From the mighty Starfighter, the fastest plane to fly in the Royal Canadian Air Force, to the iconic bi-colour Hawaii Martin Mars waterbomber, the B.C. Aviation Museum (BCAM) is dedicated to safeguarding and celebrating aircraft that have shaped the province’s history.
Founded in 1989, the museum hosted its biggest annual open house yet on Aug. 23 and 24, drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors.
With a chance to explore aircraft displays, partake in a range of activities and chat with aviation aficionado, visitors glanced at more than 40 airplanes in exhibits inside and outside the North Saanich museum.
“Our main purpose and mission is to preserve, maintain, and educate on the aviation history around British Columbia,”said event organizer Emma McGugan.
More than sharing its passion with the public, the open house was the museum’s biggest annual fundraising event, welcoming visitors on an admission-by-donation basis, explained McGugan.
“We are a not-forprofit organization
and we are mainly run by 200 volunteers,”she said.
All the money raised will support the museum’s operations and help fund a new capital project, McGugan added.
“We would love to build a new hangar,” she said. “We’re running out of space for all of our aircraft, and we really want to be able to put them inside. That’s best for
their preservation, and that’s really our number one goal is to preserve aviation history.”
After acquiring the Hawaii Martin Mars last year, McGugan said fundraising efforts are just beginning for a new hangar. While a project of this scale is no small feat, with costs estimated at a “couple million,” the BCAM and its members are determined to shelter more aircraft
from the elements and preserve their history.
“The ultimate dream is obviously to put the Hawaii Mars inside, but that is expensive, so we’re hoping to fundraise, fundraise, fundraise, and see what we can do over the next couple years.
“Every donation matters.”
To donate, visit, or learn more about the BCAM, visit bcam. net
Olivier Laurin
B.C. Aviation Museum assistant director Emma McGugan poses in front of the PBY Canso, a retired Second World War aircraft used in anti-submarine warfare. (Olivier Laurin/Peninsula News Review)
Greater Victoria’s local flavours tempt tastebuds at Feast of Fields
Olivier Laurin
Hundreds of foodies meandered through Central Saanich’s Heritage Acre on Sunday, Aug. 24, to celebrate and enjoy what the region has to offer.
The 24th annual Vancouver Island Feast of Fields offered its guests a three-hour roaming gourmet festival that highlighted the region’s chefs, farmers, and food artisans.
Organized by the Victoria non-profit FarmFolk CityFolk, the event ran from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests visited more than 40 booths, sampling bite-size dishes, brews, liquors and refreshing drinks, and had the opportunity to meet the creators behind the products and learn more about local ingredients.
“This event brings to light the great variety of local products,” said event coordinator Heather Leary. “It really opens people’s eyes up even more to what we have locally. And people are often quite surprised at what you can get on a plate or at a restaurant that’s been grown really a very short distance away.”
Acting as both a fundraiser and a way to reinforce regional food security, the event highlighted the importance of local agriculture and the Peninsula’s rich farming history. For more information about FarmFolk CityFolk, visit farmfolkcityfolk.ca/feastof-fields.
News Review photos)
Joyful group of Greater Victoria sailors embark on first Salish Sea outing
Olivier Laurin
On the sunny morning of Aug. 20, the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club welcomed a joyful group of eager new sailors for their first taste of the sea.
In partnership with Able Sail Victoria – a charity providing accessible sailing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities – the club opened its boats to clients of the Garth Homer Society for a crash course in sailing.
Sailing school manager Brooke Jangula and her team took a total of 12 participants out on their Sonar, a 23-foot
keelboat.
“A lot of the clients we’ve had today have never been on the water before, so it was a completely new experience for them, which is super awesome, and we were glad to have them.”
While sailing may seem inaccessible at first, Jangula explained that the sport is surprisingly inclusive.
“Sailing is a sport that everyone can participate in,” she said. “You don’t need to be tall or super fast, anyone can learn how to sail.”
After adapting their boat to each sailor’s specific needs and abilities, Jangula said the
experience was gratifying both professionally and personally.
“It’s super important for us to learn how to coach people with different needs and we love partnering with the community and making good connections,” she said.
Marking the first partnership between the club, Able Sailing Victoria, and the Garth Homer Society, Jangula hopes the initiative will continue for years to come.
“Everyone was so excited,” she said. “All the participants came and they were jumping up and down, and they were just (eager) to get out on the water.”
John enjoyed his time at Heritage Acres, grabbing the opportunity to manoeuvre his favourite tractor. (Olivier Laurin/Peninsula
Around 850 people attended this year’s Feast of Fields, celebrating its 24th edition on Aug. 24, 2025.
Madeleine Harris of Duncan’s Stillhead Distillery served drinks at this year’s Feast of Fields.
Sailing instructor Brooke Jangula explains the rudiments of sailing.
Riders enjoy the midway at last year’s Saanich Fair, which returns this Labour Day weekend with expanded attractions, a new Tiny Town Kids’ Zone, and live music headliners.
Tradition meets new attractions at 157th Saanich Fair
Tony Trozzo
The Saanich Fair is back for Labour Day weekend, bringing three days of food, rides, and entertainment to the Saanich Fairground, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
Now in its 157th year, the fair is the oldest agricultural fair in Western Canada and the largest on Vancouver Island.
This year’s theme, Focus on Farming, puts the spotlight on the region’s agricultural roots.
For first-year general manager Bryan Burns, who took the helm in February, balancing tradition with fresh experiences is key.
“Fairs are all about tradition and community,”Burns said. “They bring people together to experience agriculture, arts, and photography in a way most of us don’t see in our day-to-day urban lives.”
While agriculture remains central, Burns said this year’s fair is packed with new attractions.
Tiny Town, an expansion of the Kids’ Zone, will feature free games, balloon animals, face painting, bouncy castles, the West Coast Lumberjack Show, and even the chance to “lead a donkey.”
“What I love is the smiles on kids’ faces when they experience something new, whether it’s seeing an animal up close or learning where food comes from,” he said.
The main midway has also been expanded,
with additional rides to reduce wait times, while three smaller rides in Tiny Town will cater specifically to younger children and families. West Coast Amusements will run rides all three days, plus an extra rides-only night on Friday, Aug. 29.
Music continues to be a draw.
Local performers will play throughout the day, with headliners in the evening. JUMP, a Van Halen tribute band, takes the stage Aug. 30 at 8 p.m., followed by Canadian rockers The Trews on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. Opening ceremonies are set for Saturday at noon.
Burns said the fair’s mix of entertainment, animals, and community connection is what keeps people coming back year after year.
“It’s a juggling act sometimes,”he said. “You have traditionalists who want to keep things exactly the way they were, but we also have to find ways to blend it together and make it all work. I think we do a really good job spreading things out and giving people a chance to check out animals, see the displays, and be entertained.”
Food is another major draw, with nearly 40 vendors offering everything from classic fair treats to global flavours. Admission covers most attractions, with rides available for an additional fee. Free parking is also offered.
The Saanich Fair runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at the Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stellys Cross Rd.
Prop money pops up at Sidney business, prompting police warning
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP is reminding residents and shop owners to be wary of fake cash after prop money was used at a Sidney business.
Officers were called for a fake $100 bill on Aug. 21 and quickly noted the counterfeit bill was prop money that could be purchased online and in different denominations, media relations officer Const. Bene Bartley said in a news release.
While the cash looks good enough for film, the words “prop money”
are stamped on the holographic strip bearing Sir Robert Borden’s face. A security feature of Canadian bills also includes raised ink on the main portrait.
“Police are advising all businesses and individuals accepting cash payments to carefully inspect all bills for authenticity. It is an offence to recirculate a counterfeit bill. If you come into contact with what you believe is counterfeit currency, report it to the police,” the release reads.
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP is investigating after counterfeit bills were used at a local business, prompting a warning to other shop owners and residents. (Courtesy Sidney/North Saanich RCMP)
Shelter plans stoke fears among Sidney seniors
Sam Duerksen
Between a rock and a hard place is where Sidney’s mayor council found themselves at an Aug. 18 council meeting, faced with a crowd of residents angry over a proposed emergency weather shelter for Sidney’s unhoused.
The dilemma council faced: whether to amend a zoning bylaw so that an emergency weather shelter could potentially be placed at Wakefield Manor, a senior living community.
After a passionate discussion, council and mayor voted 4-3 in favour of moving the offical community plan (OCP) and zoning amendments forward, and directed staff to advertise for a public hearing, where the community will have its say before council makes any final decision.
“We’re talking about eight to 10 days a year that we will help the people that need our help on the streets as a requirement of being a town in this province,” said Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith. “That’s what we’ve been asked to do. Wakefield Manor is one that fits the bill right now… It’s the best solution we have.”
Some residents who spoke before the vote were adamant that it was the wrong place, and criticized the consultation process: Wakefield Manor residents should have been consulted from the beginning, many said.
Local Diane Waller described manor residents as “afraid” of the prospect. “This is their home; this is not some hotel.”
One resident, who emotionally described that she lives in pain every day, expressed worries that emergency shelter guests would affect her sleep and bring the smell of marijuana into her room. “Please don’t do this to us,” she said.
Staff, council and Fire Chief Brett Mikkelsen, who leads the town’s extreme weather response, tried to
address the public’s concerns and explain why Wakefield Manor was ultimately found to be the best solution – while emphasizing the decision is not set in stone.
Mikkelsen highlighted a clear need for more shelters in the CRD after Victoria council pleaded with other municipalities in late 2024 to help ease the load. “The City of Victoria was bearing the brunt of trying to shelter basically the entirety of the unhoused populace in the CRD,” he said.
The CRD found 1,665 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023, with only 322 emergency shelter beds available across 12 shelters in the region – primarily in Victoria – at that time. Why Wakefield Manor is being explored
Mikkelsen and staff spent seven months searching for shelter options in Sidney, but were restricted by requirements. The shelter must be funded and approved by BC Housing, operated by an NGO out of a space they agree to operate out of, and comply with fire and building code regulations. Those eliminated many churches and public sites.
Wakefield is unique in that its owned by BC Housing, operated by Beacon Community Services, which is partnering with the town on this project, and ticks all regulation boxes. It also has a distinct community room – with washrooms, a shared kitchen, and a separate entrance at the back – that can be completely separated from the rest of the building, meaning limited, if any, interaction with the residents. It is a space that is commonly used for other community purposes such as fire department and Beacon Community Services programs.
Council was divided after an extensive debate, split on whether Wakefield Manor is the right place, with Couns. Richard Novek, Scott
Garnett, and Chad Rintoul opposed to the motion.
