Last week, Help Fill A Dream’s Taking it to the Street road hockey tournament was a huge success, raising more than $21,000.
This was the third year for the event, which saw 20 past Dream recipients and their families join the fun at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. Three of them even had teams playing in the tournament.
The event also marked the charitable foundation’s 30th anniversary. In that time, it has made more than 2,200 dreams come true for sick children.
At the event, Islay Mei Gordon, a young Brentwood Bay girl, became the newest dream recipient. She will go snorkelling in Belize. For more information, go to helpfilladream.com.
Experts unveil the meaning of flowers
Learn the language of flowers while enjoying a cup of tea and dessert at Soul in Bloom, an afternoon of floral interpretation, on June 26.
Leading floral designers Susan Ramsey and Clare Day will be on hand to interpret sacred objects used in meditation practices.
The event takes place at Long Meadow Farm, a private flower farm, which will open its gates to the public for the first time. Flowers used at the event will be harvested from the farm.
Visitors can also take a tour of the working farm while enjoying tea and dessert.
Tickets are $30 in advance at Dig This in Oak Bay or the Rook and Rose Flower Shop or by calling Cindy at 250-658-6007. The event runs 2 to 4 p.m. at the farm, 430 Odyssey Ln. Space is limited.
Brunch for the Crunch raises housing funds
Enjoy brunch and help people find affordable rental housing at Brunch for the Housing Crunch, June 25 and 26.
This is the third year of the fundraiser, hosted by the Greater Victoria Housing Society. A portion of all proceeds from brunch (and lunch) will go toward programs and services provided by the society.
The event takes place at the Crooked Goose Bistro, a family-friendly restaurant, featuring classic brunch dishes as well as traditional pub fare.
Founded in 1956, the Greater Victoria Housing Society is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing for low-income seniors, families, working singles and people with disabilities in neighbourhoods across Greater Victoria.
Reservations are strongly recommended. Brunch is served between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the restaurant, 4136 Wilkinson Rd. (corner of Interurban and Wilkinson roads). Please call 250-590-4556.
For more information, go to greatervichousing.org.
Families come together over loss of infants
The Healing Hearts Foundation, formerly known as Empty Arms Healing Hearts, is hosting a birthday party for families whose babies did not survive to their first birthday.
The Always and Forever Birthday Party on June 26 is an effort by the registered Canadian charity to raise awareness about pregnancy and infant loss.
“A tragic loss for families, coming together with others to recognize and celebrate their infants provides an opportunity to move forward on the journey of healing,” said Charlene Chambers, founder of the foundation.
The organization provides a variety of supports, including a Cuddle Cot at Victoria General Hospital, boxes of comfort and personal-care items given to families in the hospital, funding for a grief-counselling program, monthly support groups and the Little Spirits Garden at Royal Oak Burial Park.
Attendees will mark the day with birthday cake, food and drink, fun and games for children, and a memorial activity.
The event runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 26 in the back garden of Jeneece Place, 201 Hospital Way. For more information, go to healingheartsfoundation.ca.
Mix baseball with your yoga
Bats, Mats and Beats is billed as a community event that combines Moksha, Lululemon and the HarbourCats on Saturday.
The event will be DJ’d by Rara, creator of yogi-tunes.com, who is going to play his flute, didgeridoo and guitar to the rhythms of an epic yoga class taught by the Moksha Yoga staff.
Yoga will be followed by food trucks, beer and a good old baseball game.
All profits will be donated to Pilar and Ocean Munoz to support them as their 14-year-old daughter, Tree, recovers from the effects of radiation and chemotherapy to battle medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumour.
Tickets are $20. The event starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave. Tickets are at Moksha Yoga Victoria and Lululemon Athletica Victoria. The event is on Facebook.
Outdoor session heralds International Day of Yoga
Join a group outdoor yoga session to celebrate the eve of the second International Day of Yoga on Monday.
The event will be led by Nirmala Raniga, host of Journey of Healing on JoyTV and the founder of the Chopra Wellness and Addiction Centre in Squamish.
The International Day of Yoga was officially proclaimed at the United Nations on Dec. 11, 2014. It is estimated that about 1.5 million Canadians practise yoga.
The event runs 6 to 8 p.m. June 20 on the lawn of the Legislature, at Belleville and Government streets. For more information, contact Shalina Kajani at [email protected].
Your pet deserves a portrait
Get a picture of your best friend and help pet-lovers half a world away at an animal hospital and sanctuary in India on June 26.
Paws for a Cause is a fundraising pet-photo shoot donated by Hattie Root Photography to benefit Animal Aid Unlimited.
For a minimum donation of $30, people receive three fully edited digital images of their furry family members with a print release.
Organizers are also hosting a golf tournament in August.
