Expect variety, along with a large dose of glamour and glitz, as more than 150 dancers from across Canada and the United States waltz into Victoria this weekend for the 2014 PacificaBall.
The two-day ballroom dancing competition in Latin and standard amateur is hosted by the Victoria Ballroom Dance Society. Most of the 600 tickets are already sold.
The competition, which returns after a two-year absence, features a pro-am competition, which pairs professionals with amateurs.
“It’s like Dancing with the Stars,” said Ellie Matheson, spokeswoman for the society.
Competitors will be vying for the top honours from Newcomer to Championship categories. Spectators can watch showcase performances as well as moves from dancers as young as eight and up to 80. The club, the largest on Vancouver Island, boasts 450 members and some students in their 90s.
“You can’t dance and get old at the same time,” said Adam Hanna, Matheson’s partner.
Dancers compete in adult, senior, junior, youth and juvenile divisions.
The Saturday daytime session includes the showcase pro-am competition. Also featured will be elementary school students from Doncaster Elementary School who were part of the society’s Dancing in the Schools program.
Sunday brings the scintillating Senior II Pre-Championship and Championship level events in Standard and Latin categories.
People interested in trying out some new moves can sign up for Sunday workshops, one on specific dance techniques and the other on Flash and Style on the Dance Floor. Instructors will be Joel and Clara Marasigan, former B.C. Closed Champions and holders of many international titles.
Tickets start at $35. Competitions run 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Saanich Commonwealth Place, 4636 Elk Lake Dr. Workshops run 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Les Passmore Centre, 286 Hampton Rd. Details at pacificaball.ca.
Hang ten at Tofino surf competition
Canada’s top surfers will be catching some waves in Tofino this weekend at the 8th Annual Rip Curl Pro Tofino.
They will compete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes at the event, recognized by the Canadian Surfing Association as the national surfing championship.
Surfers will compete in nine divisions, including pro men, pro women, longboard and juniors.
“We have a lot of great surfers in Canada and none of us compete,” said Peter Devries, last year’s defending champion.
“Canadian surfers are lacking experience in terms of competition. It’s great that all the surfers living and working in the area get this opportunity to compete and enjoy the event.”
The competition brings more than 1,000 surfers and observers together. During the past three years, the event has brought more than $250,000 to the tourism industry in Tofino.
The event is free to watch. Surfing competition runs from 7 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on the beach at Cox Bay in Tofino. For more information, go to ripcurl.com.
To market, to market to play with some worms
Flowers aren’t the only sign of summer. Warmer days sees a crop of summer markets popping up everywhere.
Tonight, Sidney’s well-known Street Market returns for its 15th year. Every Thursday night from now until the end of August, Beacon Avenue will be closed to traffic and transformed into a festive street market, with more than 150 vendors.
As many as 5,000 people each night will find locally grown produce, handmade jewelry, clothing, toys, flowers, soaps, breads, jams, fudge and more. Shoppers will be entertained by a variety of musical performers.
The market runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on downtown Beacon Avenue in Sidney. For information, go to sidneystreetmarket.ca.
If you can’t make it on Thursday, go back on Sunday as the Sidney Summer Market celebrates its grand opening for the season. This new market features produce and products from local farmers, artisans and crafters.
A different special-interest group every week will share the stage with local musicians and entertainers.
The market runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday until Oct. 12 at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney. Details at sidneysummermarket.com.
Every Wednesday, expect to see food trucks loaded with organic produce heading for the Oaklands Sunset Market. The market, which runs until mid-September, features local vendors, farmers, organic meats, breads, granola, tea, baked goods, olive oil and more.
Artisans will display crafts, arts, pottery and designer jewelry. Shoppers will be entertained by music from folk to funk performed by local musicians.
A variety of community tables offer knowledge on food security, composting and renewable energy. Kids can enjoy a bouncy castle, face-painting, bubbles, hat-making stations and even playing with worms.
The market runs 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave. Details at oaklandscommunitycentre.com.
Relay helps children go to summer camp
Teams will run and walk, relay-style, to send kids to summer camp at the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay this weekend. This year, teams unable to commit to 24 hours can sign up for a 12-hour option.
This is the 20th year of the event, a community-based fundraiser that gives children with disabilities the chance to discover their abilities at summer camp. The Easter Seals camps are designed to encourage children to develop new skills, make new friends, gain confidence and develop independence.
It costs $2,500 to send one child to camp.
Every year, more than 800 children with disabilities from all over B.C. attend a one-week camping session at one of three camps across the province — Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, Squamish, and Winfield in the Okanagan.
Each camp is specially designed and equipped to accommodate children with special needs.
Although the event is a relay, members of the team waiting for their turn can play volleyball, watch live entertainment, relax at the beer garden, keep children occupied with activities or enjoy an on-site massage. There will be coffee to keep participants fuelled all night and a choice of food, including a Sunday morning pancake breakfast.
Registration is $100 per team. The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs until 10 a.m. Sunday at Centennial Stadium, University of Victoria. For more information, go to 24hourrelay.com.
Goddesses run for charities
The third annual Goddess Run on Sunday is a women-only walk and run that raises funds for three charities: Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Victoria Women’s Transition House and KidSport.
There are three events with different distances to choose from: The BMO five-kilometre; Westhills 10K; and Red Barn Market half marathon.
There are also two fun events on Saturday: a three-kilometre Westin BathRobe walk or run; and a 1.5-kilometre kids/family walk or run.
Event highlights include a entertainment on the course, the KidsZone, post-race massages and chocolate.
In-person registration at the race package pick-up location is Friday and Saturday. Registration is $65. The half-marathon walkers start at 8 a.m., half-marathon and 10K runners at 8:30 a.m. and 5K at 9 a.m. from the Westhills Stadium in City Centre Park, 1089 Langford Parkway.
More information at victoriagoddess.com.
Not your average mud puddle
When is a mud puddle a part of an endangered ecosystem? When it is a vernal pool — a component in Garry oak ecosystems, supplying moisture to many of the 22 rare plant species associated with wetland pool ecology.
Join botanist James Miskelly and the Friends of Uplands Park to learn how these misunderstood pools are formed and how people can protect them. Attendees are advised to wear waterproof shoes and bring a camera.
The event is free. It runs 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Meet at the Uplands Park sign on Beach Drive. For more information, go to friendsofuplandspark.
wordpress.com or call Margaret Lidkea at 250-595-8084.
The lowdown on the Inner Harbour’s future
Get some insight on the future of Victoria’s Inner Harbour as the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority hosts its fifth spring open house Saturday. The event is presented in collaboration with Point Hope Maritime and Dockside Green.
Open house activities include the opportunity to paddle a First Nations ocean canoe, buskers, an artist market and a kids’ zone. More than 14 events take place in the harbour, such as Swiftsure, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Lighted Ship Parade, will be represented at the open house.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ship Point.
Attendees can take a behind-the-scenes tour of Point Hope Maritime, B.C.’s first shipyard built in 1873. The shipyard is set for a $40-million investment that will double the workforce in the coming years. Enter through the north gate and wear appropriate shoes (no heels or open-toed shoes). Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tours run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the shipyard, 345 Harbour Rd.
The Dockside Green Neighbourhood is offering two drop-in design workshops to the public. The workshops are part of a series of community meetings to gauge the needs and wants of the Vic West neighbourhood.
The workshops run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 543 Harbour Rd. (across from Point Hope Maritime and adjacent to the district energy facility).
Attendees can take free Victoria Harbour Ferry tours from the Belleville Dock to Point Hope Maritime and Dockside Green on Saturday.
Details at gvha.ca.
