Tuba Christmas returned to Market Square on Saturday, with dozens of tuba players performing festive tunes for hundreds of people in the courtyard. It was a full house. The last time the annual event was held at Market Square was in 2019.
But the annual shows went on despite the pandemic. For 2020 and 2021, Tuba Christmas was streamed online with much smaller ensembles performing before tiny audiences on stages at the University of Victoria. So, there was much excitement among the tuba players to be back to the big-crowd format. Saturday's concert was led by Paul Beauchesne, principal tuba player for the Victoria Symphony and a teacher at UVic.
Besides providing people with festive tunes, Tuba Christmas is a fundraiser for the Times Colonist Christmas Fund. The show audience was invited to put donations into a tuba bell.
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Money raised by the Christmas Fund goes to food security programs and other charitable work on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
The non-profit society works with dozens of local groups to ensure that help reaches as many people as possible.
Here’s how to donate:
• Donate online. Go to timescolonist.com/donate, which will take you to our Canada Helps page. It is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Donate by mail. Send a cheque to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5.
• Donate by phone. Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund, through Island charities, assists individuals and families in need.
