PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, June 29, 2012
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Linking the Peninsula’s best New tourism shuttle connects the dots By Christine van Reeuwyk Get linked to all the Saanich Peninsula’s best assets with the inaugural Peninsula Attractions Connector. For three years the shuttle was in the forefront of the minds of those who run Peninsula tourist destinations. This July and August the trial run will take tourists from the tip of Swartz Bay to the world-famous Butchart Gardens and a few points of interest between. All the favourite points of interest are accessible from the hop-on hop-off shuttle service – Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse, Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Brentwood Bay Lodge and Sidney’s Booktown.
Dave Cowen, general manager of Butchart Gardens, announced the shuttle this spring. He’d already sussed out support from Victoria area hotels keen to see their guests get to the hot spots on the Saanich Peninsula. “They see the Peninsula as a way to extend the stay in Victoria. The downtown hotels don’t see the Peninsula as competition, they see it as added value,” Cowen said. “This little bus – as simple as it is – is the key to many more things in the future.” For $9.95 the shuttle will take visitors, or daytrippers from the city, B.C. Ferries on select schedules and Washington State Ferries in Sidney and connect to the Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gar-
dens, Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse, and the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. Upgrade to an Attractions Pass for $29.95 and receive admission to any two experiences of Butterfly Gardens, Sea Cider Farm tasting or Shaw Ocean Discovery and ride the connector shuttle for free. Include all three attractions for only $10 more. Add Butchart Gardens for $29.60. It will run daily in the peak tourism season of July and August this summer. Daytrippers can link to the Peninsula Attractions Connector from downtown Victoria with the CVS Sightseeing Gardens Express. Visit www.attractions connector.com for more information.
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Friday, June 29, 2012 - PENINSULA
NEWS REVIEW
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A hub for arts and culture By Christine van Reeuwyk Its official title can be a bit daunting – the Mary Winspear Community Cultural Centre at Sanscha. The centre was built with funds mostly donated by local individuals and businesses. It celebrated a decade in September 2011. In 1958, the non-profit Sidney and North Saanich Community Hall Association (Sanscha) built the Sanscha Community Hall on the 12 acres of land owned by the Memorial Park Society. It was all things to all people – playground, meeting space and athletic venue. In 1995, a proposal call went out to build a new 30,370 square foot, $6 million facility, funded through the “Honouring the Past – Building the Future” campaign by the newly formed Sanscha Community Cultural Centre Foundation. To honour the rich history, the new centre was built around the original Sanscha Hall along with acoustic and seismic upgrades.
In September 2001, the Mary Winspear Centre opened its doors to an excited, proud community. Today, the centre still serves all those purposes, containing a conference centre, theatre and art gallery that also hosts small yoga, computer and University of Victoria courses, and still provides meeting space for community groups and the monthly blood drive. A hub of the community, it boasts galleries filled by travelling art exhibits, as well as shows from local talent. The Bodine Family hall and adjacent outdoor courtyard set is the scene of many a wedding, trade show and community event. The 310-seat Charlie White Theatre hosts sell outs like Trooper and Neil Diamond tribute Double Diamond. In December 2010 the Charlie White marked a milestone – a record breaking month. The theatre shattered the all-time
attendance record for one month and had a record number of sell outs. Of 16 shows, 10 sold out, and primarily local acts including the Peninsula Singers, Stelly’s secondary school’s senior musical theatre, City of Gardens Chorus, Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll filled the seating. A total 4,468 tickets
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were sold with a stunning average attendance of 93 per cent. Highlights this summer include acting camp for kids, a fashion design camp, and in August, Tropical Jam will perform. Former Sidney musicians Anne-Marie, Peter and Daniel Brimacombe return to the Peninsula to share the
Culture fix: Witness a powwow Tsartlip First Nation shows its stuff
The B.C. Day long weekend is your chance to experience our vibrant First Nations culture. The 19th annual Yellow Wolf Powwow takes place at Tsartlip Park (800 Stelly’s X Rd.) at the Tsartlip First Nation community near Brentwood Bay on Aug. 4 and 5.
