Victoria’s New Park & Ride Victoria’s New Unique Urban Outdoor Venue
The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club
Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Team, 1934
Business in Victoria – Journey to a Sustainable City
Downtown Events
2 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Catching up with Kerri Milton Photo: Darren Stone, Times Colonist Photographer
Continuing on the path of multi-modal transportation options, we are thrilled to partner with Robbins Parking, Pattison Group, B.C. Transit and the City of Victoria to bring the ÀUVW 3DUN DQG 5LGH LQ WKH &LW\ RI 9LFWRULD The Park and Ride is located near Douglas Street and Frances Avenue, formerly the old Metro Toyota site, and is located on the main artery into the Downtown core.
For those DVBA businesses who have taken advantage of the Modo Cooperative CarShare, they can leave their car at the park and ride all day and use a Modo car to zip around the city for quick errands and meetings. Again, this is a comment we have heard repeatedly as business owners and commuters shared their needs with us over the last few months.
We have heard business owners voice frustration that their employees do not have places to park and that downtown parking is getting too expensive for their staff. The Downtown Victoria Business Association worked hard to ÀQG D ORFDWLRQ WKDW ZDV FRQYHQLHQW DFFHVVLEOH and affordable. We feel this is the right location to deliver on all of these points, so we pulled together partners to make this happen.
The Victoria Park and Ride has a capacity of 53 spots and once these spots are full we will explore a second park and ride option (already in the works). The DVBA is working diligently behind the scenes to creatively bring solutions to life to meet our complex transportation issues. All partners have agreed to a one-year lease as a trial to see if the demand is really there – we have heard lots of requests, and complaints, BUT now we have to see if this meets the needs of commuters.
Robbins Parking has agreed to manage the site, BC Transit agreed to a bulk buy in order to pass additional savings onto the rider and Pattison has agreed to a one-year lease to get things launched and underway. 7KH ÀUVW 9LFWRULD 3DUN DQG 5LGH ZLOO RIÀFLDOO\ open on April 1st AND Robbins has graFLRXVO\ DJUHHG WR JLYH WKH ÀUVW PRQWK )5(( for those who sign up!! The cost for the park and ride is a substantial savings over parking in one of the Downtown parkades, but still RIIHUV WKH à H[LELOLW\ IRU WKRVH ZKR QHHG WR JHW their vehicle throughout the day. With the park and ride located right off Douglas Street, a user can jump on a bus at any time and get back to their vehicle quickly.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in discussing parking solutions and to all the partners that rallied to bring this to Victoria. If you are interested in the Park and Ride, SOHDVH FRQWDFW RXU RIÀFH RU JHW LQ WRXFK ZLWK 5REELQV :H DOUHDG\ KDYH RXU ÀUVW FRPPXWHU signed up, so do not waste time, sign up your staff or yourself, and be part of a solution! Kerri Milton is the Executive Director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.
3 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Parking in Downtown Victoria
Legend Off-Street Parking P - Customer Parking P - City Parkades P - Parkades P - Surface Lots (monthly/daily) P - Monthly Parking Only On-Street Parking - 90 minute max. $3/hr - 2 hour max. $2.50/hr - Modo Carshare Locations
BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT A MIND READER. The Bay Centre Gift Card - Valid at over 90 Shops. Available at Guest Services.
thebaycentre.ca
4 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
A Conversation with Councillor Lucas The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Councillor Margaret Lucas City of Victoria Since it’s creation in 2002, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has invested more than $26.4 million in facilities that are enjoyed every day by residents and visitors. GVHA also works to VSXU VLJQLÀFDQW HFRQRPLF DFWLYLW\ LQ WKH region to ensure the harbour remains dynamic as well as economically sustainable. The GVHA has facilitated more than $100 million in the region’s economy through a growing cruise industry and has invested more than $1 million in the FRPPXQLW\ WKURXJK GLUHFW ÀQDQFLDO FRQtributions and programming to encourage public access of its facilities. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority operates a deep-sea terminal at Ogden Point, a mixed-use facility at Fisherman’s
Wharf, andd marinas at Causeway/Ship / Point and Wharf Street. The GVHA also leases the iconic Steamship Terminal. The Ogden Point terminal is Canada’s busiest cruise ship port of call. In 2016, 224 cruise ships brought more than 550,000 passengers and 212,000 crew members to Victoria between April and October. Each ship has an estimated regional economic impact of $40,000 per call and supports approximately 700 direct and indirect jobs. The GVHA, in partnership with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, Capital Regional District, City of Victoria, Tourism Victoria, and other member agencies, plans to build and encourage growth in the cruise and marine industries through the Ogden Point Master Plan. This has the potential to be the largest economic revitalization project in decades for Victoria. The Ogden Point Master Plan will be phased in over 30 years, beginning in
2017 and d incorporates the ffollowing: • Enhances and builds onto existing cruise terminal, warehousing, and marine industrial infrastructure. • Incorporates a First Nations Cultural Village, overseen by members of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. • Follows contemporary practices in environmental architecture, landscape, and community focused private land use. • Adds a waterfront community hub for retail, hospitality, and cultural events adjacent to James Bay, the oldest residential neighbourhood on the West Coast. Implementation of Phase One of the Ogden Point Master Plan will position Victoria to become a home port in the early 2020’s. • Home porting will bring dedicated cruise business to a seasonal Victoria base at Ogden Point with travellers staying longer in the region before and after sailing. • Home porting has an estimated $2
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million economic impact on the region per ship, per execursion. An estimated 350 to 400 direct and indirect jobs will be created by home porting.
“Through open houses, community consultation, and working closely with all stakeholders we have been developing a comprehensive plan,” says Ian Robertson, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO. “Over the past year, we’ve continued to lay the groundwork for replacing our existing cruise ship terminal with a QHZ WHUPLQDO WKDW LV HIÀFLHQW DQG HIIHFWLYH in handling passengers. The plan for Ogden Point is to also tell the story of the Lekwungen people with a cultural centre that welcomes and reaches out to local residents and other visitors. It’s my long term goal to see Ogden Point welcome residents and visitors 365 days a year, not just during cruise ship season.” If you have a question to submit to Councillor Lucas, please email kerri@downtownvictoria.ca. One of your questions could be featured in an upcoming Downtown Victoria Magazine.
5 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
VicPD helping the community to stay aware Constable Matt Rutherford Victoria Police Department March is a busy month for the Victoria Police Department as it is fraud prevention and distracted driving months. Fraud-related offences Photo: Bowen Osoko, Communication continue to be Coordinator, VicPD a problem in our communities. The combined goal of fraud prevention month is to reduce the impact of frauds by “target hardeningâ€? consumers. In 2015 and 2016, known losses for frauds eclipsed losses for bank robberies by a rate of nearly 10 to 1 in Victoria and Esquimalt. One of the common types of frauds we see at this time of year if the “Canada 5HYHQXH $JHQF\ 6FDP Âľ ,Q WKLV VSHFLĂ€F scam, calls are particularly aggressive, resulting in several people attending police departments across the country to turn themselves in for charges which are entirely false. It is always important to make sure that you verify the information that you are being told. Always be sure to contact the Canadian Revenue Agency before giving out any personal information. For more information on this scam or other VFDPV WR UHSRUW IUDXG RU WR Ă€QG RXW ways to protect yourself against becoming a victim of fraud, visit www.antifraudcentre.ca. VicPD will also be hosting two drop-in fraud prevention sessions, one in Victoria and one in Esquimalt. Please visit RXU ZHEVLWH IRU VSHFLĂ€F GHWDLOV RI WKHVH two events. Throughout the month of March, VicPD as well as other area police departments are partnering with ICBC for distracted driving month. Every March, we partner up to target distracted drivers and educate
people on how dangerous this behaviour is. According to the National Safety Council, crashes are up 14% in the last two years and some of that increase can be attributed to distracted driving. Here DW 9LF3' RXU 7UDIĂ€F VHFWLRQ YROXQWHHUV and Community Engagement Division will all work together in order to get people off their electronic devices while driving.
We routinely get questions asking what the rules are. Simply, if you have an electronic device, a hand held cellular telephone or device that is capable of transmitting or receiving, and you are using it, holding the device in a position in which it may be used or operating the device or communicating orally, you may UHFHLYH D ÀQH DQG SHQDOW\ SRLQWV For more information on distracted driving, visit www.icbc.com. Constable Matt Rutherford is the Media Spokesperson for VicPD.
Photos: Bowen Osoko, Communication Coordinator, VicPD
6 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
New at West End Gallery
Buskers Festival just four months away
March 11 – 23, 2017 Claudette Castonguay: The men seek the light in a fragile garden where the colors shiver - Jean Tardieu “An Exhibition of New Paintingsâ€? A self-taught painter, Claudette has exhibited in galleries across Canada since 1979. Known for painting with spontaneity, sensitivity, and humour she has created a distinct style that is recognizably hers. This latest collection is no exception as Claudette expands her repertoire of inspiration utilizing a pastel colour palette and her vivid imagination. Ready for spring and the warmer days ahead she captures Ă RZHUV LQ EORRP UROOLQJ FRXQWU\VLGH YLOODJHV DQG EXVWOLQJ SDUWLHV +HU UHĂ HFWLRQV of Quebecois style and elegance put that ever-elusive je ne sais quoi on canvas. Join us for the opening reception Saturday March 11 from 1-4pm.
The Downtown Victoria Buskers Festival had an overwhelming number of artists from around the world interested in performing at the festival.
Gallery Hours: Open Daily Email: art@westendgalleryltd.com Website: westendgalleryltd.com
The headliners for the Downtown Victoria Buskers Festival will be announced soon.
Above: An Amazing Moment 30x40� Acrylic on Canvas Left: Inspiration Toscane 24x36� Acrylic on Canvas Right: Le goÝt du silence 12x24� Acrylic on Canvas
The Downtown Victoria Buskers Festival will take place from July 11-16th. More information is available on Facebook at facebook.com/downtownvictoriabuskers.
