Ocean Week is all about education, conservation and fun
Ocean Week Victoria is a week-long celebration of ocean-inspired community events with a focus on marine education, conservation and fun, at various venues on southern Vancouver Island, June 1 to 9.
Local events include an opportunity to stand-up paddle board in a kelp forest, a sea lantern workshop, a Salish Sea tour at the Royal B.C. Museum, intertidal walk, sketching class, sea glass jewellery workshop and a ship tour.
The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is offering six programs, with events at both the Shaw Centre and off-site locations. Their signature event is a World Ocean Day festival, with story time, a science show, interactive and educational booths, a touch pool, face painting, lawn games and more. It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at the Shaw Centre and Beacon Park in Sidney.
The Maritime Museum of B.C. is offering a sea glass workshop, two Museum Tots programs (suitable for children 3 to 5), a sea lantern workshop and a free-admission Community Day. Programs run from June 1 to 8.
Talk to scientists, mariners and other experts will be on hand to answer questions at an open house at the Institute of Ocean Sciences. Visitors will also be able to board a Canadian Coast Guard ship and talk to its crew. The event runs 9 to 4 p.m. June 8 at 9860 West Saanich Rd. Free parking and shuttle to site from B.C. Transit’s McTavish Road exchange and airport overflow lot, off Willingdon.
Other participants include the Royal B.C. Museum, Fort Rodd Hill, Clover Point Parkrun, Pacific Wild, Seaquaria Ocean Education and the Gorge Waterway Action Society.
The week-long festival concludes with World Ocean Day Celebrations at Fisherman’s Wharf, Sunday, June 9. This fun, family-friendly event features floating whales, live divers, touch tanks, ocean-related book readings and more.
Participants include a variety of conservation organizations from around the Salish Sea and is hosted by Eagle Wing Tours and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. The event runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9 at Fisherman’s Wharf, 1 Dallas Rd.
For more information, including event, locations and times, go to oceanweekvictoria.ca/calendar-2024.
Get in on the fun at Brentwood Bay Festival
Watch a parade and get into the community spirit at the Brentwood Bay Festival, at HEL,HILEȻ Park (formerly Pioneer Park) on June 1.
Hosted by the Brentwood Bay Community Association, the family-friendly event includes a pancake breakfast, parade, live music and kid-friendly family activities, including mini golf and an inflatable amusement.
Tickles the Clown and Yowza will be on site, along with market vendors and food trucks.
The parade starts at Bayside School at 10 a.m. and concludes at the park.
The event is free to join. It runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1 at HEL,HILEȻ Park, 7130 West Saanich Rd., Brentwood Bay.
For more information, go to brentwoodbay.info/brentwood-bay-festival-1.
A day for single parents and their kids
The 1Up Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre is hosting a Parent Day event for single parents and their kids at Beckwith Park on June 1.
The kid-friendly event features a photo booth, ice cream truck, henna artist, craft table, bubble guy and more.
A disc jockey will provide music throughout the day.
The free event runs noon to 3 p.m. Saturday June 1, at Beckwith Park, 857 Beckwith Ave.
For more information, go to singleparentvictoria.ca.
