Special Features - Wilson's Group - BC Connector

Connector ONBOARD MAGAZINE FOR THE WILSON’S GROUP

The Fun Is In The Getting There!

MAY/JUNE 2017

Birthday Bash!

HOT SPOTS TO CELEBRATE CANADA'S 150 YEARS

5 FOR THE FOODIE

VIVA LA VEGGIES: 5 PLACES TO SAVOUR THE BEST IN VEGETARIAN FARE

DAY-TRIPPING

ALL ABOARD THE OPERA BUS: TASTE OF THE TOA THE ROYAL ANDHIGHLANDS BACK AGAIN AT CALEDONIAN DISTILLERY

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One of theofworld’s premier floralfloral showshow wa laro theworld’s world’s premier OneOne of the premier floral showohsd gardens–A National Historic Site ofSite Canada adanaC fo e gardens–A National Historic of Canada

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Contents

may/june 2017 5 Meet the Team 6 Day-Tripping 10 Celebrate Canada!

14 Five on the Drive 18 Five for the Foodie 20 Hit the Road 22 By the Numbers

6

10

18

20

ON OUR COVER

Canada Day fireworks from Inner Harbour waterview.

PHOTO COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA

14 ADVERTISING Ruby Della Siega 250.480.3222 Karleen Phillips 250.391.1345

GROUP PUBLISHER Penny Sakamoto 250.480.3204

PHOTOGRAPHERS Don Denton Sierra Lundy

EDITOR Susan Lundy lundys@shaw.ca

WRITERS Sierra Lundy, Darcy Nybo, Sean McIntyre, Hans Tammemagi

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Mario Gedicke 250.891.5627 mario.gedicke@blackpress.ca

PRODUCTION Janice Marshall Coupons-CO129_1OFFand2FOR10_PRESS_wBleed.pdf

Patty Doering 250.480.3242 Nick Warrington 250.480.3399

1 4/18/2017 11:07:00 AM

CONNECTOR magazine is published six times a year by Black Press and is distributed by The Wilson’s Group. The points of view or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or The Wilson’s Group.

The contents of Connector magazine are protected by copyright, including the designed advertising. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher.

818 Broughton Street Victoria, BC Canada V8W 1E4 www.blackpress.ca

www.gowilsonsgroup.com

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CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

MAY/JUNE 2017 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

WELCOME ABOARD t’s spring and baseball is in the air!

For me, this conjures up some of my fondest memories — spending time around the ballpark with my son, Andrew. There is nothing like eating a juicy hotdog on a warm summer night, watching the great game of baseball.

My love for the game runs deep, so deep that two years ago I became part of the ownership group for our local Victoria HarbourCats. The team is part of the West Coast League, considered one of the premier collegiate summer leagues in North America Here on the West Coast, we can watch the fabulous HarbourCats in Victoria at Royal Athletic Park or the Vancouver Canadians — the Northwest League affiliate of Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays — at the great Nat Bailey Stadium.

And, of course, there are lots of great youth community baseball teams, in both Little League and Minor League ball.

I

Wilson’s is proud to sponsor and be the official transportation provider for many of our local clubs.

But if baseball isn’t your thing, this season offers many activities to do in Victoria and Vancouver.

Check out Five on the Drive in this issue of Connector for a list of activities, ranging from food, theatre and beer festivals, to a marathon and yacht race. And with Canada’s 150th birthday coming up, we’ve got you covered with ideas of where to celebrate on July 1.

If you’re a local, I hope you’ll get out and enjoy some of the many great things our communities have to offer. And if you are visiting our beautiful West Coast, welcome! We know you too will enjoy this area’s many activities and events.

Have any questions or can’t find what you’re looking for? Please ask any of our amazing team — they’ll happily offer up advice or other suggestions for fun, food or adventure.

As for me? Take me out to the ballgame.

Go HarbourCats!

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CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

MEET THE WILSON’S GROUP TEAM WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS JOB? It allows me

SIERRA LUNDY PHOTO

the best of both worlds. I love coaching and improving people and processes. I have an opportunity to make my staff better — whether that means helping to develop their technical skills relating to driving, customer service or office tasks, or helping set individualized goals for personal development. At the same time, I have colleagues and members in senior management, from whom I can learn for my own enrichment and development.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to Canada (Toronto) at the age of three. I grew up in just about every area of Toronto. My parents started their own little convenience store (like Kim’s Convenience, lol). My father enjoyed buying a business, improving the value of it and then selling it and moving onto another one. This, however, led to us moving throughout the city — I probably attended eight elementary schools and three high schools. After high school, I attended the University of Western Ontario and majored in Economics. I also worked for a local tour operator and grew to really enjoy the business. I got my bus driver’s license and periodically drove a minibus. After university, I was offered a position as operations manager with a

NAME:

Thomas Choe

POSITION:

Operations Manager — Vancouver

TIME WITH WILSON'S:

Your Lakeside Resort in the City!

