shoP local / think local
Part of what makes our neighbourhoods special are the businesses that thrive within them. As Saanich Peninsula entrepreneurs we strive to meet the needs of and give back to our diverse community. We ask that you please take a minute to think about the large potential of your consumer dollar. You are investing in your community by supporting its unique businesses. Appreciate what makes our neighbourhoods different. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an inherent part of the distinctive character of our neighbourhoods; that is what brought us here and will keep us here. Shop local and stay connected to the merchants in your community.
you hav ea choice where to sPend your mo ney
ur Put yo ere y wh mone s ouse i h r u yo When you shop local, three times the revenue remains in your community, supporting parks, schools and more! For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 goes back into the community and our tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $14 comes back.
live local / give local Community involvement works both ways. Many retailers believe in being involved: giving back to their communities is the right thing to do and they cheerfully donate to a variety of local causes, charities, fund raisers and sports teams. When businesses “give back,” communities appreciate the support and reciprocate.
helP the environment Independent businesses make purchases requiring less transportation and are usually located in the heart of small communities rather than “on the fringe,” meaning less impact on the environment.
If you have a favourite business in your community, please continue to support it all year round. This will ensure we are all here for the long haul!
get better service Local businesses often hire people who have a better understanding of the products they’re selling and take more time to get to know their customers.
our future is n
ow
By supporting in dependent businesses today, you are investing in a unique and sustainable future for the Saanich Pe ninsula commun ity. Small business ow ners live locally and are therefore more invested in the future of our neig hbourhoods. Loca l entrepreneurs ar e also the largest employer nationa lly and they prov ide the most jobs to new residents.
Shopping Sidney Sidney Waterfront
Bevan Avenue Bevan Avenue
Oakville Avenue
Oakville Avenue Oakville Avenue
3. Brown’s The Florist
13. Reigning Cats & Dogs
AvenueDiscovery Centre 14. ShawOrchard Ocean Orchard Avenue Orchard Avenue 15. Smashin Fashin
4. Buddies Toys
16. Sparling Real Estate
5. Christine Laurent
17. Tanner’s Books
6. Curves Sidney
18. The Dancing Orchid
7. Dig This
19. The Denture Clinic
8. Exist Hairworx
20. The Village Gallery
9. Flush Bathroom Essentials
21. Tivoli Gallery
10. Hypersport Activewear
22. Waterlily Shoes, Bags and Accessories
11. Lolly Gobble Sweet Shop 12. Pebbles at Mineral World
2nd Street
2nd Street
3rd Street
3rd Street
2nd Street
4th Street
4th Street
3rd Street
2. Best Western
4th Street
1. Beacon Cat Hospital
5th Street
5th Street
#17 Pat Bay HWY #17 Pat Bay HWY
1
1st Street
2nd Street
22 9
Sidney Waterfront Seaport Place
Seaport Place 1st Street
Bevan Avenue 6
2nd Street
3rd Street
3rd Street
2nd Street 11
14
12
4 17 Beacon Avenue 10 20 Beacon 16 3 21 Avenue
4th Street
Bevan Avenue Bevan Avenue
4th Street
4th Street
Beacon Avenue
5th Street
5th Street
Mary Winspear
Bevan Avenue
18 15 17 5
3rd Street
Resthaven Drive
Resthaven Drive
7th Street
7
2 8 Beacon Avenue Beacon Avenue
Beacon Avenue
Mary Winspear
13
1st Sidney Street Waterfront Seaport Place
Sidney Waterfront Sidney Waterfront Sidney Avenue Sidney Avenue
James White Blvd James White Blvd 7th Street
Resthaven Drive
7th Street
19
Pat Bay Highway
Professional Services Fashion & Beauty Free Parking
Sidney Avenue
James White Blvd
5th Street
Specialty shops & services Arts, Media & Entertainment Home & Garden Restaurants & Cafés
5th Street
Ultimate Discount in Comfort Our Running Shoes
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Clinics
Smashin Fashin
It s' Sale Time! 2420 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.655.9558 www.smashinfashin.com
Grow Your Own
=
Eat local, eat better! At Dig This we have everything you need to grow your own food. Seeds, lights, heat mats … and lots of friendly advice!
