When you see Scouts offering popcorn at your door in the next few weeks, remember you’re not just buying a tasty treat, you are helping to fuel Scouting adventures for the year.
Scouts Canada’s popcorn fundraiser has been run annually since 1989. Funds earned have opened up a world of opportunity for Scouts, enabling them to make the most of their adventures and develop into confident, capable youth better prepared for success in the world.
But this fundraiser is different.
“The program is youth-led, which gives each section the freedom to set their own goals,” said Dave Nicolson, a commissioner with Scouts Canada. “The Scouts take ownership of the program, with Scouts choosing their own incentive prizes.”
The fundraiser has made a difference locally.
Through fundraising strategy and motivation, the 1st Cedar Hill Scouting Group increased its Scout popcorn sales from $6,000 in 2016 to $15,000 last year.
To do this, the group not only created an incentive program for youth, which included giving out pins, but stick to the same selling route year after year, so they become familiar faces to the community.
“Through selling popcorn, they can tell supporters about the adventures made possible through their purchase,” said Nicholson.
Proceeds from sales will help support local Scouting and Scouts Canada’s No One Left Behind program — a program that helps eliminate barriers to participation by subsidizing membership and uniform costs for more than 3,000 youth from low-income families annually.
Local groups receive 40 per cent of the proceeds. Five per cent goes to Scouts Canada and the remaining 55 per cent goes toward the cost of the product.
Canadians can also support for the Canadian Armed Forces by purchasing a gift of Scout popcorn to be sent to Canadian Forces bases locally and abroad. Since 2011, $900,000 worth of popcorn has been purchased for Canada’s men and women in uniform.
For more information, go to scouts.ca/popcorn/scouts.html.
Teachers get provincial awards
Vancouver Island teachers were well-represented at the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education, winning three of the nine categories, on World Teacher’s Day, Oct. 5. They included:
The Extracurricular Leadership Award: Tanya Adelborg, Randerson Ridge Elementary school, SD 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith);
Indigenous Education Award: Verna (Mandy) Jones, Ladysmith Secondary School, SD 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith);
Outstanding Support Award: Jeannine Lindsay, Aboriginal support worker, Lake Trail Middle School, SD 71 (Comox Valley).
The nine inaugural winners of the awards were chosen for their dedication to helping British Columbia students succeed. The award honours the achievements of education professionals working in public, independent, First Nations and offshore schools.
“The teachers, administrators and support staff being honoured here today are truly exemplary,” said Premier John Horgan.
“I’m grateful for their commitment to making life better for students in British Columbia both in the classroom and their communities. Great educators give our students the opportunity and tools to succeed, today and into the future.”
Winners were awarded commemorative artwork, a $3,000 personal bursary for professional learning and a $2,000 contribution to their school community for professional learning.
Nominations for the 2019 awards will open in spring 2019. For more information, go to gov.bc.ca/excellenceineducation.
Metchosin hosts Big Bat Bash
Mix art and science for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about bats at the Big Bat Bash on Oct. 28 at the Metchosin Community Hall.
This is an open-house-style event, with a presentation and workshop at 3 p.m. highlighting the 1,200 bats who call Metchosin Community Hall their home over the summer. The event is hosted by the Habitat Acquisition Trust.
This community celebration of Metchosin’s bats features audio and visual recordings of the bats and a sculptural installation from local artist Estraven Lupino-Smith.
The event will also feature a bat box and bat detector demonstrations, bat-themed treats and crafts for all ages. Costumes are welcome.
There will be a Bat Benefit Dinner — an opportunity to buy a delicious dinner and drinks, to the musical accompaniment of local musicians Karron, Louis and Brem.
Any donations will go toward conservation, with a special fund established to support the bats living in the hall.
Admission to the event is free. It runs 2 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Rd. To RSVP to the dinner or ask questions, call the Habitat Acquisition Trust office at 250-995-2428 or email [email protected].
Fashion show backs Transition House
Take part in a plus-size fashion show and support the Victoria Transition House at the Bodacious Fashion Show and Fundraiser, Oct. 26 at the store’s Langley Street location.
The fashion show will include an array of bold, colourful fashion-forward looks celebrating everyone at the size they are.
“We have the clothes to break the fashion rules for plus-sized women,” said Lorna Ketler, the store’s owner.
The event includes door prizes, goody bags, music, sips and snacks.
All proceeds will be donated to the Victoria Transition House.
Tickets are $40 and available at the store or eventbrite.ca. It runs 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at the store, 2-1113 Langley St.
Japanese flower arrangers show skills
Ikebana teachers from around the world are coming to Victoria for the North American Ohara School Teachers Association Conference, Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, at the Victoria Conference Centre.
Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging. Delegates are coming from all over North and South America to be taught by headmaster Hiroki Ohara and Prof. Hirokazu Yokohigashi from Japan.
The finale will be a demonstration, open to the public, by Ohara. He will create a piece using materials gathered from the gardens at Government House, Royal Roads University and the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific.
Viewing the demonstration is free. The event runs 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Victoria Conference Centre theatre, 720 Douglas St.
For more information, go to Ikebana-naota.org.
Interfaith Amigos teach about dialogue
A rabbi, a pastor and an imam, known as the Interfaith Amigos, will bring their message of more effective interfaith dialogue to a presentation at a weekend retreat at the Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo, Friday to Sunday.
Rabbi Ted Falcon, Pastor Don Mackenzie and Imam Jamal Rahman have spread their message of interfaith, peace, spirituality and unity in hundreds of presentations and workshops over the past 17 years.
Tickets are $30 to $650 depending on the presentation chosen. The retreat takes place all day Friday to Sunday at Bethlehem Centre, 2371 Arbot Rd. Nanaimo. For more information, go to interfaithamigos.com.
Oak Bay honouring arts supporters
Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture is accepting nominations for the Acorn Arts Award.
The honorary artistic award recognizes a living individual, a group or an institution demonstrating an outstanding contribution to, and significant impact on, the arts in Oak Bay.
People can nominate a citizen involved in, but not limited to: visual arts, craft, design, film, new media, music, dance, writing, public art, theatre arts, philanthropy, business supporting the arts, volunteerism in the arts, culinary arts, landscape art or architecture.
The honouree receives a bespoke acorn keepsake and will be publicly recognized for their achievement.
Nominations can be made on the Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture website, and hard copies are also available by request. Nominations will be accepted until Jan. 15. For more information, go to oakbay.ca/parks-recreation.
Fine wines at Belfry auction
Bid on a bottle of Cossart Gordon Madeira Solera Bual 1845 from Portugal valued at more than $1,200 or sip other fine wines at Crush, the Belfry Theatre’s eighth annual fine wine auction and tasting event, tonight at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort.
The live auction features a selection of fine wine donated from the private collections of individuals and local restaurants. Whether you are an experienced oenophile or simply a lover of good wine, you will find a range of spectacular wines.
Enjoy tastings from some of B.C.’s best wineries and craft cideries, with sommelier Pamela Sanderson guiding guests through a fun and friendly-but-competitive blind tasting.
Snack on hors d’oeuvres designed by chef Craig Stoneman, while enjoying live jazz entertainment with the Joey Smith Trio.
Tickets are $95. The event runs 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, 100 Harbour Rd. For more information, go to belfry.bc.ca.
Transition House gets free paint job
On Wednesday, the Victoria franchise of Wow 1 Day Painting gave back to the community by providing a free paint job for the Victoria Women’s Transition House.
A fresh coat of paint can go a long way, but a paint job can be an oversight in the grand scheme of things. Every year, the franchises join to participate in a nationwide day of giving, donating their services to a deserving organization.
Rob Rolston, the Victoria franchise owner, chose the Victoria Women’s Transition House, for its commitment in providing a safe, welcoming shelter, respectful counselling, support and advocacy to more than 160 women every year.
For more information, go to wow1day.com.
Fundraiser for counselling centre
The South Island Centre for Counselling and Training Society is holding its fourth annual Fundraising Gala Oct. 27 at the Delta Ocean Pointe.
The evening includes a buffet dinner, door prizes and live music courtesy of Juno-nominated composer, arranger and vocalist Doug Galbraith. The keynote speaker is John Bateman, artist and spokesperson for AnxietyBC.
The society is a registered charity and for 43 years has been providing professional, accessible mental-health counselling and training services to those in need in the Capital Regional District.
Income-based counselling services are also available for all individuals, children, youth, couples and families from experienced clinical counsellors.
Tickets are $95 per person. The gala runs 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, 100 Harbour Rd. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 250-472-2851 or go to southislandcentre.ca.
KidSport gets $80,000 boost
Guests at Triple O restaurants in British Columbia raised more than $80,000 to help financially underprivileged kids participate in team sports at the ninth-annual KidSport Day fundraiser.
On Sept. 28, a loonie from the sale of every combo sold at Triple O’s locations throughout the province was donated to KidSport B.C. — a community-based sports funding program that believes all kids, regardless of their financial situation, deserve to learn valuable life skills by joining a sports team.
Vancouver Island residents did their part by raising almost $4,000 toward the cause.
For more information, go to tripleos.com.
