You can check out a large collection of Scouting memorabilia at the new Victoria Scout Museum, set for a grand opening at Scout House on Feb. 25.
Members of the 30th Baden-Powell Guild have spent the last two years planning, organizing and renovating a space at Scout House to display a collection of items, including uniforms, books, trophies, photos and a wide assortment of Scout- and Guide-related memorabilia, including a display on the Boy Scouts of America.
There will also be a Scout badge Trade-o-ree on both days.
A grand opening ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 25. The museum will be open to all Scouters, Guiders and the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 and 26 at Scout House at 505 Marigold Rd., near the intersection of Interurban Road and McKenzie Avenue.
After the opening weekend, the museum will be open by appointment only.
For more information, go to viscouts.ca.
Arts festival in Saanich
Saanich’s Family Arts Festival returns for Family Day at the Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre on Feb. 20.
The free family-friendly event is a celebration of imagination, creativity and discovery, with a wide variety of activities led by staff and guest instructors from the region’s arts community.
Participants can try clay hand-building in the pottery studio, stitching, mask-making, playing with robotics and getting creative with a variety of arts and crafts activities.
Live music and cultural performances from local groups will take place throughout the day.
The 20-minute shows will feature groups such as the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers, Chinese Dance Victoria, Mr. Mojo, Eden Poynter, ISSAMBA’S Mamadou and others.
Kattia’s Kitchen or Greek on the Street will be on site throughout the day for authentic Mexican and Greek food.
“The Saanich Family Arts Festival is a wonderful way for families to spend special time together this Family Day,” said Nathalie Chambers, a Saanich councillor and Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee chair. “Join us as we come together as a community to celebrate arts, culture and creativity.”
The event is free to attend. It runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 20 at Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.
For more information, go to saanich.ca/EN/main/news-events/events-list/saanich-community-events/family-arts-festival-2021.html.
Donation for Goldstream Food Bank
ScanDesigns and Muse and Merchant recently donated $2,858 to the Goldstream Food Bank.
Every year, the two furniture stores set aside half of every delivery charge in the month of December. This year, the collected funds were split between the Goldstream Food Bank and the Gaby Davies Foundation, a hospice for young children in Port Coquitlam.
“More then ever this year, with the effects of high food costs and the residual COVID-19 outfall on families and individuals in our community, this donation will assist the Food Bank to continue their operation helping countless Westshore families with healthy meals,” said Paul Ritchie, owner of ScanDesigns.
ScanDesigns has been supporting the Goldstream Food Bank since its inception in the summer of 2007. In the past four years, the ScanDesigns group of companies has donated $85,000 to the two charities.
To donate, go to goldstreamfoodbank.org.
Fashion event promotes local designers
Fashion Splash, one of Victoria’s premier fashion events promoting local designers, has partnered with Victoria Women’s Transition House to raise money and awareness at the show at Kwench, Feb. 25.
The event brings together Victoria’s fashion community with 40 models and nine local designers, joined by a team of more than 12 hair and makeup experts. The goal is to showcase local artists’ designs and encourage people to shop locally.
The show will feature a silent auction where patrons can bid on items throughout the show, to raise money for Victoria Women’s Transition House.
Tickets are $40 to $90. The event takes place Feb. 25 at Kwench, 2031 Store St.
For tickets, go to fashionsplash.ticketspice.com/fashion-splash.
Clock at Pacific Coliseum is for sale
The Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver is looking for expressions of interest in buying the score clock at the Pacific Coliseum.
It might be too big for a man cave, but the score clock could be of interest to Vancouver Island rinks and arenas serving kids’ hockey, lacrosse, figure skating or roller sports.
The score clock was purchased in 2007 for the 2010 Winter Olympics for $1 million. It served its purpose for 10 Vancouver Giants seasons until 2016 and has only been used for the odd trade show and sporting event for the past seven years.
While everything still works, the computers and software used to operate the unit are dated. The four-sided video screens are standard definition with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Interested parties would need to pay for its removal and shipping.
For more information, contact Donald Lee at [email protected].
A dip in the ocean
A volunteer with Support Soweto Junior School will be taking a dip in the ocean at Little Ross Bay for 40 days as part of the group’s Dipping for Dinners fundraising event.
Laura Thomson plans to enter the frigid waters at 7:45 a.m. every weekday from Feb. 22 to Apr. 9 (Easter Sunday).
She is hoping community members will support the society with a pledge of 50 cents per dip, for a total of $20.
The money raised will help feed 300 students ages four to 11 at Soweto Junior School in Kibera, Kenya — the largest slum in Africa. For some of the children, the school meal is the only food they will receive that day. The community-based school receives no government funding.
Support Soweto Junior School, a volunteer-run not for profit society, was launched in 2020.
The public is encouraged to support the group with a pledge or by joining Thompson during the week at Little Ross Bay, at the foot of St. Charles Street.
To donate or to learn more, go to supportsowetojuniorschool.org or call 250-598-0708.
Streets become public art gallery
James Bay Elementary is collaborating with the James Bay Community Centre to turn streets into a public art gallery for Window Wanderland, Feb. 24 to 26.
The community-led initiative invites students to create colourful and artistic window displays that can be lit up by James Bay residents, businesses and organizations. Students are also contributing to the exhibit by decorating the school windows along Oswego Street.
In 2022, there were more than 80 registered windows. Hundreds of people from James Bay and neighbouring areas took to the streets to admire the art.
Window Wanderland runs 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 24 to 26 in James Bay.
For more information and a map of participating houses and businesses, go to windowwanderland.com/event/james-bay-2023.
