Victoria Best of the City 2010

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120 WINNERS!

www.themarketstores.com

903 Yates At Quadra 250 381 6000 7 AM-11 PM

125-2401 C Millstream Road 250 391 1110 8 AM-11 PM

CAUSE FOR

CELEBRATION

Canada Day – July 1 Celebrate the nation’s birthday July 1 with fireworks, music and more in the Inner Harbour. Details at www.victoria.ca/ canadaday. Fort Rodd Hill historic site in Colwood welcomes families for free as well with military demonstrations, children’s programs and more.

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TD Art Gallery Paint-In – July 17 Wander down Moss Street amid a wide selection of Victoria’s artists for the 23rd annual event, formerly known as the Moss Street Paint-in, a fundraiser of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Artists line the street from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with access to the art gallery, food and beverage garden and entertainment throughout the day. Details at www.aggv.bc.ca.

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Symphony Splash – Aug. 1 Victoria’s Inner Harbour is transformed into an outdoor concert hall for the annual Symphony Splash. The Victoria Symphony, aboard a barge, perform for two hours. Details at www.victoriasymphony.ca.

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h, summer in Victoria. The promise of sunny days, sailboats in the harbour, and tourists, here to steal a few days away from busy schedules in far-off places. Summer is also the time of year when arts and culture activities are at an all-time high in the Garden City. Whether it’s hot salsa music, cool jazz ‌ Victoria’s festivals deliver entertainment that caters to almost every taste and budget. To brighten up your summer, check out these Best of the City festival picks.

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or r years we’ we’ve been proud to provide you with a wide selection of energy efficient products.

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4 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Linda & Lyle Gill, with their dogs, Molly & Nattie

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What’s inside

Best of the City SIXTEENTH EDITION Editorial Director: Writers:

Photographers:

Layout and Design: Production Manager: Production:

Publisher: Administration: Director of Sales: Account Representatives:

Phone:

9 We’re awesome

Kevin Laird Edward Hill, Erin Cardone, Don Denton, Roszan Holmen, Arnold Lim, Don Descoteau, Vivian Moreau, Jim Zeeben, Travis Paterson, Kyle Slavin, Natalie North, Amy Dove, Andrew Farris

34 City jewel

Surrounded by highrises and asphalt, Beacon Hill Park is a tribute to Victoria’s natural landscape.

Victoria is already incredible, but here are 15 ideas to make it even better!

11 Lucky 7

36 Cheating gravity

The Best of the City’s panel of distinguished judges gives the scoop on the 7 Heritage Wonders of the Capital Region.

Sharon Tiffin, Arnold Lim, Andrew Farris, Milos Tosic, Gunnar Freyr Steinsson, Natalie North, Kyle Slavin, Don Denton

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13 Hockey’s gold

Don Descoteau, Jim Zeeben, Kevin Laird

51 Life’s a beach

In 1925, the hockey hinterland of Victoria won the Stanley Cup and set the NHL on its ear.

Janice Marshall Lily Chan, Ryan Landa, Teresa Laird, Brian Pert, Georgia Ireland, Jollean Wingrave, Shannon Black

Rock climbers face many challenges, but there’s a real adrenalin rush in tackling some of the region’s toughest climbs.

If you’re looking for water and sand to frolick upon, you don’t need to go any farther than Greater Victoria. We have ocean beaches, lake beaches, family beaches, party beaches, whale beaches … well you get the picture.

17 Majestic queen

The Fairmont Empress Hotel remains an architectural gem, true to designer Francis Rattenbury’s vision.

Penny Sakamoto Sandi Burchill, Kathryn Jodrell, Marie Morton, Kim Kelley Oliver Sommer

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24 Famous faces

Eric Orton, Dave Yellowlees, Gregg Wiltshire, Sarah Taylor, Janet Gairdner, Edward Alp, Michelle Cabana, Rose Root, Patty Doering, Toni Smith, Christine Muir, Roy Smith

75 Unsung heroes

Whether coaching or working with the homeless, dedication and selflessness are the trademark of Greater Victoria heroes.

What do Nelly Furtado, Steve Nash, Ian Tyson and Meg Tilly have in common? They all come from our great city.

32 Classic design

250-381-3484 250-386-2624 (Fax)

And you thought church was all about religion. We show you some Greater Victoria churches that are architectural marvels and that celebrate our history.

A division of Black Press 818 Broughton St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E4 Winners in the sixteenth annual Victoria News “Best of the City” supplement were chosen by Capital Region readers over the course of one month. Those votes were then tabulated by our promotions department and ranked in order to determine first to third place. Victoria News, Black Press-Vancouver Island has sole copyright over any written material or images in this publication. In the event of an error occurring in any advertisement, the liability of Black Press shall not exceed the charge of space actually occupied by the item in question.

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Survey says …

HE OF T

Our readers vote on the best of the city – and the results may surprise you

Member: Canadian Community Newspapers Association British Columbia and Yukon Newspaper Association

45-49

Published June 30, 2010

THE SHELBOURNE PLAZA ! of the Shelbourne Valley

Shelbourne at Cedar Hill X Road

TD Canada Trust

A&W Restaurant

La Dolce Vita Grocery & Bakery

Peninsula Cards & Gifts Runners

Lizzy Lee & Me Sports & Bikes

Fairway Market

People’s Pharmacy

Grocery Bakery Cobbs &Bakery

M&M Meat Shops Cards & Gifts

Wild & Birds Sports Bikes Unlimited

Mac’s Cycle Centre

Booster Juice

Rogers&Digital Grocery Bakery Wave

Merit & Travel Cards Gifts

Carlie’s&Dollar Sports Bikes Store

Little Thai Place

Liquor Distribution Br.

Scotiabank

Grocery & Bakery

Starbucks Cards & Gifts

Squeaky’s Sports & Bikes Laundromat

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 5

deep in the

VICTORIA NEWS

Best Hotel

16th

9 % ! 2

VICTORIA NEWS

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9 % ! 2

Best Afternoon Tea

VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

Best Scotch

VICTORIA NEWS

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9 % ! 2

Best Spa

VICTORIA NEWS

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Best Manicure

VICTORIA NEWS

6 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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Best Pedicure

Thank you Victoria

for voting us the best in 6 categories!

In a word, recognition

F

For more than a decade and a half, we’ve published Best of the City. Every year we analyze, explore and proclaim all things excellent in this blessed land in which we live. This year, we thought we’d delve into one area we haven’t spent a lot of time celebrating – you, the reader.

The truth is, without input from many thousands of readers, there would never have been a Best of the City in the first place. The core of this publication is its always-anticipated survey, even if some of the results have grown a little predictable. No need to mention anyone specifically here, but if you’re a regular reader of this publication you’ll know there are certain standards that the public hold up for others to be measured against. But there are also new places to discover. Some readers, such as Janet MacDougall of Gordon Head, hold on to the publication as a reference guide. “It’s around here somewhere,� she says, an evanescent pause on the phone to allow a scan for last year’s copy. Every issue has a few OMG moments for MacDougall, she says, recalling her delight at discovering new favourites she and her husband have yet to try. In part, it is this appreciation of a job well done that also prompted the 65-year-old MacDougall to

VICTORIA OAK BAY SAANICH GOLDSTREAM NEWS

take part in this year’s survey. “We have our favourite places and restaurants and when you deal with a particular establishment you want other people to know about it,� she says, singling out Haultain Fish and Chips. Other readers also talk about using Best of the City as a resource. Unlike MacDougall, who was born in Victoria, Marnie Hare is a relatively recent arrival. “When I moved here four years ago (Best of the City) was like a little guide for me,� she says. The publication helps Hare and her out-of-town guests make choices about where to go and what to do in the city. She also looks for Best of the City plaques mounted on the walls of shops she visits. It’s a good sign they’re doing something right. Hare did her duty this year, filling out the survey to add her voice to the conversation. “I have my favourite places, so I wanted to give them a chance.�

But not everything is perfect. Like many of you, Hare wants to see more categories added to the survey. For her, a list of best hangouts for moms and kids makes sense. For Ryan Recina, a 27-year-old who filled out the survey for the first time this year, Best of the City could use a list of the best things to do after dark – where to go on a Saturday night and what concert announcements he and his peers ought to keep an eye out for. “I’m very new to the survey,� the Royal Bank employee admits. He was introduced to Best of the City by a co-worker lobbying for a spa she favoured. Recina cast his ballot, filling out the survey as best he could. Now he’s among the converted, anticipating the results of this year’s poll to see if his picks were recognized by others. You can find out how your own choices rank starting on page 45

Victoria’s Best of the City is, well, the best Black Press’ annual Best of the City publication garnered national and provincial awards this year for the 2009 edition. On the national stage, the publication took second place for Special Publications Award from the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, and won a first place standing from the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association. This is what one judge wrote about last year’s publication: “Everything a Best guide should be, featuring solid, wellwritten articles on interesting local attractions, without

Expanded – with

favouring specific advertisers ‌ Good job.â€? Black Press-Vancouver Island editorial director Kevin Laird said the publication wouldn’t be possible without the help of our readers, advertisers and talented staff, who manage to bring it all together. “It’s a community effort,â€? said Laird. “We depend on our readers to offer what they think is the best or great about Victoria and we go from there. It’s our pleasure every year to put out this fantastic publication.â€?

2 acres of boats on display!

A Boat Show Everyday!

6771 Oldfield Road @ Keating X Road, Saanichton 250.652.6520 www.sherwoodmarine.com

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 7

We offer you Vancouver Island’s BEST selection of Fibreglass, Aluminum & Inflatable Boats with a great Selection of power to go with it ‌ Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Evinrude E-Tec Engines.

Thankyou Victoria for voting us #1... 14 years running!!!

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VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

STOP THE TRAIN !!! there’s Cafe Mexico

!"#$%&'()&*(&#++&(),&-*)./$*-&0(,&1#%2$3&)($/&(0&425*(,2#6-&7/-*&'(3#&-*).2(-8

WEDNESDAYS... $4.50

CUERVO MARGARITAS

8 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

THE

For reservations 250 386 1425 Located in Market Square cafemexico.com

AVENUE

GALLERY

Thank-you Vancouver Island! Your support has made us one of the best!

2184 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria | 250 598 2184 www.theavenuegallery.com

VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

615 Yates (at Government)

250.382.8768 www.azumasushi.com

15 fun ideas to make Victoria even better An NHL team. Okay maybe not. Sorry, Salmon Kings. At least a return to the days of preseason NHL games, or another Vancouver Canucks training camp.

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A winter street-festival. Perhaps one that welcomes the rain. Perhaps one that closes off three or four city blocks, includes beer gardens, food stands and encourages a Victoria winter-festival atmosphere with a focus on all things local.

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Bring the Red Bull airplane races to the Inner Harbour.

Think Green: Synchronize green traffic lights with subsequent green traffic lights on the next block (instead of red). Even better, synchronize them at cyclist speeds.

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Bring back Ikea, bigger and better.

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Fireworks over the Inner Harbour every night of the week.

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Public walkways along all shorelines (ocean and other) like in New Zealand.

Take back the sports’ mojo with a bigger, better outdoor stadium downtown. Build permanent seating around the rest of Royal Athletic Park. A downtown stadium with 360 degree seating would give Victoria some of the sports’ mojo that the West Shore stole with Bear Mountain City Stadium in Langford. It would give Victoria somewhere to host Rugby Canada internationals and provide a big enough facility for the Victoria Highlanders FC to move into United Soccer League Division II and, eventually, into Division I. With the Memorial Centre parking lot up the street and a few extra shuttles running up Quadra, Blanshard and Douglas, the stress on public transit could be easily handled. Speaking of the bus, it’s how sports fans get to games all over the world in countries not called Canada.

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Create a long term plan to minimize auto traffic in the core by forcing people to leave their cars outside the downtown core and supplying more bike lanes and bringing back some electric street cars.

A boardwalk amusement park along the Gorge waterway. A permanent carnival-type place to hang out, which is what the area was originally designed for a century ago. We could also includes a water show with trained seals doing tricks. More neighbourhood pubs. Need easier approval process for liquor primary licences. And far more patios to go with those pubs and on our restaurants, coffee shops, etc.

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Rent out the legislature and use the proceeds to set up a kickass public wine cellar in the basement.

Regional dress code: everybody dresses in all white (not just cricket players) on Tuesdays.

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Water slides and a water park, some where. Perhaps the stalled development property on Bear Mountain?

Undersea tunnel-walkway and public house. An undersea tunnel under the harbour, accessible off the causeway. Build a big, thick, strong glass tube that’s five metres wide and drop it in on the bottom of the harbour. Build a glassed in staircase down to it and put a big, glass covered pub on the bottom of the harbour. Pump in some fresh air, have a bubble outlet for the old air and voila, other-worldy ambience with the flick of a light switch.

Living in Carr House Tenant operators enjoy the benefits of living in a character home with plenty of colourful history

2011 Best in Cruising

R

aising two kids in a museum wouldn’t sound like fun to most parents. But Jan and Michael Ross are the exception. The couple’s two girls were aged four and seven in 1994 when the Ross family moved in to Emily Carr House. Jan had accepted a position as resident-curator for the James Bay house, where the legendary Victoria artist and writer was born and raised. The house itself made the transition easy. “It was just so welcoming. It was almost like the house was waiting for someone to live in it,” Jan said. The Rosses are the second family to live in the house as resident-curators since it was saved from demolition by former Victoria MP David Groos in 1967. Groos took out a mortgage to buy the property before developers could turn it into an apartment tower. The Rosses were the first to arrive with kids in tow. Jan called the experience “magical.” “Especially the first Christmas we were here, we suddenly realized this is the first Christmas that children have spent in this house since Emily and

October 9th 2011

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Wonders of the Ancients 14 days Rome to Athens

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her (siblings) were kids.” The Rosses have another decade left on their contract to care for the house. Jan expects the girls will move out after they finish their studies. After that, she hopes to start artistand writer-in-residence programs, which she hopes will help continue Carr’s legacy of inspiring new artistic responses to her life and work. Victoria was a vastly different place when Emily Carr was born in 1871 at the house that now bears her name. Carr House at 207 Government St. is now hemmed in by neighbours on all sides. But when Carr’s father, Richard, built the home in 1862, the property covered several acres in James Bay and included an orchard and barn. Emily was one of four Carr children born there, joining two daughters born when the family lived in San Francisco. Carr lived at home until moving to California at 16 to study art. She returned to live in the house twice before building her own, affectionately known as the House of All Sorts, in 1913 on a corner of the family property. That house formed the basis for her book of the same name.

Thank you Victoria for years of faithful business! From the Metro Lexus Toyota Family

More than just a dealership. IT ST OF THE C

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Voted

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VICTORIA NEWS

15th

9 % ! 2

Voted

Best City

of the

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VICTORIA NEWS

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10 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Best New and Used sed Car Dealership

Customer Comments “The reason that we decided to purchase from Metro Lexus Toyota was the great service we received. They made our experience a good one from the moment we arrived at the dealership to just look, which was very rare for us when it came to an auto purchase. I’d like to thank all the staff at Metro Lexus Toyota for making our experience one we will never forget. We will be sure to pass our story on to anyone who is looking for a vehicle.”