People can book an appointment (recommended) or just show up. The event runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 26 at 11 Dallas Rd. Call Angie at 250-686-6816 to book. For more information, go to animalaidunlimited.org.
Bridge fans play for Alzheimer’s Society
All four Victoria-area bridge clubs are getting together to play charity games on the longest day of the year at Trump Alzheimer, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada on Monday.
This event is part of an initiative by the American Contract Bridge League, the ruling body of bridge clubs in North America.
Club members have already raised $450 in pledges, which will be topped up with a charge of $1.50 for every entry at Monday’s event. Net proceeds will fund Alzheimer’s research.
Members and the public will play in a series of bridge games running throughout the day. The morning games start at 9 a.m. at the Lakehill Lawn Bowling Club, the afternoon games will be held from 1 p.m. at St. Aidan’s United Church and the location of the 7 p.m. evening games is the Victoria Bridge Centre. The evening game is a team event.
For more information, call Roy Sadd at 250-812-1615, email [email protected] or visit alzheimer.ca.
Relay for Life turns a new page
Victoria Relay for Life, an annual family-friendly event that has raised funds for the Canadian Cancer Society for the past 17 years, ends on Friday.
Over the life of the event, it has welcomed more than 2,000 participants who collectively raised almost $2 million for lifesaving cancer research, prevention initiatives and support programs for those with cancer.
“We’re extremely proud of the success of the relay and the generosity of this community over the years, but we’ve learned that it’s time for something new,” said Jan Buehler, team lead for the Canadian Cancer Society. “We are really excited to celebrate one more year of relay in Victoria to go out with a bang. We are hoping to raise $50,000 this year so we can say we cleared the $2-million mark. Then next year we will come back with an innovative and fun event that will re-engage the community in a meaningful way.”
Anyone interested in participating in this year’s event can still register at relayforlife.ca/Victoria.
People who do not want to register as a team are invited to celebrate and witness the relay magic one final time.
Fun highlights this year include: Western-themed relay “Outlaw Cancer,” musical guest the County Line, lip synch, lasso and pie-eating contests, cowboy games and a complimentary chili dinner for all registered participants.
The event runs 6 p.m. to midnight, Friday at Centennial Stadium, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
For more information, go to convio.cancer.ca/ site/TR/RelayForLife/ RFL_BC_even_?pg=entry&fr_id=21201.
Kids learn about animals at SPCA camp
If you have children who love being around animals — and would like to have fun with like-minded kids — consider signing them up for a B.C. SPCA summer camp.
The week-long camps engage children aged six to 12 in a range of fun activities that will increase their understanding about companion, farm and wild animals. The camps will help them develop skills to make a difference for animals in their community.
“Spaces are filling quickly,” said Paula Neuman, humane- education manager with the organization. “Some of our locations are already full, but we do still have some spots available in certain locations.” Locations with spaces available include Nanaimo, Campbell River, Cowichan and Victoria.
Activities including outdoor and indoor games, guest speakers, making toys and treats for the animals, shelter tours and visits with specially selected and approved shelter animals.
“There is always something new for returning campers, but for those who have never attended, they can expect to have fun and make friends while learning about animals and how we can best care for and protect them,” Neuman said.
For a full list of available summer camp dates and locations, and to register, go to spca.bc.ca/camp.
Event raises $4,000 for firefighters
SeaFirst Insurance Brokers recently helped raise more than $4,000 to support the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters Museum.
Volunteers with the insurance company were out in full force at the Brentwood Bay Festival offering hot dogs by donation.
This year, the donations totalled $2,006 — and the amount was matched by SeaFirst — resulting in a $4,012 cheque for the Central Saanich Firefighters.
SeaFirst had help. Although it picked up the cost of all supplies, Breadstuffs Bakery supplied the hot dog buns at a discount. The hot dogs were sourced locally from Berryman Farms.
For more information, go to seafirstinsurance.com.
United Way honours longtime volunteer
The United Way paid tribute to Barb McVagh, a long-term donor and volunteer, with the 2016 Honorary Life Membership at its recent annual general meeting.
McVagh has given to United Way for 46 years, as well as serving for more than 32 years with the charitable organization’s Leaders’ Committee and Individual Giving Cabinet.
“United Way is my social conscience,” McVagh said. “They believe in making our community a better place and they ensure every penny goes to where it can do the most good. I continue to be impressed by the staff, leaders of funded programs and the people they help, the lives they renew.”
Early in her career, McVagh was greatly influenced by an employer who truly believed in United Way. She learned the fine art of perpetual giving, embracing the ideal of giving back over the long term.
McVagh has also been involved with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, helping to educate others about leaving a will with a giving component. McVagh has taken out three insurance policies with the intent of donating each policy’s proceeds to charities that meant the most to her, including the United Way.
