Rotarians shed light on polio fight
Take a moment to mark World Polio Day in Victoria at an End Polio Now awareness event on Tuesday. In 1979, Rotarians in the Philippines took it upon themselves to rid their country of polio. Buoyed by their success, Rotary International broadened the horizon by choosing to eradicate polio on behalf of all the children of the world.
The end is near for the affliction. Reported cases have dropped from 350,000 in 1985 to 11 to date for 2017.
Numerous organizations have joined in this task — the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
To celebrate the achievement, Rotary International chose to mark the success with a light-up event. In 2011, the local clubs became part of the worldwide global celebration with their own End Polio Now light-up.
This year, the clubs of Greater Victoria have organized a light at the Holiday Inn Express Suites.
The event is free to attend. The light will be turned on at 6 and shine until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the hotel, 318 Wale Rd. Colwood.
The light-up is followed by a fundraising dinner at the 328 Taphouse and Grill, 328 Wale Rd. Diners get pizza and beer or wine for $25 with 50 per cent of the proceeds going toward the End Polio Now campaign. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, go to endpolio.org or the Greater Victoria Rotary Clubs Facebook page.
Enjoy food and fashion at Cherish
Enjoy fabulous food, drink and fashion modelled by 16 of Victoria’s favourite dancers at Cherish: A Glamorous Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy, Oct. 26 at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
The event, sponsored by Kirsty Thomson of Willow Wealth Management/ Raymond James, is in support of the Women’s Transition House and Dance Victoria Society.
See clothes provided by Tulipe Noire, Hughes Clothing and Outlooks for Men. Hairstyling is by Carreiro the Studio and makeup by Beautycounter.
Money raised from the event, along with donations from the community, allow staff, clients and their families to attend the opening night of The Nutcracker ballet.
For many of these families, their night out together at the theatre is an event they will always cherish.
Tickets for Cherish are $75, with a charitable tax receipt provided for a portion of the ticket cost. The event starts at 7 p.m., Oct. 26 at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Dr. Tickets available at Royal Theatre or McPherson Playhouse box offices, by phone at 250-386-6121 or rmts.bc.ca.
Unique art comes from Pacifica tenants
Pacifica Housing tenants show off their creativity at their Annual Art Show, Tuesday at the Parkside Hotel.
The event highlights the opportunities that affordable housing offers to individuals in the midst of a housing crisis.
“Art has been instrumental for our clients, and has immense healing power for many of our tenants in low-barrier housing,” said Paola Levet, manager of supported housing at Pacifica.
More than 30 tenant art pieces will be on display at locations throughout the city, including City Hall and Fort Tectoria, until the end of November.
On Tuesday, enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and sip coffee and tea provided by Truffles Catering. Be the first to buy one-of-a-kind artwork.
Pacifica Housing is a provider of affordable housing and support services in Greater Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo.
The official launch is free to attend. It runs 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Urban Ballroom of the Parkside Hotel and Spa, 810 Humboldt St. For more information, go to pacificahousing.ca.
Children say thank you for P.E. programs
Hundreds of children from Craigflower Elementary School, representatives from Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence and the Cridge Centre for the Family recently presented the Victoria Foundation and Rotary Club of Victoria with a gift as a thank-you for five years of PISE physical literacy-enriched programs.
They left their fingerprints in the form of a dandelion in framed images, as a thank-you for their opportunity to learn movement skills through games and play.
“Each child’s physical-literacy journey is as unique as a fingerprint,” said Chris Wright, physical literacy co-ordinator at PISE. “It has been a joy for our team to work with these children and see their skills, confidence and motivation for movement grow over the five years. We are so grateful to the Victoria Foundation and Rotary Club of Victoria for supporting these valued programs at the schools.”
The Victoria Foundation’s Smart and Caring Fund, which supports physical literacyenriched programs, was launched in 2012.
The Rotary Club of Victoria also provided funding.
“What amazes me is that this program, which began as a means to improve physical skills, has proven to provide so much more benefit to these children,” said Sandra Richardson, Victoria Foundation CEO. “Both parents and teachers have talked about improvements in social skills, attitude, co-operation — key building blocks for a sense of belonging and for future success.”
For more information, go to pise.ca.
Tenors in song for Community Living
Enjoy an evening of music and help people with developmental disabilities at the same time at a concert for Hope Help Home, Nov. 17 at the McPherson Playhouse.
The concert features Citizen West, with tenors Cody Karey, Marc Devigne and Brett Pruneau joining forces with pop producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Trevor Hoffmann. The group deliver vocals infused with a modern pop flair.
Proceeds from the fundraising event benefit Community Living Victoria, which has been supporting people with developmental disabilities for over 60 years. It is the largest not-for-profit agency in community living on Vancouver Island. It provides a wide range of services to children, youth and adults including homes, day supports, employment and advocacy. For tickets or more information, go to theconcertfor hopehelphome.com.
