The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club will be holding its annual open house on April 13 at its downtown club.
Everyone is invited to drop by and try their hand at lawn bowling, croquet and bocce 鈥� or watch members demonstrate the sports.
The club celebrates its 96th聽season on the green, which is just behind the historic Crystal Garden.
There will be social activities, including cards, darts and entertainment by the Victoria Pop Choir.
Refreshments will be served, including hot dogs from the grill.
Free admission. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at聽Canadian Pacific Club, 720聽Belleville St. (in Cridge Park). For more information, go to .
Hunt eggs for Easter聽Seals camp
Embark upon an Easter egg hunt in cyberspace and raise funds to send kids with diverse abilities to Easter Seals summer camp at the same time, at the Eggs for Easter Seals Campaign, on now.
Easter Seals sa国际传媒 and Yukon is getting ready to welcome about 190 children, youth and young adults with diverse abilities to Camp Shawnigan Lake this summer. To make that happen, it has launched an online campaign to raise funds and bring the magic of camp back for another year.
鈥淎 week at camp is life-changing. Our program offers a high staff-to-camper ratio that creates a safe, fun and rewarding experience. Each week, we look at the needs of the campers and develop customized experiences that bring out the best in everyone,鈥� said Charlene Krepiakevich, president and CEO. 鈥淎ny donation, big or small, helps us raise the much-needed funds to deliver this magical experience at Camp Shawnigan Lake.鈥�
Donations will help offset the $3,600 it costs to support one child at camp each week. From overnight camp-outs, sports, games and arts, to onsite medical support and tailored meal programs, each camper is recognized for their abilities and gains confidence, communications skills and friendships.
The event has provided an overnight summer camping experience for thousands of children, teens and young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
For more information, to make a virtual egg donation and be entered to win, visit .
Society hopes to welcome two refugee families
When you attend Harbour of Hope Refugee Assistance Society鈥檚 Swinging Spring Soir茅e, you聽help the lives of some of the 65聽million refugees in the world today, on Friday at the Odd Fellows Hall.
The society consists of a group of individuals who sponsor and support refugees in their integration to life in sa国际传媒. They are committed to making a difference in the world, one life, one family at a time.
Their soir茅e, the group鈥檚 main fundraising event, features live jazz, global cuisine, libations and a silent auction. Live music will be performed by Up in the Air Trio and violin virtuoso Sari Alesh.
Harbour of Hope also has a Matching Donor program.
Tim Smith, principal of Westrek Geotechnical Services, is marking his company鈥檚 20th anniversary with a $50,000 matching donation to the society.
This year, the society has undertaken the sponsorship of two families, both of whom have already entered the interview process with Canadian Immigration. Barring any unforeseen hurdles, there is a real possibility that both families could arrive in Victoria in the next six months.
Proceeds from the event will further the society鈥檚 support for these and other families. The society is a registered charity, and donations will be issued a tax receipt.
Tickets are $50. The event runs 7 to 10 p.m. April 12 at the Odd Fellows Hall, 1315 Douglas St. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite: eventbrite.ca/e/ swinging-spring-soiree-tickets-58343622345.
For more information, go to .
Saanich to honour environmental leaders
Saanich is calling upon its residents to recognize environmental leaders in the community by nominating them for the 2019 Saanich Environmental Awards.
Nominations will be considered for: Individual Citizen, Volunteer Organization, Business, Youth, Biodiversity Conservation, Long Term Environmental Achievement and Sustainability categories.
鈥淪aanich鈥檚 Environmental Awards, now in their 19th year, recognize the individuals, organizations and businesses in our municipality going above and beyond to do their part for this important cause,鈥� said Coun. Rebecca Mersereau. 鈥淭heir voluntary, community-minded efforts complement Saanich鈥檚 environmental programs and policies in areas that include climate-change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, waste dedication and water management.鈥�
Past recipients have been recognized for their efforts in environmental stewardship and leadership recognizing local efforts in environmental conservation and sustainability.
Recipients have been involved in projects such as invasive-species removal, the development of sustainable food systems, environmental education and awareness, native plant propagation, waste reduction and conservation on private property.
鈥淩ecognizing these outstanding contributions to our community and future generations is an important part of celebrating success, inspiring others and acknowledging that together, we can do more,鈥� said Mersereau.
The deadline for nomination submissions is April 16. The awards will be presented at the June 17 council meeting.
For more information, including a nomination form, go to .
Trek for Tourette goes聽5k聽today
Step out for a five-kilometre charity fun walk at the 11th Annual Trek for Tourette, today on Dallas Road.