Since January 2016

Vancouver tour operator. Having never been to Vancouver, I was understandably hesitant, but after a quick trip, I was hooked. In Vancouver, while working in tour operations, I studied at BCIT’s business management program.

WHO IS YOUR FAMILY? My father passed away in 2008. My mother lives in Burnaby. I have one younger sister. My son (Ryan) is 18 years old and my daughter (Alyssa) is 14.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF THE JOB? I love travelling, hockey, skiing, golf and badminton.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO IN VANCOUVER? Spending time with my kids, cooking — I’m a bit of an amateur cook — and playing golf (for which I never have enough time).

WHAT IS A "MUST-DO" FOR VISITORS TO VANCOUVER?

We have one of the most beautiful cities in the world, enriched with the beauties of nature.

So number one would be to take in nature.

Of course, it should be complemented by a trip to beautiful Victoria aboard our BC Ferries Connector service to enhance the total experience! As well, I’d suggest trying out different types of food, since our city is so well represented with international cuisine.

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VICTORIA TEXT BY SEAN MCINTYRE PHOTOS COURTESY WILSON'S TRANSPORTATION

DAY-TRIPPING:

TO THE OPERA AND BACK AGAIN

ALL ABOARD THE OPERA BUS ith their friendly smiles and welcoming greetings, it’s hard to miss Linda and Brian Richardson outside BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay terminal. They’re here to meet passengers from the Lower Mainland and Gulf Islands bound for an afternoon with Pacific Opera Victoria — and the trip will be minus the twists, turns and dramatic tension that can sometimes thwart a drive into town.

The Richardsons have hosted passengers aboard the POV/ Wilson’s Opera Bus for roughly 30 performances over seven seasons. The couple has volunteered with fundraising initiatives and publicity at the POV for years, and the opera bus is their answer to the many opera fans choosing to stay home rather than contend with parking, traffic and bad weather.

“I kept getting people on the phone who said they loved the opera but couldn’t come anymore because they couldn’t drive or didn’t have anyone to come with,” Linda says. “So I kept thinking ‘why don’t we get a bus,’ and now it’s really caught on.”

The comfortable 24-passenger minibus is near capacity after

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6 MAY/JUNE 2017

stops at Swartz Bay, Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre and St. Mary’s Church in Saanichton. There’s an even mix of regulars and first-timers. There are couples, friends and solo travellers.

Everyone settles seamlessly into a friendly banter about the upcoming performance of The Magic Flute by Mozart.

“It’s much like a family outing,” says Brian.

He has seen Mozart’s classic about the enduring battle between the forces of light and darkness, but confesses to occasionally being unsure about what it all means.

“Musically, it’s very powerful,” he says.

A DVD presentation shown on overhead screens aboard the bus features a pre-performance lecture from the POV’s knowledgeable and entertaining Robert Holliston. The talk sets the stage as passengers approach the Royal Theatre in downtown Victoria.

“The film gives viewers a primer on the finer points of each performance,” says Ian Rye, Pacific Opera Victoria’s CEO. “People love Holliston’s presentation, it prepares you for an CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

"The bus is an attempt to share what we're doing here with the whole island.

Since it isn't possible to take a fullsize opera on the road, it's a pretty wonderful thing that we can bring people down. "

CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

MAY/JUNE 2017 7

“THE YEARNING TO LEARN ABOUT, LISTEN TO AND DISCUSS OPERA IS SERIOUS BUSINESS IN VICTORIA, A FULLFLEDGED OPERA TOWN THAT HAS AT LEAST THREE TIMES AS MANY FOLLOWERS OF THE GENRE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN CANADA.”

experience. We know the more we understand what we’re going to see, the better experience it’s going to be.”

The yearning to learn about, listen to and discuss opera is serious business in Victoria, a full-fledged opera town that, Rye says, has at least three times as many followers of the genre than any other city in Canada. According to the research Linda has undertaken over her years at the POV, Victoria has the highest per-capita opera audience in North America.

The opera bus is part of the POV’s ongoing effort to build this audience by addressing common barriers that prevent people from attending performances. These can include everything from mobility challenges to an apprehension commonly felt by curious newbies who are not quite sure how to approach the art form.

