Young artist makes her first mark
An image of a mother and baby whale, drawn by a sixyear-old artist, was chosen as the cover page from dozens of entries in a contest by a local printing company.
Mom and Baby Whale, a pencil drawing by Maia Beasse, was the clear fan favourite of Colouring Book Project, a contest put on by Island Blue Print to take advantage of the popularity in colouring books for both adults and children.
The concept for the book was to engage the community and local artists in a project that would also benefit the art programs of a non-profit organization.
The theme of the contest was Beautiful Vancouver Island. Artists were asked to submit line drawings for consideration, along with a short paragraph describing what makes our Island so special.
Of the dozens that were submitted, 40 were chosen, reflecting a wide variety of styles and abilities from artists of all ages. The public was then asked to choose a favourite.
Beasse’s winning image was then coloured by Chelsea Sundher, a staff member at the company, becoming the colouring book cover.
Island Blue Print combined its services in the art and framing, and print and imaging divisions to produce the book.
Proceeds will benefit art programs at Our Place.
The books are $9.95 and are on sale at the company’s Victoria and Sidney locations. Island Blue Print, operating as Island Blue, is a locally owned, family-operated business that has served Greater Victoria since 1912.
Our Place offers the city’s most vulnerable a place to call their own, with nourishment, hope and a sense of belonging. For more information, go to islandblue.com or ourplacesociety.com.
Musicians tune up for Fort McMurray
YYJ4YMM is a fundraising concert for Fort McMurray (YYJ is the airport code for Victoria and, you guessed it, YMM is for Fort McMurray) on Friday.
The family-friendly event includes entertainers Daniel Lapp and the Fiddle Orchestra, Cookeilidh, Morning Show, Grizzly Timber, Mark Grimshaw (Funk’d Up) and Dwayne Andrucko, and Jon Middleton from Jon and Roy.
There will be food trucks and a beer garden by Phillips Brewery.
The Red Cross will be on hand to take donations.
The event runs 4 to 10 p.m. Friday in Centennial Square. For more information, call Coun. Beth Burton-Krahn, Esquimalt, 250-686-0940 or Coun. Colin Plant, Saanich, 250-514-1439 or look on Facebook.
A cup of tea helps dogs and cats
Spend an afternoon in the company of fellow animal lovers at Paws for Tea, a fundraiser to improve the welfare of dogs and cats, today.
At the event, people can enjoy traditional English tea in a historic Edwardian home in James Bay.
Proceeds from the gathering support the efforts of the MexiCan Vet Project and the Canadian Animal Assistance Team. The two agencies work to improve animal health and welfare by providing free spay, neuter and vaccine clinics to communities in need from Vancouver Island to Mexico.
Veterinarian Dr. Malcolm Macartney will be on hand to talk about his work on clinics hosted by both of these animal-welfare organizations.
Suggested donation is $15. Tea will be served 1 to 4 p.m. today at 122 Clarence St.
For more information, go to mckvets.com/about-us/mexi-canvet-project-2 or caat-canada.org.
Climb out of the darkness of mental illness
Survivors of postpartum depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis will walk together to raise awareness of maternal mentalhealth disorders at Climb Out of the Darkness, on Saturday.
This is the fourth year of the event, always held around the longest day of the year to shine the most possible light on maternal mental illness. Participants from all over the world — dubbed Warrior Moms — climb, hike or walk together at a local mountain or park to symbolize their collective rise out of the darkness.
Last year, more than 2,500 people took part in events around the world.
Supporters raise funds for Postpartum Progress, a non-profit organization and an online community of support resources.
Funds raised from this event will go toward educational materials for obstetricians, pediatricians and others. Other material will help raise awareness on the public-health impact of postpartum depression and related illnesses on mothers and children.
The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Macaulay Point Park, Esquimalt. Participants can register at Team British Columbia — Victoria site on Crowdrise at goo.gl/a5Jhda.
For more information, go to postpartumprogress.org/climbout-of-the-darkness or contact Kelly Dennison 250-704-6405 or kellymdennison@gmail.com.
Torch Run is highlight for Special Olympics
Cheer along law enforcement members and Special Olympics B.C. athletes as they take part in the Victoria Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics B.C. on Saturday.
The Victoria Law Enforcement Torch Run is a global movement that raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Members around the province lead a variety of fundraising events throughout the year and have raised more than $3 million since 1990.
The Torch Run is the highlight of the group’s calendar.
The run, a five-kilometre run/walk along the Galloping Goose Trail, helps spread a message of respect and inclusion, as well as funds for Special Olympics B.C.
It starts at 9 a.m. from the Saanich Police Department, 760 Vernon Ave., followed by a pancake breakfast by donation at 10 a.m. For more information, go to specialolympics.bc.ca/letr.
New device will aid heart surgeries
The First Open Heart Society has donated $50,000 to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
The donation will go toward the purchase of a cell saver, a sophisticated piece of equipment used during open-heart and vascular surgeries to counter blood loss. It recovers the blood a patient loses, and instead of being discarded, the blood is given back to the patient after being cleansed and filtered.
“We are so grateful for the longtime support of the First Open Heart Society and their efforts to improve cardiac care on Vancouver Island,” said Cathy McIntyre, board chairwoman of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. “Their generous gifts have helped so many people in our communities have access to the leadingedge cardiac technology that ultimately saves their lives.”
