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FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
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Farm fresh, local & exceptional! The Old Farm Market in Oak Bay has a new sandwich bar with all the fixings for your summer picnic
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he Old Farm Market (OFM), a produce market founded in 1988 and purchased by Lorne Campbell in July of 2017, has two main focuses to provide quality produce at an exceptional price and to support local businesses. Not only does the OFM support local produce farmers, but they also search out many local grocery, dairy and deli products to provide an overall diverse and B.C. focused selection.
Opening their second location in December of 2019 in Oak Bay, just three months prior to the pandemic, The Old Farm Market Cadboro Bay expands on what the Duncan Location does best. With a full service deli, cheese Island, and a brand new “Sandwich Construction Co.” sandwich shop opening this month, the OFM is no longer just “The Home of Local Produce.” “We love being a part of this wonderful community,” Store Manager Chris Steel says about Oak Bay. “We have felt accepted and welcome from the first day we opened.” Customer service is an integral part of how the OFM does their daily business; also by quickly bringing in requested products, asking for feedback and focusing on the experience of their customers. “We want every customer that steps through the door to feel at home, and that this store is their store. We strive for this every day.” With only seven months in operation in Oak Bay, The Old Farm Market hopes to welcome more customers into the store throughout the coming summer months. The Market is the perfect location for Willows Beach visitors to stop by for local berries, custom sandwiches, picnic fixings, and more.
The Old Farm Market Victoria presents SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION CO. Full service sandwich shop serving hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, paninis and breakfast sandwiches on Portofino Bread and Mount Royal Bagels. Loaded with fresh veggies, meats and our special Old Farm Market sauces, made by our very own chef, as well as drink and treat combos! mbos! The perfect place to stop on your way to Willows Beach!
“We hear from customers daily that it is their first visit to the store, and that they heard about us from positive word of mouth,” says Chris Steel. Visit The Old Farm Market at 2585 Cadboro Bay Road and find out why everyone is so excited to have them in the community, and the reason for their reputation for outstanding quality, service and great prices. The market is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. theoldfarmmarket.ca
Side Street Studio is now open! Shop for handcrafted gifts by local B.C. artists: original pottery, jewelry, wood, textiles, glass-art and more By Jill Fitz Hirschbold have renovated the entire space hank you to everyone who has and added many new artists to made this possible - my family, the amazing group already in friends, staff, and my customers place. We offer a wide selection of near and far, for their continued support. handcrafted gifts: jewelry, pottery, Thank you also to our front line and woodworking, glass-art, textiles, essential workers who have made gift cards, photography and much sacrifices, to keep us safe, during this more. If you have not been in lately, unprecedented time. please come by and check out all The increased response to our online the new work and layout. You will store (www.sidestreetstudio.com) not be disappointed - we really do over the last few months has been have something for everyone. tremendous. The thousands of LOCAL Due to the small size of the handcrafted items that we have in-store store, it is impossible to assist are also available to purchase online. customers and maintain the We offer worldwide shipping, curbside recommended social distance, pick-up and free local delivery within so I am asking that all customers JILL FITZ HIRSCHBOLD, OWNER OF OAK BAY’S SIDE 10 km (please choose in-store pickup at visiting the store to please wear STREET STUDIO. the checkout online and we will contact a mask. If you do not have a mask, you directly regarding pickup or delivery). I will provide one for you. I am also requesting that all Every purchase made at Side Street Studio not only customers sanitize their hands upon entering the store. supports a small business but an entire community of Thank you in advance to adhering to these guidelines over 200 local artists. It has been two-and-a-half years and see you soon! since I purchased the Studio, and during that time I sidestreetstudio.com
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t Complete our online survey t Select your budget
t We create a mystery tour just for you t You show up and enjoy!
