Conservation organizations in the capital region come together for the Conservation sa国际传媒ion Forum, Thursday at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.
This is the 14th year of the event, which brings together organizations, governments and people who are committed to creating a sustainable region. The event is hosted by the Habitat Acquisition Trust.
The forum facilitates co-operation and communication among the many groups and individuals working on local environmental stewardship and conservation projects.
This year, the forum will feature experts speaking on the themes of large-scale conservation efforts from different wildlife perspectives.
Registration is $60 and includes lunch, coffee, treats and tea. The all-day event starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505听Quayle Rd. For more information, go to hat.bc.ca or 250-995-2428.
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Marchers want to change听shelter rules
Join the Victoria Pet Food Bank and Feral Cat Rehabilitation Society on the Animal Rescues March for Shelter, Oct. 15 on the grounds of the legislature.
The group is requesting the government reform the requirements for animal-shelter permits. Currently, only animal-rescue groups with four hectares of land can open a shelter. Regulations restrict other rescuers to housing no more than four cats or dogs they do not own.
The march starts at 1 p.m. For more information, go to safars.org or Facebook.
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Make an investment in听good works
鈥淎 charity sale with a difference鈥� is how the founders of the Garden House Foundation Fund describe their annual Mill Bay book sale, which takes place Oct. 14 and 15.
What sets the book sale apart from other fundraisers is that proceeds are not immediately distributed to the organizations the fund supports. Instead, the money is added to a permanent fund, from which annual grants are given. The fund is held by the Victoria Foundation, where the total is updated yearly.
The goal for this year, the book sale鈥檚 10th anniversary, is to increase the fund to $130,000.
The sale features 20,000 used books, including 5,000 children鈥檚 titles. This year, to mark sa国际传媒 150, there will be a larger selection of Canadiana.
Most books sell for between $1 and $3, with all children鈥檚 books priced at 50 cents. A silent auction of more valuable books will be held with starting bids of $20. The sale is cash only.
It runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 14 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 15 at George Bonner School, 3060 Cobble Hill Rd., Mill Bay. For more information, go to gardenhousefoundation.wordpress.com.
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Oaklands Oktoberfest hits its fifth year
The Oaklands Community Association is once again hosting Oktoberfest in Oaklands, Saturday at Oaklands Community Centre.
This is the fifth year of the event, a fundraiser for the Oaklands Community Dinners 鈥� free dinners that are provided to the community once a month.
Attendees will dine on bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and a pretzel prepared by students in the Camosun College Hospitality Management program. A vegetarian food option will also be provided.
Entertainment will be provided by party band Bu猫an Bu猫an, the Aaron Watson Trio and Peter Wilks. Enjoy craft beers from Hoyne Brewing Company and cider from Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door (includes meal and one beer). The event runs 5听to 10 p.m. Oct. 14 at Oaklands Community Centre, 1-2827 Belmont Ave. For tickets, visit the Oaklands Community Centre in person, phone 250-370-9101, or visit eventbrite.ca to buy tickets online.
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Soap will go to听needy听people
Soap for Hope is hosting a fundraiser to purchase hygiene products for Our Place鈥檚 Project sa国际传媒 in the promotion of Global Handwashing Day, Wednesday at the Boston Pizza at the Saanich Plaza.
The event is both a fundraiser and an opportunity to promote awareness of the importance of washing your hands with soap and water.
The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $8,000 to purchase products to go into 800 comprehensive hygiene kits to be donated to clients of Our Place Society.
Diners will additionally be given an informational pamphlet with facts and information about hand washing.
Soap for Hope is a program administered by Disaster Aid sa国际传媒.
On Wednesday, a percentage of proceeds of all food sales between 5 p.m. and midnight will be donated to Soap for Hope. People can also make donations at youcaring.com/projectconnect-942964. For more information, go to disasteraid.ca.
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Chip in to help Saanich Peninsula Hospital
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation kicked off its new annual fundraising campaign on Thursday, with a goal to raise $2 million for important modernizations of the hospital.
Money raised will go toward several areas, including emergency, residential care and palliative care.
鈥淭he generosity of donors has enabled important improvements to our hospital in previous years, and this new campaign will tell the stories of how those improvements changed lives,鈥� said Paul Hames, president of the board of the foundation. 鈥淵ou never know when you might need our community hospital, and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation wants to ensure it is always there, ready to help.鈥�
The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation was founded in 1985 by a group of Saanich Peninsula residents who wanted to support their community hospital. For more information, go to sphf.ca.
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Training program aimed听at seniors
There are still a few spaces left for a training program for a free service where volunteers provide social support to live-alone seniors following a hospital stay.
Seniors Serving Seniors is offering free training for volunteers in its Return to Health program.
Hospitalization can be a nerve-wracking experience for seniors and they can be at significant risk of isolation and decline as they return home. Volunteers with the program visit clients and help them connect to practical services they might need during convalescence.
The five-week training program covers topics such as: Effective communication skills, nutrition, the effects of disease on normal aging, navigating the health-care system and how to access community programs.
The program is funded by the United Way of Greater Victoria.
Training for new volunteers takes place 1 to 4 p.m. every Thursday for weeks beginning Oct. 19. Call Jane at 250-382-4331 to register for an information session on Thursday. For more information, go to seniorsservingseniors.bc.ca.
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Ceremony remembers lost babies
Parents and families who have suffered the tragic loss of a pregnancy or a baby through early death are invited to a Remembrance Gathering at the Little Spirits Garden at Royal Oak Burial Park on Saturday.