Door-to-door cancer campaign kicks off
The B.C. Cancer Foundation wants Greater Victoria residents to be aware of the start of its doorto-door campaign to improve cancer care for those in the community
Canvassers will introduce people to the foundation, the largest funder of cancer research in the province, and the monthly donor program.
For security and safety purposes, canvassers wear ID badges and B.C. Cancer Foundation purple vests. Canvassers will not accept cash or one-time gifts at the door. They will only invite you to take part in the monthly giving program. Once you have signed up, an email will be sent for confirmation.
If you have any questions relating to the door-to-door campaign, monthly giving program or a fundraiser in your neighbourhood, call Colleen Malli, 1-888-906-2873 or visit bccancerfoundation.com.
Spread warmth With a blanket
Furniture retailer Urban Barn is once again spreading a warm feeling across Canada with the launch of its annual Blanket the Country in Warmth initiative, which supports the Cool Aid Society’s Rock Bay Landing.
This is the sixth year of the initiative, which has seen it donate more than 58,000 blankets to those in need. This year, organizers hope to reach a record 15,000 donations.
The company is asking Canadians to support by donating $5 toward a blanket in-store or online. Along with the blanket, people can also share a warm message to someone in need online, in-store and on social media by tagging @UrbanBarn and #Blanketthecountry. For more information, go to blanketthe country.com.
Cleanup campaign hit 10 beaches
Volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation Canada collected more than 312 kilograms of garbage during their City Wide Beach Clean-Up last week.
In partnership with the City of Victoria, the Vancouver Island chapter of the organization embarked on a beach cleanup last Sunday. The purpose of the event was for people to see first-hand the impact plastics have on our local beaches.
The exercise supports the City of Victoria plan to implement a ban or charge a fee on single-use checkout bags (plastic and paper) this month.
Ten beaches were cleaned: Clover Point, Ogden Point, Upper and Lower Gorge, Willows Beach, Cordova Bay, Cadboro Bay, Lime Bay, McLoughlin Point and Esquimalt Lagoon.
The foundation’s Ban the Bag campaign makes people aware how single-use plastics in the retail marketplace have a significant environmental impact. Increasingly, plastics have been found in and on Vancouver Island rivers, lakes and beaches — frequently harming marine wildlife and entering the food chain.
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world’s oceans and beaches.
For more information, go to vancouverisland.surfrider.org.
Veterans will be honoured at service
St. Luke’s Church is inviting descendants and relatives of veterans buried at the church’s cemetery to a Service of Remembrance on Nov. 5.
The service will start in the church, followed by time in the cemetery to recognize those who served in the wars and are buried in St. Luke’s Cemetery.
A list of veterans to be recognized is being compiled. People who have a family member buried in the cemetery who was a veteran should email st.lukes@shaw.ca or call 250-477-6741.
The service starts at 10 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church, corner of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Cedar Hill Road.
Hope in Shadows calendar is back
The 15th Anniversary Edition of the Hope in Shadows calendar by Megaphone Magazine was launched at a public exhibition downtown.
The calendar features 13 photographs taken by Megaphone’s homeless and low-income vendors on the theme of Heart and Soul.
The launch included an award ceremony to announce the winning photographers, as well as an exhibition of photographs alongside artwork from Anawim House and Our Place Society.
In Victoria, 10 vendors sell the magazine year-round. This is the second year local vendors have participated in the photography contest.
Megaphone creates meaningful work for people experiencing poverty through the publication of a magazine and calendar sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria by homeless and lowincome vendors.
Vendors buy each issue for 75 cents and sell it for $2, keeping the profit. For more information, go to megaphonemagazine.com.
Time to clean up Finnerty Gardens
The Friends of Finnerty Gardens are hosting their annual Fall Clean Up on Saturday.
Volunteers are needed to help with raking leaves, cutting back perennials, clipping back ferns and general garden chores to prepare the garden for winter.
They will supply tools and instructions — just come with a good pair of work shoes or boots and some gloves.
The clean up runs 9 a.m. to noon at the garden, corner of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Henderson Road.
Please RSVP to Anne Mace, 250-479-7677 or amace@telus.net.
Library wants your food donations
Donate a non-perishable food item and the Greater Victoria Public Library will waive overdue fines up to $5 per library cardholder during the library’s Food for Fines campaign, Saturday and Sunday.
The annual event, which began in 2014, is popular, typically generating more than 250 large boxes of food for local food banks.
The campaign is a bookend to B.C. Library Month, celebrated in October. It is a way of supporting the community and removing a financial barrier to using the library.
Drop off a non-perishable food item — along with your overdue book — Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29 at all 11 Greater Victoria Public Library branches.
For more information, go to gvpl.ca.