From Your Purchase To Bringing You and d Your Family Total Peace of Mind Motoring.

www.jpautogroup.com

1-888-465-9376 Douglas at Finlayson

7

Heritage Wonders of the Capital Region

JJapanese R Restaurant t t

The BEST Healthy Food in Victoria

H

ow do you pick the most stunning diamond? Or the prettiest flower? Each item has its own unique characteristics that make it an aesthetic wonder. Ultimately, the best of anything depends on individual tastes. The same dynamic applies to ranking heritage places in Victoria. It is a nerve-fraying, mind-sapping experience to choose the best ones because there are so many, and they all possess their own remarkable history and inspiring architectural flare. Amid all these riches, seven masterpieces stand out in Victoria based on a criteria that considers stature, style, history and character.

Craigdarroch Castle Located at 1050 Joan Cres, this 1890 structure is Victoria’s original castle. Designed by Warren H. Williams, this citadel of opulence is a flawless example of Victoria’s historical personality.

Hatley Castle

Craigdarroch Castle

As Greater Victoria’s largest castle, this ivy and stone master work of Edwardian splendour on the grounds of Royal Roads University in Colwood has served as quarters for premiers, military officers and super heroes. Designed by architect Samuel Maclure and completed in 1908, the castle has since become a National Historic Site and a Hollywood star.

-( $ *" % &

$

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Fairmont Empress Hotel The first of three gems in the local Francis Rattenbury architectural treasure chest, this lordly travel manor has been a showpiece of grand Victoria style along the city’s Inner Harbour since it was completed in 1908. Wedding old-style elegance with modern luxury, this icon is our city’s face to the world.

Emily Carr House This prim and proper Italianate Villa built in 1863 at 207 Government St. is not just one of Victoria’s oldest and quaintest dwellings, but was also the home of Victoria’s most beloved artists, Emily Carr. The spirit of her creative genius surrounds this home like an aura beaming energy and warmth.

Legislature This second Rattenbury jewel has been the stately seat of provincial governance since it was completed in 1898.

Chinese Imperial School

Ross Bay Villa Ross Bay Villa is one of fewer than a dozen 1860s houses left in the City of Victoria. Built in 1865, the one-story residence is remarkably intact, retaining almost all of its original detailing, both inside and out. Located at 1490 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria, this historic site is directly adjacent to the historic Ross Bay Cemetery. The Land Conservancy purchased the property in 1999, rescuing it from demolition.

FREE DELIVERY AFTER 5PM 1420 Quadra St. at Pandora 0 0 ... #-, FREE PARKING )( +% ' *' 0 , -( *' *'

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 11

The red and gold bloom of Chinese culture, at 636 Fisgard St., in the heart of Victoria’s Chinatown was planted by the seeds of racial segregation policies banning Chinese children from public schools at the beginning of the 20th century. Constructed in 1909, it stands as a stoic testament to the fortitude and adaptiveness of Chinese immigrants who came to Victoria to seek a better life.

Meet the Doctors

Vision Matters

who bring you

DR. TREVOR PEDDLE Mayfair Optometry 3196 Douglas St.

361-4444

S.I. Optometry 3994 Shelbourne

477-4711

DR. ANN MARIE STEWART

DR. VICTOR J. CHIN* Saanich Optometry 119-3995 Quadra St.

744-2992

DR. CHRISTOPHER SNOW

DR. CHARLES SIMONS*

DR. STEPHEN TAYLOR*

Flowers from Poppies reflect your good taste

Mayfair Optometric Clinic 3196 Douglas Street

361-4444 Saanich Optometry 119-3995 Quadra Street

744-2992

DR. BRENT MORRISON

We Deliver... Around the Corner or Around the World with FTD

DR. SUZANNE SUTTER

South Island Optometry 101-1910 Sooke Rd. 478-6811 3994 Shelbourne St. 477-4711

744 Yates 250-383-0743 www.poppiestif.ca

DR. HELEN MARTINDALE

325-1207 Douglas Sayward Bldg.

361-4478

DR. PAUL NEUMANN #1-7865 Patterson Rd., Saanichton

544-2210

DR. NEIL PATERSON

Oak Bay Optemetry Clinic 100-2067 Cadboro Bay Rd

595-8500

DR. RACHEL RUSHFORTH*

Admirals Walk Optometry Clinic 102-1503 Admirals Rd.

995-0449

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VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

Poppies P o Is On The Move... We are excited to announce our NEW LOCATION as of October will be “The Atrium� (Yates & Blanshard)

Let’s compare apples to oranges...

How do the new mortgage rules impact you? Call us today to find out. You can still buy with 5% down!

AAnne Flynn Fl

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When

The Cup was ours

In 1925, the hockey hinterland of Victoria won the Stanley Cup and set the NHL on its ear

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ictoria’s chapter in Stanley Cup history might never have been written were it not for the aspirations of a pair of brothers. Oak Bay historian Gary Wilcox says the arrival of Lester and Frank Patrick to the West Coast in 1911 was a flashpoint in the development of the game here. Not only did it establish a beachhead in the Pacific and boost western credibility in the battle to secure topcalibre players, it laid the groundwork that led to a cup victory in 1925 for the Victoria Cougars. “That was huge,” Wilcox says. “Hockey would never have happened on its own without the fact that they wanted to do it (here) … and they had the money.”

The Patricks, whose fortune came from the family’s B.C. lumber business, built two rinks in 1911: Lester in Oak Bay and Frank in Vancouver. They immediately entered professional teams in what was christened the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. Lester, a standout defenceman, played five years for the Victoria Aristocrats before poor attendance forced a franchise move to Spokane. The Aristocrats resurfaced in 1918 and became the Cougars in 1922. The Patrick-coached team joined the

Western Hockey League for the 1924-25 season and finished third in the sixteam loop, led by Frank Frederickson (22 goals in 28 games) and goalie Harry (Hap) Holmes. The Cougars upset WCHL regular season champion Calgary Tigers in a two-game, total-goals final. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens avoided a showdown for the National Hockey League title with Hamilton when Tigers players were suspended for striking for higher wages. Playing out of the Patrick Arena, as most people called the building

on Cadboro Bay Road, the hometown Cougars took a fast 2-0 lead in the series with 5-2 and 3-1 victories. The Habs rebounded with a 4-2 win in game 3, but were hammered 6-1 in what proved to be the finale on March 30. Harold (Gizzy) Hart scored the 30 eventual winner for the Cougars and later went on to play three seasons for the Canadiens. Today a cairn on Cadboro Bay Road in front of Oak Bay High immortalizes the presence of the Patrick Arena and the Cougars’ championship win, which was to be the last by a non-NHL team. Top left: A photo collage showing Victoria’s World Champions and their prize hardware.

so much more...

VICTORIA NEWS

VICTORIA NEWS

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VICTORIA NEWS

VICTORIA NEWS

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 13

The best place to buy...

Best Place for BBQ’s and Hardware

MILESTONE

213:

B E I N G VOTED THE BEST PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH.

Thank you for voting for Milestones. Join us anytime at Milestones Inner Harbour or Milestones Millstream and enjoy the perfect culinary pairings to your life’s milestones.

Giving Hope Today

Thank you for voting for us! clothing books

furniture

Recycle with us! electronics

toys

Proud supporters of the

ENCORP PROGRAM Diverting used products from our landfill

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best cars. best service.

14 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Forester - one of Subaru’s winning line up of cars cars.

Saunders Subaru’s Kevin Jickling (in middle) wins the World’s Best Subaru Technicians award for 2009.

For excellent vehicles and service come to Saunders Subaru - part of your community for over 30 years. Best Mainstream Brand

The only manufacturer with 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models

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Refuge from the rain

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et’s face it. Victoria is a spectacular city but the weather doesn’t always co-operate. So, for all those rainy afternoons, people need a comfy place to while away the hours. Here are some we recommend that work for people on a budget. Looking for a place to sip a coffee and flip through a magazine? Why not a room with a view? While Victoria has few waterfront venues, the Oak Bay Marina offers a hidden-away coffee house that’s got a front-row seat. And of course, there’s Ogden Point Cafe by the breakwater, or the Kiwanis Willows Beach Tea Room, open during the summer. On a stormy day, watch the action through the large windows. Or take in some casual live music or openmic nights at your friendly neighbourhood coffee shops. The Spiral Cafe on Craigflower Road and O’Beans on Fort Street offer jams by local musicians that don’t drown out the conversation. And lets not forget our friend the library,

where the price of admission can’t be beat. It’s not just for academics and bookworms. Many branches offer extensive magazine collections and some, like the Central branch downtown, even have video game stations aimed at the younger set. If you haven’t checked out the new Saanich Centennial branch, it’s worth the drive for the airy atmosphere and soft chairs. For those looking for a bit of pampering without shelling out for a day at the spa, don’t discount the recreation centre pools. Many, such as Panorama, have hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas. A drop-in pass will run you $5.50. Equipped with the region’s tallest waterslide and other water toys, the North Saanich facility is a great place to take cooped-up kids who need to shake their sillies out. For new parents forced by the rain to stay inside, Silver City at Tillicum cinema offers

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baby-friendly matinees at reduced prices. The volume’s lower, the lights are brighter and the theatre’s often full. Of course, not everybody’s looking for an escape from the rain. For all the hardy souls who love the thrill of a storm, we recommend dressing your warmest and heading up Moss Rock. The little gem of a park off Fairfield Road offers a vantage point for watching clouds rolling across the sky for miles – not to mention ships galore on Juan de Fuca Strait.

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Michael Greenfield sits at the Ogden Point Cafe reading the paper on a rainy Wednesday morning.

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 15

From local farms to local businesses, when you shop island grown, you shop the best!

ADD UP ONE CHIC VICTORIA GETAWAY

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Prime Steakhouse. The kind of undistracted, unmatched service you can experience only in a

By the Numbers Population (According to the last census)

2008

Forecast 2026

Esquimalt Oak Bay Saanich Victoria FOUR-CORE TOTAL

17,474 18,459 113,117 82,656 233,397

21,100 19,100 119,300 84,700 244,200

Central Saanich North Saanich Sidney PENINSULA TOTAL

16,530 11,341 11,892 42,415

17,700 13,300 15,600 46,300

Colwood Highlands Juan de Fuca Langford Metchosin Sooke District View Royal WEST SHORE TOTAL

15,973 2,044 4,894 26,671 5,015 10,593 9,393 75,046

30,200 2,200 6,300 42,100 5,300 15,500 10,700 112,300

There are also about 4,800 people living on First Nations land in the Capital Regional District.

boutique hotel with just 64 rooms.

Homeless population: 1,242

– (Cool Aid, 2007)

Thank You Victoria!

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16 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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urple Garden Chinese Restaurant

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A majestic queen lies on the Inner Harbour Fairmont’s Empress Hotel remains an architectural gem, true to designer Rattenbury’s vision

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His intricate design, which included construction of a retaining wall to hold back the water, called for the hotel to be built on 2,855 Douglas fir pilings 15 metres long, sunk deep into the reclaimed bog. The original construction cost estimate was $300,000, but the final price tag was closer to $1.6 million. For years, passengers from the steamships would frequent the hotel staying from several weeks to more than The Fairmont Empress a month. But Hotel sits as a jewel over the years on the crown of the hotel Victoria’s history. started to go through some changes and challenges. It came close to demolition in 1965, when people started to travel by car and fewer ships were entering the harbour. Average stays fell to two days and that took its toll on the hotel. The building also needed a complete electrical upgrade to meet B.C. Hydro standards. Then in 1967, the roof of the Palm Court collapsed due to the weight of an inordinately heavy snow. The owners contemplated demolishing the hotel, but instead decided to begin renovations to preserve it. Today’s tourists are certainly happy with that decision. “The locals have spoken and it seems we are doing a good job at delivering on what I heard 18 months ago: to give the hotel back to the locals,� said general manager Martin Leclerc. “We will continue on our journey of excellence and we will keep having fun while doing it,� he said. Visit www.friendsoftheempress.ca.

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 17

he jewel in the crown of the Inner Harbour shines as a historic beacon, attracting steamships from yesteryear and cruiseships of today. Possibly the most photographed building in Victoria, the Fairmont Empress has earned its bragging rights and had good reason to glitter and glow as it celebrated its 100th birthday last year with grandeur and fanfare. Historically, the downtown hotel has a rich background. One-hundred and one years ago, Canadian Pacific Railway built several grand chateaustyle hotels along its Canadian route. While the railway didn’t operate in Victoria, CPR saw the value of operating a hotel in the city because the company had a steam ship line that utilized the Inner Harbour. CP recognized the potential benefit of having a grand hotel to serve its ocean-going passengers, and co-ordinated with the City of Victoria to commission Francis Rattenbury, a renowned and widely-respected architect, to design the new hotel. Rattenbury, 26 at the time, had designed the B.C. legislative buildings and began drafting plans for the Empress. It was a challenging venture because the Inner Harbour had a causeway (now Government Street) with water on both sides. Rattenbury had a vision of filling in the area east of the causeway and building the hotel on reclaimed land. That way, the hotel would be the most prominent feature visible to shipboard passengers arriving in the Inner Harbour.

Slowing down on the Goose Listen carefully and you can hear the faint sounds of traffic. But take a deep breath and you’d never know some of the region’s busiest roadways are nearby.

T

he popular Galloping Goose Regional Trail starts in the bustle of Victoria and meanders through Saanich, View Royal, Langford, Colwood, and Metchosin before ending in the scenic Sooke Potholes regional park some 60 kilometres away. The trail is all things to all people – a busy commuter bike route during the week, a pleasant stroll during the day and, no matter when you go, a way to view the beauty of the region at a slower pace. In Metchosin and Sooke, the tree-canopied path is also a horse trail. “I like not having to compete with cars,” says Keith Finnie, a bicycle commuter. “It is quite a bit more relaxing on the Goose then it is on the road, because the scenery is a lot nicer.” Finnie, an information technology manager who works in downtown Victoria, has commuted from his home in Colwood on his recumbent bike since 1994. The trail that now boasts a paved surface for much of its distance makes riding so comfortable

Finnie prefers the trail to the pavement of the streets. Avid hiker Gaynor Jackson walks the Galloping Goose trail for an hour to start off her days and has been doing so for the past two years. A corridor that once held the Galloping Goose passenger train in the 1920s, Jackson counts the trail as one of her favourite places on the Island.

18 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Thank you Victoria for voting us best pub & best scotch!

1022 Government St | 250 953 9993 | www.vicpubco.ca

Bikers and joggers make their way along the Colwood portion of the Galloping Goose.

“I think it is a very closed green space so it feels like you are in the woods but you are not. First thing in the morning the first thing you hear is the birds, it is a very peaceful place to be,” Jackson says.

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Thank You

Victoria!

Proud to be your Auto Service Specialists!

MEET THE CEDAR HILL TEAM JIM VARLEY Service Manager, Cedar Hill

25

0

VICTORIA V IC NEWS

3993 Cedar Hill Road 721.1125

MEET THE LANGFORD TEAM

Service Manager, Langford

25

0

Westshore Town Centre

Service Manager, Royal Oak

25

0

20 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Service Manager, Douglas Street

25

0

Service Manager, View Royal

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VICTORIA NEWS V

2959 Douglas Street

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361.3152

1519 Admirals Road 381.5055

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MEET THE VIEW ROYAL TEAM MIKE YATES

1

VICTORIA NEWS V

801 Royal Oak Drive

MEET THE DOUGLAS STREET TEAM DAN ROBBINS

9 % !