Downtown Scoop Now Open • • • • • • •
Menbow Ramen Bar, 1018 Blanshard St. Casa Nova Cafe and Bakery, 732 Broughton St. Peace Freaks Fair Trade Clothing, 639 Johnson St. Rate Miser Mortgage, 607 Yates Street DMK Skincare, 619 Fort Street Explore Victoria, 104-561 Johnson St. Migration Boutique, relocated to Level 3 at The Bay Centre.
Opening Soon • • •
Chai Fashions, Level 1, The Bay Centre. El Furniture, 533 Yates St. Tulip Persian Fusion Cafe & Rice Bar, 1108 Blanshard St.
Downtown Events Ongoing events • • • •
Until Mar 12 | Voices of Women through Canadian History | The Bay Centre Until Apr 1 | Ellen Neel, The First Woman Totem Pole Carver | Legacy Galleries Until Apr 1 | The Mystery of Grafton Tyler Brown | Legacy Galleries Mar 25-Apr 15 | The LOOK Show | The Bay Centre
Wed, Mar 15 • • • • •
Remember When: A Seniors OnSite Program | 10:30-11:15am | Royal BC Museum The Best Place to Hide a Dead Body | 11:30am-1pm | Perro Negro Lunch Break Workshop Series with Daniel Carruthers | CineVic Cooking Demo: Salmon 2 Ways | 12pm | Victoria Public Market United Way Spirit Fest | 4:30-6pm | Delta Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa
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Building Blocks of Budgets for Non-Profits | 5-7pm | Volunteer Victoria Bike Maintenance - Know Your Bike | 5:30pm | MEC Victoria Chess Club | 6-8:45pm | GVPL A Midsummer Night’s Dream | 7:30pm | Royal Theatre Phillips Comedy Night | 8pm | The Mint Benji’s Pub Quiz | 8:30-11pm | Northern Quarter Stranger Tings Dancehall Party | 10pm | Lucky Bar
Thurs, Mar 16 • • • •
Toddler Time | 10:30am | GVPL Marketplace Mixer | 4-7pm | Delta Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa Museum Happy Hour: Do you mind? | 5:15-7pm | Royal BC Museum Abbamania | 7pm | McPherson Playhouse
7 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
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Confabulation presents: For Science! | 7:30pm | Victoria Event Centre Underground Comedy Collective | 8-9:30pm | Paparazzi Nightclub Pablo Cardenas | 8pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club CFUV 101.9 FM Funding Drive Meet The DJ Night | 8pm | Copper Owl Nick Mintenko Album Release | 9pm | Upstairs Cabaret Drum n Bass – Tedder, Mt Doyle, Spoon | 10pm | Lucky Bar
Fri, Mar 17 • • • •
St. Patrick’s Day | 9am-1am | Irish Times Pub Fair Trade Rug Event | 10am | Ten Thousand Villages Family Storytime | 10:30-11am | GVPL St. Patrick’s Day | 12pm-10pm | Yates St. Taphouse
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One World | 2pm | McPherson Playhouse The St. Patrick’s Day Cycle Tour | 3:30pm | Cycle BC Rentals & Tours Vic Sweat Crew Run Club | 6-7pm | Lululemon Athletica The North Island | 6:30pm | Ocean River Sports Everett Silvertips vs. Victoria Royals | 7:05pm | Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Ghostly Walks: Red Light & Chinatown | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre St.Patty’s Rock & Roll | 8pm | Copper Owl St. Paddys Day Party | 8pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club St. Paddy’s Day Party | 8pm | Strathcona Hotel St Paddy’s Party ft. Crikey Mor | 9pm | Canoe Brewpub St. Pat’s | 9pm | Upstairs Cabaret Sweetleaf, Railtown Sound System & Party on High Street | 9:30pm | Lucky Bar
8 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
9 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Downtown Events
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Photo: The Bay Centre
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Sat, Mar 18
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Run Meet-up | 9am | MEC Free Zumba Class | Centre Court, The Bay Centre Elections BC: Voter Registration Table | 10am-4:30pm | GVPL Networking for Success in Victoria | 10am-12pm | Union Club of BC Chinatown Walks | 10:30am-12pm | Government/Fisgard St. Road Ride Meet-Up | 10:30am | MEC Backcountry 101 - Packing for Overnight | 11am | MEC Feature Film Producing w/ Victoria Westcott | 12-5pm | CineVic Lynden Christian High School Choir | 12pm | GVPL Courtyard Cooking Demo: Roasting a Whole Chicken | 12pm | Victoria Public Market What You Need to Know About Moving to Victoria | 1:30pm & 3:30pm | Union Club of BC Birds of a feather workshop | 1:45pm | MokSana Yoga Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre One World | 2pm | McPherson Playhouse All that Jazz! | 2pm | Royal Theatre Stories at Helmcken House: Animals | 2 & 3pm | Helmcken House Quirky Victoria | 2-3:30pm | 26 Bastion Square Yin Yoga w/ live music | 6pm | Hudson Yoga
