PENINSULA Talented students
Visitor’s Guide 2013
Included with this edition is the Peninsula News Review’s annual Visitor’s Guide. Hold on to it for a year’s worth of fun.
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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NEWS REVIEW
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
North Saanich Middle School students displayed their talents at the school’s biannual Showcase, page 3
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Sidney brand in the works BIA, chamber praised for sticking their necks out Steven Heywood News staff
Momentum is growing for Sidney’s new business improvement area (BIA) as it works towards creating a brand for the downtown core — so much so that even one initial naysayer has joined the society to help ensure it reaches its goals. The BIA and the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce held a joint open house on Wednesday, May 8, explaining each of their roles in the business community and how their collaboration will serve to maintain and, hopefully, increase local economic fortunes. Rosemarie Bongers, a spa owner in Sidney, had raised concerns about the BIA’s added cost to owners already facing high rents and a slow economy. She said she joined the BIA to watch her money and see how the BIA will benefit her business “I want to ensure the BIA focuses on the downtown catchment area,” she said. PleaSe See: Sidney’s potential, page 4
Devon MacKenzie/News staff
Tsartlip First Nation carver, Charles Elliott, works on a podium for UVic’s Congress 2013 at his Central Saanich workshop.
Carver creating podium for UVic Devon MacKenzie News staff
A local WSÁNEC artist is busy creating yet another unique carving for the University of
Victoria. Master carver Charles Elliott from the Tsartlip First Nation is currently working 12, and sometimes 14-hour days preparing a large piece of hollowed out cedar that will stand as
a podium for theThe Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences Congress being hosted by the University of Victoria June 1-8. PleaSe See: Tsartlip carver busy, page 13