474.2291

MEET THE ROYAL OAK TEAM TOM HUNTER

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VICTORIA V VIC CTO NEWS

DAVID WARD

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Victoria’s landmarks are iconic signposts

Thank You Victoria for voting us #1

Sculptures around the city provide opportunities for reflection, and even a little head-scratching

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Terry Fox Memorial at Mile Zero If Terry Fox’s story doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you might be a robot. The cancer fundraising champion and national hero never made it to Mile Zero on his world-famous run, but his statue did. Nathan Scott’s bronze sculpture of Fox stands life-sized, at 5’9� on a granite base. Since 2005, Fox has been overlooking the end of Douglas Street.

Night is for Sleeping, Day is for Resting For everyone who has ever wanted to curl up and take a nap on Douglas Street comes the most inviting sculpture in town. Affectionately renamed by citizens across the city: “the concrete mattresses,� Mowry Baden’s sculpture at the confluence of Douglas and

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A life-sized steel man, woman and child hold up a white marble column inscribed with the words “trust and harmony,� in front of Victoria police headquarters. Blanshard streets holds more meaning than it may seem at first glance. Baden, a former University of Victoria professor whose art is also featured in front of the Save On Foods Memorial Arena, attempts to provoke a perceptual crisis with his work. He achieves this by challenging the information that the viewer receives through the senses. You can see the crisis every time someone does a double take by the mattresses, or sits on one briefly – just to see if it’s actually real. Signs of Lekwungen Along the Inner Harbour walkway, downtown and Beacon Hill Park lie seven over-sized markers shaped like “spindle whorls,� instruments originally used by Coast Salish women to spin wool and are symbolic of the Coast Salish family. “Lekwungen� is the original language of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations and the namesake for the cedar signs, carved by Coast Salish artist Butch Dick. In 2008, the 2.5-metre-high whorls were installed on the lower causeway at Songhees Point, Laurel Point, on the north side of the Malahat building on Wharf Street, at the Royal B.C. Museum, near City Hall and at the Beacon Hill Park lookout.

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 21

Captain Cook in the Inner Harbour “Lower ye masts!� cried out the great captain.� Here lies a plot of land prime for a handsome roadway and a great village replete with free-flowing caffeine on every corner! Pastries abound! How glorious!� Or something like that. Capt. James Cook, the explorer for which several city icons are named, left his mark globally and earned a spot atop the upper causeway in the Inner Harbour in 1976. The Victoria Environmental Enhancement Foundation commissioned Derek and Patricia Freeborn to carve the bronze and granite sculpture.

1

VICTORIA NEWS

agles in the City have flown from the sidewalks and only permanent art remains. Which is a lot. From First Nations carvings and statues of forefathers to concrete mattresses, the city’s art collection is as eclectic as its residents. Here are a random five favourites from a long list publicly viewable pieces. Trust & Harmony Located at 850 Caledonia St., the “Trust & Harmony� sculpture marks the Victoria Police Department grounds. A life-sized steel man, woman and child hold up a Vancouver Island white marble column. The 4.27metre high column is inscribed with the words “trust and harmony� in all styles and languages, written by people of Victoria. Local sculptor Jay Unwin created the piece with the intent of symbolizing unity across Victoria’s diverse population.

AWARD-WINNING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Kristi Buchanan achieves outstanding results. Congratulations to Kristi Buchanan, top producer in the Sun Life Financial Spring Campaign and 2009 Advisor of the Year for the Victoria Financial Centre. Kristi has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 2006, qualifying in the top one percent of financial professionals world-wide. She is also a four-time recipient of the National Quality Award with Advocis. Her accomplishments are a testament to Kristi’s extraordinary commitment to her clients. She helps build their savings, plan for their future and protects families and businesses from unexpected events. Kristi would like to thank her clients and her community for their continued support. Contact her today to discover how she can help you achieve lifetime financial security.

Kristi Buchanan B. Com CFP CLU Bus 250-385-1471 ext 2244 Fax 250-380-6011

22 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

kristi.buchanan@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/kristi.buchanan 3962 Borden St., Suite 101,Victoria, BC V8P 3H8

Life’s brighter under the sun © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2010.

Matt Green

Joanne Davenport What’s the best view in Greater Victoria? Mount Baker from Oak Bay

What do you do on a rainy day? Make music

What’s the best hike in Greater Victoria? Thetis Lake path

What makes Victoria Victoria? That mix of hippy and British ideals

What’s the best shopping destination in greater Victoria? Small boutiques on lower Johnson Street

What is Victoria’s biggest problem? Food security and homelessness

Anne Jarvis Where’s the best place to live in Greater Victoria? Saanich What keeps you here? Born and raised here; it’s the best place on Earth to live. What is Victoria’s biggest problem? Cruelty to seniors, problems with housing and medical assist

ask a local

We asked some local Victorians to tell you about this community. Here’s what they had to say.

Paul Austin

Becky Littlechilds How do you tell a local from a visitor? Locals don’t wear visors or eat frozen cheesecake

How do you tell a local from a visitor? Visitors look at everything, carry see-through shopping bags and hang out on the causeway

What’s the best view in greater Victoria? The coastline along Beach Drive in Oak Bay

What’s the best view in greater Victoria? From Mount Douglas on a clear day

What keeps you in Victoria? The benefits of small-city living with all the opportunities of a bigger centre nearby

What is the greatest thing about Victoria? Beautiful, friendly people, mix of city life and country living What makes Victoria Victoria? After being away on vacation, it is the best place to come home to What’s the best shopping destination in greater Victoria? All the small boutique stores downtown

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 23

23

What do you do on a rainy day? Go to the beach

Jeremy Chew

NE

Famous faces W

CORY MONTEITH

RYAN O’BYRNE

R

yan O’Byrne had his first taste of the NHL playoffs in 2010. As one of the Montreal Canadiens’ defencemen, it’s been a good year for the Victoria-bred hockey player, helping the underdog team get through its Stanley Cup play-off run, before being ousted by the Philadelphia Flyers. O’Byrne, a Racquet Club alumni, played for the Victoria Salsa and Nanaimo Clippers before being drafted in 2003 by the Canadiens to play with the Cornell Big Red. The Victoria native played 55 games this season, scoring one goal, three assists and racking up 74 penalty minutes. Through 13 games of the playoffs his plus-minus rating was at +1. Though he’s not yet among the top four rearguards for the Canadiens, the 6’5”, 234-pound d-man is a memorable presence on the ice when he’s on his game. O’Byrne, a St. Michaels University grad, is among a handful of Victoria hockey players in the NHL. After a great – albeit surprising – playoff showing for the Canadiens this year, the likelihood O’Byrne will see a strong professional hockey career remains quite high.

Celebrity updates

24 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

NELLY FURTADO C ?144 5):3 years since the release of Whoa, Nelly!, the Victoria songstress’ first album that helped make her an international star. Furtado is currently working on a new album, Lifestyle, due out later this year.

STEVE NASH C $0- !07-61@ #=6; point guard is still at the top of his game – 16 years into an NBA career. This past season, the former Arbutus school student and recent honourary UVic grad helped lead the Suns to the Western conference finals (with a 54-28 season record).

SOPHIE GIRAUD, © ADORATION PRODUCTIONS INC.

ATOM EGOYAN C $0- &1+<7:1) :)1;-, ,1:-+<7: – who’s been nominated for three Cannes film festival Palme d’Ors and has been named to the Order of Canada – released his latest film Chloe in early 2010. Though the film didn’t turn out to be Egoyan’s most successful of his career, his uncanny ability to tell engrossing stories makes him one of the most interesting working filmmakers.

RICH HARDEN C $0- ")6/-:; starting pitcher and former Claremont secondary student, is excelling in the American League in his first season in Arlington, Texas. Despite injury-laden seasons under his belt with Oakland and the Chicago Cubs, Harden is fast becoming one of the best athletic products to come out of Victoria.

© 2009 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

I

n the last six months, Glee has become one of the most talked about television shows in years. Cory Monteith – one of the show’s stars – is a Victoria resident. Monteith, 29, plays Finn Hudson, the quarterback and male lead in the McKinley High glee club in the FOX show. Though born in Calgary, Monteith was raised in Greater Victoria. He dropped out of school in Grade 9 and moved to Nanaimo before pursuing acting. Though he’s only been a working actor for less than a decade, his film and TV credits are growing rapidly each year. Glee has steadily drawn in more than 10 million viewers each week, and the show’s success keeps growing. As long as Glee continues to be one of the most talked about shows on TV, Monteith’s role as one of the show’s leads will help his star continue to rise.

TIMELINE OF CELEBRITIES WITH VICTORIA TIES

POP CULTURIANS: Emily Carr, artist, 1871-1945 John Beckwith, composer, b. 1927 Ian Tyson, singer, b. 1933 Jack Hodgins, writer, b. 1938 Vicki Gabereau, TV personality, b. 1946 David Foster, music producer, b. 1949 Jennifer Tilly, actress/poker player, b. 1958 Meg Tilly, actress, b. 1960 Atom Egoyan, film director, b. 1960 Tal Bachman, musician, b. 1968 Nelly Furtado, singer, b. 1978 Cory Monteith, actor, b. 1982 Cameron Bright, actor, b. 1993

ATHLETES: Geoff Courtnall, former NHLer, b. 1962 Silken Laumann, Olympic rower, b. 1964 Lori Bowden, women’s Ironman champ, b. 1967 Peter Reid, men’s Ironman champ, b. 1969 Steve Nash, NBA player, b. 1974 Simon Whitfield, Olympic triathlete, b. 1975 Martin Nash, soccer player, b. 1975 Dave Calder, Olympic rower, b. 1978 Matt Pettinger, NHL player, b. 1980 Rich Harden, MLB player, b. 1981 Ryan O’Byrne, NHL player, b. 1984 Henry Mabee, MLB player, b. 1985 Michael Saunders, MLB player, b. 1986 Marisa Litster, softball player, b. 1987 Kyle Orr, MLB player, 1988

Where everybody knows his name

N

ot too long after being elected mayor of Victoria, Dean Fortin was randomly selected as a participant in a busker show. “It was one of the busker deals where the guy jumps off the 14-foot unicycle with a big knife as you’re stretched out on the ground,” Fortin recalls. “It was funny – nobody knew I was the mayor.” When he returns to the Inner Harbour’s Lower Causeway this summer, he suspects he won’t enjoy the same anonymity. On a sunny day, the spot is one of his favourite places to go in the city when spending time with his daughter. “We enjoy people watching, the buskers, the artists, all the tourists coming and going,” Fortin said. But Victoria is more than just a great place for tourists. It’s also a great city to get outside and get active. Fortin is a runner, and since his election, he’s got a new favourite route. After leaving city hall, he passes over the Johnson Street Bridge, running along the Songhees Walkway until he reaches West Bay Marina. “You get to see what makes Victoria amazing,” he said. The run shows off both Victoria’s natural beauty and the downtown architecture in the heritage district. Closer to home, Fortin loves the stroll to Haultain Koffi on a random Victoria mayor Dean Fortin Saturday or Sunday morning. leans on his reserved parking Like any neighbourhood with sign outside City Hall. Fortin’s its own coffee shop, the appeal is an avid outdoorsman who mainly the people, he said. takes pride in the people and “It’s like Cheers – everybody places that make his city knows your name.” distinctly unique.

Over 25 Years of Brewing For You! Thank-you again for voting us one of the City’s Best in 2010. For over 25 years we’ve kept you in mind as we brew our local craft beer using only the best ingredients. Look for our new Sea Dog Amber ale, crafted as a tribute to our Navy’s 100th Anniversary. With a burst of hops and smooth malt finish it’s the perfect beer for any summer celebration.

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 25

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26 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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The

ins and outs of nature

“It’s

Tim Willis, director of exhibitions and visitor experience at the Royal B.C. Museum, holds up an assortment of silicone poo that will be on display as part of the Behind the Scenes exhibit that kicks off this summer.

not just about poo,â€? says Tim Willis as he steps back from samples of feces – bear, wolf, moose, to name a few – in the basement of the Royal B.C. Museum. It’s about our natural history, the province’s biodiversity and, somewhere in those categories, fits poo. The realistic silicone excrement will be one part of a Behind the Scenes exhibition running through 2011 that brings elements of the museum’s rarely seen natural history collection, and the scientists who study them, to the forefront. “The idea is to bring as much of what we do behind the scenes to the public: meet the workers, explore our collections, and do it in a very interactive way,â€? says Willis, director of exhibitions and visitor experience at the museum. The exhibition will focus on eight elements of B.C. natural history: invertebrate zoology, palaeontology, entomology, herpetology, ornithology, ichthyology, mammals and botany. Each of the eight elements will be featured in pods that will house artifacts from the museum’s collection. Scientists, research assistants and volunteers with expertise in particular fields will help better understand our biodiversity. “We love to do the big, international stories and exhibitions,â€? Willis says, referring to exhibits like next year’s Terracotta Army. “It’s really important to tell our own story. You can’t neglect what’s wonderful about your own home.â€? And that includes poo. “We were talking about ways to engage kids in a tactile sense for the manual display. To see and touch and get an understanding of the exhibitions,â€? Willis said. “And from there, we decided on poo ‌ Kids are fascinated with poo. Actually, adults are too.â€? Behind the Scenes: Natural History opens June 25 and runs until Oct. 10, 2011.

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ou know that hot new novel you’ve been meaning to get from the library? Download it on your phone. Want to register for a free classes at the library, book a meeting room or pay a late fine? Log in to the web. “We are moving to more of an online environment,� says Adrienne Wass, manager of community development for the Greater Victoria Public Library. “That is a convenience for our users. It allows us to serve them better.� People with mobile devices can access a simplified library catalogue from anywhere. Even whole books, both audio and print, can now be downloaded off the Internet for a standard loan period. Just search the e-collection by following the “Library to Go� link on the left hand side of the homepage. Download the files you want and, when it becomes due, the file simply disappears from your computer’s memory. No possibility of late fees. Last year, 13,902 e-books and audiobooks were accessed this way. Many people are coming into the library to use computers there as well. “People who don’t have computers at home are often really heavy users of our Internet,� Wass says. “That is very popular.� Teens can also join the online reading club, where they can contribute to forums, chat with authors and share creative writing. “They have busy schedules and we know they don’t always want to come in at a specific time,� Wass says. The online club allows them to log in anytime. Of course, not all the library’s special offerings take place on the computer. Children’s reading clubs are gearing up for the summer, culminating in a party in the park in July with storytellers and games. Last year, 4,490 kids signed up in Greater Victoria. That’s almost 400 more than the previous summer. Throughout the year, there are also free educational classes covering a wide range of topics for adults, including health, gardening, computer and armchair travel.

Josie Bannerman picks out books at the Greater Victoria Public Library main branch. She reads about five books a week and visits the library every two weeks.