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Impressions of Gordon Lightfoot | 7:30pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club All that Jazz! | 7:30pm | Royal Theatre Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre One World | 8pm | McPherson Playhouse Magic Bullet #11 | 8pm | Lucky Bar Hidden Elements | 10pm | Sunset Room Frequency Saturdays ft. DJ D.Dee | 10pm | Copper Owl
Sun, Mar 19 • • •
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Sunday Community Yoga | 8:309:30am | Lululemon Athletica Women’s History Tour | 10:30am | 28 Bastion Square Creating Dynamic Waves in Watercolour | 11:30am & 2:30pm | Opus Art Supplies Wonder Sunday: Animal Families | 1-3pm | Royal BC Museum Red Lights on Fraser Street: Nanaimo, 1890–1940 | 2-3pm | Royal BC Museum A Public Spelling Bee | 2:30pm | Northern Quarter Oaklands Dinner & Quiz Night | 5pm | Victoria Event Centre Andrew Greenwood Quintet | 7pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre
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Smoke eaters, Century Palm, Tough Age | 8pm | Copper Owl
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Madeleine Peyroux and Rickie Lee Jones | 8pm | Royal Theatre
Mon, Mar 20
Wed, Mar 22
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BC Trade and Investment: Opportunities and Our Services Abroad | 9am-1:30pm | Fort Tectoria Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL March Break Adventure | 11am12pm | Chapters Felted Friends | 2-3:30pm | GVPL Mini Self-Care Retreat | 5:158:15pm | Union Club of BC Backcountry 101 - Map & Compass | 5:30pm | MEC Tasting your Skin’s Experience | 6:30pm | Elate Cosmetics
Tues, Mar 21 • •
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March Break Adventure | 11am12pm | Chapters Cooking Demo: Slow Cooked Ribs with Homemade BBQ sauce | 12pm | Victoria Public Market Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre Multicultural Business Mixer with Matt Marson | 5:30-7:30pm | Regus Wedding Fashion Show | 5:307:30pm | Delta Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa Victoria Scrabble Club | 5:458:45pm | GVPL Run Meet-up | 6pm | MEC Sin City Improvised Serial | 8pm | Victoria Event Centre
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Business Circle | 7:30-9am | Nourish Kitchen Café Remember When: A Seniors OnSite Program | 10:30-11:15am | Royal BC Museum March Break Adventure | 11am12pm | Chapters Wrigglers at Work | 2-3pm | GVPL Bike Maintenance 101 - Cycle Touring | 5:30pm | MEC Victoria Chess Club | 6-8:45pm | GVPL Improving Education in Cambodia | 6:45pm | Vic’s Steakhouse & Bar Jeff Dunham | 7:30pm | Save-onFoods Memorial Centre Concert for a Cause ft. Electric Sex Panther | 7:30pm | Victoria Event Centre Phillips Comedy Night | 8pm | The Mint Benji’s Pub Quiz | 8:30-11pm | Northern Quarter
DigiLab: Still Life with Books | 3-5pm | GVPL Culinaire | 5 & 8pm | Victoria Conference Centre Museum Happy Hour: Indi-genius | 5:15-7pm | Royal BC Museum Food Sensitivities Class | 6-8pm | Olive the Senses Tinder Tales: Live in Victoria | 7-9:30pm | Duke Saloon The DownTown Meltdown | 7pm | Victoria Event Centre Underground Comedy Collective | 8-9:30pm | Paparazzi Nightclub Bitts of Tease Cabaret | 8-10pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club Prince Shima: Album Release | 9pm | Copper Owl Skratch Bastid | 10pm | Upstairs Cabaret
Fri, Mar 24 • • • •
Web Marketing Boot Camp | 8:45am-5pm | Fort Tectoria Family Storytime | 10:30-11am | GVPL March Break Adventure | 11am12pm | Chapters Vic Sweat Crew Run Club | 6-7pm | Lululemon Athletica
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Shine A Light Gala | 6pm | Guild Freehouse Lisa Leblanc | 7pm | Upstairs Cabaret Live Tragically Hip Tribute | 7pm | The Duke Saloon Opening: Awakening Memory | 7:30pm | Open Space Gallery Ghostly Walks: Red Light & Chinatown | 7:30-9pm | Visitor Information Centre Rocket Man with Chris Hadfield | 8pm | Royal Theatre Mother Mother | 8pm | Save-onFoods Memorial Centre The Leaks, Still Fools, Thepurrverts | 8pm | Copper Owl Ava Fleming | 8pm | McPherson Playhouse The New Waves | 9pm | Northern Quarter The Bump n Grind House Spring Edition | 9pm | Victoria Event Centre Mutiny Tour 2017 w/ The Librarian | 10pm | Lucky Bar
Sat, Mar 25 •
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Run Meet-up | 9am | MEC •
