Many neatly pressed uniforms are set to get soaked as Vancouver Island law-enforcement members take part in the Vancouver Island Polar Plunge for Special Olympics sa国际传媒 on Feb. 16.
The members will join Special Olympics athletes and other fearless participants to charge into the chilly waters at Willows Beach next Sunday.
The event is to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics B.C鈥檚 life-changing year-round sport, youth and health programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
鈥淲e are very grateful to all the law-enforcement members and other brave plungers who support Special Olympics sa国际传媒 athletes through this fun and inclusive event,鈥� said Dan Howe, president and CEO. 鈥淵ou may only spend a few moments in the freezing water, but your impact will be felt for far longer 鈥� because funds raised will help change lives across the province.鈥�
Staged in partnership with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics sa国际传媒, the Polar Plunge will see members from the sa国际传媒 Sheriff Services, sa国际传媒 Border Services Agency, Central Saanich Police Service, Oak Bay Police Department, RCMP, Saanich Police Department, Victoria Police Department and the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment.
They will be joined by corporate teams, athletes and other participants.
The event will include live music, law-enforcement vehicle displays, prizes and giveaways.
Funds raised will support programs and competitions for more than 5,200 athletes in 55 communities around the province.
Last year鈥檚 event saw more than $30,000 raised.
Check-in for the event starts at 10, with the plunge taking place at 11 a.m. Feb. 16 at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. You can register for the event as a team or an individual. For more information, go to .
Gabriola eco-bus celebrates 100,000th passenger
A bus system that runs with a little biodiesel and a lot of love recently rewarded its 100,000th passenger.
The Gabriola Environmentally Responsible Trans-Island Express, or GERTIE, has been ferrying passengers (and dogs, chickens, goats and bicycles) since it was launched as a community pilot in 2013.
The service was initially made possible through donations, grants and Community Works funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo. The buses were then driven by volunteers.
In 2016 residents of the island approved a referendum for property taxpayer support, with bus service starting with paid drivers.
Stephen Levesque became the 100,000th GERTIE passenger when he boarded the bus on Jan.聽22.
He received an annual pass and a selection of gifts from Gabriola Island retailers. He shared in some cake with his sons, Felix, 8 and Cedar, 3 during a celebration to mark the milestone at the Folklife Village bus stop.
There are currently two regular buses and a smaller, Ford Transit HandyDART bus operating six days a week on a 26-kilometre main route around Gabriola Island. For more information, go to .
Variety Show of Hearts Telethon today on Global
Turn on your television today and tune in for the 54th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon on Global sa国际传媒
You can catch up with the families you met during Variety Week and meet more children across the province that your donations have helped.
The children featured include Michelle Longpre-Pajotte, a 14-year-old girl from Victoria diagnosed with epilepsy, intellectual disability (due to a genetic disorder) and diffuse subcortical band heterotropia.
Due to her conditions, Longpre-Pajotte struggles with co-ordination and fine motor skills, anxiety, depression and social withdrawal.
Thanks to Variety, she has been provided with educational tutoring and professional counselling since 2018.
The eight-hour live telecast will originate from the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and will feature a number of Global sa国际传媒 personalities, CKNW鈥檚 Jody Vance and CFOX鈥檚 Karen Khunkhun. They will be joined by actor Paul Greene, inspirational speaker Cara E. Yar Khan and longtime Show of Hearts favourite, Alvin Law.
The show airs live today from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Global sa国际传媒 and online via live stream at globalnews.ca. For more information, go to .
Art in the Vineyard seeks聽your collectibles
Dust off previously loved art, collectibles and jewelry that you have tucked in closets and crawl spaces and donate them to Art in the Vineyard, an upcoming fundraiser for the Prospect Lake District Community Association.
The organizers are seeking all kinds of used art, collectibles and jewelry 鈥� framed and unframed originals, prints, posters, paint-by-numbers, velvet Elvises, vases, plates, statuary, decorative boxes, vintage jewelry, costume jewelry ... you name it, they will take it.
They will all be sold on June 20. Last year鈥檚 event saw about 1,500聽people purchase the previously enjoyed pieces, browse through the 30 artist and artisan booths scattered under trees and stroll in the rose garden.
Last year鈥檚 event raised more than $18,000 for the improvement of the grounds around the heritage Prospect Lake Hall in the heart of the Saanich Peninsula.
The hall is one of the few remaining community-owned and managed halls in sa国际传媒 It is used for programs, meetings and community events.
This year鈥檚 event takes place from 11聽a.m. to 6 p.m. June 20 among the historic farm buildings and English country gardens of Starling Lane Vineyard, 5271 Old West Saanich Road.
To arrange a dropoff, contact Jackie at [email protected] or 250-479-4769. For more information, go to .