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Smooth transition Inter-cultural centre helps about 1,000 new Victorians get acquainted with the city

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VICTOR IA NEW S

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magine you’re in a foreign country and don’t speak the language. Stepping from the hotel shower, you slip and twist your knee. You can probably hobble to the phone and call the front desk for help. But what if you had moved to the country, didn’t speak the language and injured yourself ? You’ve never heard of 911 – even the numbers on the telephone are unfamiliar. Enter the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. On a Tuesday morning, instructor Todd Kitzler points out three of seven classrooms at the ICA’s centre on Balmoral Road, where three dozen adult immigrant students are learning English. “Most starting in level 1 know how to say hello and how are you, but that’s it,� he says. Through classes running three times a day, the centre helps about 250 students a week learn enough basic English to survive in Canada. “They’ll learn things like how to take the bus,� Kitzler says. “But before you can look in a bus schedule and find the times of the bus, you have to know numbers and days of the week.�

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Small details, but important ones for settling into life in Victoria. About 1,300 immigrants arrive in the city each year. Many are from the U.S. but the majority are from Pacific Rim countries such as mainland China, India and the Philippines. The centre helps about 1,000 clients each year with everything from learning English and filing income tax returns to legal issues. But there are things residents of Greater Victoria can do to help immigrants make this city their home, says ICA executive director Jean McRae. Volunteering at the centre as a professional mentor is one. The centre’s mentoring program matches professionals such as engineers, doctors and teachers with new immigrants. They meet one-onone for a few hours every week or two. McRae offers another simple contribution Victorians can offer immigrants. “If you have new neighbours who’ve just moved in and don’t speak the language ‌ maybe invite them to dinner,â€? she says before suggesting a very Victoria alternative: “Or, invite them to tea.â€?

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Churches offer history,

CLASSIC DESIGN Story and photos by DON DENTON

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ook up, way up. A first-time visitor entering Christ Church Cathedral can be forgiven for reacting in astonishment that religious architecture this big and exciting exists in Victoria. Churches are, of course, more than just bricks and mortar. While traditionally they are centres of spirituality, many have

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historical significance as well. Christ Church’s history is interesting in that the current building is actually the third cathedral – the first two, both wooden structures, were destroyed by fire. Victoria’s other cathedral, St. Andrew’s Catholic – Christ Church is Anglican – was dedicated in 1892. While it celebrates its Victorian-era history, it also boasts a yellow

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Religious architecture is more than just bricks and mortar cedar altar, made by First Nations artist Charles Elliott, and a lectern carved by Roy Henry Vickers. Don’t forget about the other St. Andrew’s, the Presbyterian church on Douglas Street that opened its doors in 1866. Some churches no longer exist, at least not as churches. The First Baptist Church building on Quadra Street became a music

store and more recently converted into condominiums. The Victoria Conservatory Of Music is housed in the former Metropolitan United Church, a building that is more than a century old. Not all of our historic churches are located in downtown Victoria. You can find smaller churches tucked away in the rural areas of Greater Victoria. St. Stephen’s in Saanichton is B.C.’s

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oldest continuously operating church, having opened in 1862. Nearby Holy Trinity Anglican had its first burial in the church cemetery in 1888. Oddly enough that funeral was for the man who had donated the land. A visit to local churches will yield something for every visitor: history, architecture, stained glass, a quiet place for contemplation and, of course, a place to worship.

Far left: St. Stephen’s Anglican church in Saanichton is the oldest church in B.C. still on its original site and operating continuously. Middle: Looking up at the front of St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Catholic) on Blanshard Street. Above: Holy Trinity Anglican church looks out over the waters of Patricia Bay.

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urrounded by high rises and asphalt, Beacon Hill Park is a tribute to Victoria’s natural landscape. Within its borders, the 81-hectare park is home to Garry oak and Douglas fir ecosystems, rare plants and iconic blooms such as camas. “It’s a reasonably intact ecosystem and it’s within walking distance of 25,000 people,� says Roy Fletcher, a member of the Friends of Beacon Hill Park Society. The non-profit group is dedicated to preserving natural and cultural spaces within the park. It’s a task not without its challenges, as more people come into the space, either to visit by day or camp by night, Fletcher says. The natural space attracts wildlife to the park, including bald eagles, herons and Cooper’s hawks. Ducks and one determined otter call the man-made lakes home. The sundial sits in the The Beacon Hill Children’s centre of the Life Garden Farm hosts more domesticated in Beacon Hill Park. It animals, such as goats and was installed in 1947, potbelly pigs. Noisy peacocks 10 years after the garden roam the area at will. was built.

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Visitors are drawn to the putting green, nearby cricket pitch and sports fields, as well as the walking paths. There are two playgrounds and a small water park for younger visitors. “It gets children into the park,” Fletcher says. “And when it gets children in the park, their parents come too.”

With enough plants to satisfy the naturalists, Beacon Hill offers a rich past for historians as well. Designated as a park in 1859, the land was traditionally used by the Songhees people. By 1890, Fountain Lake and the first bandstand were constructed and a small zoo opened. Winston Churchill planted

a hawthorn tree there in 1929, the same year the open-air checkerboard house was created. The world’s tallest totem pole crafted from a single log went up in 1956 and can still be seen from the Dallas Road side of the park. For more information about Beacon Hill Park, please visit www.friendsofbeaconhillpark.ca.

Longtime volunteer Sheenagh Morrison, left, holds newborn goats at the Beacon Hill Park Children’s Farm. Likely searching for food in the water, a lone crow appears to be checking its reflection in a pond in the park.

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BY ARNOLD LIM

ell known as one of the best places to experience the great outdoors, the Capital Region has long attracted outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy taking a more hands-on approach to the scenery. “I have always been an outdoors person and climbing is one of those things that gets you outdoors,� says Eric Goodwin of the Left and right: Avid Climbers Access Society of B.C. “Being near the ocean is climber Kimanda nice. To be able to climb up high and have a view out over the Jarzebiak traverses ocean – that is one nice thing about Victoria.� the cliffs above Goodwin has been climbing the crags of Southern Fleming Beach in Vancouver Island for five years. He makes regular stops at Esquimalt. Above: the cliffs and rock faces of Fleming Beach, Mount Wells and Jarzebiak chalks her East Sooke. He admits that such vertical journeys are not hands before a climb. without their pitfalls. “There is always that aspect of danger, of getting hurt,� he says. “You always have to push yourself just outside your boundary as you climb harder and harder routes.� Despite this, Goodwin hasn’t had any major injuries and believes with qualified instruction, climbing is a safe sport. Veteran climber Kimanda Jarzebiak is a certified climbing instructor and has scaled many difficult routes, her chalky hands clinging to bare rock faces high in the air. She runs a public affairs consulting group when she isn’t traversing the rocky bluffs of Victoria. “Climbing is one of those rare sports that challenges a person intellectually and physically,� says Jarzebiak, a climber for 16 years. “It is not just about how to get to the top of something, it is about unlocking a sequence of moves.� Those moves have taken her from stadiums in Shanghai to the mountains of South America and Europe, but the avid climber calls Victoria home. “You are basically cheating gravity,� she said. “It is continual stimulation. There is never a point where you have done everything or achieved everything. There is always something more challenging or new to try.�

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Empress’ tea-time brings out the stars

T

Rob Anderson and Janet Pavesic enjoy afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. The tea is popular with Greater Victoria residents as well as tourists, celebrities and royalty.

here are few activities that better encapsulate the Victoria experience than taking afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. That’s probably why celebrities, dignitaries and blue-blooded royalty rarely pass up the opportunity to do so when they are in town. The Empress maintains an impressive list of “signature guests� to prove it, ranging from actors Pamela Anderson and John Wayne to the Queen of England and the King of Siam. Star visits date back almost to the hotel’s opening in 1908. At that time the British Empire was still a far-reaching concern and the most noteworthy visits came from the royal family. The handsome, iconic Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), was long remembered for causing a stir when he took tea and then attended a gala in the Crystal Ballroom in 1919. Fifty years later, memories of the occasion in Victoria were fresh enough for one obituary to read “Mrs. Thornley-Hall dies. Prince of Wales singled her out.� The imperial appeal of the Empress also extended to the elite of Hollywood and many movie stars and starlets

Best best of the

They top the Best of the City list almost every year. So this year, we profile some businesses and organizations that simply are the best.

regularly make the tea-time pilgrimage. Shirley Temple was one of the first, coming amidst a swirl of speculation that she was here to flee kidnappers. The rumours were helped by two burly bodyguards who were posted in the room across from hers and kept their door open 24/7. After more than a century, tea time at the Empress has not gone out of fashion. Recently Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Jennifer Connelly and Donald Sutherland added their names to the list of “signature guests.� During the Vancouver Olympics, the hosts of NBC’s Today Show filmed an afternoon tea segment. For those looking for a chance to spot a celebrity or rub elbows with high society, tea time at the Empress remains the place to be.

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Butchart Gardens remains one of Greater Victoria’s must-see attractions

Tourists walk past flowers in bloom in the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens on a sunny summermorning.

A

Best best

sked why Butchart Gardens is once again the best tourist destination in Victoria, spokesperson Graham Bell prefers to let others do the talking. “Go online to Trip Advisor. There are so many things I can say about what makes us No. 1, but go look on Trip Advisor, because that’s our visitors saying we’re deserving of that spot.” With more than 100 positive reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars, Butchart Gardens is head and shoulders above any other tourist destination in Greater Victoria. “We’ve been around for 106 years, and generations of families have grown up being taken as little children to the gardens,” Bell says. “We’ve got a great ‘wow’ factor from people who come here. (The gardens have) expansive views and it’s extremely well maintained.”

of the

But Bell acknowledges there’s a sort of intrigue about the gardens that draws people from all over the world. “Some people feel we must have little night fairies doing all the work because when people arrive in the morning, it’s neat and tidy and there are only a few people working peacefully in the gardens.” Those night fairies are actually 50 full-time gardeners who plant bulbs and maintain the existing flora that continues to wow visitors. The 22 hectare (55-acre) site attracts nearly a million visitors a year, Bell says. Open all year round, Butchart Gardens

provides guests with a unique experience every time they come. The seasons dictate what flowers are in bloom and the weather and time of day provide different perspectives. “We do get a lot of people coming back at night or the next day, having spent an entire day here already. Visitors come back to experience the different personality of the gardens with the night illuminating them,” says Bell. But the best way to describe the gardens is to do as Bell suggests and read the comments from visitors. The gardens are “a dream come true. It was everything I expected and more,” says Trip Advisor user EdenScapes1. “It doesn’t matter what time of the year you go, it is breath taking.” Anyone who’s ever visited Butchart Gardens would be hard-pressed to argue otherwise.

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Art gallery reaches out to community

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t’s where Emily Carr lives on. Where fascinating and sometimes bizarre creations from Japan settle. Where surrealism is reality. Readers have voted the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria the city’s favourite gallery since the first Best of the City 16 years ago. Gradually-evolving exhibitions, along with the permanent Carr collection, draw tourists and locals of the alike to the 121-yearold mansion that houses the gallery. Under the scrutiny of Asian art curator Barry Till, the gallery’s Asian collection has been recognized as the No. 2 spot in all of Canada. A Chinese bell, cast during the Ming dynasty, resides in the gallery. The addition of the Asian garden, which hosts North America’s only Japanese Shinto shrine, serves to solidify AGGV’s prominence in the art world. What was once the expansive quarters of the Spencer family, nestled among several gardens, tennis courts and stables, has been transformed into a mecca of Vancouver Island and B.C. art. The William Ridgeway Wilson-built home was donated to the founder and first director of the

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AGGV, Colin Graham, in 1951 by Sarah Spencer. Graham died in February at the age of 94. When Graham started the AGGV, it housed just six pieces. But years of hard work balancing contemporary and traditional styles – along with three expansions – resulted in the current collection of approximately 17,000 pieces. In part, it’s the gallery’s flexibility toward art, integrating music and therefore culture with its visual instalments, that has helped AGGV make a name for itself among Greater Victorians. Jazz at the Gallery in early 2010 brought five jazz groups inside to complement the static art with

their creative sounds. Jon Tupper, director and CEO Urbanite got of the Art Gallery of Greater Japanese-inspired Victoria, stands cocktails flowing with artworks from the alongside a DJ’s mix show SMASH. of beats. And, the AGGV reaches out to young people. Whether that’s by bringing art into classrooms and engaging students in interpretations, offering art mentorships with students, or offering free admission to 24 Victoria-area high school students each year, the gallery is reaching out to the community, making it a beloved fixture in the city.

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Locally produced Red Barn goes to the grassroots to feed consumers – and top the Best of the City survey

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Erica Sweetland, left, and Halie Gill showcase some of the fresh produce on offer at the Red Barn Market in West Saanich.

ictorians’ appetite for locally grown, sustainable food is swelling every year. That might help explain the success of the Red Barn chain of farmers markets, even in these tough economic times. By specializing in bakery products, produce, meat and dairy – all farmed and grown on Vancouver Island – Red Barn’s inventory is inching closer to meeting the stringent criteria of the elusive 100-mile diet. “It was kind of a surprise when we bought the place just how much is grown locally,� says Peter Hansen, who along with three others purchased the three Red Barn locations a year ago. Almost 90 per cent of their breads and baked goods are from Victoria’s own Portofino Bakery, while more than half of their meats and dairy products come from companies in the Cowichan Valley, such as Island Farmhouse Poultry and Quest Beef. Local fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, are much more “weather-driven,� Hansen explains, affecting their availability.

Best best of the

There are a number of farmers markets in Victoria – the Root Cellar and Moss Street Market spring to mind. But with the former specializing in fresh produce, and the latter a festive place of community gathering, Red Barn settles comfortably into a niche. The small chain’s new owners sense the opportunity and right now their aim is to expand, expand, expand. They are increasing their inventory at such a rate that it is spilling out onto the patios, where more of their business is being done. They’re also planning on opening a fourth location somewhere on the West Shore within the next 18 months. “Our goal is to support communities, and wherever possible, a local market,� says Hansen. “It’s grassroots, and it’s good for the consumer.�

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Making a splash Symphony Splash remains one of Victoria’s marquee summer events

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ith bells clanging, cannons booming and fireworks bursting, Victoria’s Symphony Splash returns to Victoria’s Inner Harbour on the August long weekend. This year’s Splash celebrates the Canadian Navy Centennial. As part of the salute to our servicemen and women, the Naden Band will open the performance and incorporate a number of its musical pieces into the program. Two ships from Maritime Pacific Command are expected to dock in the Inner Harbour and offer tours to the public. With the cancellation of a number of other summer festivals such as the Luminara Lantern Festival, this year’s Splash is shaping

Best best of the

up to be “the marquee event of the summer,� spokesperson Bethany Wilson said. “It’s a really iconic event that is unique to Victoria and celebrates what makes Victoria great,� she said. This year’s festival features more activities in the kids zone and an enlarged instrument petting zoo, one of the favourite attractions. “It will be a great way to spend the afternoon.� For those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Symphony Splash, it is a night of food, music and live entertainment in the heart of Victoria. The centrepiece is a performance by the Victoria

Thousands gather in the Inner Harbour for the annual Symphony Splash concert.

Symphony on a barge moored just off the Causeway in the Inner Harbour. Each year the Symphony plays a variety of popular and classical music, but it’s always capped off with Tchaikovsky’s explosive 1812 Overture, a piece that celebrates

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event of its kind in North America. It also helps that it happens right in the heart of Victoria’s downtown on the Sunday of the B.C. Day weekend, when it’s safe to count on the weather. Rain has only cancelled the event once in its 20 years.