Tourette sa国际传媒 relies on the generosity of Canadians to support its ongoing work to educate, promote awareness and provide a supportive network to families diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always prided ourselves on the grassroots nature of our organization, but the needs of our stakeholders are outgrowing our ability to service them,鈥� said Janet Rumsey, national co-ordinator and a member of the board of directors. 鈥淲ith more than one in 50 kids being diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and/or one of its associated disorders, like OCD and ADHD, it鈥檚 time we as a nation recognize that neurodevelopmental disorders are mainstream and growing rapidly in the frequency of their diagnosis.鈥�
Registration takes place between 1 and 2 p.m. today on Dallas Road at the bottom of Cook Street. Trekkers will walk along Dallas Road to Ogden Point and back. For more information, to make a donation or to get involved, go to .
Homeless cats get聽free聽surgery
McKenzie Veterinary Services will be offering free spay and neuter surgeries for homeless cats from southern Vancouver Island, in support of Dee鈥檚 Orphan Kitten Fund, April 19.
Last year, they helped 26 cats in one day. This year, they are looking to beat that number by a wide margin, with an estimated 40 cats spayed and neutered in one day.
For every cat that they sterilize, it prevents an average of 12聽cats from being born in that year alone.
McKenzie Veterinary Services sponsors and assists Dee鈥檚 Orphan Kitten Fund by offering significantly discounted veterinary medical and surgical services.
Founded in 1995 by Natalie Kroshinsky, Dee鈥檚 started out with the mission to help control feral cat colonies that exist in the margins of many neighbourhoods in the Capital Regional District. Their mission has largely been accomplished through years of live-trapping, spaying and neutering, vaccinating and feeding the colonies to help keep the population contained and healthy.
They work with volunteers with grants from the sa国际传媒 SPCA and other agencies.
In 2018, McKenzie Veterinary Services helped 575 cats brought in by the organization.
For more information, or to donate, go to or .
Ross recognized as聽community builder
Linda Ross was given the 2019 Community Builder Award at the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association鈥檚 National Congress on Housing and Homelessness in Victoria last week.
She received the award in recognition of her lifetime spent in the effort to produce affordable not-for-profit housing for Indigenous people in communities throughout sa国际传媒, and her tireless advocacy for housing as the cornerstone of living, dignity, hope and possibility for all people.
One of Ross鈥檚 past projects in Victoria was Siem Lelum, at 120聽Gorge Rd. East.
Ross is the managing broker at Linda E. Ross Property Management Inc. in Victoria.
More information can be found聽 or at .
Tsunami preparedness takes a new turn
The District of Saanich is participating in Emergency Management sa国际传媒鈥檚 Tsunami Preparedness Week by using a bit of Hollywood to convey important preparedness information, April聽11 at the University of Victoria.
Tsunami Preparedness Week runs from today through Saturday.
鈥淲e are shaking things up a bit and delivering our tsunami preparedness information in a fun and engaging way using the power of film,鈥� said Saanich deputy fire chief Frank Macdonald. 鈥淟ast year, through our public survey process, we heard feedback about how our traditional methods were hitting the mark for many residents. But we also heard feedback encouraging us to continue to think outside the box in order to attract additional demographics to our sessions.鈥�
Disasters on the Big Screen will showcase video clips from the far-fetched and poorly acted movie Disaster Wars: Earthquake vs. Tsunami.
The primary tsunami risk in our region is from a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The strong shaking from this event is nature鈥檚 warning to move to higher ground or inland.
In 2013, the Capital Regional District conducted a tsunami risk assessment identifying tsunami planning zones for CRD residents and created a tsunami brochure with a risk map for Saanich. The Saanich maps will be on display in Saanich Municipal Hall from April 8 to 12.
Thursday鈥檚 event is an approachable and fun way to learn important information for ages 14 years and older.
The event is free to attend. It starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cinecenta Theatre, University of Victoria. For more information, go to .
Local schools in line for聽tech contest
Three Victoria schools are among the 100 finalists for the Staples sa国际传媒 2019 Superpower Your School contest.
Fifty elementary schools and 50 high schools from across sa国际传媒 were chosen by Earth Day sa国际传媒 as finalists in the running to win $20,000 of new technology products.
The three Victoria finalist schools are: Cloverdale Traditional School, St. Patrick鈥檚 Elementary School and Claremont Secondary School.
These schools have been selected as finalists because they are leading the charge in environmental change.
鈥� Cloverdale Traditional School has two student groups that take the lead. The Green Team is a student driven, comprehensive program for recycling paper, hard plastics and compost, and the Triple C students educate the school community on how to reduce the amount of plastic they use.
鈥� St. Patrick鈥檚 Elementary School participates in a Litter Free Lunch initiative, which has reduced the amount of garbage coming to school in student lunches significantly.
鈥� A teacher and two students at Claremont Secondary School founded the Institute for Global Solutions, with nearly 200 learners taking part annually.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 and the top 10 schools will be announced in the weeks leading up to Earth Day.
For more information, go to .
