Some of Victoria鈥檚 vulnerable people will have warmer feet this winter, thanks to 5,000 pairs of new socks being distributed among 25 local social-service agencies.
Congregation Emanu-El, McGregor Socks, the Victoria Cool Aid Society and individual donors have worked for the past eight years to make this story of听compassion and co-operation happen.
The socks are provided for a nominal fee by McGregor Socks, with the organization and distribution co-ordinated by Cool Aid and the synagogue鈥檚 social-action group Avodah.
鈥淚t is an act of community co-operation,鈥� said Michael Bloomfield, a member of Avodah. 鈥淗ere is an example where all the donors and agencies involved have gotten together to generously share of each other.鈥�
An example of the co-operation includes La-Z-Boy shipping the socks from the manufacturing plant in Ontario 鈥� packed among furniture destined for customers in Victoria.
This year鈥檚 shipment of socks brings to 70,000 the number of pairs that this partnership has brought to Greater Victoria and Salt Spring Island.
Donors include La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, Cook-Roberts law firm, BMO, Hutcheson and Co. accounting firm, Megson-FitzPatrick Insurance, Odd Fellows, Wadell-Raponi law firm, Michael and Christine Bloomfield, Bank of Nova Scotia, Shelagh Rinald Lorna Eastman and MP Murray Rankin.
The socks will be given to people who are homeless and at risk over the next few weeks.
For more information, go to , or .
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Get your kilt ready for Burns event
Have a hankering for good poetry and Scottish cuisine? Then get your tickets for the Robbie Burns Event at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre, Jan. 20.
Robert Burns is perhaps Scotland鈥檚 most famous poet and lyricist, and his birthday, Jan. 25, is celebrated around the world.
Attendees at Friday鈥檚 event will听be served a meal of haggis with all the fixings and serenaded by bagpipes.
Members of the Victoria chapter of the Sons of Scotland will be in attendance with stories about famous Scots throughout the years.
A limited number of tickets are left: $12 for members and $15 for non-members. The event runs 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at the centre, 380 Cook St. For details, email [email protected] or call 250-384-6542.
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Peninsula Singers looking for altos
The Peninsula Singers are looking for alto singers to join the choir for their upcoming spring concert series, sa国际传媒 鈥� A Celebration of Our Nation.
Altos sing in the lowest female voice range, from F below middle C to a high D. In choral work, altos generally supply the harmony to the sopranos鈥� melody.
The concerts take place April 28, 29 and 30.
The 68-member choir also recently announced the appointment of Lena Palermo as artistic director, replacing Glenda Korella, who retired last year.
Palermo, who teaches at Cordova Bay Elementary School, has a background in acting and singing, and as a director of musical and choral groups. Her formal training includes studies at the Juilliard School in New York.
Singers interested in auditioning for the alto positions should contact .
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Your water garden could help orphaned kids
The For the Love of Africa Society, which hosts an annual fundraising Water Garden Tour in听the summer, is looking for homeowners who have a garden with a听water feature who would like to听be included in the 2017 tour.
Although they already have several gardens signed up, they are looking for a few more in听Greater Victoria for the tour, which takes place July 8.
For the Love of Africa Society is a Victoria-based charity that has, since 2004, been assisting in听the construction of schools, a听medical dispensary and orphan centre in Africa.
Contact Karen Hughes at [email protected] or 250-881-7855 or For information, go to .
Did you attend Scott Collegiate in Regina?
Former students of the Scott Collegiate High School are invited to a farewell reunion to be held this spring in Regina.
This reunion will hold special significance because the old school building is about to be torn down. Attendees at the event can see it one last time, as well as tour the new facilities already built to take its place.
Organizers are expecting as many as 3,000 former students, including many living in British Columbia, to attend. Ex-students are urged to book early, as limited space is available.
Along with the tours, a reception is planned, with proceeds going toward a Scott Collegiate Alumni Scholarship fund.
The tours are $10 and the reception $50. Registration runs noon to 5 p.m., June 17, at the school and from 7 to 8 p.m. at the reception venue, the Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Dr., Regina. Tickets available on eventbrite.ca. For information, contact Wayne Kuss 306-949-1097 or [email protected].
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Drums and dance kick off Black History Month
The Victoria African and Caribbean Cultural Society is hosting a series of Black History Month events focused on diversity and inclusion throughout the month of February.