Bridges, Not Walls 2017: A Women’s Symposium | 10am | Victoria Conference Centre Master Gardeners | 10am-1pm | GVPL Victoria Seed Library: Seed Swap | 10am-1pm | GVPL Chinatown Walks | 10:30am-12pm | Government/Fisgard St. Road Ride Meet-Up | 10:30am | MEC Backcountry 101 - Packing for Overnight | 11am | MEC Negative Painting for Positive Results | 11:30am-1:30pm | Opus Art Supplies Rocket Man with Chris Hadfield | 2pm | Royal Theatre Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre OKGB, Did You Die, Bored Décor, Hollow Giant | 7:30pm | Lucky Bar Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre Rocket Man with Chris Hadfield | 8pm | Royal Theatre Batuque AXÉ and Brazilian Dance Party | 8pm | Upstairs Cabaret Blue Moon Marquee | 9pm | Northern Quarter
Sun, Mar 26 • • •
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Sunday Community Yoga | 8:309:30am | Lululemon Athletica Jewish Victoria Tour | 10:30am | Emanu-El Synagogue A View of Linny’s Creative Process with Linny D. Vine | 11:30am1:30pm | Opus Art Supplies Wonder Sunday: Animal Families | 1-3pm | Royal BC Museum Fiddler on the Roof Sing-a-long | 2pm | Congregation Emanu-El Benji’s Sunday Matinee Quiz | 2:30-5pm | Northern Quarter Diversity: a rolling national discussion - Audience Engagement | 2:30pm | Open Space Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre
Mon, Mar 27 • •
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Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL Community Connections for Parents: Island Health Nurse | 1111:30am | GVPL Monday Book Club | 2-3:30pm | GVPL Backcountry 101 - Digital (GPS) Navigation | 5:30pm | MEC
COMING SOON IN APRIL featuring aligned with nature
essentials
Thurs, Mar 23 • • •
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Toddler Time | 10:30-11am | GVPL March Break Adventure | 11am12pm | Chapters Lunch & Learn - Conducting Performance Reviews | 12-1pm | Engaged HR Cooking Demo: Breakfast to go 2 ways | 12pm | Victoria Public Market
Salts & west ABAKA TOAD&CO FIG Respecterre UPRISE īŽƌƚƐ SKUNKFUNK ŽƂŵ POLLEN SWEATERS BRENDA LAINE Nomads
1312 GOVERNMENT ST VICTORIA SEE OUR HOURS ON @/HEMPANDCO/ www.hempandcompany.com
10 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Downtown Events • •
Double Knitting | 6:30pm | Beehive Wool Shop Fiddler on the Roof Sing-a-long | 7pm | Congregation Emanu-El
Tues, Mar 28 • • • • • •
‘Through the Looking Lens’ | 9am5pm | Pacific Design Academy Cooking Demo: Healthy Three Ingredient Cookies | 12pm | Victoria Public Market Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre Victoria Scrabble Club | 5:458:45pm | GVPL Run Meet-up | 6pm | MEC Sin City Improvised Serial | 8pm | Victoria Event Centre
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Wed, Mar 29 • • • • • • • • • • •
‘Through the Looking Lens’ | 9am5pm | Pacific Design Academy HR Tech Group Workshop Series: Legal Issues for HR | 8:30-11am | Fort Tectoria Remember When: A Seniors OnSite Program | 10:30-11:15am | Royal BC Museum Anne Glover’s Amazing String Stories | 2pm | GVPL Brasserie Dunham Tap Takeover | 5pm | Smiths Pub Bike Maintenance 101 - Flat Repair | 5:30pm | MEC Victoria Chess Club | 6-8:45pm | GVPL Movie Night at the Market | 7pm | Victoria Public Market Walking 738 Kilometers Across Southwest France | 7-8pm | GVPL The Tea Party | 7:30pm | McPherson Playhouse Phillips Comedy Night | 8pm | The Mint
Benji’s Pub Quiz | 8:30-11pm
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‘Through the Looking Lens’ | 9am5pm | Pacific Design Academy Toddler Time | 10:30-11am | GVPL Cooking Demo: Immune Boosting Ginger Tonic | 12pm | Victoria Public Market Story Club | 3:30-4:30pm | GVPL South Island Gender Variant DropIn | 6-7:30pm | GVPL Bike Maintenance 201 – Drivetrain | 6:30pm | MEC Expedition Kayaking Night with Russell Henry | 6:30pm | Ocean River Sports Bruce Springsteen’s Hungry Heart! All Together Now! | 7pm | Copper Owl Emergency Preparedness Workshop | 7-9pm | Victoria City Hall Underground Comedy Collective | 8-9:30pm | Paparazzi Nightclub
Fri, Mar 31 • • • • • • • •
‘Through the Looking Lens’ | 9am5pm | Pacific Design Academy Family Storytime | 10:30-11am | GVPL Watercolour on Masa Paper: Birds | 2-3pm | GVPL VIAfest - Accelerated Networking | 5-7pm | Fort Tectoria Vic Sweat Crew Run Club | 6pm | Lululemon Athletica CineVic Lounge + Open House | 6-10pm | CineVic Vamps: A Night of Monstrous Incantations | 6pm | Copper Owl Dirty Mountain, Mind, with guests, Tan and Hide | Upstairs Cabaret
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Ghostly Walks: Red Light & Chinatown | 7:30-9pm | Visitor Information Centre Wire Spine, Null Command, Psychic Pollution, Void Mirror | 9pm | Copper Owl Sticky w/ DJ Low & Rhek | 10pm | Lucky Bar
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Sat, Apr 1