Napoleon’s defeat in Russia. The Splash is billed as the “largest outdoor symphony event in Canada� and regularly attracts more than 40,000 spectators. Its popularity is partly because of its uniqueness: it is the only floating symphony

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f there’s one reason golfers and tourists alike are repeatedly drawn to Bear Mountain’s golf courses, it’s the service. Once again, Bear Mountain has been voted the region’s best 18-hole golf course by readers. From the free valet parking, to the imposing views, and immediate car-to-cart golf bag service, Bear Mountain has nailed the concept of treating golfers right. “We still fight the perception that we’re a private course,� Kerri Moore, director of marketing said. In carts stocked with GPS screens and bottled water, golfers drive to the first tee of one of Bear Mountain’s two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses – Mountain and Valley – but only after a quick intro to the landscape and a GPS tutorial from another

Tony Harris, head pro at Bear Mountain, tries out the Valley golf course.

Best best

course beat in that regard. On a driving tour of the course, it’s normal to see two dozen deer, said Olympic View general manager Randy Frank. There’s also the chance you’ll spot bald eagles or the odd wild turkey. Olympic View’s cart path winds over rocky bluffs, through wet rainforests and alongside a cascading waterfall on the 17th hole that serves as a backdrop for 50 weddings each year. Narrow or staccato fairways that can drop off dramatically make Olympic View a shotmaker’s course, Frank added. Peak-season weekend fees are $79 at Olympic View and $149 at Bear Mountain.

of the

staffer. Built last summer, the Valley course has some growing-in to do before it can challenge the Mountain course – or to Best of the City’s runnerup course, Olympic View. Mind-boggling undulations in the Valley course’s fairways flow toward big, fast greens that are deceptively difficult to attain. All around, old-growth forest opens up to reveal panoramic views of the Skirt Mountain area. CPGA head pro Tony Harris deems the Valley course a seven out of 10 for difficulty, while assigning the Mountain course a 10 out of 10. The Valley course is slightly underdeveloped, because of its age. Olympic View has Bear Mountain’s newborn

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AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2010

The Best of the City 2010 LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT Best place for Afternoon Tea 1) The Fairmont Empress 2) White Heather Tea Room 3) The Blethering Place Tea Room

Best place to walk your dog 1) Dallas Road 2) Beacon Hill Park 3) Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

Best place to meet a mate 1) Dallas Road 2) Starbucks 3) Thrifty Foods

Best Tourist Attraction 1) The Butchart Gardens 2) Royal BC Museum 3) The Inner Harbour

Best Day Trip 1) Salt Spring Island 2) East Sooke Park 3) Chemainus

Best Free Fun 1) Beacon Hill Park 2) The Inner Harbour 3) Dallas Road

Best place to Worship

Best Shop for Antiques

Best Consignment Shop

1) St. Andrews Cathedral 2) Christ Church Cathedral 3) Glad Tidings Victoria

1) Lunds Auction & Appraisal Specialists 2) Kilshaw’s Auctioneers Ltd 3) Vanity Fair Antique & Collectibles Mall

1) Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana 2) My Sister’s Closet 3) Leche’s

Best Venue for Live Entertainment

1) Bolen Books 2) Munro’s Books 3) Chapters

Best Museum 1) Royal BC Museum 2) Royal London Wax Museum 3) The Maritime Museum of British Columbia

Best Used Bookstore

Best Annual Festival

Best Flower Shop

Best Used Car Dealership 1) Galaxy Motors 2) Metro Lexus Toyota 3) Howie’s Car Corral

1) Russell Books 2) Penelope’s Book Stop 3) Sorensen Books

1) Luminara 2) The Great Canadian Beer Festival 3) ICA Folk Fest

1) Poppies The Island Florist 2) Brown’s The Florist 3) Flowers on Top

Best Art Gallery

Best Garden Shop

1) Art Gallery of Greater Victoria 2) Winchester Galleries 3) The Avenue Gallery

1) Gardenworks 2) Marigold Nurseries 3) Dig This

SHOPPING

Best Thrift Store

1) The Vitamin Shop 2) Lifestyle Markets 3) Popeye’s

1) Metro Lexus Toyota 2) Campus Honda 3) Jenner Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd

Best Bookstore

1) The Royal Theatre 2) Save on Foods Memorial Centre 3) Sugar Night Club

Best Shop for Nutritional Supplements

Best New Car Dealership

Best for Motorcycles/Scooters 1) Action Motorcycles 2) SG Power 3) Steve Drane Harley Davidson

Best Bicycle Shop 1) Oak Bay Bicycles 2) Russ Hay’s 3) Fort Street Cycle

Best for your Pets 1) Bosley’s 2) Pets West 3) Pet Smart

1) Value Village 2) Women in Need 3) The Salvation Army

Best for Appliances 1) Sears 2) Trail Appliances 3) The Brick

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AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2010

The Best of the City 2010 Best for outdoor gear

Best Fashion Boutique

Best Furniture Store (chain)

Best Seafood

1) Mountain Equipment Co-op 2) Robinson’s Outdoor Store 3) Capital Iron

1) CUSP 2) Breeze Boutique 3) Still Life

1) The Brick 2) Sears 3) Ashley Furniture

Best for Hardware

Best Home Improvement Store

Best for Pool/Spa

1) Pescatores Seafood & Grill 2) Nautical Nellies Steak & Seafood House 3) Chandlers Seafood Restaurant

1) Home Hardware 2) Capital Iron 3) The Home Depot

1) The Home Depot 2) Rona 3) Home Hardware

1) Borton’s Spas & Pools Ltd 2) Vintage Hot Tubs 3) Twilight Hot Tubs

Best Kitchen Shop

Best for Window Coverings

Best for Barbecues

1) Muffet & Louisa 2) Capital Iron 3) Haute Cuisine Cookware

1) Ruffell & Brown Interiors 2) The Home Depot 3) Sears

1) Capital Iron 2) The Home Depot 3) Canadian Tire

Best for Shoes

Best for Flooring

Best for Musical Instruments

1) Aldo 2) The Cobbler 3) She She Shoes

1) Home Depot 2) Fuzzy Wuzzy Carpets 3) Hourigans Carpet and Linos Ltd

Best for Lighting

Best Department Store

1) Long & McQuade Musical Instruments 2) Larsen Music 3) Tom Lee Music

1) McLaren Lighting 2) Illuminations Lighting Solutions 3) Pine Lighting Ltd

1) The Bay 2) Sears 3) Walmart

Best Farmers Market

Best Furniture Store(independent) 1) Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress 2) Sager’s Home Living 3) Monarch Furnishings

Victoria!

Thank You

46 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

1) Red Barn Market 2) Moss St Community Market 3) The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer

RESTAURANTS/ FOOD & DRINK Best for a First Date 1) The Tapa Bar 2) Milestones Grill & Bar 3) Ferris’ Upstairs Oyster Bar

Best for Steak 1) The Keg Steakhouse & Bar 2) Prime Steakhouse 3) Brasserie L’ecole

Best Chinese 1) Ming’s Restaurant 2) J&J Wonton Noodle House 3) Sampan Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Best Greek 1) Eugene’s Greek Restaurant 2) Il Greco Pizzeria 3) Millos Restaurant

Best Italian 1) Il Terrazzo Ristorante 2) Pagliacci’s 3) Zambri’s

Best Japanese 1) The Japanese Village Restaurant 2) Azuma Sushi 3) Shizen Sushi Japanese Restaurant

Great Customers D

Best Grocery Store

Best Cooki

Best Bulk Foods Store

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2010

The Best of the City 2010 Best Mexican

Best Vegetarian/Vegan

Best Ice Cream or Gelato

Best Patio Bar

1) Café Mexico 2) Hernande’z Cocina 3) Adriana’s Cocina Mexicana

1) Rebar 2) Green Cuisine 3) Lotus Pond

1) Canoe Brewpub Marina 2) The Rooftop Surf Club 3) Glo Europub & Grill

Best Vietnamese

Best “all you can eat”

1) Beacon Drive-In 2) Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen 3) Sweet Memories Ice Cream

1) Pho Vy Vietnamese Restaurant 2) Saigon Night 3) Le Petit Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant 3) Pho Hoa Restaurant

1) Raymond’s Restaurant 2) Oak Bay Marina Restaurant 3) Purple Garden Chinese Restaurant

Best Wings 1) 1550 Fifteen Fifty’s Restaurant 2) Cactus Club Café 3) 5th Street Bar & Woodfired Grill

1) Shark Club Bar & Grill 2) The Podium Sports Grill 3) The Stickey Wicket Pub & Restaurant

Best Indian

Best Business Lunch

Best Fish & Chips

Best for a Martini

1) 2) 3) 3) 3)

1) Red fish Blue fish 2) Barb’s Fish & Chips 3) Haultain Fish & Chips

1) The Mint 2) Vista 18 3) Veneto

Best Burger

Best Pub

1) The Pink Bicycle 2) Red Robin 3) White Spot

1) Irish Times 2) Bard & Banker 3) Spinnaker’s

Best Pizza

Best for Scotch

1) Ali Baba Pizza 2) Pizzeria Prima Strada 3) Romeo’s

1) Bard & Banker 2) Irish Times 3) The Bengal Lounge

1) Da Tandoor Restaurant 2) Sabri Indian Cuisine 3) The Spice Jammer

Best Thai 1) Baan Thai 2) Little Thai Place 3) Siam Thai Restaurant

Best Family Restaurant 1) White Spot 2) Red Robin 3) Jasmine’s Restaurant

Best for Breakfast

Cactus Club Café Glo Europub & Grill Milestones Moxie’s Classic Grill Veneto

Best Chocolatier 1) Rogers’ Chocolates 2) Purdy’s Chocolates 3) Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut

Best Coffee/Latte/Cappuccino 1) Starbucks 2) Tim Hortons 3) Serious Coffee

Best Sports Bar

Best for Karaoke 1) Sopranos Bar & Grill 2) Lotteria Cafe 3) The Loghouse Pub

1) The Blue Fox Cafe 2) John’s Place Restaurant 3) Floyd’s Diner

Deserve the Best!

ing Class

Best Produce Store

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 47

Best Place to Meet a Mate

AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2010

The Best of the City 2010 FOOD SERVICE

Best Wine Store

Best Grocery Store 1) Thrifty Foods 2) The Market Stores 3) Fairway Market

Best Bulk Food Store 1) Costco 2) Thrifty Foods 3) Save-on-Foods

Best Bakery 1) Cobs Bread 2) Dutch Bakery 3) Wildfire Organic Bakery & Cafe

Best specialty deli 1) Italian Food Imports 2) Charelli’s Cheese Shop and Delicatessen 3) Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen

Best Local Brewery/Winery 1) Phillips Brewing Company 2) Spinnakers Brewpub 3) Vancouver Island Brewery

Best Liquor Store 1) BC Liquor Stores 2) Liquor Plus 3) Hillside Liquor Store

1) Everything Wine 2) Spinnakers Spirit Merchants 3) BC Liquor Stores

Best Cooking Class 1) Chef Heidi Fink 2) Camosun College 3) Thrifty Foods

Best for making your own wine 1) Cook St Village Wineworks 2) The Village Winery 3) The Thirsty Vintner

Best U-Brew 1) Hamilton Hops and Grapes 2) Stellar Wines 3) Bedford Brewing Co

Best for Produce 1) The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer 2) Thrifty Foods 3) Red Barn Market

Best Organic Grocer 1) Lifestyle Markets 2) The Market Stores 3) The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer

SERVICE

Best Hair Salon

Best Hotel 1) The Fairmont Empress 2) Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort 3) Hotel Grand Pacific

Best Boutique Hotel 1) Abigail’s Hotel 2) The Magnolia Hotel 3) Hotel Rialto

Best Barbershop 1) Jimmy’s Barber Shop 2) Status Barbershop 3) Maxwell’s Barber Shop

Best Spa 1) Willow Stream at the Fairmont Empress 2) Le Spa Sereine 3) Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa

Best Manicure 1) Alchemy Hair Design and Spa 2) Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Empress 3) Le Spa Sereine

Best Pedicure 1) Alchemy Hair Design and Spa 2) Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Empress 3) Le Spa Sereine

1) Alchemy Hair Design and Spa 2) Aveda Institute 3) The Lab

Best Shoe Repair 1) Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic 2) Hillside Shoe Clinic 3) Oak Bay Cobbler

Best for Mac 1) 1) 2) 3)

Restart Computer Inc Soho Computer Services Future Shop London Drugs

Best for PC 1) Future Shop 2) London Drugs 3) Mother Computers

Best Pharmacy 1) London Drugs 2) Shoppers Drug Mart 3) Pharmasave

Best Optical/Eyewear 1) Goo Goo Goggles 2) Costco 3) Iris

Best Place for Oil Change 1) Mr. Lube 2) Great Canadian Oil Change 3) Pennzoil

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AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF VICTORIA NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, SAANICH NEWS AND GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE, MAY 2010

The Best of the City 2010 Best Automotive (independent)

1) London Drugs 2) Walmart 3) Costco

1) Searles Auto Repair 2) Parkside Motors 3) Fernwood Auto Inc

Best Retirement Residence

Best place to improve your smile

1) Berwick Retirement Communities 2) Amica Mature Lifestyles 3) Sunrise Senior Living 1) Wet Cleaner 2) Individual Dry Cleaners Ltd 3) Classic Drycleaners and Laundromats

1) Urge Tattoos 2) Pair O Dice Tattoos and Piercings 3) Tattoo Zoo

Best Tire Store 1) Kal Tire 2) Canadian Tire 3) Big O Tires

1) Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club 2) Olympic View Golf Club 3) Cordova Bay Golf Course

1) Rosemary Quinn – Fitness Works 2) Darcy Dommett – Studio 4 Athletics 3) Jared Sato

Best 9-hole or Par-3 Golf Course

KIDS

1) Highland Pacific Golf 2) Henderson Park Golf Course 3) Royal Oak Golf Club

Best Bank/Financial Institution 1) Coast Capital Savings 2) TD Canada Trust 3) RBC Royal Bank

Best Kids’ Attraction 1) Beacon Hill Children’s Farm 2) Victoria Bug Zoo 3) Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

Best Swimming Pool 1) Saanich Commonwealth Place 2) Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre 3) Oak Bay Recreation Centre

1) Coast Capital Savings 2) TD Canada Trust 3) RBC Royal Bank

1) Canadian Tire 2) Midas 3) Mr. Lube

Best Personal Trainer

Best 18-hole Golf Course

1) Weight Watchers 2) Curves 3) Jenny Craig

Best Place for a Mortgage

Best Automotive (chain)

1) MokSana Yoga Centre 2) The Yoga Shala 3) Moksha Yoga Victoria

1) YMCA-YWCA Greater Victoria 2) Oak Bay Recreation Centre 3) Studio 4 Athletics

Best Weight Loss Centre

Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor

Best Yoga Studio

Best Gym

1) Juan De Fuca Veterinary Clinic 2) Hillside Veterinary Hospital 2) Kindred Spirits Veterinary Hospital 3) McKenzie Veterinary Services

1) Miles Plumbing Services 2) Mr. Rooter Plumbing 3) Roto Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service

1) Studio 4 Athletics 2) Peterec’s Martial Arts Centre 3) Olson’s Gym Martial Arts & Boxing

1) Oak Bay Recreation Centre 2) Saanich Commonwealth Place 3) Westshore Parks & Recreation

Best Pet Clinic

Best Plumber

Best for Martial Arts

Best Rec Centre

1) Pacific Coast Dental 2) Academy Dental 3) Saanich Dental Group

Best Dry Cleaner

RECREATION

Best Kids Clothing Store 1) Gap Kids 2) Please Mum 3) Gymboree

Best for Dance Lessons 1) de Pfyffer Dance Victoria 2) Arthur Murray Dance School 3) Broad Street Dance

Best Camp for Kids 1) Y Camp Thunderbird 2) Camp Imadene 3) Camp Pringle

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Life’s a beach in Victoria

W

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: 1) Walkers stop to take in the early morning sunrise along from Oak Bay’s Willows Beach. 2) The early morning sun reflecting off the wet sand at low tide along the beach at Gyro Park silhouettes a pair of walkers and their dog. 3) An aerial view of Gonzales Bay, a popular beach for area students. 4) Silhouetted by the morning sun, a father and his two sons take in the view while standing in the shallow water off of the beach at Witty’s Lagoon.