Vic High grad is new youth poet laureate
The City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library are pleased to announce Neko Smart as Victoria鈥檚 new youth poet laureate.
The youth poet laureate serves as Victoria鈥檚 champion for youth and the literary arts, seeking to inspire and engage local youth to share their stories through both the written and spoken word.
鈥淧oetry is a means of creative expression that enables me to process the world through the lens of my anxiety disorder,鈥� said Smart. 鈥淎s youth poet laureate, my goal is to emphasize the importance of cultivating open dialogues about mental health in order to reduce stigma and increase safety, particularly in youth.鈥�
Smart is a graduate of Victoria High School and the founder and former captain 鈥� turned coach 鈥� of the Vic High Slam Poetry Team. She encourages vulnerability in writing as a way of healing through written word.
鈥淣eko鈥檚 love of words will encourage young people in our community to tell their stories through poetry,鈥� said Maureen Sawa, CEO of the Greater Victoria Public Library. 鈥淲e look forward to partnering with her and giving youth opportunities to embrace the power of the written word.鈥�
The youth poet laureate is an honorary one-year term position. The position is funded by the City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library. Victoria was the first municipality in sa国际传媒 to have a youth poet laureate. For more information, go to .
Valentine鈥檚 fundraiser benefits social agencies
Show your love this Valentine鈥檚 Day and be a part of something much bigger at the Valentine鈥檚 2020 Red Carpet Gala, at the Da Vinci Centre on Feb. 14.
This is a fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the Mustard Seed, Cool Aid, Sooke Crisis Center and Sooke Food Bank.
Hosted by the One Voice Institute, the gala will provide singles, couples, work teams and groups with an opportunity to laugh, dance, drink, eat, play, compete, mix and mingle.
The goal is to give the community an opportunity to give on Valentine鈥檚 Day 鈥� and to promote a Giving Is Sexy philosophy.
Attendees will enjoy a red-carpet experience and VIP treatment. They will rock to the beat of local live entertainment, including WE3 and the jazzy sound of the Cascadia Quartet.
They will feast on gourmet appetizers and decadent desserts, sip classic cocktails and signature Valentine鈥檚 Day drinks.
There will be trivia contests, team or group competitions, dance contests, mingling activities, silent auctions for prizes from gift baskets, collectibles including paintings, photography, artisan jewelry, antiques, talent judging and more.
Single tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at the door (if available). The event starts at 8聽p.m. Feb. 14 at the Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay St. For more information, go to or .
Business students launch benefit for Aussie animals
Royal Roads business students have partnered with Endur Apparel to launch a limited-edition line of socks to benefit the World Wildlife Fund and their ongoing efforts in supporting animals affected by Australian bushfires.
The Royal Roads Bachelor of Commerce Venture Challenge requires students to build an online business to raise funds for a not-for-profit of their choice.
The students have formed Paws4Aus to sell limited-edition high-performance socks to help support bushfire relief and rescue efforts. The line features designs of animals at risk, including the koala and kangaroo.
鈥淚 lived in Australia for five years and to see the misery caused by the bushfires across this amazing country breaks my heart,鈥� said Elliot Drury, Paws4Aus co-founder. 鈥淪upporting a cause that will help the animals and people affected means the world to me.鈥�
The students have only a few weeks to raise as much money as possible while creating a business plan, managing the finances, and marketing the product or service.
This is the 28th semi-annual challenge that has seen more than 100 students participate. It has raised more than $100,000 for various charities.
The socks are available for $20 per pair or $38 for a two-pack. The goal is to raise $10,000 between by Feb. 19. For more information, go to .
Cowichan first aid course free for care aides
The Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association is holding a free Emergency First Aid Community Care (Level 1) course on Saturday in Chemainus.
This class is designed for people who work in licensed child- and adult-care facilities and is suitable for anyone who provides care for infants, children and/or adults.
This is a great opportunity to become prepared to help others in medical need and to boost your resume and employable skills.
The certification is valid for three years.
The all-day course runs 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch and snacks provided. Pre-registration required. You can .
Help get the gorse gone on Anderson Hill
Enjoy the fresh air and get your fill of digging, pulling and cussing at an invasive plant Gorse Be Gone, a community weeding party to protect the endangered Garry oak ecosystem at Anderson Hill Park on Saturday.
Gorse is a native Mediterranean plant, invasive in Scotland and in Victoria.
Join Christina Johnson-Dean of Anderson Hill and Friends of Uplands Park to cut down the gorse at Anderson Hill Park. Leather gloves, loppers, saws and instructions will be provided.
Oak Bay Parks will be on hand to take what you remove to the invasive plant compost.
Refreshments will be provided.
The event runs 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 15. Meet at the Island Road entrance to Anderson Hill in Oak Bay.
For more information, call Margaret Lidkea at 250-595-8084 or [email protected].