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Run Meet-up | 9am | MEC Chinatown Walks | 10:30am-12pm | Government/Fisgard St. Road Ride Meet-Up | 10:30am | MEC Backcountry 101 - Packing for Overnight | 11am | MEC Oregon Day | 11:30am | The Drake Eatery CCPA invites You to Be Our Guest | 1pm | Centre Court, The Bay Centre Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre April Fools Tour | 2-3:30pm | Visitor Information Centre Women & Words | 6:30pm | Nourish Kitchen Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre Mozart and Mendelssohn | 8pm | Royal Theatre Lust Life Jazz Band Plays the Pacific Lounge | 8-11pm | Hotel Grand Pacific Instruments of Happiness | 8pm | Open Space The Pansy Craze - A Stage Reading | 8pm | Intrepid Theatre Club
Sun, Apr 2 •
April Fools Tour | 10:30am-12pm | Visitor Information Centre
Layer and Glaze with Fluid Acrylics | 11:30am-1:30pm | Opus Art Supplies Artist Talk w/ Carl Bessai | 1-3pm | CineVic Wonder Sunday: April Fools’ | 1-3pm | Royal BC Museum Layer and Glaze with Fluid Acrylics | 2:30-4:30pm | Opus Art Supplies Science at the Symphony | 2:304pm | Royal Theatre Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre
Mon, Apr 3 • • • • • •
Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL Community Connections for Parents: Island Health Nurse | 1111:30am | GVPL Museum Sage Mondays | 3-5pm | Royal BC Museum Backcountry 101 - Map & Compass | 5:30pm | MEC Mojitos & Mingling: Speed Dating Mixer for 35-45’s | 7pm | The Mint City and Colour | 8pm | Royal Theatre
Tues, Apr 4 • • • • • • •
Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre Understanding Financial Statements | 5pm | Volunteer Victoria Victoria Scrabble Club | 5:458:45pm | GVPL Run Meet-up | 6pm | MEC Beginner Crochet | 6:30pm | Beehive Wool Shop Vimy at 100: The Battle for Vimy Ridge and the Making of Canada | 6:30pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club
11 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Downtown Events • • •
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Women and Words | 6:30-8pm | Nourish Kitchen Growing Native Plants from Seed | 7-8:30pm | GVPL It Was a Very Big Year: Free Public Talk by Ann Nightingale | 7-9pm | Robert Bateman Centre Night with Sinatra | 7:30pm | Royal Theatre
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The Digital Media Boot Camp | 8:30am-4:30pm | Magnolia Hotel & Spa Baby Sign Language | 10:30-11am | GVPL Live @ Lunch: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | 12-1pm | Royal BC Museum Canadian Council of the Blind, Get Together with Technology | 1-3:30pm | GVPL Queer Abilities Drop-In | 5-6:30pm | GVPL Community Leadership Development Program - Information Session | 5pm | Leadership Victoria Victoria Chess Club | 6-8:45pm | GVPL Victoria Writers’ Society Meeting | 7-8:45pm | GVPL Phillips Comedy Night | 8pm | The Mint
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Thurs, Apr 6
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Toddler Time | 10:30-11am | GVPL Souper Bowls of Hope | 11am1:30pm | Victoria Conference Centre Open House | 4-7pm | Pacific Design Academy Run a Half Marathon - 12 Week Training Program | 6pm | MEC Mambo Italiano Cooking Class | 6pm | Olive the Senses Death and Dying: Talking About It Won’t Kill You | 7pm | GVPL Carlos Núñez | 7:30-9pm | McPherson Playhouse This Side of West Issue 15 Launch Party | 8pm | Copper Owl
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Fri, Apr 7 •
Family Storytime | 10:30-11am | GVPL
Deans’ Lecture Series: What’s New in Humanities? | 12:30-1:45pm | GVPL Taylor Swift Tribute | 7pm | Duke Saloon Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal | 7:30-9pm | Royal Theatre Ghostly Walks: Red Light & Chinatown | 7:30-9pm | Visitor Information Centre Hopsin w/ Token | 8pm | Upstairs Cabaret The Wicks & Twin River w/ The Half Moon Shine | 9pm | Copper Owl Astrocolor and Righteous Rainbows of Togetherness w/ Weird Party | 9pm | Lucky Bar
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Run Meet-up | 9am | MEC Master Gardeners at GVPL | 10am1pm | GVPL Victoria Seed Library: Seed Swap | 10am-1pm | GVPL Some Bunny Loves You: Puppet Show and Book Launch | 10:30am12pm | GVPL Chinatown Walks | 10:30am-12pm | Government/Fisgard St. Road Ride Meet-Up | 10:30am | MEC Poetry Month: Book Spine Poetry | 11am-1pm | GVPL Backcountry 101 - Packing for Overnight | 11am | MEC Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre Silver Ring Workshop | 6pm | Lore General Store Concept-Couture Fashion Exhibition | 6:30pm | Crystal Garden Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal | 7:30-9pm | Royal Theatre Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre An Evening with George Saunders | 7:30-9pm | Ambrosia Event Centre Back to New Orleans- A Celebration of New Orleans Music | 8pm | Hermann’s Jazz Club Lust Life Jazz Band Plays the Pacific Lounge | 8-11pm | Hotel Grand Pacific