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 51

ith 3,226 km of coastline, it’s hardly surprising Vancouver Island has so many breathtaking beaches. At the Island’s southern tip, surrounded on three sides by water, there are beaches of every kind: ocean beaches, lake beaches, family beaches and party beaches. Beaches where you can whale-watch, beaches you can scuba dive off and beaches in a bird sanctuary. On hot Saturdays this summer, the thought of visiting one of these beaches is likely to occur at some point to every one of Victoria’s 330,000 inhabitants, and you can be sure that an awful lot of them will act on it. Everyone who has spent a summer in Victoria knows to bring the family to the sandy shores of Cadboro Bay in Saanich or Willows beach in Oak Bay. If, on the other hand, you are looking for mobs of teens, Gonzalez Beach and Thetis Lake are the places to be. So for those wanting to escape the crowds, travelling a little outside the city can reap huge rewards. On the West Shore, just west of Sooke, sandy stretches abound. China Beach, French Beach, Mystic Beach and Sombrio Beach – among others – all offer rugged seclusion, views of wildlife and old growth forest, and the rhythmic crash of Pacific surf. Some may be surprised to find that there are swimmable lakes around Victoria that elude the attention of the masses, like Langford and Glen lakes on the West Shore, or Prior and Mackenzie lakes clustered around busy Thetis Lake. Even hidden in plain sight in Gordon Head you can find lovely spots at Sayward Beach, Telegraph Bay and Cordova Bay. Located in the District of Saanich, these are still some of the only beaches in B.C. where fires are permitted, granted that you have a $10 permit. So this summer when you slap on the sun screen and throw on the swimming trunks, explore what the region has to offer, and you will find exactly the beach you are looking for.

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ou don't have to be a seafarer to revel in the beauty of a tall ship. Every three years, the Victoria Tall Ships Society invites landlubbers and salts alike into the Inner Harbour to share the excitement of traditionally-rigged vessels. The committee is in the middle of securing boats for the 2011 festival, but visitors can expect to be blown away, says society executive director Jeannie Fuller. They have already confirmed the Russian ship Nadezhda, a fully rigged, 110-metre vessel. Schooners, the Adventurous, from Port Townsend, and the Maple Leaf, from Victoria, are also confirmed. "We have without question one of the premier harbours for this type of an event," Fuller says. "People will have the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of that seafaring lifestyle as it was in Victoria hundreds of years ago." For four days, the harbour hosts a battle field for mock cannon wars, a pirate school for small sailors and more. Wharf side, upwards of 30 boats

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have bobbed in past years, hailing from Russia, India and other far away seas. In 2008, vessels ranged from eightmetre long boats from Sooke to the 88.5-metre American three-masted barque USCG Eagle. The Victoria Tall Ships Society was formed in 2003 to host the American Sail Training Association Tall Ships Challenge Race in 2005. The boats circuit the seas, stopping in Victoria, the Great Lakes and Halifax on a three-year cycle. When Victoria hosted the festival in 2008, more than 32,500 people bought tickets. When the anchors were pulled and the last ship set sail, the festival infused more than $5 million into the local economy, Fuller says. "It's really an economic generator," she says. "That's pretty substantial at a time when tourism is just kicking off its season." The tall ships are headed to the Great Lakes this year, before returning to Victoria for the third time from June 9 to 12, 2011. To learn more and for ship announcements go to www. victoriatallships.ca.

Making an artful impact

Y

oung visual artists can be found in mainstream commercial galleries in Victoria but also in off-the-beatentrack, artist-run galleries. Hailey Finnigan, 24, has shown at artist-run galleries such as Deluge, Xchanges and the Ministry of Casual Living. Having a sense of humour is an important aspect of her work. “At our age,” she says about her co-operative work with artist Rachel Evans, 28, “we can’t address giant things like life, love, death. So we make art about what we know and what we’re trying to figure out and a lot of that involves humour.” These days Finnigan is trying to figure out sex. She and Evans became intrigued with an original 1972 edition of The Joy of Sex. “We were like, ‘this is so unlike sex today, how it’s portrayed on TV and in books – it’s so tender.” The pair decided to work together “to draw tender, reciprocal, awesome sex.” Starting with extravagantly thick paper, Finnigan worked on small Hailey Finnigan takes a line drawings of couples. break from drawing at Then Evans stepped in, her home. She and her using sweeps of bleach to painting partner are re- create texture and context. The two don’t discuss creating/interpreting scenes from the book ahead of time what Evans The Joy of Sex, using will do with each of pencil and a Finnigan’s drawings. “We know that in maybe 20 bleaching solution.

tries, one will be really awesome,” she said. A University of Victoria visual arts grad, Finnigan works in the university’s

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communications department by day. She doesn’t yet have anything booked for their Joy of Sex redux project. “It would probably have to be for adults only,” she said with a grin. Abe Murley’s oils of urban life don’t need an X-rating. The Emily Carr University of Art and Design graduate’s intense scenes include a mixed bag of bus riders, a family at a dinner table and even a winking self-portrait that were exhibited at Winchester Galleries on Humboldt Street this spring. By day, Murley, 35, works for a local truck rental business. But in a Rock Bay studio he paints in what he describes as “a process of reflecting on my life and examining things in my life, the world around me and myself.” From photo collages he provides disjointed interpretations of moments. “It’s a way of experimenting with space and composition. I like that it breaks up perspectives as opposed to reinforcing the picture as an illusionary space. I like the painting to be a painting first of all, as opposed to an illusion.”

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 53

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54 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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Royal Theatre perseveres

A

t the start of the 20th century, Victoria was a thriving, growing city full of prosperity and its share of

culture. And when the old Victoria Theatre burned down in 1910, a group of businessmen decided to build a professional brick theatre to reflect the prestige and opulence of their city. It was quite an affair when the 1,400seat Royal Theatre welcomed throngs of well-heeled Victorians to its first presentation. In 1914, Canada entered the First World War and fortunes changed for Victoria and the Royal Theatre. Many Victorians, including the shareholders in the theatre, went off to war. With interests focused elsewhere and the city’s fortunes shifting, the owners lost financial control and within a few years the Royal Theatre went bankrupt. Over the next 30 years the Royal Theatre would be bought and sold nine times until it was finally purchased by Famous Players Theatres in July 1946. The Royal re-opened as a movie house but continued to host the occasional live performance up until 1972. The Victoria Symphony Orchestra

has called the Royal home since 1932. Having the orchestra as a fixture and continuing with the presentation of other performances ensured that the theatre could hold onto its theatrical equipment. As the Royal approached 60 years of age looking a bit worse for wear, Famous Players introduced plans for its new movie theatre at Yates and Blanshard streets, once again putting the Royal’s and the symphony’s future in doubt. With the theatre’s technical equipment intact and only a face lift required, it was agreed between Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay – with input from the Capital Regional District – that they should purchase the building so that it could continue as a theatre. The Royal Theatre was designated a site of national historic significance in 1987. It has undergone renovations in recent years, including an expansion of its original foyer, but the auditorium, with its classic Rococo/Renaissance revival style dÊcor, was left. The CRD continues to manage the Royal Theatre through the Royal and McPherson Theatre Society.

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 55

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Sisters fouryear-old Grace Bernier, left, and two-yearold Hannah grow impatient waiting for the start of the Buccaneer Days parade in Esquimalt. The festival celebrates Esquimalt’s prominence on the sea and has endless activities for the young and young at heart. Arrgh!

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or many Victorians, the argument over best news anchor begins and ends with Tony Parsons. Global’s West Coast voice for 35 years, Parsons packed his bags and headed for the ferries in March to leave the pace of the mainland, for the gardens of Victoria. “I always said if I had a chance to do my job in Victoria, I would do it,â€? Parsons said. “It took me 35 years but I finally made it.â€? For Parsons, part of living in Victoria is flying to the Mainland five times a week to anchor the five o’clock news for CBC. It is a hectic schedule, but it’s a sacrifice he is willing to make. “I just like a little less hustle and bustle. It is nice to have a place that is less frenetic.â€? When CHEK TV staff purchased their news station, it presented the 71-year-old journalist an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “It was precedent setting,â€? Parsons said. “(They) have enough fire in their belly to back up their own instincts with their money ‌ They made history.â€?

Tony Parsons: Victoria is a good fit.

Parsons took a chance by going with the decades-old station, which was in financial limbo at the time, but the dedication of its staff won him over. “I walked into the basement area where they are redoing the newsroom and the director who was directing the day before was laying carpet tile,� Parsons said with a laugh. “That is just a sign of the commitment.� Parsons matches that work ethic and plans to serve Greater Victoria residents for years to come. “Instinctively, it gives me a lot of pleasure to do what I do. They will probably have to carry me out of the studio. I have no plans to stop right now.�

! ! ! !

58 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

! Michelle Beelby

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 59

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Dave Laidlaw winds up to throw the weights Sunday at the Highland Games. The annual celebration of the Scots brings together heavy events, music, food and kilts, of course.

Gold, Silver & Bronze Award Winners

In the 2010 International WineMaker Competition

3

VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

Experience the joy of winemaking. Wine created by you.

60 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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A jogger pads along a colourfully decorated Ogden Point breakwater on a brilliant day in Victoria.

Getting the runaround in Victoria I

f you are a runner living in Greater Victoria, consider yourself lucky. The region has a huge number of fantastic running routes for people of every age and ability. Bill Taylor, manager of the Running Room on Douglas Street, notes that unlike the city of Richmond, which “is as flat as a pancake,” our area has a wide range of terrain and gradients, along with scenic waterfront everywhere. Since every corner of the Capital Region has great routes, selecting one to tackle depends on what you are looking for and where you live. Close to downtown, Dallas Road at the south end of Victoria is your best bet for breathtaking ocean vistas, fresh air and endless opportunities for people watching and socializing. Nearby Beacon Hill Park can be a good jump-off point for runs in almost any direction. Beach Drive will lead you into Oak Bay, which boasts many running routes and continuous beautiful waterfront. With moderate inclines, quiet streets and beautiful

character homes, Taylor’s favourite run takes him along Dallas Road (which becomes Hollywood Crescent, then Crescent Road) up Foul Bay Road and into Oak Bay via Oak Bay Avenue. Want a pleasant cross-country style jog? Look no further than the five-kilometre circuit

Thank You Victoria for Choosing

Victoria’s Choice V for fine Chinese Cuisine

1

VICTORIA NEWS

16th

9 % ! 2

1

VICTORIA NEWS

16th

Nominated for “Best Personal Trainer” Rosemary Quinn

9 % ! 2

Rosemary is the driving force behind Fitness Works Personal Training Ltd. Since 1988,she has motivated countless clients to reach their fitness goals and make lifestyle changes through nutrition and innovated exercise programs. And in 1996, she developed Victoria’s 1st One-On-One Personal Training private studio. She works with a team of trainers that have been hand picked for their dedication to fitness, excellent personal skills and enthusiastic dedication to improving the health of their clients. The emphasis at Fitness Works Personal Training Ltd. is fun, fitness and healthy eating habits with long term, individual goal settings and successful results. Maintaining great health and fitness in anyone’s life, regardless of your age, is the key to staying healthy and feeling good about yourself. Pre & post natal, active rehab, sport specific and nutritional counselling – there is a program and qualified trainer at Fitness Works for everyone. Respected in the fitness industry, Rosemary has received a number of awards for her Achievements in Fitness, Entrepreneurial Spirit Recognition and Quality Education Instructions through Fitness.

T. (250) 477-9699 info@fitness-works.com www.fitness-works.com

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 61

1321 Quadra St. at Johnson, Downtown Victoria Tel: (250) 385-4405 Fax: (250) 385-1392 Visit us online at www.mings.ca

around the outskirts of the University of Victoria. If you want a real challenge, the Mount Doug Parkway and the trails on Mount Doug itself offer steep gradients and challenging workouts. Trails at beautiful Elk and Beaver lakes in Saanich are flat and well maintained, and since they are packed dirt, are easy on the knees. For a more rugged trail experience, try the network of trails in the Gowlland-Tod Provincial Park in Central Saanich, a short distance from Butchart Gardens. As Taylor points out, it is important not to feel limited about where you can run: “Pretty much anywhere you can enjoy a walk through your surroundings, you can have a great run.”

Thank You Victoria

1

NEWS VICTORIA

h

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9 % ! 2

For Voting Us Best Of The City DON’T MISS

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WILD FIRE 62 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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Our fair city just wouldn’t be the same without the Classic Boat Festival. In 32 years of decorating Victoria’s waters with stunning vessels, the festival has become a summertime staple in the city. Judges award prizes to the best and oldest vessels in several categories. Shown here, the HMCS Oriole’s wind and weather chart.

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9:26 AM

Page 1

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 63

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Blenkinsop Valley

a lil’ country in the city

T

he Blenkinsop Valley is a precious landscape, even in an area blessed with so much spectacular geography. The municipality of Saanich has even recognized Blenkinsop as a heritage road. Surrounded by urban development and within minutes of the heart of the city, the valley offers a quick escape for residents seeking a little country air. There’s Galey’s Farm with its produce store offering a range of farm products all summer. However, Galey’s is also well-known for its fall corn maze, hay ride and Halloween haunted house. Across the street, nestled into the western slopes of Mount Douglas, Madrona Farm has been a family run

operation since 1952. The Land Conservancy is hoping to preserve the 27-acre farm as organic farmland forever. Some of the earliest homesteads in the Valley were bought in the early 1900s, such as William Mercer’s which still stands at 4366 Blenkinsop Rd. Cyclists, runners and walkers can also take advantage of the Centennial trail, which branches off from the Lochside Trail. Bird watchers will take delight in the chance to glimpse rare and interesting birds around Blenkinsop Lake. Golfers of any age can also check out the nine-hole Mount Doug golf course as well as an adjacent minigolf centre.

Authentic Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar Dine-in Pondside or Take-Out

64 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

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Pedal power

With June’s Bike to Work Week drawing out cyclists in droves, it’s little wonder Greater Victoria holds the crown as the cycling capital of Canada. The city has the climate, the culture and the infrastructure to encourage cycling virtually year-

Galloping Goose enthusiast Keith Finnie commutes from downtown Victoria to Colwood five days a week.