“The bus is an attempt to share what we ’re doing here with the whole island. Since it isn’t possible to take a fullsize opera on the road, it’s a pretty wonderful thing that we can bring people down,” Rye says. “People have been fully taking advantage of this, and we ’re thrilled with the response.”

The Swartz Bay to Victoria route is one of two shuttles that bring music lovers into Victoria for the POV’s Sunday matinee performances.

The equally popular Vancouver Island service lets residents from areas in and around Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan 8 MAY/JUNE 2017

and Mill Bay connect with classics like Puccini’s La Bohème, Handel’s Rinaldo and many one-of-a-kind contemporary productions.

Passenger Charles Clapham travels to meet the opera bus at Swartz Bay from his home in downtown Vancouver. Using hiking poles for added stability, he navigates his way by foot, Skytrain, bus and ferry for his excursions to Victoria.

It’s the attractive theatre and a more intimate setting that keeps him interested in the POV, but it’s the opera bus that makes it all possible.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the bus,” Clapham says following the show as we disembark and bid farewell to the Richardsons. “Hope to see you next time.”

The POV/Wilson’s Opera Bus makes one more trip before the 2016/17 season concludes. Linda and Brian will welcome passengers on board for the Sunday, April 30 performance of Les Feluettes (Lilies), a contemporary work commissioned jointly by Pacific Opera Victoria and L’Opera de Montreal.

Next season’s schedule, which gets underway in October, features Janácek’s Jenufa, Puccini’s La bohème, Rinaldo by Handel as well as Rattenbury and Missing, two new Canadian operas.

For more details about the POV/Wilson’s Opera Bus, visit the POV website or call 250-382-1641. Reservations for the $25 round-trip ride are required. Performance tickets must be purchased separately.

CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

Romancing the rails in Canada ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS IS AN AMAZING FILM ABOUT AN AMAZING FEAT n an appropriate marking of Canada’s 150th birthday, Rocky Mountain Express propels audiences on a presentday steam train journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies, revealing the extraordinary story of the building of the nation’s first transcontinental railway.

The 45-minute production is the first full-length film to offer up a pan-Canadian theme for global IMAX audiences. Viewers ride the rails along deep river canyons and over high mountain passes, discovering some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on earth, and joining in the human drama and epic engineering that shaped a continent.

Rocky Mountain Express opens June 30 at IMAX Victoria.

The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1885 ranks among the greatest engineering feats in history. The project drew on the labour and expertise of thousands of people from around the world. Spanning thousands of miles and some of the world’s greatest natural barriers, this grand transcontinental project and its wandering ribbon of steel drew together far-flung communities isolated in the wilderness, shaped a new nation and changed the face of North America.

The success or failure of the venture was decided deep in the mountains. Retracing the original route aboard the majestic steam engine 2816, Rocky Mountain Express transports audiences back to the age of steam to re-live this alpine, nation-building odyssey.

Filmmaker Stephen Low weaves together spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, breathtaking vistas of the West, archival images and maps and the potent energy and rhythms of a live steam locomotive to immerse audiences in an era of remarkable ingenuity and struggle, and a region of stunning natural beauty.

Rocky Mountain Express is a culmination of Low’s remarkable 30-year career shaping films for the giant screen.

“There just isn’t a subject more perfect for the big screen than a giant steam locomotive,” he says. “This is a film I’ve wanted to make since I was a kid. Couple this with an epic nation-building story of engineering one of the most impossible railways in the world, and it was just something that had to find its way onto the IMAX screen.”

Low filmed extensively from the air, using a helicopter and gyrostabilized camera mount to capture the train’s journey and the great diversity of the western landscape.

I

CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

“Ultimately, we mounted IMAX cameras all over the train as well,” says Low. “We wanted to give audiences an intimate ‘being there’ experience of steam power.”

The production was filmed with full 15/70 negative and then crafted on IMAX laser, guaranteeing spectacular image fidelity on the giant screen. Sound, too, is a vital part of the laser experience and the team has carefully captured and rendered in six-channel sound the symphony of sonic moods produced by a locomotive, matching this with an original musical score by celebrated Montreal composer Michel Cusson.

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Celebrate Canada!

CANADA PLACE, SEEN HERE BESIDE THE VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE, IS THE SPOT OF A TWO-DAY CANADA DAY BASH.

HOT SPOTS TO JOIN IN CANADA’S 150TH BIRTHDAY BASH

BY HANS TAMMEMAGI

10 MAY/JUNE 2017

t’s time to don the red and white and celebrate!