Current travel restrictions don’t have to curb your wanderlust
Try Mystery Departures
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epartures Travel has been proudly serving Victoria for over 35 years and is officially Victoria’s oldest travel agency. We are locally owned and operated and have locations in Victoria, and now in Sidney. Departures has seen everything possible in the world of travel. With current international travel restrictions, our focus has changed to exploring closer to home. Do you miss travelling as much as we do? Are you looking for something unique and exciting to do after months of staying home? Since
the recent Phase 3 announcement by Dr. Bonnie Henry, we can now gently ease back into travel, beginning locally. For years, we have had the pleasure to bring international guests to Vancouver Island and BC to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery, culture, food and experiences in the world. Now it’s your turn! Mystery Departures is an exciting new program from Departures Travel. We will plan your BC experience ... with a twist. Whether its a local group day
trip, romantic weekend, girlfriend’s getaway, fun family trip or any other excuse to take a trip, let us send you on a Mystery Departures Tour. You will be surprised and delighted along the way. Once you complete an online survey of your interests, travel dates and budget, we will create a unique and exciting Mystery Departures Tour, curated just for you. All you have to do is show up and enjoy the trip. It’s that simple! What are you waiting for? departurestravel.com
Home of Loc Local cal Produce PRODUCE – DELI – GROCERY PR The Old Farm Market Victoria presents... Full service Sandwich Shop serving.... Hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, paninis and breakfast sandwiches on Portofino Bread or Mount Royal Bagels! Loaded with fresh veggies, meats and Our Special Old Farm Market Sauces made by our very own Chef as well as drink and treat combos! A perfect stop on your way to Willows Beach!
www.departurestravel.com | Toll Free 1.800.475.3755 1889 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria
Temporary Location: 105-9790 Second St, Sidney
250.596.1161 BC Reg. 63139 250.999.9800 BC Reg. 75524
If you would like to showcase your business in this feature, Contact Paul Wiebe pwiebe@timescolonist.com Phone: 250-514-0437
NOW OPEN 8am-7pm LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED!
2585 Cadboro Bay Rd. Oak Bay (across from Pure Vanilla Bakery)
www.theoldfarmmarket.ca
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FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
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Discover OAK BAY Glenlyon Norfolk School welcomes new Head of School
Flowers nourish the soul
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CHAD HOLTUM, NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL.
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he Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) Board of Governors is excited to announce Mr. Chad Holtum as the new Head of School starting July 1, 2020. Mr. Holtum has been instrumental in the growth of the GNS community since 2013, including helping shape the Family Boarding program and the ongoing WONDER campaign. Mr. Holtum has a strong commitment to community and that starts right in the GNS area. He encourages local students to join the school through the GNS Community Scholarships program, which grants entrance scholarships of up to $10,000 to new domestic students in Grades 8 to 12. “The GNS Community Scholarships are an excellent opportunity for students to be part of our school while gaining exceptional university preparation,â€? said Mr. Holtum. “We are excited to offer these scholarships and give students opportunities that will help support them throughout life.â€? Mr. Holtum fully believes in the beneďŹ ts of the GNS experience as his
two sons and nephew are all students at the school. “My favourite thing about GNS is our community,’ he said. “It’s our students, faculty and staff, alumni, parents, grandparents and friends of GNS who help with our continued success. We are very fortunate to have such a strong community.â€? Previous to joining GNS, Mr. Holtum taught in the public school system before moving to work with independent schools, including Queen Margaret’s and Shawnigan Lake School. We are excited for Mr. Holtum as he continues as an advocate for Glenlyon Norfolk School and wish him a warm welcome as the new Head of School. “I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful summer,â€? says Mr. Holtum. “We look forward to welcoming our students back to our campuses in September, with as much in-person learning as possible under the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and provincial health ofďŹ cials.â€? mygns.ca
Thanks to our wonderful Customers, Staff and Suppliers for your support during these challenging times! We are proud to be able to offer beautiful local owers to brighten anyone’s day!
