A heritage building now occupied by Christ Church Cathedral School turns 100 Oct. 1, with a gala planned for later in the month.
The cornerstone of Memorial Hall on Vancouver Street was laid on Oct. 1, 1923. It was built as a memorial to those who had fallen in the First World War, with the auditorium named in memory of Bishop George Hills, the first Anglican Bishop of British Columbia.
Built in the Gothic-Revival style, the building was designed by John Charles Malcolm Keith, the architect who designed the adjoining Christ Church Cathedral. The original plans called for it to be connected to the cathedral by a small structure on the west end that was never built. Over the years, the building, which boasts an auditorium, a workroom, a guild room and a recreation hall, has served many purposes, hosting receptions, Sunday schools and office space for the bishop for the Diocese of B.C. at one time.
Upgrades over the past few decades included the addition of new washrooms, an office area, resized classrooms and seismic upgrades.
Christ Church Cathedral School has been the building’s main tenant since 1989. It offers kindergarten to Grade 8 classes, as well as after-school and day camp programs.
“Memorial Hall has been an important part of the life of Christ Church Cathedral since the very beginning,” said Rev. Canon Jeannine Friesen, priest in charge of the cathedral.
“The cathedral looks forward to celebrating the centennial of the hall with the school and the wider community.”
The Memorial Hall Centennial Gala is set for 5:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 21 in the gymnasium of Cathedral School at 912 Vancouver St. Seats are $200 each, of which $100 is eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
Funds raised from the event will go toward the school’s bursary fund and charitable programs run by the cathedral.
• For more information, go to cathedralschool.ca or christchurchcathedral.bc.ca.
Community mosaic in Sidney explores feelings about reconciliation
The public is invited to witness the unveiling of the Art of Reconciliation Community Mosaic, inspired by Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, at the Greenglade Community Centre in Sidney on Tuesday.
Hosted by the Victoria Native Friendship Centre and Panorama Recreation, the mosaic is part of Art of Reconciliation, a two-month program that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people, 19 to 29 years old, to explore their feelings about reconciliation.
The mosaic was designed by Coast Salish artist Dahlila Charlie of the Beecher Bay First Nation.
The artwork was transferred onto 64 mosaic tiles, which were painted and decorated at free workshops.
“This is the second iteration of this project, which has been happening with different artists, cultural leaders and in different parts of southern Vancouver Island,” said Ron Rice (Wush’q), executive director of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
“Of course, we encourage everyone to participate, to witness and to contribute to reconciliation in many ways.”
The event runs 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Greenglade Community Centre, 2151 Lannon Way, Sidney. Refreshments provided.
Oak Bay Rotary will host Burger and Beer fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Oak Bay has just wrapped up its annual Canada Flag program, raising $28,000 for community and international projects.
Now members are hosting a Burger and Beer fundraising evening at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub in support of the 1000 x 5 Children’s Literacy project, Sept. 27. The project aims for children to have heard 1,000 books by age five.
You get a beer (or cider) and your choice of beef, salmon, chicken or vegetarian burger, with side, for $35 — with $10 from every meal to benefit the literacy project. There will also be draws and door prizes.
Burgers will be served 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the brew pub, 308 Catherine St.
On Oct. 7, the service club is hosting its monthly bottle drive at Oak Bay Secondary School.
Money from refundable bottles and cans will go to the Jack Wallace Track Resurfacing project at the school, and Threshold Housing Society, which provides housing for youth at risk.
The collection runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cranmore Road entrance to the school.
• For more information, go to oakbayrotary.ca
Celebrate seniors with breakfast or an outing
Take an older member of the community to a free breakfast, a birding walk or a movie to celebrate the International Day of the Older Person Oct. 1.
The South Vancouver Island Community Response Networks is marking the occasion with a number of events throughout Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, the West Shore and the Gulf Islands, Sept. 29 to Oct. 5.
The day celebrates and recognizes the contributions of elders. Almost one in four people in the province — or more than 1.3 million — will be over the age of 65 by 2031.
The event kicks off with a free pancake breakfast from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the SHOAL Centre, 10030 Resthaven Dr., Sidney. There is a bird walk and a jazz matinee on Sunday, followed by movies in Victoria and on Salt Spring Island on Monday, Oct. 2.
If you or the older adults in your life can’t make it to the event, you can still show them they are appreciated by treating them to a day out, taking them for a walk in nature or cooking a meal together, says the South Vancouver Island Community Response Networks.
The group’s mandate is to raise awareness of senior abuse, neglect and self-neglect. Members of 80 Community Response Networks in the province work with local community organizations to improve the quality of life for seniors.
• For more information and a calendar of events, go to bccrns.ca/event/oct-1-svi-crn.
Young poets showcase their work in Duncan
Meet and listen to talented young poets at the 2023 Mike Coleman Poetry Contest Showcase, at the Cowichan Campus of Vancouver Island University on Thursday.
Hosted by the Cowichan Foundation, the event highlights submissions by entrants to the Mike Coleman Poetry and Spoken Word competition over the past two years, with guest speakers, live poetry, wine and refreshments.
The keynote speaker will be Poet Laureate Marie Specht.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting next year’s contest.
Tickets are $10 plus taxes and fee. The event starts at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in Theatre Room 140, on the Cowichan Campus of Vancouver Island University at 2011 University Way in Duncan.
The competition was inspired by the late Michael Coleman, a longtime Duncan mayor and local lawyer who was an avid poet. “He believed in the power of storytelling and published multiple books of poetry in his lifetime,” the Cowichan Foundation says on its website.
Coleman, who served as mayor for 23 years, died two years ago.
• For more information, go to cowichanfoundation.com/mc-poetry-contest.
Emily Gorrill is Run for the Cure’s Participant of Hope
Emily Gorrill was 25 when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer five years ago. Despite the odds, she got married this summer.
Her bridal outfit included long white gloves made by her aunt to hide her arms — swollen from lymphedema — a frequent side-effect from a mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes.
Gorrill will be a participant in the Canadian Cancer Society’s CIBC Run for the Cure, at the University of Victoria, Sunday, Oct. 1. She will also be the event’s Participant of Hope speaker.
Money raised by community events, such as the Run for the Cure, helps fund the research that changes lives.
By speaking out, Gorrill hopes to educate people about some of the misconceptions about breast cancer and remission — and the need for donations after COVID-19 severely curtailed these community events.
The event saw numbers significantly down last year, the first in-person event since the pandemic.
Sign up and participate, but if you can’t, consider donating to this important cause.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m., with both the 1-kilometre and the 5-km run starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at the University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
• For more information, to sign up or to donate, go to support.cancer.ca.