Canada Day festivities this year will be the biggest and best in half a century. To help you revel in Canada’s 150th anniversary, some of the finest birthday bashes in Vancouver and Victoria and nearby areas are listed below.

So go out and party; celebrate being a Canadian and living in one of the most scenic, friendliest and best countries in the world.

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Canada Place, Vancouver

Centred around Canada Place, one of the country’s iconic landmarks, Vancouver hosts the largest Canada Day celebration outside of Ottawa, welcoming close to one million people each year. This year will be even bigger. To commemorate the sesquicentenary of Confederation, the celebrations will double in size, running for two days, July 1 and 2. Activities and entertainment will be non-stop with three stages offering full days of amazing music, including headliners Aaron Pritchett and Sheena Easton. There will be a Canadian Forces Zone, citizenship ceremony, Youth Zone, food trucks and more. The Canada Day Parade starts at West Georgia and Broughton Streets at 7 pm and rolls to Canada Place. At 10:30 pm, a fireworks CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

TOURISM VANCOUVER / PHOTOGRAPHER: KRISTOPHER GRUNERT

extravaganza is set to light up the sky. More information: canadaplace.ca/events/canada-day/

Granville Island, Vancouver

Canada Day on the Island will be great for families, featuring a parade, an official Canada Day ceremony with cake, a Lobster Man cookout, live jazz, performers and a South Asian cultural fair.

You can relax on a picnic blanket while your kids play at the free Water Park. More information: granvilleisland.com/canada-day

Steveston, Richmond

Steveston knows how to host a Canada Day bash; after all, it’s been celebrating our nation’s birthday every year since 1945. The day begins with a pancake breakfast, followed by a Citizenship Ceremony. At 10 am, the Canada Day Parade winds through the historic village with over 100 floats, marching bands, celebrities and more. The “official” start is on the main stage at noon

CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

with the singing of O Canada. Then the stage sizzles with great entertainment all afternoon. There is also a children’s stage.

Festival attractions include the Japanese cultural show, car show, craft fair, trade show, horticultural show, food fair plus an art show. The main attraction, however, is the famous salmon barbecue where over 1,200 pounds of wild salmon filets are grilled over open fire pits. This popular treat sells out every year! More information: stevestonsalmonfest.ca

Fort Langley

Parks Canada has made a huge commitment to Canada’s 150th birthday with special celebrations at all their sites, including free entry! So head out to picturesque, palisaded Fort Langley, where British Columbia was born. You’ll join costumed enactors to enjoy multicultural music, birthday cake, ceremony at noon and family activities all day. The celebrations continue in the village and at the neighbouring museums: Langley Centennial Museum MAY/JUNE 2017 11

CANADA DAY IN VICTORIA'S INNER HARBOUR / VICTORIA TOURISM

and the BC Farm Machinery and Agricultural Museum.

Inner Harbour, Victoria

Victoria is starting the birthday party early.

For 11 days starting June 21 (National Aboriginal Day) and culminating on Canada Day, there will be live music, arts, culture and food and beverage offerings in the Inner Harbour. Every day at Ship’s Point starting at 11 am there will be live music, and on June 30 and July 1, the main stage on the Legislature lawn will resound with music as well. The celebrations will culminate with a massive fireworks display on July 1 at 10 pm.

More information: spirit150victoria.ca

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NationaL Historic Sites, victoria

Canada Day at this picturesque and historic site is special because it serves the country’s biggest birthday cake. Best of all, admission and a piece of cake are free. You can clap your hands and dance to the live music throughout the day. So put a few red maple leaf decals on your cheeks, join the activities and have fun. But remember: leave a bit of room for a piece of the huge cake.

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Saturna Island Lamb BarbeCue

Every Canada Day, this island transforms from serenity to a frenzied, tumultuous fun.

The population of the island more than triples as an enormous flotilla of boats arrives and a happy, boisterous crowd — bedecked in hats, face paint, capes and flags emblazoned with Canada’s red and white — celebrate the day.