oakbayowershop.com 102 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave
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Phone: 250-595-2421
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Toll Free: 1-800-667-2421
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very special thank you to our staff, and customers for their support during these unusual times. We are so grateful and thankful for our local suppliers who continue to provide us with beautiful fresh owers. The virus brought many changes and we’ve adapted by enhancing our cleaning procedures and developed protocols for the safety of our customers and staff. There were changes in how we did business and we were affected as deliveries to hospitals and care homes were restricted and we saw events that would normally require owers being cancelled. We had a lot of reminders of how important owers are for people to stay connected and no contact delivery and curbside pick-up became an important part of our service. Our customers ordered by phone and online and sales for Mother’s day surged as people couldn’t visit or take their loved ones to brunch or share in other activities that were closed due to the virus. We heard so many wonderful heart warming stories from customers how happy they were that although they couldn’t visit they could still connect with our owers. We experienced supply challenges as some product usually imported just couldn’t get here. Some countries hard hit by the virus shut down farms, or their product was delayed enroute and product arrived damaged. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful variety of local product available from our local growers so we don’t need to rely on imported owers. Shopping local has never been more important to us and we thank our local island farm growers: Eurosa Gardens and Mt Newton
THIS IS CHARLIE, PRACTISING SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
Farms for their product. They also attend the Vancouver auction on our behalf and deal with the local growers on the mainland. There are currently changes taking place in how our local suppliers do business. They have adapted their workplaces for social distancing and embraced the requirements to operate safely. We are still seeing some supply shortages and cost increases in some product but we are so fortunate that we are able to get the quality of owers and the variety that we do. Of course, Oak Bay Flowers offers more than just owers. We provide custom made- to- order gift baskets, including cheese, crackers, St. Jeans seafood, high quality chocolate, sweets, and more. All these lovely things are perfect for shut- ins. We can even include wine! This year more than ever our house plants and garden plants have been hugely popular as people prettied their home ofďŹ ces and tended gardens. Groceries sell produce for nourishment. For us, we sell owers to nourish the soul. oakbayowershop.com
Oak Bay welcomes you back Visit our beautiful community of safe spaces and places
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eeling disconnected or suffering from cabin fever? great pizza or the pub. Equally appealing is the cozy Oak Then picturesque Oak Bay is a safe destination to Bay Guesthouse, a Victorian home just a stone’s throw unwind and reconnect. Located just 10 minutes from from the hotel and the marina. Specializing in British fare Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Oak Bay is a beautiful seaside be sure to stay for their famous English breakfast. community overlooking the Salish Sea and nestled among WHAT TO DO: Oak Bay is famous for its scenery and stands of Garry Oak trees. It boasts four village centres, is ideal for walking, hiking, cycling and kayaking. It has the largest one being on Oak Bay one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in Avenue where you will ďŹ nd boutique Canada and a Dark Sky Urban Star Park shops, galleries, cafes and eateries, a at Cattle Point overlooking Discovery pub and more. Island. If you love photography and Oak Bay is within easy driving, want that perfect shot, Oak Bay is cycling or walking distance from ocean home to a variety of wildlife, sea life beaches, a variety of parks and quiet and spectacular natural surroundings. tree-lined streets. Only minutes away Or simply meander Oak Bay Avenue to the north, visit Estevan Village and while sipping a take-out coffee from a enjoy the shops and the best ďŹ sh and small cafĂŠ. chips in the region. If you want to get WHERE TO DINE: Fine dining off the beaten track and love walking, is available at Vis-a-Vis restaurant or OTTAVIO ITALIAN BAKERY & DELICATESSEN Oak Bay has a fascinating network enjoy sushi from the picturesque Marina IS A FAVOURITE ON THE AVENUE. of trails and laneways that take you Restaurant, while breakfast favourites through natural settings or into historical neighbourhoods are found at The Village, Ruth and Dean and The Oaks. where heritage homes grace the streetscape. Willows Pizza is a local favourite as are the Demitasse, WHERE TO STAY: Whether you’re seeking old world Delish, Pure Vanilla and Hide + Seek cafes. Ottavio and charm, or a magniďŹ cent waterfront hotel perched on the COBS bakeries provide specialty treats and you can wash rocks overlooking the Oak Bay Marina, Oak Bay offers it all down at the end of a busy day with a pint at the both. The luxurious Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Spa is the Penny Farthing Pub. perfect seaside get-away location where you can enjoy oakbaytourism.com
A place where children, with teachers as their guides, explore the world around them, share experiences, and work and play together. This is Junior Kindergarten at Glenlyon Norfolk School.
