It took more than 70 years, but听Victoria resident George Wastle finally received his medal for his involvement in the liberation of France in the Second World War.
Wastle, 93, has been awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest national order of France.
鈥淭hrough you, France remembers the sacrifice of all of your compatriots who came to liberate French soil,鈥� said Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of France to sa国际传媒, in a letter that accompanied the medal.
Surviving veterans of the war are being granted the Legion of Honour for their contributions to the liberation of France.
An official decoration ceremony, with three other recipients, takes place at 12:30 p.m. today at Langford Branch #91 of the Royal Canadian Legion, 761 Station Rd.
Men, dogs and听fall听fashions
See men in the latest designer fashions and dogs wearing their coats, designed by nature, at the Outlooks Menswear Man and His Dog Fashion Show, Thursday at the Atrium.
Tickets are on sale for the ninth year of this event, which combines fall fashions, fur and fun to raise money and awareness for the Victoria Humane Society. Last year, the event raised more than $12,000.
More than a dozen male models will be accompanied on the runway by either their own dog or a dog available for adoption.
Some of the dogs have been rescued from Northern communities. Other dogs in the society鈥檚 care have been surrendered by local owners forced to give up their dogs due to health, financial or family issues.
鈥淚n addition to bringing out the dogs who are in danger, we work with communities to present alternative ways of dealing with animal populations and go into the schools to work with the kids and affect their attitudes,鈥� said Penny Stone, executive director of the organization, which has helped more than 600 animals over the past year.
Each animal that the society accepts receives appropriate veterinary care. Applicants for adoption are screened by a volunteer adoption team.
People can apply to adopt one of the dogs from the show or just enjoy face-licking and tail wagging at the puppy-petting station.
Tickets are $55. The event kicks off with a mix-and-mingle at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Atrium, 800 Yates St. Tickets available at the store, 534 Yates St., or on its website.
For more information, go to .
Tour de Rock team touches down
Drop by Broadmead Village on Friday for a chance to meet the Tour de Rock riders and their team for their last lunch stop on the final day of the 2016 Tour de Rock tour. People are invited to meet the riders, cheer them on and find out about their journey.
Broadmead Pharmasave will be holding a hot-dog barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the barbecue will be donated to the Tour de Rock. Coast Capital will also raise funds with its spin bike, which will be in the breezeway. Volunteers will pedal the bike for donations to Tour de Rock riders.
The riders will arrive about 11:45 a.m. and will be at Broadmead Village, 777 Royal Oak Dr., for just under an hour. They will enter at the Royal Oak entrance and will gather in the breezeway. Thrifty Foods is providing lunch for the riders. For more information, go to
Volunteers support seniors after hospital stay
Seniors Serving Seniors is looking for volunteers for its Return to Health program, which provides social support to seniors returning home from a hospital stay.
Going to the hospital due to illness or surgery can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience for people.
In the Return to Health program, volunteers visit clients and offer assistance to help them connect to services and regain self-confidence. The goal of the program is to assist people in re-socializing and making new friends at seniors鈥� social programs in the area.
More than 180 seniors are supported by the program every year.
Volunteers receive a comprehensive 18-hour course over five weeks followed by monthly, two-hour support meetings throughout the year.
Training includes 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.
The next training session starts Oct. 26. Please call Jane Sheaff at 250-382-4331 or go to .
Concert gives thanks at听Thanksgiving
Enjoy an evening of Motown-inspired gospel music in five-part harmony as the Victoria Soul Gospel Choir presents its Thanksgiving Giving Thanks concert, Oct. 8 at Oak Bay High School.
The 60-voice choir will be led by Checo Tohomaso, a church-raised gospel singer influenced by a mix of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Ray Charles. During his long career, he has performed with Marvin Gaye, Lionel Ritchie, the Commodores and other musical greats.
The concert celebrates all the good things we have around us in this beautiful town and, at the same, time raises needed funds for youth programs.
Tickets $25. The doors open at 7, with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Dave Dunnet Performing Arts Theatre, Oak Bay High School, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. Tickets available at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, Ivy鈥檚 Bookshop, 2188 Oak Bay Ave., or at the door.
For more information, go to .
Sing along with the Beatles at fundraiser
The 2 Saints and Friends Refugee Support Group is holding a Liverpool Singalong on Friday as a fundraiser for Syrian refugees it has sponsored.
The show鈥檚 master of ceremonies, Brian Richardson, grew up in Liverpool and went to school with John Lennon. He also knew some of the other Beatles, and Gerry and the Pacemakers, all from the same Liverpool area.
The evening will consist of mostly Beatles songs 鈥� but there will also be one from Gerry and the Pacemakers. Throughout the evening, Richardson will recount memories of growing up with some now-famous musicians.
Tea and cookies served at intermission
Admission is $20. Doors open 6:15 with music and singing starting at 7 and ending at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at St. Peter鈥檚 Lakehill Anglican Church, 3939 St. Peter鈥檚 Rd. For more information, contact Julie Poskitt at [email protected].
Magic of music for听palliative patients
Peninsula Singers last week presented a cheque for $3,000 to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation鈥檚 Music Therapy Program.
The cheque represented the proceeds from the group鈥檚 spring concert series, Life Journeys We Take. With the latest donation, the singers have donated almost $40,000 to the foundation over the past decade.
鈥淚t fits with our mission of bringing the joy of music to the 2,000 people who come to hear us sing in the spring and at Christmas,鈥� said Virginia Rouslin, a member of the group, in an email. 鈥淏ut as important, we remember those who cannot attend our concerts, but who now reside at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital鈥檚 palliative-care unit.鈥�
Proceeds from the concert go toward the hospital鈥檚 Music Therapy Program, so that patients鈥� last days are brightened by the magic of music. For more information, go to
Fizzy fundraiser collects听$3,500
The Pop Pop Fizz Fizz United Together fundraiser uncorked $3,500 worth of donations for the 2016 campaign.
The initiative, a partnership among Phillips soda works, Thrifty Foods, Save-on-Foods and Country Grocer, saw the United Way receiving 25 cents for every bottle and $1.50 for every case of featured soft drinks sold at 21 stores between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15. For more information, go to
Tennis program needs听your vote
Help keep tennis lessons free for disadvantaged children by voting online.
Kids At Tennis sa国际传媒 has entered a competition for a grant to continue and expand its work.
The organization has provided free tennis lessons for more than 4,000 at-risk kids in the Capital Regional District in the past three years.
Clients include financially challenged and developmentally challenged children.
The contest awards funds for the program with the highest votes. You can help by voting online. Details to be provided.
Go to , email [email protected] or call 250-412-1406.
