
Remember departed friends and family
The Royal Oak Burial Park is opening its gates to the public to welcome summer at its Summer So(u)lstice, June 15 at the burial park.
This is the 10th year of the event, which provides an opportunity to remember departed friends and family in a gentle, social setting, featuring music, poetry and history.
“We are very proud to host the 10th anniversary of Summer So(u)lstice. We look forward to celebrating 10 years of giving our community an opportunity to remember and honour loved ones while enjoying an afternoon in our beautiful park,” said Crystabelle Fobler, executive director of the burial park.
Visitors can enjoy musical entertainment, with Victoria’s acapella women’s choral group, Ensemble Laude, scheduled to sing in the mausoleum and in the Little Spirits Garden throughout the afternoon.
Local composer Brooke Maxwell has gathered local musicians to create the Sweet Chariot Band — cellist Byony Huylme, clarinetist Erin Onyschtschuk and Anna Bertuzzi on oboe.
You can have a personal poem composed by resident poets, this year including Carla Funk, Wendy Morton and Cynthia Woodman, whose random acts of poetry inspired this unique tradition.
Visitors can create floral tributes, messages and parchment memory flags, with burial park staff on hand to help visitors locate sites of ancestors.
Other highlights include a vintage car display to celebrate all dads on Father’s Day weekend, historical talks with local historian John Adams and historical walks with Dave Obee, Times Colonist editor, publisher and Royal Oak Burial Park historian.
The event is free. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m. An official kick-off ceremony takes place at 1:30 p.m., near the fountain, with cake, tea, coffee and other refreshments. The property is wheelchair-accessible. For more information, along with an event map with performance schedule, go to robp.ca.
Garden party, all in the name of art
Victoria Arts Council will celebrate 50 years of supporting art in Victoria with a garden party, June 22 at a undisclosed location.
The party will include music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and art. An announcement about a future endowment with the Victoria Foundation will take place at the event.
“We are looking forward to sharing news about our partnership with the Victoria Foundation that will launch the VAC into our next 50 years,” said Kegan McFadden, Victoria Arts Council executive director.
Entertainment includes music by the Bob Watts Jazz Trio, poetry by former City of Victoria poet laureate Linda Rogers, contemporary dance by Larryssa Yolland and Noah McKimm, and garden portraits by Teresa Waclawik.
Tickets are $75. The event runs from 5 p.m. until dusk at a location shared to ticket holders upon purchase. Cocktail attire is encouraged. Parking will be available and ride-shares can be arranged on a limited basis. Tickets can be purchased online at vicartscouncil.ca/events-2/ or in person at the Victoria Arts Council office, 1800 Store St.
Backyard beauty on display
Take a glimpse into some of Victoria’s best backyard gems at the Teeny Tiny Garden Tour, a self-guided tour for the Victoria Hospice, today at gardens across Victoria.
This is the 14th year of the event, with a dozen gardeners generously opening their private gardens to the public for the first time.
The gardens are found in the neighbourhoods of Gordon Head, Gorge, Strawberry Vale and Interurban.
Each garden offers its own unique delight and inspiration. They range from teeny tiny to larger gardens, with everything from creative use of containers, to water features, edible gardens to terraced gardens.
Proceeds from ticket sales from fundraising events such as this contribute to almost half of Victoria Hospice’s annual operating costs. These funds are critical for end-of-life care, programs for patients, families, education and research.
The self-guided tour runs 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Capital Iron, Heart Pharmacy IDA, Dig This and Garden Works. Ticket holders receive a map, brochure and opportunity to enter a draw for prizes. For information, go to victoriahospice.org/events/14th-annual-teeny-tiny-garden-tour.
Drop a line for a good cause
Take your dad fishing at the Family Fishing Weekend, with a choice of 14 events held on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, June 14 to 16.
Launched two decades ago to offer families a fun, affordable Father’s Day activity, the event has become a staple Father’s Day tradition, with nearly 50 events throughout the province.
Events combine fishing and socializing for an estimated 40,000 participants, who range from avid anglers to those trying the sport for the first time.
Fishing licence requirements are waived for the weekend, meaning Canadian residents can fish licence-free over the three days — although some requirements remain in effect.
Hands-on instruction is available with loaner rods, reels and tackle provided for those who do not have their own gear.
The events offer opportunities to learn about fishing gear, share freshwater and saltwater fishing tips and learn about environmental stewardship and the tradition of recreational fishing.
“It has been exciting to watch families become engaged with fishing through these events,” said Jessica Yarwood, provincial co-ordinator of the Family Fishing Society of B.C. “By providing gear and instruction in a fun environment, the events are very accessible to families with children of all ages.”
The Family Fishing Society of B.C. was established in 2001 to encourage new anglers as well as promote and co-ordinate Family Fishing Weekend and other angling initiatives.
Events are supported by the society and organized by Fish and Game clubs, the Conservation Officer Service, municipalities, community groups and local businesses.
A complete list of participating communities, locations, and event descriptions can be found at bcfamilyfishing.com.
Guided cathedral tours of discovery
Discover everything from flying buttresses to bell-ringing at scheduled guided tours at Christ Church Cathedral, starting June 11.
Although the cathedral is open daily for self-guided visits, guided tours will provide another opportunity for people to hear more of its rich history. The tours allow small groups to go behind the scenes and learn more about topics such as stained glass and famous women in the church.
“This place is brimming with compelling stories,” said the Very Reverend Ansley Tucker, dean of the cathedral. “Our cathedral building has been a silent witness for close to a century to prayers of joy and sadness, and its grandeur reminds us we are part of something larger than ourselves. People can’t help being moved by the interior space.”
The June 14 tour, which is the first of the summer, covers bell- ringing. People will be able to climb the winding staircase to the bell tower where the tower captain will explain the art of change ringing and the history of the bells.
Cost is $10 per person and $20 per family for general highlights tours and $15 per person for the specialized tours. The 45-minute tours will be scheduled several times a week in the afternoon and early evening at the cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online at Eventbrite or at the cathedral office. For details, go to christchurchcathedral.bc.ca.
Victoria peace activist receives honour
Doctors of B.C. (formerly known as the BCMA) and the Cam Coady Foundation recently presented Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford with their Medal of Excellence at their annual general meeting, held at the beginning of the month.
A well-known peace activist in Victoria, Ashford received the honour for her role of the physician as an advocate.
She has been a family doctor and professor at the University of Victoria. She became active in the nuclear disarmament movement in 1984, after hearing Dr. Helen Caldicott speak at the university.
Ashford began writing and speaking locally and internationally. She was co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the organization that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. She serves on the board of the Physicians for Global Survival (Canada).
Ashford, along with Dr. Jonathan Down, a Victoria pediatrician, currently teach high school students about the atomic bomb, the Cold War and the Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons.
She is active with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the organization that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
Her book, Enough Blood Shed: 101 Solutions to Violence, Terror, and War, (New Society, 2006), has been translated into Japanese and Korean.
The Cam Coady Foundation, in partnership with Doctors of B.C., awards the Dr. Cam Coady Medal of Excellence in recognition of individual excellence in medicine in British Columbia. For more information, go to drcamcoadyfoundation.com.