The party centres around a barbecue with about 30 lambs roasted on tall iron crosses like crucifixes set in a large circle around an alder-wood fire. It resembles a pagan ritual from medieval days, but the result is mouth-watering. A band plays, the sun shines and kids throw baseballs at the dunk tank, hoping to soak their teachers. It feels like a small-town carnival of 30 years ago. More information: saturnalambbarbeque.com

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MAY/JUNE 2017 13

Five must-see or must-do events in May and June

FIVE DRIVE ON THE

VICTORIA>VANCOUVER>

VICTORIA Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival When: May 20-22 Where: TopAz Park

Don a kilt and head to Topaz Park to celebrate Scottish culture at the 154th Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival. Enjoy highland dancing, listen to pipe bands and Celtic rock, and watch sheep herding, haggis hurling and caber tossing competitions. Estimated to be the largest in its history, this festival is anticipated to attract an audience of over 25, 000 people over the three-day weekend of Victoria Day. Launching the festivities is the Tartan Parade that travels through downtown Victoria, and events of various types and flavours that all occur for a full week prior to the festival.

victoriahighlandgames.com

UNO Fest

MEAT AND CHEESE FESTIVAL

When: May 17 to 27

When: May 20

Where: Metro Studio, Intrepid Theatre Club (and more)

Where: Crystal Gardens

intrepidtheatre.com/festivals/uno-fest

cheeseandmeatfestival.com/victoria

Featuring solo performing artists from all across North America, the 20th annual UNO Fest is an 11-day-long festival, featuring comedy acts, contemporary solo theatre performances, boundary-pushing storytellers, parties and even salsa lessons. Intrepid Theatre has proudly presented more than 330 solo shows at UNO, which is North America’s longest running festival of solo performances. Staring some of the country’s — and perhaps even the world’s — most innovative and genre-challenging talents, this festival celebrates uniqueness and individuality, and is guaranteed to make your spring extra fresh. Bonus if you make it out to the opening night of each show, as tickets are paywhat-you-can on opening nights.

14 MAY/JUNE 2017

A unique festival celebrating cheese and charcuterie takes place on May 20 in Victoria, and will exhibit both international and local cheese and meat in an experiential tasting format. Cheese and meat festival ticket holders can expect to enjoy bite-size morsels of cheese and meat paired with wine, beer, cider and accompaniment. The festival will consist of two tasting sessions. The afternoon session will take place from 3 to 5 pm, and the evening tasting will take place from 7 to 9 pm. Seminars are scheduled between each tasting, featuring cheese and meat creations, pairings and unique offerings. This is a 19+ event; no minors.

CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

Swiftsure International Yacht Race When: May 25-29 (All day) Where: Causeway/Ship Point

Attracting yacht sailors from BC, Washington and places as far away as California, New Zealand, Hawaii and even Russia, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race occurs this year during the Memorial Day weekend in May for its 74th time. The races start at staggered intervals throughout Saturday morning in Victoria, reach their midpoint marker in US waters, and return for their final finish points in Victoria. Races include long, overnight courses as well as short, day-long competitions. The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and is the premier long distance sailing race in the Pacific Northwest. swiftsure.org

VANCOUVER

BMO Vancouver Half Marathon When: May 7 Where: Start point at Queen Elizabeth Park

The countdown is on for Vancouver’s best-voted half marathon road race, taking place on a course that leads runners on a cultural journey by epic landmarks and fantastic skyline views. Starting at Queen Elizabeth Park, racers will hit the ground running all the way through neon-lit Chinatown, sleek Yaletown, the beautiful areas of the West End, around the breath-taking English Bay and finally ending with a bang (and energized cheers) on West Pender Street between Bute and Thurlow. The course includes eight stations to stock up on water, food and a variety of electrolyte-replenishing drinks. Come on down and see what makes this such an attractive event!

bmovanmarathon.ca

Art! Vancouver When: May 25-28

VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL When: June 23 to July 2 Where: Various venues around Victoria

Coming to Victoria this summer is the 34th edition of the TD Victoria International Jazz Festival, organized and presented by the Victoria Jazz Society. Starting June 23 and running for 10 full, music-packed days, this festival features jazzy and bluesy tunes from both local and internationally acclaimed musicians. Whether you’re in the mood for some easy-feeling woodwind instrumentals, head-bopping brass notes, or your feet are craving the dance floor, this festival — formally known as JazzFest International — has it all. More information on the lineup, venues and tickets can be found at:

jazzvictoria.ca/jazz-fest

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Where: Vancouver Convention Centre East

A world-class arts event, featuring reputable art galleries and artists from across Canada and around the world, and held at the Vancouver Convention Centre’s waterfront venue, Art! Vancouver celebrates the city’s rich and flourishing art scene. Here, art enthusiasts and collectors can share in an inspiring atmosphere of creativity and originality.