www.mygns.ca
TIMES COLONIST | timescolonist.com
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
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Fort Royal Pharmacy celebrates One-year Anniversary in Oak Bay
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ort Royal Pharmacy is celebrating their One-Year Anniversary of proudly serving the community of Oak Bay. Locally-owned and family-operated, you will ďŹ nd them located in the heart of Oak Bay Village; this is their newest and third third pharmacy location. Known for their low prices and quick and friendly service, their professional staff take great pride in advising and assisting clients with all types pharmacy needs. In addition, they carry a variety of over-thecounter products and household items.
Seniors get 20 per cent discount on most over the counter products every day. Visit any of their locations for all of your pharmacy needs. Don’t worry if you cannot make it into one of their stores ... they will deliver whatever you need directly to your home for free. Easy Rx transfers and reďŹ lls. Fort Royal Pharmacy | 2217 Oak Bay Ave Tel: 250-590-9217 | Fax: 250-590-9218 FortRoyalPharmacy.ca
Your lifetime partner for every aspect of your eye health
OAK BAY OPTOMETRY
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e are open and excited to see you, our practice family, with some changes to how we deliver care. To that end, everything is done by appointment. Thanks for understanding that the door must be locked in order to ensure
social distancing and proper sanitization between patients. Our goal is ensuring your safety and comfort during these new times. Oak Bay Optometry has been part of the Oak Bay community for over 25 years – and we love it here.
Our professional, caring, experienced optometrists are here to ensure your eye health, and our optical team will help you ďŹ nd the perfect lenses and frames for your unique lifestyle and needs. With some of the best technology available, our optometrists do more than just check your prescription – they are lifetime partners in every aspect of your eye health. We want to ensure your vision and health is as good as it can be. We are Essilor Elite Partners, and our optical team specializes in listening carefully to your vision preferences and needs while taking your lifestyle aspects into consideration. This helps us tailor the perfect corrective lens solution for you, providing you with the best optical experience. With our wide selection of independent frame lines, we’re sure to have something that suits your style preferences.
We believe style is as important as ďŹ t and function – your eyewear is a unique reection of you. Your eyewear selection time is scheduled with one of our trained optical staff, ensuring a customized experience. Call us today at: 250-595-8500 or visit us online at: OakBayOptometry.com. We would love to hear from you! Please keep in mind that everything is by appointment only for the time being to ensure we are fully sanitized and prepared for just you, from start to ďŹ nish.
OAK BAY BIKES
BRINGING WEB-STORE AND E-BIKES TO YOUR HOME
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ak Bay Bikes is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In fact, they never closed. While recent world events saw cycling races postponed, fundraising rides completed virtually and the Olympics rescheduled, they also acted as an accelerator on the bike industry – and business is booming! In March, Oak bay Bikes acted quickly to reconďŹ gure the shop, setting up a reception area, physically distanced line-up, outdoor handwashing sink and controlled entry process where each guest is assigned to a salesperson – think personal shopper! They also launched their new webstore; this has always been on their ‘to-do’ list, but quickly moved to the ‘to-survive’ list. It’s been a quick learning experience for staff to handle a new stream of sales, but customers are loving the convenience of shopping from their homes. They are offering free in-store pick up and free local delivery on all purchases, making online shopping that much more appealing. Customers can visit oakbaybikes.com to shop online. DEMO ON DEMAND Oak Bay Bikes’ popular ‘Demo on Demand’ program is being offered again. Customers can call the shop to book a demo and experience an e-bike for a few days, at no cost or obligation
20%
... no strings attached! They bring the bike to you, show you how to use it and pick it up when you’re done. It’s a oneof-a-kind program on Vancouver Island and is the reason they have introduced more e-bikes to riders than anyone else. There has really never been a better time to ditch the car or public transportation and ride to your destination. There’s always a silver lining. As a result of recent world events, Oak Bay Bikes is witnessing the rebirth of cycling. Fueled also by the development of e-bikes, a renewed focus on personal health and well-being, and foundations laid by local groups like the Bike Victoria Society and the BC Cycling Coalition, bikes are having a moment. Oak Bay Bikes is proud to be part of that evolution, with the support of their customers and the entire community. Free local delivery on all purchases. oakbaybikes.com
*
discount for seniors OTC
*no limits
Every day!
