The City of Victoria is looking for local musicians and community programmers to offer outdoor concerts, events and activities at Centennial Square and Beacon Hill Park in 2020.
The city is updating its roster for musicians, assessing submissions based on the musician鈥檚 or band鈥檚 broad appeal, technical expertise and talent.
Applicants for the community programmer roster will be assessed on the quality and creativity of the activity proposed, and the applicant鈥檚 track record in delivering similar, successful programs to the community.
Roster applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but聽the selection process only takes place once a year. Late applications will be considered for聽2021.
Those interested are asked to apply online 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2020. Preference will be given to those based in the capital region. Successful applicants will be contacted in early March 2020. For more information and to apply, go to victoria.ca/artsandculture.
Lions Clubs fund vision tests for students
Vancouver Island Lions Clubs are behind a drive that has administered eye tests for all elementary school children on Vancouver Island.
For the past three years, elementary school children on the Island and the outer Gulf Islands have had their eyes tested by a handheld spot vision screener. The portable device is designed to quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from six months of age through adult.
The local drive is part of a goal by Lions Clubs in the United States and sa国际传媒 to sight-test all elementary school children free of charge.
The clubs鈥� next target will be to eye test students in middle schools.
For more information, go to lionsclubs.org.
Willows students plant native species in Uplands
Students of Willows Elementary School, who have removed invasive plants for the past four years at Uplands Park, are now participating in planting native species in this area.
The area was plowed in the mid 1800s by the soldiers at Ft. Victoria to grow grain for the cattle dropped off at Cattle Point to provide beef for the soldiers. The area may also have been used to grow vegetables for the soldiers.
At one tim,e Uplands Farm extended from the University of Victoria to Oak Bay before it was sold in 1946 to become part of a residential development.
The area around Uplands Park was given to the Oak Bay Municipality by the developers to partially pay for taxes.
The park was cleared of invasive Norway maple trees by Oak Bay Parks this summer.
In their place, students from the school have planted more than $7,000 worth of native wildflowers and four Garry oak trees.
The Uplands Park and the residential area and was designated as a National Historic Site by the federal government this summer.
The school celebrate the completion of the habitat restoration and planting with a Willows School Family Day at the beginning of the month.
For more information, go to willows.sd61.bc.ca.
Victoria moves to protect聽urban forest
The City of Victoria recently adopted amendments to the Tree Preservation Bylaw aimed at protecting the urban forest.
As part of the city鈥檚 Urban Forest Master Plan, the city has reviewed the bylaw to protect trees on private property.
鈥淥ur community has been very clear through strong voices and advocacy, that they love their trees. And the benefits of trees are wide ranging including enhancing well-being and helping the city mitigate the impacts of climate change,鈥� said Mayor Lisa Helps. 鈥淣ot only has the city made significant commitments to planting new trees, but the bylaw changes adopted today will protect nine times more of our current canopy for future generations to enjoy.鈥�
The bylaw amendment includes adjustments to protected tree size, fees, inspection requirements and a new cash-in-lieu program.
These changes reflect leading practice and more closely align the city with neighbouring communities.
The master plan recommends 26 actions for the improved management of trees on public and private lands over the next 50 years.
In 2020, the city will be working with the community on tree planting and tree preservation opportunities in light of a changing climate. A new investment of $1 million annually will go toward maintaining existing trees and to plant new ones.
According to the city, enhancing the urban forest provides a wide range of benefits, from positive mental health impacts, to environmental attributes such as regulating temperature, mitigating storm water runoff and providing wildlife habitat.
For more information, go to victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parks/urban-forest/master-plan.html.
Concert to raise funds for聽refugee family
Start 2020 on a high note with an afternoon of philanthropy and music at Heart Strings, a benefit concert to raise funds for a sponsored refugee family, Jan. 5 in the MacLaurin Building at the University of Victoria.
What is unique about this concert is that the performers playing at the event are themselves refugees.
Presented by Victoria Helping Hands, the concert features Sari Alesh and his band and three members of the Orontes Guitar Quartet. The musicians will perform a unique combination of oriental and western music on string instruments.
Proceeds from the event will both support a newly-sponsored single mother and her family of six as well as the artists, who are also Syrian refugees.
Sponsors include the University of Victoria School of Music, Enviro and Crease Harman LLP.
Tickets are $20 to $100. Doors open at 2. The concert runs 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5 in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall (MacLaurin Building 鈥� B wing) at the University of Victoria. Tickets at victoriaheartstrings.eventbrite.ca.
For more information, go to facebook.com/events/560333307845719.