2l

YEARS

OF SUPPORTING YOU AND YOUR PETS

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2

VICTORIA NEWS

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Pets West

round, but it hasn’t always been that way. In 1993, the Capital Regional District had a mere 32 kilometres of bike lanes and no well-established regional trails. Bicycles as transportation weren’t top-of-mind for regional planners. Fifteen short years later, cycling for commuters, recreational sightseers and competitive athletes is part of the fabric of the city, in a self-re-enforcing cycle. The more municipalities and the Capital Regional District adds trails and bike lanes, the more cyclists are on the road and the more political muscle they wield. “In the 1970s, the number of cyclists on the road was small. There were no cycling facilities, no Goose,” says John Luton, a Victoria city councillor and long-time cycling advocate. “The second North American biking boom hit in 1990 and people in Victoria picked it up readily. Growth has been robust.” Indeed, the region now boasts 475 kilometres of paths, trails and roads with bike-friendly design. Cyclists make of 7.7 per cent of all afternoon commuter traffic. Between 2001 and 2006, cycling for work, shopping, errands and recreation jumped 40 per cent. Arguably, the biggest boon to recreational and commuter cycling was establishing the Goose and Lochside regional trails. Darren Marr, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, says the compact, relatively flat geography of the CRD and growing cycling infrastructure help re-enforce the cycling culture. More people are also choosing pedal power as a “green” lifestyle choice, he says, either reducing car usage or abandoning driving altogether. “Ideally we’d like to see the bike just as accepted as anything else for transportation,” Marr says. For more information go online to www.gvcc.bc.ca.

HarbouringDreams Victoria’s Inner Harbour is a place of activity, serenity and stunning vistas

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hether you’re attracted by architecture, First Nations history, a bustling harbour or natural ecosystems, the Songhees Point Seawalk promises panoramic views of much of what makes Victoria special. “I think the walk is amazing,” said William Dawe, a young man strolling down the walk with a lady on his arm. “It’s pretty romantic too, great for the after-date closer,” he winked. The walk extends from the Esquimalt end of the Johnson Street Bridge to the West Bay Marina. Starting at the eastern end of the walk, it quickly becomes apparent this is the best place to get a panoramic glimpse of the city’s diverse architecture. Like viewing a time lapse photo, the Edwardian Empress, 19th

century brick storefronts and futuristic condos coexist along the waterfront. Keep walking to Songhees Point and you will find a totem pole and plaque that commemorate the site as sacred to the Songhees First Nations, a sobering reminder of this land’s original inhabitants. At the point you’re rewarded with a clear view of the busy harbour – seaplanes take off, whale watching tours put to sea and the odd harbour ferries zoom every which way. Continuing along, the city recedes into the background. Far enough along the path leads you through the Matson Lands, the last Garry oak ecosystem in the Inner Harbour. In summer the camas bulbs bloom and the thickly branched oaks hang over the promenade. It’s an endangered ecosystem unique to southwest British Columbia. “It’s about peace,” says Rachael Holmgren who walks the seawall every day. After a stressful day at work or a sleepless night, a stroll along the seawalk is the perfect remedy, she says.

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Victoria fun outside the box

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traight from Ross Crockford, the man behind 2006’s Victoria: The Unknown City comes a delightful list of activities that will help remind you just why you live in our fair capital city. From float plane rides to a polo match or two, there’s a unique activity just waiting to be adored by locals. Chances are, you might learn something you never knew about your own city along the way. Here are four things you can do in Victoria that make this region unique: ) Fly in a classic floatplane. Did you know that Victoria was the first place in North America to have scheduled international airmail service? The pioneering aviation spirit survives: this is one of the few cities served by DeHavilland Beavers and Otters, the bush planes that conquered Canada’s North. They’re the most stylish way to reach downtown Seattle and Vancouver, or get a new perspective on our city. ) Visit a Dunsmuir castle. Victoria wouldn’t be the city it is today without the notorious Dunsmuir clan,

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who built the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, owned a fifth of Vancouver Island, and poured their coal-mine wealth into Craigdarroch and Hatley Park – two gargantuan estates that have since appeared in movies ranging from Little Women to X-Men 2. ) Take in an unusual sport. The Victoria Polo Club plays Sundays at 7161 Wallace Drive in Central Saanich. The South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club has the oldest grass courts in the world after Wimbledon, and they’re open to the public. Langford’s Western Speedway is the birthplace of “hit to pass” racing, an insane 115 km/h version of demolition derby that runs on Saturday nights. ) Feast on Island cuisine. Visit one of the numerous “pocket markets” around town. Ask your butcher for Cowichan Bay chicken and Metchosin lamb. The Roost Farm Bakery (9100 East Saanich Rd.) uses red spring wheat, grown out back, while Camille’s Restaurant downtown sets the standard for use of local ingredients.

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Making Canadians proud Navy’s presence here spotlighted during centennial

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n 100 years, the Canadian Navy has come a long way. From a tiny defence force at its formation in 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy reached maturity in the dark, frigid waters of the North Atlantic during the Second World War. Transformed by the Cold War to a small, professional organization with cutting-edge technology, today it is a world-class, blue-water navy that can protect and uphold international peace and stability in every corner of the world’s oceans. The Canadian Navy Centennial afforded the people of Victoria a unique opportunity to commemorate this history of service, with a range of high-profile celebration events. It began April 26 with the Maritime Security Conference, an event that drew more than 250 delegates from navies around the Pacific to discuss peace, security, piracy and disaster response. On May 4, the 100th anniversary of the act that founded the Naval Service, Victorians turned out in droves to see more than 3,000 sailors granted

THANK YOU VICTORIA for voting us “Best In The City�

the “Freedom The Naden Band of the City� and leads the Parade march through of Nations up downtown. Government Street The event as part of the fleet was followed review, held in by a moving June to help unveiling of the celebrate the navy “Homecoming� centennial. statue near Ship Point in the Inner Harbour. From June 9-14, an impressive fleet review, the largest ever on the North American Pacific coast, included our own naval vessels and others from the U.S., France, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. “Canada is a much more internationally engaged nation today,� says review co-ordinator Comm. Ian Wood, noting that’s evidenced by the increased interest from other countries.

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RIGHT OUR FEET under

Spindle whorls raise awareness of Victoria’s unique First Nations culture

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ou’ve probably seen them around the city. Markers, reminiscent of spinning tops, that commemorate “Places of Lekwungen.” They are not tops however, but enlarged spindle whorls – tools used to weave clothing and blankets by the Lekwungen, Victoria’s original Coast Salish inhabitants. The idea behind these markers was to remind people of what made this local culture so vibrant and unique. “I think in the western world we have a bias for big monuments,” says Grant Keddie, curator of archaeology at the Royal B.C. Museum. But the Lekwungen did not build many freestanding totem poles or large halls of the kind that many British Columbians associate with First Nations culture. Instead, they put their creative energy into fashioning spindle One of seven of Butch whorls that were Dick’s “Signs of Lekwungen” carved sculp- “deeply symbolic tures sits near the Inner visually,” Keddie says. The intricate carvings Harbour near the Laurel Point Inn. depict sea creatures,

thunderbirds and owls. The oldest date back over a millennium. When Coast Salish artist Butch Dick was commissioned in 2007 to create the artistic designs on the seven markers now located throughout downtown Victoria, he used the spindles in the collection of the Royal B.C. Museum to inspire his designs. The markers can be found at Songhees Point, Bastion Square, City Hall, the Lower Causeway, Beacon Hill Park, the Royal BC Museum and Laurel Point. Sadly, historians believe that a treasure trove of knowledge was lost in the hazy era after the Europeans’ first arrival. Outside of these seven marked sites, hardly any Lekwungen place names are still known. “Much of the evidence is piecemeal at best,” Keddie says. “That is why markers like these are so important. I’d like to see more (of them).” He says Dick’s markers will remind people of the history that lies just under their feet. “Every part of this landscape was used. There are archaeological sites in every bay around Victoria.”

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Local. Fresh. Sustainable. At Cactus Club Cafe we take freshness seriously. We buy locally whenever possible, and infuse seasonal ingredients into many of our dishes. From the BC berries sprinkled in our salads, to the lightly toasted Terra Bread on our succulent BBQ Duck Clubhouse, to the sashimi grade tuna in !"#$%"&'$%'(')*+$,'"-.($/00)1$!2$(.3$ coast of Vancouver, we truly justify our Green Table membership and Ocean Wise partnership. Sustainability is our commitment to the community and shopping local is our mission.

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Steve Tziouvris cooks up savoury souvlaki at the Greek Orthodox Church in Saanich. Greekfest goes on all weekend with lots of wonderful Greek food, live entertainment, a bake sale (starring loukoumades and baklava) and arts and crafts. This year, Greekfest happens the first week of September.

VICTORIA NEWS

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UNSUNG HEROES

Whether a coaching or working with the homeless, dedication and selflessness are the trademarks of Greater Victoria’s unsung heroes

D

BY ERIN CARDONE

ay, night, rain or shine, the true heroes of Victoria make the city tick. Many we don’t think about. Some we don’t know about. It’s the work these men and women do every day that improves the lives of our children, friends and the city’s most vulnerable population, often for the long term. Whether they’re paid for what they do or operating on donated time, it’s dedication and selflessness that set our unsung heroes apart from the pack. 777 The roles of parent, friend, confidant, teacher, disciplinarian and confidencebooster belong with coaches. After a long day’s work, these men and women dedicate their time and patience often standing in the rain on the sidelines or shivering at the ice arena. Whether or not their own child is on the team, coaches have a big responsibility. Chris Walt is one of hundredss of coaches in Greater Victoria The lessons children learn through sport self-confidence in kids. help shape the rest of their lives. Walt is just one example. Thousands of others “The coaching doesn’t differ between your kid and the other kids on the team,” says Chris Walt. have taken on the admirable task in all sports across Greater Victoria. He coaches both his boys’ – age seven and 11 – 777 baseball teams in summer and a soccer team in The YMCA Outreach van is a visible sign that fall and winter. people care about the well-being of Victoria’s “When you’re at the game, you’re doing it the street population. same for everybody.” The van is one tangible indicator of the many Walt coaches five or six days a week during programs, professionals and volunteers who summer. He, like many others, brings a change of clothes every day when he leaves the house for work with the street community to keep them safe, warm and fed. work. After 5 p.m., he drives to the ball diamond, The YMCA alone operates six programs to changes and puts on his coaching hat. He’s home reach out to youth in the community, including by 8:30, eats, sleeps and does it all over again the counselling, housing, training and medical care. next day.

“People don’t know how much we do,” says outreach services manager Janet Champion. “I think you can make the biggest impact on youth if you work with them at the right time.” Naturally, it’s not just youth who need help. Adults with mental health and addiction problems make up the largest proportion of the street population. Locals and visitors alike are aware of their existence, with temporary camps set up nightly outside Our Place on Pandora Avenue, and panhandling and drug use during the day time. After dark, various crews task themselves with lending a hand to this population in several ways. The Salvation Army operates its own hand-out program called Street Combat, giving snacks and sometimes blankets and socks to the homeless. However, possibly one of the darkest missions belong to the street nurses of Victoria. Their work happens in alleys and doorways. Their undertaking is to ensure drug users don’t fall victim to overdose, or diseases from shared needles and broken crack pipes. 777 Many of our heroes go about their tasks with little or no acknowledgement or appreciation. The work done with the street population is often thankless. Coaching has its obvious rewards and is admirable in its goal of strengthening our children’s confidence and skills. We must remember the dedication our unsung heroes contribute to the development and improvement of our society. Without them, Victoria wouldn’t be half the wonderland it is today.

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ARNOLD LIM/NEWS STAFF

The Salvation Army’s Street Combat volunteers speak to a homeless woman on Pandora Street.

ERIN CARDONE/NEWS STAFF

who dedicate their free time to developing skills and

V I C T O R I A

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E&N key to V.I. history Rail line critical to development of industry on Island

I

n Langford, Esquimalt and Victoria, the dayliner train’s stentorian whistle echoes across rooftops as it makes its way up-Island each morning and faithfully returns at dinner time. It’s been that way for the past 124 years. These days the passenger train is more a tourist novelty than commuter transportation, but that whistle and the clankity-clank of the wheels provokes reminders of a time when rail was king. More than any other infrastructure, the E&N line has shaped and defined the evolution of Vancouver Island’s economy, for better and for worse. “It was the catalyst for (population) growth on Vancouver Island,� says Patrick Hind, a rail historian and book writer living in View Royal. “Before that you’d travel up Island by boat.� The 115-kilometre rail line between Esquimalt and Nanaimo was finished in 1886, built by industrialist Robert Dunsmuir. In return, the government of Canada handed him almost a quarter of Vancouver Island – go to Muir Creek in Sooke and draw a straight line to Campbell River. It’s everything east of that, Hind says.

Thanks Victoria for voting us One of the Best!

A Budd car traverses the E&N rail line.

Coal mining and logging towns popped up in Ladysmith, Crofton, Chemainus, Lake Cowichan and Duncan. The railyards in Vic West became the economic hub of the city. In the decades from Dunsmuir ownership to Canadian Pacific Rail, the passenger service never stopped and eventually extended to Courtenay. “The E&N has a little bit of Canada everywhere you go,� Hind says. “It has the mountains of the Malahat, agriculture in Cowichan, industrial areas in Nanaimo. It’s a journey well worth taking.�

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TOURISM

of a different sort Ditch the basics – Victoria has plenty to see over and above its traditional tourist spots

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nce you’ve see the wooly mammoth at the Royal B.C. Museum and royalty at the wax museum, it’s off to marvel at the Butchart Gardens. Then Victoria is done and done, right? Not quite. The icons of Victoria’s tourism aren’t the only items on the menu of what to see and do in the Capital Region. Hold a tarantula: Check out the freakiest collection of invertebrates and arachnids collected from jungles around the world at the Victoria Bug Zoo. Hold wriggling millipedes, hairy tarantulas and try spot the difference between a giant spindly bug and a stick. See www.bugzoo.bc.ca. Understand your place in the universe: Take in a glimpse of cutting-edge astronomy and interstellar displays at the Centre of the Universe interpretive centre at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. The Plaskett telescope, 15 metres long with a 1.8-metre mirror, all under the large retractable dome, is open for public tours. For a brief while in 1918, the Plaskett telescope was the largest telescope in the world. See www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/hia/ centre-universe.html. Check the weather from 1935: The smallest and one of the lesser known regional parks, Gonzales park’s iconic whitewashed observatory has been logging climate records for 75 years. Have a picnic amid wildflowers and Garry oaks with views of the Olympic Mountains. See www.crd.bc.ca/parks. Play in the belly of an octopus: A favourite of local kids, Gyro Park is famous for its large playground featuring a giant octopus, the “Cadborosaurus� sea monster, the big salmon and ocean liner. End of Sinclair Road behind UVic. Set sail in a weeble-wobble: Explore the city from the water on a Victoria Harbour Ferry. The little boats ply the Inner Harbour, the outer harbour and the Selkirk and Gorge waterways, landing near waterfront pubs and restaurants along the way. Once a busy commercial harbour, learn about the rise and fall of industry and mills during a less scenic era on a harbour tour. See www.victoriaharbourferry.com.

