SOCIAL CAPITAL
Finding new traditions
Make the season bright with holiday activities for all ages J BY JESSICA NATALE WOOLLARD
With only five White Christmases on record since 1965, Victoria magnifies its merriment with yuletide fun sans snow. Here are Boulevard’s selections for seasonal entertainment you might not have heard of that will set the stage for a green Christmas worth dreaming about — and help make traditions for years to come.
CHRISTMAS IN OLD VICTORIA WALKING TOURS Ebenezer Scrooge extolled the benefits of remembering Christmases past; local historians continue the tradition. Listen to heartwarming, humorous, and sometimes sad tales of Christmases in Victoria on these holiday walking tours through downtown and in two of the city’s oldest cemeteries. Discover the Past: Christmas in Old Victoria tours When: Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 10:30 am in December Where: Bastion Square in front of the Maritime Museum Cost: $15 for adults; $13 for seniors/students; $8 children discoverthepast.com Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria: Christmas Cemetery tours Old Burying Ground (Pioneer Square) tour — When: December 1, 2 pm Where: Meet at 1:45 pm at the corner of Quadra Street and Rockland Avenue Ross Bay Cemetery tour — When: December 8, 2 pm Where: Meet at 1:45 pm in front of Oregano’s in Fairfield Plaza, 1544 Fairfield Road Cost: $5 oldcem.bc.ca
SING-ALONG MESSIAH Have you ever fought the urge to belt out the Hallelujah Chorus at a performance of Handel’s Messiah? You won’t have to hold back at the Civic Orchestra of Victoria’s 15th annual sing-along performance of the baroque masterpiece — the audience, seated in vocal sections, makes up the chorus, guided by conductor Hilary Coupland and accompanied by the orchestra. Four Victoria-born soloists, including bass Trevor Bowes of the English National Opera Company, perform the arias and recitatives. Balcony seating is available for those who prefer to observe rather than participate. When: December 18, 7 pm Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street Cost: $22 adults; $18 students/seniors civicorchestraofvictoria.org 30
SEASONAL CHARITY RUNS Run for your health — and for your heart — in a seasonal fun run for charity. The Santa Shuffle, a fundraising run for The Salvation Army, helps local families in need. Held across North America, this run features a 5K Santa Shuffle for adults and a 1K Elf Walk for kids. Or, ring in the New Year with Runners of Compassion’s Run through Time. With options for a 5K, 3K or 1K, the event lets runners and walkers of all levels participate. Proceeds from the race support Shoes for Youth, YMCA-YWCA Camp Thunderbird, and University of Victoria Staff & Student Services. Santa Shuffle When: December 7, 10 am Where: Victoria West Community Centre, 521 Craigflower Road Registration: $30 adults; $20 youth under 12 santashuffle.ca Run through Time When: December 31, 6 pm Where: University of Victoria Registration: $15-$20 adults; $5-$10 child runnersofcompassion.com