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The free event showcases the art and culture of First Nations people from across North America. Coast Salish specialties like bannock, seafood chowder, fried bread and barbecued salmon are available to satisfy your appetite, along with a western canteen. Carvers, weavers and painters will display a variety of pieces in the traditional style and peruse the offerings of modern First Nations art.
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warmth, charm and beauty they found on the small, Caribbean island of Tobago with live music alongside touching stories and stunning images. For more information about the centre and what’s on at the theatre, visit www.marywinspear.ca or call 250-656-0275.
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PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Friday, June 29, 2012
EVENTS Saanich Fair www.saanichfair.ca The 145th annual Saanich Fair is the best place to discover what keeps the Peninsula’s agricultural scene growing. Learn about local farming from cattle to flowers to pigs and pickles. Be amazed by youngsters tending the 4-H challenge and watch the majestic draft horses go through their paces. Groove to the rhythms of rock, folk, country and blues as a variety of performers draw you toward the main stage. Hundreds of volunteers dedicate their time to bring you the best in entertainment, education and fun for the entire family. As well, all concessions during the fair are non-profit and manned by volunteers. Munch on popcorn, cotton candy or ice cream while meandering through dozens of cultural and agricultural displays. Enjoy strolling among the Corner Market vendors and don’t forget to take a ride on the midway. With its roots firmly planted by the non-profit North and South Saanich Agricultural Society in 1868, the fair has now grown into Western Canada’s longest running agricultural fair. Today, the 145th Saanich Fair has three times more exhibits than Vancouver’s PNE. From the hottest upcoming entertainers, to wild rides and traditional homemade treats and farm-grown veggies, the Saanich Fair has it all. Join the fun Sept 1-3.
Sidney parades www.peninsulacelebrations.ca Sidney boasts two parades a year, both hosted by Peninsula Celebrations Society. The first is a summertime tradition that parades down Beacon Avenue on Canada Day as part of the Sidney Days festivities. Starting at 11 a.m. the parade works its way down Beacon from Resthaven Drive toward the waterfront on July 1. There is wheelchair viewing reserved at Beacon and Fifth Street. Viewers tend to line the curbs well ahead of time for the popular parade. In November, Sidney Sparkles. The town is lit up and so is the parade that brings Santa to town in time for Christmas. Usually slated for the final weekend of November, or early December, the parade warms hearts despite the chill in the air.
MARKET SEASON Sidney market www.sidneybusiness.com The 13th annual Sidney summer market runs each Thursday evening down Beacon Avenue. Market vendors include everyone from local farmers with fresh produce to those selling custom jewelry, woodwork and bags to speciality food items. The market also features music from local performers, bands and buskers to entertain shoppers along the way. Local businesses stay open
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late to enjoy the festive affair and entertainment rounds out the evening. The market runs through the end of August.
North Saanich market
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www.northsaanichfarmmarket.ca Saturdays in North Saanich are filled with the sights, sounds and smells of growers, bakers and art makers at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd. Held in the church garden, the Peninsula’s newest outdoor market features the best produce North Saanich has to offer, including seasonal fruits and veggies, local lamb and beef. Merry music accompanies each market of the summer and right through the fall once the event moves indoors. An added bonus is the education table where market goers can learn about composting, get garden tips from master gardeners and find out if that ancient apple tree really is a rare heritage breed from the fruit testers.
ATTRACTIONS Butchart Gardens www.butchartgardens.com The world-renowned Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay bring guests from around the globe all year long. From July through the first week in September, Saturdays are punctuated with the famous fireworks. Music on the main stage and other small segments of the gardens makes perusing the aromatic scene that much more merry. By Christmastime the grounds are lit up in honour of the 12 days of Christmas and an outdoor rink provides an added passtime. Don’t forget to check out the carousel all times of year.