The cell saver will be used at Royal Jubilee Hospital, the referral centre for cardiac care for all of Vancouver Island. Last year, the hospital saw more than 3,000 cardiac inpatients.
The First Open Heart Society, formed in 1973, has donated more than $706,000 toward cardiac care in Victoria. The society also operates Heart House, a low-cost bed and breakfast within walking distance of Royal Jubilee Hospital.
“We are strongly committed to supporting cardiac care through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation,” said Doris Nicholson, president of the society. “We take pride and comfort in knowing that when people from across Vancouver Island require life-saving heart surgery or treatment, Royal Jubilee is well equipped to provide state-of-the-art care.”
For more information, go to fohs.bc.ca or victoriahf.ca.
Boomer’s Legacy ride arrives today
Cheer and wave if you see a team of more than 100 bicycle riders as they arrive in Victoria today from Comox as part of Boomer’s Legacy B.C.
Riders of all ages and abilities — military and civilian — are participating in the fundraising event that gathers individual and group sponsorship for Boomer’s Legacy.
Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, nicknamed Boomer by his mates, was killed in action serving in Afghanistan in 2006. He was 23 when he died, serving with 1 Field Ambulance, in the final days of a seven-month deployment.
“I knew the day after he was killed that I would start a foundation called Boomer’s Legacy,” said Maureen Eykelenboom. “So that soldiers on patrol could access funds for humanitarian projects in Afghanistan.”
Andrew Eykelenboom was one of 158 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to die in Afghanistan. He was the first Canadian medic to die since the Korean War.
While he was a soldier, his mission in life was to help people.
“One of the things Andrew wrote home about was a small thing he did that put a smile on a child’s face. He said it was the most important thing about this tour,” said Maureen.
Andrew’s humanitarian spirit lives on through Boomer’s Legacy, with over $1 million raised in the past 10 years to help men and women in uniform make a positive difference in the lives of others.
The fund initially provided thousands of handmade caps for newborn babies in Afghanistan — a Boomer Cap — that greatly improved their chance of survival. Funds also allow Canadian soldiers to provide food, medical supplies and other essentials to those affected by the conflict.
Boomer’s Legacy became a means to boost troop morale during their deployed service and bolster the image of the Canadian Armed Forces in the areas they were serving. The foundation is now a fund under the Support Our Troops Program, an entity of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.
Boomer’s Legacy B.C. bike ride is a two-day fully supported cycling experience that covers 240 kilometres, from Eykelenboom’s grave in the Comox Valley to Victoria. Each cyclist on the ride carries the biography of a fallen soldier.
The ride will leave from Brigadier DR Sergeant Armoury in Nanaimo at 8 a.m. today. The Ladysmith Legion will welcome the team when they arrive at the Ladysmith Tim Hortons for a morning coffee at 9 a.m. Thrifty Foods in Duncan will host lunch between 11 a.m. and noon, with the Duncan Legion in attendance.
Cyclists will depart for Mill Bay, arriving at 1:15 p.m. for an afternoon break in the shade of the Thrifty Foods parking lot before beginning their climb of the Malahat.
They will be greeted by the Malahat and Mill Bay legions, as well as the Mill Bay Lions Club.
The ride is scheduled to conclude at 4:45 p.m. on the grounds of the British Columbia Legislature, with a short public ceremony to honour each of Canada’s fallen soldiers since 2001.
For more information, go to boomerslegacybc.ca.
Saanich honours environmental leaders
Congratulate the winners of the 2016 Saanich Environmental Awards at a ceremony that takes place Monday.
The awards were established in 2000 to promote environmental stewardship and leadership.
The public was encouraged to submit names of people who have improved or conserved the environment, or worked on initiatives that led to greater sustainability. Nominees were evaluated by the environment and natural areas advisory committee.
This year’s award winners include: • Individual Citizen 2016: William (Bill) Dancer • Volunteer Organization: Victoria Golden Rods and Reels Fishing and Social Club • Youth Group/School: Mount Douglas Secondary ECO Club • Business: Saanich Native Plants • Biodiversity/Conservation: Purnima Govindarajulu • Long Term Achievement: Everett and Merle Peterson • Sustainability: Goldstream Volunteer Salmonid Enhancement Association
The event is free to the public. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. in Saanich council chambers, 770 Vernon Ave. For more information, go to saanich.ca.
Say thanks to blood donors this week
National Blood Donor Week runs June 13 to 18 and is a time to celebrate blood donors from across the country who make a lifesaving difference for patients in need.
Events will be held in communities across the country throughout the week to thank donors for their continued commitment and to encourage new donors to consider making an appointment.
On average, someone in Canada needs blood — and often from more than one donor — every 60 seconds.
To discover all the ways to donate or to book an appointment, download the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca.
Books are a deal at annual sale
The Friends of the Library are hosting their annual Fabulous Used Book Sale on Saturday and Sunday.
Cantemos Juntos will perform Spanish music 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday.
The sale runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Sidney/North Saanich Library, 10091 Resthaven Dr., Sidney.
The fundraiser features books for $5 per bag, from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday and all day Sunday.
For more information, go to gvpl.ca/about-us/support-yourlibrary/friends-of-the-library.