Experience an e-bike FREE, for a few days. We bring the bike to you, show you how it works and pick it up when you’re done. % " $ # "!
FULL SERVICE DISPENSING PHARMACIES Quick & EfďŹ cient Service Free Medical Reviews BOX OF 50 Free Blister Packaging $ 34.99 Compounding Services Ostomy Supplies
FREE DELIVERY Across the Island!*
COMPARE: WHY PAY MORE... WHEN YOU HAVE A CHOICE!
3 Locations to serve you Locally-Owned
Family-Operated
www.fortroyalpharmacy.ca E-mail: info@fortroyalpharmacy.ca
1803 FORT ST Victoria BC Tel: 250-590-3707 Fax: 250-590-3708
#50-797 HILLSIDE AVE Victoria BC Tel: 778-406-2022 Fax: 778-406-2023
2217 OAK BAY AVE Oak Bay, BC Tel: 250-590-9217 Fax: 250-590-9218
FOR BULK ORDERS ON COVID SUPPLIES CALL 250-889-9288 *Conditions apply.
C10 FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
timescolonist.com | TIMES COLONIST
OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Discover OAK BAY Jewellery to tell your story
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Exceptional Service and Value at NexGen Hearing Oak Bay Businesses and professionals are welcoming back clients
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NEW ZEALAND BORN GEOFFREY BEATTIE AND WIFE CHRISTINE HAVE OWNED BARCLAY’S FINE JEWELLERS SINCE 1999.
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arclay’s Fine Jewellers takes pride in their expertise, craftsmanship and dedicated client care. They believe each client comes to them with a unique story, and they’re ready to help them tell it through an irreplaceable piece. “We are a family-run boutique-style jewellery store located in the heart of Oak Bay Village. We specialize in a variety of services including custom design, engagement and wedding rings and jewellery repairs. Our repairs are done in-house by our Master Goldsmith and Platinumsmith,� says company owner geoff Beattie. “Handcrafted in Montreal, our Noam Carver Bridal collection is exclusive to
Barclay’s in Victoria. We are also the exclusive Canadian dealer of luxury Beverly Hills based designer Robert Procop.â€? New Zealand born Geoffrey Beattie and wife Christine have owned the company since 1999, and their children have both spent time working in the store. Their showroom oor is currently open to the public and accepting visitors, although they suggest booking an appointment in advance. To ensure the safety of visitors and staff, Barclay’s has implemented conscientious precautionary measures against COVID-19. “We look forward to seeing you in the store soon!â€?