Oct. 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, created to provide support for those affected by early loss.
The gathering is an opportunity for families to remember the babies lost, in a supportive environment through readings, songs, stories, messages of inspiration and a candle lighting.
鈥淚t is extremely distressing for a father and a mother to lose a child, and they can struggle for years to understand or simply deal with the deep pain of the loss. Well-intentioned family and friends simply do not have the words of comfort and as a result, many are left to suffer alone or in silence,鈥� said Crystabelle Fobler, executive director of Royal Oak Burial Park. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to be part of a community that came together and created a beautiful space where families can gather to remember and grieve their precious babies.鈥�
A Ceremony of Remembrance begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 14 in the Garden Chapel at Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Dr. Following the ceremony, volunteers and burial park staff will be on hand to assist parents and visitors to tour or place memorials in the garden. For more information, go to royaloakburialpark.ca or Facebook.
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Frank Hobbs students want your vote
The Parents Advisory Council for Frank Hobbs Elementary is asking Victoria citizens to vote for its Aviva Community Fund project for a new playground and sensory pathway.
The council has raised $78,000 but need a little help to make the dream a reality
It has just submitted a grant application to the Aviva Community Fund. The sa国际传媒-wide initiative invites communities to submit ideas of initiatives they would like to see funded.
People then get to vote for the submission they support. The plan with the most votes gets the award.
To be successful, the Parents Advisory Council for Frank Hobbs Elementary needs your vote.
Voting runs Oct. 10 to 19.
Established in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund has given more than $7.5 million for 250 ideas across sa国际传媒, including 35 in British Columbia.
Voting begins on Tuesday at avivacommunityfund.org. For more information on the Frank Hobbs Elementary proposal, go to frankhobbspac.ca or see a video at Youtu.be/_JQ7GHTFrxo.
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TP the Town returns on听Saturday
Buy discounted toilet paper for those in need as TP the Town returns to Victoria on Saturday at participating grocery stores.
This is the third year the unique one-day toilet-paper fundraiser has been staged, with a goal of collecting more than 75,000 rolls for those in need.
The initiative is being staged by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Prodigy Group.
People are encouraged to buy discounted toilet paper at participating Save-on-Foods and Country Grocer locations.
Prodigy Group volunteers will be on-site to receive donations between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at: Country Grocer 鈥� Royal Oak and Esquimalt locations; Save-on-Foods 鈥� Saanich, Fort and Foul Bay and Westside Village locations.
Donations will be given to the Mustard Seed Street Church and distributed to those who need it most over the year. For more information, go to prodigygroup.ca.
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Grant will give St. Luke鈥檚 a fresh coat of paint
St. Luke鈥檚 Cedar Hill Anglican Church has been awarded $14,500 by the Heritage Legacy Fund toward much needed interior and exterior painting to preserve the condition of the heritage-designated building.
鈥淭he passion, dedication and long-term commitment to preserving heritage throughout sa国际传媒 is impressive,鈥� said Gord Macdonald, chairman of Heritage sa国际传媒 鈥淎 challenge is turning that passion into action and, with the funding support of the Heritage Legacy Fund, we are proud to make that possible for deserving projects.鈥�
St. Luke鈥檚 has served as a centre of worship and fellowship in the Cedar Hill-Shelbourne area of Saanich since 1860. It is a gathering place for parishioners and members of the community.
The awarding of the grants is overseen by a jury of four members and supported by Heritage sa国际传媒 staff.
For more information, go to heritagebc.ca or stlukesvictoria.ca.
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Ride for Refuge raises听$92,000
The recent Ride for Refuge in Victoria raised more than $92,000 for charities that serve the displaced, exploited and vulnerable.
The fundraising ride, hosted by the Cridge Centre for the Family, saw 63 teams with 300 walkers and riders, hosted by more than 120 volunteers.
Donations are still coming in, so organizers expect the total to rise over the next couple of weeks.
For more information, go to cridge.org or rideforrefuge.org.
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Our Place dishes up 1,000听Thanksgiving meals
Last week, local dignitaries helped serve more than 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to the region鈥檚 homeless and working poor at Our Place
鈥淭hanksgiving is a special time to be with loved ones. For many people who are struggling, we鈥檙e the closest family they have,鈥� said Don Evans, executive director of Our Place. 鈥淲e want everyone to feel a sense of belonging and enjoy a great meal.鈥�
The guests happily put away 454 kilograms of turkey, 227 kg of potatoes, 113 kg of stuffing, 91 kg of vegetables, 946 litres of gravy, 25 kg of cranberry sauce, 125 pumpkin pies and 1,500 cups of coffee.
Our Place is an inner-city community centre serving Greater Victoria鈥檚 vulnerable, including the working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
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Fundraiser will be the听apple of your eye
Celebrate local chefs, eat apple pie and support two local charities at the Apple Pie Celebration at Moss Street Market on Saturday.
This is the seventh year of this fundraiser.
Each chef (professional or home baker) will be given two kilograms of apples to create two apple pies or desserts.
Pie lovers pay $5 for your choice of three samples, equalling one piece of pie.
The profits from the event will be split between Life Cycles and the Youth Food Conference.
The Apple Pie Celebration starts at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Garry Oak Room at the Moss Street Market, 1330 Fairfield Rd. For more information, contact Harry Burton at [email protected].