Museum honours aviation pioneers
Join the B.C. Aviation Museum as it inducts a distinguished B.C. veteran of both world wars and a pioneering B.C. helicopter firm into the B.C. Aviation Hall of Fame at its open house on Saturday.
This year, the open house honours Canada’s participation in the closing days of the First World War in 1918.
Allan (Duncan) Bell-Irving will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was a member of a prominent B.C. family that sent six sons and one daughter to the war.
Bell-Irving became the first Canadian ace in the Royal Flying Corps and later served with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War.
The other inductee is Okanagan Helicopter Services, which operated from 1949 to 1987, when it was sold to Canadian Helicopters Corp.
Okanagan Helicopters was an industry leader in the province and on the international scene, particularly in mountain flying.
The annual open house includes the museum’s exhibits, activities for children, including the Kids’ Pooh Bear Corner, military re-enactors and vintage military vehicles.
The Sidney Lions Club and Mama Rosie’s Food Truck will be selling refreshments.
Visitors can touch the sky through $40 Discovery Flights made available by the Victoria Flying Club.
In the evening, the museum will host the Big Band Hangar Dinner and Dance.
Admission is by donation for the open house, which runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The induction ceremony starts at noon. The museum is at 1910 Norseman Rd., North Saanich, near Victoria International Airport. Expanded parking will be available nearby at the Rotary Park Field of Dreams on Canora Road, with shuttle service to the museum. For more information, go to bcam.net.
Dentists turn old crowns into golden donation
A husband-and-wife dental team with a Midas touch has turned old dental crowns and bridges into a sizable donation to United Way Greater Victoria.
Dawn Webster and her husband Matt Evans are two dentists with hearts of gold. The pair, who own Avenue Family Dental, save the precious metal from old dental crowns and bridges that they have removed from patients.
Last week, their clinic turned the collection into a cheque for almost $15,300 for United Way Greater Victoria to help children at the Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre. For good measure, they included a child’s doctor’s kit and nurse’s uniform for the centre’s playroom.
The dentists chose to support the cause after the killings of sisters Aubrey and Chloe Berry. The two young girls attended the same preschool as the dentists’ daughter in Oak Bay.
The Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre responds to children, youth and their caregivers who are affected by abuse in all its forms, as well as abuse-related trauma.
The centre provides victim services, counselling, prevention and education in Greater Victoria, as well as consultation throughout the province.
For more information, go to uwgv.ca.
Cycle of Life raises $150,000
With a week still left to go, participants in the sixth annual Cycle of Life Tour have already raised $150,000 and awareness for quality palliative care across Vancouver Island.
The fundraiser features more than 80 cyclists touring the Saanich Inlet, Cowichan Valley and Salt Spring Island on a 200-kilometre scenic ride.
The money raised will support eight hospices on Vancouver Island: Campbell River Hospice Society, Comox Valley Hospice Society, Cowichan Valley Hospice Society, Nanaimo Community Hospice Society, Oceanside Hospice Society, Pacific Rim Hospice Society, Salt Spring Island Hospice Society and the Victoria Hospice Society.
One of many tour riders who return year after year is Dave Hubscher.
“I’m going to be riding in memory of my dad,” said the Country Grocer employee. “Having had my dad recently receive hospice care, then having the support of hospice after his passing, it has kind of brought all of the pieces together for me. The doctors and nurses at Victoria Hospice are amazing; they really are a great group. We all have to use hospice care at some point; it’s nice to know it’s there when you need it.”
Vancouver Island hospices rely heavily on community donations and events to continue providing care and comfort for dying patients and their loved ones.
Each rider raises funds by garnering pledges from family and friends, as well as hosting fundraising events. Sponsors, such as Country Grocer and Think Communications, also play a huge part in making this event a success.
Since 2011, the Cycle of Life Tour has raised more than $500,000 for end-of-life care in communities across Vancouver Island. For more information, go to cycleoflifetour.ca.
460 bicycles headed for Africa
Last week, a small group of volunteers loaded more than 460 good used bikes and spare parts into Bicycles for Humanity Victoria’s 10th container load of Bicycles for Africa.
Since they started in 2008, they have shipped almost 4,500 good used bikes — and spare parts — to Namibia, Uganda and Malawi.
That’s 4,500 lives improved by empowering some of the world’s poorest people with something as simple as a bicycle. Access to a simple mode of transportation greatly improves their access to education, food, water, employment and medical care.
The donated bicycles are refurbished, giving employment to local citizens. Once repaired and shipped, the bikes are sold for modest amounts to the locals. A portion of the bikes are donated to organizations that serve the poor. Any profits from the bike sales are put back into the program and to fund an orphanage.
“We at Bicycles for Humanity are grateful for all the bike donations from all over the Greater Victoria area,” said Chris Wille, co-director of the organization. “Our work will continue in the fall and through the early part of 2019 when we gear up to collect bikes for our 11th container load.”