Register Now For Our Dynamic Running Clinics
since 1999
running • walking • yoga • fitness • swimming
9813 Third St, Sidney • 778.426.1998 sidney@digthis.com
Across from Tanner’s Books: 2443 Beacon Ave., Sidney 250-656-6161
A New Year, A New Start, A New You! After the chaos of Christmas is behind you, and you’ve spent so much time caring for, planning around and thinking about everyone else, it’s time to think about you! Or maybe, after all the holiday decorations have been packed away for next year, you’re noticing that the house needs “a little something” to spruce it up for the coming year. What better way to treat yourself, and your home, than to take advantage of Sidney’s unique shops and their amazing post-holiday sales? Whatever your needs, Sidney’s diverse stores have everything you’re looking for. Shop local and stay connected to the merchants in your community … all year round!
Semi-Annual Store-Wide Inventory Sale (until Jan. 24th)
20% - 50% off
Beautiful Karat Gold/Gemstones Earrings Pendants Rings
Ge
tY ou
rs
No
w!
Beacon & Fourth in Sidney Open 7 Days a Week!
ExcEllEnt valuE
at discountEd pricEs!
250.656.2345
www.TannersBooks.com
Hundreds of calendars to choose from! JOB # T678-15303
2432 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250.656.7141 Across from Tanner’s Books www.christinelaurentjewellers.ca
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The Dancing Orchid 2416 Beacon Avenue 250.656.1318 thedancingorchid@yahoo.com
Mardi Gras at The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa is bringing the Bayou back to the Saanich Peninsula! Our Mardi Gras Festival (January 18th to February 1st) in Haro’s Restaurant & Bar is a celebration of all things New Orleans, with a Mardi Gras menu and live entertainment throughout the two-week event.
Our festival kicks off with our second annual HUGE opening night party January 18th in support of the Sidney Lions Food Bank. It’s Bourbon Street Pier-style with marching bands, gumbo, beignets, jazz, casino and beads! This will be the most talked-about event on the Peninsula this year! Each year the Sidney Lions Food Bank meets the needs of many Peninsula residents, and The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa believes we can make no greater contribution to our community than supporting them in this effort. Please come out and support your community. Tickets for the January 18th fundraiser go on sale Thursday, January 2nd, and can be purchased at the hotel Front Desk. Tickets are $35 each,
Winter Blues? Come In For A New Do!
Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 6pm Late Night Tuesdays! 250.656.2321 #3 - 2310 Beacon Ave, Sidney
101-2537 Beacon Avenue (in the Cannery building) Sidney 250.656.5606 info@waterlilyshoes.com
Pebbles SST Ad March 2013 Size: 3.75” (w) x 4.925” (h) • Final File • March 13/13
Off Beat & Affordable Gifts y for Everyone
• Jewelry & Imports • Fine Local Crafts
elected
• Native Art
Beacon Cat Hospital Dr. Ellen Guttormson
The only strictly feline hospital serving the Saanich Peninsula
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Jewelle
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T I V O L I G Ae sLt a bLl i sEh e dR 1 9Y 85 250-656-1455 2475 Beacon Ave, Sidney
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and include five gold doubloons to spend at various stops, along with “funny money” for the casino … and beads of course! Tickets can only be bought in advance; no ticket sales at the door. Last year was a sell-out! Doubloons will be used for payment at all locales. They will have a value of $2 each and can be purchased at the banks on Bourbon Street. Locales will include: Louisiana Beauty Bar & Flair Stop (add to your outfit with masks, eyelashes, face painting, feathers boas etc.); Maw Maw’s Gumbo Shack – serving house specialty crab cakes, jambalaya and of course gumbo; Craw Daddy’s Shrimp and BBQ – prawn cocktail, muffaletta, and more; Tarot Readings – illuminate your future; Soooo Good Ice Cream – Get yourself a sundae; King Cakes – buy one or many – you may win a BIG prize; Haro’s Casino – Black Jack, Roulette, Poker; Hurricane Bar – Authentic NOLA cocktails served by the prettiest