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre www.oceandiscovery.ca The aquarium in Sidney celebrates all things about the Salish Sea, above and below. Its Gallery of Drifters (jellyfish) greets guests as they exit the submersible into the deep blue. With a wet lab, tanks filled with fish and their friends in the Gallery of the Salish Sea, a day is complete with a visit to the touch pools. There guests, using the one finger rule, can shake hands with an urchin.
Victoria Butterfly Gardens www.butterflygardens.com The warm humid air of Victoria Butterfly Gardens is enough to entice, even without the jungle atmosphere it offers. If you’re still, a winged creature could even give you a kiss. Filled with the obvious butterflies – 3,000 of them flutter about the flora – this Brentwood Bay tourist stop also has moths like you’ve never seen, pink flamin-
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gos and other tropical birds, Koi fish and new to the gardens, tortoises and dart frogs. Rates are $5 to $15.
B.C. Aviation Museum www.bcam.net Volunteers at the British Columbia Aviation Museum, adjacent to the Victoria International Airport, set out to preserve and share aircraft history. Their mandate is to collect, restore and display aircraft and artifacts to share the history of aviation in B.C. and Canada. Browse on your own, or have one of the guides show you around. Admission is $4 to $12. Open daily, call 250-655-3300 for hours.
The Raptors at Church and State www.churchandstatewines.com/our-raptors At the Raptors at Church and State, you’ll get close to some truly impressive birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures as they demonstrate their natural flying and hunting abilities. Rates are $7 to $14. Call 250-652-2671 for the latest updates.
Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk www.sculpturewalk.ca Twelve works of art dot the Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk, two kilometres of seaside walkway starting at the foot of Beacon Avenue. They follow the 2.5 km Heart Smart Walk along the waterfront offering a spectacular backdrop for the artists’ pieces. This year see works by Armando Barbon, Ronald Crawford, Fred Dobbs, Lyle Hamer, Paul Harder, Deryk and Samuel Houston, David Hunwick, Jack Kreutzer, Philip Organ, Michael Robb, Louis-Marc Simard and Lyman Whitaker. The artwork is on loan to the town for two years before being changed up to keep the outdoor gallery fresh.
OUTDOORS Wildlife viewing www.crd.bc.ca/parks Surrounded by the Saanich Inlet and the Salish Sea, the Saanich Peninsula offers a plethora of beautiful beaches and parks, each boasting different features in flora and fauna. Try Island View Regional Park, off Island View Road in Central Saanich; Glass Beach at the base of Beacon Avenue in Sidney; Coles Bay Regional Park off Inverness Road in North Saanich and Verdier Park at the end of Verdier Avenue in Brentwood Bay.
The District of North Saanich North Saanich offers many diverse recreational activities for visitors and residents of all ages. From water sports such as boating and swimming, to golf, beachcombing or organized recreation fun through the Panorama Recreation Centre, North Saanich can accommodate whatever your interest may be. Consult our website at www.northsaanich.ca for more information on our parks and trails network system, and to download a copy of the new and improved “Parks and Trails Guide”.
1620 Mills Rd., North Saanich, B.C. Tel: 250-656-0781 Fax: 250-656-3155 E-mail: admin@northsaanich .ca www.northsaanich.ca
• Full service sites • Contemporary facilities • Close to ferries • 10 minutes from Sidney • 20 minutes to Victoria
3000 Stautw Rd., Saanichton chton 250.544.0508
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9810 7th Street, Sidney - Mariner Village Mall by Thrifty Foods 250-656-1348 | Postal Outlet 250-656-1148 | Mon-Fri 8 am - 8 pm | Sat 9 am - 6 pm • Sun 11 am - 5 pm
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Friday, June 29, 2012 - PENINSULA
explore July 1 – The annual Slegg Build-a-Quick-Boat competition at Beacon Park ends in a traditionally hilarious race at Glass Beach at the foot of Beacon Avenue. Building begins at noon, boats launch at 4:45 p.m. July 8-Aug. 20 – Peninsula Celebrations Society presents its Summer Sounds concerts in Beacon Park in Sidney every Sunday 2-4 p.m. July 14 – Help celebrate a decade of keeping our waterways in top shape. Peninsula Streams Society hosts its 10th anniversary bash at the Centennial Park field house, 2-6 p.m.