Events to celebrate the legacy of the black diaspora, past and present include:
Black History Month Kick Off: Drum and Dance Festival
Supported by the government of sa国际传媒, the festival kicks off Black History Month with a mosaic of cultural festivities that include drum workshops, dance performances, African and Caribbean food, and a live show featuring world-class artists Naby Camara and Jacky 脡somb茅.
The Kick Off festival is family-friendly and free or by donation. It听runs 1 to 5 p.m., Feb. 4. The live show, which follows between 6听and 9 p.m., costs $25. The event is at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High School, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. Tickets at .
Film Screening and Panel Discussion: The Colour of Beauty
This film is a compelling short documentary directed by Canadian filmmaker Elizabeth St. Philip. The movie examines racism in the fashion industry. Light dinner will be served.
The event is free to attend. It runs 3 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18, at 脡cole Victor-Brodeur, 637 Head St.
Tickets at .
Black History Month Community Recognition Awards and Closing Gala
The event pays tribute to members of the Victoria black community who have distinguished themselves in the public, private and community sectors.听Dinner and refreshments served.
Tickets are $25. The event runs 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre Auditorium, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. Tickets at .
The Victoria African and Caribbean Cultural Society is听a听non-profit community organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the听cultural heritage of the black diaspora in Greater Victoria. For information, go听to听.
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Turn sa国际传媒鈥檚 150th into a big party
REACH, a new non-profit organization in Victoria, is looking for people of all ages, cultures, faiths and abilities (including those with special needs) to train for a performance to celebrate sa国际传媒鈥檚 diversity on its 150th birthday.
Starting on Thursday, the association will introduce a new group of programs using the performing arts to celebrate diversity.
鈥淚t will celebrate the beauty of diversity in sa国际传媒 on its 150th birthday,鈥� says Anne-Marie Brimacombe. 鈥淭he show will be original, created around the strengths and abilities of the performers. So those with special needs are really encouraged to participate.鈥�
Pioneered in the Caribbean by Vancouver Island residents Anne-Marie and Peter Brimacombe, the programs will include a Small World Children鈥檚 Choir (four- to seven-year-olds), a One World Children鈥檚 Performing Company (eight to 12 years) and a Performing Company for adults and youth 13 years and older.
The programs will be held on Thursday afternoons and evenings at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
Previous performing experience is not necessary, but regular participation is needed, as the three groups will be performing together in June.
First Nations culture will be celebrated. The programs can also be an integration experience for new Canadians to share their rich cultural and musical heritage.
For information, contact Anne-Marie Brimacombe at [email protected], 250-882-4339, or .
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Do you know an environmental hero?
Nominate yourself or someone you know for the Hometown Heroes Award Program, which recognizes and celebrates environmental leaders at the community level.
The program is hosted by Earth Day sa国际传媒, a national charity that encourages people to connect with nature to build resilient communities.
Candidates can win the award, which comes with a $5,000 cash prize to further their outstanding efforts, in one of five categories: Youth, individual, teacher, group and small business.
Winners will be announced at听a听ceremony in Toronto in June.
For information, go to .
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It鈥檚 razor time for five bearded men 鈥� or is it?
Will they shave off their beards or keep them? Five men have offered their glorious manes for a good cause and will find out the results of the offbeat fundraising contest today at Saint Franks restaurant.
The five 鈥� Brian Bates, Braeden Papp, Nick Johnson and David Mitchell of Victoria and Frank Motschko of Kelowna 鈥� had pledged to cut off their beards if enough people cast Beard Off votes.
If so, they will be marched to the Victory Barber and Brand shop, at the back of Saint Franks, to get shaved in front of the assembled crowd.
鈥淎re you passionate about beards? About great, big beards?鈥� asks contest organizer Bates. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not too late to cast your vote for us to keep them or get rid of them. The decision is in your hands.鈥�
The event will include food and drink, a live DJ and a collection of weird and wonderful beard-themed door prizes from Copper Hat (wet shaving supplies) and Big Red Beard Combs.
The public can vote online or in person until the 8 p.m. deadline.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to support Cool Aid services to help the homeless and vulnerable in Victoria.
Go to to听vote for the shaves or beardon.causevox.com to vote for听the beards. Entrance to the event is by donation and runs 4 to 8 p.m. today at Saint Franks, 1320 Broad St. Visit Facebook.com/beardonoff to watch a video, learn more or contribute.