50&$25 9808 Seaport Place www.mineralworld.ca
Purrrrrfect Care 9711 A - 5th Street, Sidney 250-656-5568 • www.beaconcatvet.infovet.ca
gals in the Quarter; Pearl Oyster Bar –The freshest oysters on the half shell and oyster po’ boys; Voodoo Bar – all your favourite New Orleans bevvies; St. Louis Cemetery #1 – The resting place of Marie Laveau; and Jazz Central – Live jazz and great food. Hotel “take the elevator home” rate for the night of the 18th for party guests is $99. The party is from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. We will have a complimentary shuttle (gratuities gratefully accepted) from the hotel for guests within a 15-kilometre radius. In addition, New Orleans style live music will be featured in Haro’s during our Mardi Gras each Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the following dates: January 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and February 1st. Haro’s special New Orleans menu will be featured from January 19th to February 1st, dinner only.
Happy New Year! BATHROOM ESSENTIALS
photo by Courtney Hawkins
Playful & practical gifts under
BROWN’S Since 1912
Open & Delivering Every Day!
www.brownsflorist.com
#102-2537 Beacon Ave, Sidney, BC
250.655.7732
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Sidney: 2499 Beacon Avenue 250.656.3313 Downtown: 757 Fort Street 250.388.5545 NEW! Westshore: 2972 Jacklin Rd 778-433-5399
playful by nature! Sidney Store
2494 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.655.7171
Oak Bay Store
2533 Estevan Ave, Victoria 250.595.6501
www.buddiestoys.ca
friends & neighbours "even with his busy schedule and many professional hats, tom wears one more: community advocate and volunteer."
The Man of Many Hats by Susan Simosko Friends & Neighbours is a column about the people who quietly enrich our lives personally and collectively every day. They distinguish themselves by the incredible things they do, whether or not we even notice. It is my pleasure to introduce you to a few of these remarkable people and to share something of their stories. Tom Watson is as charming as he is multi-talented. His infectious smile, quick wit and twinkling blue eyes immediately convey a man happy in his own skin and someone you want to get to know. Best known, perhaps, as the founder and original star of the musical group The Timebenders, Tom has been singing and playing music since he was a kid in Victoria. "I sang whenever I could," he recalls. "But my real involvement with music began when my parents brought me a ukulele from Hawaii. I loved that uke – until I realized it wasn't cool. Then I switched to guitar!" Just like that: Tom is largely self-taught and, by his own admission, loves fooling around with music. "That's the way I learn best," he says. Tom studied broadcasting at BCIT, but music has always been his muse. Over the years, he's worked with first-rate musicians, performing rock, pop, jazz, almost anything. The '60s is still his favorite musical era. "I am so lucky," Tom says. "I have a great time with the music and get to play with so many talented people. Truly, it's a blast." He pauses and tells the story of fellow guitarist, Brian Hyde, his best friend. "Brian died suddenly at 44. It was such a loss," Tom reflects. "Even today, 10 years later, I still miss him." In addition to his music, Tom is an accomplished graphic designer. He works with organizations large and small. "I started out as a sales rep for different companies to supplement my income as a musician and learned to use my Mac to create just about anything visual," he recounts. "It's all about the creative process. I enjoy it all."