Sun, Apr 9 • • • • •
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Gravity Dance Challenge | 10am | McPherson Playhouse Quirky Victoria | 10:30am-12pm | 26 Bastion Square Wonder Sunday: Terry Fox | 1-3pm | Royal BC Museum Rink Cycle II | 2:30-3:30pm | Saveon-Foods Memorial Centre Ghostly Walks: Old Town & Bastion Square | 7:30pm | Visitor Information Centre
Machine Gun Kelly | 8pm | Distrikt
Tues, Apr 11 • • • • • •
Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL Emergency Preparedness Workshop | 1-3pm | Victoria City Hall Robert Bateman Centre Tour | 2pm | Robert Bateman Centre Victoria Scrabble Club | 5:458:45pm | GVPL Run Meet-up | 6pm | MEC Colour Your Palate | 6pm | Victoria Conference Centre
Mon, Apr 10 • • •
Baby Time | 10:30am | GVPL Museum Sage Mondays | 3-5pm | Royal BC Museum Backcountry 101 - Digital (GPS) Navigation | 5:30pm | MEC
For more information on events happening in Downtown Victoria, visit downtownvictoria.ca/events
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12 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Victoria’s New Unique Urban Outdoor Venue Exclusive dealers for Sigma, Brian May & Rolling Stone guitars. Showcase of local luthiers.
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Downtown Victoria has a new outdoor venue for summer events. The Fort Common, a revitalized brick carriage courtyard, is a 3,000 square foot urban venue and the perfect intimate setting for family reunions, weddings, corporate retreats and meetings. The Fort Common is the focal point of a comprehensive improvement plan that Fort Properties has been working on since 2012 at its holdings on Fort & Blanshard Streets. Their primary objective was to create a pedestrian friendly environment that fosters a healthy commercial setting and contributes to the diverse urban fabric of Victoria’s downtown community. The intention behind the revitalization of the courtyard was to create a public/private space that would support the surrounding businesses and occupants of the downtown community in a meaningful way. Fort Properties’ owners Suzanne and Jayne Bradbury drew inspiration from some of their beloved outdoor spaces in New York, Portland, California and throughout Europe. “We took elements from our travel that we knew would enhance the already eclectic feel of the Fort Common District,” says Jayne Bradbury, Co-Owner of Fort Properties. The result is a revitalized courtyard lovingly known as the Fort Common, that now functions seasonally as public and restaurant patio seating.
´:H HQYLVLRQHG VWXQQLQJ ÀUVW GDQFH photographs under the twinkly lights and greenery, and unique corporate events amongst the umbrellas and bistro tables. This venue is a beautiful blank slate set in an urban location. Its uniqueness, we hope, will become the backdrop to some of Victoria’s most cherished moments.” The Fort Common features ample electricity for lighting and music requirements, two dedicated washrooms, and running water for ease of use for caterers. There is also a large brick wall that has been painted white which is perfect for projecting movies, photo slideshows and the like. The two main points of access are the alleyways on Fort Street and Broughton Street. Both alleyways provide for a dramatic entrance to any event, not to mention act as an amazing backdrop for photos. The Fort Common is the ideal downtown location from which event goers can access taxi cabs or walk to after party venues and hotels. Fort Properties has partnered with Victoria’s best event planning, catering and rental companies to bring community together for elegant and memorable events. More information can be found at www. fortproperties.ca or contact Kristen Kitchen, Leasing & Marketing Manager, Fort Properties Ltd., via email at events@ fortproperties.ca
13 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
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14 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
The Bay Centre’s focus on Arts and Culture Darlene Hollstein The Bay Centre
destinations that are experiential, curated with a balance of touch points including shopping, personalized services, culinary offerings, and arts exploration. Your visit downtown is not complete without shopping for the latest in athleisure, or taking in an afternoon art show.