n /AK "AY !VE s 0HONE s barclaysjewellers.com
our next visit to NexGen Hearing will be a different experience. They have developed protocols designed to keep you, their staff and your community safe. The clinic rooms and procedures have been modiďŹ ed under the guidance of Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Provincial Health OfďŹ cer, the BC Centre for Disease Control and the College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC. “We are excited to welcome our clients back for routine care; in order to follow the enhanced safety and disinfectionprotocols—we are scheduling less in-clinic appointments each day.â€? “We continue to offer phone support, contactless drop-off for minor hearing aid repairs, and contactless pick-up for batteries and supplies. Clients with modern bluetooth hearing aids can enjoy programming updates without leaving the comfort of their home,â€? said Selene Finlayson, RHIP/ Owner NexGen Hearing Oak Bay. Some important changes at the NexGen Hearing Oak Bay clinic include doors locked on arrival – to be opened at the time of your booked
appointment. On entering the clinic, you will approach the sani-station to sanitize your hands, you are expected to arrive with a mask, however disposable masks will be provided if needed. Seating in the waiting room has been rearranged to allow physical distancing, and all paper materials and refreshment stations have been removed. The staff in the clinic are equipped with enhanced personal protective equipment, and the reception area will be behind a safety-shield. Before you book your appointment, you can expect to be asked health screening questions, and again during theconďŹ rmation call one day prior to your set appointment time. While personal support is encouraged such as involving a spouse or family member, to limit the number of people inside the clinic during this time, this should be done by phone or video chat instead. If a caregiver or guardian is required during your visit, please be sure to share this when you are booking your appointment. The professionals at NexGen Hearing in Oak Bay are excited to welcome you back, and appreciate your support and patience while making these important changes to keep you safe. Located at 2215 Oak Bay Ave., Phone: 250-598-9884. nexgenhearing.com SELENE FINLAYSON, RHIP/OWNER NEXGEN HEARING OAK BAY
Shopping in real life is back at Five Fields 2070 Cadboro Bay Road (Across from Oak Bay High)
Shop In Real Life Again.
Open 11-4 Tuesday to Saturday for in person shopping. Open anytime online www.ďŹ veďŹ eldsdesign.com
FIVE FIELDS DECOR&DESIGN
Home Decor & Annie Sloan Stockist 250.592.5611
NOW OPEN
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e are excited to see all of you! Our in-store solution is furniture transfers (these can also be used on protocols are in place to ensure you are in fabric and glass). The transfers are pre-printed designs good, safe (clean) hands with us. Thank you that come attached to a non-stick backing sheet. for your amazing support during the shut down, and Pressure-sensitive, you can apply the image by embracing us online and continuing to shop with us. rubbing it onto a surface, then peeling off the backing We wouldn’t be here if it were not for you. sheet. The pre-printed design remains on the surface. During the quarantine, so IOD transfers are designed many of you fell in love with DIY. for a wide range of decor styles: You let loose your creativity with farmhouse, vintage, boho, French our Annie Sloan range of paints cottage and more. The dresser and ďŹ nishes. We heard about in the photo was created by bathrooms, bedroom furniture, the Uber talented Ildiko Kadar outdoor planters and walls being from restored4u who used a transformed with chalk paint. combination of chalk paint and Creativity and DIY projects were botanical print transfers. one of the welcome perks of Come in and explore our new being indoors. line of transfers and stamps, and Now that you have mastered if you need a little inspiration, painting, we are taking it to next register for our online workshops. level with easy transfers, stamps Open 11-4 Tuesday through and mouldings by Iron Orchid Saturday for real life shopping Designs. These pair perfectly @ 2070 Cadboro Bay Rd., or online THE DRESSER IN THE PHOTO WAS CREATED BY THE UBER with chalk paint. If you have anytime at ďŹ veďŹ eldsdesign. TALENTED ILDIKO KADAR FROM RESTORED4U. SHE USED ever thought your paint project com and on Instagram at A COMBINATION OF CHALK PAINT AND BOTANICAL PRINT needed a little extra oomph, the TRANSFERS TO CREATE THIS OUTSTANDING PIECE. @ďŹ veďŹ eldsdecor
AT ALL
THREE LOCATIONS DOWNTOWN: OAK BAY: SIDNEY:
If you would like to showcase your business in this feature, Contact Paul Wiebe pwiebe@timescolonist.com Phone: 250-514-0437
(PWFSONFOU 4U /FXQPSU "WF
#FBDPO "WF
MEN’S and LADIES’ CLOTHING Sidney & Downtown: 5VFT 4BU t B N Q N Oak Bay: 5VFT 4BU t B N Q N
“Diamonds that can be seen from 6 feet away� 2187 Oak Bay Ave #106, Victoria – 250-592-1100 – www.barclaysjewellers.com
Our clinics are ! $ " ! by appt. only, with new protocols in place. % "" !# !# # %
www.nexgenhearing.com