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During his Vancouver years, Tom met and married Lucy, his wife of 27 years. He chuckles as he describes how they met: "Lucy called the wrong number and I was lucky enough to answer!" They have two grown children, Emily and Sam, both sources of pride. "My family is fantastic," Tom smiles. "They are my strongest advocates and my chief critics. I love them for both!" Even with his busy schedule and many professional hats, Tom wears one more: community advocate and volunteer, often contributing behind the scenes. In Sidney, he works with the Peninsula Celebrations Society to create Summer Sounds, the popular Sunday afternoon concert series. He also helps raise funds to keep the series running. In Central Saanich, he supports the police service's anti-graffiti campaign. And annually, he delights audiences at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Crystal Awards with his witty banter as MC. "Why do all this on top of your work?" I ask. "Because it's where I live," Tom says. "This area is so wonderful! If we want to keep it this way, we each need to do our part to make the community thrive: support local businesses, attend the outstanding cultural events on offer, and do what we can to celebrate the best of our community." Couldn't agree more! Tom and his musical partner, Murray McComb, entertain audiences at Haro’s at the Sidney Pier Hotel every Thursday evening and, between January 17th and March 1st, you can catch Tom in the "Hilarious History of Rock and Roll" at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. To learn more, contact Tom at tom@pulsetalent.com.
The dedicated members that kick up their heels every Monday night reap wonderful personal rewards
Tripping the Light Fantastic: Sidney International Folk Dancers by Doreen Marion Gee When John Milton coined the quote above in 1645, it referred to
light nimble dancing. The reference to "fantastic" brings up a sense of carefree imagination, wild abandon, freedom and joy. It aptly describes the Sidney International Folk Dancers and the rapture they feel as they move, weave, sway and swish their way around the gym at St. Andrew's Church Hall. The dedicated members that kick up their heels every Monday night reap wonderful personal rewards from their skilled gyrations on a wooden floor. This is the first Seaside interview where I danced all night! But even with my haphazard moves, I felt a sense of wonderful well-being as I moved to the beat of the music. Think aerobics gone wild; it was a total body workout. Patrick Shaw founded the group in 1994: "We are the only group in Sidney that has danced for 20 years." The 10 members do a mixed bag of dances – Israeli, Bulgarian, Syrian, Arabian, Turkish, "a lot of Greek-flavoured dances," Armenian, African and more. An avid dancer since age 15, Patrick taught many different international dances to the group over the years. I was amazed at the deft, skilled moves of the dancers as they smoothly handled difficult steps and movements. Patrick puts the intoxicating experience in a nutshell: "The way that I describe communal dancing is fellowship, fun and fitness." The lively group was kind and welcoming as we sat down for a jam session. Many of them chimed in excitedly, jumping at the chance to say how much they love their dancing sessions: "It is good for the brain;" "I love the social activity;" "You can really leave your stuff behind, because
you have to focus on the steps;" "The dancing is positively joyous, it is a celebration;" "It has helped my memory, especially for people's names." Janet sings the praises of non-performance dancing "for ourselves" and not an audience. Diane: "The people here were so welcoming and patient." Karen: "I just love the feeling I get when I dance here with the beat of the drums. There is something about incorporating your body with the music. It is a beautiful total body experience. It is blissful – I just go away. It is a little two-hour vacation every week where I can be anywhere in the world." After not dancing for many years due to foot problems, Marian is now combining the dancing with physiotherapy: "With the help of the therapy and these sessions, I am dancing better now than I ever did before." Karen again: "It is freeing." Linda Sheridan, my pleasant energetic host, is a very accomplished dancer, attending international events. She has been with the group since 1995: "It only gets better." She made two trips in 2009 and 2012 – to Western and Eastern Turkey – and danced every night with local groups. "Dancing crosses language barriers." Sidney International Folk Dancing is accessible fun at $5 a pop and no partner necessary. They encourage anyone to join on Monday evenings at St. Andrew's Church Hall from 7 to 9 p.m., which includes teaching beginners. Wherever you are, always remember to dance every day to the light fantastic. Contact: Linda, 250-652-5818 and Karen, 250-655-0654. St. Andrew’s Church Hall is at 9691 Fourth Street, Sidney. Photo by Doreen Marion Gee.