Keeping with a shifting Downtown landscape, The Bay Centre is diversifying the myriad of experiential offerings. The Bay Centre is not just about the shops and services, but the full experience which rounds out our offerings. With advances in online shopping and social media, shopping centre visitors and those visiting the Downtown core are far more sophisticated and are looking for
One of retail’s new trends is the pop-up retail use of vacant retail space which includes art and culture. From pop-up virtual reality lounges, art installations, cinemas, fashion shows, culinary events, collaborative performances and activa-
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DIAMOND OPTICAL Locally Owned and Operated – DOWNTOWN VICTORIA – 1320 Douglas Street • 250.380.6919
tions focused on health and wellness, this trend is here to stay, keeping The Bay Centre relevant and exceeding consumer’s expectations. On March 18th, The Bay Centre will be hosting Edutainment, a virtual lounge, in centre court, where you can play in the snow, warm up by a FDPSÀUH VZLP LQ WKH RFHDQ RU EH LQ D PRYLH DOO ZLWK D VLPSOH KHDGVHW ² QR à LJKW required! As an urban destination, our role is to incubate grass roots projects that have the potential to develop into branded events that may roll out over a wide range of communities. With this in mind, The Bay Centre maintains an extensive arts and culture program under its community partnership programs whichoffers an experience that is unexpected while surprising and delighting our guests. Last month, this included supporting local fashion designers through Victoria Fashion Week. Victoria Fashion Week launched its inaugural show in February and The Bay Centre was proud to provide exposure to both the show and the local designers through a window display leading up to the show. With a successful launch, it is anticipated that Victoria Fashion Week will be here to stay. The Bay Centre is viewed as a community space used to work and play in. As landlords, it is our role to welcome and embrace entrepreneurs focused on increasing the vibrancy Downtown to meet the expectations of residents, workers and tourists alike. Living in an experiential economy, it is imperative that we look at our urban neighbours not as competitors but as another piece of the puzzle that downtown needs. Darlene Hollstein is the General Manager of The Bay Centre. thebaycentre.ca
15 | Downtown Victoria Magazine | Mar 15, 2017
Business in Victoria Journey to a sustainable city
Jill Doucette & Kayli Anderson Synergy Enterprises The natural beauty that surrounds our charming and lively city is unparalleled – its why many of us choose to live here. The proximity to forests and marine life makes Victoria a very eco-conscious city and many of our local businesses are going above and beyond championing conservation and green business practices
Chorizo & Co. Spanish Eatery at 807 Fort St. is a Silver Vancouver Island Green Business
Often, the journey to sustainable business practices starts with the desire from within—it could be the owner or the employees—to take a little more action, to stand for more and connect with customers. The actions a business can take include reduction of packaging, enhancing recyFOLQJ VWUHDPV HQHUJ\ DQG ZDWHU HIÀFLHQF\ harnessing renewable energy, shifting WR HIÀFLHQF\ RU ]HUR HPLVVLRQ YHKLFOHV encouraging staff and customers to arrive without their car, supporting the local economy, reducing shipping emissions and getting engaged in conservation efforts.
Patagonia at 616 Yates St. is a Green Vancouver Island Green Business
To help guide these efforts towards greening operations, over 100 local businesses have turned to the Vancouver Island Green Business Program, run by ORFDO QRQ SURĂ€W 6\QHUJ\ 6XVWDLQDELOLW\ Institute. %XVLQHVVHV ZKR EHFRPH 9,*%& &HUWLĂ€HG will implement 5-8 new actions in their workplace to improve their score. This PD\ LQFOXGH VPDOO UHWURĂ€WV QHZ VWDII policies or programs, or simply improving their recycling systems.
7KH 9,*%& SURJUDP FHUWLĂ€HV UHVWDXUDQWV RIĂ€FHV DQG UHWDLO VWRUHV LQ 9LFWRULD as Silver, Gold or Green based on their environmental initiatives. Once a business has engaged green practices internally, there is still an environmental impact. Ultimately, every business has a carbon footprint, and that can EH PLWLJDWHG ZLWK KLJK TXDOLW\ YHULĂ€HG carbon offsets. Many local businesses have taken responsibility over their emissions and donated funds to help invest in renewable energy and fuel-switching projects that reduce emissions, locally and internationally. It is now possible to have a completely carbon neutral getaway in 9LFWRULD ² Ă \ LQ ZLWK +DUERXU $LU VWD\ at Inn at Laurel Point, go whale watching with Eagle Wing Tours, enjoy a coffee at +DELW HDW DW %LJ :KHHO %XUJHU =DPEUL¡V and Prima Strada. Some local businesses are taking sustainability a step further and engaging in activism and conservation efforts. Taking on a cause, or starting a movement, or even a charity, takes a business from “do no harmâ€? to “create positive changeâ€?. This continuum along the sustainability journey can take years, but the stages of transition are clear— reduce environmental impact through green operations, neuWUDOL]H LPSDFW E\ LQYHVWLQJ H[WHUQDOO\ DQG Ă€QDOO\ FUHDWLQJ SRVLWLYH FKDQJH WKURXJK activism and leadership. Jill Doucette and Kayli Anderson areco-owners of Synergy Enterprises and founders of the Synergy Sustainability Institute.
Want to contribute? Our editorial philosophy is based on a love of all things downtown with varying perspectives. We’re looking for writers to tell their downtown stories. If you are interested, please reach out to us at kristy@downtownvictoria.ca Hemp & Company at 1312 Government St. is a Green Vancouver Island Green Business