AUGUST
JULY
July to August – Music in the Park – Pioneer Park in Brentwood Bay hosts live music on Wednesday nights. Bring a picnic and blanket to enjoy the performances. June 30-July 1 – Sidney Days festivities. Celebrate Canada Day with a community barbecue at Tulista Park on June 30, a parade on Beacon Avenue and family fun at Tulista Park hosted by Peninsula Celebrations Society.
the possibilities possibilities the
Saanich Fair. Animals, entertainment, agriculture and eats are all part of the fun for this three-day event. 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd. Visit saanichfair.ca for more information. Sept. 15-16 – Fall threshing weekend at Heritage Acres, 7321 Lochside Dr. (off Island View Road) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.shas.ca for details. Sept. 16 – Remembering Rosie
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Aug. 4 – The B.C. Aviation museum puts its artifacts on display for an open house and fly-by. 1910 Norseman Rd. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is by donation. Visit bcam.net. Aug. 4-5 – Saanich Historical Artifacts Society’s Heavy Truck Show, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Acres. Visit www.shas.ca. Aug. 11-12 – Victoria’s Largest Little Airshow returns to the he skies over the Peninsula. Colourful radio-controlled aircraft will buzz about for airborne antics and down-to-earth displays for the two-day event, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Michell Airfield on Lochside Drive, east off of Island View Road. Aug. 25-26 – Sixth annual North Saanich Flavour Trail, a tour of North Saanich farms, wineries, nurseries, markets and restaurants. Information at northsaanich.ca. Aug. 25-26 – Peninsula Players deliver a performance detailing the life and times of the British monarchy in Crown Jewels, playing at the Mary Winspear Centre. Aug. 26 – The Torquemasters Car Show returns to Sidney. Classic beauties line Beacon Avenue and the town’s side streets.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1-3 – Have a rurally good time with the 145th annual
Summer Market Now! The
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brings back to live the jazz legend with a musical performance by Lorraine Foster and Patricia Duval, 2 p.m. at the Mary Winspear Centre. Tickets, $30 at marywinspear.ca. Sept. 22 – Harvest Feast at the Saanich Fairgrounds. Celebrate and taste the best of locally grown foods with this annual dinner. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6 at 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd. Tickets go on sale in August, check islandfarmfresh.com/harvestfeast for details. Sept. 22 – It’s not often a newspaper turns 100, so party with the Peninsula News Review on our centenary. Join us at Heritage Acres, 7321 Lochside Dr. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for great food, music, games and an old-time feel. Admission by donation. Watch peninsulanewsreview.com for details.
OCTOBER
Oct. 12 to 14 – The Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula’s ninth annual Sidney Fine Art Show is at the Mary Winspear Centre. Information at http://blog.sidneyfineartshow. com. Oct. 19-20 – Tribute band Hotel California channels the Eagles for two days of music at the Mary Winspear Centre.
Shows start at 8 p.m, tickets are $35 at marywinspear.ca. Oct. 20-21 – Saanich Peninsula Fall Studio Tour, hosted by the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula. Information at http://cacsp.com.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 17 – Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Peninsula Celebrations Socitety at the Shoal Centre (10030 Resthaven Dr.) 8:30-11 a.m. Nov. 17 – Sidney Sparkles Christmas parade – Peninsula Celebrations Society presents the annual parade on Beacon Avenue followed by the lighted sailpast best viewed from Port Sidney to Tulista Park.
DECEMBER
Dec. 1 to the new year – Butchart Gardens Magic of Christmas – Christmas is a magical wonderland, including carollers, a festive brass band and an outdoor ice skating rink. Dec. 7-9 and 14-16 – Christmas in the Village at Heritage Acres, 7321 Lochside Dr. Visit www.shas.ca to confirm dates.
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Visit vendors on Beacon & food courts on 2nd & 4th street. Pop into the many shops that will be open during the market.
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