“At the end of the day, for me, I can’t get past the fact that this is somebody’s home and they’ve spoken. They have the right to feel safe and secure in their home. Whether that’s real or perceived, it doesn’t matter – it’s how they feel,” Coun. Garnett said.
The mayor joined Couns. Sara Duncan, Terri O’Keefe and Steve Duck in supporting the motion, while expressing empathy for concerned residents.
“If we don’t approve this, I don’t see it happening [at all],” O’Keefe said. “What I’m afraid of is that members of council are making decisions based on fear of something that might happen, and there’s no evidence to support that.” Based on staff’s research and meetings with other nonprofits, she tried to assuage fears that there would be drug use on the property. “People are cold and just want to come in and sleep,” she said.
The mayor emphasized that the plan is that the operation of the emergency weather shelter will not impact anybody.
“It does not impact residents in the building or the other uses that take place in the building, it doesn’t impact the neighbouring residents,” he said. “And that’s what council is seeking to accomplish.”
Sidney is considering the use of a space at 9924 Third St. as an extreme cold weather shelter. (Harry Corro/Peninsula News Review)
PENINSULA
OUR VIEW
Economy feeling hit of changing travel trends
The latest travel figures from Statistics Canada show a significant decline in the number of Canadian residents travelling to and from the United States.
The July statistics showed return trips by automobile from the U.S. were down by 36.9 per cent, while return trips by air were down by 25.8 per cent, compared to one year earlier. In 2024, there were 39 million trips by Canadian residents to the United States. This represents more than three-quarters of outof-country travel by Canadians.
The number of American residents travelling to Canada is also declining, according to Statistics Canada data. Tourism from the U.S. represents the biggest sector of Canada’s international visitors, so a decrease in the number of American tourists will be felt.
The drop in travel between the U.S. and Canada should not be seen as an anomaly.
Since the U.S. presidential election in November 2024, travel by Canadians to the U.S. has declined noticeably in each month. This is part of a cooling of relations between the two countries.
And some of the news headlines coming out of the United States – notably the National Guard presence in Los Angeles earlier and in Washington, D.C. at present – have some Canadians feeling uneasy about travelling to that country.
These declining visitor numbers are not simply figures on a spreadsheet. Tourism numbers affect communities.
American towns and cities near the international border are feeling the effects of the drop in Canadian traffic.
And in Canada, communities which rely on tourism are also feeling the effects of the decline in U.S. visitors.
There is no quick fix to encourage increased travel between the two countries, and there is no way to know how long this change in tourism patterns will remain.
For now, there are opportunities for Canadians to explore vacation destinations within this country and to discover some hidden gems they may have overlooked in the past.
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Will our house become a time capsule for a new generation?
It’s either fascinating or terrifying (both?) how well the Internet seems to know me.
Last week, I shared some thoughts after a horrifying blaze at my grandparents’ former home in Victoria. Mentioned in passing was how the “candies in the glass candy dish glommed together and you thought nothing of chipping one or two off for yourself.”
in the middle.
But in terms of any type of online search, that was it.
I did a quick search for ‘candy stuck together’ to see if it matched my memories, and it did. Remember the round things with the swirl?
The wavy-looking things that were just awful?
Seems like it’s been the same for decades. Hint: go for anything orange and you were safe; avoid anything with a little flower design
Shortly thereafter, on one of my social media feeds, up popped a picture of the exact green glass candy dish at my Nana’s house.
Granted, it was probably the same one at thousands of homes across the world back in the day, but it creeped me out a little that the online overlords could read my mind so well.
Seeing that iconic dish (was there every anything louder if you were trying to sneak something out of it?), plus the absolute joy and comfort I took from all the memories of that particular home, left me wondering… could our current house ever be seen in that light?
To this day, I can recall virtually
every square inch of my grandparents’ home. Mostly because it was the same from the time I was five until I was in my 40s.
That dish was always in the same spot, on the same little round coffee table.
The little metal knight that housed the tools Gramps used to poke the fire was always right beside the fireplace.
The photos on the wood-panelled wall didn’t change. The same clock set off the same chimes every hour for decades.
The clothes hanger in the backyard was there forever.
The dartboard in the garage absorbed bullseyes for years on end. Everything always smelled exactly the same.
It was your childhood in a time capsule.
It was perfect, so why change a thing?
Now, we’ve been in our current home for nearly 20 years – longer than any of our previous villas.
But (and there’s no grandchildren yet) it’s hard to imagine it ever holding that kind of old-time magic.
Sure, the dining room table is getting a little old, but we’ve swapped out multiple couches (Nana’s was a chesterfield) and TVs over the years.
The paint, blinds and flooring have been swapped out. Pics on the mantel sweep to swap out daily.
There’s a ‘snack bowl’ (currently a beautiful wooden one my dad made), but it has changed multiple times.
Of course, the magic remains not in the items themselves, but the people you’re visiting.
But we’ll have to work on having an iconic item or two to spur on future memories.
How about you folks out there?
Do you have a home (featuring parents, grandparents, friends) that sticks out as your own time capsule?
A wonderful place where time stands still?
As always, I’d love to hear some of your own tales.
Philip Wolf Between The Lines
BC Ferries should look closer to home for shipbuilders
The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union is launching a campaign called “Build Them Here” to urge BC Ferries and the provincial government to reconsider their decision to build new vessels in China. It’s a campaign I fully support.
BC Ferries’ decision to build four vessels in China is going to create another ‘FastCat’ fiasco. Quick reminder: NDP premier Glen Clarke spent $450 million to build three vessels and sold them back to the builder for $20 million.
Just over 10 years ago, China was awarded the contract to restore the Johnson Street Bridge to save on costs. Chinese steel was used, the project faced delays, Canadian inspectors were sent to China, where they found cracked welds on the bridge deck, problems with the structure’s trusses and rings that did not fit the bridge design. The bridge was built in China and came in over budget. Canadian firms can’t compete fairly with Chinese fabricators because of the Chinese government’s subsidization and the dumping of Chinese steel onto the market. It’s rich for BC Ferries to use wages in Canada compared to China when not that long ago, the CEO’s salary went from $165,000 a year to $500,000. BC Ferries has faced an aging fleet for over 40 years, and yet under David Hahn and privatization, the priority was to create a top-heavy, overpaid company while they virtually kept silent on shipbuilding or staffing.
The BC NDP and ‘quasi-private’ BC Ferries have been highly criticized for this decision and their refusal to listen to the federal government and industry.
The cost-saving flies in the face of ethical business practices. China has the worst human-rights record, it held Canada’s two Micheals as political hostages, and its steel
industry is government-subsidized, making it impossible for the free world to compete. We all know politicians have short memories, especially for their ill-informed mistakes. We have a steel, copper and aluminum industry under assault of 50% tariffs, and a trade war with the U.S.A.
China is using its economic war with the U.S. to build its economy. Our premier decries the U.S. for economic assault, but his government is supporting BC Ferries vessels being built in China.
Political messaging is hypocritical when the federal and provincial government leaders call for “Elbows Up”, build Canada strong by building in Canada, using Canadian products at home, creating jobs at home, and yet the actions of the government are opposite, while urgency trumps ethics.
Jo-Anne Berezanski North Saanich
Canadians’ sacrifice at Vimy Ridge still remembered
I was pleased to learn (Aug. 7 PNR) that two local students have been awarded the Beaverbrook Prize to visit Vimy Ridge. Congratulations to them!
As an octogenarian, I’ve been privileged to visit this amazing memorial three times. I’ve been impressed by the striking range of emotional responses that it evokes. The scale and beauty of the memorial itself contrast strongly with the reconstructed trenches and nearby shell-scarred landscape that speak so vividly to the horrible
death and suffering that so many Canadians experienced there.
On my first visit, I toured one of the tunnels under the ridge where the attacking soldiers sheltered before the battle on April 9, 1917. Our guide was a young student interpreter from McMaster University. Before starting, she took a survey. There were folks from around the Commonwealth, Europe and the U.S.A. I raised my hand and said, “Canada”. When we exited the tunnel, I noticed some were offering tips. As I reached her, I held out a small bill and said, “Thanks, very interesting tour.”I was surprised when she smiled and replied, “Oh no, sir. The price of admission here for Canadians has already been fully paid. We don’t accept tips from Canadians.” I had tears in my eyes as I climbed the exit stairs. What a simple, yet eloquent tribute to the sacrifices made by all those young Canadians at Vimy.
The sense of Canadian pride and sacrifice was strongest on my most recent visit with family on April 9, 2017, the centennial of the 1917 battle. Masses of Canadian flags flew everywhere on the site and in surrounding villages. As we rode the packed bus to the ridge ceremonies, an elderly French man in a beret with a lapel medal leaned across the aisle to my daughter and said, “Bienvenue chez vous, madame.” “Welcome to your home, Madame.” I wish every young Canadian student could visit Vimy – it’s the one place outside our national boundaries where I have felt I was in Canada, not a foreign land.
Lorne Avery North Saanich
A candlelight vigil to commemorate the battle of Vimy Ridge. (Black Press Media file photo)
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More Peninsula families struggling to afford school snacks: food bank
Sam Duerksen
The Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank says this August, it is seeing its biggest need historically, and part of that need comes from families struggling to afford basics for school lunches.
“We’re desperately low on school snacks, cereals, things to help kids with back to school,” said Tyson Elder of the food bank.
“That’s one of the things we’ve found this summer: a lot of people have been struggling with their kids at home over the summer, just keeping them fed and entertained.”
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To illustrate the growing need at the food bank, Elder highlighted that on one day in August, they helped almost 60 households. “There was one family of 15 that came in on that day, and it was the busiest day we’ve ever had at the food bank,” he said.
Typically, they are used to helping 300 households in an entire month. In July, the food bank saw over 400 households and is on track to surpass that in August.
In April of this year, the Lions Food Bank was already seeing need “steadily growing,” and things have only increased.
High numbers in the summer are a phenomenon, Elder said, pointing out that traditionally, summers are slower for donations and people accessing, in part due to the abundance of fresh produce around.
Elder said a confluence of factors could be to blame, including the impacts of tariffs, inflation and housing costs.
According to Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index in July, prices for shelter rose 3 per cent year over year, rent was up 5 per cent and food prices 3.4 per cent. Canadians paid 27.1 per cent more for food than they did in July 2020.
“More and more people are struggling just to pay their rent, let alone feed their families or feed themselves,” Elder said.
But the high numbers are still something he’s “struggling to understand,” he said.