To donate a bicycle, for more information or to volunteer, go to b4hvictoria.blogspot.com.
Dance studios team up for fundraiser
Instructors from Victoria’s leading dance studios will be at the Secret Language: Charity Partner Dancing Workshop and Social to raise funds and awareness for inclusive-focused programs at Sandy Merriman House, Friday at Cool Aid’s Downtown Community Centre
Participants will learn the steps to salsa, west-coast swing, blues and country-dance styles.
This is the first time the dance instructors from studios across Victoria have come together in a shared cause, bringing a variety of dancing styles for participants to see, learn and practice.
Guests will be able to observe and learn the dancing styles of Tatiana Hassan, Victor Golubkov, Meaghan Efford, Jay Holman, Dean Stroeder, Rick Clark and other local professionals.
The event, co-ordinated by Nimmi Augustine, is intended to dispel many of the assumptions about traditional beauty, while providing much-needed support for the Victoria Cool Aid Society shelter.
“My mission is to undefine the word beauty and empower people to embrace their unique identity,” said Augustine. “True empowerment comes from standing behind others rather than in front of them, and this is what I hope to accomplish through my journey to the stage and beyond.”
Tickets are available at the door through a “sliding scale” donation. The event runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Cool Aid Downtown Community Centre, 755 Pandora Ave.
For more information, go to coolaid.org.
Help a child’s wish come true
You don’t have to be a superhero to make a child’s dream come true. You can make a difference in a young life by giving a donation of as little as $10 to the Heroes Challenge fundraising campaign of the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Each of the children waiting for their wish to come true has had to overcome insurmountable obstacles, gained unimaginable strength and showed boundless bravery. But they need your help. The foundation is asking the public for support for one or more of the children on its list. Each child is backed by a team working hard to raise $10,000 to grant their wish and a donation as small as $10 will go a long way to turn these wishes into reality.
Read all the children’s stories at childrenswish.ca.
Swimmer prepares for epic challenge
On Thursday, Jill Yoneda swam 15 kilometres across Haro Strait in preparation for her epic 70-km swim across the Strait of Georgia in August.
Yoneda will become the first person to cross the strait in both directions in a continuous openwater swim.
Yoneda has chosen to raise funds for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and to inspire courage for children and families on the hospice program.
“What drew me to Canuck Place was seeing how the clinical team works together to ensure children and families have the best experience when time is precious,” said Yoneda. “My heart feels fuller knowing that I can have a small part in helping contribute to [their] care.”
Her goal is to raise $5,000 for the hospice.
For more information, go to canuckplace.org/jillyoneda.
Building lights up for Special Olympics
Victoria’s Parliament Buildings lit the night sky red Saturday as it joined other communities across British Columbia to mark the Global Day of Inclusion and the start of a yearlong celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics.
In total, 22 communities across B.C. marked the day with light-ups at Rogers Arena, B.C. Place, the Sails of Light at Canada Place, Science World at Telus World of Science and Vancouver City Hall.
“For the past 50 years, Special Olympics has been enriching the lives of Canadians with intellectual disabilities through the transformative power of sport, but we can’t do it alone — nor can the 800,000 Canadians with an intellectual disability,” said Dan Howe, president and CEO. “In honour of our 50th year, we’re asking you to help ensure Special Olympics can continue transforming lives for another 50 years.”
Fifty years ago, only the U.S. and Canada participated, with Canada sending a contingent of 12 floor-hockey players under the guidance of Canadian Special Olympics pioneer Dr. Frank Hayden.
The Special Olympics movement now includes 172 countries, more than 4.9 million athletes, with the support of more than one million coaches and volunteers.
In Canada, there are more than 45,000 athletes and participants in about 3,200 programs delivered across the country. B.C. continues to see strong growth, with more than 4,800 athletes and 3,900 coaches and volunteers.
For more information, go to specialolympics.bc.ca, Facebook, Instagram @specialolympicsbc and Twitter @sobcsociety.
Mad Hatter invites you to tea
Join the fun at the Mad Hatter Tea Party at Abkhazi Garden on Saturday evening.
Pop down the rabbit hole and re-emerge at the Land Conservancy’s Abkhazi Garden for an evening of laughs, wit and magic.
Themed drinks, games, live music and entertainment will bring to life Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Visit the 1950s home of Prince Nicholas and Princess Peggy Abkhazi for an encounter with theatrical characters, or play a round of croquet and indulge in delicious delicacies.
Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite character and experience a spot of afternoon tea infused with magic.
The flight of fancy includes both live and silent auctions with prizes from umbrellas to whiskey-tasting tours.
Tickets are $125, which includes afternoon tea and teatime treats. The party runs 6 to 11 p.m. July 28 at the garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. Funds raised will support the land trust’s efforts in protecting important wetlands, riparian areas, forests, greenbelts and habitat for species.
For more information, or tickets, go to conservancy.bc.ca or call 1-877-485-2422.