Kicking off the four-day event, Art! Vancouver presents the “Face of Art” — a runway-style art show — and continues on with art tours, guest speakers, exhibitions, auctions and more. In addition to supporting the arts, this event proudly gives back to the community by raising funds for the Battered Women Support Services, a Vancouver-based charity. artvancouver.net MAY/JUNE 2017 15

FIVE ON THE DRIVE

Vancouver Beer Week Festival When: June 3-4 Where: PNE Centre Grounds

The eighth annual Vancouver Beer Week Festival returns to the PNE fairgrounds this June for two days, offering patrons a chance to experience the flavours of more than 300 beers and ciders featured at over 100 craft breweries and cideries. There will also be four stages, pumping up the sound with live music and DJs, 10 food trucks, a games area with bocce, pinball alley, foosball and Frisbee (to name just a few), plus a pop-up barbershop. A festival ticket includes five hours at the festival, a taster mug and 2 beer tokens. Additional tokens are $1.50.

ticketleader.ca/events/vcbw-festival-2017

2017 Vancouver International Children's Festival When: May 29 to June 4 Where: Granville Island

Celebrating its 40th go at delighting and enchanting young minds from all over, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival is back this spring. Hosted on the grounds of Granville Island, this event encourages students to become playful and creatively stimulated while participating in sing-a-long tunes and engaging with professional artists. Enjoy gazing at amazing circus acrobatics, watching fun-loving animated film productions, dancing to swing music, laughing at puppetry acts, and even brushing up on your French by witnessing theatre en français! childrensfestival.ca

16 MAY/JUNE 2017

Bard on the Beach When: June to September Where: Vanier Park waterfront

Vancouver’s annual Bard on the Beach is the largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festival in Western Canada. Celebrating the brilliant works of Shakespeare for the 28th year, the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society puts on this event to offer Shakespeare plays, related dramas and various celebratory events.

This year’s special events include fireworks, opera and arias, insightful talks, music from an awardwinning men’s choir, classical music performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, wine and family nights, and of course, plenty of Shakespeare! Drama rotates between the main stage — custom built with an incredible backdrop view of mountains, offering reserved seating and a capacity of 733 — the Douglas Campbell Theatre and the Howard Family Stage for intimate and less-familiar Shakespeare plays. These tents are located in the Bard Village, a lively gathering space for Bard theatre patrons where they can meet, chat and drink beverages for an hour prior to curtain.

bardonthebeach.org

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Coming to Victoria?

Traveling by land, sea or air, The Wilson’s Group has you covered

Daily Year Round Bus Transportation Between Victoria and Vancouver

a d ivisio n o f Wilso n’ s Tra nsp o rta tio

. n Ltd

Your direct Link between Victoria International Airport & Downtown Victoria

www.gowilsonsgroup.com

1-888-788-8840

EXPLORE VICTORIA YOUR WAY

VICTORIA PHOTOS AND TEXT

BY DARCY NYBO

FIVE FOR THE

FOODIE VIVA LA VEGGIES

Seen here are cookies from Harvest; Halloumi cheese at Nuba and a burger from MeeT in Gastown

Vancouver and Victoria both offer a significant number of restaurants that serve vegetarian and vegan dishes to please even the pickiest palate. They’re an eclectic mix from fun to funky, offering dishes that range from comfort food to exotic goodness.

Nourish Kitchen and CafE

Nuba CafE in Mount Pleasant

It’s a full-size restaurant and a café, a parlour and a study, all rolled into one delicious experience in a heritage home in James Bay. And it’s only an 11-minute walk from the BC Ferries Connector drop off on Douglas Street. Your meat-eating friends will love this place too. You can taste the care that goes into the food here. We started off with the cultured cashew cheese (no words to describe how good it is) and the red lentil hummus. The breads and crackers that come with these dishes are vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free and are made in-house. The raw and roasted veggies are topped with almonds, ferments, capers and lemon. One bite and you’ll be hooked.

This funky, Lebanese café is an eight-minute walk south of BC Ferries Connector’s home at Pacific Central Station. There’s a great selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, as well as meat dishes. Where to begin… flavour abounds here. The garden falafel was moist and tasty thanks to a secret recipe. We discovered the hummus is the best ever. One taste and you just might agree. It’s incredibly creamy with the perfect balance of lemon, garlic, tahini and chickpeas. The baba ghanouj was right up there too. There are so many great dishes here, it’s best you order several and share with your friends.

225 Quebec St, Victoria

MUST TRY: The Rutabaga Linguine is a flavour

party for your mouth. Made with blanched rutabaga noodles, charred broccoli, roasted carrots, cultured cashew cream, pickled shallots, sunchoke chips and cured egg yolk. There’s a little heat to this dish and every bite is a different flavour combination.