The biggest challenge for the food bank is to keep food on the shelves, despite ordering weeks and months in advance.
“We quite often have half our orders not come because the warehouses we order from, they don’t have the stock to get it to us. So we’re not getting everything we’re ordering.” They’re also down volunteers, including drivers.
“We’re just eternally grateful for this community and their support. But there’s a lot of neighbours in our area who just need a little extra help,” he said.
Those who would like to volunteer, donate, or learn more can visit https://splfoodbank.com
Tyson Elder works to help feed the hungry through his work at the food bank in Sidney. (Tim Collins)
Too costly to renovate: Sidney looks at replacing Town Hall
Sam Duerksen
The Town of Sidney said it’s looking into a longstanding item on the town’s strategic plan: replacement of Town Hall.
The town’s website says staff are looking into options to replace the hall and municipal buildings on the site. Plans for the site would involve extensive public engagement in the future.
Constructed in 1964, the building no longer meets some important public and employee needs, the town says.
Much of the building is inaccessible to staff with mobility limitations, who must leave the building after checking in and access a meeting room through a rear external door. A larger meeting room that hosts various citizen committee meetings is also not accessible.
Accessibility is only one piece. A renovation on the scale that the building needs would cost several million dollars, and is likely not achievable without a temporary and disruptive relocation of town services, the town says.
As it ages, the building is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. The heating system will soon need to be fully replaced as the heating pipes are beginning to leak and the boiler is due for replacement. A professional quote estimates replacement costs will fall between $250,000 and $450,000, as much of the building’s drywall and ceiling would need to be removed in the process.
The building’s electrical system was upgraded to reduce risk, but it cannot support additional electrical load, such as a new electric heating system.
Perimeter drainage around the hall will also soon need to be replaced. Sidney Archives – in the basement – is vulnerable to flooding.
The town also contends that the downtown block home to Town Hall, Driver Services and the courthouse is an inefficient use of the civic site. “Replacing the aging buildings that provide municipal services could potentially lead to more usable public space and more housing supply,” the website reads. Space constraints are another challenge, as council chambers cannot accommodate large
groups of people attending council meetings for hotly debated topics.
To stay informed on project notifications, residents can sign up for email notifications from the Town of Sidney.
Sidney’s announcement comes months after Central Saanich released its own options for new municipal facilities, including a new police station, fire hall and municipal offices.
Sidney’s Town Hall was constructed in 1964. (Courtesy Town of Sidney)
North Saanich council working up an appetite for local food hub
Sam Duerksen
A North Saanich food hub that would get a generous capital boost thanks to a resident’s donation of $750,000 is closer to reality but not yet approved.
At the Aug. 18 council meeting, public participation brought both praise (the majority) and pushback: “I say build it and they will come,” said a woman from White House Stables, while resident Ian Munro countered, “Is this really necessary?”
After receiving a staff report and presentations on the hub, council directed staff to proceed with a conceptual site layout, but were not yet ready to approve the hub or accept a $750,000 gift in principle.
That gift was announced earlier this year at an April 28 council meeting. Local resident Greg Warner calls his hefty contribution a “starter kit,” envisioning a community-driven project that can be expanded upon as resources and time permit.
about something that is just too small,” he said. “I prefer to see the concept of … what would 5,000 square feet look like to start.”
Staff referenced the fact that the gift being presented was “almost like a starter building” and that they would be “prudent in planning the site” so it has expanding potential.
However, DiBattista maintained his request. “Costs to build are going up and up and up. So I’d rather spend more money now and save that later,” he said.
However, a motion to approve the food hub service or the gift in principle failed 4-3, with DiBattista joining Couns. Jack McClintock, Celia Stock, and Kristine Marshall in opposition, while Mayor Peter Jones, Coun. Irene McConkey and Coun. Sanjiv Shrivastava were in favour.
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The proposed farm hub would address lack of adequate facilities for processing, packing, storage and distribution, a challenge for smaller and medium-sized farms.
Warner has now clarified that the gift must be accepted by the district no later than Nov. 30, 2025.
On Aug. 18, council received a staff report on the food hub, which includes survey results, site considerations, updates on capital cost estimates, and explores funding options for the initial start-up building that could potentially be 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.
Council unanimously approved a motion to direct staff to conduct a conceptual site layout for two potential sites with a deadline of Oct. 27 – though they included an amendment. While staff initially planned for a site layout for a 1,000-square-foot hub, several councillors expressed concern over basing the layouts only on that size, considering the project could very likely be expanded.
Coun. Phil DiBattista highlighted that Central Saanich and Saanich, who have also created reports for similar farm hub projects, discussed 10,000 square feet with the idea of further expansion. “The phased approach I’m OK with, but the reality is we’re talking
McClintock was the most vocal in his critiques. He pointed out that only 11 per cent of North Saanich farmers took part in the survey and only six of those farmers said they would be willing to invest $1,000 to $5,000 to help fund a facility that meets their needs, provided that the investment is recouped over five years.
“It appears as though the 11 per cent of farmers that answered the survey were not really prepared to either invest any money or invest time of their own,” McClintock said. “So those items of the survey concern me a lot.”
Staff said they have yet to look at the potential revenue stream, which they said would help offset operating costs.
McClintock said he’s “willing to be persuaded,” but without a detailed business plan, he did not think there was enough information in the staff report to make an informed decision.
Stock said McClintock had “valid concerns” but was on board with approving the first three motions that came from staff. Marshall agreed.
“I see Coun. McClintock’s concern for sure, but I agree we can’t have a fulsome business plan until we move forward with at least understanding what the site looks like,” Marshall said.
Council will review conceptual site layouts Oct. 27.
Outdoor plots at Kildara Farms in North Saanich. North Saanich council debated next steps for a potential food hub at an Aug. 18 meeting. (Harry Corro/Peninsula News Review)
Greater Victoria MP visits Sidney on Island tour to hear seniors’ concerns
Olivier Laurin
Vancouver Island’s mild climate, natural beauty and relaxed pace of life have made it one of Canada’s retirement capitals.
With that in mind, MP Stephanie McLean, secretary of state for seniors, embarked on a two-day tour of the Island to visit retirement homes and community centres, connecting with older residents to hear their needs and concerns.
Starting in Parksville-Qualicum, with a stop in Nanaimo on Aug. 19, McLean visited Sidney on the morning of Aug. 20 to meet seniors at the SHOAL Centre.
She attended an exercise class and joined a game of ping-pong, saying these moments were a valuable way to connect with constituents.
“It’s been a real treat to be able to engage with seniors, find out what’s important to them, what services in the community there are,” said the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP.
“You get a sense of what barriers they might be facing as well, and it helps me find out what’s important to them, on the ground, from a grassroots level and also take away what I can to inform my work in Ottawa.”
Having spoken with several folks, McLean highlighted one of the main challenges shared with her by seniors was the growing concern for scams and fraud, which leads to a fear of using technology.
She highlighted the importance of financial and technological literacy in combatting this issue.
Another recurring topic
throughout her stops revolved around the need for seniors to stay active and maintain social connections.
“A theme that has really been clear is the importance of community and being able to find other seniors to form friendships with, combat social isolation, and to do activities (while) acknowledging that sometimes our abilities are different at a later stage in life,” she said.
Before wrapping up her tour in Saanich, McLean said these local outings help shape her role as a leader, both at home and nationally.
“As the leader for this portfolio, representing seniors across Canada, it’s a big job,” she said, acknowledging the diverse needs of this population.
“It’s… important for me as a British Columbian MP and as
a member of the community – myself living in Colwood –to be able to get this on-theground information.”
After being elected on April 28, McLean described her journey as an MP so far as a “whirlwind.”
Despite the challenges of the new role, she said she’s ready to return to Ottawa to represent Greater Victoria on the national stage.
“There’s a learning curve with respect to being part of the federal government,” she said with a smile. “It has been a lot of work setting up offices, but I’m grateful for the support and patience of folks in my riding.”
“I know it hasn’t always felt like it’s been quick, but… I’m excited to go back to session here in the fall and be able to do some more good work for Canadians.”
North Saanich weighs closing X account as citizen engagement grows elsewhere
around 40 per cent of its 825 followers seem to be actual residents of the area.
Notice of Public Hearing - Bylaw No. 2297 & Bylaw No. 2298
Notice is given that the Council of the Town of Sidney will hold a Public Hearing in respect of Bylaw No. 2297, being the proposed amendment to Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2240, and Bylaw No. 2298, being the proposed amendment to Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 for the Town of Sidney The purpose of the amendments to these bylaws is to allow Emergency Shelter as a permitted use in residential lands during extreme cold weather events, and specifically on the subject property shown below.
The Public Hearing will be held on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 2240 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC.
The meeting will be live-streamed at sidney.civicweb.net/Portal. A copy of the recording will be made available on the Town’s website for on-demand viewing.
Providing Input:
• Attend the meeting in person and speak to Council
• Attend virtually via Zoom (please register to speak in advance by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting via email admin@sidney.ca or call 250656-1139)
• Submit written comments until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2025, by the following methods:
• Email: admin@sidney.ca
• Mail: 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney BC, V8L 1Y7
• Drop box: Main front entrance at Town Hall, 2440 Sidney Avenue
All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.
Copies of the proposed bylaws and background documentation can be viewed at Sidney Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from August 28 to September 8 or at www.sidney.ca/development Further inquiries may be directed to the Development Services Department, at 250-656-1725 or developmentservices@sidney.ca.
Property Details
Legal Address: Lot 1, Section 11 & 12, Range 4 East, North Saanich District, Plan 49271
Civic Address: 9924 Third Street
Citizen engagement has grown through new tools, but petered off on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, according to communications staff for the District of North Saanich.
Ultimately, the majority of councillors voted against deactivating the district’s X account at an Aug. 18 meeting, but a poll on the account asking users how often they get updates on X will be open until Aug. 25 to get more data.
Myles Dolphin, communications and engagement manager for the district, said the account has stagnated, attracted bots, and
Couns. Phil DiBattista and Irene McConkey said they don’t want the district closing any platform, even if engagement is down, as it can still reach followers with important updates like tsunami warnings.
More broadly, the Citizen Engagement Strategy, which launched in early 2025, was found to have strengthened transparency and community participation through new tools like a public engagement webpage, Instagram, town halls, a “well-attended virtual webinar” held for the OCP review, workshops and the Connect North Saanich platform.