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Thank You Victoria for voting Your Costco Best in the City for Optical, Photo & Best Bulk Store! Costco members, you can introduce a friend to the great value you find at Costco & reap the benefits!

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 79

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Flower Power BY ANDREW FARRIS SHARON TIFFIN PHOTOS

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ate February is still winter for most of Canada and yet Victoria’s annual flower count still chalked up more than 21 billion blooms.

The record-setting results prove that once again, Greater Victoria earns its reputation as the City of Gardens. “We should be handicapped with an arm tied behind our backs,” laughs Joan Looy, owner and operator of Victorian Garden Tours. “I can show beautiful gardens February straight through to November. It’s really not fair.” Victoria has the best year-round growing conditions in Canada. Victoria’s climate benefits from a kind of Goldilocks effect, rarely getting too hot or too cold. With summer here, Greater Victoria residents Left: Head gardener can expect to see even more finely manicured Manon Tremblay gardens than usual. The most prominent of displays a blooming Looy’s tours feature gardens in Beacon Hill Park, red rhododendron Government House and Abkhazi Garden. These in Abkhazi Garden. gardens, open to the public and often maintained Greater Victoria has by armies of volunteers, have every kind of the best year-round breathtaking flower this time of year. growing conditions But Looy believes what makes Victoria unique is in Canada.

THANK YOU

Jimmy L-R: Michael, George, Jimmy, Visar & Artor

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JIMMY’S BARBER SHOP WOULD LIKE TO THANK VICTORIA FOR VOTING US #1 FOR 16 YEARS RUNNING.

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JIMMY’S BARBER SHOP

Thank you Victoria for voting us best pub 4 years in a row!

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not the year-round garden conditions, but something else that is often overlooked: the impact of the Coast Salish First Nations. Before the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal people cultivated meadows of Garry oaks and camas bulbs throughout the region. Sir James Douglas was so impressed by how much

the meadows resembled English parks that he set aside the largest one for public use. It would later become known as Beacon Hill Park. For the legendary Butchart Gardens, the summer brings out the roses and brings in the tourists. Graham Bell, public relations manager for the gardens and one of

the organizers of the Victoria Flower Count, says they expect garden-lovers from all over the world to visit the region this summer. When asked if this is because Victoria has the best gardens in Canada, Bell chuckles, “we’d like to think so, and until someone can prove otherwise we’ll claim the honour.”

Left: A bumblebee searches for nectar in a flowering camas. Right: Flowers of all shapes and varieties can be found throughout Greater Victoria, just like this blooming Pacific sanicle.

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Victoria’s Secrets Two City Mysteries to Ponder

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f the majesty of Canada’s version of old Britannia begins to fade, maybe it’s time to indulge in some of Victoria’s secret treasures. Since the Fort Victoria days, strange things have been happening around here. The sheer mystery bubbling up around every corner is enough to reignite most anyone’s lost intrigue with the city.

MYSTIC SPRING It’s natural to guess at what a future mate may look like. One hundred and fifty years ago, many Victorians made the trip to Mystic Spring for just that reason. The freshwater spring, located behind where Cadboro Bay Road’s south side runs today, was believed by local First Nations to have magical properties. “The story goes that if somebody looked into the still waters of the spring on a moonlit night they would actually see the face of their future husbands or wives,� says historian John Adams. “There were many ladies who went down there with the hopes of seeing a particular young man and they saw another face and, in one case – the face of a monster!� Part of the legend was that there was a large maple tree beside it and if the tree was ever cut down the spring would dry up. The tree was cut down and, true

to legend, the water disappeared amid development. Decades later, in the 1930s, another development disturbed the land and the spring began to gush once more. It now flows through a series of ponds and streams that exit into Cadboro Bay.

SECRET TUNNELS What’s the best way to beat the downtown traffic? Crawl through secret tunnels! Everyone seems to have a story about the city’s underground, even if most of the tales are more than a little embellished. “Typically (in people’s stories) the tunnels end up in Chinatown for smuggling of all sorts of things – clandestine activities like gambling and opium smoking and so on,� said Adams. He remains cautiously entertained by claims of Victoria’s secret routes. “I tend to be skeptical, but I always try to keep an open mind,� Adams said, adding that he regularly checks a message board where locals post photos and claim to have accessed this underworld. “These are people who have gone, probably into storm sewers or other basement areas,� he said, without diminishing the allure of what might have existed before the development ever did. “There are some photographs that look as though they’re in sewers, drains and that sort of thing.�

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Historian John Adams at the Tam Kung Buddist Temple on Government Street.

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CALENDAR

WHEN TO BE WHERE

ONGOING EVENTS UNTIL JULY 25 – Exhibition of one of the world’s largest collection of Chinese and Japanese ivory at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Entrance is $2 to $12. Find out more at www.aggv.bc.ca. UNTIL AUG. 21 – Naden and Dockyard tours at CFB Esquimalt. Bus tours on weekdays and walking tours on Saturdays. Both start at 11 a.m. 250-363-5291 for inquiries. UNTIL AUG. 28 – Good Timber: Songs and Stories of the Western Logger. A theatrical display of the life of loggers in B.C. at the Royal B.C. Museum. Tickets $15-$20, shows weekdays only. Call 250-721-8480.

Thank you for voting us best in the city www.labsalons.com

UNTIL SEPT. 4 – Saturday Fireworks displays at the Butchart Gardens. Bring a picnic when fireworks start July 3, and run every Saturday night until Sept. 4. Begin at 10:15 but progressively earlier as the summer goes on. Tickets $25 adults, less for minors. www.butchartgardens.com. UNTIL SEPT. 20 – Stage in the Park at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. A variety of free events all summer long including Seniors Concerts on Fridays, Jazz in the Park on Saturdays, and Concert in the Park Sundays. All events at 1:30 p.m., contact 250-361-0548 for details. UNTIL OCT. 10, 2011 – The Royal B.C. Museum: Behind the Scenes exhibition opens. Focuses on natural history and the functioning of the museum, including never-before-seen collections. www. royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

JULY On Sale - July 1st-to 15th 20% off all class passes, 6 month and 3 month memberships * not applicable on drop in classes

Teacher Training and Yoga Intensive Register now for fall sessions. 200 hour yoga alliance certified. Oct.-Dec. 2010. Early bird discount until Aug. 15th.

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Weekend Workshops

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Deepen your practice with Jenni and guest teachers. Check www.theyogashala.ca for workshop listing

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JUNE 25-JULY 4 – TD Victoria International Jazzfest 2010, over 90 performances at 12 venues downtown. Free afternoon performances at Centennial Square and many ticketed events. Artists include Jose James, Kellylee Evans and George Benson. www.jazzvictoria.ca for details. JUNE 27-JULY 4 – Victoria Pride Week, a week of events throughout Victoria celebrating the gay and lesbian community. Parade held on July 4 at 12 p.m. Details on the entire week’s festivities at www. victoriapridesociety.org. JUNE 27-JULY 3 – Medieval Village at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. www.fortroddhill. com for details. JULY 1 – Canada Day in Victoria, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stage performances, street entertainment, art shows and a 10 p.m. fireworks display draw crowds to the heart of Downtown. www.victoriacanadaday.ca. JULY 1 – Celebrate Canada Day at Fort Rodd

Base tours at CFB Esquimalt: Continue until Aug. 21.

Hill with military music, a kids zone and a giant birthday cake. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.fortroddhill.com. JULY 1-2, 4, 8 AND AUG. 3-5 – Raven Baroque in the Summer. Musicians perform various Baroque concertos in period costume. Located throughout Victoria. www. victoriachamberorchestra.org for details. JULY 6-17 – A Streetcar Named Desire at the McPherson Playhouse and Centennial Square. Tickets $23.50-$40.50. Book at www.rmts.bc.ca. JULY 7-10 – Victoria’s 11th Annual Ska Festival at various downtown venues with half of events being free, and half ticketed, ranging from $15 to $39.50. Fishbone, Katchafire and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies will perform. Phone 250-385-051 or www. victoriaskafest.ca for details. JULY 9-11 – The Victoria Events Centre and Centennial Square host the Festival Mexicano, a celebration of Mexican/Latin American culture. www.1415broad.ca. JULY 10-11 – Ideawave Conference features inspiring talks by hundreds of thinkers, inventors and philanthropists. Talks each day, 10 minutes each. $150 for one day, $300 for two. www.ideawave.ca. JULY 11 – Water Garden Tour put on by the Love of Africa Society including 11 Victoria water gardens. Tickets $25, available at Gardenworks and Dig This. 250-891-0762 for details. JULY 15-18 – Victoria Festival of Food and Wine begins on the 15th with dinner and wine tasting at the Crystal Garden at 1:30 p.m. Tastings, seminars, and dinners throughout downtown follow. www. victoriataste.com. JULY 16 - 18 – Expect hundreds of mint condition pre-1951 cars at the Northwest Deuce Days. The cars are exhibited in front of the Empress and go for cruises around Victoria. 250-385-8571 for details and registration.

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WHEN TO BE WHERE

Best Visit Victoria’s Best Fashion Boutiques

VICTORIA NEWS

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Unique. Chic. Fabulous. Come see why we’re one of the best in the city. 102-561 Johnson Street 250-381-8614 www.cuspclothing.com Open seven days a week

Canada Day celebrations: July 1.

AUGUST JULY 17 – The Road Less Travelled theatre performances of scenes from Vancouver Island history at Heritage Acres. Show starts at 7 p.m. $10. www. bambertonhistoricalsociety.org. JULY 17 – Art Gallery Paint-In features the talents of 100 local artists from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will showcase their work at 1040 Moss St. and line Moss Street from Fort Street to Dallas Road.

JULY 23-24 – 30th provincial championships of men’s and women’s ball hockey. Expect fierce competition as teams fight for spots in the national championships at the Panorama Rec Centre, Bear Mountain Arena and Eagle Ridge Arena. www.bcbha.com for info.

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Downtown women’s fashion boutique boutique. Clothing Clothing, shoe shoes and accessories. $ " " " ' ' &

JULY 31-AUG. 1 – Victoria Electronic Music Festival. Over 50 DJs showcase their genre at Centennial Square, Hush, Sugar, the Event Centre and others. www.vemf.ca. AUG. 1 – The Symphony Splash regularly attracts 40,000 visitors to a performance by the Victoria Symphony on a barge moored in the Inner Harbour. A range of entertainment starts at 4 p.m. www.victoriasymphony.ca. AUG. 4-8 – Victoria Tango Festival in Centennial Square and at a number of locations in Victoria. 250-418-8898. AUG. 6-8 – Military history re-enactors camp out at Fort Rodd Hill Historic Garrison Camp. Entrance is $3.90. www.pc.gc.ca/ fortroddhill.

"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 87

JULY 20-AUG. 1 – Symphony in the Summer. A free concert series by the Victoria Symphony at a range of Victoria landmarks. www.victoriasymphony.ca.

JULY 25 – Musical Canine Freestyle and Dressage Competition. Dancing with dogs to t music is guaranteed fun for the whole family. At the RCMP building on the Saanich fairgrounds, starts at noon.

CALENDAR

WHEN TO BE WHERE AUG. 6-28 – B Movie festival at Beacon Hill Park. Watch a line-up of family-friendly movies under the stars. Friday and Saturday nights, free. www.victoriafilmfestival.com. AUG. 13-15 – The Victoria Dragon Boat Festival. Teams of rowers from across North America come to race across the Inner Harbour in elaborate dragon boats. www. victoriadragonboat.com. AUG. 26-SEPT. 5 – Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, a 12-day display of alternative theatre, dance and comedy at 11 downtown venues. Tickets $9 to some events, free at others. www.intrepidtheatre.com. AUG. 30 – Crowded House at the Royal Theatre. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. tickets $56.75 and up. www.rmts.bc.ca for tickets.

SEPTEMBER

SEPT. 8-12 – Cirque du Soleil will perform their show Alegria at the Save-on-Foods Centre. Tickets range from $45 to $100. Children receive a discount. Show starts at 1:00 p.m. SEPT. 13 – Mustard Seed Golf Tournament at Olympic View Golf Club. $150 registration gets you golf, a cart, dinner and a registration gift. Shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. 250-953-1575. SEPT. 17 – Danny Michel at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Tickets $23 at the door. 250-3889166. SEPT. 17 – Johnny Winter Band at the Alix Goolden Hall. Tickets $41.50. Call 250-3866311. SEPT. 18 - 19 – Summer Chess Festival at the t CRD Plaza. Human chess, learn to play or improve your game and much more. 250595-0025 for details.

Victoria Salmon Kings open their 2010-11 season: Oct. 27.

OCT. 10 – Royal Victoria Marathon. www. runvictoriamarathon.com to register.

OCT. 27 – ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings have their 2010-11 season home-opener against the Ontario Reign. Ticket information at 250-220-7777.

OCT. 16-18 – Art of the Cocktail at the Crystal Garden. Cocktail tastings, workshops, competitions and dinners. www. artofthecocktail.ca.

OCT. 31 – The Zone’s Dead Rock Star Party at the Strathcona Hotel. Win best dressed dead rock star and receive Wolfmother tickets. Cover is $5 between 8 and 9 p.m.

Club. Doors open 6 p.m. 250-388-9166. SEPT. 2-7 – Greek Fest 2010, live a day the Greek way. Free food and entertainment. 4648 Elk Lake Drive from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.greekfest.ca. Sept. 4-6 – Vancouver Island Blues Bash. R&B music in the Inner Harbour. www. jazzvictoria.ca for details.

OCTOBER OCT. 3 – The CIBC Run for the Cure at the University of Victoria. Contact 250-3843328 for more details. OCT. 8 – Judy Collins at Hermann’s Jazz

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SEW & QUILT WITH SUE HAUSMANN, OCTOBER 7, 2010 Sue, host of the popular Public Television Series, America Sews, is coming for an all-day event at The Cloth Castle! There will be loads of projects and “how to� plus the tips and techniques Sue is known for to make your sewing and quilting easier, more fun and ways to help you get them done!

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"EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER s 89

The Cloth Castle

VICTORIA’S BEST COLLEGE OF ART Educate your Imagination©2010

“Come and join us in a great adventure.” VCA President Peter Such

Specialized certificates in Moldmaking & Casting, Illustration & Classical Animation as well as printmaking, photography, textile art, painting, drawing, sculpture, art history, business & aesthetics can launch you on your chosen career path. The extensive portfolio you create will light your way.

VCA.CA

90 s "EST OF THE #ITY n 3UMMER

Our most recent student shows of first and second year work attracted nearly a thousand visitors who purchased 91 art works in all media.

With over 5,000 international alumni, Victoria College of Art in B.C. has been the leading Vancouver Island studio art school, & a major influence in art instruction classes since 1974. We offer a variety of PCTIA government registered & accredited programs, certificates and courses, all of which help you ladder up to our prestigious Fine Arts & Post-Graduate diplomas.

VCA (VICTORIA COLLEGE OF ART)

1625 Bank Street Victoria BC. Phone: 250-598-5422 Email: info@vca.ca Visit: www.vca.ca

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VICTORIA HYUNDAI CELEBRATES IT’S NEW AFFILIATION WITH AIR MILES

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