18 MAY/JUNE 2017

146 East 3rd Avenue, Vancouver

MUST TRY: This was a toss-up between two dishes. The

Najib’s Special is crispy cauliflower cooked to perfection and tossed with lemon, sea salt and tahini. When I wasn’t trying to sneak these away from my table mates, I was guarding the Halloumi cheese. This traditional cheese is seared, layered with fresh tomatoes, and drizzled with pomegranate dressing. Taste it and you’ll be hooked.

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Harvest Community Foods 243 Union Street, Vancouver

Harvest Community Foods is a funky mix of a grocery and food store in a restaurant. It’s an eightminute walk north from Pacific Central Station on the edge of Chinatown. It’s well known for its noodle soups and you’ll usually see people lined up for takeout during the lunch and dinner rush. Aside from the noodle soups, they also serve up delicious chocolates, fresh baked goods (try a cookie!), house-made yogurt and seasonal fruit parfaits. The ramen with squash and miso broth was great. It’s a filling dish with nori, scallions, radish and sesame seeds. Some dishes do contain meat, so let them know your preference. Ingredients vary from week to week depending on the seasonal availability of local produce.

MUST TRY: The rice noodle with hazelnut, smoked chili and greens was amazing. The layers of flavours in this dish made each bite just a little different. The fresh greens provided a delicious crunch that blended perfectly with the hazelnut and smoked chili flavours.

MeeT in Gastown

12 Water Street, Vancouver

MeeT has two locations, one in Gastown and one on Main Street. At the Gastown location we were greeted with a smile and shown to a table with a view of the courtyard, perfect for people watching.

Most of the food on the menu is vegan and gluten free. The artichoke and spinach dip was creamy and delicious, served up with tortilla chips for a perfect sharing dish. They have eight vegetarian burgers on their menu, and each comes with everything from coconut bacon to feta and pea pesto. The house specialty is the Angry Burg, a beer-battered veggie burger tossed in a buffalo hot sauce and topped with guacamole and a cool vegan ranch dressing.

MUST TRY: The sweet-chili cauliflower will

have even the most adamant wing-lover asking for more. Cauliflower is beerbattered with tamarind chili and ginger glaze and topped with chopped scallions and sesame seeds. The menu says they are super addictive — believe it!

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Top and above left , “meat” dishes from Very Good Butchers; at right, rice noodle dish from Havest Community Foods.

Very Good Butchers

#6 1701 Douglas St, Victoria

Don’t let the name or the look of it fool you. There’s no meat here. This plant-based meat shop is even set up like a butcher shop. Located in the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson, you can shop, eat and then shop some more. All food is created with 100 per cent organic, vegan ingredients using local produce whenever possible. You can get it to go, or pick a spot in the centre of the market and eat there. Try the beer battered eggplant and chips, or their Very Good Burger. New to the menu are the gluten-free waffles with barbecue-pulled jackfruit and fresh chopped slaw. Craving salad? They have that. Try their Killer Greens with pesto dressing.

MUST TRY: Their toasted roast beast sandwich was delicious. The one I had was served on rye swirl bread with a tangy mustard. The beast was moist and tender and even looked like roast beef, thanks to the beetroot used for colouring.

MAY/JUNE 2017 19

HIT THE

KIM JAY PHOTO

PHOTOS AND TEXT

BY SIERRA LUNDY

ROAD THE FASHION-SAVVY TRAVELLER Sheila Wong-Cuyugan Vancouver fashion designer

Where were you born, where dO YOU LIVE NOW?

I was born in Calgary and have lived in Vancouver since 2005.

What three things are essential to you in travel-wear?

• Versatile shoes that can be worn dressed up or down.

• Every piece you bring on a trip should work well with each other. This will allow you to interchange items to create new outfits.

• A medium-sized cross body bag. Perfect size to hold the important stuff.

How did you get into fashion design?

Earliest inspiration came from watching my grandmother sew. I started off by playing with her jar of buttons. That is where the intrigue started and I have kept exploring any and every aspect of fashion design since.

What's been among your biggest accomplishments as a fashion designer?

The process of growing a successful design business from scratch has been a huge accomplishment. Eight years later I am so grateful for a talented team, loyal clients and future plans to grow the studio bigger.

What makes you happy?

I live in Vancouver; rain does not stop me from going about the city. Eating at a new restaurant is a fun way to beat the rainy day blues.

What do you like to do on a rainy day off?

I love to work indoors when it’s rainy, or go for a walk in the woods.

What do like to do while you're riding the bus?

Japanese inspired waistcoat. Fully hand-sewn design (full couture) with ikat exterior fabric and silk lining.

Personal studio design.

Charcoal long-sleeved body suit by Wilfred.

Blue, high-waisted culottes from Club Monaco.

Oxford platform lace-up shoes by Prada.

20 MAY/JUNE 2017

I take the time to people watch and discover new places in my surroundings. You can’t do that while driving!

Anything else we should know?

I am a true believer in karma. Good energy will come your way if you put it out there.

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Cashmere wool, long waistcoat with patch pockets.

Demi-couture design. Hand-sewn, silk-bound seams.

Personal studio design.

Black, long-sleeved knit top by Wilfred.

Black and white mini skirt in a mohair wool fabric.

Personal studio design.

Faux knee-high tights from Korea.

Florescent orange, cross body bag by The Cambridge Satchel Company.

Cashmere wool, black and red colour-block coat with cotton lining. Personal studio design.

Charcoal longsleeved body suit by Wilfred.

Blue, highwaisted culottes from Club Monaco.

Oxford platform, lace-up shoes by Prada.

Italian shoulder bag, purchased in a market in Florence.

Some say, “This is the world’s best hummingbird feeder.”

hummingbird HIGH PERCH™

FEEDER

It’s the new High Perch™ for unobstructed view of the birds.

Playing Summer 2017

Now in 4 sizes 4 oz., 8 oz., 12 oz. and 16 oz.

• Lifetime Guarantee • Easy to Clean • Ant-Moat - Blocks • Made in U.S.A. Crawling Insects • Bee and Wasp Resistant 3631 Shelbourne Plaza • 250-595-3595 CONNECTOR l THE WILSON’S GROUP

Celebrate Canada’s 150th See the story of the railroad that built Canada “Easily in the top 3 IMAX movies of all time” “A wonderful film to be seen by all generations” TripAdvisor reviews There’s an adventure for everyone at IMAX See a full selection of films online or in the museum lobby

250-480-4887 imaxvictoria.com IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

MAY/JUNE 2017 21

Victoria harbour cats

BY THE NUMBERS

Wilson’s is committed to actively supporting a healthy and vibrant community through sponsorships, charitable donations and by having its leadership team volunteer on various boards and committees. The company’s support is wide and varied, from arts programs to sports and local charities, and it takes tremendous pride in these relationships.

Wilson’s is a proud sponsor of Victoria HarbourCats Baseball Club and John Wilson is a member of the team’s ownership group.

2013

The year the HarbourCats joined the West Coast League (WCL).

11

93 65,000+

The number of former or current WCL baseball players selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.

The number of teams in the WCL.

Number of fans who attended HarbourCats games last year.

19

5

Price of tickets for premium seats at a HarbourCats game.

General admission seat tickets are $13 each.

Opening Day in June when the HarbourCats take on Wenatchee AppleSox.

56 4,544 40 Number of fans who attended Opening Day last year.

Number of wins in the HarbourCats’ 2016 season.

54 22 MAY/JUNE 2017

Number of games in the HarbourCats 2017 season. This includes 27 home games.

19

Jersey number worn

by Head Coach Brian McRae, who played 10 years in Major League Baseball for the Royals, Cubs, Mets, Rockies and Blue Jays.

Number of games won in a row last season — a WCL winning streak record.

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Beacon Hill Children’s Farm

Clean, comfortable cars City Tours, Butchart Gardens, Deliveries

Come on down for a visit with our friendly farm animals. Hang out with our beloved goats in the petting area and be sure to catch our famous goat stampede!

250.382.2222 Serving Victoria since 1946

1-800-665-7055 www.taxicab.com

250.381.2532 OPEN DAILY 10 AM - 4 PM BEGINNING MARCH 10, 2017

www.taxicab.com

Prompt. Polite. Professional.

BEACON HILL PARK - Funded By Your Donations

All-Inclusive Senior Living Oak Bay Victoria 250.595.6257

www.shannonoaks.com Baptist Housing | Enhanced Seniors Living | Since 1964

E L A H W T S E “B HING” C T A W ON TED A R TOP DVISOR A TRIP

24

GET ON BOARD THE ULTIMATE WHALE WATCHING EXPERIENCE

“Amazing boat, fabulous staff and stunning wildlife” “Highlight of our trip to BC” “Professional engaged crew made this a trip to remember” FROM VISITORS ON TRIPADVISOR

1.800.470.3474 • 250.384.4444 www.VictoriaWhaleWatching.com

DOWNTOWN VICTORIA 1119 WHARF STREET

BETWEEN FORT ST & HISTORIC BASTION SQUARE

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