MP Stephanie McLean stopped at Sidney’s SHOAL Centre on Aug. 20 during her two-day Island tour to connect with seniors and hear their concerns. (Olivier Laurin/Peninsula News Review)
Sam Duerksen
Elizabeth May announces plan to step down as Green leader
Bailey Seymour
Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich – Gulf Islands, shared that she will not lead the party into the next election.
In an email sent to party members on Aug. 19, May, the only MP under the Green Party banner, shared the news, adding that she does intend to stay on as leader and as a member of parliament as the party soon begins their upcoming leadership review.
“We have big plans for the fall 2025 session of parliament. My voice, as the sole Green MP in the House of Commons, is stronger as Leader. I intend to grow our parliamentary caucus before stepping down, just as I intend to focus on the climate crisis, on justice and peace in conflict-ridden areas around the world, and on the deepening struggles of Canadians of all ages to afford life’s necessities,” she said in the email.
The party will release more
Longtime volunteer at St. Andrew’s House in Sidney awarded for dedication
Nicolas Ihmels
This year, Abbeyfield Canada is marking its 40th anniversary of service to senior communities, and to celebrate they are acknowledging their dedicated volunteers.
Abbeyfield Houses provide small-scale housing for low and modest-income, independent seniors.
Every year, the organization honours its hardworking volunteers with their own award, the Robert McMullan Award for Lifetime Volunteering Excellence, awarded to Abbeyfield volunteers who have shown tremendous drive towards providing excellent service to the seniors residing at one of their houses.
One of this year’s award recipients is Ruth Howland of St. Andrew’s House in Sidney. Home to nine seniors, it was the very first Abbeyfield House to open its doors to residents in Canada.
May has been the leader of the party for over 15 years, from 2006 to 2019, and again since November 2022 after Annamie Paul stepped down.
information regarding the mandatory leadership review in the future, she says, however she hopes to stay in her position for right now to avoid what she says is “something that the party doesn’t need right now, which is internal instability.”
Ruth was presented with her award on July 25, 2025 as part of the special celebratory event at Sidney’s Abbeyfield House on Fifth Street.
“I’m proud to recognize the years of work, time and energy that Ruth has contributed to support the daily operations of St. Andrew’s House,” said Joe McReynolds, president of Abbeyfield Canada. “It’s because of long-time volunteers like Ruth that Abbeyfield is able to keep providing independent seniors with a safe home within their community.”
Ruth’s employment with Abbeyfield Housing started back in 1987, when St. Andrew’s
Abbeyfield House opened its doors. She first served on St. Andrew’s operational board. After that, she stepped down for a little while before making her reappearance as treasurer.
According to the organization, Ruth “is the first person to lend a helping hand to any Abbeyfield projects that need extra support.”
Her colleagues have lauded her innumerable contributions, her community engagement skills, and extraordinary generosity.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May plans to step down as leader in the next election. (Cloe Logan photo)
The Robert McMullan Award for Lifetime Volunteering Excellence is presented by Abbeyfield Canada’s BC Organizer Robert Gunn to Sidney’s St Andrew’s Abbeyfield volunteer Ruth Howland on July 25, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Abbeyfield Canada)
Community comes out in costume to light up Sidney waterfront
Residents lit up the community with both
and
HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Happy Labour Day from BC's largest union, CUPE BC
CUPE BC's 110,000 members deliver the important public services that make our communities a better place to live, learn, work, and play. Better Services. Better Communities.
Happy Labour Day
like care aides, clerical, trades and security are a vital part of the team delivering health care in B.C. from the Hospital Employees’ Union
creative costumes
hand-crafted beacons as the Salish Sea Lantern Festival swarmed the Sidney waterfront Saturday.
The Aug. 23 event saw Beacon Park fill with folks in costume and their lantern creations for a magical evening procession along the waterfront. The event included live entertainment, facepainting and a memory lantern booth.
A month-long display of giant jellyfish lanterns spills light on Garden Court in Sidney. (Bob Orchard photos)
The Salish Sea Lantern Festival 2025 lights up Beacon Park in Sidney.
Community comes out in costume as the Salish Sea Lantern Festival 2025 lights up Beacon Park in Sidney.
Panthers fall to Victoria in VIJHL pre-season opener
Eight of 11 VIJHL teams have begun their preseason campaigns
Tony Trozzo
Sunday night in North Saanich, the defending champion Panthers got an early reminder that the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s 2025-26 season isn’t going to hand anything out for free.
The Cougars jumped on Peninsula right from the start, making pre-season feel like the real deal.
Across the Island, Westshore kicked things off with a 9-3 win over Saanich on Aug. 20, then fell just short 4-3 to the Predators a few nights later. Oceanside doubled up Nanaimo 6-3, while Lake Cowichan edged Comox Valley 4-2.
For Peninsula, the scoreboard mattered less than finding its footing with a roster stacked with rookies.
Marcus Nichols put the Panthers on the board first, but Tyler Delli-Carri and Cater Stamp-Vincent quickly answered for Victoria, giving the Cougars a brief lead. Wyatt Martel made sure Peninsula wasn’t out of it, scoring just 36 seconds later.
But Victoria kept coming. Haydyn Brooks, Tee Hagel, and Carter Brooks added three
more goals, with Milo Mauer chipping in one for Peninsula along the way.
By the final whistle, it was a 5-3 win for the Cougars. Peninsula will have 19 players return from
last season’s championship squad, but the opener was really about letting the new faces get used to the pace.
Several 2010-born players were sprinkled on both sides, and for some, it was their first taste
of the speed and structure of VIJHL hockey.
“I thought there was lots to be positive about,” said Panthers director of hockey operations Tyler Stanton. “Some of the young guys really stood out. Obviously, there’s still improvement needed, but it’s game one. We’ve only worked on structure for a couple of days and nobody’s played in set lines yet.”
Like most teams in the league, Peninsula will see a shuffle over the next two weeks as prospects head off to major junior and BCHL camps. Stanton said it’s all part of the rhythm.
“There’s a process to it,” he said. “At the same time, the expectation with 19 guys returning is that they’ll carry the load and teach the younger players our culture.”
The 11-team league is in its second year outside Hockey Canada, now running closely with the BCHL.
Last year alone, 36 VIJHL players got called up, and the league is eager to show just how many doors are opening for its talent.
It was also a strong off-season for alumni.
Former Peninsula Panther Spencer Carbery earned NHL coach of the year honours, exPort Alberni goalie Callum Tung signed with the New York Rangers, and former referee Graedy Hamilton worked the AHL Calder Cup Finals.
Exhibition games run through Aug. 31 before the 48-game regular season kicks off Sept. 4, with Peninsula and Victoria set for a rematch at Archie Browning Arena. “As long as the players are getting better and getting opportunities, that’s what matters,” Stanton said.
Peninsula dropped their pre-season opener 5-3 to the Victoria Cougars on Aug. 24 .
(Photo courtesy of Christian Stewart)
Declining youth reading rates should be a concern
The endless digital distractions presented by social media are constantly competing for the attention of youth
I haven’t read a novel front-to-back –one I wasn’t obligated to for a class – in at least a year. I’m not alone in this. Canadian teens are reading less and less, with just 25% describing themselves as “frequent readers”.
The issue extends internationally as well, with a U.S. government study in 2020 finding 27% of youth “never” read for fun, a number that has tripled since the 1980s. A similar study in the United Kingdom earlier this year reported that just a third of youth and teens enjoyed reading in their free time.
But there are an array of benefits that come with reading, including improved learning, memory, and mental development, and even the potential to reduce stress and depression. So, we can’t help but ask the ques-
tion: why has reading slipped in popularity among youth, and what can we do to bring it back?
The endless digital distractions presented by social media, and the internet as a whole, are constantly competing for the attention of youth. The fast-paced, interactive short-form content that these sites provide draws teens in, making reading a simple book seem less attractive. This type of technology use has sparked a marked loss in attention span among frequent users, rendering keeping focus on a novel more difficult.
many, many screens, declining reading is raising concerns. It’s not simply a fading pastime, but the decline of a crucial skill.
Nonetheless, hope lies in rising technologies.
Academic burnout may also be to blame. Full-time students spend much of their day reading books related to their studies; the last thing they want to do in their free time is more reading.
Lack of access is also a concern, particularly in rural areas underserved by libraries.
But in a time when teens’ spare time is dominated by packed schedules and
The popularity of audiobooks has spiked since the pandemic, aided by a more widespread availability on streaming services. They can offer a break from academic burnout while also taking advantage of the benefits of reading.
What’s more, reading is slowly but surely gaining popularity on the internet.
The so-called “Booktok” corner of social media giant Tiktok has some youth seeing novels in a fresh light; the very distraction that discouraged reading in the first place is also turning youth back towards it. Reading’s newfound prevalence on social media is bringing a love of reading to a new generation, and a tech-savvy rebrand may be all it needs for a resurgence among youth.
Kilian Jungen recently graduated from Stelly’s Secondary School.
PLAYING AUG 29 - SEPT 4
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Kilian Jungen Student Voice
Greater Victoria teen’s lamb gets bids going at PNE auction
Sophie Jolivet with the Saanich 4-H Lamb Club was front and centre in the auction ring at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver.
The auction ring came to life as 4-H members from across British Columbia led champion hogs, lambs, goats and steers, while community buyers backed their hard work and skills. Jolivet took home the reserve champion market lamb title, with her 131-pound lamb bringing in a bid of $9.50 a pound from Meadow Valley Meats.
Proceeds for this year’s auction go right back into future projects, schooling and leadership training for these young entrepreneurs.(
“Behind every ribbon is months of feeding, training and care. Today’s auction turned that effort into opportunity for our 4-H members and we are grateful to every buyer who raised a paddle,” said PNE director of fair operations Christie Kerr.
“Our 4-H members showed real skill, commitment, and respect for their animals, and the support from local families and businesses proves how much this matters to our community.”
Peninsula’s premiere chamber choir welcomes new singers
Via Choralis, the Peninsula’s premiere chamber choir, is calling all those who love to sing to join their ranks.
Registration for the choir is Monday, Sept. 15 from 6-7 p.m. at St Elizabeth’s Church, 10030 Third St. in Sidney. A rehearsal will follow.
The auction raised more than $336,000 for 4-H youth, funds that go directly into future projects, schooling, and leadership training.
A total of 102 animals went under the auctioneer’s gavel this year, including 37 hogs, 26 sheep, 8 goats, and 31 steers.
President of the choir, Delia McCrae, said that people automatically make it into the choir if they register.
Grant Harville is artistic
director and Kinza Tyrrell is the accompanist. Harville started with the choir on July 1 and also conducts the Civic Orchestra of Victoria and the Victoria Harmony Choir. McCrae describes the choir as “classically-based” with four-part harmonies, but they also cover contemporary music, works from female and Canadian composers and more.
“It’s good for your mind. It’s good for your social well-being,” McCrae added. “It’s an incredibly social activity.”
This season’s music ranges from classical to contemporary, featuring Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Pergolesi’s Magnificat and three of Crée composer Andrew Balfour’s seasonal compositions. It’s a “mixed age group” she said, with personalities that are passionate about music and singing.
Community choir Via Choralis in action. The choir will be joined by dancers from the Kathy White Academy. (Submitted by Via Choralis)
Sophie Jolivet of Saanich 4-H Lamb Club sold her reserve grand champion lamb. (Courtesy of the PNE)
Choral music meets cosmic wonder at Saanich observatory
Vox Humana’s celestial concert series returns, inviting audiences to reflect on science, beauty, and our place in the universe
Sam Duerksen
When the dome of the Plaskett Telescope opens, it won’t just be eyes looking up to the celestial heavens.
The haunting voices of around 20 choral singers will also carry upwards during Vox in the Stars, one of Victoria’s most unique concert experiences, taking place Sept. 5-7 in the world-renowned Dominion Astrophysical Observatory.
“The sound in the dome is amazingly resonant, akin to, for instance, an ancient cathedral,” describes Vox Humana Chamber Choir artistic director David Stratkauskas.
“The atmosphere of this historic observatory, on top of the hill, under the skies, is quite literally otherworldly! It’s almost a religious experience.”
Sitting atop Observatory Hill in Saanich, the dome of the 106-year-old Plaskett Telescope has been the scene of Vox in the Stars concerts going back to at least 2013.
This year, Vox Humana Chamber Choir performs a cappella – except for a song that involves a violist – under the dome’s open roof, singing music that explores themes of astronomy, science, the majesty of the heavens and our place in the cosmos.
The choir uses new pieces each year, with this year’s repertoire including two special pieces by Victoria composers: Christine Donkin’s evocative Aurora for choir and viola, and Chris Sivak’s newly composed Star Light, Star Bright. To recreate the majesty of space in music, Sivak used various musical techniques in his composition, including a trick called ‘extensor notes’. This is where the choir sings a smooth melodic line, while sections of the choir break
off and sing decaying rhythmic figures.
“The intent is to sonically paint the image of shooting stars flying across the sky. It’s a pretty magical effect,” he said.
He described the composition as a labour, both of relentlessness and of joy, that involved workshopping the piece with two other choirs. What remains true today, as any time in history, is the way that art and science complement one another, particularly when it comes to the
awe that the cosmos inspires.
“It’s interesting to note that many astronomers and scientists over the years have not only had a strong sense of awe and wonder – and choral music communicates this sense beautifully – but many have also been keen musicians,”Stratkauskas said. “And of course, for thousands of years, there was a belief that music and science were closely related – it’s said that Pythagoras thought that the celestial bodies made music.”
He hopes that the concerts will help raise awareness for the “wonderful education and outreach”done by the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory.
Eventbrite tickets for the concert, which runs Sept. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m., are $45 for general admission and free for ages 25 and under. The observatory is located at 5071 West Saanich Rd. More can be learned about the observatory at https://centreoftheuniverse.org.
Vox Humana Chamber Choir presents: Vox in the Stars. (Trish Glab)
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PUZZLE PAGE
Down
1. Lord of the Rings
tree shepherd
2. Good vantage point
Across 1. Shore soarer
5. Celebrity
9. John, in Moscow
13. Alicia Keys hit
15. Granada greeting
16. Expo presentation
17. Island kingdom near Fiji
18. Any minute to Shakespeare
19. Starting __ __ the bottom
20. Military station in the US
23. Body shop fig.
24. US novelist, Joyce
25. Chief Hindu deity
29. Stops up
31. Obsessed with 32. Menageries
34. Strong
39. Scottish tourist attraction
42. More tender
43. ____ nitrate
44. Contemptible one
45. Stew cooker
47. Humiliated
49. ___ Kea
52. Former Brit. recording giant
53. Bavarian palace
59. Rochester's love
60. De Gaulle alternative
61. Half of six in Paris
63. Israel's Golda
64. Port city of Latvia
65. Smooth jazz player
66. Tolkien creatures
67. Incoming-plane stats.
68. Former auto import
3. Inadvisable action
4. Many an MIT grad, abbr.
5. 2000 Sam L. Jackson film
6. Singer, Braxton
7. Cream ingredient
8. Chance
9. Teller of a tale
"full of sound and fury," per Macbeth
10. Locale
11. Gather for oneself
12. Musical mark
14. Consumed
21. Onetime Trooper and Rodeo maker
22. It precedes mañana
25. Struggles
26. Intro to Chinese?
27. Keep from sticking
28. Better
29. Set of doctrines
30. Pallid
33. Like some surgery
35. Workplace safety org.
36. Western native Americans
37. Gaiety
38. Believed
40. Unbroken mustang
41. Steamers
46. Punjab province capital
48. Itty-___
49. Urban coach?
50. Derived from gold
51. ___ manual
Military structures
By Myles Mellor
Answers to last week’s puzzle
52. Ethereal singer, and namesakes
53. Lost fish in film
54. Court doc
55. Sea greenery
56. History chapters
57. College in New Rochelle, N.Y.
58. Singer Simone
62. Sis, e.g.
Wordsearch-Myles Mellor
Answers from last weeks puzzle
Answers to June 17 Puzzle th
Readers Choice celebrates LOCAL BUSINESSES in the Saanich Peninsula
Winners and finalists voted by thousands of readers are recognized in this issue marking the 20th anniversary of Readers’ Choice. In two decades of storytelling, Readers’ Choice has given our community a good sense of some of the special people and places in our midst, some of which had previously flown under the radar.
Our favourite part of Readers’ Choice is seeing the reactions from our local businesses when they read the results and find out where they placed. More than 24,000 votes were cast across this year’s categories during our voting period which launched in June and ran through to the end of July. This year’s Readers’ Choice certainly captured the attention of residents and readers as supporting local is top of mind with the economic climate and it was important for them to have a platform where they could support locally owned businesses that step up to share their products and services with the community.
Peninsula News Review is honoured to have such loyal readers both online and in print allowing us to elevate the messages of our local businesses and organizations. We’d like to thank the readers who voted and the merchants and others who earned the distinction of Readers Choice. Many merchants still have their well-earned plaques from years gone displayed as a symbol of their commitment to quality.
We hope you’ll enjoy this year’s edition and encourage you to use it as reference guide for when family comes to town or you’re perhaps looking for a new place to dine out.
To keep up to date on breaking news and community happenings find us online at peninsulanewsreview.com.
Michelle Cabana
Peninsula News Review publisher
A first for Greater Victoria: marine-friendly storage opens in Sidney
On an Island surrounded by boats, splitting a life between being on water and being on land is less seamless than one might think. Plenty lug their belongings to and from the shores – and the marina is often disconnected from residential land.
But developer Scott Davies of Cube Project Management Ltd. saw an opportunity to make boaters’ lives easier, part of a visionary project he began a few years earlier to restore Sidney’sVan Isle Marina area at 2270 Harbour Rd.
venient location.
Peninsula News Review confirmed that there are no storage facilities like it in GreaterVictoria accessible via a marina.
Harbour Haven Self Storage is a first-class facility for boaters, part of a bold new development in Van Isle Marina
In the Sidney area, Davies estimates there are at least eight marinas, translating to plenty of potential customers. Now, boaters have a centrally located spot for their marine gear, sleeping bags, paddle boards, fishing rods, and other gear they don’t necessarily want to store on their boats.
Once they have a locker, all they need to do is pull up and unload.
For Greater Victoria, it was surprisingly a novel idea, not yet implemented: premium self-storage just steps from the marina.
“We had a feasibility study done on the business prior to getting into it, and we learned from that that nobody actually offers self-storage with a marine twist. It’s mainly just self-storage.
“It’s such a no-brainer idea. It’s unique. It’s a first-class facility.”
So far, everyone Davies has spoken to “seems to love it,” he said. That goes in tandem with the rest of the development, which includes new residences and four commercial units in what was a “derelict” area after the Blue Peter Pub burned down in 2011.
Harbour Haven Self Storage offers 200 climate-controlled lockers and over 10,000 square feet of storage, with video surveillance, an alarm system and most importantly, a con-
“They’ve come up and said how happy they are to see a nice new development in the area. And just from a little bit of signage, we’ve got a slew of people on the sign-up sheet, and we’ve just welcomed the first few guests. We’re welcoming lots more as we speak. A lot of thought was put into the development and the storage facility. Davies
Continued on page 5
The new development at Sidney’s Van Isle Marina area includes residential and commercial units, as well as a new premium self-storage unit that makes life more seamless between sea and land. (Jacob McNeil, Platinum Creative)
from page 5
travelled far and wide to do market research. “We went to self-storage conventions in Las Vegas,Toronto, andVancouver,” he said.There, his team learned that the two most popular storage locker sizes are 5’x5’ and 5’x10’ with a 9-foot ceiling.The majority of Harbour Haven lockers are those sizes, though they range from 5’x5’ ($150/a month) to 10’x9’ ($516/a month).
To get a locker, boaters can apply via sidneystorage.ca.
WithVan Isle Marina right there, Davies said he has a feeling it’s going to get full “pretty quick”.
The new development’s buzz and advantageous location will only help.
“There are other storage facilities in Greater
Victoria, but they’re sort of in the middle of nowhere. We’re conveniently close to downtown Sidney and in a prime 10 out of 10 location.
“There was so much potential with that property,” Davies added. “It was nice to breathe some new life into that area of town.”
On Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 10:58 AM Randi Page <randi.page@blackpress.ca> wrote:
Good morning Sam,
As Michelle is away this week on vacation I am assisting her with the Peninsula News Review’s Readers Choice Awards.
Once you have completed writing and editing the story for Harbour Haven Storage can you please send it to me for placement in the publication.
‘Everybody knows her’ Peninsula’s favourite waitress serves up kindness
Someone might ask her for an ‘Adam and Eve on a raft’ with a side of ‘bossy in a bowl’ and she’ll deliver it with a smile.
That’s slang for two poached eggs on toast and a beef stew at Saanichton’s RNR Diner. It›s a place with a down-to-earth atmosphere that›s kept waitress Karen Salahub in her element since March 10, 2009.
Salahub was voted by the Peninsula community as Best Waiter/Waitress for the Reader›s Choice Awards, not just due to her fun, personable and bubbly personality, as co-owner Bernice Rimmer described it.
It was also due to her deep connection to the community, having built relationships with regulars over decades – some of whom come in two to three times a day.
“It’s like a second house to them... they come just to see her basically,” Rimmer laughed.
“She’s lived in this community her whole life and she’s worked at quite a few other restaurants before she came to us. Everybody knows her.”
Reader’s Choice:
READERS’ CHOICE
Karen Salahub voted as Best Waiter/ Waitress
In some ways, Salahub feels like she›s grown up beside her customers, having always lived within 10 km from where she works.
“Some of these guys have followed me from place to place, so I’ve known them since I was 17. I’m 57 now. They’ve seen it all ... and stuck by me.”
Regular contact makes Salahub an anchoring person in customers› lives. As Rimmer described it, there is fun and joking at the tables, but also sharing in tough life moments; Salahub is “just incredible with it all.”
“Some of [our regulars] have lost spouses,” Rimmer said, as an example. “We just take care of them when they come in. She really looks after them. They don’t come in for a couple of days, she gets worried
and has most of their phone numbers.
She’ll give them a call.”
“I’ve gone to funerals,” Salahub added. “I’ve gone to retirements and I’ve visited lots of people, unfortunately, in the hospital, [and] been to a wedding. I get to know the people and I like to think that I’m not just a server.”
For Salahub, the customers have also impacted her.
One of her most memorable moments was when a customer surprised her with a serenade.
“We had a pastor customer – I think it was on Valentine’s Day – he and his group, they had a quartet and were in their suits. They came in and sang for me and Kelly, who I worked with at the time, this Valentine’s Day song. It was very embarrassing, but special,” she said with a laugh. As per her secret for making people feel welcome, Salahub
said her rule is to be genuine.
“People are a good judge of character. I just try to tell it like it is and be who I am.”
And, clearly, a sense of humour: “I’m a nice Karen,” she said.
Salahub recalled feeling at home even on her first day at RNR, having worked with Rimmer before.
“They were a tight-knit group. I was kind of struggling with the menu because it’s pretty extensive, but the customers were really, really nice. They felt at home.”
Rimmer and Rick Beal opened the restaurant in 2008, and most of the staff had already worked together for “20-some-odd years at other places,” Rimmer said.
It’s a setting that is becoming rarer to find these days, but one where Salahub is an integral part of making the restaurant feel like a family, Rimmer said.
“This is a small community. Everybody has been served by Karen.”
Sam Duerksen
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2025
AGRITOURISM
FAVOURITE FESTIVAL
1. SAANICH FAIR
2. Sidney Days-Canada Day Celebrations
3. Summer Concerts Beacon Park
FAVOURITE LOCAL ATTRACTION
1. BUTCHART GARDENS
2. Silver Rill Corn Maze 3. BC Aviation Museum
FAVOURITE MUSEUM
1. B C AVIATION MUSEUM
2. Sidney Museum
3. Heritage Acres
ATTRACTIONS/ EVENTS
GALLERY
PENINSULA
GALLERY 2. ArtSea at Tulista Park 3. The Village Gallery & Frame Shop
1. DON SAVOSTIANIK @ PENINSULA BASEBALL & SOFTBALL
2. Martina Redman
3. Raymond @ Cycling Without Age Society
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2025
BEST DRIVE-THRU ATTENDANT 1. GWEN MCLELLAN
2. Layla Hendrix
3. Connie BEST LOCAL FARMER (INDIVIDUAL)
1. CLAYTON FOX
2. Andrew Engqvist
3. Larry Sluggett BEST WAITER/WAITRESS
1. KAREN, RNR DINER
2. Erin, Fish O Chips
3. Ethan Mitchell Brentwood Bay Resort
BEST YOUTH VOLUNTEER (18YEARS AND YOUNGER)
1. HAILEY DAY - SAANICH PENINSULA YOUTH CLINIC
BEST PLACE FOR FUNERAL/CREMATION SERVICES
1. SIMPLY CREMATIONS
2. Haywards
3. CARE Funeral Services
FAVOURITE ACCOUNTANT/ BOOKKEEPER
1. BEACON TAX SERVICES
2. Darren Proulx and Associates
3. Focus Tax and Accounting FAVOURITE DOG GROOMER
1. MICHELLE’S GROOMING
2. Bark & Fitz
3. Groomer 2 go 3. Pooch Parlour
FAVOURITE DRY CLEANER/ LAUNDRY SERVICE
1. SIDNEY PROFESSIONAL CLEANERS
2. Ruby Tuesday’s Laundry
FAVOURITE HOME BUILDER/TRADESPERSON
1. HYLDIG CONSTRUCTION
2. Alive Contracting
3. Baumeler Construction
FAVOURITE HVAC COMPANY
1. PACIFIC HEAT PUMPS
2. Sunvale Heating and Cooling
3. Coastal Heat Pumps
FAVOURITE INSURANCE COMPANY
1. SEAFIRST INSURANCE
2. Waypoint
3. Aviva
3. Western Coast Insurance Services
FAVOURITE LAW FIRM
1. SAANICHTON LAW GROUP
2. Beacon Law
3. Salvador Davis
FAVOURITE MOVING COMPANY
1. SWEENIE MOVING AND STORAGE
2. Hendra Moving and Storage
3. Swain
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
1. SIDNEY TIRE & AUTO
2. Clair Downey Service
3. Erichsen Automotive
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR OIL CHANGE
1. CLAIR DOWNEY
2. Greenway Auto-Saanichton
3. Fountain Tire
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR SENIOR CARE
1. SIDNEY SENIOR CARE
2. Rest Haven Lodge
3. Amica Beechwood Village
FAVOURITE PLUMBER
1. NORTH SAANICH PLUMBING INC.
2. Wade Roberts Plumbing-Saanichton
3. Sidney Plumbing
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2025
SHOPPING/ RETAIL
1. TANNER’S BOOKS
2. The Haunted Book Shop
3. Salt Spring Books
FAVOURITE FLORIST
1. THRIFTY FOODS SIDNEY
2. Brown’s The Florist Sidney
3. Eurosa Gardens
FAVOURITE GARDEN CENTRE/NURSERY
1. PATIO GARDENS
2. Elk Lake Nursery
3. Russell Nursery
FAVOURITE GROCERY STORE
1. THRIFTY FOODS SIDNEY
2. Thrifty Foods Saanichton
3. Red Barn-Sandown
3. Save-On Foods Sidney
FAVOURITE LIQUOR STORE
1. LIQUOR CO 1977
2. Beacon Landing
3. Canora
FAVOURITE LOCAL BREWERY
1. SMALL GODS BREWING CO.
2. Beacon Brewing
3. Category 12
FAVOURITE LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS
1. CAMERON ROSE
2. Muffet and Louisa
3. Janet’s tea
FAVOURITE PET STORE
1. HIGGIE’S PET MERCANTILE
2. Four Paws Grocery
3. Bosley’s Sidney
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR MEN’S CLOTHING
1. MARK’S SIDNEY
2. Moden Men’s
3. D G Bremner & Co. Fine Clothing
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR WOMEN’S CLOTHING
1. MODEN
2. Cameron Rose
3. Miss Bliss Boutique
FAVOURITE THRIFT/ CONSIGNMENT STORE
1. BEACON COMMUNITY SERVICES
2. SPCA THRIFT
3. Cats Cradle Second Chances
3. Connections Sidney
FAVOURITE VITAMIN/ SUPLLEMENT SHOP
1. LIFESTYLE MARKETS SIDNEY
2. Sidney Natural Foods
3. Brentwood Pharmasave
Savostianik is voted Best Community Volunteer in the Peninsula’s Readers’ Choice Awards
More than the medals:
Peninsula coach Don Savostianik celebrated
His heart remains on the field, even though in the past year, it’s his heart that’s kept him off of it.
Volunteer coach Don Savostianik with the Peninsula Baseball Softball Association (PBSA) had open-heart surgery within the last year, keeping him from doing what he loves: coaching girls’ softball.
But that hasn’t stopped the team from coming to him.
“Right after I had the surgery, the first surgery, every one of the girls that have played for me last year, they put a little video together and sent it to me,” he said.
“I think everybody would see something like that and feel better. You feel, I guess, feel the word loved.”
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, softball was a family pastime; Savostianik’s dad and uncles played, and he joined a men’s team at just 14. Coaching came naturally, starting in high school when he led his sister’s junior basketball team. “I love teaching – whether it’s basketball or any sport,” he said. Later, as operations manager at Suncor Energy in Fort McMurray, he spent less and less time on the field. “There were times, there were years I just couldn’t.” But even in those busy years, he coached boys’ baseball and girls’ softball when he could, earning a gold
and two silver provincial medals.
Since retiring on the Peninsula 14 years ago, Savostianik finally found unlimited time for what a friend described as an «infectious» heart for the sport.
Five or six days a week, he could be found at Rotary Park’s five diamonds, yelling out encouragement over the crack of bats, or lovingly raking the diamond to prepare it for games.
Beyond his dedication as coach for the Peninsula Thunder girls fastpitch team, taking several age groups to silver and gold provincial medals, Savostianik also served the PBSA as equipment manager, sponsorship coordinator, director, organizer of the learn-to-play kids and vice-president of senior softball.
On a typical Saturday morning during ball season, Savostianik could be found making rounds at the park, greeting parents, cheering on players and ensuring everyone felt welcome, said Sarah White, president of PBSA.
“He’s a mentor, a leader, a constant source of knowledge and support for players, coaches and our community,” she said.
Savostianik admits he couldn›t have done it all without his biggest cheerleader and wife, Lori. «She never missed many games coming to watch when we were playing,» he said. «She knew I loved it. She knew that was my passion.»
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Sam Duerksen
Following that passion led to many special moments, including the momentous climax when the Peninsula Thunder girls won the 2023 provincial title after six years of playing together. “I think that was the first gold medal for Peninsula softball,” he said.
Then there were the community bonds built. One loyal fan attended nearly every game, following the team all the way to provincials in Kelowna. The players even used team funds to cover his travel so he could be there. After their win, he presented Savostianik with a family crest plaque – one of only 10 ever made.
When stepping onto the diamond, which Savostianik saw as a “safe haven for the kids”, he would don an “old-fashioned” coaching style focused on respect for the game and peers. “You respected the umpires, respected the fans. I wouldn’t stand for anything other than that.” He credits his own great coaches – including Anthony Pluta, a top Canadian coach who now manages the Canadian Women’s National Baseball Team – with shaping his approach.
It’s that style that Janice Smith, who assisted Sa vostianik in coaching her daughter’s team for “seven incredible seasons”, attributes to building not only strong players, but strong leaders.
“His patience, encouragement, and high expec tations helped shape young athletes into not just better ballplayers, but better people,” she said.
“Every one of his past players feels that still and will forever,” she said, referencing his heart for the sport.
Savostianik says the wins were gratifying, but they weren’t the main goal. At the end of the day, it was about more than even the love of the sport.
“At the end, the results are nice. It’s nice that we won all these medals and played really well. But it wasn’t that. It was seeing these kids grow up.”
Hailey Day was voted Best Youth Volunteer in Peninsula News Review’s Readers’ Choice Awards. (Ashleigh Fletcher)
Sam Duerksen
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help at Saanich Peninsula Youth Centre, and many find that help thanks to the friendly face of volunteer Hailey Day.
For the past year and a half, Day has dedicated two to ten hours each week on the centre’s Youth Action Committee, integral in organizing outreach events and serving as a first point of contact at drop-ins.
“We’re doing arts and crafts and talking about mindfulness [at some of these events], but it actually is really important because a lot of our patients get connected to our clinic that way and end up seeking services,” Ashley Fletcher, Youth Action Commitee coordinator, said. «Hailey just makes everyone feel welcome.»
able to book free appointments with doctors or counselling. “It’s super easy to book,” Day said.
The clinic’s services fill a prevalent need in the community, Day said, noting that she even sees peers at school struggling with
Day herself first heard about the clinic through volunteers – her friends, one who had even used the services themselves. “I thought it was really interesting, and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “Once I started, it was just a super good feeling to be able to give back to my community in a way that was mainly focused on youth.”
Every Thursday evening, the youth clinic operates as a walk-in from 5:307:30 at Peninsula Medical in Sidney, specifically for youth aged 12-24. Through volunteers like Day, youth are connected with resources and
depression. “There is a lot of youth in the community that are looking for help,” she said.
A huge draw is that the clinic is both “welcoming” and “confidential” – qualities valued in that age group, Day said. “Especially at the high school age, it can be hard to reach out. You might not feel comfortable
going to a school counsellor when you see them every day at school, and even reaching out to parents an be really difficult.”
For that reason, it’s important for the organization to let youth know it exists, Fletcher said.
Day has not only been an important ambassador for the clinic, but she also brings ideas for how things can improve.
“She’s the type of girl who is ready and just willing to help out with anything, in any capacity,” Fletcher said. “She’s a natural leader, and willing to come to us with her ideas for the overall betterment of the clinic.”
One idea Day is most proud of is getting the committee to do more outreach at the Sidney Street Market.
Looking to the future, the committee is also helping to create a new kind of counselling room at the clinic that will be a “safe space for people to meet,” Day said.
Though Day is heading off to university soon, she plans to stay involved with the clinic when she can, driven by the desire to help youth find support, and to be involved in something that fosters connection.
“Honestly, it’s just a very welcoming space,” Day said, speaking to what’s kept her involved. “Everybody that volunteers there is so nice and it’s kind of like a second family at this point.”
arming is a family affair on the Saanich Peninsula.
Two of the names atop the Readers’ Choice Awards Favourite Farmer category stem from the Fox family tree while the third is a descendant of one of the area’s first pioneers.
The Fox family’s roots took hold in Central Saanich more than 100 years ago. After operating a dairy farm in England, brothers Sidney and Herbert Fox immigrated to Canada in the early 1900s and eventually settled on Hovey Road with Silver Rill Farm. Sidney’s son Stanley took over the farm, purchasing land on Central Saanich
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Peninsula News Review staff
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Road to make the farm more accessible and made the corn operation a staple on the Peninsula.
Silver Rill Corn eventually passed to Stan’s son Ken and today, the farm is run by Ken’s son Clayton with his wife Rachelle and their three kids.
“Watching them grow up on the farm has been pretty special,” Clayton said. “Now they fight with each other over who gets to go out and farm with Dad in the evenings.” He takes a lot of pride in his work, carrying on the legacy of his late father and the generations before him.
One of the goals with the Central Saanich Road property was to get the community more involved in the farm and Clayton said they’re working to do more of that. They don’t just want people to grab their corn and go, they want them to spend some time on the farm, enjoy lunch and visit with the animals. That’s one of the reasons their corn maze will be opening again in mid-September and, with late plantings, fresh corn is expected until Halloween.
That community support, “it’s what keeps us going,” he added. “When you have that first corn of the year and people are almost dancing in the parking lot, it’s a celebration.”
The Fox family also still farms on Hovey Road. Stan’s youngest daughter, Pamela, operates Silver Rill Berry Farm. Her son, Andrew Engqvist, is the fifth generation to live on the road and he continues the family’s farming legacy with his own operation – Nettlebrook Farm & Andrew’s Farmstand.
The cousins – Andrew and Clayton – are often seen working in the fields and it’s no
surprise they were voted favourite farmers in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
“Our goal is to grow the best produce and berries possible for the community,” Andrew said. “Without community support, we couldn’t do what we do.”
While he is one of the largest garlic producers on the Island, Andrew also specializes in carrots and strawberries – staples found on his stand.
“My year-and-a-half old niece likes to do ‘quality checks’ and samples everything I grow right in the fields. She especially likes the strawberries,” he said with a laugh.
Learning from the generations before has helped the cousins adapt.
Andrew said it’s been a great year for all his crops and Clayton noted they’re on their way to the best year they’ve ever had.
But one challenge they continue to face is the weather. Clayton noted it’s been one of the driest growing seasons in the past 100 years. “That’s been one challenge –
the heat.”
Andrew added, “Farmers need more access to water.”
Water access is what allowed the Sluggett family to shift their operation to corn.
While originally a grain and cattle farm, it was in mid-‘90s, after Larry Sluggett and his brothers inherited the farm, that they switched their focus to corn.
Larry explained at that time, the CRD was having troubles at Hartland Landfill and needed clay. Through a partnership, they were able to get their 12-million-gallon waterhole dug.
“I spent all my youth throwing hay bales, I used to hate it,” Larry said with a laugh. That water access changed the way they could farm and made it possible for the family to grow corn.
Now in his 70s, Larry is a strong voice in the community, serving on a number of boards and committees to advocate for farming on the Peninsula. That passion is one of the reasons he was voted a favourite farmer in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Sluggett family has been farming in what is now Brentwood Bay for 150 years.
It all started with John Sluggett, who immigrated from England in 1855 and settled in Owen Sound, Ont. However, after 20 years of cold winters, he headed west in search of a milder climate.
“When he died, he owned 1,150 acres,” Larry noted. That land was divided between his seven children, with each getting roughly 100 acres plus 15 acres of waterfront.
The farm, which had been cleared by oxen, stretched along the waterfront from what is now the Brentwood ferry terminal to Butchart Gardens and across the Peninsula to East Saanich Road.
Larry noted his grandfather had to sell his waterfront property just to get through the Great Depression.
Now, the family farm is about 75 acres and their stand is a fixture during corn season on West Saanich Road, in front of the old farmhouse Larry grew up in.
With that location, Larry said community support, especially from Brentwood residents, has been vital to their operation.
That support is something the Sluggett family has tried to reciprocate in the community by helping a number of local groups and organizations.
But even with community support, Larry said the future of farming is in danger as the price of land, among other things, makes it prohibitively expensive for the next generation to take over.
Preparing to pick corn with his grandson in tow, Larry noted even the future of their farm is uncertain. “It makes it very challenging.” Those are just a few reasons why he is such a proponent for local agriculture.
At Garry Oak Veterinary Hospital, they know that pets are part of the family
Before coming to Vancouver Island and settling in the scenic town of Sidney, Dr. Dhawala DVM worked as a mixed animal veterinarian, treating everything that purred, mooed, barked or... well, you get the picture.
“I didn’t always dream of being a veterinarian. Growing up I thought I’d be a pilot or some other really cool job, but all through that phase, I always loved animals,” said Dhawala. “In high school I also loved biology and science, and it just seemed like veterinary medicine was the place I could do the most good.”
His wife and fellow veterinary doctor, Dr. EmmaThomson DVM, had a bit of a different story.
“I’m a classic case of always wanting to be a vet. I loved animals and I also loved medicine and science,” said Emma. “The challenge of diagnosing and treating pets – making them better – is so wonderful. And watching them grow and develop is something that really fulfills me in a way that’s hard to describe.”
Emma and Dhawala finished their training and moved from Saskatchewan to Emma’s home on Vancouver Island, establishing a practice in Sidney was a natural choice.They bought the Garry OakVeterinary Hospital four years ago, determined to carry on a practice that had already existed for 20 years.
“We love living and working in Sidney,” said Emma. “The community is so wonderful and
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it’s a privilege to provide a family owned and operated vet clinic for the town’s beloved pets.”
“We work exclusively with cats and dogs – they are our specialty. Being a privately owned practice means that we can tailor our treatments for our patients to their needs while working with the owners to form treatment plans that work.”
“Every situation is different, and we respond to that,” added Dhawala. “These are our neighbours, and we need to make sure that any treatment plan considers what can actually happen. If an owner is working all day, for example, it doesn’t make sense to tell them that their pet needs to get medication every few hours.”
Even though the practice is a locally owned family business, it doesn’t limit their desire to help as many of Sidney’s pets as possible.
“We’ve expanded and are continuing to expand. We started with two vets and now have four and we’re halfway through a renovation to the clinic that will make it even better,” said Emma.
“Let’s face it, these pets are really members of the family for their owners and with the challenges that every pet owner faces as pets age, develop chronic allergies or suffer unexpected injuries, it’s important that they know that they have people who they can trust to love and care for their pets as much as they do themselves,” said Emma.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, all of the doctors at the clinic, including Emma and Dhawala have pets of their own.Their two dogs are both rescues and Dhawala actually saved the lab cross in the family when it was a pup, doing CPR on her when she almost died on the operating table after being hit by a car.
“We love our dogs, and we completely understand that people get very attached to their pets. They need them to be treated as part of the family because that’s what they are,” said Emma.
At Villamar Construction, every project starts with a vision. After all, every customer has a dream of what their home should be and, with the help of the expert team atVillamar Construction, they can make that dream come true. The key is that fulfilling creating a dream home is only possible if the builders of a custom home know how to listen and build with intention with that vision firmly in mind.
“Every project starts with a vision, and we take the time to listen, understand your goals, and use our expertise to deliver something that feels truly yours,” said Villamar CEO and co-owner, Mike Edwardson.
Edwardson is joined by partners Dan Schuetze and Sjoerd Meyer and between them they deliver decades of experience to any project. Their skill, imagination and knowledge give them the tools to deliver every project at a level that goes far beyond just a great home to a creation that is truly spectacular. AtVillamar, after all, they’re intimately knowledgeable about what makes the perfect home.
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“Since Villamar starting building on Vancouver Island 20 years ago, homes have become more energy efficient, more structurally sound, and more environmental conscious,” said Edwardson. “A Villamar we’re deliver our best efforts to be true to those elements of great homes while at the same time being good environmental stewards.”
Villamar has been building custom homes on Vancouver Island since 2006, and they’ve always taken pride in creating lasting relationships with their customers. Those relationships are anchored in collaboration, craftsmanship and a clear sense of purpose.
“The key is that we care about our clients, not just as customers, but as friends. We create custom homes that reflect the lives, goals, and values of the people who live in them — delivering comfort, longevity, and lasting value in every detail,” said Edwardson.
“And with years of expertise and attention to detail we deliver results on schedule, on budget and beyond expectations.”
In a world where business claims are sometimes viewed with a skeptical eye, Villamar needs only to point to the industry recognition that the company has earned.This year alone they’ve been nominated for 10 CARE Awards by the Victoria Residential Builders Association, including Best Multi-Family Townhouse Project, Best Innovative Feature, Best Contemporary Kitchen, Best Custom Millwork, and the prestigious award for Green Builder of the Year.
It’s an award that’s born from the company’s sincere commitment to a sustainable environment. Recently, for example, they added an all-electric dump truck to their fleet of vehicles – a fleet that already includes a number of electric trucks.
“We carry that commitment to the environment forward in our designs and building practices as well,” said Edwardson.
“That includes choosing sustainable and lasting materials and practices and coming up with concepts that are both aesthetically fabulous and kind to the planet. The rain garden ar our Oakhurst Project is a great example of that ideal. It’s a beautiful and innovative feature that retains the rainwater on the property as opposed to dumping it into the city’s infrastructure.”
Villamar’s approach to the construction industry has garnered them friendships, awards and the promise of a bright future.
“I think we are going to grow. But we’re going to grow our way. We want to think big but feel small and connected to the needs of our customers. We want to grow in a way where we don’t stray from our roots,” said Edwardson.
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Discover what’s in season and where to find it with the 2025 Island Farm Fresh Guide
Find the latest edition of the directory for our local farms at islandfarmfresh.com.
This indispensable resource provides locals and visitors alike with detailed information about where and when to find fresh, local produce, straight from the farm.
“With the current enthusiasm towards buying local and supporting local businesses and farmers, our Island Farm Fresh Guide is the best way to pair locals with direct growers and produce providers,” says Dan Ponchet, President of the Southern
Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association. “The guide is a great way to find what local farms are currently growing and what’s in season at the moment.”
The guide highlights more than 100 local farms, showcasing the variety of fruits, vegetables, meats and artisanal products available throughout the year. Whether you’re craving crisp apples in the fall or juicy summer berries, the guide offers a season-by-season breakdown of what’s available and where.
“You can find all the details on
our wide variety of seasonal crops and what months those crops will come available here on the Island,” Ponchet adds.
This year’s guide also reinforces the importance of supporting local agriculture. Buying directly from Island farms not only strengthens the local economy and creates jobs, but also helps reduce environmental impact by cutting down on long-distance
food transportation.
The diversity of offerings in the region is remarkable, from classic staples to exotic produce, heritage livestock, and cutting-edge organic practices.These farms play a key role in building a resilient, sustainable food system that supports a variety of tastes and dietary needs.
To make things even easier, the Island Farm Fresh website has been
completely redeveloped to improve usability. It now features more precise search filters for specific products and expansive listings for each farm, helping you find exactly what you’re looking for - whether you›re planning a farm visit or searching for ingredients close to home.
Pick up your guide at locations around the South Island, or explore it online at islandfarmfresh.com.
A few best parks and beaches to explore and discover on the Saanich Peninsula:
CENTENNIAL PARK This 18.42-hectare Saanichton park, in the 7500-block of Wallace Drive, features sports fields, walking trails and natural areas.
COLES BAY REGIONAL PARK From Inverness Road in North Saanich, follow a winding nature trail past towering western red cedars along a quiet creek to a secluded bay.
ELK/BEAVER LAKE REGIONAL PARKS At the south end of the Peninsula, towardVictoria on Highway 17, this local treasure offers two lakes popular with boaters, paddlers, anglers and swimmers, beaches and a 10-kilometre loop trail for walking and trail running.
ISLAND VIEW BEACH REGIONAL PARK With its expansive sandy beach along the eastern shore of the Saanich Peninsula, this is a popular spot for exploring, picnicking and summer swimming.
HORTH HILL At the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, Horth Hill is a 36-hectare hilltop park featuring varied forest communities and panoramic views of the peninsula, Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands.
JOHN DEAN PROVINCIAL PARK Pristine 174-hectare natural park on top of Mount Newton overlooking the pastoral Saanich Peninsula, Gulf Islands and Cascade Mountains.
LOCHSIDE REGIONAL TRAIL 29 km cycling/ hiking trail along a former railway line, connecting the Saanich Peninsula withVictoria, Saanich & the West Shore via the Galloping Goose Trail.
ROTARY PARK-FIELD OF DREAMS Airport-area baseball and softball centre with five fields.
SIDNEY SPIT Part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Sidney Spit is a beautiful oasis featuring long sandy beaches. Just 20 minutes from theTown of Sidney on a seasonal foot-passenger ferry.
SIDNEY WATERFRONT WALKWAY & GLASS
BEACH This paved waterfront path is popular with walkers and joggers. Visit Glass Beach at the end of Beacon Avenue and beachcomb until your heart is content for sea glass.
TOD INLET At the northern tip of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park is Tod Inlet, with parklands surrounding the protected waters.
TULISTA & IROQUOIS PARKS Just south of downtown Sidney on 5th Street, Tulista Park is a family favourite for its large playground, boat ramp, wheelchair accessible washrooms, picnic shelter, large grassy area, benches and picnic tables, in addition to the Community Arts Centre.
Photo supplied by the Sidney BIA
The Autumnal Equinox is rapidly approaching and the folks at Brentwood Bay Resort have plans to mark the event with something special.
The equinox has always had special significance, as it marks the transition between the lazy days of summer and the beginning of Fall. The event has held special meaning throughout history and around the world and has inspired festivals, rituals and monuments like the Mayan pyramid at Chichén Itzá and England’s Stonehenge.
The date represents balance, renewal and transition. It’s a time for reflection and gratitude on the year’s accomplishments and prepare for the quieter months ahead, and, with those elements in mind, Brentwood Bay Resort has developed its own special plans.
There’s a new Sangre de Fruta Spa Treatment Menu, for example.
Sangre de Fruta is a Brand that is well suited to the celebration as the natural products are a blend of old-world wisdom with modern luxury. Brentwood Bay Resort settled on this collection of products after a four-year search for a local, high-end botanical partner to elevate our body tre Crafted on Bowen Island, British Columbia, this exquisite line is well-known for its potent botanicals and poetic rituals.
Founded by Allison Audrey Weldon, Sangre de Fruta was born from years apprenticing under a collective of holistic masters — a circle of international expats who, in the 1970s, transformed a Kitsilano apothecary into a sanctuary of botanical wisdom. There, Allison absorbed ancient beauty rituals, Neruda’s sonnets, and the alchemy of scent — all of which infuse every product she creates.
Each formula is made in small batches using cold-pressed organic oils and ethically sourced botanicals. Many ingredients are grown right here in British Columbia, including some from a tiny lavender farm on Salt Spring Island.There,
Lavender & Black, a husband-and-wife team, cultivate island-grown English lavender and the rare immortelle flower — prized since antiquity for its regenerative, skin-loving properties.
The spa treatment menu marks a return to simplicity with the choices all curated with intention and all falling within four refined collections. There’s the Botanical Collection that incorporates Sangre de Fruta’s artisanal oils and wildcrafted herbs, the Radiance Collection that elevates facials and wraps and features Éminence Organics and La Biosthétique, the Couples Collection, designed for shared, indulgent experiences and the RMT Collection withTherapeutic, benefit-eligible massages enhanced with the sensory richness of botanicals.
Of course, the Autumnal Equinox transcends personal care and has always included a celebration of feasting.
With that in mind, the Arbutus Room at Brentwood Bay Resort is launching a seasonal fall menu on September 20.
Executive Chef Aaron Turner has always been passionate about supporting and supplying local farms within the Saanich Peninsula. His goal has been to ensure that 90 per cent of what’s on your plate is sourced locally.
This summer, for example we introduced our Saanich to Table Summer Series to celebrate the abundance of harvest available through local farms within our community.
As we move into autumn, our menu will change to reflect the seasonal harvest available. Those menus celebrate the richness of the local harvest and reflects a close partnership with the incredible farming community of southern Vancouver Island.
Suffice to say that no celebration of Autumn’s arrival could be better marked than with a visit to Brentwood Bay Resort. Whether you arrive for a spa treatment, a special meal, or just a visit toThe Pub, the experience is bound to be memorable.
More than just a repair shop
At the heart of our North Saanich Canadian Tire is a full-service Auto Centre that’s more than just a repair shop— it’s a trusted partner for keeping your vehicle safe and running smoothly. Whether you need new tires for the season, a quick oil change, or a full brake inspection, our service team is here to help with professionalism and care. The shop itself is modern, well-equipped, and designed to handle everything from ev-
eryday maintenance to more complex repairs. With features like a ground-level hoist, we can accommodate a wide range of vehicles, including low-riding cars. The service bays are clean and efficient, and the team takes pride in their workmanship.
Our service technicians aren’t just skilled— they’re approachable and community-minded. They take the time to explain what’s happening with your vehicle in plain language, so you
feel informed and confident in every decision. From tires and batteries to steering and suspension work, the staff is committed to doing the job right the first time.
North Saanich Canadian Tire delivers peace of mind
the personal touch of a local team.
In addition to the essentials—tire installations, rotations, balancing, oil changes, and diagnostics—we also offer roadside assistance plans, fleet support, and manufacturer-approved servicing. That means you don’t have to go far to get dealership-level expertise with
For many in our community, the Auto Centre is a go-to stop not just for service, but for peace of mind. It’s a place where you’re greeted with a smile, treated with respect, and can trust that your car is in good hands.
