N I W Retreat. ing. h t y r e v e m Fro
0 5 2 $
utes from Located min Spa VictoriaE! te n a S , n w to KwAitG down h C A d P in m A d P n a S y d o b nurtures eatments. tr a p s s u o n indige
Inside today
progress2013 A R E P O R T O N B U S I N E S S I N G R E AT E R V I C T O R I A
How is the economy doing in Greater Victoria, and what will the next year bring for local businesses? Find out in our annual report on business ** Distributed in selected areas
Wednesday May 1, 2013
SINCE 1933
OAK BAYNEWS A P U B L I C AT I O N O F B L A C K P R E S S
y a D s ’ r e Moth NTEST
CO250.391.3920 ria.com
K LOO DE!
to santespavic y Club Way tr 1999 Coun Victoria, BC
INSI
BOORMAN’S
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
80 Real Estate, Insurance & Property Mgmt.
2045 Cadboro Bay Rd.
250-595-1535 boorman.com
vicnews.com
Oak Bay High students and environmental club members Sema Hamidi, left, and Grace Hatherill, are among the committed and passionate students organizing this year’s Rubber Duck Race. Kyle Wells/News staff
No lame ducks at Oak Bay High Bowker Creek event celebrates 15 years
Kyle Wells News staff
Oak Bay High students are getting their ducks in a row as they prepare for the 15th annual Rubber Duck Race and Bowker Creek Clean-up this Sunday (May 5). The school’s Environmental Club hosts the yearly event to raise money for restoration work by the Bowker Creek Initiative. Students are selling rubber duckies at the high school and in the community leading up to the event. The ducks are each numbered and the proud owners then race their ducks down the creek starting at 1 p.m. at St. Ann’s Pond (across from the Oak Bay Fire Hall). It’s by no means a high-speed aquatic
“There’s just a lot of crap that we pull out grand prix; the rubber duckies sometimes need a little nudge to get going, but despite and then sort,” she said. “We have such a the slow pace, the excitement level is high. beautiful creek next door to the school, it “It’s a lot of fun,” said Grade 12 student makes sense to take care of it.” With the new school planned for Oak Bay, Grace Hatherill. there are plans to return some Last year, about 80 people “We have such a of the waterway’s habitat borturned out for an event as usedering the school to a more ful to the group’s cause as it beautiful creek next natural state. There is also was entertaining to the particidoor to the school, it the hope for natural learning pants. spaces where the school can The Bowker Creek Initiative makes sense to take use the creek to help educate is committed to restoring the students about ecosystems ecosystem of the creek and care of it.” - Grace Hatherill and the environment. works with many community “The idea there is if you groups and municipalities to restore one portion of it, you have one area make that happen. Anyone willing to lend a hand is welcome where you might be able to return some of to come and help remove trash from the the diversity to what it once was,” said Oak waterway starting at 11 a.m. It’s not uncom- Bay High teacher and enviro club sponsor mon to find anything from bottles and Derek Shrubsole. As a duck takes to water, so too has this bicycles to shopping carts that have been group of students taken to championing tossed into the creek, said Hatherill.
OAK BAY tomf@vreb.bc.ca
250-360-4821
Located on a very special sun drenched 20,400 sq.ft. lot, nestled behind a wonderful 30 foot hedge that offers complete privacy. The home has been completely renovated top to bottom to a very high standard sure to please all. The main offers hard to find one level living on 2230 sq.ft with generous size rooms that open onto wonderful patio areas. Upstairs offers 2 large master bedroom alternatives each with a full 4 piece en-suite bathroom, large games room and office areas. The double garage, with lots of additional parking area and a semicircular driveway for easy access and egress top off this wonderful home. Offered at $1,398,000.
Buying or selling in Oak Bay? Give me a call. Area specialization does make a difference!
the environment and the creek. The high school’s Environment Club has about 20 members and organizes the school’s recycling program, along with spearheading initiatives such as the duck race. “These guys really have that connection to the creek and with their neighbourhood,” said Shrubsole. “From here it translates into how they view the world around them.” The winning ducky will earn its owner a blue recycling bin containing gifts from local businesses. Anyone interested in purchasing a rubber ducky to race can call Shrubsole at Oak Bay High (250-598-3361), or purchase one at the event. The price is “one duck for two bucks.” The Bowker Creek Initiative will be on hand at the event to talk about their rehabilitation objectives and the future of the creek. reporter@vicnews.com
Royal Le Page Coast Capital Realty INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED